Investigating the association between eye colour and the Neurological Pupil index

IntroductionBrown or dark brown eyes make it difficult to distinguish the contrast between a black pupil and the surrounding iris, which may result in clinical assessment errors. The pupillometer can be used to derive an indexed value, the Neurological Pupil index™ (NPi) for pupillary light reflex. However, there are limited data associating the NPi and iris colour. We examine the NPi and eye colour association.MethodsData were pooled from the Establishing Normative Data for Pupillometer Assessments in Neuroscience Intensive Care (END-PANIC) Registry. The analysis includes 14,168 observations collected from 865 patients with neurological conditions who were admitted to the intensive care unit. Summary statistics and statistical models were developed to examine the association using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) summary procedure.ResultsThe mean age of the cohort was 56 years (standard deviation = 17). Eye colour included dark brown (n = 339), blue (n = 234), brown (n = 173), green (n = 82), and other (n = 37). There was significant differences (p < 0.0001) between mean NPi values by eye colour [blue = 4.08 (0.92), brown = 3.34 (1.45), dark = 3.71 (1.33), green = 4.08 (0.67), other = 3.76 (1.25)]. However, a further random-effects mixed model after controlling for confounding variables revealed no significant difference in NPi values among different eye colour groups.ConclusionsThe pupillary light reflex, when assessed using the pupillometer, is not dependent on the eye colour. Practitioners are not required to consider eye colour as a confounder when they perform pupillary assessment for examining patients with neurological conditions.     

Detailed mapping of CGRP mRNA expression in the rat central nervous system: Comparison with previous immunocytochemical findings

The localization of CGRP mRNA in neurons of the rat brain and spinal cord was assessed by in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISH) using a radiolabeled synthetic 57-mer oiigodeoxynucleotide probe complementary to the rat prepro CGRP mRNA. Results were compared with previously published findings of CGRP-immunoreactive (CGRP-IR) cell bodies revealed by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. The highest numbers of CGRP mRNA expressing neurons as well as the greatest intensity of staining were found in the lateral hypothalamic area, the parabrachial nuclei, and among the cranial motor nuclei, especially in the nuclei of the 7th and 12th nerve and the ambiguus nucleus, which is generally in good agreement with findings assessed by immunocytochemistry (ICH). However, some mismatches between the localizaton of the peptide by ICH and the localization of the CGRP mRNA were also observed. Thus, ISH was not able to confirm CGRP-IR in cells of the amygdaloid complex and parts of the medial hypothalamus, the central gray, and the inferior colliculus, but ISH revealed considerably more CGRP mRNA expressing cells in the lateral hypothalamic area, arcuate nucleus, posterior and peripeduncular thalamic nuclei, and all cranial motor nuclei than CGRP-IR containing cells found by ICH. Moreover, ISH also revealed CGRP mRNA synthesis in the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract and in the perihypoglossal nuclei that were devoid of CGRP-IR. The reasons for the observed mismatches still remain to be elucidated; however, intracerebroventricular colchicine pretreatment used to increase immunocytochemical signals also might have induced or suppressed gene expression in certain brain regions in an unpredictable matter. On the other hand, detection of only the mRNA in a certain region does not necessarily mean that also the active peptide is synthesized there.     

Dural arteriovenous malformations at the base of the anterior cranial fossa: report of nine cases

Nine men with dural arteriovenous malformations (DAVM) at the base of the anterior cranial fossa are described. Four patients had intracerebral haemorrhage and four had seizures, associated with haemorrhage in two. In three cases the fistula was an incidental finding. In five cases the diagnosis could be made before angiography, on the basis of CT findings. Angiographically, venous drainage was always seen into ascending cortical veins. Five cases demonstrated drainage via the olfactory vein into the basal vein of Rosenthal; in four this way was the principal route of drainage. Five patients underwent surgery, the therapy of choice. One fistula closed spontaneously after angiography. Two patients refused treatment and one was not treated because of his poor general condition. Because arterial supply was usually bilateral, from small branches of the ophthalmic artery, embolisation seemed to be more dangerous. Compared to dural fistulae in other locations the DAVM of the anterior cranial fossa have a higher risk of complications and should be treated even if asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis.     

Spinal Drop Metastasis from a Posterior Fossa Choroid Plexus Papilloma

Choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) are typically considered as benign tumors, with a favorable long-term prognosis. Drop metastasis of CPP into the spinal subarachnoid space is rare. We report a 42-year-old woman who presented with headache and back pain 6 years after removal of a posterior fossa CPP. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed mass lesions in the lumbosacral subarachnoid space and recurrent intracranial tumor. The lesions were resected and histologically diagnosed was CPP. We consider that CPP can spread via cerebrospinal fluid pathways and cause spinal drop metastasis. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the whole spinal axis and to perform periodic follow-up examinations in patients with CPP.     

Microanatomy and surgical approaches to the infratemporal fossa: an anaglyphic three-dimensional stereoscopic printing study.

Objective: The infratemporal fossa (ITF) is a continuation of the temporal fossa between the internal surface of the zygoma and the external surface of the temporal bone and greater wing of the sphenoid bone that is sitting deep to the ramus of the mandible. The principal structure to understanding its relationships is the lateral pterygoid muscle. Other important structures are the medial pterygoid muscle, the maxillary artery, the pterygoid venous plexus, the otic ganglion, the chorda tympani nerve and the mandibular nerve. In this study, we describe the microsurgical anatomy of the ITF, as viewed by step-by-step anatomical dissection and also through the perspective of three lateral approaches and one anterior surgical approach. Methods: Eight cadaver specimens were dissected. In one side of all specimens, an anatomical dissection was done in which a wide preauricular incision from the neck on the anterior border of the sternoclidomastoid muscle at the level of the cricoid cartilage to the superior temporal line was made. The flap was displaced anteriorly and the structures of the neck were dissected followed by a zygomatic osteotomy and dissection of the ITF structures. On the other side were the surgical approaches to the ITF. The combined infratemporal and posterior fossa approach was done in two specimens, the subtemporal preauricular infratemporal fossa approach in two, the zygomatic approach in two, and the lateral transantral maxillotomy in two. The anatomical dissections were documented on the three-dimensional (3D) anaglyphic method to produce stereoscopic prints. Results: The lateral pterygoid muscle is one of the principal structures to enable understanding of the relationships into the ITF. The tendon of the temporal muscle inserts in the coronoid process at the ITF. The maxillary artery is the terminal branch of the external carotid artery that originates at the neck of the mandible and runs into the parotid gland. In our dissections the maxillary artery was lateral to the buccal, lingual, and inferior alveolar nerves. We found the second part of the maxillary artery superficial to the lateral pterygoid muscle in all specimens The anterior and posterior branches of the deep temporal artery supply the temporal muscle. In two cases we found a middle deep temporal artery. The different approaches that we used provided different views of the same anatomical landmarks and this provides not only safer surgery but also the best choice to approach the ITF according with the pathology extension. Conclusions: The ITF is a complex region on the skull base that is affected by benign and malignant tumors. The study through different routes is helpful to disclose the relationship among the anatomical structures. Although the authors have shown four approaches, there are a variety of approaches and even a combination of these can be used. This type of anatomical knowledge is essential to choosing the best approach to treat lesions in this area.     

鼻内镜联合显微镜经鼻腔蝶窦及中颅窝手术

目的探讨鼻内镜下经鼻腔直接入路行蝶窦及中颅窝手术的方法. 方法鼻内镜下经较宽大一侧鼻腔将中鼻甲向外推移,鼻腔扩张器扩大视野,直达并开放蝶窦前壁, 鼻内镜与显微镜联合切除病变. 结果 10例孤立性蝶窦炎术后症状消失.6例蝶窦囊肿、脑膜瘤均一次手术切除.32例垂体腺瘤17例全切除,12例次全切除,3例大部分切除,术后补充X刀治疗.48例术后随访6个月～3.5年,平均2.5年,蝶窦囊肿、蝶窦炎、脑膜瘤无复发,3例垂体腺瘤复发,无颅内感染并发症,无鼻腔粘连、鼻出血等鼻腔并发症. 结论鼻内镜联合显微镜经鼻腔蝶窦及中颅窝手术损伤小、出血少、手术时间短、效果好.     

颈静脉窝的应用解剖学研究

本文通过200例成人颅颈静脉窝的观察与测量,对颈静脉窝的形态、位置及其与颅后窝、面神经管垂直部、鼓环的局部解剖关系进行研究,为临床应用及体质调查提供资料。     

新生儿颅内出血的临床分析

目的 为探讨各种类型新生儿颅内出血的早期诊断方法，明确其临床特点与CT的关系。方法 对176例经CT证实有颅内出血新生儿的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果 176例患儿中缺氧所致123例(72．6％)，产伤21例(11．9％)，新生儿出血症22例(12．5％)，早产儿10例。患儿有意识障碍者156例(88．6％)，惊厥98例(55．68％)，肌张力改变113例(64．2％)，原始反射减弱或消失104例(59％)，贫血16例。CT示：SAH121例。占68．75％，为NICH最常见类型；SDH17例，IPH13例，IVH5例，混合性出血20例。结论 根据临床表现考虑NICH者应做头颅CT或头颅B超检查。Cr是确诊的最佳手段，能正确显示出血部位、范围、程度及区分各种类型，头颅B超对早产儿、低出生体重儿的IVH、IPH检出率高。     

小脑延髓池的显微外科解剖研究

目的研究小脑延髓池的显微外科解剖特征,探讨其临床意义.方法选择经10%福尔马林固定成人头颈标本15例,显微镜下(5～25倍)模拟枕下极外侧入路、颈-乳突入路和耳前颞下窝入路的手术操作,分别自后、侧和前方显露小脑延髓池内结构,详细观测其神经血管结构的形态特征.结果小脑延髓池位于延髓外侧,上至桥延沟,下达枕骨大孔,侧方沿枕骨形成蛛网膜袖套进入颈静脉孔和舌下神经管.舌咽神经、迷走神经和副神经的根丝自上而下起自橄榄体背侧、延髓和脊髓的后外侧沟,根丝逐级汇合后分别进入舌咽神经道和迷走神经道.椎动脉于小脑延髓池的下端入颅后经该池行向前上内进入延髓前池.小脑下后动脉(PICA)可分为延髓前段、延髓侧段、扁桃体延髓段、脉络膜扁桃体段和皮质段.主要的静脉有小脑延髓裂内静脉、延髓静脉、小脑岩面下组静脉和岩下桥静脉.结论小脑绒球和Luschka孔脉络丛复合体及颈静脉孔硬膜返折可作为辨认舌咽神经脑池段的解剖标志,深刻认识小脑延髓池的蛛网膜界限对手术处理累及小脑延髓池的不同性质病变,保护重要神经功能意义重大.     

翼腭窝的CT三维成像

目的：探讨CT三维成像评价翼腭窝解剖结构的价值。材料和方法：使用Philips Mx8000型多层CT检查仪对5个成人头颅标本进行准直1mm或0．5mm的容积采集，并将数据输入配套Mxview工作站（SGI02）进行三维重建处理，包括容积显示（VR）和三维正交多平面重建（MPR）。鼻腔内侧壁相关结构进行测量并与标本测量进行对比。结果：CT三维正交多平面重建图像可以十分清楚地显示翼腭窝结构及其6个通路结构，VR可以清楚、准确地显示鼻腔内侧壁结构，并均可以获得准确测量。结论：CT容积采集结合合理的三维重建可以直观、立体地显示翼腭窝解剖及其相关通连结构。