Cerebral autoregulation is preserved in multiple system atrophy: A transcranial Doppler study.

Patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) present large changes in blood pressure (BP) due to autonomic disturbances. We analyzed how this change may influence dynamic cerebral autoregulation (DCA). Simultaneous recordings of arterial BP (Finapres) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocity (BFV) (transcranial Doppler) were performed in 10 patients with MSA (61 +/- 12 yr of age) and 12 healthy volunteers (61 +/- 11 yr of age): cerebral BFV response to oscillations in mean BP was studied in the supine position by cross-spectral analysis of mean BP and mean MCA BFV. The DCA was also studied during the decrease in BP the first seconds when standing up from a sitting position by the assessment of the cerebrovascular resistance index (CR; mean BP/mean MCA BFV ratio). The MCA BFV/BP cross-spectral analysis showed a phase for the mid-frequency band (0.07-0.2 Hz) significantly larger in MSA, suggesting more active autoregulation in response to larger changes in BP. Changes in CR reflecting the rate of autoregulation, when standing did not differ between the two groups. These data suggest that dynamic cerebral autoregulation is preserved in MSA.     

Orthostatic blood pressure control and ageing*

Reflex haemodynamic responses to orthostatic stress are attenuated with ageing, the extent of attenuation increasing with advancing age. In 15–20% of individuals aged >65 years, the attenuation may be so marked that there is an excessive fall of blood pressure (BP) on assumption of the upright posture, sufficient on occasions to cause symptomatic cerebral hypoperfusion - this is known as ‘ageing-related’ orthostatic hypotension (AOH), a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Comparison of the cardiovascular responses to a variety of physiological and pharmacological stresses in healthy young and elderly subjects and in those with AOH suggests that the predominant site of the ageing-related change in cardiovascular reflex function is in the central connections of the arterial baroreflex, affecting particularly the BP buffering response. There is no evidence for ageing-related impairment of the efferent limb of the baroreflex, i. e. there is no significant ageing change in sympathetic vasomotor function or cardiac drive. Ageing-related impairment of baroreflex function also does not appear to result from either attenuation of arterial compliance or the presence of systolic hypertension, despite the epidemiological association between systolic hypertension and AOH. Better understanding of this important problem has the potential to improve the health of all elderly people.     

Primary orthostatic tremor is an exaggeration of a physiological response to instability.

Primary orthostatic tremor (POT) is a rare disorder characterised by an intense sense of unsteadiness upon standing and a 16-Hz tremor in which the timing between tremor bursts in different muscles (unilateral and bilateral) remains constant. Hitherto, similar EMG activity has not been described in healthy subjects and it has been postulated that the oscillations seen in POT are primarily pathological. In this study, EMG was recorded from tibialis anterior in healthy subjects who were made unsteady through vestibular galvanic stimulation or leaning backwards. Under these conditions, a peak at approximately 16 Hz was seen in the coherence between the left and right tibialis anterior. This bilateral coherence was absent when the subjects activated the same muscles when not unsteady. These data indicate the existence of a physiological system involved in organising postural responses under circumstances of imbalance and characterised by a highly synchronised output at approximately 16 Hz. In addition, the results suggest that the core abnormality in POT may be an exaggerated sense of unsteadiness when standing still, which then elicits activity from a 16-Hz oscillator normally engaged in postural responses.     

Differential effect of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine in pure autonomic failure and multiple system atrophy with autonomic failure

Summary Treatment with L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-dops), a synthetic precursor of norepinephrine, significantly increased upright blood pressure in patients with multiple system atrophy but had no effect on the upright blood pressure of patients with pure autonomic failure. These results suggest that the site of action of L-threo-dops is central and that its pressor effect requires intact peripheral sympathetic neurons.     

Rebound intracranial hypertension after treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is characterized by orthostatic headache and the cause is usually cerebrospinal fluid leaks in spine level. Most patients with SIH have a benign course. Epidural blood patch (EBP) is the treatment of choice when initial conservative managements are ineffective. We reported a patient with SIH diagnosed by using magnetic resonance imaging and radionuclide cisternography. Acute rebound intracranial hypertension developed after EBP and was successfully treated with intravenous osmotic agent.     

Stress barometer at diagnoses in children with school non-attendance

BACKGROUND: School non-attendance is a major social problem in Japan. Many children stop attending school for a variety of reasons. The authors previously reported stress barometer values for healthy Japanese children. In this study, the authors examined the stress barometer values of children with school non-attendance. METHODS: The authors measured stress barometer values, that is, urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) and 17-ketosteroid sulfates (17-KS-S) in 65 children (40 girls and 25 boys; 7-15 years of age) with school non-attendance, except for pervasive developmental disorder and mental retardation, who attended the outpatient department of Dokkyo University School of Medicine Hospital, Tochigi, Japan, during the past 4 years. RESULTS: A total of 24 (36.9%) of the 65 children had urinary 17-OHCS values above 2SD, and 14 (21.5%) had urinary 17-OHCS below 2SD. In total, 10 (15.4%) children had urinary 17-KS-S values above 2SD, and four (6.2%) had urinary 17-KS-S below 2SD. Five (7.7%) children had urinary 17-KS-S/17-OHCS values above 2SD, and 10 (15.4%) had urinary 17-KS-S/17-OHCS below 2SD. CONCLUSION: The stress barometer values appear to be clinically useful for evaluating objectively whether children with school non-attendance have emotional stress.     

Ergotamine/caffeine treatment of orthostatic hypotension in parkinsonism with autonomic failure

Eight patients with parkinsonism who developed severe orthostatic sypotension, were treated with oral ergotamine/caffeine. Significant long-term improvement in standing systolic blood pressure and symptoms of syncope and light-headedness were observed in four of these patients. One patient in whom the drug was effective discontinued it because of nausea. Another lost benefit after 2 weeks of sucessful therapy. Significant supine systolic hypertension occureed in only one patient, which was easily managed by nifedipine given at night. Symptoms or signs of ergotism were not observed. Oral ergotamine/caffeine should be considered as a cost-effective teratment for refactory orthostatic hypotension in carefully selected patients with parkinsonism.     

远节指末端离断伤两种治疗方法的回顾性分析

①目的 旨在比较分析原位缝合与贯穿植入随意血管神经束加原位缝合治疗远节指末端离断伤的疗效及优缺点，更有针对性地为临床提供一种有效的治疗方法。②方法 对临床两种治疗方法的29例加以回顾性总结、比较分析，获得详细相关数据资料，并对数据资料进行统计学的分析和处理。③结果 原位缝合治疗远节指末端离断伤的总有效率远低于贯穿植入随意血管神经束加原位缝合法。④结论 贯穿植入随意血管神经束原位缝合治疗远节指末端离断伤，是一种比较理想的方法，值得临床推广使用。     

头低位卧床期间四肢加压套带预防大脑中动脉血流下降

目的　观察头低位卧床 2 1d期间套带对大脑中动脉血流变化的影响 .方法　健康男性志愿者 12名随机分为对照组和套带组 ,每组 6人 ,进行 - 6°卧床试验 2 1d.套带组卧床每日 0 8:30～ 2 0 :30四肢加压套带 ,压力维持在 5 .3k Pa,对照组不做任何对抗措施 .卧床前、卧床 10 d及卧床结束时进行 3次立位耐力试验 .卧床前、卧床 1,3,10和 2 1d用经颅超声多普勒 (TCD)测量大脑中动脉血流动力学指标 .结果　对照组 2 1d卧床期间大脑中动脉血流速度下降 ,血流量减少 ,其中卧床 3 d和 2 1d较卧床前血流速 (vs,vm)明显降低 ,血流量减少 (P<0 .0 5或 P<0 .0 1) .套带组卧床期间及卧床结束时血流速度及血流量较卧床前无显著降低或减少 (P>0 .0 5 ) .卧床 10 d和卧床结束时立位耐力试验对照组 6人均未通过立位耐力试验 .套带组 4人顺利通过立位耐力试验 ,2人未通过立位耐力试验 .结论　头低位卧床期间使用套带能有效减缓大脑中动脉血流速度下降 ,对改善失重引起的脑缺血和立位耐力不良有明显的作用 .