Neurofilament heavy-chain NfH(SMI35) in cerebrospinal fluid supports the differential diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndromes.

We aimed to evaluate the potential of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) axonal damage biomarker NfH(SMI35) in the laboratory-supported differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes. Patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD; n = 22), multiple-system atrophy (MSA; n = 21), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP; n = 21), corticobasal degeneration (CBD; n = 6), and age-matched controls (n = 45) were included. CSF levels of NfH(SMI35) were measured using ELISA. Levels of CSF NfH(SMI35) were elevated in PSP compared to PD and controls (P < 0.05 each). They were also significantly higher in MSA than in PD and controls (P < 0.05 each). NfH(SMI35) differentiated PD from PSP with a sensitivity of 76.5% and a specificity of 94.4%. Axonal damage as measured by CSF NfH(SMI35) is most prominent in the more rapidly progressive syndromes PSP and MSA as compared to PD or CBD. CSF NfH(SMI35) may therefore be of some value for the laboratory-supported differential diagnosis of atypical parkinsonian syndromes.     

Current concept and future research directions of mild cognitive impairment

Alzheimer's disease (AD) generally begins with mild memory problems which occur in an insidious manner and progresses to the development of multiple cognitive impairments. There is a ‘gray’ area between what is classified as ‘normal’ and what is classified as ‘dementia’, currently called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this article, a case of MCI is described, and the diagnosis, assessment, subclassification (pre‐Alzheimer type and white matter lesion type) and future therapeutic plans for MCI are reviewed.     

A Decision Rule for Predicting Bacterial Meningitis in Children with Cerebrospinal Fluid Pleocytosis When Gram Stain Is Negative or Unavailable

Objectives:  Among children with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis, the task of separating aseptic from bacterial meningitis is hampered when the CSF Gram stain result is unavailable, delayed, or negative. In this study, the authors derive and validate a clinical decision rule for use in this setting.
Methods:  This was a review of peripheral blood and CSF test results from 78 children (<19 years) presenting to Children's Hospital Columbus from 1998 to 2002. For those with a CSF leukocyte count of >7/μL, a rule was created for separating bacterial from viral meningitis that was based on routine laboratory tests, but excluded Gram stain. The rule was validated in 158 subjects seen at the same site (Columbus, 2002–2004) and in 871 subjects selected from a separate site (Boston, 1993–1999).
Results:  One point each (maximum, 6 points) was assigned for leukocytes >597/μL, neutrophils >74%, glucose <38 mg/dL, and protein >97 mg/dL in CSF and for leukocytes >17,000/mL and bands to neutrophils >11% in peripheral blood. Areas under receiver-operator-characteristic curves (AROCs) for the resultant score were 0.98 for the derivation set and 0.90 and 0.97, respectively, for validation sets from Columbus and Boston. Sensitivity and specificity pairs for the Boston data set were 100 and 44%, respectively, at a score of 0 and 97 and 81% at a score of 1. Likelihood ratios (LRs) increased from 0 at a score of 0 to 40 at a score of ≥4.
Conclusions:  Among children with CSF pleocytosis, a prediction score based on common tests of CSF and peripheral blood and intended for children with unavailable, negative, or delayed CSF Gram stain results has value for diagnosing bacterial meningitis.     

Does Meningitis Stop CSF Rhinorrhea following Lateral Skull Base Surgery?

In cases of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea following lateral skull base surgery, fibrosis and fibrin formation resulting from meningitis has been postulated as a mechanism of spontaneously resolving the CSF leak. This study was undertaken to explore any possible relationship between the cessation of CSF leak and meningitis. A retrospective study at a tertiary referral center of 232 consecutive patients was performed. Out of a total of 232 procedures, 29 patients developed CSF rhinorrhea, of whom 7 subsequently developed meningitis. Bacteria were isolated in CSF obtained at lumbar puncture in 5 cases, with the CSF analysis in the remaining 2 cases suggesting aseptic meningitis. Conservative treatment failed to stop the CSF rhinorrhea in 6 of 7 cases. In this study, the development of meningitis did not appear to aid in the resolution of the CSF rhinorrhea. We conclude that surgical intervention should not be delayed in the expectation that meningitis and conservative interventions may promote CSF leak resolution.     

冰片开放血-脑脊液屏障对实验性细菌性脑膜炎治疗影响的研究

目的 探讨冰片开放血-脑脊液屏障（BCB）对实验性细菌性脑膜炎治疗的影响。方法 采用日本大耳白兔作为实验动物，随机分为对照组、冰片组和脑膜炎组。经枕大池注入肺炎球菌悬液建立脑膜炎模型，以冰片作为开放BCB的制剂。以连续静脉注射丙戊酸钠后不同时间点的脑脊液中丙戊酸钠浓度变化作为判断BCB通透性的指标；硝酸镧示踪法观察脑组织表现作为BCB通透性的形态指标。给予脑膜炎动物头孢吡肟或冰片＋头孢吡肟治疗，记录动物存亡情况；取脑脊液（CSF）进行细胞计数及生化检查。取脑组织作常规病理染色，以观察冰片开放BCB对实验性细菌性脑膜炎治疗的影响。结果 给药后对照组CSF中丙戊酸钠浓度基本保持稳定，冰片组CSF中丙戊酸钠浓度于给药后0．5h时即高于对照组并逐渐上升，至6h时达高峰，然后开始下降，14h时浓度仍高于对照组。脑组织超微结构显示，对照组无硝酸镧颗粒通过BCB，脑膜炎组硝酸镧颗粒分布于毛细血管基底膜外，冰片组弥漫性分布于神经细胞间隙和轴突周围。给予头孢吡肟治疗后，脑膜炎＋冰片组动物存活率（9／12，75％）明显高于脑膜炎组（6／18，66．7％）（P〈0．05），但两组间CSF细胞数及蛋白、葡萄糖水平差异无统计学意义。近皮层脑组织HE染色显示，脑膜炎组可见脑组织大量炎症细胞渗出和软化坏死灶,血管“套袖”现象明显，而脑膜炎＋冰片组脑组织内炎症细胞渗出较少，无血管“套袖”现象，无明显坏死软化灶。结论 冰片确实能明显增加BCB的通透性并具有可逆性特点，抗生素联合冰片能改善实验性细菌性脑膜炎治疗效果，为细菌性脑膜炎的治疗提供了新的思路。     

A prospective study of the association of cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolite levels with lethality of suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder

Objectives:  Bipolar disorder is a severe illness that is associated with suicidal behavior. A biological predictor of highly lethal suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder would be valuable. We hypothesized that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolite levels are related to lethality of suicide attempts in bipolar patients and examined the relation between CSF 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels and maximum lethality of suicide attempts at baseline and during a 2-year follow up.
Methods:  Twenty-seven bipolar depressed patients participated in the study. Demographic and clinical parameters were examined and recorded. Lumbar punctures were performed and CSF 5-HIAA, HVA, and MHPG were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Following discharge, patients were evaluated after 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Each follow-up interview included an in-depth assessment of suicidal behavior during the intervening time period.
Results:  Six subjects made suicide attempts during the 2-year follow-up. Bipolar patients who attempted suicide during the follow-up period had higher aggression and hostility scale scores compared to bipolar subjects who did not make a suicide attempt during the follow-up period. CSF 5-HIAA, HVA, and MHPG levels were negatively correlated with the maximum lethality of suicide attempts during the 2-year follow-up period.
Conclusions:  Our finding is the first observation that CSF monoamine metabolite levels may be predictors of lethality of suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder. Further studies are necessary to answer the question whether CSF monoamine metabolite levels are clinically useful biochemical predictors of highly lethal suicide attempts or completed suicides.     

耳脑医用粘合剂修补脑脊液漏

耳脑医用粘合剂是α－氰基丙烯酸正辛酯和α－氰基丙烯酸正丁酯及少量添加剂配伍而成的复合性医用粘合剂。应用此粘合剂粘合修补脑脊液漏２７例，其中外伤性脑脊液鼻漏５例，经鼻蝶入路垂体瘤切除术脑脊液漏６例，开颅手术后手术切口脑脊液漏１１例，脊膜膨出修补术后脑脊液漏５例。成功２５例，成功率９３％。应用此粘合剂修补脑脊液漏具有简便、迅速、有效的特点。     

Natural killer cell activity and CSF monoamine metabolites in suicide attempters

The aim of this study was to investigate markers of serotonin and immune function in suicidal patients. Cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells (NK) and CD16 lymphocytes were studied in 28 suicide attempters and 26 healthy controls, and related in patients to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Patients with CSF 5-HIAA below the median had significantly lower NK cell activity than other patients. CD16 cell frequency was significantly lower in patients than in controls, and patients also tended to have lower NK cell cytotoxicity than healthy controls. There were no statistically significant correlations between 4-hydroxy-3methoxyphenyl glycol (HMPG), homovanillic acid (HVA), CSF cortisol and NK cell activity. The results support the hypothesis of compromised immune function in suicidal patients with evidence of disordered serotonin function.