Cerebral infarction--a general-medical problem]

A knowledge of events accompanying the acute coronary failure may help understanding the acute cerebral blood flow insufficiency leading to brain infarction. Cerebral blood flow should be treated as an integral part of the systemic blood circulation. It is of importance when the disease produces lesions to the vascular wall, and the brain looses its autoregulation functions. In such a situation every extracerebral disorders--even slight--may produce extensive lesions to nervous tissue. Therefore, the treatment of the acute cerebral circulation failure requires proper functioning of all factors which may affect hemodynamics and tissue metabolism. Duration of cerebral flow disorders plays an important role in the avoidance of unfavourable complications such as brain infarction. Therefore, every physician is obliged to undertake any possible actions preventing such complications.     

A New Functional MRI Approach for Investigating Modulations of Brain Oxygen Metabolism

Functional MRI (fMRI) using the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal is a common technique in the study of brain function. The BOLD signal is sensitive to the complex interaction of physiological changes including cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and cerebral oxygen metabolism (CMRO₂). A primary goal of quantitative fMRI methods is to combine BOLD imaging with other measurements (such as CBF measured with arterial spin labeling) to derive information about CMRO₂. This requires an accurate mathematical model to relate the BOLD signal to the physiological and hemodynamic changes; the most commonly used of these is the Davis model. Here, we propose a new nonlinear model that is straightforward and shows heuristic value in clearly relating the BOLD signal to blood flow, blood volume and the blood flow-oxygen metabolism coupling ratio. The model was tested for accuracy against a more detailed model adapted for magnetic fields of 1.5, 3 and 7T. The mathematical form of the heuristic model suggests a new ratio method for comparing combined BOLD and CBF data from two different stimulus responses to determine whether CBF and CMRO₂ coupling differs. The method does not require a calibration experiment or knowledge of parameter values as long as the exponential parameter describing the CBF-CBV relationship remains constant between stimuli. The method was found to work well for 1.5 and 3T but is prone to systematic error at 7T. If more specific information regarding changes in CMRO₂ is required, then with accuracy similar to that of the Davis model, the heuristic model can be applied to calibrated BOLD data at 1.5T, 3T and 7T. Both models work well over a reasonable range of blood flow and oxygen metabolism changes but are less accurate when applied to a simulated caffeine experiment in which CBF decreases and CMRO₂ increases.     

PET脑血流量测量方法和临床应用进展

脑血流量测量对于脑血管疾病、脑肿瘤诊断和疗效评估具有重要的临床价值。PET是基于正电子示剂技术无创性、精确测量脑血流量的方法,正日益广泛地应用于临床。按照PET测量脑血流量的方法和使用的正电子示踪剂不同,其测量方法分为平衡法、放射自显影法和动力学方法三种。18O-H2O示踪剂PET测量脑血流量被认为测量脑血流方法的"金标准"。随着PET设备分辨率提高、新的图像重建方法使用和PET与MRI图像融合技术不断成熟,18F-FDG首次通过、采用图像衍生动脉输入函数(imagederived arterial input function,IDAIF)替代动脉抽血样精确测量脑血量方法受到广泛重视,有可能逐步取代高成本的18O-H2O测量脑血流量。PET无创、方便和精确测量脑血流量的方法在临床应使用有助于脑血管性疾病、脑肿瘤和脑退行性病变早期诊断、鉴别诊断和个性化医疗。本文介绍PET脑血流量测量原理、方法和临床应用进展。     

Blood flow regulation in the cerebral microvasculature with an arcadal network: a numerical simulation

Blood flow regulation in the cerebral microvasculature with an arcadal network was investigated using a numerical simulation. A mathematical model for blood flow in the arcadal network, based on in vivo data of cat cerebral microvasculature and flow velocity was developed. The network model consists of 45 vessel segments and 25 branching points. To simulate microvascular response to blood flow, non-reactive (solid), cerebral arteriole-like, or skeletal muscle arteriole-like responses to wall shear stress were taken into account. Numerical calculation was carried out in the flow condition where the inlet (arterial) pressure was changed from 60 to 120 mmHg. Flow-rate in each efferent vessel and the mean flow-rate over all efferent vessels were evaluated for assessment of blood supply to the local area of cerebral tissue. The simulation demonstrated the wall shear stress-induced vasodilation in the arcadal network worked to maintain the blood flow at a constant level with pressure variable in a wide range. It is suggested that an individual microvessel (segment) should join in the regulatory process of flow, interacting with other microvessels (cooperative regulation).     

A simple new method for repeated in vivo cerebral cortex flux measurement in rats.

A new application of an indicator dilution technique, using nonradioactive para-aminohippuric acid, is described for superior sagittal sinus blood flow determination in rats. Superior sagittal sinus blood flow, mainly representing cerebral cortex blood flow, amounted to 541 +/- 49 microliters/min in ketamine-anesthetized, but otherwise normal, rats breathing room air. Increasing arterial pCO2 enhanced superior sagittal sinus blood flow (P less than 0.01), providing evidence that this method correctly measures cerebral blood flow. The respiratory quotient was 1.1 and the cerebral cortex metabolic rate of oxygen consumption was +/- 1.45 mumol/min. Cerebral cortex ammonia uptake was not significantly different from zero and of the amino acid fluxes, only alanine differed from zero (P less than 0.05). Flux measurements are crucial in studies of healthy or altered organ metabolism in both experimental animals and postoperative surgical patients. We devised a simple and economical method of repeated cerebral cortex flux measurement in rats that is a potentially valuable tool in metabolic studies of the cerebral cortex.     

Comparison of the in vitro hemodynamic performance of new flow diverters for bypass of brain aneurysms

One possible treatment for cerebral aneurysms is a porous tubular structure, similar to a stent, called a flow diverter. A flow diverter can be placed across the neck of a cerebral aneurysm to induce the cessation of flow and initiate the formation of an intra-aneurysmal thrombus. This excludes the aneurysm from the parent artery and returns the flow of blood to normal. Previous flow diverting devices have been analyzed to determine optimal characteristics, such as braiding angle and wire diameter. From this information, a new optimized device was designed to achieve equivalent hemodynamic performance to the previous best device, but with better longitudinal flexibility to preserve physiological arterial configuration. The new device was tested in vitro in an elastomeric replica of the rabbit elastase induced aneurysm model and is now in the process of being tested in vivo. Particle image velocimetry was utilized to determine the velocity field in the plane of symmetry of the model under pulsatile flow conditions. Device hemodynamic performance indices such as the hydrodynamic circulation were evaluated from the velocity fields. Comparison of these indices with the previous best device and a control shows that the significant design changes of the device did not change its hemodynamic attributes (p?>?0.05).     

Mechanistic Mathematical Modeling Tests Hypotheses of the Neurovascular Coupling in fMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures brain activity by detecting the blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) response to neural activity. The BOLD response depends on the neurovascular coupling, which connects cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and deoxyhemoglobin level to neuronal activity. The exact mechanisms behind this neurovascular coupling are not yet fully investigated. There are at least three different ways in which these mechanisms are being discussed. Firstly, mathematical models involving the so-called Balloon model describes the relation between oxygen metabolism, cerebral blood volume, and cerebral blood flow. However, the Balloon model does not describe cellular and biochemical mechanisms. Secondly, the metabolic feedback hypothesis, which is based on experimental findings on metabolism associated with brain activation, and thirdly, the neurotransmitter feed-forward hypothesis which describes intracellular pathways leading to vasoactive substance release. Both the metabolic feedback and the neurotransmitter feed-forward hypotheses have been extensively studied, but only experimentally. These two hypotheses have never been implemented as mathematical models. Here we investigate these two hypotheses by mechanistic mathematical modeling using a systems biology approach; these methods have been used in biological research for many years but never been applied to the BOLD response in fMRI. In the current work, model structures describing the metabolic feedback and the neurotransmitter feed-forward hypotheses were applied to measured BOLD responses in the visual cortex of 12 healthy volunteers. Evaluating each hypothesis separately shows that neither hypothesis alone can describe the data in a biologically plausible way. However, by adding metabolism to the neurotransmitter feed-forward model structure, we obtained a new model structure which is able to fit the estimation data and successfully predict new, independent validation data. These results open the door to a new type of fMRI analysis that more accurately reflects the true neuronal activity.     

Cerebral responses to exercise and the influence of heat stress in human fatigue

There are a number of mechanisms thought to be responsible for the onset of fatigue during exercise-induced hyperthermia. A greater understanding of the way in which fatigue develops during exercise could be gleaned from the studies which have examined the maintenance of cerebral blood flow through the process of cerebral autoregulation. Given that cerebral blood flow is a measure of the cerebral haemodynamics, and might reflect a level of brain activation, it is useful to understand the implications of this response during exercise and in the development of fatigue. It is known that cerebral blood flow is significantly altered under certain conditions such as altitude and exacerbated during exercise induced – hyperthermia. In this brief review we consider the processes of cerebral autoregulation predominantly through the measurement of cerebral blood flow and contrast these responses between exercise undertaken in normothermic versus heat stress conditions in order to draw some conclusions about the role cerebral blood flow might play in determining fatigue.     

脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠血浆蛋白C活性变化的研究

目的探讨脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠血浆蛋白C活性的变化及其检测意义。方法取SD大鼠30只,随机分为正常对照组(NC组)、假手术组(SH组)及脑缺血再灌注模型组(IR组),每组10只。线栓法制备左侧局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型,缺血2 h,再灌注24 h,神经功能缺损评分后,右侧颈总动脉取血,离心后取血浆50μl,于-20℃冰冻保存,发色底物法检测蛋白C活性;余血浆2 h内检测凝血功能各指标。结果 IR组大鼠蛋白C活性较NC组及SH组明显降低(P0.01),SH组PC活性较NC组也降低(P0.05);IR组较NC组及SH组PT、APTT明显降低(P0.01),FIB显著增高(P0.01)。结论脑缺血再灌注损伤后PC活性明显改变,检测血浆PC活性的变化对缺血再灌注脑损伤的早期诊断与治疗监测具有重要意义。     

小鼠脑缺血再灌注模型稳定性研究

目的:探讨影响小鼠脑缺血再灌注模型成功率,梗死体积以及行为学评分稳定性的因素。方法:采用昆明小鼠75只,体重为20-23 g,随机分为5组,比较在不同长度的线栓以及不同进栓深度的条件下对小鼠脑缺血再灌注模型成功率,梗死体积以及行为学评分的稳定性的影响。同时术中行脑血流监测,比较各组小鼠大脑中动脉脑血流下降的差异。结果:规格1组,模型成功率为40%,梗死体积为(16.7±9.3)%,神经功能缺损评分(NSS):7.2±2.4,大脑中动脉(MCA)血流下降百分比:(86.9±4.2)%;规格2组,模型成功率为46.7%,梗死体积百分比为(19.2±11.6)%,NSS:8.8±2.5,MCA血流下降百分比:(87.4±3.8)%;规格3组,模型成功率为33.3%,梗死体积百分比为(16.6±9.6)%,NSS:8.2±2.6,MCA血流下降百分比:(88.3±3.4)%;规格4组,模型成功率为86.7%,梗死体积百分比为(23.4±2.2)%,NSS:13.9±1.3,MCA血流下降百分比:(87.5±3.5)%。结论:1.小鼠脑缺血再灌注模型稳定性关键因素在于线栓能对后交通动脉(PComA)和大脑前动脉(ACA)起始段形成有效栓塞。2.小鼠大脑中动脉血流监测并不能作为评价小鼠脑缺血再管注模型成功与否的主要依据。     

Blood pressure and blood flow variation during postural change from sitting to standing: model development and validation.

Short-term cardiovascular responses to postural change from sitting to standing involve complex interactions between the autonomic nervous system, which regulates blood pressure, and cerebral autoregulation, which maintains cerebral perfusion. We present a mathematical model that can predict dynamic changes in beat-to-beat arterial blood pressure and middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity during postural change from sitting to standing. Our cardiovascular model utilizes 11 compartments to describe blood pressure, blood flow, compliance, and resistance in the heart and systemic circulation. To include dynamics due to the pulsatile nature of blood pressure and blood flow, resistances in the large systemic arteries are modeled using nonlinear functions of pressure. A physiologically based submodel is used to describe effects of gravity on venous blood pooling during postural change. Two types of control mechanisms are included: 1) autonomic regulation mediated by sympathetic and parasympathetic responses, which affect heart rate, cardiac contractility, resistance, and compliance, and 2) autoregulation mediated by responses to local changes in myogenic tone, metabolic demand, and CO(2) concentration, which affect cerebrovascular resistance. Finally, we formulate an inverse least-squares problem to estimate parameters and demonstrate that our mathematical model is in agreement with physiological data from a young subject during postural change from sitting to standing.     

Modélisation des flux cérébraux par une analogie électrique : validation par vélocimétrie IRM

The cine Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance (PCMR) sequence is the only noninvasive technique for the study of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oscillations. It can provide CSF and blood flow measurements throughout the cardiac cycle. To study cerebral hydro-hemodynamic, models have been developed; nevertheless the majority of these models did not take into account the CSF oscillations. The objective of this study was to establish reference values for cerebral hydro-hemodynamic and propose a new electrical model of the brain dynamics.Material and methodsCSF and blood flows were measured in 19 control subjects by PCMR imaging. Dynamic flow images were analyzed on dedicated software to reconstruct the flow curves during the cardiac cycle. An electrical analogue was realized. The inputs of the model were fed by PCMR arterial and venous flows to simulate CSF oscillations. The simulated CSF oscillations were compared to the measured CSF oscillations to validate the model.ResultsThe key parameters of the CSF and blood flow curves were obtained, e.g. total cerebral blood flow was 688 ± 115 mL/min, ventricular CSF oscillatory volume was 0.05 ± 0.02 mL/cardiac cycle, and the subarachnoid CSF oscillatory volume was 0.55 ± 0.15 mL/cardiac cycle. A close agreement was found between measured and simulated cerebral CSF oscillations.ConclusionThis study established the main values characterizing cerebral hydrodynamics in a control population. It provided a better understanding of the mechanisms of intracranial volumes regulation during the cardiac cycle. Our results are now used in clinical practice and the model proposed is effective to study cerebral hydro-hemodynamic.     

一类新Willis环脑动脉瘤系统的构造及最优控制

本文基于6-氨基乙酸减小血流速度及缓冲血流波动的性质,在6-氨基乙酸的作用下,构建了一个新的脑动脉瘤数学模型.该模型很好地体现了6-氨基乙酸、血流速度及血流速度变化率三者之间的相互作用关系.鉴于脑动脉瘤的医疗费用颇高及破裂后的死亡率较高,从而有必要从数学的角度研究该模型的最优控制,以致在一定条件下花费最小且医疗效果最佳.本文首先证明了该模型最优控制的存在性;其次通过构造Lagrangian函数及运用最大值原理,证明了最优控制的唯一性.从理论上得到Willis环脑动脉瘤内血流波动最小的条件,这为预防脑动脉瘤的破裂提供了理论依据..     

Orthopoxvirus genes for Kelch-like proteins: III. Construction of Mousepox (ectromelia) virus variants with targeted gene deletions

The mousepox (ectromelia) virus genome contains four genes encoding kelch-like proteins EVM018, EVM027, EVM150, and EVM167. A complete set of insertion plasmids was constructed to produce recombinant ectromelia viruses with targeted deletions of one to four genes of the kelch family, both individual (single mutants) and combined (double, triple, and quadruple mutants). It was shown that deletions EVM018, EVM027, or EVM167 resulted in a reduction of the 50% lethal dose (LD ₅₀) in outbred white mice infected intraperitoneally by five and more orders. Deletion of the mousepox kelch-gene EVM150 did not affect the virus virulence. Deletions of two or more kelch-genes also resulted in high attenuation levels, evidently due to the lack of EVM167, EVM018, and/or EVM027 products identified as virulence factors. The local inflammatory process assessed on the model of intradermal injection of mouse ear pinnae (vasodilatation level, hyperemia, cutaneous edema, arterial thrombosis) was significantly more pronounced for the wild type virus and virulent mutant ΔEVM150 compared to avirulent mutant ΔEVM167.     

A coupled hydrodynamic model of the cardiovascular and cerebrospinal fluid system

Coupling of the cardiovascular and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) system is considered to be important to understand the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular and craniospinal disease and intrathecal drug delivery. A coupled cardiovascular and CSF system model was designed to examine the relation of spinal cord (SC) blood flow (SCBF) and CSF pulsations along the spinal subarachnoid space (SSS). A one-dimensional (1-D) cardiovascular tree model was constructed including a simplified SC arterial network. Connection between the cardiovascular and CSF system was accomplished by a transfer function based on in vivo measurements of CSF and cerebral blood flow. A 1-D tube model of the SSS was constructed based on in vivo measurements in the literature. Pressure and flow throughout the cardiovascular and CSF system were determined for different values of craniospinal compliance. SCBF results indicated that the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar SC each had a signature waveform shape. The cerebral blood flow to CSF transfer function reproduced an in vivo-like CSF flow waveform. The 1-D tube model of the SSS resulted in a distribution of CSF pressure and flow and a wave speed that were similar to those in vivo. The SCBF to CSF pulse delay was found to vary a great degree along the spine depending on craniospinal compliance and vascular anatomy. The properties and anatomy of the SC arterial network and SSS were found to have an important impact on pressure and flow and perivascular fluid movement to the SC. Overall, the coupled model provides predictions about the flow and pressure environment in the SC and SSS. More detailed measurements are needed to fully validate the model.     

Evaluation of consistency among different electrical impedance indices of relative cerebral blood flow in normal resting individuals

Significant correlation was observed, in normal resting individuals, of interregional variation of classical amplitude-dependent electrical impedance indices of cerebral blood flow (CBF) with three quantitative rheographic measures of cerebral blood flow which have been themselves radioisotopically validated. Since these amplitude-related CBF indices are derived from the Nyboer model relating blood volume changes to change of impedance, the data support the correctness and applicability of this model to the head. Interrelationship among the CBF parameters obtained with the use of this technique was found to be markedly affected by differing electrode placements; it was not apparently affected by extracranial circulation. It is concluded that under proper recording conditions, several assumptions underlying rheoencephalography are consistent and that it may be a useful tool for the study of relative regional cerebral blood flow in normal individuals.     

A Computational Model of the Fetal Circulation to Quantify Blood Redistribution in Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) due to placental insufficiency is associated with blood flow redistribution in order to maintain delivery of oxygenated blood to the brain. Given that, in the fetus the aortic isthmus (AoI) is a key arterial connection between the cerebral and placental circulations, quantifying AoI blood flow has been proposed to assess this brain sparing effect in clinical practice. While numerous clinical studies have studied this parameter, fundamental understanding of its determinant factors and its quantitative relation with other aspects of haemodynamic remodeling has been limited. Computational models of the cardiovascular circulation have been proposed for exactly this purpose since they allow both for studying the contributions from isolated parameters as well as estimating properties that cannot be directly assessed from clinical measurements. Therefore, a computational model of the fetal circulation was developed, including the key elements related to fetal blood redistribution and using measured cardiac outflow profiles to allow personalization. The model was first calibrated using patient-specific Doppler data from a healthy fetus. Next, in order to understand the contributions of the main parameters determining blood redistribution, AoI and middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow changes were studied by variation of cerebral and peripheral-placental resistances. Finally, to study how this affects an individual fetus, the model was fitted to three IUGR cases with different degrees of severity. In conclusion, the proposed computational model provides a good approximation to assess blood flow changes in the fetal circulation. The results support that while MCA flow is mainly determined by a fall in brain resistance, the AoI is influenced by a balance between increased peripheral-placental and decreased cerebral resistances. Personalizing the model allows for quantifying the balance between cerebral and peripheral-placental remodeling, thus providing potentially novel information to aid clinical follow up.     

In vivo pressure-flow curve in unilateral rat lung ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The pressure-flow (P-Q) curve has been widely used in many studies to describe the effects of various factors on vascular hemodynamics. It is not clear, however, whether unilateral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) alters the P-Q curve of the rat lung. In this study, we developed an in vivo P-Q curve using the unilateral (left) rat lung before and after IR. Animals were divided into two groups: sham and IR. The protocol of the IR group consisted of three periods: baseline, ischemia, and reperfusion. P-Q curves were obtained by altering blood flow of the left lung during the baseline and the reperfusion periods. The sham group received the same operation without IR procedure. An additional group was used to compare pulmonary blood flow measured by the microsphere and the ultrasonic methods. IR treatment rotated the P-Q curve toward the left, indicating an increase in resistance in the left lung. However, this rotation was not found in the sham group. A significant correlation (r = 0.87, P < 0.01) between percentages of blood flow obtained by the microsphere and ultrasonic methods in both right and left lungs was demonstrated. Therefore, we demonstrated a simple and useful technique to evaluate changes in the P-Q curves caused by IR in the unilateral rat lung model.     

Variation of technological adaptability evaluated by the performance and brain hemodynamics measurement

This paper investigates the applicability of cerebral blood flow in evaluating the technological adaptability for operating industrial products. The procedure of the experiment was explained to the subjects and informed consent was obtained from them. Twenty male and twenty female subjects (19-22 yrs) operated the destination setting task of a car navigation system. Subjects were divided into two sub groups to operate tasks of model A and model B of a car navigation system. Operation time of tasks and cerebral blood flow of frontal region were measured during tasks. Non-invasive measuring of regional cerebral blood flow was estimated by measuring deoxygenated hemoglobin, oxygenated hemoglobin, and total haemoglobin using the time resolved spectroscopy (TRS). Females were faster than males in operating the task of setting the destination searched by street address. Total haemoglobin of male subjects was significantly higher than that of females during resting and tasks. Changes of cerebral blood flow were observed during operating a car navigation system. In this paper we discussed the possibility of physiological evaluation for technological adaptability by means of the performance and brain hemodynamics measurement.     

Biochemical and Molecular Characteristics of the Brain with Developing Cerebral Infarction

1. We review the biochemical and molecular changes in brain with developing cerebral infarction, based on recent findings in experimental focal cerebral ischemia.2. Occlusion of a cerebral artery produces focal ischemia with a gradual decline of blood flow, differentiating a severely ischemic core where infarct develops rapidly and an area peripheral to the core where the blood flow reduction is moderate (called penumbra). Neuronal injury in the penumbra is essentially reversible but only for several hours. The penumbra area tolerates a longer duration of ischemia than the core and may be salvageable by pharmacological agents such as glutamate antagonists or prompt reperfusion.3. Upon reperfusion, brain cells alter their genomic properties so that protein synthesis becomes restricted to a small number of proteins such as stress proteins. Induction of the stress response is considered to be a rescue program to help to mitigate neuronal injury and to endow the cells with resistance to subsequent ischemic stress. The challenge now is to determine how the neuroprotection conferred by prior sublethal ischemia is achieved so that rational strategies can be developed to detect and manipulate gene expression in brain cells vulnerable to ischemia.4. Expansion of infarction may be caused by an apoptotic mechanism. Investigation of apoptosis may also help in designing novel molecular strategies to prevent ischemic cell death.5. Ischemia/reperfusion injury is accompanied by inflammatory reactions induced by neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages infiltrated and accumulated in ischemic areas. When the role of the inflammatory/immune systems in ischemic brain injury is revealed, new therapeutic targets and agents will emerge to complement and synergize with pharmacological intervention directed against glutamate and Ca²⁺ neurotoxicity.