Response of pulmonary veins to increased intracranial pressure and pulmonary air embolization

Brain compression with subdural air causes pulmonary hypertension and noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (A. B. Malik, J. Appl. Physiol.: Respirat. Environ. Exercise Physiol. 42: 335-343, 1977). To see whether air emboli to the lungs rather than brain compression caused these findings, anesthetized dogs received intravenous air infusions, subdural air infusions, or brain compression from balloons inflated in the subdural space. Subdural air and intravenous air resulted in similar vascular responses. Pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) increased 160% (P less than 0.01) and pulmonary venous pressure transiently rose 13 +/- 5 Torr (P less than 0.05) without an increase in left atrial pressure or cardiac output (Q). The end-tidal PCO2 fell 55% (P less than 0.01) and the postmortem weight of the lungs increased 55% (P less than 0.05). Brain compression with a subdural balloon instead of air only caused a 20% rise in Ppa and Q without pulmonary edema. Thus, pulmonary air emboli rather than brain compression accounts for the edema and pulmonary hypertension caused by subdural air. Catheters in pulmonary veins and the left atrium showed that air emboli cause transient pulmonary venous hypertension as well as a reproducible form of noncardiogenic pulmonary endema.     

Neurosurgical complications of anticoagulant therapy

Ten cases of subdural hematoma and one case of spinal epidural hematoma encountered in patients who were receiving anticoagulant therapy are discussed.This surprisingly large number of complications was observed within three years in a single hospital and represents 36.6% of all chronic and subacute subdural hematomas seen during the same period. The cases are analyzed and the conclusion reached that the causal relationship between anticoagulant therapy and hemorrhage cannot be denied.Suggestions are made as to how to decrease the danger of such complications.     

CEREBRAL COMPLICATIONS INCURRED DURING PREGNANCY AND THE PUERPERIUM

In a statistical study of maternal mortality cases in Franklin County, Ohio, with a total of 170 deaths in a ten-year period (1948-1957), there were 36 fatal cases with cerebral complications of various types. Intracranial hemorrhage was the cause of death in 17 cases; subarachnoid hemorrhage in eight; intracerebral hemorrhage in eight and subdural hemorrhage in one case. There were nine cases of intracranial tumor with fatality. In a miscellaneous group of ten “cerebral deaths” infectious processes were the cause in eight cases, including tuberculous meningitis, purulent meningitis, brain abscess, acute (cerebromedullary) poliomyelitis, “viral” encephalitis, toxoplasmosis and tetanus.In a smaller clinical (nonfatal) group with cerebral complications occurring during pregnancy and the puerperium, two patients with subarachnoid hemorrhages made spontaneous recovery. A diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage was made in three instances, in two of which operation was done and evacuation of blood clots was accomplished. One patient recovered spontaneously from a minimal hemorrhage.Five other persons had cerebral thrombosis, three in the third month of pregnancy and two in the immediate puerperium. All recovered, with some residual deficits.Three patients with intracranial tumor were successfully treated surgically but with disappointing results ultimately (one case each of cerebellar medulloblastoma, cerebral astrocytoma and supratentorial meningioma).Only when the obstetrician, neurologist and the neurosurgeon are fully aware of the signs, symptoms, and many times the rapid course of these cerebral complications of pregnancy, can there be any material lowering of the morbidity and mortality. Emphasis should be placed on the early investigation of all neurological complaints during pregnancy and the puerperium, with immediate institution of an aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic regimen.     

Observations in five cases of spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage

Five cases of spontaneous intracerebellar hemorrhage are reported. Three had a vascular malformation and two had mild hypertension. The presenting symptom was sudden headache followed by nausea and vomiting. Signs of brain stem dysfunction without prominent cerebellar deficit were the commonest feature. Meningeal involvement was present in the majority of cases. Unsuspected sudden death can occur. It is suggested that patients below the age of 30 who present with sudden headache followed by brain stem dysfunction with or without a subarachnoid hemorrhage, and patients over the age of 45 who present this picture along with subarachnoid hemorrhage should be investigated urgently with contrast studies for possible cerebellar hemorrhage.     

Risk of Ischemic Stroke after Intracranial Hemorrhage in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Background

We aimed to estimate the risk of ischemic stroke after intracranial hemorrhage in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Materials and Methods

Using discharge data from all nonfederal acute care hospitals and emergency departments in California, Florida, and New York from 2005 to 2012, we identified patients at the time of a first-recorded encounter with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage were identified using validated diagnosis codes. Kaplan-Meier survival statistics and Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to evaluate cumulative rates of ischemic stroke and the relationship between incident intracranial hemorrhage and subsequent stroke.

Results

Among 2,084,735 patients with atrial fibrillation, 50,468 (2.4%) developed intracranial hemorrhage and 89,594 (4.3%) developed ischemic stroke during a mean follow-up period of 3.2 years. The 1-year cumulative rate of stroke was 8.1% (95% CI, 7.5–8.7%) after intracerebral hemorrhage, 3.9% (95% CI, 3.5–4.3%) after subdural hemorrhage, and 2.0% (95% CI, 2.0–2.1%) in those without intracranial hemorrhage. After adjustment for the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, stroke risk was elevated after both intracerebral hemorrhage (hazard ratio [HR], 2.8; 95% CI, 2.6–2.9) and subdural hemorrhage (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.5–1.7). Cumulative 1-year rates of stroke ranged from 0.9% in those with subdural hemorrhage and a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of 0, to 33.3% in those with intracerebral hemorrhage and a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of 9.

Conclusions

In a large, heterogeneous cohort, patients with atrial fibrillation faced a substantially heightened risk of ischemic stroke after intracranial hemorrhage. The risk was most marked in those with intracerebral hemorrhage and high CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores.     

Effect of short-term adaptation to hypoxia on the development of acute cerebral circulatory disorders in rats genetically disposed to epilepsy

The exposure of KM rats genetically predisposed to autogenic convulsive fits, to hypobaric hypoxia had a protective effect on the extension of cerebrovascular disorders in conditions of acoustic stress, reducing the severity of motor disorders and the degree of intracranial hemorrhage (subdural, subarachnoidal, intraventricular).     

肝癌自发性破裂出血的MRI诊断

目的：探讨肝癌自发性破裂出血的MRI图像特征。方法：对6例经手术或肝动脉血管造影确诊为原发性肝癌破裂出血患者的MR图像进行回顾性分析,总结其临床特点及MRI图像特征。结果：6例患者均行MR平扫及增强扫描,肝被膜下出血4例,腹腔内出血2例。出血表现为T1WI呈高或等信号,T2WI呈高或低信号,5例可清晰显示肿瘤破口。结论：MR诊断肝癌自发性破裂出血及时、准确,T1WI及延迟扫描冠状位图像对诊断有定性意义。     

Atheromatous embolic disease.

In five patients with atheromatous embolic disease, the diagnosis was made before death in four -- on the basis of cholesterol emboli in the retina in three and from renal pathologic features in 1. Muscle biopsy demonstrated emboli in one patient, and emboli were seen in the vessels of amputated toes in two. All patients died of renal failure, but there was evidence of multisystem involvement in addition. Autopsy in four cases showed characteristic cholesterol emboli in many organs.     

Mapping by waves. Patterned spontaneous activity regulates retinotopic map refinement

A role for spontaneous spiking activity in shaping neuronal circuits has frequently been debated. Analyses of retinotopy in mutant mice with reduced correlated firing among neighboring retinal cells by Grubb et al. and McLaughlin et al. in this issue of Neuron indicate the importance of patterned spontaneous activity for retinotopic map refinement in subcortical visual targets.     

Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage caused by segmental arterial mediolysis

Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage is a rare clinical entity; signs and symptoms include pain, hematuria, and shock. Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage can be caused by tumors, such as renal cell carcinoma and angiomyolipoma; polyarteritis nodosa; and nephritis. The least common cause is segmental arterial mediolysis. Although computed tomography is used for the diagnosis of spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage, it can miss segmental arterial mediolysis as the cause of the hemorrhage. The diagnosis of segmental arterial mediolysis as a cause of spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage requires angiography, with pathologic confirmation for a definitive diagnosis.     

A clinical analysis on 40 cases of spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome

Objective: To investigate clinical and imaging features of 40 patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH).

Methods: 40 cases of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) diagnosed in our hospital from June 2013 to September 2017 were collected and retrospectively analyzed.

Results: In our study, the male to female ratio was 2:3. The average age of onset was 43.0?±?15.0?years. There were 12 (30.0%) patients with clear incentives, mostly catching cold. The average length of hospital stay was 11.2?±?6.3?days. All the patients showed orthostatic headaches, 62.5% patients with nausea or vomiting, 40.0% patients with neck stiffness, 17.5% patients with dizziness and vertigo, 10.0% patients with numbness and weakness of limbs, 5% patients with neck discomfort, and 2.5% patients with visual symptoms (visual impairment, photophobia, diplopia). 24 patients underwent CT scans which showed no abnormalities in 20 cases (83.3%), subdural fluid accumulation in 3 cases (12.5%), and subdural haematoma in 1 case (2.5%). Cranial contrast-enhanced MR scans showed diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement (95.83%, 23/24), signs of pituitary hyperaemia in 5 cases (20.8%), subdural fluid accumulation and subdural hematoma in 4 cases (16.7%), sagging of the brain in 3 cases (12.5%), and engorgement of venous structures in 1 case (4.1%). Six patients underwent plain and contrast-enhanced spinal MR scans which showed varying degrees of dural thickening and enhanced performance in all the patients. 92.5% (37/40) of patients had cerebrospinal fluid pressure <60 mmH₂O on lumbar puncture. 97.5% of patients underwent conservative treatment with drugs and had a good outcome.

Conclusion: Orthostatic headache and cranial MRI diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement are characteristic features of SIH. Cranial contrast-enhanced MR scan is recognized as the first and non-invasive investigation in the diagnosis of SIH. Most patients had cerebrospinal fluid pressure <60 mmH₂O. The vast majority of patients improved with fluid replacement.     

肝癌自发性破裂出血的MRI诊断

目的:探讨肝癌自发性破裂出血的MRI图像特征。方法:对6例经手术或肝动脉血管造影确诊为原发性肝癌破裂出血患者的MR图像进行回顾性分析,总结其临床特点及MRI图像特征。结果:6例患者均行MR平扫及增强扫描,肝被膜下出血4例,腹腔内出血2例。出血表现为T1WI呈高或等信号,T2WI呈高或低信号,5例可清晰显示肿瘤破口。结论:MR诊断肝癌自发性破裂出血及时、准确,T1WI及延迟扫描冠状位图像对诊断有定性意义。     

应激性高血糖与急性自发性脑出血患者术后并发症和早期预后的相关性研究

目的:探讨应激性高血糖与自发性脑出血患者术后并发症及早期预后的关系。方法:回顾性分析我院收治的自发性脑出血患者358例,根据入院时血糖水平、糖化血红蛋白(HbAlc)及既往有无糖尿病史分为血糖正常组(96例)、应激性高血糖组(107例)及糖尿病组(155例),记录和比较各组入院时的血糖、格拉斯哥昏迷评分(GCS)、平均出血量及入院后30 d时各组的术后并发症发生情况、格拉斯哥预后评分(GOS)的差异。结果:糖尿病组入院时血糖水平、平均出血量、重型患者所占比率、脑出血破入脑室、颅内再出血、颅内感染、肺部感染、尿路感染及上消化道出血发生率、GOS分级植物状态或死亡发生率均明显高于应激性高血糖组(P0.05),GOS分级良好率低于应激性高血糖组(P0.05);而应激性高血糖组入院时血糖水平、平均出血量、重型患者所占比率、脑出血破入脑室、颅内再出血发生率、GOS分级植物状态或死亡发生率均明显高于血糖正常组(P0.05)。结论:自发性脑出血患者入院时应激性高血糖与患者的病情显著相关,可加重急性脑出血的不良预后。     

BRAIN评分联合D-二聚体、中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值对自发性脑出血血肿扩大的预测价值研究

目的:研究BRAIN评分联合D-二聚体、中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值(NLR)对自发性脑出血血肿扩大(HE)的预测价值。方法:将我院于2019年4月~2020年6月期间收治的73例自发性脑出血患者纳入研究。将所有受试者按照是否发生HE分作HE组以及无HE组。比较两组各项基线资料以及实验室相关检查指标水平,并通过多因素Logistic回归分析明确自发性脑出血HE的影响因素。此外,采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析BRAIN评分联合D-二聚体、NLR预测自发性脑出血HE的效能。结果:HE组入院时舒张压以及BRAIN评分、美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表(NIHSS)评分均明显高于无HE组,而格拉斯哥昏迷量表(GCS)评分明显低于无HE组(均P<0.05)。HE组D-二聚体以及NLR水平均高于无HE组(均P<0.05)。经多因素Logistic回归分析发现:D-二聚体、NLR水平以及BRAIN评分均是自发性脑出血HE的危险因素,而GCS评分是其保护因素(均P<0.05)。经ROC曲线分析可得:BRAIN评分联合D-二聚体、NLR预测HE的敏感度、特异度、曲线下面积(AUC)均明显高于各指标单独应用。结论:BRAIN评分联合D-二聚体、NLR对自发性脑出血HE的预测价值较高,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

Spontaneous ophthalmic lesions in young Swiss mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Outbred mice are frequently used in toxicity evaluation. Due to their small size, ophthalmologic examination of such animals is difficult with regard to restraint and use of instruments designed for human medicine. The clinical appearance and incidence of spontaneous ophthalmic lesions should be helpful in selecting mice for toxicity studies and allow distinction between intercurrent spontaneous ocular changes and those attributable to drugs or chemicals. METHODS: Pretest ophthalmologic examinations of about 3,000 4- to 5-week-old Swiss mice, Crl:CD1 (ICR)BR, conducted in 1995 and 1996, provided information about spontaneous ocular changes and their incidence. Eye evaluations were performed after pupil dilatation (0.5% tropicamide instillation), using indirect ophthalmoscopy, and when indicated, a portable slit lamp. RESULTS: Lenticular opacities and heterogeneity/prominence were the most common findings (up to 19%) in the anterior segment. Abnormalities of the cornea and iris were detected in up to 4% of mice. Hyaloid artery remnant, as well as isolated cases of floating bodies or hemorrhage, was observed in the vitreous of 12 to 17% of mice. Approximately 2 to 4% of mice had colobomatous fundus, retinal fold, or retinal atrophy. A few mice had chorioretinal atrophy, hemorrhage, or abnormal pattern of the retinal vasculature. Remaining findings consisted of incomplete palpebral fissure, microphthalmia, exophthalmia, ophthalmic hemorrhage, and scleral mass. CONCLUSIONS: Due to severity of the condition or interference with ocular examination, affected mice should be eliminated from experimental studies. Hence, pretest ocular examinations of mice are indicated in safety-assessment toxicity studies.     

Is Remodelling of Corticospinal Tract Terminations Originating in the Intact Hemisphere Associated with Recovery following Transient Ischaemic Stroke in the Rat?

Following large strokes that encompass the cerebral cortex, it has been suggested that the corticospinal tract originating from the non-ischaemic hemisphere reorganises its pattern of terminal arborisation within the spinal cord to compensate for loss of function. However many strokes in humans predominantly affect subcortical structures with minimal involvement of the cerebral cortex. The aim of the present study was to determine whether remodelling of corticospinal terminals arising from the non-ischaemic hemisphere was associated with spontaneous recovery in rats with subcortical infarcts. Rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion or sham surgery and 28 days later, when animals exhibited functional recovery, cholera toxin b subunit was injected into the contralesional, intact forelimb motor cortex in order to anterogradely label terminals within cervical spinal cord segments. Infarcts were limited to subcortical structures and resulted in partial loss of corticospinal tract axons from the ischaemic hemisphere. Quantitative analysis revealed there was no significant difference in the numbers of terminals on the contralesional side of the spinal grey matter between ischaemic and sham rats. The results indicate that significant remodelling of the corticospinal tract from the non-ischaemic hemisphere is not associated with functional recovery in animals with subcortical infarcts.     

Treatment of large complex cranial bone defects by using hydroxyapatite ceramic implants

Hydroxyapatite ceramic implants were used in the reconstruction of very large and complex-form cranial bone defects in nine patients. The bone defects were the result of craniectomy after infections and other complications such as severe brain edema, after neurosurgery, and as a result of trauma, subdural hemorrhage, and surgery for brain tumor. The size, shape, and curvature of the hydroxyapatite ceramic implants were determined based on high-precision, full-scale models fabricated through a laser lithographic molding method by using computed tomographic data. The use of this method allowed the fabrication of hydroxyapatite ceramic implants of shapes that accurately matched the area of bone defect, allowing for a minimum of adjustment during the operation even with a complex-form implantation. Not only were good cranial contour reconstructed and aesthetically satisfactory results obtained in the cases treated by incorporating this series of techniques, but neurologic conditions present in some cases were also improved to some extent. The postoperative course has been steady for all nine patients, with no blood transfusions required during or after the operations and no implants requiring removal because of infection or other postoperative complications. The average length of postoperative hospitalization for the nine cases was 11.7 days, remarkably short considering the clinical conditions.     

Pulmonary Thromboembolism Presenting as Asthma

When a patient presents with wheezing, pulmonary embolism is not usually considered as a possible cause. However, undoubtedly bronchoconstriction can be caused by pulmonary emboli and occasionally wheezing may be so obvious as to suggest a diagnosis of bronchial asthma. Eleven cases are reported in which wheezing was attributable to recurrent pulmonary emboli and one in which it was a clamant feature after a single embolic incident.     

Effect of lithium oxybutyrate on excitability of the cortex and some subcortical structures in rabbit brain

Lithium oxybutyrate microinjections (10 mg/ml) produce a depressant action on spontaneous bioelectrical activity of the cortex and subcortical structure. The drug brings down excitability of the motor cortex, hippocampus, caudate nucleus, thalamus, posterior hypothalamus and mesencephalic reticular formation; it also raises excitability of the tonsils. The depressant effect of lithium oxybutyrate is superior to that of lithium chloride.     

Morphology and function of the lateral line of juvenile steelhead trout in relation to gas-bubble disease*

General morphology of the lateral line of juvenile steelhead trout, Salmo gairdneri, is described. Through electrophysiological monitoring of individual nerve fibres, control patterns for spontaneous activity and reaction to sensory receptor stimulation were established. Spontaneous activity has a positive correlation with temperature and number of receptors innervated. Presence of directional sensitivity and response to near field water displacement at different frequencies is similar to that found in other fishes and amphibians. Normal lateral line response to a standardized set of stimuli was compared with the response of fish affected by gas-bubble disease. Results show that as gas emboli formed in the scale pockets of the trunk lateral line of stressed fish, the ability to respond to stimuli was either diminished or completely disappeared. Further testing demonstrated that this sensory loss was reversible and that upon return to equilibrated water gas emboli disappeared and normal function was regained. This sublethal effect of gas-bubble disease on the lateral line sensory system may be an important element contributing to indirect mortality.