Differentiating consistency of meningioma based on grey-level histogram analysis of T2WI

Objective To observe the value of grey-level histogram analysis based on T2WI for differentiating consistency of meningioma.Methods Data of 109 patients with meningioma were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into hard group(n=71)and soft group(n=38)according to the consistency of tumors.Tumor ROI was outlined on axial T2WI showing the largest tumor section,gray levels were extracted and histogram analysis was performed.The value of each histogram parameter were compared between groups.Then receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the efficiency for differentiating soft and hard meningioma.Results P 1,P 10,P 50,P 90,P 99 and the mean grey levels on T2WI in soft group were all higher than those in hard group(all P<0.05),while the variance,the kurtosis and the skewness were not significantly different between groups(all P>0.05).The differentiating efficiency of P 1,P 10,P 50,P 90,P 99 and the mean grey levels on T2WI were all fine,with AUC of 0.774 to 0.833,and no significant difference was found(all P>0.05).Conclusion Parameters of grey-level histogram analysis such as P 1,P 10,P 50,P 90,P 99 and the mean values based on T2WI were all valuable for differentiating soft and hard meningioma.

Bone and brain metastases from ampullary adenocarcinoma

Ampullary carcinoma is the second most common cancer of the peri-ampullary area after pancreatic carcinoma and metastasizes mostly intra-abdominally and to the liver.Extra-abdominal metastases are less frequent.In this report we describe the case of a patient with resected adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater who developed skeletal metastases in the lower extremity and brain metastases.We briefly discuss aspects of this comparatively rare gastrointestinal malignancy.

Effect of carotid artery stenting surgery combined with nimodipine on cerebral anterior circulation hemodynamics

Objective To evaluate the effect of carotid artery stenting combined with nimodipine on cerebral hemodynamics by comparing and analyzing the change of anterior cerebral blood flow before and after treatment through transcrania Doppler （TCD）. Methods Twenty patients with ischemic cerebrovascnlar disease were detected in blood flow velocity of bilateral middle cerebral arteries （MCA） and anterior cerebral arteries （ACA） and artery pulsatility index with TCD before and two weeks after treatment. Results After treatment, TCD examination showed dynamic changes in blood flow significantly, lpsilateral MCA flow velocity significantly increased; ipsilateral ACA flow velocity did not change significantly; there was no significant increase in the contralateral MCA flow velocity; flow rate decreased significantly in contralateral ACA. Conclusion Carotid artery stenting combined with nimodipine treatment can cause anterior cerebral hemodynamic changes in ipsilateral hemisphere and significantly improve blood flow

What Is Going on in the Minds of Translators？ A Review of Studies on Translation Process

Border areas have provided significant new research questions as well as fruitful insights and hypotheses. The cognitive and neuropsychologic study of translation process is a good example of this kind. This paper has surveyed various researches on translation process. Studies related to ＂the black box of translation＂ are divided into two categories, i.e., studies adopting think-aloud protocols, and studies from the physiology and neuroscientific perspectives. It has been noted that those studies on translation process have made some progress in the past years Firstly, the participants have undergone a change from language learners to professional translators or interpreters Secondly, the purposes of the studies have a tendency of gradually becoming specific. Thirdly, more rigorous methodologies have been developed, with more and more new technological approaches being applied

Clinical, brain electric earth map, endothelin and transcranial ultrasonic Doppler findings after hyperbaric oxygen treatment for severe brain injury

目的 探讨高压氧治疗重型颅脑损伤的疗效及机制。方法 重型颅脑损伤患者 35例为治疗组 ,2 0例为对照组 ,观察高压氧治疗前后临床 (GCS)、脑电地形图 (BEAM)、血内皮素 (ET)、经颅多普勒超声 (TCD)及预后 (GOS)的变化。结果 治疗组患者经高压氧治疗后临床 (GCS)、脑电地形图及预后均明显改善 ,与对照组相比有统计学意义。高压氧治疗 1个疗程后 ,治疗组血内皮素由 91 2 4± 12 18ng/L下降到 6 8 88± 14 37ng/L(P <0 0 1) ;经颅多普勒超声示大脑中动脉Vm也由 6 4 2± 4 8cm/s下降到 51 6± 4 2cm/s(P <0 0 1) ;同时 ,大脑中动脉VsPI也明显下降。统计学有显著性意义 (P <0 0 1)。结论 高压氧治疗能够明显改善重型颅脑损伤患者的临床、脑电地形图及预后 ,并且通过降低急性期血内皮素、改善大脑中动脉血流速度及血管阻力来改善重型颅脑损伤后脑血管痉挛及脑缺血缺氧。同时 ,降低颅内压是高压氧治疗重度颅脑损伤的重要机制之一。

Efficacy of acupuncture in combination with medicine for mild cognitive impairment after cerebral infarction:a randomized controlled trial

Objective To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture in combination with medicine in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment after cerebral infarction as well as the impact on patients＇ daily living ability. Methods Seventy-two patients, in accordance with random number table, were divided into two groups, acupuncture combined with western medicine group （group A） and western medicine group （group B）, each group with 36 patients. In combination with nimodipine tablets, acupuncture which can regulate the mind and reinforce the intelligence [making Baihui （百会 GV 20）, Sishencong （四神聪EX-HN 1）, Sibai （四白 ST 2）, Fengchi （风池 GB 20）, Wanggu （完骨 GB 12）, Tianzhu （天柱 BL 10）, Shenmen （神门 HT 7）, Neiguan （内关 PC 6）, Shuigou （水沟 GV 26）, Sanyinjiao （三阴交 SP 6）, Taichong （太冲 LR 3）, Fenglong （丰隆 ST 40） as the main acupoints] was given in the treatment group （group A） while only nimodipine tablets were given in the control group （group B）. The efficacy of these two groups was evaluated by Montreal Cognitive Assessment （MoCA） Scale after the continuous treatment for three months. Results The remarkably effective rate was 69.4%.and the total effective rate was 91.7% in the treatment group, while the remarkably effective rate was 55.6% and the total effective rate was 80.6% in the control group; the differences between the two groups were statistically significant （P〈0.05）. When comparing the MoCA score before and after treatment, which was 20.23±4.67 before treatment and 26.84±3.87 after treatment in group A; 19.82±3.56 before treatment and 23.33±2.78 after treatment in group B, it was found that the score for both groups became higher after treatment than that before treatment. Furthermore, the increase of the score was higher in the treatment group （6.61±0.80） than that in the control group （3.51±0.78） and the differences were statistically significant （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Acupuncture, which can regulate the mind and reinforce the intelligence, combined with nimodipine tablets is an effective therapy for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment after cerebral infarction, which is superior to single treatment with nimodipine tablets.

霞山老怪

霞山属武陵山余脉,自古多蛇。菜花蛇、谷花蛇、大王蛇、刺刀背、红缎蛇、银环蛇、金环蛇、竹叶青、五步蛇、蝰蛇、眼镜蛇都有。尤其以蝮蛇最多,大部分都是剧毒。毒蛇多潜伏在草里,神出鬼没,不觉防就咬伤了人。不及时治疗,就会丧命。那个年代,霞山一带每年都有很多人被蛇咬,因此,就出现了很多蛇医。蛇医治疗都是用草药。霞山上以及霞山下的田头地脑,沟沟坎坎上都有蛇药。现用现采,很方便。

Effect of dexamethasone by local treatment on cerebral edema and serum myelin basic protein after brain injury in rabbits

To explore the effect of dexamethasone by local treatment on cerebral edema and brain damage after brain injury. Methods: Twenty-two rabbits were classified into 2 groups, Group A (the control group, n=11) and Group B (the treated group, n=11). An rabbit brain contusion model was made by bone windowplasty by extradural hitting. Group B was treated by local infiltrating and spraying of dexamethasone at equidistance to lesions. Group A was given normal saline in the same way as Group B. The changes of moisture in brain tissues and serum myelin basic protein (MBP) were observed. Results: The percentage of water content in damaged hemisphere in Group A and Group B was 81.75 %± 0.56 % and 79.45 %± 0.52 % respectively. There was a significant difference between the 2 groups (P< 0.05 ). The normal level of MBP was 1.66 μg/L± 0.71 μg/L, while the value of MBP in Group A and Group B were 5.98 μg/L± 2.08 μg/L and 3.15 μg/L± 1.09 μg/L separately. The level of MBP in Group A and Group B were higher than normal level and there was also a significant difference between Group A and Group B (P< 0.05 ). Conclusions: The results of our study showed that the brain moisture and MBP in serum were increased after brain injury while reduced after treatment with dexamethasone. It is demonstrated that local treatment of brain injury with dexamethasone has an obvious therapeutic effect on cerebral edema and serum MBP.

Therapeutic effect of nimodipine on experimental brain injury

Objective: To study the therapeutic effect of nimodipine on experimental brain injury. Methods: Experimental and control rabbits were subjected to a closed head injury. In one group nimodipine was given intravenously and the effect evaluated by electron microscopy, brain water content, calcium levels, transcranial Doppler, and intracranial pressure monitoring. Results: In rabbits treated with nimodipine the level of neuronal cytosolic free calcium was markedly decreased. There were less cellular damage and less spasm of the middle cerebral artery seen on electron microscopy. No difference regarding intracranial pressure changes between the two groups was noted. Conclusions: Nimodipine has a protective action on brain injury by blocking a series of pathological reactions induced by neuronal calcium overload, and by reducing the spasm of brain vessels and improving cerebral blood flow.

Controlled study of nimodipine in treatment of patients with diffuse axonal injury

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of early intervention with nimodipine treatment in diffuse axonal injury. Methods: Based on the characteristic radiological signs and criteria for diffuse axonal injury (DAI), 89 patients with the diagnosis of DAI were enrolled in this randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial. Results: Nimodipine proved to be safe and well tolerated. With TCD sonography we found that there was a higher incidence of cerebral vasospasm in this series ( 38.2 %). Overall, Nimodipine produced a better clinical result than placebo, but there was no statistically significant difference in favorable outcome at 3 months after injury (P= 0.11 ) between the two groups. A trend toward a favorable effect was suggested by the analyses in two small subgroups, either in the patients suffering from clinical Grade Ⅲ DAI (P= 0.04 ), or in those with the TCD evidence of cerebral vasospasm during clinical observation (P= 0.049 ). Conclusions: We postulate that a clinically valuable benefit is possible with nimodipine treatment in DAI patients. However, the effects on outcome should be verified by further controlled study.

Epidemiological features of I 281 patients with head injuries arising from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

Objective： To analyze the epidemiological features of patients with head injuries in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Methods： Medical records of patients with head injuries who were admitted to 14 hospitals in Deyang, Mianyang and Chengdu cities after the earthquake were retrospectively analyzed. The patients＇ age, gender, cause of injury, diagnosis, and outcome were analyzed retrospectively. Results： A total of 1 281 patients with 807 males and 474 females were included. According to Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission, 1 029 patients presented with mild injury, 161 moderate injury and 91 severe injury. The major cause of injuries （83%） was bruise by collapsed buildings.Open head injuries accounted for 60.8%. A total of 720 patients underwent surgical treatment. Good recovery was achieved in 1 056 patients, moderate disability in 106, se- vere disability in 71, coma in 29 and death in 19. Conclusions： In this series, male patients were more than female patients. The main cause of injury was hit by falling objects due to building collapse. Minor and open craniocerebral injuries were most common. The epidemiological features of head injuries in Wenchuan earthquake may be helpful to preparation for future rescue.

Suicide bomb attack causing penetrating craniocerebral injury

Penetrating cerebral injuries caused by foreign bodies are rare in civilian neurosurgical trauma, al- though there are various reports of blast or gunshot injuries in warfare due to multiple foreign bodies like pellets and nails. In our case, a 30-year-old man presented to neurosurgery clinic with signs and symptoms of right-sided weakness after suicide bomb attack. The skull X-ray showed a single intracranial nail. Small craniotomy was done and the nail was removed with caution to avoid injury to surrounding normal brain tissue. At 6 months＇ follow-up his right- sided power improved to against gravity.