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Objective:To explore the changes in the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of the pontocerebellar tract 3 months and one year after ischemic stroke and analyze the data′s potential for predicting long-term motor outcomes.Methods:Thirty patients with middle cerebral artery infarction were prospectively studied using DTI within 3 months and 1 year after the onset. A region of interest-based analysis was performed for the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the middle cerebellar peduncles (MCP) in the pontocerebellar fibers (PCF). Neurological functioning was evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and the degree of paresis was assessed at the same time using paresis grading. At one year after the onset, balance function, functional prognosis and self-care ability were evaluated using the Brunel Balance Scale, the modified Rankine Scale and the Functional Independence Scale respectively.Results:The average FA on the healthy side 3 months and 1 year after onset was significantly less than on the affected side at each time point. The ratio of the FA of the affected side to that of the unaffected side (rFA) in the PCF correlated significantly with the average paresis scores of the lower and upper extremity and the total paresis score at each time point. Moreover, the rFA of the PCF was significantly correlated with the average functional independence score, the prognosis for the upper and lower extremities as well as motor functioning. The area ratio under the ROC curve of the PCF for predicting lower extremity motor outcome was 0.84, and the optimal threshold was 0.92 (sensitivity 71.4%, specificity 73.9%). The area ratio under the ROC curve was not a significant predictor of upper extremity motor outcome.Conclusion:The DTI parameter rFA of the PCF in patients with subacute middle cerebral artery infarction can help to predict the long-term recovery of motor ability. It can serve as an important reference index for predicting the long-term motor ability of the lower limbs.
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Objective@#To determine the subcortical areas associated with post-stroke dysphagia and its recovery using diffusion tensor images.@*Methods@#Ten patients with middle cerebral artery lesions and dysphagia were selected into the dysphagia group, while another 10 counterparts without dysphagia were chosen for the non-dysphagia group. The ratios of diffuse anisotropy (rFAs) in eleven regions of interest (ROIs) on both the healthy and affected sides were recorded and compared between the two groups. One and 3 months later, the rFA values of the dysphagia group were again measured and the rFAs were related with dysphagia outcomes and severity using Spearman correlation analysis.@*Results@#Comparing the rFAs of the 11 ROIs between the two groups revealed significant differences between the insulae of the dysphagia group and the non-dysphagia group. Three months later the rFA values of the insulae, cerebral peduncles and superior cerebellar peduncles had increased significantly in the dysphagia group. The average dysphagia outcome and severity score of the dysphagia group was significantly lower one month after the treatment than 3 months later. Moreover, the outcome and severity score was found to be significantly correlated with the rFA values of the insulae and of the superior cerebellar peduncles one month after the treatment, but with that of the cerebral peduncles only after 3 months.@*Conclusion@#Dysphagia within one month of the onset of infarction is related to the insulae, the cerebral peduncles and the superior cerebellar peduncles. After 3 months it is associated with the cerebral peduncles.
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Objective To determine the subcortical areas associated with post-stroke dysphagia and its re-covery using diffusion tensor images. Methods Ten patients with middle cerebral artery lesions and dysphagia were selected into the dysphagia group, while another 10 counterparts without dysphagia were chosen for the non-dysphagia group. The ratios of diffuse anisotropy ( rFAs) in eleven regions of interest ( ROIs) on both the healthy and affected sides were recorded and compared between the two groups. One and 3 months later, the rFA values of the dysphagia group were again measured and the rFAs were related with dysphagia outcomes and severity using Spearman correla-tion analysis. Results Comparing the rFAs of the 11 ROIs between the two groups revealed significant differences between the insulae of the dysphagia group and the non-dysphagia group. Three months later the rFA values of the in-sulae, cerebral peduncles and superior cerebellar peduncles had increased significantly in the dysphagia group. The average dysphagia outcome and severity score of the dysphagia group was significantly lower one month after the treat-ment than 3 months later. Moreover, the outcome and severity score was found to be significantly correlated with the rFA values of the insulae and of the superior cerebellar peduncles one month after the treatment, but with that of the cerebral peduncles only after3 months. Conclusion Dysphagia within one month of the onset of infarction is related to the insulae,the cerebral peduncles and the superior cerebellar peduncles.After 3 months it is associated with the cerebral peduncles.
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Objective To determine the utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging to support physical findings in different stages of recovery and in recommending treatment regimens.Methods Forty-three hemiplegic stroke survivors with shoulder pain were enrolled.Physical examinations were performed 3 and 6 months after the stroke using a visual analogue scale (VAS),a modified Ashworth scale,measurements of passive range of motion and Brunnstrom staging.This was coupled with sonography of the long head of the biceps,the subscapularis tendon,the supraspinatus tendon,the infraspinatus tendon,the acromioclavicular joint and the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa.Results Three months after the stroke the average VAS score correlated negatively with the average Brunnstrom stage of the shoulders (r=-0.39,P≤0.01),with the range of passive abduction (r=-0.56,P≤ 0.01),the range of passive external rotation (r=-0.36,P≤ 0.02),and the range of passive flexion (r=-0.37,P≤ 0.02).It was positively correlated with abnormal sonographic findings of the long head tendon of the biceps (r=0.32,P≤ 0.04),the subscapularis tendons (r=0.31,P≤0.04) and the supraspinatus tendons (r=0.53,P≤0.01).However,3 months later the VAS results were negatively correlated with Brunnstrom stage (r=-0.45,P ≤ 0.01),range of passive shoulder abduction (r=-0.60,P≤0.01),range of passive external rotation (r=-0.41,P≤0.01),and passive range of flexion (r=-0.52,P≤ 0.01),but positively correlated with spasticity (r=0.34,P≤ 0.03),biceps tendinopathy (r=0.45,P≤0.01),subscapularis tendinopathy (r=0.33,P≤ 0.03) and supraspinatus tendinopathy (r=0.56,P≤ 0.01).Rotator cuff injury was significantly more severe 6 months after stroke than at 3 months.The incidence of pain in the hemiplegic shoulder and abnormal sonographic findings of the biceps tendon and subscapularis tendon were significantly higher at 6 months than at 3 months after the stroke.Supraspinatus tendon problems were notable both at 3 and 6 months.Conclusions Pain in a hemiplegic shoulder is positively correlated with abnormal sonographic findings but negatively correlated with Brunnstrom stages and passive range of motion 3 and 6 months after stroke.Six months after stroke,pain is positively correlated with muscle tone.The tendon at the long head of the biceps and the rotator cuff are vulnerable to injury,especially at 6 months after stroke.
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Background In previous study,peripheral retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness is considered to be the earliest structural changes which can be detected.3D-OCT can measure the thickness of macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC),which makes the detection of primary glaucoma possible in the early stage.Objective This study was to measure the thickness of mGCC and disc-peripheral RNFL in early stage of primary glaucomous eyes by 3D-OCT and assess the anatomic basis of glaucoma-induced optical nerve damage.Methods 3D-OCT images from 10 patients with advanced stage primary glaucoma in one lateral eye and early stage glaucoma in fellow eye from December 2010 to December 2012 were prospectively analyzed in China-Japan Friendship Hospital.The patients were diagnosed based on the recommended standard of National glaucoma group (1987 version) and received routine eye examination.3D-OCT scanning was performed using 3D-macular mode,3D-macular Wide mode and 3D-disc mode with TOPCON 3D-OCT 2000 system,and the images at macular 6 mm×6 mm area were analyzed.The posterior pole area was divided into 5 concentric rings from fovea toward periphery and equally subdivided into 100 small checks,with the area of 0.6 mm×0.6 mm for each.The probable values in each check were calculated as the ratio of each figure and corresponding normal value.The probable values were expressed as red color (P＜ 1％),yellow color (P＜5％) and gray color (P≥ 5％).Then the disc-periphery RNFL thickness and disc cup were evaluated.Results No evident abnormality was found in the thicknesses of photoreceptors layer and bipolar cell layer in both advanced glaucomous eyes and the early stage of glaucomous eyes in the 10 patients.Serious damage of visual field was seen in the advanced glaucomous eyes and presented with red color in the parapapillary RNFL area,mGCC area and macular RNFL area,showing an evidently attenuation of the thicknesses of parapapillary RNFL,mGCC and RNFL.However,the visual field was close normal in the early stage glaucomous eyes,and mGCC and macular RNFL showed yellow color,while green or yellow color was exhibited in the parapapillary RNFL area,indicating mGCC and macular RNFL thickness was reduced,but parapapillar RNFL thickness was near normal.Conclusions The change of mGCC thickness is earlier than that of peripheral RNFL at optic disc in primary glaucomaous eyes,which may imply that the disappear of macular ganglion cell body is earlier than that of the axon.