ABSTRACT
Resumen La prosopagnosia es un tipo de agnosia visual caracterizada por la incapacidad de reconocer los rostros de las personas. Existen básicamente dos variantes, aperceptivas y asociativas. El "efecto Tortoni" es un fenómeno descripto por Bekinschtein y col. hace unos años en mozos de café en Buenos Aires, quienes utilizaban esta herramienta para recordar los pedidos de cada integrante de una mesa. Presentamos un caso de prosopagnosia asociada a lesión temporo-occipital bilateral secundaria a traumatismo encefalocra neano, manifestada en forma inicial por la falta de reconocimiento de rostros, con la utilización de una estra tegia asociativa similar a la descripta en el efecto "Tortoni" como compensación. Mujer de 62 años que sufrió un traumatismo encefalocraneano grave. Pocos meses después del evento, presentó dificultad para reconocer personas conocidas, hecho evidenciado por sus allegados cuando en una mesa los integrantes cambiaron su asiento, permanecieron callados por unos instantes, y posteriormente la paciente continuó nombrándolos por su ubicación previa. En la resonancia magnética de cerebro se objetivaron lesiones contusas de aspecto secuelar en región temporo-occipital bilateral. La prosopagnosia adquirida secundaria a lesiones focales en la región temporo-occipital generalmente bilateral, derecha, y raramente izquierda, es un cuadro poco frecuente. La es trategia utilizada en el "efecto Tortoni" fue en nuestra paciente una de las manifestaciones iniciales del cuadro. La realización de un test neuropsicológico ecológico que considere esta estrategia podría ser de utilidad en el rastreo y detección precoz de esta entidad.
Abstract Proposapnosia is a type of visual agnosia characterized by the inability to recognize people's faces. There are basically two variants, apperceptive and associative. The "Tortoni effect" is a phenomenon described by Bekinschtein et al a few years ago in waiters from Buenos Aires, who used this tool to remember the orders of each member of a table. We present a case of prosopagnosia associated with bilateral temporo-occipital injury secondary to head trauma, initially manifested by the lack of face recognition with the use of an associative strategy similar to that described in the "Tortoni effect" as compensation, in a 62-year-old female who suffered a severe head injury. A few months after this event, the patient had difficulty in recognizing familiar people, a fact evidenced by her relatives when at a restaurant table, they changed their seats, remained silent momentarily, and right after the patient kept naming them by their previous location. The magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed blunt sequelae lesions in the bilateral temporo-occipital region. Acquired prosopagnosia due to focal lesions in the temporo-occipital region, generally bilateral and right, and less frequently left, is a rare condition. The strategy used in the "Tortoni effect" was one of the initial manifestations of the condition in our patient. Carrying out an ecological neuropsychological test that considers this strategy could be useful in the screening and early detection of this entity.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Prosopagnosia/diagnosis , Prosopagnosia/etiology , Brain , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Neuropsychological TestsABSTRACT
Objective To observe the cardiac function in acute brain injury patients(ABI)and the relationship between ABI and plasma neuropeptideY(NPY),and to inspect the mechanism and find the evidences for preventing cardiac impairment caused by ABI. Methods 89 patients with acute brain injury within 24 hours after the injury were divided into severe group(n =47)and mild group(n = 42)according to Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS),and 35 normal healthy adults were selected as control group.In 24 hours and 72 hours after the brain injury,all patients were examined with echocardiography to observe cardiac structure,Doppler blood flow velocity and cardiac function,and in the same time the plasma NPY were determined by radioimmunoassay.Then the results were compared with controls. Results The parameters of cardiac function such as EF、 SV.AV、CO、CI had statistical change in 24 hours and 72hours after the brain injury between severe ABI group and mild ABI group,and it also had statistical change between severe ABI group and control group(all P <0.05),but no statistical change between mild ABI group and control group(all P ＜0.05).The level of plasma NPY in ABI patients was significantly higher than that before injury,there was statistically different change between severe ABI group and mild ABI group,and it also had statistical change between severe ABI group and control group(all P＜0.05).The parameters of cardiac function was negatively correlated with the rise of plasma NPY by pearson correlation analysis(EF:r =- 0.79,P <0.01; SV:r =- 0.71,P <0.01;AV:r=-0.67,P ＜0.01 ;E/A:r =-0.63,all P ＜0.01)and(CO:r =- 0.32,P ＜0.05;CI:r =-0.35,all P ＜0.05). Conclusion The parameters of cardiac function were significantly decreased in the patients with acute brain injury,and it was closely related with the level of plasma NPY.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To probe the risk factors of the secondary lung infection in patients of postoperative(cranio)-(cerebral) trauma as well as the ways to control them.METHODS A prospective and review study was carried out in 718 cases with cranio-cerebral trauma admitted in our hospital for operation from Jan 2002 to Dec 2004.RESULTS Among 718 cases,39(5.43%) developed lung(infection),occupied 65% of the total number of the hospital(infection) in the neurosurgery.After an integrated(total and systemic) treatment,the cure rate was(69.23%(27 cases);) effective: 15.3%(6);improved: 7.7%(3); died: 7.7%(3).CONCLUSIONS Oxygen(inhalation,) nasal(feeding),sputum drawing out,(cannular) tracheotomy,and use of respirator after operation are the causes of the lung infection and it can be controlled effectively if keeping the surroundings clean,keeping strict ness in disinfection-isolation institution,improving the mangement of respiratory tract and the care of oral cavity,proper use of antibiotics,and improving immunity.
ABSTRACT
Study on 106 patients with mental disorder caused by advanced cranio-cerebral trauma (aged from 16 to 55), treated in the Military Hospital No.103 and National Mental Hospital from 1998 to 2002. These patients have had a history of cranio-cerebral trauma at the age of over 6 years old, with medium and serious level. Results: the prevalence of epilepsy post-injury patients were 16.04%, mental disorders accounted 83.86%. Electroencephalogram (EEG) images were recorded mainly as theta and delta slow waves, amplitude from medium to high, local appearance. It is likely to have an exacerbated image simultaneously and the whole with slow waves or waving thorns, however, there was still a local sign before or after exacerbated stage