Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Naming of Visual and Auditory Modality in Post-stroke Aphasia / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To observe the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the naming of visual and auditory modality in patients with post-stroke aphasia. Methods:From March to November, 2018, 32 patients with post-stroke aphasia were randomly divided into control group (n = 16) and treatment group (n = 16). The treatment group accepted anodal-tDCS (A-tDCS) over left-inferior frontal gyrus (L-IFG) concurrent with speech training, while the control group accepted sham-tDCS. Before and two weeks after treatment, they were assessed with Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), Picture Naming Test and Environmental Sound Naming Test. Results:One patient was lost in the control group. After treatment, Aphasia Quotient of WAB improved in both groups (t > 5.081, P < 0.001), but the difference before and after treatment was not significantly different between two groups (t = 1.550, P > 0.05); the Picture Naming Test score improved in both groups (Z > 2.650, P < 0.01), and the difference before and after treatment was more in the treatment group than in the control group (Z = -2.258, P < 0.05); the object naming score of WAB improved in the treatment group (Z = -3.239, P < 0.01), and the difference before and after treatment was more in the treatment group than in the control group (Z = -3.008, P < 0.01); the score of Environment Sound Naming Test improved in the treatment group (t = -4.745, P < 0.001), and the difference before and after treatment was more in the treatment group than in the control group (t = 2.224, P < 0.05). The scores of spontaneous naming, sentences complement and reaction naming of WAB improved in the treatment group (Z > 2.191, P < 0.05), while the score of spontaneous naming of WAB improved in the control group (Z = -2.376, P < 0.05), but the differences before and after treatment were not significantly different between two groups (Z < 1.568, P > 0.05). Conclusion:A-tDCS over L-IFG may improve the naming ability of visual and auditory modality, which may associate with semantic or phonetic processing.

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Naming of Visual and Auditory Modality in Post-stroke Aphasia / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To observe the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the naming of visual and auditory modality in patients with post-stroke aphasia. Methods:From March to November, 2018, 32 patients with post-stroke aphasia were randomly divided into control group (n = 16) and treatment group (n = 16). The treatment group accepted anodal-tDCS (A-tDCS) over left-inferior frontal gyrus (L-IFG) concurrent with speech training, while the control group accepted sham-tDCS. Before and two weeks after treatment, they were assessed with Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), Picture Naming Test and Environmental Sound Naming Test. Results:One patient was lost in the control group. After treatment, Aphasia Quotient of WAB improved in both groups (t > 5.081, P < 0.001), but the difference before and after treatment was not significantly different between two groups (t = 1.550, P > 0.05); the Picture Naming Test score improved in both groups (Z > 2.650, P < 0.01), and the difference before and after treatment was more in the treatment group than in the control group (Z = -2.258, P < 0.05); the object naming score of WAB improved in the treatment group (Z = -3.239, P < 0.01), and the difference before and after treatment was more in the treatment group than in the control group (Z = -3.008, P < 0.01); the score of Environment Sound Naming Test improved in the treatment group (t = -4.745, P < 0.001), and the difference before and after treatment was more in the treatment group than in the control group (t = 2.224, P < 0.05). The scores of spontaneous naming, sentences complement and reaction naming of WAB improved in the treatment group (Z > 2.191, P < 0.05), while the score of spontaneous naming of WAB improved in the control group (Z = -2.376, P < 0.05), but the differences before and after treatment were not significantly different between two groups (Z < 1.568, P > 0.05). Conclusion:A-tDCS over L-IFG may improve the naming ability of visual and auditory modality, which may associate with semantic or phonetic processing.

Advantage in Bright-blood and Black-blood Magnetic Resonance Imaging with High-resolution for Analysis of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>About 50% of the cerebral ischemia events are induced by intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy for displaying atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries and analyzing their ingredients by using high-resolution new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally, 49 patients suspected of extracranial carotid artery stenosis were subjected to cranial MRI scan and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) examination on carotid arteries, and high-resolution bright-blood and black-blood MRI analysis was carried out within 1 week. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination was carried out for 16 patients within 1 month.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally, 103 plaques were detected in the 49 patients, which were characterized by localized or diffusive thickening of the vessel wall, with the intrusion of crescent-shaped abnormal signal into lumens. Fibrous cap was displayed as isointensity in T1-weighted image (T1WI) and hyperintensities in proton density weighted image (PDWI) and T2-weighted image (T2WI), lipid core was displayed as isointensity or slight hyperintensities in T1WI, isointensity, hyperintensities or hypointensity in PDWI, and hypointensity in T2WI. Calcification in plaques was detected in 11 patients. Eight patients were detected with irregular plaque surface or ulcerative plaques, which were characterized by irregular intravascular space surface in the black-blood sequences, black hypointensity band was not detected in three-dimensional time-of-flight, or the hypointensity band was not continuous, and intrusion of hyperintensities into plaques can be detected. Bright-blood and black-blood techniques were highly correlated with the diagnosis of contrast-enhanced MRA in angiostenosis degree, Rs = 0.97, P < 0.001. In comparison to DSA, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI diagnosis of stenosis for ≥50% were 88.9%, 100%, and 97.9%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>High-resolution bright-blood and black-blood sequential MRI analysis can accurately analyze ingredients in atherosclerotic plaques. Determined by DSA, MRI diagnosis of stenosis can correctly evaluate the serious degree of arteriostenosis.</p>

Evaluation of soft tissue lesions affecting the masticator space with dynamic contrast enhanced MRI / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the characteristics and diagnostic value of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating benign soft tissue lesions from malignant tumors affecting the masticator space (MS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Prior to managements, conventional MRI and DCE-MRI were performed in 53 patients who suffered from primary or secondary soft tissue lesions affecting the MS. The time to peak (TTP), relative maximum enhancement (RME) and relative washout ratio (RWO) were separately calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean TTP of benign and malignant lesions were (130.3 ± 13.2) and (69.6 ± 6.9) s, respectively. Mean RWO of benign and malignant lesions were (29.7 ± 5.5)% and (8.7 ± 2.1)%, respectively. Malignant lesions had a significantly shorter TTP(P = 0.001) and lower RWO (P = 0.003) than benign lesions. When TTP was less than 92.2 s and RWO less than or equal to 16.0%, malignant tumors were considered. DCE-MRI had a sensitivity of 72.3%, specificity of 93.5%, accuracy of 84.9%, positive predictive value of 88.9%, and negative predictive value of 82.9%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>As a non-invasive imaging technique, DCE-MRI is valuable to differentiate benign soft tissue lesions from malignant tumors affecting the MS.</p>