Early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy and prophylaxis of diabetic foot / Diagnóstico precoce da neuropatia diabética e profilaxia do pé diabético

Introduction: the diabetic foot is one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus. About 50% of non-traumatic amputations occur in these patients. In addition, it is an important public health problem and constitutes a chronic and complex metabolic disorder that is characterized by impaired metabolism of glucose and other complications in essential organs for the maintenance of life. Objective: to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of diabetic neuropathy using the Michigan self-assessment and physical examination in type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study. The "Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instruments" classification was used to assess the degree of peripheral neuropathy, in which participants answered the questionnaire and were evaluated for the presence of foot lesions. All participants were stratified by the risk of developing foot ulcers according to the IWGDF protocol. Results: the sample had 200 participants. Regarding the IWGDF classification, 23 patients were classified as moderate risk (11.50%) and 61 as high risk for developing foot ulcers (30.50%). Using a cutoff of 2.5 on the physical examination score to diagnose neuropathy, a sensitivity of 97.62% and a specificity of 47.41% were obtained. Using a score greater than or equal to 6 in the self-assessment for the diagnosis of neuropathy, a sensitivity of 50.00% and a specificity of 94.83% were found. Conclusion: the association of the Michigan physical examination (high sensitivity) with self-assessment (high specificity) increases the accuracy for the diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy

Introdução: o pé diabético é uma das complicações mais sérias do diabetes mellitus. Cerca de 50% das amputações não traumáticas ocorrem nesses pacientes. Além disso, é um importante problema de saúde pública por ser um distúrbio metabólico crônico e complexo que se caracteriza pelo comprometimento do metabolismo da glicose associada a outras complicações em órgãos essenciais para manutenção vital. Objetivo: avaliar a sensibilidade e especificidade para neuropatia diabética da autoavaliação e do exame físico de Michigan nos diabéticos tipo 1 e tipo 2. Método: trata-se de um estudo transversal. Foi utilizada a classificação "Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instruments" para avaliação do grau de neuropatia periférica, em que os participantes responderam ao questionário e foram avaliados quanto a presença de lesões nos pés. Todos os participantes foram estratificados quanto ao risco de desenvolver úlcera nos pés de acordo com o protocolo do IWGDF. Resultados: a amostra contou com 200 participantes. Quanto à classificação do IWGDF, 23 pacientes foram classificados como risco moderado (11,50%) e 61 como alto risco para o desenvolvimento de úlceras nos pés (30,50%). Utilizando-se um corte de 2,5 na pontuação do exame físico para diagnosticar a neuropatia, foi obtida uma sensibilidade de 97,62% e uma especificidade de 47,41%. Utilizando-se uma pontuação maior ou igual a 6 na autoavaliação para o diagnóstico de neuropatia, foi obtida uma sensibilidade de 50,00% e uma especificidade de 94,83%. Conclusão: a associação do exame físico de Michigan (alta sensibilidade) com a autoavaliação (alta especificidade) tem melhor acurácia para o diagnóstico de neuropatia diabética.

A rare case of sulcal hemorrhage after ischemic stroke � A case report

Atraumatic Non-aneurysmal sulcal subarachnoid hemorrhage is very rare. Sulcal subarachnoid hemorrhage (sSAH) is characterized by isolated bleeding in one or a few adjacent sulci. Central sulcus hemorrhage is a rare imaging finding. There are many causes for sSAH. In older patients, sSAH is due to Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA), while in younger patients, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is the most frequent etiology. Imaging studies help in the evaluation of sSAH. We report a rare case of an isolated central sulcus hemorrhage on computed tomography. sSAH usually occur on the side with acute ischemic stroke, and it is unusual for sSAH to occur on the opposite side of the infarct territory, but in our case sSAH occurred on opposite side, but after a gap of 3 years.

Amyloid spell – A close mimic of transient ischemic attack!

Transient focal neurological episodes, also called amyloid spells occur as recurrent, transient episodes of spreading paresthesia seen in 14% of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) patients. An 81-year-old gentleman with coronary artery disease and a left ventricular clot was on anticoagulant treatment. He presented with three episodes of tingling in the left fingers spreading to the left arm and left leg, each lasting for 10 min. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with susceptibility imaging showed convexity hemorrhage, and curvilinear blooming in sulcal spaces of the right cerebral convexity and left precuneus. Warfarin was stopped. He was treated with clobazam, aspirin, and atorvastatin. He improved, so was discharged after 2 days. Amyloid spells can be confused with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or its mimics and the treatment given for TIA can lead to intracranial hemorrhage in CAA patients. Radiological features aid in the diagnosis of CAA and antiplatelets need to be administered cautiously in patients with suspected TIA.

Research progresses on pathogenic genes and related signal pathways of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy / 中华眼底病杂志

Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a serious hereditary retinal vascular disease. The clinical manifestations vary, and the severity of the patients' condition is different. In severe cases, it may lead to bilateral blindness. The pathogenic mechanism of FEVR is also complex. At present, more than ten classical and candidate pathogenic genes have been found: NDP, FZD4, LRP5, TSPAN12, CTNNB1, KIF11, ZNF408, RCBTB1, LRP6, CTNNA1, CTNND1, JAG1, ATOH7, DLG1, DOCK6, ARHGP31 and EVR3 region. These pathogenic genes are involved in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, norrin/β-catenin pathway and Notch pathway. They regulate and affect the development of retinal blood vessels, hyaloid vascular system regression, endothelial cell connections, and blood retinal barrier homeostasis, ultimately leading to the occurrence and development of FEVR disease.

Advances in molecular imaging of cerebral amyloid angiopathy / 中华神经科杂志

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common age-related small vessel disease characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in the wall of small arterioles and capillaries of the leptomeninges and cerebral cortex. Several molecular imaging technologies such as amyloid-β positron-emission tomography (PET) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET have been successfully applied in the patients with CAA. Amyloid-PET may indicate the distribution and burden of Aβ deposition by the tracer′s specific binding to the pathological markers, providing qualitative and quantitative information for the diagnosis of CAA. However, amyloid-β PET is inadequate to differentiate CAA from other Aβ-related diseases like Alzheimer′s disease. Other novel techniques of molecular imaging including tau-PET, single photon emission computed tomography and other highly selective PET radioligands have been investigated widely at present. This article mainly reviewed the advances in molecular imaging of CAA.

Cerebral amyloid angiography: pathology, neuroimaging and clinical features / 中华老年医学杂志

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy(CAA)is a small vascular disease caused by the deposition of amyloid protein in the vascular wall, mainly involving the cortical and leptomeningeal arterioles and capillaries.The main pathological and clinical manifestations are lobar hemorrhage, cerebral microbleeds, cortical superficial siderosis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cortical infarction, white matter abnormalities, CAA-related autoimmune meningoencephalitis and dementia.Patients with CAA are prone to spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage.For CAA patients, the anticoagulant therapy for prevention of cardioembolism of artrial fibrillation or intravenous thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke may increase the chance of cerebral hemorrhage and lead to aggravation of the disease.Therefore, the risk of hemorrhage associated with CAA needs to be evaluated before antithrombotic therapy.CAA-related inflammation is a critical condition.Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents are effective treatments.Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the prognosis.

Rare cerebral small vessel disease and retinal vascular abnormalities / 中国医师杂志

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a series of clinical, imaging, and pathological syndromes resulting from various etiologies affecting small arteries (microarteries, capillaries, microvenules, and small veins in the brain). The diagnosis of CSVD is based on imaging presentations, but the high cost and bleeding risk of cranial imaging methods make the diagnosis of rare CSVD more difficult. Retinal vessels are the only vasculature visible in vivo and share anatomical and embryological features with small brain vessels. Retinal vascular abnormalities have been shown to exist in rare CSVD such as cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and moyamoya disease (MMD). Retinal vascular examination may provide new ideas for the study of rare CSVD.

Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of cerebral amyloid angiopathy / 国际脑血管病杂志

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common cerebral small vessel disease, mainly caused by β-amyloid deposition on the small vessels less than 200 μm in diameter in cortex and leptomeninges. CAA is a major cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in the elderly, especially lobar location. Early symptoms are insidious, and as the disease progress, they manifest as cerebral hemorrhage, cognitive decline, transient focal neurological episodes, cerebral infarction, epilepsy, headache, etc. MRI revealed that CAA is a disease in which bleeding and ischemia coexist, and even inflammation and immune responses are involved. MRI findings of CAA include cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral microbleeds, convexity subarachnoid hemorrhage and cortical superficial siderosis, cortical microinfarcts, CAA-associated inflammation, white matter hyperintensities, enlarged perivascular spaces, cerebral atrophy and lacune, etc. The same patient often has several of the above manifestations, and each manifestation has different specificity for the diagnosis of CAA. The rapid development of MRI technology has led to the improvement of the diagnostic level of CAA, and it is of great clinical significance to understand these imaging findings. This article reviews the MRI findings of sporadic CAA.

Application of optical coherence tomography-based angiography in cerebrovascular diseases / 国际脑血管病杂志

Optical coherence tomography-based angiography (OCTA) is a novel non-invasive technique for quantitatively evaluating retinal microvascular perfusion. Due to the similar embryonic origin, anatomical characteristics, and physiological characteristics of the retina and cerebral small vessels, changes in retinal microvasculature may provide a new perspective for studying the mechanisms of cerebral small vessel diseases. This article summarizes the application of OCTA in cerebrovascular diseases, aiming to evaluate whether OCTA can become an effective tool for early prediction of the occurrence of cerebrovascular disease and monitoring disease changes.

Pathogenesis of cerebral small vessel disease / 国际脑血管病杂志

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is an important cause of ischemic stroke and vascular dementia, which brings heavy burden to families and society. The prevention and treatment of CSVD has always been a research hotspot, but its pathogenesis is still not completely clear. This article reviews the pathogenesis of CSVD, including chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, vascular endothelial dysfunction, interstitial fluid reflux disorder, inflammatory response, and genetic factors, in order to provide more sufficient theoretical basis for early intervention and treatment of CSVD.

Correlación entre pie diabético y retinopatía diabética en pacientes del hospital provincial de Zaire, Angola

Introducción: La diabetes mellitus produce complicaciones, dentro de las cuales se describen la neuropatía diabética y la angiopatía diabética, que en presencia de estas puede llegarse a un cuadro de pie diabético sin dejar de mencionar la pérdida visual por retinopatía diabética. Objetivo: Determinar la correlación existente entre la aparición de pie diabético y la presencia o no de la retinopatía diabética en pacientes del Hospital Provincial "María Eugenia Neto", Zaire, República de Angola, en el período comprendido entre septiembre de 2020 a septiembre de 2022. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en 181 pacientes de la consulta de pie diabético del hospital antes dicho, donde se describieron variables, tales como: edad, sexo, enfermedades crónicas asociadas, presencia o no de retinopatía diabética, úlceras en miembros inferiores, amputación en miembros inferiores y años con diabetes. Se realizaron pruebas de correlación bivariable, se analizó el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson. Resultados: El promedio de edad fue de 59,3 años, predominó el grupo etario de más de 70 años (28,2 %) y el sexo femenino (57,5 %). Presentaron amputaciones previas un 41,8 % y úlceras un 40,1 %. Sin tratamiento estable el 65,19 %, correlación estadísticamente fuerte y significativa entre pie diabético y la retinopatía diabética. Conclusiones: Se evidencia una fuerte y significativa relación existente entre los pacientes portadores de pie diabético, los cuales pueden padecer determinado grado de retinopatía diabética, más frecuentes en el sexo femenino después de la sexta década de la vida, con los cuales presentan mayor tiempo de evolución de su enfermedad.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus leads to many associated complications, including diabetic neuropathy and diabetic angiopathy, both with a high incidence in the onset diabetic foot and including also the diabetic retinopathy disease cause of blindness. Objective: Determine if there is any correlation between the onset diabetes foot and whether or not diabetic retinopathy present in patients treated at the Hospital Provincial, María Eugenia Neto, Zaire, Republic of Angola, from September 2020 to September 2020. Method: A descriptive study was carried out in 181 patients treated in the diabetic foot department of the aforementioned hospital; variables described were as follow: age, sex, associated chronic diseases, presence or absence of diabetic retinopathy, lower limb ulcers, limb amputation and years with diabetes. Bivariate correlation tests were performed, and the Pearson´s correlation coefficient was analyzed. Results: The average age was 59.3 years, the age group over 70 years (28.2%) and the female sex (57.5%) predominated. The 41.8% of patients presented previous amputations and 40.1% had ulcers. The 65.19% of patients had irregular treatment patterns, statistically strong and significant correlation between diabetic foot and diabetic retinopathy. Conclusions: There is evidence of a strong and significant relationship between patients with diabetic foot, who may suffer from a certain degree of diabetic retinopathy, more frequent in females after their sixth decade of life that cause a longer evolution of his disease.

Introdução: O diabetes mellitus produz complicações, dentre as quais são descritas a neuropatia diabética e a angiopatia diabética, que na presença destas podem levar ao quadro de pé diabético, sem falar na perda visual pela retinopatia diabética. Objectivo: Determinar a correlação existente entre o aparecimento de pé diabético e a presença ou ausência de retinopatia diabética em doentes do Hospital Provincial "María Eugenia Neto", Zaire, República de Angola, no período de setembro de 2020 a setembro de 2022. Método: Estudo descritivo realizado em 181 pacientes do ambulatório de pé diabético do referido hospital, onde foram descritas variáveis como: idade, sexo, doenças crônicas associadas, presença ou ausência de retinopatia diabética, úlceras de membros inferiores, amputação de membros inferiores e anos com diabetes. Foram realizados testes de correlação bivariada e analisado o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 59,3 anos, predominando a faixa etária acima de 70 anos (28,2%) e o sexo feminino (57,5%). 41,8% tinham amputações anteriores e 40,1% tinham úlceras. Sem tratamento estável 65,19%, correlação estatisticamente forte e significativa entre pé diabético e retinopatia diabética. Conclusões: Existe evidência de uma relação forte e significativa entre os doentes com pé diabético, que podem sofrer de um certo grau de retinopatia diabética, mais frequente no sexo feminino a partir da sexta década de vida, com os quais apresentam maior evolução da sua doença.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy in an octogenarian

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy presents with lobar intracerebral hemorrhage, dementia or tran sient neurological events. It occurs due to P-amyloid deposits in the media and adventitia of small arteries, leptomeningeal capillaries and the cerebral cortex. Its prevalence increases with age, and its association with cognitive impairment is well established. We present the case of an 80-year-old previously independent woman with no disabilities or cognitive impairment, and a history of well-controlled systemic arterial hypertension who consulted due to a de novo seizure and focal neurological deficits. On imaging follow up, two bilateral parietal-occipital macrohemorrhages were found, which occurred at two different times during the development of the clinical condition. These findings were attributed to cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and the patient ultimately died during this hospitalization. In this case presentation, we discuss the diagnostic criteria for considering the presence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy, its prognosis, and the reason it led to death. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 47. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2022.2567).

La angiopatía amiloide cerebral se presenta con hemorragia intracerebral lobular, demencia o eventos neurológicos transitorios. Ocurre como resultado del depósito de (3-amiloide en la media y la adventicia de las arterias pequeñas, los capilares de las leptomeninges y la corteza cerebral. Su prevalencia aumenta con la edad y su asociación con deterioro cognitivo está bien establecido. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 80 años, previamente independiente, sin discapacidad ni deterioro cognitivo, con antecedente de hipertensión arterial sistémica bien controlada, quien consultó por episodio convulsivo de novo y focalización neurológica. Durante el seguimiento imagenológico se documentó presencia de dos macrohemorragias parietooccipitales bilaterales, acontecidas en dos momentos diferentes durante la evolución del cuadro clínico, hallazgos que fueron atribuidos a la presencia de angiopatía amiloide cerebral, finalmente la paciente falleció durante dicha hospitaliza ción. En esta presentación de caso se discuten los criterios diagnósticos para considerar la presencia de angiopatía amiloide cerebral, el pronóstico y la razón que llevó a la muerte. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 47. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2022.2567).

Effect of crosstalk between Th17 and Th9 cells on the activation of dermal vascular smooth muscle cells in systemic scleroderma and regulation of tanshinone IIA

Abstract Background: To evaluate the effect of T-helper 17 (Th17) cells and Th9 cells on the activation of dermal vascular smooth muscle cells (DVSMCs) in systemic scleroderma (SSc) and regulation of tanshinone IIA. Methods: The expression of interleukin 17 receptor (IL-17R) and interleukin 9 receptor (IL-9R) in the skin of SSc patients was assessed by immunofluorescence. The expression of IL-9 and IL-9R mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SSc patients were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The proportion of Th9 cells in PBMCs of SSc patients was sorted by flow cytometry. The effect of IL-9 on the differentiation of Th17 and IL-17 on that of Th9 was detected by flow cytometry. The proportion of Th9 and Th17 cells in SSc patients was detected by flow cytometry. The level of collagen I, III, α-SMA, IL-9R, IL-17R, JNK, P38, and ERK were analyzed using western blot (WB). Results: Th9 cells were highly expressed in SSc. IL-9 stimulated the differentiation of immature T cells into Th17 cells. IL-17 induced the differentiation of immature T cells intoTh9 cells. Tanshinone IIA inhibited the differentiation of immature T lymphocytes into Th17 and Th9. WB showed that the combined action of IL-17 and IL-9 upregulated the inflammation and proliferation of DVSMCs. Anti-IL17, anti-IL9, and tanshinone IIA inhibited the functional activation of DVSMCs. Study limitations: For Th17, Th9 and vascular smooth muscle cells, the study on the signal pathway of their interaction is not thorough enough. More detailed studies are needed to explore the mechanism of cell-cell interaction. Conclusions: The current results suggested that Th17 and Th9 cells induced the activation of DVSMCs in SSc through crosstalk in vitro, and tanshinone IIA inhibited the process.

Maduración pulmonar fetal en diabetes mellitus pregestacional y complicaciones crónicas / Fetal lung maturation in pregestational diabetes mellitus and chronic complications

Las pacientes embarazadas con diabetes mellitus (DM) pregestacional y complicaciones micro y macroangiopáticas tienen mayor riesgo de empeoramiento de las mismas y de presentar otros trastornos asociados al embarazo. La progresión de la retinopatía diabética ocurre durante el embarazo y el posparto. La nefropatía se asocia con un mayor riesgo de preeclampsia, parto prematuro, restricción del crecimiento fetal y mortalidad perinatal. Cuando hay enfermedad de arterias coronarias o gastroparesia se observa un aumento de la morbilidad materna y fetal. El parto prematuro es una condición prevalente en pacientes con DM. La maduración pulmonar fetal con corticosteroides fue extensamente estudiada, con numerosas pruebas controladas, hasta convertirse en una de las más importantes terapias prenatales basadas en evidencias para reducir la mortalidad perinatal y el síndrome de dificultad respiratoria, la hemorragia intraventricular y la enterocolitis necrosante en los niños prematuros. Sin embargo, en dicha evidencia no se han incluido a embarazadas con DM, por lo cual no se conocen resultados perinatales en este grupo de pacientes.

Pregnant patients with pregestational diabetes mellitus (DM) and micro and macroangiopathic complications have a higher risk of their worsening and of presenting other pregnancyassociated disorders. The progression of diabetic retinopathy occurs during pregnancy and postpartum. Nephropathy is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia, preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, and perinatal mortality. When there is coronary artery disease or gastroparesis, an increase in maternal and fetal morbidity is observed Preterm delivery is a prevalent condition in diabetic patients. Corticosteroid fetal lung maturation has been extensively studied, with numerous controlled trials, to become one of the most important evidence-based prenatal therapies to reduce perinatal mortality and decrease respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis, in premature infants. Nevertheless, this evidence did not include patients with DM, for this reason perinatal results are not known in this group of patients.

Maduración pulmonar fetal en diabetes mellitus pregestacional y complicaciones crónicas / Fetal lung maturation in pregestational diabetes mellitus and chronic complications

Resumen Las pacientes embarazadas con diabetes mellitus (DM) pregestacional y complicaciones micro y macroangiopáticas tienen mayor riesgo de empeoramiento de las mismas y de presentar otros trastornos asociados al embarazo. La progresión de la retinopatía diabética ocurre durante el embarazo y el posparto. La nefropatía se asocia con un mayor riesgo de preeclampsia, parto prematuro, restricción del crecimiento fetal y mortalidad perinatal. Cuando hay enfermedad de arterias coronarias o gastroparesia se observa un aumento de la morbilidad materna y fetal. El parto prematuro es una condición prevalente en pacientes con DM. La maduración pulmonar fetal con corticosteroides fue extensamente estudiada, con numerosas pruebas controladas, hasta convertirse en una de las más importantes terapias prenatales basadas en evidencias para reducir la mortalidad perinatal y el síndrome de dificultad respiratoria, la hemorragia intraventricular y la enterocolitis necrosante en los niños prematuros. Sin embargo, en dicha evidencia no se han incluido a embarazadas con DM, por lo cual no se conocen resultados perinatales en este grupo de pacientes.

Abstract Pregnant patients with pregestational diabetes mellitus (DM) and micro and macroangiopathic complications have a higher risk of their worsening and of presenting other pregnancyassociated disorders. The progression of diabetic retinopathy occurs during pregnancy and postpartum. Nephropathy is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia, preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, and perinatal mortality. When there is coronary artery disease or gastroparesis, an increase in maternal and fetal morbidity is observed Preterm delivery is a prevalent condition in diabetic patients. Corticosteroid fetal lung maturation has been extensively studied, with numerous controlled trials, to become one of the most important evidence-based prenatal therapies to reduce perinatal mortality and decrease respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis, in premature infants. Nevertheless, this evidence did not include patients with DM, for this reason perinatal results are not known in this group of patients.

Pay attention to the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation / 中华神经科杂志

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation is an inflammatory reaction process caused by beta-amyloid protein deposited in the cortical and leptomeningeal vessels, which is a rare type of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Most of the patients are middle-aged and elderly, and manifest as progressive cognitive impairment, headache, seizures, and focal neurological deficits. Brain magnetic resonance imaging shows asymmetric T 2/fluid attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensity in cortical and subcortical white matter, in addition to multiple cerebral microbleeds. The disease often needs to be differentiated from primary angiitis of the central nervous system, glioma, and varicella-zoster virus encephalitis. Although the disease is rare, prompt treatment with glucocorticoids and immune suppressants can reduce death and disability and significantly improve outcome. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the ability of early diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Hemorragia encefálica por angiopatía amiloidea / Amyloid angiopathy brain hemorrhage

Amyloid angiopathy (AA) is a selective deposition of amyloid in the walls of the brain vessels. It is a form of sporadic and localized amyloidosis, constituted by the Aβ4 protein, the same of Alzheimer's disease senile plaques. The most consistent clinical effect of AA is spontaneous brain hemorrhage (BH). It is the second most common cause of BH after arterial hypertension (HT). Other clinical manifestations are cognitive impairment and transient focal neurological episodes. AA BH is characteristically localized in the cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter (lobar hemorrhage), consistent with the preferential deposit of amyloid in the walls of leptomeningeal and intracortical small cerebral vessels. Other types of AA hemorrhagic complications are microbleeds (MB), cerebral convexity subarachnoid hemorrhage (cSAH) and superficial hemosiderosis (cSS). The diagnosis of AA BH is based on the Boston criteria. Using these criteria, several non-hemorrhagic biomarkers of AA have been identified that can be useful in its diagnosis. The principal AA BH risk factor is age, followed by cSS, MB, Apolipoprotein E gen ε2 and ε4 alleles, HT and the use of antithrombotics. This condition has a high recurrence rate that shares the same risk factors. There is no specific treatment for AA BH. It has a better prognosis than HT BH during the acute period, but worse on the long term, due to its high recurrence rate and cognitive impairment.

Animal model analysis of diabetic lower extremity arterial disease based on clinical symptoms of traditional Chinese and Western medicine / 中国中药杂志

The evaluation standard of LEAD animal model was established according to the understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetic lower extremity vascular disease based on Chinese and Western medicine. The consistency between the existing LEAD animal model and the clinical characteristics of traditional Chinese and Western medicine was analyzed and evaluated. The advantages and disadvantages of the existing model were compared,the application scope of different models was considered,and the possible improvement methods of the existing model were proposed,so as to provide impetus for the improvement of LEAD animal model.We should reflect more characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in the process of model improvement and development,making the LEAD animal model to get closer to clinical features of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

Clinical characteristics of cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging characteristics and their associations with prognosis in cerebral amyloid angiopathy(CAA)-related inflammation (CAA-ri).Methods:Seventeen patients with CAA-ri, 59 patients with CAA-related intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and 15 patients with CAA-related cognitive decline were recruited from Huashan Hospital, Fudan University from November 2015 to May 2020 and the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from January 2018 to May 2020. Vascular risk factors and imaging features of cerebral small vessel disease were compared among three groups. Clinical manifestations, CSF results, lesion features on magnetic resonance imaging, treatment options and follow-up data were collected in patients with CAA-ri. The good prognosis was defined by clinical and radiographic improvement with no disease recurrence. The associations between clinical characteristics and the immunosuppressive therapy or the good prognosis were analyzed by binary Logistic regression models.Results:Patients with CAA-ri showed earlier disease onset [(61.5±11.7) years vs (70.9±8.6) years, t=9.428, P=0.001] and more lobar cerebral microbleeds [69.0 (43.5, 134.3) vs 10.0 (5.0, 59.0), H=3.363, P=0.002] compared to patients with CAA-ICH, and higher prevalence of male (14/17 vs 6/15, χ2=6.099, P=0.014) and lower white matter hyperintensity Fazekas score [4.0 (2.0, 6.0) vs 6.0 (5.0, 6.0), H=2.461, P=0.042] compared to patients with CAA-related cognitive decline. In patients with CAA-ri, the immunosuppressive therapy was positively correlated with CSF protein>600 mg/L (odds ratio 16.50, 95% confidence interval 1.09-250.18, P=0.043), and during a follow-up of (3.0±1.9) years, the good prognosis was positively correlated with CSF protein<1 000 mg/L plus immunosuppressive therapy (odds ratio 20.00, 95% confidence interval 1.39-287.60, P=0.028). Conclusions:CAA-ri is a special subtype of CAA with earlier disease onset and higher prevalence of hemorrhagic imaging makers compared to CAA-ICH and CAA-related cognitive decline. CAA-ri patients with normal or slightly elevated CSF protein receiving immunosuppressive therapy are more likely to have good prognosis.

Importance of the diagnosis, treatment and research of acute cerebral small vessel disease / 中华神经科杂志

Based on a comprehensive literature review with long-term experiences of clinical practice and researches, the authors propose the following concepts of the diagnosis, treatment and research of acute cerebral small vessel disease: (1) Cerebral small vessel disease could be grouped into acute and non-acute categories. Acute cerebral small vessel disease indicates an acute stroke due to small vessel disease, including ischemic (ie. acute lacunar stroke) and hemorrhagic (hypertensive arteriopathy- and cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related intracerebral hemorrhage) stroke. (2) Acute ischemic cerebral small vessel disease, defined traditionally by the infarction size (lacunar stroke), is regarded as the syndrome caused by a variety of mechanisms recently, although mainly characterized by lipohyalinosis in the small arterioles. The understanding of pathological mechanisms has experienced a history from autopsy observation, to inference based on risk factors, and then to direct observation of arteriole morphology using high-resolution magnetic resonance angiography. The advancement in imaging technology has brought new opportunities for studies on pathological mechanisms of cerebral small vessel disease. (3) Acute cerebral small vessel disease is manifested as acute stroke, which could be with or without the non-acute symptoms or imaging markers. (4) Individualized treatment based on the pathogenesis is the future direction for practice and research of cerebral small vessel disease. Reducing the incidence, recurrence and major outcomes (death, disability and dementia) is the main target of prevention and treatment.