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Objective:To explore the clinical application value of the dual-layer detector spectral CTA in evaluation of brain perfusion impairment in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:Clinical and imaging data of 35 patients with acute ischemic stroke in Weihai Central Hospital from March 2020 to October 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients underwent head and neck spectral CTA examination and dynamic cerebral perfusion CT examination with dual-layer detector spectral CT. The iodine density map and effective atomic number map were reconstructed using CTA data, and the iodine density and effective atomic number, as well as the cerebral blood volume (CBV) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) values of the hypoperfusion area and the contralateral side were measured and compared; the areas of brain hypoperfusion regions were measured. Pearson′s correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between iodine density values and CBV values, iodine density values and CBF values, effective atomic number values and CBV values, effective atomic number values and CBF values, as well as hypoperfusion area shown on CTA images and displayed on CTP-CBF map.Results:Of all the 35 patients, the iodine density value [(0.22±0.07) mg/ml], effective atomic number value (7.38±0.05), CBV value [(1.9±0.7) ml/100 g] and CBF value [(15.1±5.9) ml/(100 g·min)] of the hypoperfusion area were significantly lower than those of the healthy side [iodine density value (0.44±0.10) mg/ml, effective atomic number value (7.52±0.06), CBV value (3.4±0.7) ml/100 g, CBF value (57±27) ml/(100 g·min); t values were -14.7, -14.5, -11.2, -9.7, respectively, all P<0.001]. No significant difference was found between the hypoperfusion area shown on spectral CTA [(2 292±1 393) mm 2] and shown on CTP-CBF map [(2 290±1 359) mm 2] ( t=-0.076, P=0.944). There was a positive correlation between iodine density value and CBV (affected side: r=0.350, P=0.039, healthy side: r=0.551, P=0.001); a positive correlation was also found between effective atomic number value and CBV (affected side: r=0.488, P=0.003, healthy side: r=0.552, P=0.001); and there was a strong positive correlation between the hypoperfusion area on CTA and that on CTP-CBF ( r=0.993, P<0.001). Conclusion:Dual-layer detector spectral CTA can provide the “one-stop” assessement including head and neck vascular evaluation, as well as the hypoperfution area measument, which can be an alternative rapid method for evaluation of patients with acute ischemic stroke.
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Objective To investigate the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on sleep status,neuropsychological characteristics in patients with stroke combined with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods Fifty-four patients hospitalized with stroke in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from May 2014 to January 2016,who were with snoring and met the OSAHS diagnostic criteria,were randomly divided into CPAP combined with drug treatment group (25 cases) and drug treatment alone group (29 cases).The sleep structure and respiratory parameters were evaluated by polysomnography,and the changes of the patients' sleep status was assessed by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).The changes of neurocognitive function were assessed by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA),Digital Span Test (DST) and Hopkins Verbal Learning Testrevised (HVLT),and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9) was used to evaluate the depression mood changes.The changes of sleep status,cognitive function and mood in the CPAP combined with drug treatment group were compared before and three months after CPAP combined with drug treatment,and with the drug treatment alone group.Results Because five cases were dropped off,there were 20 patients in the CPAP combined with drug treatment group and 29 patients in the drug treatment alone group who completed the study.After three months of CPAP combined with drug treatment,the respiratory parameters apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in the CPAP combined with drug treatment group (29.32 ± 16.57) was significantly lower than that before treatment (41.66 ± 21.84;t =3.926,P =0.001),and the minimum blood oxygen saturation (LSaO2;82.11％ ± 5.66％) was significantly higher than that before treatment (76.11％ ± 8.90％;t=-5.054,P=0.000).However,the sleep structure parameters did not show statistically significant changes compared with those before treatment.The ESS,PSQI and PHQ9 scores in the CPAP combined with drug treatment group (4.53 ± 3.86,3.00 ± 2.45,0.00 (0.00,2.00)) were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (10.58 ± 7.82,7.53 ± 2.87,3.00 (1.00,9.00);t =-3.883,P =0.001;t =-6.522,P =0.000;Z =-3.549,P =0.000),whereas MoCA,HVLT (total scores,recall and recognition) and DST 1,2 scores in the CPAP combined with drug treatment group (23.37 ± 4.75,22.32 ± 6.90,7.47 ± 3.82,7.84 ± 2.59,5.32 ± 2.81) were increased compared with those before treatment (22.16±4.94,19.16 ±7.66,6.68 ±3.74,7.32 ±2.67,5.00 ±3.00;t=-2.773,P=0.013;t=-6.857,P=0.000;t=-2.704,P=0.015;t=-2.249,P=0.037;t=-2.882,P =0.010).The ESS,PSQI and PHQ9 scores were significantly reduced in the CPAP combined with drug treatment group compared with the drug treatment alone group (8.76 ± 6.92,7.59 ± 5.49,5.00 (2.50,9.50);t=-2.711,P=0.009;t=-3.941,P=0.000;Z=-4.555,P=0.000),whereas the DST1 score was significantly increased compared with the drug treatment alone group (6.45 ± 1.43;t =2.144,P =0.042).Conclusions Three-month CPAP combined with drugs mainly improved the daytime sleepiness and depression of patients with stroke combined with OSAHS.Cognition especially in attention was significantly improved,and the degree of low ventilation and hypoxia was alleviated,whereas there was no significant change in sleep structure disorder.
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Objective To develope a novel rabbit carotid body and carotid common artery model in vivo for the simulation of various intermittent hypoxia (IH) intensities, IH durations, IH reoxygenation (ROX) durations and continuous hypoxia (CH) modes.Methods Forty-five adult New Zealand rabbits (2.5～3.0 kg) were anesthetized while spontaneous breathing kept intact.The tissue surrounding the fight earetid common artery and carotid sinus nerve (CSN) were cleared and "single" chemoreceptor bundle of the CSN was revealed.Then suction electrodes were placed and CSN afferent activity was monitored and recorded carefully.The fight common carotid artery was exposed, cannulated to distal part and its proximal part was ligated.Preparations were challenged by changing the PO2 of the gas mixture equilibrating the perfusate.Alternatively perfusion (2 mL/min) of equilibrated porfusate bubbled with normoxia or hypoxia gas mixtures formed IH/ROX cycles in carotid common artery,simulating the pattern of hypoxic episodes seen in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), or with continuously perfusing hypoxia perfusate to form CH modes.All the perfusing procedures were regulated by a customized computer-controlled set and monitored using O2 gas analyzer.After the systematic exposures, carotid body, carotid common artery part distal to cannula,and carotid bifurcation were harvested as samples.Results The frequencies and average amplitudes of CSN chemoreceptor bundles afferent activities with normoxia peffusion were (0.17±0.03) impulse/s and (46.2±4.4) μV, and with hypoxia perfusion were (0.6±0.09) impulse/s and (87.4±6.6) μV, respectively.PO2 was (139±1.5) nun Hg in normoxia perfusate and (35.2±1.3) mm Hg in hypoxia perfusate.Conclusion This new carotid body and carotid common artery model is a valuable tool to study neurological and biochemical changes in various IH and CH modes.
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Objective To study the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS) of the supplementary motor area(SMA)on the cortical excitability in patients with Parkinson's disease(PD).Methods Sixteen patients with PD were included in this study.The motor evoked potentials(MEP)and the N30 component of somatosensory evoked potentials(SEP) were assessed for each patient before and after 1200 pulses of rTMS of the SMA at 5 Hz and an intensity of 100% of relaxed motor threshold (RMT) for the abductor pollicis brevis.Results Ten minutes after the rTMS intervention,the peak-to-peak amplitude of the SEP component P20-N30 increased significantly(P<0.05),with the P/F index decreased simultaneously(P<0.05).The MEP amplitude increased significantly,and reached the highest value at 10min after the rTMS intervention. Conclusion 5 Hz rTMS of the SMA can improve the excitability of the SMA itself temporarily.Meanwhile,it can induce a short-lasting facilitation of the excitability of M1 connected with SMA.
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Objective To study the therapeutic effects of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)in cranial dystonia.Methods Twenty cranial dystoina patients were treated with low frequency rTMS.Their motor threshold,cortical silent period(CSP)were evaluated before and after the rTMS and after 1,2,6 months as well as the spares and Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale(TWSTRS)to evaluate the effects of rTMS in the treatment of cranial dvstonia.Results The patients scored(23.5±14.0)significantly lower after l and 2 months(17.6 ±14.3,18.5±14.2,t=2.632,2.149.both P<0.05).But there was an increasing tendeney of the score after 2 months.The 2-month efficient rate of low-frequency rTMS Was 60%(12/20),yet the long-term effect of rTMS was still to be studied.There was a very significant improvment of relaxed(46.5%±7.3%vs49.9%±9.2%,t=-3.235.P<0.05)and active threshold(40.2%±5.9%/)5 43.9%±8.8%,t=-2.339,P<0.05),prolongation of CSP((96.1±24.5)ms vs(121.6±27.7)ms,t=-7.223,P=0.000).Conclusion The low frequency rTMS is efficient to relieve the clinical symptoms of cranial dystonia.
