ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with fiber tracking (FT) has found clinical applications in the evaluation of the central nervous system and has been extensively used to image white matter tract. The feasibility of FT of the lumbar nerve roots in disc herniation is unclear. PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility of FT in the lumbar nerve roots, and to assess potential differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of L4, L5, and S1 nerves between healthy disc and disc herniation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with unilateral sciatica related to posterolateral or foraminal disc herniation and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled in our study. Anatomical fusion with the axial T2 sequences was used to estimate the relevance of reconstructions. DTI with tractography of the L4, L5, and S1 nerves was performed. Mean FA and ADC values were calculated from tractography images. RESULTS: Lumbosacral root compression sites could be clearly identified on the tractography images. There was no significant difference in FA or ADC between left and right nerve roots at the same level (P > 0.05) in healthy volunteers. The mean FA value of the compressed spinal nerve roots was significantly lower than that of FA of the contralateral nerve roots (P = 0.0001). ADC was significantly higher in compressed nerve roots than that in the contralateral nerve root (P = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) DTI and FT of the lumbosacral region nerve is possible. There are significant changes in FA and ADC values in the compressed L4, L5, and S1 nerves.
Subject(s)
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/pathology , Lumbar Vertebrae/innervation , Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Spinal Nerve Roots/pathology , Adult , Anisotropy , Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods , Intervertebral Disc Displacement/complications , Magnetics , Male , Middle Aged , Reproducibility of Results , Sciatica/etiology , Sciatica/pathology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Objective To observe the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of CNZ,an optimized prescrition of Liushen Wan based on our previous studies,so as to provide some pharmacological evidence for its further clinical use. Methods Both acetic-acid-induced increased mouse vascular permeability and carrageenan-induced mouse footpad edema were used to study the anti-inflammatory activity of CNZ.Meanwhile,its analgesic activity was evaluated in mice model of pain induced by thermal stimulus and acetic acid.The above activities were compared with those of Liushen Wan.Results CNZ significantly reduced acetic-acid-induced dye leakage at the doses of 16,32 and 64mg/kg after single oral administration.Meanwhile,CNZ at the two higher doses also markedly inhibited carrageenan-induced foot- pad edema,which exerted the strongest effect at 3 hours after carrageenan injection,and lasted over 5 hours.On the other hand,CNZ remarkably suppressed acetic-acid-induced writhing response at low,moderate-and high-doses, and significantly prolonged pain threshold in hot plate assay at moderate-and high-doses 0.5 hour after oral adminis- tration,lasting over 3 hours.Overall,its potency was similar to that of Liushen Wan.Conclusion CNZ has significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities.
