Identification of the carotid artery dural ring by using three-dimensional computerized tomography angiography. Technical note.

The carotid artery (CA) dural ring is an important structure in aneurysm surgery of the paraclinoid region. The authors used three-dimensional computerized tomography (3D-CT) angiography to study the CA dural ring. Three-dimensional computerized tomography angiography was performed in patients with cerebral aneurysms and other cerebrovascular diseases. The paraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) was examined by the shaded surface reconstruction method on targeted 3D-CT angiography. The concavity was recognized in the paraclinoid segment of the ICA. The relationship between the concavity and the dural ring was investigated with anatomical studies and surgical findings. In anatomical studies, the concavity in the paraclinoid segment of the ICA on 3D-CT angiography coincided with the level of attachment of the dural ring. Using 3D-CT angiography, it is possible to identify the location of the dural ring in patients being considered for aneurysm surgery.

[Effects of long-term ethanol administration on the kidneys, bones and muscles of mice].

Reports on effects of ethanol intake on the kidneys and bones are few. Circulation of blood through the kidneys is large in amount; kidney takes water-soluble exogenous substances and their metabolites in from the blood and accumulates them in the cells and interstitial tissues; in addition kidney plays important roles in producing substances that activate a living body and associating with their functions. The author let male and female ICR mice take 16% ethanol (Sake) ad lib for 472 days beginning at the age of 38 days. Observations were carried out on renal tissues and other organs which have some connection with the renal function. These included bones (femur, knee joint, tibia), muscle (gastrocnemius), 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 and erythropoietin (EPO). The results were as follows: Renal tissue observations: Significantly more cases of appearances of basophilic renal tubular, swelling of tubular epithelial cells and urinary casts in tubular lumens, PAS positive deposits in glomerulus, and atrophy of glomerulus were seen in the ethanol groups than in a group used as the control. These occurrences were significantly clear and intensive relative to those in the control. Findings in gastrocnemius: Significantly large number of muscle atrophy, random variation of fiber size and multinucleated fibers were seen. Observations on bones based upon soft X-ray pictures: Bone atrophy, thinning of bone trabeculae, thinning of bone cortex, and porosity of bone cortex were disclosed significantly more than the control. Values of 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 and EPO were significantly high increased in the ethanol groups relative to the control. Through the above-mentioned results, it has been supposed that ethanol intake affects kidney tissues and consequently affects bones and muscles.

[A transcranial Doppler method in the early diagnosis of cerebrovascular vasospasm; comparison with angiographical findings].

Cerebral angiography (CAG) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) were performed at the same time in 18 patients with ruptured aneurysms within 1-3 days after onset, and the results were compared. Delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND) accompanying vascular spasm were detected in 8 patients, but three of the 8 patients recovered from the DIND within about 2 weeks. The CAG findings were classified into the following 3 types: (1) diffuse type showing generalized spasm of intracranial arteries (8 patients), (2) proximal type with spasm in the distal part of the internal carotid arteries and/or proximal middle cerebral arteries (5 patients) and (3) peripheral type showing spasm in the peripheral part of the middle cerebral arteries (5 patients). The TCD findings could be classified into (a) high pattern type, in which the blood flow velocity had increased (13 cases), (b) paradoxical pattern type, in which the blood flow velocity was faster in the more peripheral regions (2 cases), and (c) normal pattern type (3 cases). All 13 patients classified as diffuse type (8 patients) or proximal type (5 patients) in terms of the CAG findings showed a high pattern in TCD, indicating that TCD is also capable of diagnosing vasospasm. On the other hand, two of the 5 patients with peripheral type also showed the paradoxical pattern while the remaining 3 showed the normal pattern in TCD. DIND was detected in 6 of the 15 patients with a high or paradoxical pattern in TCD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)