Resting-State fMRI findings in patients with first-Episode idiopathic epilepsy before and after treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To detect resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) changes and their relationships with the clinical curative effect of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) for complex partial seizures (CPS) in epilepsy patients using the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF). METHODS: rfMRI data from 14 CPS patients enrolled between June 2015 and June 2016 in Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University were retrospectively investigated and compared with findings from 14 healthy age-, gender-, handedness-, and education-matched subjects. The patients were treated with first-line antiepileptic drugs for 12 weeks before undergoing a second rfMRI scan. fALFF data were processed using REST and SPM8 software. Whole-brain data were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The abnormal findings in CPS patients significantly decreased or disappeared after AED treatment. CONCLUSION: Measuring fALFF is useful for identifying brain functional changes in patients with first-episode epilepsy before and after treatment. Performing rfMRI is useful for evaluating treatment responses and may provide new insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms of epilepsy.

Application of high-field magnetic resonance imaging in Parkinson's disease.

The present study aimed to observe the structural changes of the extracorticospinal tract in Parkinson's disease (PD) using susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) magnetic resonance (MR) scans. The association of DTI parameters and brain-iron accumulation with PD was examined and imaging signs useful in the diagnosis of PD were explored. The study included 30 patients with PD and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls who underwent routine MR, SWI and DTI scans. The corrected phase (CP) values of the substantia nigra (SN), red nucleus (RN), globus pallidus (GP) and putamen (PUT) were measured, and fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were obtained. Significant differences were found in the CP values between the PD and control groups in the SN, RN and PUT, but there were no differences in other regions of interest (ROIs). The FA values of the SN and PUT in the PD group were significantly decreased compared with those of the control group, but there was no significant difference in the FA values of the GP. Furthermore, there was no significant inter-group difference in the ADC values of any ROIs. In conclusion, SWI is a method useful for evaluating brain-iron deposition in PD. Increasing iron storage levels have previously been shown to be associated with PD pathogenesis but not with the degree of PD severity. FA values may be useful for diagnosing PD, and DTI may offer some insight into PD pathomechanisms and clinical diagnosis.

Struma ovarii accompanied by mature cystic teratoma of the other ovary: A case report and literature review.

Struma ovarii, as a monodermal variant of ovarian teratoma, constitutes <3% of ovarian teratomas. It is difficult determine a diagnosis prior to surgery. The current study reports an unusual case of struma ovarii occurring in a 49 year-old female, which was accompanied by mature cystic teratoma involving the other ovary. The final pathological diagnosis was confirmed as struma ovarii based on the typical morphology of the thyroid follicles and the results of immunohistochemical staining. The bilateral tumors were resected and follow-up examinations were planned at four month intervals. At the time of writing, the patient was well and no tumor recurrence had been identified.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma: Clinicopathological analysis and imaging results.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare, malignant, soft-tissue tumor that accounts for ~1.2% of all soft-tissue sarcomas. Due to its low incidence, clinicians often overlook the diagnosis. However, it is difficult to form an accurate diagnosis prior to surgery due to the lack of experience in imaging diagnosis. The present study reviewed the pathological images, and the computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging data of 6 ASPS cases in order to investigate the clinicopathological and imaging characteristics of the tumor. The present study indicated that the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances of ASPS are nonspecific, but malignancy may be determined to a certain degree, which may aid in diagnosis prior to surgery and provides information for treatment guidance.

A novel method for evaluating brain function and microstructural changes in Parkinson's disease.

In this study, microstructural brain damage in Parkinson's disease patients was examined using diffusion tensor imaging and tract-based spatial statistics. The analyses revealed the presence of neuronal damage in the substantia nigra and putamen in the Parkinson's disease patients. Moreover, disease symptoms worsened with increasing damage to the substantia nigra, confirming that the substantia nigra and basal ganglia are the main structures affected in Parkinson's disease. We also found that microstructural damage to the putamen, caudate nucleus and frontal lobe positively correlated with depression. Based on the tract-based spatial statistics, various white matter tracts appeared to have microstructural damage, and this correlated with cognitive disorder and depression. Taken together, our results suggest that diffusion tensor imaging and tract-based spatial statistics can be used to effectively study brain function and microstructural changes in patients with Parkinson's disease. Our novel findings should contribute to our understanding of the histopathological basis of cognitive dysfunction and depression in Parkinson's disease.

Misdiagnosis of pancreatic papillary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma: A case report.

The morbidity of papillary cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas is extremely low and the condition is rarely first found as spinal metastases, thus it is often misdiagnosed prior to surgery. The present study reports a case of papillary cystadenocarcinoma with thoracolumbar metastases in a 56-year-old male. The first symptom to occur was backache, however, computed tomography revealed no positive findings. The pain became exacerbated and the patient underwent lumbar and thoracic vertebrae magnetic resonance imaging, which identified abnormal signals. Imaging and pathological examinations were used for the final diagnosis. Due to multiple bone metastases, the patient the administration of induction chemotherapy was suggested, however, the patient refused. The patient succumbed to the disease in June 2013.

[Prevalence, detection, management, and control of hypertension in the population of Mongolian and Han nationalities with age ≥ 55 years in a pastoral area of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region].

OBJECTIVE: To know about the status of hypertension among Mongolian and Han aged older than 55 years living in pastoral area of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. METHODS: Stratified sampling method was adopted and 9146 people aged 55 years or older were selected, blood pressure measurement and related information were collected, prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension were analyzed. RESULTS: The hypertension crude prevalence rate of Mongolian and Han subjects was 54.10% (standardized prevalence rate was 53.93%), in which, the Mongolian and Han subjects crude hypertension prevalence rate was 52.96% and 54.73% respectively (standardized prevalence rate was 53.44% and 55.08% respectively), and there was no statistically significant (P = 0.104). Among the male gender, awareness rate, treatment rate and control rate of hypertension was 61.03%, 46.73% and 11.87% respectively. Among the female gender, awareness rate, treatment rate and control rate of hypertension was 67.58%, 56.55% and 14.03% respectively. Among Mongolian and Han subjects, difference of hypertension prevalence of different age groups was statistically significant (P values were 0.032 and 0.000), Among Mongolian subjects, difference of hypertension awareness of different age groups was statistically significant (P = 0.000). Among Han subjects, difference of hypertension awareness rates, treatment rates, and control rates of different age groups were statistically significant (P values were 0.000, 0.047 and 0.043). CONCLUSION: Hypertension prevalence rate among Han and Mongolian people older than 55 years living in pastoral area of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is high while the awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension are rather low.

An ictal epilepsy case monitored by resting-state fMRI.

Most resting-state functional MRI studies of epilepsy are conducted in the interictal phase as the ictal phase is not suitable. We report and discuss a 13-year-old female epilepsy patient who had ictal examination. She was diagnosed with simple partial seizure epilepsy and on regular anti-epileptic drugs. There were no significant symptoms after careful treatment. We conclude that analysis of the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations may provide a useful tool in the functional MRI study of epilepsy.

[A prevalence study on mild cognitive impairment among the elderly populations of Mongolian and Han nationalities in a pastoral area of Inner Mongolia].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the epidemiological characteristics and distribution of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly populations from Mongolian and Han nationalities living in the pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. METHODS: According to the MCI clinical diagnostic criteria from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th revised edition (DSM-IV) by American Psychiatric Association, the individuals under study were at the age of 55 or over, with Mongolian or Han ethnicities and living in the pastoral area of Inner Mongolia. RESULTS: The crude MCI morbidity rates of Mongolian and Han of the study populations in the pastoral area of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China was 19.48% (1782/9146) and the standardization morbidity was 18.98%. The crude MCI morbidity rates of both Mongolian and Han ethnicities were 17.46% (the standardization morbidity was 16.99%) and 20.60% (the standardization morbidity was 19.98%), respectively. There showed a significant positive correlation between the crude morbidities and age, also significantly increasing with the latter. In the Mongolian population, the morbidity increased from 12.17% at the age 55-59 to 27.78% at 85 while in the Han population, the morbidity increased from 15.50% at the age 55-59 to 23.53% at 85. In both the populations of Mongolian and Han, there was a statistically difference found between the morbidities of MCI (χ2=13.229, P=0.000). The morbidity was higher in Hans than in the Mongolians. However, there was no statistically significant difference noticed between the morbidities of MCI in the Mongolian males and females (χ2=2.376, P=0.123). There was statistically significant difference found between the morbidities of MCI in the Han males and females, with females having higher risk than males (χ2=24.470, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: The morbidity of MCI in the elderly Mongolian and Han populations from the pastoral area of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China was considered to be quite high and correlated to age and gender.

Research progress on resting state fMRI of epilepsy.

As a study method of resting state network (RSN), resting state functional MRI (rfMRI) can be applied to detect low frequency fluctuate (LFF) in various cerebral areas based on resting state blood oxygen level dependence (BOLD) signals; and it is easier and more consistent than task-related fMRI. The development, features and methods of rfMRI as well as the application in epilepsy were reviewed in this article.

Hemangioblastoma originating from the right cerebellopontine angle.

The morbidity of hemangioblastoma in the supratentorial region is very low, and is seldom found in the area of the cerebellopontine angle, so it is easily misdiagnosis before surgery. We report and discuss a case of hemangioblastoma originating at the right cerebellopontine angle in a 42-year-old female patient.

Effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on cerebral free radical reactions following acute brain injury in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on cerebral free radical reactions after acute brain injury in rabbits. METHODS: 30 healthy white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (n=10), Group B (n=12) and Group C (n=8). The rabbits in Group A and Group B were injured by direct hit. At 0.5-4 hours after injury, the rabbits in Group A were injected with TRH (8 mg/kg body weight) through a vein and the rabbits in Group B were injected with normal saline of equal volume. The rabbits in Group C served as the normal control. Then all the rabbits were killed and brain tissues were obtained. The content of lipoperoxide (LPO), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the water content of the brain tissues were measured. RESULTS: The contents of LPO and water in brain tissues in Group A were lower and the activity of SOD was higher than those of Group B (P<0.05). After injury, intracranial pressure (ICP) rose rapidly and continuously with time passing by. When TRH was given to the animals in Group A, the rising speed of ICP slowed down significantly. CONCLUSIONS: TRH can decrease the cerebral free radical reactions and cerebral edema after acute brain injury in rats.