Sensitivity of magnetic resonance tomographic angiography for detecting the degree of neurovascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia.

PURPOSE: Neurovascular compression (NVC) is hypothesized to be the main pathogenic factor of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Microvascular decompression (MVD) has become a popular surgery for TN, and the success rate depends on the degree of NVC. As the routine examination before MVD, magnetic resonance tomographic angiography (MRTA) shows high sensitivity for detecting NVC. However, there are no reports on the sensitivity of MRTA for assessing the degree of NVC. METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of MRTA for determining the degree of NVC by comparing preoperative MRTA and intraoperative endoscopy findings. A total of 480 patients who suffered from TN and underwent MVD were included. Their preoperative MRTA and intraoperative endoscopy findings were reviewed. The kappa test was used to identify similarities between the MRTA and endoscopy findings. RESULTS: The degree of NVC on preoperative MRTA was similar to that on endoscopy (kappa = 0.770). The number of offending vessels according to preoperative MRTA was coincident with that according to endoscopy (kappa = 0.722). CONCLUSION: MRTA had high sensitivity for detecting not only the presence of NVC but also the degree of NVC.

Parry-Romberg Syndrome With Hemimasticatory Spasm: A Rare Combination.

Parry-Romberg syndrome is a rare craniofacial disorder characterized by progressive hemifacial atrophy with systematic manifestations. The combination with hemimasticatory spasm is rare, with only 9 patients reported before. In this study, a study of a young male patient with Parry-Romberg syndrome and hemimasticatory spasm on his left side was presented. Radiologic examinations showed severe atrophy limited to subcutaneous tissue and electromyography demonstrated as hemimasticatory spasm. Injection of botulinum toxin type A was applied for the treatment of hemimasticatory spasm and after 2 separated injections, the patient was significantly relieved from symptom. The theory of focal demyelination of the trigeminal nerve peripheral brunches is the possible link between hemifacial atrophy and hemimasticatory spasm, although the pathogenesis of both diseases requires further study and current therapeutic methods are still limited to symptomatic treatments. Injection of botulinum toxin type A is an effective way to treat hemimasticatory spasm and autologous fat transplant is a promising solution to correct facial asymmetry.

Armillariella tabescens polysaccharide treated rats with oral ulcers through modulation of oral microbiota and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

We identified Armillariella tabescens polysaccharide (PAT-W), a compound isolated from a Chinese medicinal mushroom, as a potential novel oral ulcer (OU) drug. In treating OU rats with PAT-W, especially in the high-dose group, oral mucous tissue TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels were markedly reduced, and pathological morphology and oxidative stress were effectively improved. Western blot analysis showed that the PAT-W channel ameliorated OU mucous tissue damage, which depends on the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway. Furthermore, high-throughput sequencing results showed that PAT-W regulated the maladjustment of the oral microbiota caused by OU. Therefore, based on the new viewpoint of activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and regulating oral microbiota, PAT-W is expected to become a new natural drug for treating oral ulcers and improving patients' quality of life.