Objective To investigate the roles of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) in the diagnosis and treatment of vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms (VBDA).Methods From January 2016 to December 2016,62 patients with VBDA admitted to Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University using 3.0 T HR-MRI (3D-TOF-MRA,3D-T1WI,and 3D-T1WI+C sequence) and diagnosed by DSA were analyzed retrospectively.They were divided into either an asymptomatic group (n=18) or a symptomatic group (n=44) according to their medical histories.Their clinical features,imaging features,and the relationship with prognosis were analyzed.Results HR-MRI revealed that the double lumen sign/intimal flap accounted for 27.8% (n=5) and 54.5% (n=24) respectively in the asymptomatic group and symptomatic group.The intramural hematoma accounted for 22.2% (n=4) and 43.2% (n=19) respectively in both groups.The enhancement of aneurysmal wall accounted for 33.3% (n=6) and 77.3% (n=34) in the asymptomatic group and symptomatic group.There were significant differences in the above features between the two groups (all P<0.05).In the symptomatic group,18.2% (n=8) of patients had aneurysm recurrence,which was significantly higher than the asymptomatic group (5.6%,n=1).The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusions HR-MRI can better reveal the lesion characteristics of VBDA.The rates of aneurysmal wall enhancement and recurrence in symptomatic VBDAs are higher,which indicates that HR-MRI can assess the stability of the aneurysmal wall and identify the prognosis to a certain extent.

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations and imaging features of dural arterio-venous fistula of super petrosal venous drainage and treatment. Methods From May 2013 to September 2014,9 patients with petrosal vein drained dural arteriovenous fistula at the Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University and the Department of Neurosurgery,Beijing Haidian Hospital were enrolled retrospectively. The patients were treated with endovascular embolization or microsurgery,and the MRI and DSA examinations were improved,and the scores of the modified Aminoff&Logue scale (ALS) were performed before and after treatment. Results In the 9 patients,there were 3 females and 6 males. They all had different degrees of limb sensory and motor abnormalities,7 of them also had urination and/or bowel disorders,4 had cranial nerve dysfunction,including hoarseness,bucking,hiccup,and paralysis. Six patients received embolization treatment,3 received microsurgery,and they all achieved anatomic cure. The preoperative ALS score was 6. 0 ± 2. 7,and the score at 3 months after procedure was 2. 8 ± 1. 7. There was significant difference between before and after treatment (t=4. 816,P<0. 05). Conclusions The petrosal vein drained dural arteriovenous fistula is a kind of rare cerebrovascular malformation. The lesion involves a wide range. The clinical manifestations are severe. Both endovascular embolization and microsurgery can achieve a more ideal therapeutic effect. If the vascular condition is permitted,the interventional embolization treatment should be preferred.

Objective To investigate the effect of endovascular treatment of vertebral basilar artery dissecting aneurysms. Methods The clinical data of 40 patients with vertebral basilar artery dissecting aneurysm admitted to Beijing Xuanwu Hospital and Haidian hospital,Capital Medical University from August 2013 to September 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Their clinical symptoms and imaging were followed up. According to the treatment methods,they were divided into either a stent-assisted coil emboliza-tion group (group A;n = 34)or a parent artery occlusion (group B;n = 6),and according to the clinical symptoms and imaging followed-up,the efficacy was assessed at 1 year after procedure. Results The patients were followed up for 1 year after procedure,29 patients (85. 3%)were improved in group A, 1 (2.9%)was stable,and 4 (11. 8%)deteriorated. All the 4 deteriorated patients died of cerebral infarction complications (at 1 week to 6 months after procedure). The 6 patients in group B were improved compared with before procedure. No intracranial hemorrhage and ischemic events occurred. Conclusion Using the stent-assisted coil embolization technique and the parent artery occlusion technique for the treatment of the vertebral basilar artery dissecting aneurysms are relatively safe and effective.

Objective:To evaluate the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/serine threonine protein kinase (Akt)/mammalian rapamycin target protein (mTOR) signaling pathway in edaravone-induced reduction of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged rats.Methods:Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 20 months, weighing 600-700 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), operation group (group O), edaravone group (group E) and PI3K inhibitor LY294002 group (group LY). The rats received laparotomy under 3% sevoflurane anesthesia in O, E and LY groups. Edaravone 3 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before operation in E and LY groups, and LY294002 0.3 mg/kg was simultaneously injected via the tail vein in group LY. Open field test was performed at 3 days after surgery to evaluate the spontaneous activity of rats, then Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the cognitive function of rats. The rats were sacrificed after the end of behavioral experiment to isolate hippocampal tissues for determination of the expression of phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD 95) (by Western blot ) and dendrite length in hippocampal CA1 area (using Golgi staining). The density of dendrites was calculated. Results:There were no statistically significant differences in exercise speed, distance, and time of staying at the center between the four groups ( P>0.05). Compared with group C, the escape latency was significantly prolonged, the number of crossing the original platform was reduced, the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, SYP and PSD-95 was down-regulated, the dendritic length of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was shortened, and the density of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was decreased in group O ( P<0.05). Compared with group O, the escape latency was significantly shortened, the number of crossing the original platform was increased, the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, SYP and PSD-95 was up-regulated, the dendritic length of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was prolonged, and the density of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was increased in group E ( P<0.05). Compared with group E, the escape latency was significantly prolonged, the number of crossing the original platform was reduced, the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, SYP and PSD-95 was down-regulated, and the dendritic length of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was shortened, and the density of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was decreased in group LY ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which edaravone reduces postoperative cognitive dysfunction is related to activating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and improving synaptic plasticity in aged rats.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of edaravone on the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway in the hippocampus of aged rats with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD).Methods:Sixty SPF healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 20 months, weighing 650-700 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), POCD group (group P), edaravone group (group E) and ERK inhibitor group (group I). The rats received laparotomy under 3% sevoflurane anesthesia to prepare POCD model in P, E and I groups. Edaravone 3 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before operation in E and I groups, ERK inhibitor PD98059 0.3 mg/kg was injected via the tail vein in group I. The open field test was performed at 3 days after operation to evaluate the spontaneous activity of rats, then Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the cognitive function of rats on 3-7 days after operation. The rats were sacrificed after the end of Morris water maze test, and hippocampal tissues were obtained for determination of the expression of phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB), synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) (by Western blot) and dendrite length and density of dendrites in hippocampal CA1 area (using Golgi staining). Results:Compared with group C, the escape latency was significantly prolonged after operation, the number of crossing the original platform was reduced, the expression of p-ERK, p-CREB, synaptophysin and PSD-95 was down-regulated, and the dendritic length and density of hippocampal neurons were reduced in group P ( P<0.05). Compared with group P, the escape latency was significantly shortened, the number of crossing the original platform was increased, the expression of p-ERK, p-CREB, synaptophysin and PSD-95 was up-regulated, and the dendritic length and density of hippocampal neurons were increased in group E ( P<0.05). Compared with group E, the escape latency was significantly prolonged, the number of crossing the original platform was reduced, the expression of p-ERK, p-CREB, synaptophysin and PSD-95 was down-regulated, the dendritic length of hippocampal neurons was shortened, and the density of hippocampal neurons was decreased in group I( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which edaravone improves POCD may be related to activating ERK/CREB signaling pathway and changing synaptic plasticity in hippocampal CA1 region in aged rats.