Objective To investigate the diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)and magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS)changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)and to study on the physiopathology of ALS.Methods Thirty-eight AIS patients,8 patients with pure lower motor neuron involvement and 5 patients with mixed-type cervical spondylosis and 34 healthy controls were enrolled and examined with the conventional brain MRI,DTI and 1H-MRS.Results T2-weighted and T2 FLAIR images revealed abnormal high signals in bilateral pyramidal tract positions in 21%(8/38)of ALS patients,which was higher than that in the coaex When compared with the control group,the values of FA in the precentral gyms(0.492±0.059 vs 0.552±0.045,F=17.150,P<0.01),the posterior limb of the internal capsule(0.679±0.048 vs 0.727 4-0.031.F=19.481.P<0.01)and the cerebral peduncle(1eft:0.740 4-0.038 vs 0.761 4±0.024.F=4.290;right:0.720 ±0.044 vs 0.746 ±0.034,F=3.264,both P<0.01)of the ALS group were decreased significantly.so were the values of NAA/Cr.And the FA reduction rate was 10.9%,6.6% and 2.8%-3.5% respectively.There was also a significant decrease in FA in the anterior limb of the internal capsule and the occipital lobe in the ALS group.Conclusion Not only does the application of DTI and MRS help to demonstrate upper motor neuron involvement in the brain and facilitate the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ALS,but also increases the understanding of the lesion distribution and physiopathology in ALS.

Objective To assess the utility of changes of muscle strength and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscle after the exercise test in diagnosis of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis during inter-attack period. Methods Exercise test was applied on 59 patients with hypokalaemic periodic paralysis and 38 control subjects during inter-attack period. The changes of CMAP amplitude, muscle strength and the range of abduction of ADM muscle at 120 minutes after exercise were calculated and compared between the two groups. Results At 120 minutes after exercise, the M50 (M25, M75 ) of decrease in amplitude of CMAP recorded in ADM muscles were 54. 1% ( 43.1%,66. 3% ) in patients with periodic paralysis and 11.1% (2. 0%, 21.3% ) in control subjects(Z =6. 731,P=0.000), M5o(M25,M75) of decrease in range of abduction of ADM muscles were 39.4% (26.3% ,48. 9% ) in patients with periodic paralysis and 7. 8% ( 1.3%, 13.7% ) in control subjects ( Z = 5. 519,P=0. 000). The muscle strength of ADM muscle was less than Ⅳ grade in 96. 3% (52/54) patients with periodic paralysis and 8.6% ( 3/35 ) in control subjects ( x2 = 68.2, P = 0. 000 ). The sensitivity and specificity for decrease in CMAP amplitude ( best cutoff = 30% ) in diagnosis of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis were 87.5% and 93.7%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for decrease in range of abduction of ADM muscle ( best cutoff = 20% ) were 87.5% and 90. 5%, respectively. Conclusion Exercise test is recommended to apply on patients with suspected hypokalaemic periodic paralysis during inter-attack period. The decrease in range of abduction of ADM muscle more than 20% at 120 minutes after exercise supports the diagnosis of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the assistant effct of electroacupuncture on acute incomplete spinal cord injury treated with routine therapy.Methods9 cases who accepted routine therapy, including operation and medicine, were in control group, while other 7 cases who accepted electroacupuncture other than routine therapy were in treating group.ResultsThere were 2 cases were effective, 4 cases were improved and 3 cases were not improved in control group, while 6 cases were clinical recovery, 1 case was effective in treating group.ConclusionElectroacupuncture can improve the effect of routine therapy on acute incomplete spinal cord injury.

目的观察神经外科与针刺联合治疗急性脊髓不完全损伤的疗效。方法神经外科治疗组根据指征确定是否进行手术,药物治疗均给予激素、脱水、抗去甲肾上腺素类药物、神经营养药物,高压氧。神经外科与针刺联合治疗组除上述神经外科治疗外,采用针刺治疗,针刺处方:电针刺激夹脊穴,根据不同辨证配合远端取穴。结果神经外科治疗组9例,持续治疗 3—6个月,出院后随访6个月,6例好转,肌力有所改善,最好者可达到肌力IV—IV+级,3例无效,甚至退步,瘫痪进一步加重。神经外科与针刺联合治疗组病人5例,经针刺及电针治疗10—80天时间后,4例临床治愈,1例经针刺治疗好转后,因转入骨科手术治疗腰椎压缩性骨折时脱离针刺治疗。结论神经外科与针刺联合治疗急性脊髓损伤效果好,并能抑制脊髓损伤的进一步恶化。

Objective:To explore the clinical application value of personalized positioning using a cervical collar combined with a vacuum pad in the Cyberknife radiosurgery for cervical spine metastases.Methods:This study enrolled 68 patients with cervical spine metastases to be treated with Cyberknife stereotactic radiotherapy for cervical spines. These patients consisted of 41 males and 27 females, aged from 43 to 78 years (average: 51.5 years). They were divided into groups A, B, and C using the random number table method. The patient positioning in these groups was achieved using a cervical collar combined with a vacuum pad (personalized positioning), a vacuum pad, and a small head mold, respectively. After the first treatment, the comfort levels of the positioning molds during treatment were investigated. After radiotherapy, the average deviations in translational and rotational directions, the minimum tolerance distance (dxAB), the minimum rotational deviation angle (drAB), the proportion of false nodes, and the comfort level of the three positioning method were acquired for analysis.Results:The three groups showed statistically significant differences in the inf-sup, left-right, ant-post, pitch, roll, and yaw directions during the first treatment ( F = 7.13, 2.56, 3.41, 4.21, 2.71, 8.14, P < 0.05). Compared with groups B and C, Group A had significantly lower dxAB, drAB, and the proportion of false nodes, showing statistically significant differences ( F = 5.06, 4.31, 3.30, P < 0.05). Furthermore, patients in groups A and B felt more comfortable with the positioning molds than those in Group C ( χ2 = 12.46, P < 0.05), with no statistically significant differences between groups A and B ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:For patients with cervical spine metastases undergoing Cyberknife radiosurgery for cervical spines, the personalized positioning using a cervical collar combined with a vacuum pad can improve the accuracy and safety of Cyberknife spinal tracking while remaining the comfort level.

Objective:To investigate the consistency and correlation of the respiratory synchronization tracking and fiducial marker respiratory synchronization tracking in the Cyberknife stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with the diaphragm as the tracking target.Methods:A total of 11 patients hospitalized at Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from April 2018 to November 2019 were enrolled, including 8 cases of lung cancer, 2 cases of liver cancer with lung metastasis and 1 case of colorectal cancer with lung metastasis. All enrolled cases used fiducial marker tracking plan (RT) and diaphragm contour tracking plan (DT), and then all received tumor visualization simulation tests. Bland-Altman method was used to make the consistency analysis of the offset in the visualization tests process of 2 tracking plans at each respiratory time point. The minimum tolerance distance, uncertainty and average standard deviation and maximum standard deviation in the optimal model state plans were compared between the both plans by using t test. Results:Compared with RT, the translational standard deviations of DT tracking were listed as follows: head-foot direction (0.4±2.9) mm, left-right direction (0.3±4.4) mm, anterior-posterior direction (-1.8±6.8) mm. The Bland-Altman method showed that the consistency between RT and DT was better in the head-foot and left-right directions, and worse in the anterior-posterior direction; the synchronization was only better in the head-foot direction, and worse in both the left-right and anterior-posterior directions. Results of the model quality comparison showed that the uncertainty of RT was higher than that of DT, and the difference was statistically significant [(23±6)% vs. (9±4)%, t=-5.24, P = 0.001], while the differences of the minimum tolerance distance, average standard deviation and maximum standard deviation were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Patients who use respiratory synchronization Cyberknife SBRT with the diaphragm as the tracking target have better consistency and synchronization in the head-foot direction, but worse in the left-right and anterior-posterior directions. Under the corresponding marginal margin of the target area in the left-right direction, for tumors near the diaphragm that are not visible in the visual test, it is potentially feasible to use the diaphragm as a tracking target to implement respiratory synchronization SBRT. For larger motion amplitudes in the left-right and anterior-posterior directions, more caution is required.

In February 2023, the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) offi-cially released guidance paper for digestive neuroendocrine carcinoma. Based on the latest develop-ments and research results, the guidelines provide detailed explanations and practical recommen-dations on the epidemiology, diagnosis, prognostic indicators, treatment, and other aspects of digestive neuroendocrine carcinoma. The authors aim to interpret the key contents of the guidelines in order to further provide standardized clinical diagnosis and treatment processes.

BACKGROUNDThe long-time exercise test (ET) is used to diagnose the primary periodic paralyses (PPs). However the reference values of ET are many and various. This study aimed to investigate the reference value of long-time ET in the diagnosis of PPs.

METHODSWe recruited 108 healthy subjects, 68 patients with PPs, and 72 patients with other diseases for the study. The procedure of ET was made on the basis of the McManis' method. Electrical responses were recorded from right abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscle when stimulation of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. After the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) was monitored, subjects were then asked to contract the muscle as strongly as possible for 5 minutes. CMAPs were recorded for 2 seconds immediately after cessation of exercise, then every 5 minutes for 10 minutes, and finally every 10 minutes for 50 minutes. In general, the CMAP amplitudes will fall below the pre-exercise levels in an hour. The largest decrease was calculated and used as results of ET.

RESULTSThe CMAP amplitude decreases had no significant differences between groups when the healthy adults were grouped according to age, gender, height, weight and test time. Decreases in PPs patients (57.76%) were significantly more than in healthy subjects (15.21%) and other disease patients (18.10%, P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the best threshold is 35.50%.

CONCLUSIONSIn the long-time exercise test, threshold of 35.50% for the CMAP amplitude decrease was identified for abnormal. The result is not influenced by age, gender, height, weight, and test time. About 7.4% of healthy subjects were abnormal in ET.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Exercise Test ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paralyses, Familial Periodic ; diagnosis ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values