Brain ; pathology ; Brain Infarction ; diagnosis ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Arterial Diseases ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; pathology

The ultimate objective of dyslipidemia management is to prevent and treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. It is important to combine lifestyle modification together with medication. To determine whether to start drug therapy, comprehensive consideration should be given to both the risk status for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Drug treatment can be initiated according to whether the patients have coronary artery disease, ischemic cerebral infarction, peripheral artery disease, atherosclerotic artery diseases (abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery stenosis), or diabetes, as well as the number of atherosclerotic risk factors (smoking, hypertension, low high density lipoprotein cholesterol level, family history of premature coronary artery disease, and age). Statin is the first-choice drug for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The first goal for drug therapy is to lower the low density lipoprotein cholesterol and the secondary goal is to lower the non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol level. Secondary causes of dyslipidemia should be considered and corrected before starting any medication. These recommendations are based on the new treatment guideline 2015 of Korean Society of Lipidology and Atherosclereosis and Korean Medical Association.
Aortic Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Arteries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Drug Therapy ; Dyslipidemias* ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Lipoproteins ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Risk Factors

Two angiographic instances of anomalous external carotid artery (ECA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) anastomosis are described, each occurring at the C2-3 level and bearing remnants of proximal ICA. The ICA remnant of one patient (identifiable immediately upon bifurcation of the common carotid artery) was hypoplastic, and that of the other patient was an occluded arterial stump. These features are not typical of non-bifurcating ICA. The occipital artery originated from an anomalous connection in one instance and from the main trunk of the ECA (just past the ECA-ICA connection) in the other.
Adult ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases/radiography ; Carotid Artery, External/*abnormalities/radiography/surgery ; Carotid Artery, Internal/*abnormalities/radiography/surgery ; Cerebral Angiography ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*radiography/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

Cosmetic facial filler-related ophthalmic artery occlusion is rare but is a devastating complication, while the exact pathophysiology is still elusive. Cerebral angiography provides more detailed information on blood flow of ophthalmic artery as well as surrounding orbital area which cannot be covered by fundus fluorescein angiography. This study aimed to evaluate cerebral angiographic features of cosmetic facial filler-related ophthalmic artery occlusion patients. We retrospectively reviewed cerebral angiography of 7 patients (4 hyaluronic acid [HA] and 3 autologous fat-injected cases) showing ophthalmic artery and its branches occlusion after cosmetic facial filler injections, and underwent intra-arterial thrombolysis. On selective ophthalmic artery angiograms, all fat-injected patients showed a large filling defect on the proximal ophthalmic artery, whereas the HA-injected patients showed occlusion of the distal branches of the ophthalmic artery. Three HA-injected patients revealed diminished distal runoff of the internal maxillary and facial arteries, which clinically corresponded with skin necrosis. However, all fat-injected patients and one HA-injected patient who were immediately treated with subcutaneous hyaluronidase injection showed preserved distal runoff of the internal maxillary and facial arteries and mild skin problems. The size difference between injected materials seems to be associated with different angiographic findings. Autologous fat is more prone to obstruct proximal part of ophthalmic artery, whereas HA obstructs distal branches. In addition, hydrophilic and volume-expansion property of HA might exacerbate blood flow on injected area, which is also related to skin necrosis. Intra-arterial thrombolysis has a limited role in reconstituting blood flow or regaining vision in cosmetic facial filler-associated ophthalmic artery occlusions.
Adipose Tissue/transplantation ; Adult ; Aged ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases/*etiology/*radiography/therapy ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cosmetic Techniques/adverse effects ; Dermal Fillers/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Face ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase/administration & dosage ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Ophthalmic Artery/*radiography ; Retinal Artery Occlusion/*etiology/*radiography/therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Autologous/adverse effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThis review focuses on the role of the large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels in diabetic vascular complications.

DATA SOURCESRelevant articles published in English or Chinese from 1981 to present were selected from PubMed. The search terms were "BKCa channels" and "diabetes". Important references from selected articles were also retrieved.

STUDY SELECTIONArticles regarding the role of BKCa channels in diabetic vascular complications and relevant mechanisms were selected.

RESULTSThe BKCa channels are abundantly expressed in vascular smooth cells and play an important role in regulation of vascular tone. Multiple studies indicated that the expression and function of BKCa channels are altered by different mechanisms in diabetic vascular diseases such as coronary arterial disease, cerebral arterial disease, and diabetic retinopathy.

CONCLUSIONBKCa channels may play an important role in diabetic vascular complications and may be an effective therapeutic target for relieving and reducing the burden of diabetic vascular complications.

Cerebral Arterial Diseases ; metabolism ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; metabolism ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; metabolism ; Humans ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels ; metabolism

We report a case of ophthalmic artery obstruction combined with brain infarction following periocular autologous fat injection. The patient, a 44-year-old woman, visited our hospital for decreased visual acuity in her left eye and dysarthria one hour after receiving an autologous fat injection in the periocular area. Her best corrected visual acuity for the concerned eye was no light perception. Also, a relative afferent pupillary defect was detected in this eye. The left fundus exhibited widespread retinal whitening with visible emboli in several retinal arterioles. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a hyperintense lesion at the left insular cortex. Therefore, we diagnosed ophthalmic artery obstruction and left middle cerebral artery infarction due to fat emboli. The patient was managed with immediate ocular massage, carbon dioxide, and oxygen therapy. Following treatment, dysarthria improved considerably but there was no improvement in visual acuity.
Adult ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases/diagnosis/*etiology ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/*complications/diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; *Ophthalmic Artery ; Orbit ; Subcutaneous Fat/*transplantation ; Transplantation, Autologous/adverse effects ; Visual Acuity

Most nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhages are induced by the rupture of a saccular aneurysm. Acute nontraumatic cortical subarachnoid hemorrhage at the convexity of a cerebral hemisphere is a relatively rare occurrence with various vascular or nonvascular causes. Furthermore, the clinical manifestation of acute nontraumatic cortical subarachnoid hemorrhage differs from that of aneurysmal rupture. We experienced five cases of acute nontraumatic cortical subarachnoid hemorrhage with diverse neurological symptoms. Consecutive workup revealed the various etiologies of that hemorrhage.
Aneurysm ; Cerebral Arterial Diseases ; Cerebrum ; Hemorrhage ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Venous Thrombosis

A venous air embolism and paradoxical air embolism (PAE) are serious complications in patients undergoing a hepatectomy. We report a case of PAE and cerebral infarctions in a patient undergoing a hepatic resection using a Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA(R)). A 65-year-old woman underwent a left lobe hepatectomy. During the middle phase of the liver resection with CUSA(R), there was a sudden decrease in arterial blood pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide and SpO2. With resuscitation, intraoperative ultrasonography revealed massive air emboli in both her left and right heart, which lasted for 40 min. The hepatectomy was completed after the disappearance of the air emboli from her heart. After surgery, her mental status was stuporous. The brain CT and MRI revealed multiple acute cerebral infarctions. Finally, she died from septic shock. This case highlights the need for anesthetists and surgeons to be aware of the potential for CUSA(R)-related massive PAE.
Aged ; Arterial Pressure ; Brain ; Carbon Dioxide ; Cerebral Infarction ; Embolism, Air ; Embolism, Paradoxical ; Female ; Heart ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Resuscitation ; Shock, Septic ; Stupor ; Ultrasonics

BACKGROUNDFenestration of the proximal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) A1 segment is a rare anatomic variation. The purpose of the this study was to report the incidence of fenestration in the proximal segment of the anterior cerebral artery and to delineate its configurations on cranial MR angiography.

METHODSMagnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was performed in 762 patients using 1.5 T imagers during the period July 2007 through September 2008. All images were obtained by the three-dimensional time-of-flight (3D TOF) technique. Volume rendering (VR) images in the horizontal rotation view were displayed stereoscopically. The presence of fenestration in the proximal segment of the anterior cerebral artery was identified and evaluated retrospectively by MRA.

RESULTSSix patients (four men and two women, 15 to 63 years of age, median age 50 years) had proximal ACA fenestration. The appearance rate of ACA fenestration was 0.8% (6/762). All 6 fenestrations were located at the A1 segment: three of them were with a slit-like shape and three were with a convex-lens-like shape, 5 of the right A1 segment, 1 of the left A1 segment.

CONCLUSIONRecognizing ACA fenestration is important to interpret cranial MR angiographys and helpful to make a plan for neurosurgical procedures or neurological intervention.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; abnormalities ; Cerebral Angiography ; methods ; Cerebral Arterial Diseases ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of the three-dimensional (3D) CT module of the flat-panel digital subtraction angiography (DSA) system.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted among 278 patients receiving examination with rotational 3D-CT of INNOVA 3100 flat-panel DSA system. AW4.3-04 workstation was used to perform the 3D reconstruction and INNOVA CT reconstruction, and the imaging data were analyzed in comparison with the clinical results.

RESULTSThe 3D-CT of the flat panel DSA system displayed the conditions of cerebral aneurysms in 54 cases, cerebral arteriovenous malformation in 25 cases, and the intracranial conditions in 24 cases. The blood supply and tumor vessels were clearly displayed in 57 cases, and the effects of embolization and endovascular stenting were evaluated in 27 and 21 cases, respectively. The rotational 3D-CT was used to evaluate complete embolization in 24 cases, and failed to display the feeding arteries of small tumors in 11 cases. The vascular lesions, biliary tract lesions, and the occurrence of hemorrhage during interventional therapy were observed in 58, 5 and 25 cases, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe 3D-CT module of the flat-panel DSA system can easily display abnormal vascular lesions and provide comprehensive anatomical information to facilitate interventional therapies and complication monitoring.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; instrumentation ; methods ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Cerebral Angiography ; methods ; Cerebral Arterial Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Hepatic Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult