Nō to shinkei = Brain and nerve
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The traumatic posterior fossa hematoma was regarded as relatively rare thing, but recently, as the result of the prevalence of CT scanners, the number of reported cases is increasing. We report nine cases of traumatic posterior fossa hematoma. We divided into two categories: one was the acute epidural hematoma, the other was the acute subdural hematoma with cerebellar contusion. ⋯ Once a hematoma was produced in the posterior fossa, it oppresses the brainstem and causes the acute hydrocephalus, so the state of consciousness and respiration deteriorate suddenly. In cases of the acute epidural hematoma, appropriate surgical intervention could save the patients and resulted in good outcome. But in some cases of the fulminant type acute epidural hematoma of the posterior fossa caused by tearing the sinuses, though we have not experienced, patients die before the diagnosis and treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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We experienced 11 cases of brain death for the past two years, in six of whom we performed the apnea test to confirm the cessation of the medullary respiratory functions. The cause of brain death was primary intracranial lesions in four, subarachnoidal hemorrhages in three and meningitis in one. Hypoxia of the brain secondary to cardiac arrest resulted brain death in the remaining two cases. ⋯ The pH and PaCO2 did not change significantly after pre-oxygenation and after adjusting of PaCO2. Only the PaO2 increased significantly after preoxygenation. PaCO2 increased with the rate of 3.04 +/- 1.2 mmHg/min up to 73.4 +/- 15.6 mmHg and pH decreased with the rate of 0.016 +/- 0.007 down to 7.1 +/- 0.03 after disconnection from the respirator.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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The diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG) can usually be made on the basis of the characteristic clinical history and signs, improvement by the use of anticholinesterase drugs, decremental responses in repetitive nerve stimulations, and assay of anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody titers. We, however, have difficulty to make diagnosis of ocular MG patients with mild symptoms because muscular weakness is minimal and ancillary tests are negative. In the present communication, we report clinical usefulness of a hot test to provoke ptosis by warming the eyelid in ocular MG patients with minimal fatigability. ⋯ Tensilon administration reversed the eyelids to the previous position. Patient 2 was a 12-year-old boy with a typical history and clinical signs of ocular MG. His symptoms remitted spontaneously without any medication 3 weeks after the onset.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) has been reported to cause chronic Parkinsonism in humans, primates, and long lasting striatal dopamine depletion in mice. Acute animal models thus produced closely resemble Parkinson's disease. There are, however, two major differences. ⋯ Chemical analysis of norepinephrine and dopamine by HPLC confirmed histofluorescence studies. Behavioral studies were analyzed by Automex locomotor activity meter. Marked increase of locomotor activity was observed in MPTP treated mice after L-DOPA administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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The papers about cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with cerebrovascular diseases have been already reported by positron emission computerized tomography (PET), single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), Xray CT (CT) using cold Xe, and so on. However the literature about the CBF changes in acute stage is few. We studied CBF in 68 patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease within 48 hours after the onsets from February 1984 through February 1985. ⋯ SPECT showed decreased CBF in all cases whereas the positive finding by CT was 40.0%. The area of decreased CBF was always larger than the low density area that CT demonstrated. Mean CBF value of the cerebral hemisphere in the cases with ICA occlusion within 8 hours after the onsets was 31.0 (ml/100 g/min), and that of MCA occlusion was 36.0 (ml/100 g/min), and that of MCA occlusion was 36.0 (ml/100 g/min). 4) The positive finding by SPECT on TIA cases was 47% and that by CT was 41.1%, SPECT usually did not demonstrate a small ischemic focus especially at the deep region (ie, basal ganglia region). 5) SPECT using Xe-123 inhalation was useful and non-invasive method for the diagnosis in acute stage with ischemic cerebrovascular disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)