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Biomedical subjects

G Waldemar

Publications and source records attributed to G Waldemar.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Cerebral blood flow deficits in hereditary essential myoclonus.

Hereditary essential myoclonus is a disease in which segmental myoclonus is the sole clinical abnormality and whose cause is unknown. It is characterized by an early onset, a benign course, an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, the absence of any other neurologic dysfunction, and normal results of auxiliary tests. Cerebral blood flow studies of a father and son with this disease showed a cortical blood flow reduction contralateral to the myoclonus symptoms. We postulate the cause to be a focal unilateral subcortical cerebral lesion, either in the basal ganglia or in the brain stem, with subsequent cortical deafferentation.

Adult↗

Cerebral blood flow autoregulation in experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage in rat.

Haemodynamic instability is of great importance in clinical management of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The significance of angiographically demonstrable vasospasm for disturbances of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral autoregulation has not yet been clarified. The present study was designed to describe disturbances of cerebral autoregulation during the timecourse of experimental SAH (eSAH) in rats. A second aim of the study was to relate the results to a reported timecourse of angiographic vasospasm in the same animal model. Previous studies have shown that the timecourse of angiographically visible vasospasm in eSAH is biphasic with maximal spasm at 10 min and 2 days after induction of eSAH. At 5 days, the vasospasms have resolved. CBF was measured using a 133-Xenon intracarotid injection method which allowed serial measurements of mean hemispheric CBF during controlled manipulations of arterial blood pressure. In this way, an autoregulation curve could be constructed. The present study shows that autoregulation is severely disturbed or even totally absent at 2 and 5 days after eSAH. Thus there seems to be no direct correlation between presence of angiographic vasospasm and impairment of autoregulation, or that the impairment of autoregulation is more protracted than the presence of cerebral vasospasm, presuming a correlation exist.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Focal reductions of cerebral blood flow in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a [99mTc]-d,l-HMPAO SPECT study.

We investigated regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) using the [99mTc]-d,l-HMPAO technique with brain dedicated high resolution single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) in 14 consecutive patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), median age 62 years (45-77). Global CBF, expressed in % relative to the cerebellum, was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in the ALS group (80.5 +/- 6.7%) than in the control group of 14 age-matched healthy volunteers (87.0 +/- 7.5%). Eight patients (57%) had abnormal rCBF distribution maps with reduced flow, primarily in the frontal lobes. Three of the 8 patients with abnormal rCBF had mild to moderate dementia and another one had mild aphasia. None of the patients with normal rCBF distribution maps had dementia. In the group of ALS patients as a whole rCBF was significantly reduced in the frontal cortex, the hippocampus, and the central white matter. We conclude that reduced rCBF, primarily in the frontal lobes, is a frequent finding in patients with ALS. The decreased rCBF may be associated with cognitive deficits and is most likely caused by neuronal degeneration and reduced metabolic needs.

Aged↗

Increased cerebral blood flow in anemic patients on long-term hemodialytic treatment.

CBF was measured in 15 patients on chronic hemodialytic treatment. CBF was measured with xenon-133 inhalation using single photon emission tomography. In addition, computerized tomography (CT) and a neurological examination were done prior to hemodialysis. Mean CBF was 66.2 +/- 17.3 (SD) ml 100 g-1 min-1, which was significantly higher (t-test, p less than 0.05) than for an age-matched control group (54.7 +/- 10.2 ml 100 g-1 min-1). However, the hematocrit for the patients was considerably lower, 0.30 +/- 0.07, as compared to 0.43 +/- 0.03 in the controls. A significant negative correlation was observed between CBF and the hematocrit (y = -1.79x + 120.7, r = -0.71, p less than 0.01). Calculating CBF from this equation in the dialyzed patients using a hematocrit of 0.43 yielded a mean CBF value of 43.7 ml 100 g-1 min-1, i.e., 20% below the expected. Two patients showed a focal CBF decrease. CT showed central or cortical atrophy in five patients, and two had small hypodense lesions. The neurological examination revealed slight to moderate dementia in seven cases. Although mean CBF was found to be increased by 21% as compared to the control group, an even higher CBF level would have been expected to outweigh the decreased oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. The findings suggest a lowered metabolic demand of the brain tissue, probably due to subtle brain damage.

Adult↗

Reduced regional cerebral blood flow in Huntington's disease studied by SPECT.

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was studied in 18 patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and 19 age- and sex-matched controls with high resolution single photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT), using Tc-99m-HMPAO. Significant reductions in tracer uptake were found in the caudate and lentiform nuclei (20 and 8%) and in the cerebral cortex, especially in the frontal and parietal areas (11-13%). No significant reductions were found in the thalamus, mesial temporal cortex, and occipital cortex. Fourteen patients had neuropsychological testing. Relationship between rCBF and cognitive function was tested by regression analysis. A linear relationship was found between test scores of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Picture Arrangement Test and blood flow in the caudate nucleus. Other tests of cognitive function (Block Design Test, Face and Word Recognition Test, Street Fragmented Pictures Test, and Similarities Test) correlated better with flow in the cortical regions believed to be involved in solving those particular tests. These findings indicate, that blood flow is reduced in both cortical and subcortical structures in symptomatic HD, and that both reductions in cortical and subcortical blood flow may be related to cognitive function in HD.

Adult↗

Effect of ketanserin on cerebral blood flow autoregulation in healthy volunteers.

The effect of a clinically relevant dose of ketanserin (10 mg as a bolus followed by an infusion of 6 mg/h) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and CBF autoregulation was examined in 12 healthy volunteers. Changes in CBF were estimated by the cerebral arteriovenous-oxygen saturation difference method, while mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was increased by norepinephrine and decreased by ganglionic blockade (trimethaphan camphosulphonate) combined with lower body negative pressure one hour after the infusion of ketanserin. During ketanserin infusion, MABP fell insignificantly by 2.5 mmHg (6 to -2), while CBF rose insignificantly by 5 ml/100 g/min. Autoregulation was preserved in all volunteers. CO2-correction factors from 0 to 4.6% CBF/0.1 kPa were used. The lower limit of CBF autoregulation was 82 mmHg (80-86) with an SE of 3 mmHg (1-5) similar to a previous control group of healthy volunteers. Aside from a major decrease in MABP in one subject, no adverse side effects were observed. The present study shows that CBF autoregulation is maintained during ketanserin infusion.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

The acute effect of nimodipine on cerebral blood flow, its CO2 reactivity, and cerebral oxygen metabolism in human volunteers.

The present study was undertaken in 8 healthy volunteers to examine the effect of a clinically relevant dose of nimodipine (NIM) (15 and 30 microgram/kg/h) on CBF, its CO2 reactivity, and CMRO2. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was measured intra-arterially. Regional CBF was measured by SPECT of inhaled Xenon-133. During the CO2 reactivity tests changes in CBF were estimated by the arterio-venous-oxygen-difference method. Median CBF was 52 ml/100 g/min (48-53) with a normal regional distribution, and median baseline MABP was 96 mmHg (92-99). MABP was slightly reduced, by 8 mmHg (7-9), and 9 mmHg (4-11) after infusion of NIM for 2 and 4 hours, respectively. CBF, however, remained constant, although correction for changes in PaCO2, revealed a slight increase after 4 hours (p = 0.08). CMRO2 was 3.5 ml/100g/min (3.2-3.5) and was not changed by the infusion of NIM. At arterial CO2 tensions ranging from 4.0 to 6.5 Kpa the CO2 reactivity was 3.0% CBF/0.1 kPa (2.6-3.7) and decreased significantly to 2.6% CBF/0.1 kPa (1.8-3.2) after the infusion of NIM for 3 hours (p = 0.02). The median slope of the LnCBFsat/PaCO2 relationship was 1.5 at baseline compared to 1.3 after NIM (p less than 0.01). No side effects were observed. The present study shows a decreased CO2 of the cerebral vessels and a maintained coupling of CBF and CMRO2 during the infusion of nimodipine.

Adult↗

99mTc-d,l-HMPAO and SPECT of the brain in normal aging.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc-d,l-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99mTc-d,l-HMPAO) was used to determine global and regional CBF in 53 healthy subjects aged 21-83 years. For the whole group, global CBF normalized to the cerebellum was 86.4% +/- 8.4 (SD). The contribution of age, sex, and atrophy to variations in global CBF was studied using stepwise multiple regression analysis. There was a significant negative correlation of global CBF with subjective ratings of cortical atrophy, but not with ratings of ventricular size, Evans ratio, sex, or age. In a subgroup of 33 subjects, in whom volumetric measurements of atrophy were performed, cortical atrophy was the only significant determinant for global CBF, accounting for 27% of its variance. Mean global CBF as measured with the 133Xe inhalation technique and SPECT was 54 +/- 9 ml/100 g/min and did not correlate significantly with age. There was a preferential decline of CBF in the frontal cortex with advancing age. The side-to-side asymmetry of several regions of interest increased with age. A method was described for estimation of subcortical CBF, which decreased with advancing cortical atrophy. The relative area of the subcortical low-flow region increased with age. These results are useful in distinguishing the effects of age and simple atrophy from disease effects, when the 99mTc-d,l-HMPAO method is used.

Adult↗

Role of the local renin-angiotensin system in the autoregulation of the cerebral circulation.

Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) shifts the limits of cerebral blood flow autoregulation toward lower blood pressure values. This effect seems to be mediated by blocking the formation of angiotensin II on the luminal side of the larger cerebral resistance vessels. Baseline cerebral blood flow (the flow within the autoregulatory limits) is not changed by acute or chronic ACE inhibition. An interaction between the vascular reninangiotensin and the sympathetic nervous system is present. Activation of the latter inhibits the downwards shift of the upper limit of autoregulation following ACE inhibition.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

SPECT in the presurgical evaluation of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy--a preliminary report.

Twenty-eight patients with drug resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (DRTLE) were studied using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using xenon-133 inhalation and Tc99m-d, 1-HMPAO with TOMOMATIC 64 as part of a presurgical evaluation programme. The visually evaluated flow-images were studied after blinding and the results subsequently compared to the EEG, MRI and CT scanning studies. In 24 patients a significant low flow region was seen in one temporal lobe. The SPECT result corresponded to the EEG findings in all but 6 patients. In 2 of these patients no side localization was indicated by EEG, while in four patients the EEG suggested that the opposite side was epileptogenic. Ictal SPECT and MRI/CT agreed with the resting SPECT study in three patients, while one patient has remained undiagnosed with respect to side-localization. In 14 patients discordance between SPECT and the CT scan was observed, but in 11 of these patients the SPECT study correlated with the other focal diagnostic tools. In 11 of the 21 patients studied by MRI, the results corresponded to SPECT; in 7 of the 10 which did not correspond, ictal studies of EEG and SPECT defined the side, in four of these 7 patients. Using the neuroimaging tools in concert 16 patients have been selected for surgery. All patients have benefited from surgery. These preliminary results correspond favourably with earlier studies comparing SPECT and PET with CT, MR and EEG.

Adult↗

Acute sympathetic denervation does not eliminate the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition on CBF autoregulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition with captopril (10 mg/kg i.v.) on CBF autoregulation was studied in 16 spontaneously hypertensive rats (8 control and 8 treated with captopril) subjected to acute cervical sympathectomy. CBF was measured repetitively by the intra-arterial 133Xe injection method, during the manipulation of MABP by norepinephrine or hemorrhagic hypotension. Prior to the administration of drugs, baseline MABP was 112 +/- 10 mm Hg in the control group and 119 +/- 11 mm Hg in the captopril group. Baseline CBF was 99 +/- 19 ml/100 g/min, with no difference in the two groups. In agreement with previous findings in rats with intact sympathetic nerves, the lower limit of CBF autoregulation was reduced from the MABP interval of 70-89 to 50-69 mm Hg by captopril.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Thrombolytic therapy of cerebral arterial occlusion with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.

This report describes three patients, with acute cerebral arterial occlusion, treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). In one patient with basilar artery occlusion thrombolytic treatment was initiated 12 h after onset of the symptoms. In two patients with angiographically verified occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, the treatment was initiated approximately 4.5 h after onset of the symptoms. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator 80-120 mg, was infused intra-arterially over 90-100 min via a catheter the tip of which was close to the occlusion. This regimen resulted in recanalization in all the patients; however, in two patients it was verified by repeat CT scan only. In two patients the thrombolytic treatment was successful (the patients improved clinically); the third patient died of massive cerebral infarct-related oedema. In none of the patients did significant bleeding or other obvious side-effects occur. From this preliminary report it is concluded that angiographically proven thrombolytic recanalization in acute cerebrovascular occlusion is possible with rt-PA. In some patients, however, the treatment is initiated too late. Further investigation of the possible indication for thrombolytic therapy in stroke is needed.

Adult↗

The effect of fosinopril sodium on cerebral blood flow in moderate essential hypertension.

The effect of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor fosinopril sodium on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was investigated in 8 patients with moderate essential hypertension. A constant dose of chlorthalidone (25 mg/day) was given to stimulate the renin angiotensin system, and fosinopril sodium was given in incremental doses (10 to 40 mg/day) with the aim of obtaining a diastolic blood pressure at or below 90 mm Hg. Regional CBF was measured with xenon-133 inhalation tomography. Repetitive measurements were made at the start of treatment and again after 4 to 12 weeks treatment in the resting supine position, and during lower body negative pressure (LBNP) as a substitute for the upright position. Four hours after the first 10 mg dose of fosinopril the mean arterial pressure (MAP) had been reduced from 127 +/- 13 mm Hg to 105 +/- 9 mm Hg (P less than .01) without any significant change in mean CBF (55 +/- 9 mL/(100 g X min) at baseline versus 52 +/- 9 mL/(100 g X min) after fosinopril). After prolonged treatment with chlorthalidone and fosinopril, mean CBF was still unchanged from baseline levels, when measured 4 and 24 h after a single dose of fosinopril, despite a 10% reduction in MAP (P less than .01). LBNP did not lead to any significant change in rCBF. The regional distribution of CBF was normal in all patients throughout the study. We conclude that treatment with fosinopril sodium causes a moderate fall in blood pressure without any adverse effects on rCBF.

Adult↗

Cerebral blood flow in progressive aphasia without dementia. Case report, using 133xenon inhalation, technetium 99m hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime and single photon emission computerized tomography.

We report a case of progressive aphasia without clinical signs of intellectual or behavioral impairment, satisfying Mesulam's clinical criteria of primary progressive aphasia, as 4 yrs of extensive psychometric testing and radiological imaging, comprising CT and MRI, failed to detect evidence of relevant involvement outside the left perisylvian regions. Cranial CT was normal but MRI showed multiple bilateral lesions in the deep white matter. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) studies by single photon emission computerized tomography, however, showed an initial frontotemporal focus of hypoperfusion that progressively extended to include most of the ipsilateral hemisphere and the contralateral frontal lobe. This suggests that CBF imaging may yet be the most sensitive technique in revealing subclinical injury in the degenerative brain diseases of focal onset.

Administration, Inhalation↗

The acute effect of dilevalol on cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption in normotensive humans.

The antihypertensive agent dilevalol, a stereoisomer of labetalol, causes vasodilatation by combined beta-adrenergic blockade and direct beta 2-receptor agonism. The acute effect of a single oral dose of 400 mg dilevalol on cerebral blood flow (CBF), and its response to induced changes in arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2), and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) were studied after 1, 2, and 4 h in eight normotensive volunteers. Serum dilevalol 2 h after oral intake ranged between 22 and 49 ng/ml. Mean arterial blood pressure was reduced from 93 +/- 8 to 86 +/- 8 mm Hg (p less than 0.01). An analysis of variance of the successive differences of CBF during the study showed that dilevalol altered CBF significantly. After 1 h CBF had decreased by 4.4% (p less than 0.05), whereas the 2 and 4 h values were similar to the pretreatment level. CMRO2 showed a tendency for reduction (p = 0.086). The CBF response to changes in PaCO2 remained unchanged. It is concluded that a single dose of dilevalol induces a slight and short-lasting decrease in CBF, probably due to a direct effect on brain metabolism.

Administration, Oral↗

Computerized analysis of cerebral blood flow autoregulation in humans: validation of a method for pharmacologic studies.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation in the supine position without tilting using systemic ganglion-blockade (trimetaphane camphosulfonas) combined with lower body vacuum is evaluated. Automatic computerized curve-fitting analysis for assessment of the lower limit (LL) of autoregulation is introduced. Global CBF was evaluated using the arteriovenous-O2-difference method in 12 volunteers and in seven patients with chronic arterial hypertension. Classic autoregulatory curves were found in all cases. The LL of CBF autoregulation was 85 +/- 5 mm Hg in the volunteers and 113 +/- 7 mm Hg in the hypertensive patients. In seven of the volunteers, the autoregulatory study was performed twice in 1 day; a small but significant shift of LL toward higher blood pressure (BP) values was observed in the second test (3 mm Hg). In five of the hypertensive patients, regional CBF (rCBF) was measured by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of inhaled xenon-133. The median global CBF decreased from 62 to 45 ml/100 g/min during the mean arterial BP (MABP) decrease from 110 to 68 mm Hg. The regional distribution of CBF was normal at baseline as well as during hypotension. The method is suitable for pharmacologic studies of cerebral autoregulation.

Adult↗

Effect of nimodipine on cerebral blood flow in human volunteers.

The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of a clinically relevant dose of nimodipine (30 micrograms/kg/h) on the autoregulation of CBF in 12 young healthy volunteers. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was measured intraarterially (i.a.), and changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) were estimated by the arteriovenous-oxygen [(a-v)O2]-difference method. The lower limit (LL) of CBF autoregulation was calculated by a computerized program and tested for different factors for correction of the PaCO2-induced changes in CBF. MABP was increased by norepinephrine (NE) and decreased by ganglion blockade (trimethaphane camphosulfonas) in combination with lower body negative pressure. The MABP manipulations were performed 1 h after infusion of nimodipine. MABP was reduced by 13 mm Hg (8-15 mm Hg), and CBF was increased by 8% (3-12%) during nimodipine infusion. Autoregulation was preserved in 11 of the 12 volunteers. A CO2-correction factor of 1% CBF/0.1 kPa was used. The LL was 75 mm Hg (71-80 mm Hg) [SE 3 mm Hg (2-4 mm Hg)] and not significantly different from a previous control group of healthy volunteers. No side effects were observed. The present study shows a maintained autoregulation of CBF during nimodipine infusion; however, this could be obtained only by reducing the correction for changes in carbon dioxide to 1%/0.1 kPa from 3%/0.1 kPa, which was used in a similar study in healthy volunteers.

Adult↗