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Biomedical subjects

David H Lewis

Publications and source records attributed to David H Lewis.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Impact of basilar artery vasospasm on outcome in patients with severe cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of basilar artery (BA) vasospasm on outcome in patients with severe vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). METHODS: Sixty-five patients with clinically suspect severe cerebral vasospasm after aSAH underwent cerebral angiography before endovascular treatment. Vasospasm severity was assessed for each patient by transcranial Doppler measurements, angiography, and (99m)Tc-ethylcysteinate dimer single-photon emission computed tomography (ECD-SPECT) imaging. Percentage of BA narrowing was calculated in reference to the baseline angiogram. RESULTS: BA narrowing >or=25% was found in 23 of 65 patients, and delayed brain stem (BS) hypoperfusion, as estimated by ECD-SPECT, was found in 16. Fourteen of 23 patients with BA narrowing >or=25% experienced BS hypoperfusion, whereas only 2 of 42 patients with >or=25% BA narrowing experienced BS ischemia (P<0.001). Stepwise logistic regression after adjusting for age with Hunt and Hess grade, Fisher grade, hydrocephalus, and aneurysmal location as covariables revealed BA narrowing >or=25% and delayed BS hypoperfusion to be significantly and independently associated with unfavorable 3-month outcome (P=0.0001; odds ratio, 10.1; 95% CI, 2.5 to 40.8; and P=0.007; odds ratio, 13.8, 95% CI, 2.18 to 91.9, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest for the first time that BA vasospasm after aSAH is an independent and significant prognostic factor associated with poor outcome in patients with severe cerebral vasospasm requiring endovascular therapy. Further study should be done to evaluate the role of interventional therapy on outcome in patients with posterior circulation vasospasm.

Adult↗

Imaging cerebral activity in recovery from chronic traumatic brain injury: a preliminary report.

People in chronic phase of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are often told that there will be no further recovery in brain function, that they are in a "static phase." Holistic Approach to NeuroDevelopment and Learning Efficiency (HANDLE), an alternative therapy, aims to improve function by teaching a series of physical and mental activities that clients perform and encouraging changes in lifestyle. Five subjects (3 males) with chronic TBI (at least 3 years since ictus) completed the HANDLE Institute's program and were prospectively evaluated. Each had six regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans over 7 months (scans n= 30). Paired scans were performed with injection of Tc-99m ECD to image rCBF at rest and during the HANDLE "Crossed Arm Bounce" (CAB) exercise before the program, at 3-4 months into the program, and at 6-7 months, after the program had ended. SPECT images were analyzed statistically using Neurostat in which image sets were coregistered and warped into Talaraich atlas for pairwise subtraction between conditions. Group analysis of SPECT showed that CAB activated (increased rCBF) vermis and cerebellar hemispheres in first two paired scans and anterior cingulate and vermis on the final pair. Increased rCBF at rest occurred in cerebellar hemispheres, vermis, and right dorsomedial frontal cortex. These preliminary observations suggest that there may be a role of the hindbrain (vermis and cerebellum) with HANDLE treatment of chronic TBI.

Adult↗

Dynamic perfusion computed tomography in the diagnosis of cerebral vasospasm.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to correlate absolute cerebral blood flow (CBF) and mean transient time (MTT) measured by dynamic perfusion computed tomographic (PCT) scanning with the clinical course, vasospasm severity, and perfusion abnormality in patients with cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS: Forty-six patients with vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage had 63 PCT images obtained during the course of vasospasm. All patients had transcranial Doppler measurements, 28 had an angiography study, and 38 had 99mTc single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging performed in conjunction with the PCT scan. RESULTS: The average minimal regional CBF (rCBF) and maximal regional MTT in patients with delayed ischemic deficit were significantly different in comparison with patients without delayed ischemic deficit (22.6 +/- 11.2 cm3/100 g/min versus 45.2 +/- 21.3 cm3/100 g/min, P < 0.001; 7.3 +/- 2.5 s versus 3.3 +/- 1.7 s, P < 0.05). The average minimal rCBF and maximal regional MTT in middle cerebral vascular territories in which severe middle cerebral artery vasospasm was measured by transcranial Doppler were significantly different in comparison with middle cerebral vascular territories in which no vasospasm was measured by transcranial Doppler (29.3 +/- 1.7 cm3/100 g/min versus 54.1 +/- 25.4 cm3/100 g/min, P < 0.01; 4.5 +/- 2.4 s versus 2.8 +/- 1.1 P < 0.001). The average minimal rCBF and maximal rMTT in vascular territories with estimated severe hypoperfusion on single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging were significantly different in comparison with values in vascular territories with unimpaired perfusion as estimated by single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging (18.9 +/- 6.9 cm3/100 g/min versus 54.2 +/- 23.4 cm3/100 g/min, P < 0.001, 0.001; 8.1 +/- 1.9 s versus 2.5 +/- 0.39 s, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that, in general, quantitative measurements of rCBF and regional MTT by PCT show high concordance rates with the clinical course, vasospasm severity, and hemodynamic impairments in patients with cerebral vasospasm aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Adult↗

Dynamic perfusion computerized tomography in cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a comparison with technetium-99m-labeled ethyl cysteinate dimer-single-photon emission computerized tomography.

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to correlate cerebral blood flow (CBF) and mean transient time (MTT) measured on dynamic perfusion computerized tomography (CT) with CBF using (99m)Tc ethyl cysteinate dimer-single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) in patients with cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: Thirty-five patients with vasospasm following aneurysmal SAH (12 men and 23 women with a mean age of 49.3 +/- 10.1 years) underwent imaging studies; thus, 35 perfusion CT scans and 35 SPECT images were available for comparison. The CBF and MTT values in 12 different brain regions were defined relative to the interhemispheric occipital cortex values using perfusion CT scans and were compared with qualitative relative (rel)CBF estimated on SPECT images. In brain regions with normal, mild (relCBF 71-85%), moderate (relCBF 50-70%), and severe (relCBF < 50%) hypoperfusion on SPECT, the mean relCBF values measured on perfusion CT were 1.01 +/- 0.08, 0.82 +/- 0.22, 0.6 +/- 0.15, and 0.32 +/- 0.08, respectively (p < 0.0001); the mean relMTT values were 1.04 +/- 0.14, 1.4 +/- 0.31, 2.16 +/- 0.46, and 3.3 +/- 0.54, respectively (p < 0.0001). All but one brain region (30 regions) with severe hypoperfusion on SPECT images demonstrated relCBF values less than 0.6 and relMTT values greater than 2.5 on perfusion CT scans. CONCLUSIONS: Relative CBF and MTT values on perfusion CT showed a high concordance rate with estimated relCBF on SPECT in patients with vasospasm following aneurysmal SAH. Given its logistical advantages, perfusion CT may be a valuable method of assessing perfusion abnormality in the acute setting of vasospasm and in patients with an unstable condition following aneurysmal SAH.

Adult↗

Multiple-sample probe for solid-state NMR studies of pharmaceuticals.

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy (SSNMR) is an extremely powerful technique for the analysis of pharmaceutical dosage forms. A major limitation of SSNMR is the number of samples that can be analyzed in a given period of time. A solid-state magic-angle spinning (MAS) probe that can simultaneously acquire up to seven SSNMR spectra is being developed to increase throughput/signal-to-noise ratios. A prototype probe incorporating two MAS modules has been developed and spectra of ibuprofen and aspirin have been acquired simultaneously. This version is limited to being a two-module probe due to large amounts of space required for the tuning elements located next to the MAS modules. A new probe design incorporating coaxial transmission lines and smaller MAS modules has been constructed. This probe allows for close proximity of the MAS modules (within 3 cm), adequate proton decoupling power (>50 kHz), and the capability of remote tuning and sample changing. Spectra of hexamethylbenzene (HMB) have been acquired and show signal-to-noise ratios comparable to existing SSNMR probes. Adamantane line widths are also comparable to conventional probe technology. Decoupling powers of 70 kHz have been achieved using a MAS module suitable for 3 cm spacing between modules. Remote tuning has also been achieved with this new coaxial transmission line design. This probe design can be easily scaled to incorporate multiple MAS modules, which is a limitation of the previous design. The number of modules that can be incorporated is only limited by the number of transmission lines that will fit in a cross-sectional diameter of the bore and the axial field length of the magnet.

Complex Mixtures↗

Basilar artery vasospasm and delayed posterior circulation ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The clinical and hemodynamic impacts of basilar artery (BA) vasospasm (VS) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are ill-defined. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between BA-VS and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with posterior circulation after aneurysmal SAH. METHODS: Daily transcranial Doppler (TCD) measurements of posterior and anterior circulation arteries were conducted in 162 patients with aneurysmal SAH. rCBF to the brain stem (BS) and other brain territories was assessed by multiple single-photon emission computed tomography with (99m)Tc ethyl cysteinate dimer single-photon emission computed tomography (ECD-SPECT) imaging during the course of VS. RESULTS: SPECT imaging showed delayed BS hypoperfusion in 29 patients (17.9%). Of them, 23 patients (79.3%) were found to have BA-VS. Patients with very high BA flow velocities (FVs; >115 cm/s) had a 50% chance of developing delayed BS ischemia. BA-VS was found at a higher rate in patients who experienced reduced rCBF in the cerebellum (56.3%), thalamic nuclei (68.4%), and occipital lobe (81.8%). Although patients with delayed BS hypoperfusion did not present with a higher clinical grade, their clinical outcome was significantly worse (Glasgow Outcome Score after 30 days 2.48+/-1.16 versus 3.3+/-1.27; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest for the first time that BA-VS after aneurysmal SAH is associated with hypoperfusion to BS and other posterior circulation territories. The risk for delayed BS ischemia increased significantly when TCD BA-FVs were >115 cm/s.

Adult↗

Single-photon emission computerized tomography and neurocognitive function in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to compare functional imaging under control and experimental conditions among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and healthy persons and to examine perceived and objective performance on a test of attention and working memory previously found to be difficult for persons with CFS. METHODS: Single-photon emission computerized tomography scans were completed on 15 subjects with CFS and 15 healthy persons twice: at rest and when performing the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). RESULTS: No group differences were found for performance on the PASAT despite CFS subjects' perceptions of exerting more mental effort to perform the task than healthy subjects. Inspection of the aggregate scans by group and task suggested a pattern of diffuse regional cerebral blood flow among subjects with CFS in comparison with the more focal pattern of regional cerebral blood flow seen among healthy subjects. Between-group region-of-interest analysis revealed that although CFS subjects showed less perfusion in the anterior cingulate region, the change in CFS subjects' activation of the left anterior cingulate region during the PASAT was greater than that observed for healthy subjects. The differences were not attributable to lesser effort by the subjects with CFS, confounding effects of mood perturbation, or to poorer performance on the experimental task. CONCLUSIONS: Further research regarding CFS subjects' diffuse cerebral perfusion and its relationship to inefficient neuropsychological performance is warranted.

Adult↗