ABBREVIATIONS A – amniocentesis DA – deceleration angle FMH – fetomaternal haemorrhage MCA – middle cerebral artery MoM – multiples of median PI – pulsatility index PSV – peak systolic velocity RI – resistance index SA – splenic artery SGA – small for gestational age HDN – haemolytic disease of newborn 1. INTRODUCTION Rhesus alloimmunization occurs when a rhesus negative woman has an immunologic response to a paternally derived red-cell antigen that is foreign to the mother and inherited by the fetus. Rhesus alloimmunization and haemolytic disease of the newborn continues to occur as a serious complication of pregnancy despite well-organized antenatal antiD prophylaxis programs. At the Perinatal Center of Kaunas University of Medicine the incidence has remained stable at around 60 cases of alloimmunized pregnancies and from 30 to 40 cases of haemolytic disease of newborn annually. Perinatal mortality in cases of rhesus alloimmunization has been estimated to be at around 1 to 3.5 percent. Due to failure to apply or comply with antiD prophylaxis guidelines and limitations of the prophylaxis rhesus sensitization continues to occur. Rhesus alloimmunization is diagnosed when the test of a rhesus negative woman for red cell alloantibodies is positive. Prognosis for the fetus and perinatal outcomes depends much on how severely the fetus is affected by the disease at the time of diagnosis. The main pathological entity of the disease is fetal red blood cell destruction and... [to full text]

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Sabe-se que um bom fluxo sanguíneo colateral (FSC) leptomeníngeo está associado a melhor desfecho funcional em paciente com oclusão vascular da circulação anterior. Entretanto, poucos estudos avaliaram os preditores de FSC e seu impacto prognósticos em países em desenvolvimento. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar os preditores e o impacto prognóstico do FSC leptomeníngeo nas oclusões do primeiro segmento (M1) da Artéria Cerebral Média (ACM). Métodos: Foi avaliado de maneira retrospectiva, uma coorte prospectiva de pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral (AVC), admitidos em um centro terciário acadêmico de referência para o tratamento de AVC entre janeiro de 2014 e junho de 2017. Foram incluídos pacientes que apresentavam oclusão do segmento M1 da ACM e realizaram angiotomografia de crânio (AngioTC) até 12 horas após o ictus. O FSC foi analisado utilizando uma escala previamente validada na literatura, o rLMC score. Foi avaliado a relação do rLMC score com variáveis clínicas e com desfecho. Na análise univariada foi utilizado o teste de Fisher para variáveis categóricas e t de Student para variáveis quantitativas, também foi utilizado o teste de Spearman para correlação de variáveis contínuas. Características associadas com rLMC score e com desfecho funcional foram incluídas da regressão linear (rLMC não categorizado) e regressão logística binária (rLMC categorizado). Foi utilizado um valor de significância estatística convencional (p=0,05) Resultados: Dos 1559 pacientes com AVC isquêmico admitidos, foram analisados 121 pacientes que preencheram critérios de inclusão/exclusão do estudo. A idade média foi de 67.1±15 anos, NIHSS 13 [IQR 11-22]. Na regressão linear, menor idade (? = -0.2; p=0.005), Doença de14 Chagas (? = 0,22; p=0,008), Tabagismo (? = 0,22; p=0,009), menor NIHSS (? = - 0,25; p=0,002) e história de doença coronariana (? = 0,23; p=0,005) foram associados com melhor rLMC score. Menor idade (? = 0,29; p<0,001), menor NIHSS (? = 0,36; p<0,001) e rLMC>= 17 (? = -0,16; p=0,04) foram associados com melhor desfecho clínico. Conclusão: Pacientes com bom FSC leptomeníngeo apresentam menor NIHSS, menor idade, maior frequência de doença de Chagas, história de tabagismo e doença coronariana prévia. Um bom FSC leptomeníngeo está associado a melhor desfecho funcional entre paciente com AVC isquêmico por oclusão de artérias proximais da circulação anterior no Brasil. / A Good leptomeningeal collateral flow has been associated with better outcomes in patients with proximal occlusions of the anterior circulation. Nevertheless, only few studies have assessed the predictors of good leptomeningeal collateral flow and its impact on clinical outcome in developing countries. We aim to evaluate predictors and prognostic impact of leptomeningeal collateral flow among patients with proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Method: We retrospectively analyzed a prospective stroke registry of AIS patients admitted to a tertiary Stroke Center in Brazil, with MCA-M1 occlusion within twelve hours of symptoms onset, admitted from January 2014-June 2017. Leptomeningeal score was evaluated using a previously validated Regional Leptomeningeal (rLMC) score. We evaluated association between rLMC score with clinical variables and outcomes. Univariate analysis was performed using Fisher exact test for categorical variables and t-Student for continuous variables. Spearman\'s correlation analysis was performed to find the relationship between continuous variables and rLMC. Variables were included in linear regression model (non categorized rLMC) or binary logistic regression model (categorized rLMC). Conventional levels of statistical significance were used (p=0.05). Results: From 1559 AIS patients, 121 were analyzed. Demographics: age 67.1±15 years, NIHSS 13 [IQR 11-22]. In linear regression, lower age (? = -0.2; p=0.021), Chagas Disease (? = 0.22; p=0.008), smoking (? = 0.22; p=0.009), lower NIHSS (? = -0.25; p=0.002) and history of coronary artery disease (? = 0.23; p=0,005) were associated with better rLMC score. Lower age (? = 0.29; p<0.001), lower NIHSS (? = 0.36; p<0.001) and rLMC>= 17 (? = -0.16; p=0.04) were associated with better functional outcomes. Conclusion: Patients with good leptomeningeal collateral flow had lower age, lower NIHSS, Chagas disease and history of smoking. Good leptomeningeal collaterals on CT angiography are associated to good outcome among AIS patients with proximal arterial occlusion of the anterior circulation in Brazil.

Sabe-se que um bom fluxo sanguíneo colateral (FSC) leptomeníngeo está associado a melhor desfecho funcional em paciente com oclusão vascular da circulação anterior. Entretanto, poucos estudos avaliaram os preditores de FSC e seu impacto prognósticos em países em desenvolvimento. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar os preditores e o impacto prognóstico do FSC leptomeníngeo nas oclusões do primeiro segmento (M1) da Artéria Cerebral Média (ACM). Métodos: Foi avaliado de maneira retrospectiva, uma coorte prospectiva de pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral (AVC), admitidos em um centro terciário acadêmico de referência para o tratamento de AVC entre janeiro de 2014 e junho de 2017. Foram incluídos pacientes que apresentavam oclusão do segmento M1 da ACM e realizaram angiotomografia de crânio (AngioTC) até 12 horas após o ictus. O FSC foi analisado utilizando uma escala previamente validada na literatura, o rLMC score. Foi avaliado a relação do rLMC score com variáveis clínicas e com desfecho. Na análise univariada foi utilizado o teste de Fisher para variáveis categóricas e t de Student para variáveis quantitativas, também foi utilizado o teste de Spearman para correlação de variáveis contínuas. Características associadas com rLMC score e com desfecho funcional foram incluídas da regressão linear (rLMC não categorizado) e regressão logística binária (rLMC categorizado). Foi utilizado um valor de significância estatística convencional (p=0,05) Resultados: Dos 1559 pacientes com AVC isquêmico admitidos, foram analisados 121 pacientes que preencheram critérios de inclusão/exclusão do estudo. A idade média foi de 67.1±15 anos, NIHSS 13 [IQR 11-22]. Na regressão linear, menor idade (? = -0.2; p=0.005), Doença de14 Chagas (? = 0,22; p=0,008), Tabagismo (? = 0,22; p=0,009), menor NIHSS (? = - 0,25; p=0,002) e história de doença coronariana (? = 0,23; p=0,005) foram associados com melhor rLMC score. Menor idade (? = 0,29; p<0,001), menor NIHSS (? = 0,36; p<0,001) e rLMC>= 17 (? = -0,16; p=0,04) foram associados com melhor desfecho clínico. Conclusão: Pacientes com bom FSC leptomeníngeo apresentam menor NIHSS, menor idade, maior frequência de doença de Chagas, história de tabagismo e doença coronariana prévia. Um bom FSC leptomeníngeo está associado a melhor desfecho funcional entre paciente com AVC isquêmico por oclusão de artérias proximais da circulação anterior no Brasil. / A Good leptomeningeal collateral flow has been associated with better outcomes in patients with proximal occlusions of the anterior circulation. Nevertheless, only few studies have assessed the predictors of good leptomeningeal collateral flow and its impact on clinical outcome in developing countries. We aim to evaluate predictors and prognostic impact of leptomeningeal collateral flow among patients with proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Method: We retrospectively analyzed a prospective stroke registry of AIS patients admitted to a tertiary Stroke Center in Brazil, with MCA-M1 occlusion within twelve hours of symptoms onset, admitted from January 2014-June 2017. Leptomeningeal score was evaluated using a previously validated Regional Leptomeningeal (rLMC) score. We evaluated association between rLMC score with clinical variables and outcomes. Univariate analysis was performed using Fisher exact test for categorical variables and t-Student for continuous variables. Spearman\'s correlation analysis was performed to find the relationship between continuous variables and rLMC. Variables were included in linear regression model (non categorized rLMC) or binary logistic regression model (categorized rLMC). Conventional levels of statistical significance were used (p=0.05). Results: From 1559 AIS patients, 121 were analyzed. Demographics: age 67.1±15 years, NIHSS 13 [IQR 11-22]. In linear regression, lower age (? = -0.2; p=0.021), Chagas Disease (? = 0.22; p=0.008), smoking (? = 0.22; p=0.009), lower NIHSS (? = -0.25; p=0.002) and history of coronary artery disease (? = 0.23; p=0,005) were associated with better rLMC score. Lower age (? = 0.29; p<0.001), lower NIHSS (? = 0.36; p<0.001) and rLMC>= 17 (? = -0.16; p=0.04) were associated with better functional outcomes. Conclusion: Patients with good leptomeningeal collateral flow had lower age, lower NIHSS, Chagas disease and history of smoking. Good leptomeningeal collaterals on CT angiography are associated to good outcome among AIS patients with proximal arterial occlusion of the anterior circulation in Brazil.

Li Huan. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 285-306). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (INPH) is a condition affecting gait, cognition and continence. Radiological examination reveals enlarged ventricles of the brain. A shunt that drains CSF from the ventricles to the abdomen often improves the symptoms. Much research on INPH has been focused on identifying tests that predict the outcome after shunt surgery. As part of this quest, there are attempts to find measurement methods of intracranial parameters that are valid, reliable, tolerable and safe for patients. Today's technologies for intracranial pressure (ICP) measurement are invasive, often requiring a burr-hole in the skull. Recently, a method for non-invasive ICP measurements was suggested: the Pulsatile Index (PI) calculated from transcranial Doppler data assessed from the middle cerebral artery. In this thesis the relation between PI and ICP was explored in INPH patients during controlled ICP regulation by lumbar infusion. The confidence interval for predicted ICP, based on measured PI was too large for the method to be of clinical utility. In the quest for better predictive tests for shunt success in INPH, recent studies have shown promising results with criteria based on cardiac related ICP wave amplitudes. The brain ventricular system, and the fluid surrounding the spinal cord are in contact. In this thesis it was shown that ICP waves could be measured via lumbar subarachnoid space, with a slight underestimation. One of the cardinal symptoms of hydrocephalus is cognitive impairment. Neuropsychological studies have demonstrated cognitive tests that are impaired and improve after shunt surgery in INPH patients. However, there is currently no standardized test battery and different studies use different tests. In response, in this thesis a fully automated computerized neuropsychological test battery was developed. The validity, reliability, responsiveness to improvement after shunt surgery and feasibility for testing INPH patients was demonstrated. It was also demonstrated that INPH patients were impaired in all subtests, compared to healthy elderly.

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Vitronectin (VTN) is a glycoprotein enriched in the blood and activates integrin receptors. VTN blood levels increase only in female mice 24 h after an ischemic stroke and exacerbate brain injury through IL-6-driven inflammation, but the VTN induction mechanism is unknown. Here, a 30 min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in female mice induced VTN protein in the liver (normally the main source) in concert with plasma VTN. Male mice were excluded as VTN is not induced after stroke. MCAO also increased plasma VTN levels after de novo expression of VTN in the liver of VTN female mice, using a hepatocyte-specific (SERPINA1) promoter. MCAO did not affect SERPINA1 or VTN mRNA in the liver, brain, or several peripheral organs, or platelet VTN, compared to sham mice. Thus, hepatocytes are the source of stroke-induced increases in plasma VTN, which is independent of transcription. The cholinergic innervation by the parasympathetic vagus nerve is a potential source of brain-liver signaling after stroke. Right-sided vagotomy at the cervical level led to increased plasma VTN levels, suggesting that VTN release is inhibited by vagal tone. Co-culture of hepatocytes with cholinergic neurons or treatment with acetylcholine, but not noradrenaline (sympathetic transmitter), suppressed VTN expression. Hepatocytes have muscarinic receptors and the M1/M3 agonist bethanechol decreased VTN mRNA and protein release in vitro via M1 receptors. Finally, systemic bethanechol treatment blocked stroke-induced plasma VTN. Thus, VTN translation and release are inhibited by muscarinic signaling from the vagus nerve and presents a novel target for lessening detrimental VTN expression.