March 15 - Neurology Flashcards
Pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy
Hyalinization of nerve arterioles leads to ischemic nerve injury.
Accumulation of sorbitol and fructose in nerve axons also contributes to damage.
CNS repair after ischemic injury
- 48 hours after can see red neurons - sign of irreversible damage
- then neutrophils come in
- 3-5 days after can see microglia which phagocytose damaged material
De novo purine synthesis pathway
Ribose-5-phosphate PRPP 5-phosphoribosylamine IMP (cnoversion requires tetrahydrofolate) GMP and AMP
Regulation of cerebral blood flow
1) systemic BP: autoregulation works within 60-140mmHg
2) arterial blood gases: decreased pCO2 such as in hyperventilation results in vasoconstriction and decreased cerebral blood flow
Ventilator management of increased ICP
Increase RR to decrease pCO2, causing vasoconstriction in the brain and decreased cerebral blood flow.
BH4
Cofactor in synthesis of serotonin, tyrosine, and DOPA. Produced by dihydropteridine reductase which reduces BH2 to BH4
PKU: two causes
Most cases due to phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency
Also can be dihydropteridine reductase deficiency resulting in BH4 deficiency, impairing synthesis of both catecholamines and serotonin
Nerve conduction: length and time constants and effect of myelin
Length constant: how far along axon electric impulse propagates; increased by myelin
Time constant: how long it takes membrane potential to change; decreased by myelin
Birth defect associated with valproate
neural tube defects
Sympathetic pathway to eye
First order neuron: hypothalamus; axons go through brainstem to spinal cord
Second order neuron: intermediolateral cell column (pre-ganglionic fibers)
Third order neuron: superior cervical ganglion (post ganglionic fibers)
Pancoast tumor: presentation
Non-small cell lung cancer near superior sulcus in lung apex. Can compress/invade brachial plexus resulting in parasthesias, weakness, areflexia. Can invade superior cervical sympathetic ganglia resulting in Horner syndrome
POMC
precursor to endorphins, ACTH, and MSH
Dandy-Walker malformation: three findings
Hypoplasia/absence of cerebellar vermis
Cystic dilation of 4th ventricle
Posterior fossa enlargement
Early symptom of uncal herniation
Oculomotor nerve palsy
N-acetylglutamate
activator of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I
Friedreich ataxia: neuro and non-neuro manifestations
Neuro: progressive gait ataxia, impaired joint position and vibration sense due to spinal tract damage
Non-neuro: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, skeletal abnormalities, diabetes
Craniopharyngioma: gross pathology and pathophys
Suprasellar tumor seen in kids. Cystic, filled with brown-yellow fluid with protein and cholesterol. Remnant of rathke’s pouch which is oral ectoderm that gives rse to the anterior pituitary
COMT inhibitors
Entacapone: inhibits peripheral methylation of L-dopa
Tolcapone: inhibits both peripheral and central methylation of L-dopa
Atropine MOA
anti muscarinic
Branched chain amino acids
isoleucine, valine, leucine