Topodiagnostic implications of hemiataxia: An MRI-based brainstem mapping analysis

The topodiagnostic implications of hemiataxia following lesions of the human brainstem are only incompletely understood. We performed a voxel-based statistical analysis of lesions documented on standardised MRI in 49 prospectively recruited patients with acute hemiataxia due to isolated unilateral brainstem infarction. For statistical analysis individual MRI lesions were normalised and imported in a three-dimensional voxel-based anatomical model of the human brainstem. Statistical analysis revealed hemiataxia to be associated with lesions of three distinct brainstem areas. The strongest correlation referred to ipsilateral rostral and dorsolateral medullary infarcts affecting the inferior cerebellar peduncle, and the dorsal and ventral spinocerebellar tracts. Secondly, lesions of the ventral pontine base resulted in contralateral limb ataxia, especially when ataxia was accompanied by motor hemiparesis. In patients with bilateral hemiataxia, lesions were located in a paramedian region between the upper pons and lower midbrain, involving the decussation of dentato-rubro-thalamic tracts. We conclude that ataxia following brainstem infarction may reflect three different pathophysiological mechanisms. (1) Ipsilateral hemiataxia following dorsolateral medullary infarctions results from a lesion of the dorsal spinocerebellar tract and the inferior cerebellar peduncle conveying afferent information from the ipsilateral arm and leg. (2) Pontine lesions cause contralateral and not bilateral ataxia presumably due to major damage to the descending corticopontine projections and pontine base nuclei, while already crossed pontocerebellar fibres are not completely interrupted. (3) Finally, bilateral ataxia probably reflects a lesion of cerebellar outflow on a central, rostral pontomesencephalic level. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

High-tech industrial and service sectors in Tomsk region: evaluation of efficiency of development in the turbulent economy

Актуальность статьи обусловлена необходимостью опережающего развития высокотехнологичных отраслей промышленности и услуг Томской области в условиях турбулентной экономики. Целью работы является оценка комплексной эффективности этих отраслей и разработка рекомендаций по стимулированию их развития. Методы. Используется авторская методика оценки комплексной эффективности развития отраслей экономики по данным бухгалтерской отчетности коммерческих предприятий, применяются методы экономического анализа агрегированных в разрезе отраслей данных финансовой отчетности предприятий.The relevance of the article is caused by the need for advance development of high-tech industries and services of the Tomsk region in a turbulent economy. The aim of the research is to assess the comprehensive efficiency of these economic sectors and develop recommendations for stimulating their development. Methods. The author uses his own methodology to assess the comprehensive efficiency of the economic sectors development applying the accounting data of commercial enterprises, and the methods of economic analysis of financial indicators of enterprises, aggregated by sectors