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Unilateral Thalamic Infarction Presenting As Vertical Gaze Palsy: A Case Report, Muhib Khan, Christos Sidiropoulos, Panayiotis Mitsias

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Introduction

Vertical gaze palsy is a recognized manifestation of midbrain lesions. It rarely is a consequence of unilateral thalamic infarction.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 48-year-old African-American woman who presented to our facility with vertical gaze palsy and evidence of left medial thalamic infarct on diffusion-weighted imaging without coexisting midbrain ischemia. The etiology of infarct was determined to be small vessel disease after extensive investigation.

Conclusions

This report suggests a possible role of the thalamus as a vertical gaze control center. Clinicoradiological studies are needed to further define the role of the thalamus in vertical gaze …

The Cns Microvascular Pericyte: Pericyte-Astrocyte Crosstalk In The Regulation Of Tissue Survival, Drew Bonkowski, Vladimir Katyshev, Roumen D. Balabanov, Andre Borisov, Paula Dore-Duffy

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

The French scientist Charles Benjamin Rouget identified the pericyte nearly 140 years ago. Since that time the role of the pericyte in vascular function has been difficult to elucidate. It was not until the development of techniques to isolate and culture pericytes that scientists have begun to understand the true impact of this unique cell in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. In the brain the pericyte is an integral cellular component of the blood-brain barrier and, together with other cells of the neurovascular unit (endothelial cells, astrocytes and neurons) the pericyte makes fine-tuned regulatory adjustments and adaptations to promote …