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We describe a novel technique of cranioplasty using a vascularized mastoid bone flap in patients after translabyrinthine excision of vestibular schwannomas (VS).
Various transcranial and transfacial approaches have been described and each claims to provide the best exposure to the anterior skull base. Similarly, each approach claims the best outcomes following the resection of anterior skull base malignancies.
This report details a technique for spheno-orbital reconstruction after meningioma resection. The approach uses a life-size skull model generated from a thin-slice craniomaxillofacial computed tomogram.
To determine if a relationship exists between the presence of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the size, growth rate, and behavior of vestibular schwannoma tumors.
We report three cases of hydatid disease of the skull base and the treatment thereof. The first involved the anterior cranial fossa and paranasal sinuses.
Endoscopic technology is allowing larger resections of the anterior and middle skull base with resultant dural defects. A pedicled nasal septal flap (NSF) based on the posterior nasal septal artery has recently been developed for closure of these defects.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) yield different parameters for characterizing the evolution of a demyelinating white matter disease. The purpose was to elucidate biochemical and microstructural changes in Balo’s concentric sclerosis lesions and to correlate the findings with the clinical course.
Cavernous sinus (CS) dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) rarely cause venous infarction (VI) and/or intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) despite the presence of cortical venous drainage (CVD). The present study investigated the characteristics of CS DAVFs manifesting as VI/ICH.
Subcortical and periventricular white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) may have different associations with cognition and pathophysiology. The aim of the present study is to develop an automated method for construction of periventricular WMH maps that enables the analysis of between-group differences in WMH location and characteristics in the periventricular region without the requirement of prior boundary definition.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 27(9):843-846, September 2008
The classic organisms associated with central nervous system infection in the neonate are herpes simplex, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae; we describe an unusual case of neonatal meningoencephalitis caused by Bacillus cereus.
Vestibular schwannomas are benign, slow-growing tumors that originate from Schwann cells lining the vestibular nerves, most commonly the superior vestibular nerve.
Aneurysms of the lower basilar artery are surgically difficult to expose and clip. Various cranial base approaches, which are associated with significant morbidity, have been used to access this region.
American Journal of Surgical Pathology. 32(11):1736-1741, November 2008
We report a young man who presented with atrial fibrillation and was subsequently found to have a markedly elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone level and a solid, noncalcified intrasellar mass on imaging.
Dural sinus thrombosis (DST) has an annual incidence of 3-4 per million and can result from many aetiologies. Presentation of the disease can vary considerably, as can the aetiology and delay of symptoms to clinical detection.
Neurological Sciences Volume 29, Number 5 / October, 2008 10.1007/s10072-008-0986-2
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder after
Alzheimer's disease. The main clinical features of PD include tremor,
bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability.
Neurological Sciences Volume 29, Number 5 / October, 2008 363-366
Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the aorta and its main branches, and a well known cause of stroke. Pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke has been attributed to intracranial vasculitic involvement or emboli from either stenoocclusive extracranial vessels or cardiac disease such as aortic regurgitation.
Neurological Sciences Volume 29, Number 5 / October, 2008 313-319
Balance impairment in patients with stroke hemiparesis is frequently related to deficits of central integration of afferent inputs (somatosensory, visual, vestibular).
Neurological Sciences Volume 29, Number 5 / October, 2008 359-362
An anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) stroke is characterized by vertigo, tinnitus, and deafness in addition to facial weakness, hemiataxia, and hypalgesia.
Conventional neuroradiological techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), make a fundamental contribution in both the acute and chronic phases of stroke.
American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias(R), Vol. 23, No. 5, 451-461 (2008)
Individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) currently have few treatment options for combating their memory loss. The Memory Support System (MSS) is a calendar and organization system with accompanying 6-week curriculum designed for individuals with progressive memory impairment.
Journal of Neuro-Oncology 0167-594X (Print) 10.1007/s11060-008-9722-2
A retrospective study of bevacizumab only in adults with recurrent temozolomide (TMZ)-refractory anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) with a primary objective of determining progression free survival (PFS).
Journal of Neuro-Oncology 0167-594X (Print) 10.1007/s11060-008-9720-4
Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis family, and is expressed in various malignant tumors. Survivin overexpression has been reported to be a poorer prognostic factor in various malignancies.
Previous neuroimaging studies have suggested that children with specific language impairment (SLI) may show subtle anatomical alterations in specific brain regions. We aimed to characterize structural abnormalities in children with SLI using a voxel-wise analysis over the whole brain.
Pediatric Surgery International 0179-0358 (Print) 10.1007/s00383-008-2263-0
Neuroblastoma (NBL) is a tumor from neural crest cells, and is the most frequent solid tumor in children. Midkine (MK) is a pleiotropin analogon, which is frequently expressed in neuronal and epithelial tumors and is a marker for a poor clinical outcome.
Journal of Virology, November 2008, p. 10455-10464, Vol. 82, No. 21
Viperin is identified as an antiviral protein induced by interferon (IFN), viral infections, and pathogen-associated molecules. In this study, we found that viperin is highly induced at the RNA level by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and Sindbis virus (SIN) and that viperin protein is degraded in JEV-infected cells through a proteasome-dependent mechanism.
Diabetes Care Publish Ahead of Print published online ahead of print August 11, 2008 DOI: 10.2337/dc08-0863
Despite a high incidence of nocturnal hypoglycemia documented by the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), there are no reports in the literature of nocturnal hypoglycemic seizures while a patient was wearing a CGM.
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 21(5):462-467, October 2008
Despite the increasing tendency to attribute all increases in vector-borne diseases to climate change, there is no convincing evidence that the appearance of new foci in Sweden, Switzerland, France and Germany during this century, or the upsurge in cases within well recognized endemic regions, is due to the recorded minor extensions of infectious ticks into higher altitudes and latitudes and into winter periods, in response to warmer conditions.
We conducted a slow event-related fMRI experiment with naïve subjects' passively viewing yawn and various other control videos along with correlative behavioral testing.
Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) affect as many as 40% of elderly people. The association of SRBDs with structural brain abnormalities remains unclear. In this observational study, we evaluated gray matter changes in the brain associated with sleep abnormalities in volunteers and their relationship with the severity of SRBDs.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2008 33(10):1142-1152
To assess social functioning and facial expression recognition skill in survivors of pediatric brain tumors (BT) as compared to children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).
The US health care crisis is of great concern to American neurologists. The United States has the world's most expensive health care system yet one-sixth of Americans are uninsured.
In the search for a universal, high quality, affordable health care system, Americans seek to identify and correct a series of current problems. In part one of this two-part series, we presented problems along with some suggested actions.
Journal of Neuro-Oncology 0167-594X (Print) 10.1007/s11060-008-9718-y
Our objective is to assess treatment efficacy, safety and pattern of response and recurrence in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma treated with bevacizumab and irinotecan.
The treatment of Herpes-simplex-virus-encephalitis (HSVE) remains a major unsolved problem in Neurology. Current gold standard for therapy is acyclovir, a drug that inhibits viral replication.
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science Volume 6, Number 5 / October, 2008 279-280
The strategies against epilepsy are currently very limited. The author performed this work to determine the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on epileptic seizures and define the optimal EA conditions (acupoints and stimulation parameters).
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 0340-0131 (Print) 10.1007/s00420-008-0368-3
The aim of this study was to characterize the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in chronic solvent encephalopathy (CSE) patients and to study whether the findings are associated with solvent exposure indices.
People suffering from epilepsy have an increased risk of suffering from psychotic symptoms. The psychotic syndromes associated with epilepsy have generally been classified as ictal, postictal and interictal psychosis. Anticonvulsant drugs have been reported to precipitate psychosis. Moreover, all antipsychotic drugs have the propensity to cause paroxysmal EEG abnormalities and induce seizures.
European Radiology 0938-7994 (Print) 10.1007/s00330-008-1193-5
Computed tomography (CT) is the "gold standard" for evaluation of the cranial sutures. While prenatal cranial suture evaluation with ultrasound (US) is common, US has not been established as a postnatal screening tool.
Increased thrombin activity is an essential component of hemostatic reactions. This study elucidates how various hypoxic interventions impact endogenous thrombin generation (TG) after treatment with/without lipophilic antioxidant vitamin E.
Three-dimensional MRI segmentation may be useful to better understand the physiopathology of lacunar infarctions. Using this technique, the distribution of lacunar infarctions volumes has been recently reported in patients with cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL).
In randomized trials, acute stroke units are associated with improved patient outcomes. However, it is unclear whether this evidence can be successfully translated into routine clinical practice. We aimed to determine the effect of a coordinated rollout of funding for 22 stroke units on patient outcomes in Australia.
The benefit of carotid endarterectomy is heavily influenced by the risk of perioperative death or stroke. This study developed a multivariable model predicting the risk of death or stroke within 30 days of carotid endarterectomy.
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) modulates autonomic transmission in the peripheral circulation. We investigated the role of endogenous PGE2 and its presynaptic EP1 receptor subtype in modulating the autonomic neurotransmission in cerebral vasculature.
The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan approved the use of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in October 2005. The impact of the regulatory approval of rt-PA on the processes of acute stroke management was examined.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) play important roles during neurovascular repair after stroke. In this study, we imaged VEGFR expression with positron emission tomography (PET) to noninvasively analyze poststroke angiogenesis.
Accelerometers are a unique tool used to objectively measure free-living physical activity, but their reliability for people with stroke has not been established. The primary aim was to assess the day-to-day reliability of these instruments for the paretic and nonparetic hips.
Embolic events have long been thought to occur in patients with cardiac tumors secondary to embolization of tumor fragments; however, there are no large studies examining the epidemiology and occurrence of embolism in this group of patients.
Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, reduces risk of invasive breast cancer and osteoporosis, but the effect on risk for stroke and venous thromboembolism in different patient subgroups is not established.
Enrollment in acute stroke trials at a stroke center with multiple study protocols may delay the initiation of intravenous thrombolytics in patients who present within 3 hours of symptom onset.
One of the significant limitations in the evaluation and management of patients with suspected acute cerebral ischemia is the absence of a widely available, rapid, and sensitive diagnostic test.
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) has found ischemic lesions in the brain after cardiac surgery. However, preoperative cerebral injury has not been studied closely. In this study, we used DWI to assess the prevalence of abnormalities in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery.
CANCER STEM CELLS First published online October 23, 2008
Glioblastoma, the most aggressive cerebral tumor, is invariably lethal. Glioblastoma cells express several genes typical of normal neural stem cells. One of them, SOX2, is a master gene involved in sustaining self-renewal of several stem cells, in particular of neural stem cells.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, Volume 9, Number 16, November 2008 , pp. 2881-2891(11)
The selective monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor selegiline is commonly administered as medical treatment to patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2008 38(11):730-733
We evaluated the prognoses of newly diagnosed gliomas through WHO Grades II, III and IV to assess the overall tendency of treatment results for glioma in our institute. Furthermore, statistical analysis was performed to determine factors influencing the prognosis.
Journal of Neuro-Oncology 0167-594X (Print) 10.1007/s11060-008-9714-2
Adult infratentorial gliomas are rare and have not been well studied. We therefore conducted genetic analysis of those tumors to see if there was any characteristic that could be relevant in clinical management and understanding of tumorigenesis.
The present study was done for evaluation of the possible influence of the oral administration of choline on metabolic characteristics of gliomas detected with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
European Journal of Neuroscience Volume 28 Issue 9, Pages 1795 - 1807
Transplantations of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) have been reported to promote axonal regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury, but have demonstrated limited growth promotion of rat rubrospinal axons after a cervical dorsolateral funiculus crush.
European Journal of Neuroscience Volume 28 Issue 9, Pages 1744 - 1759
Upon activation of receptors coupled to the Gq subclass of G proteins, phospholipase C (PLC)beta hydrolyses membrane phospholipid to yield a pair of second messengers, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol. Of four PLCbeta isoforms, PLCbeta1 is transcribed predominantly in the telencephalon and its gene inactivation in mice impairs metabotropic glutamate receptor- and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-dependent hippocampal oscillations, endocannabinoid production in the hippocampus and barrel formation in the somatosensory cortex.
European Journal of Neuroscience Volume 28 Issue 9, Pages 1786 - 1794
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) exerts neuroprotective effects after cerebral ischaemia but can also exacerbate inflammation and induce neuronal death. The current study investigates the role of cerebral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(s) gamma (PPARgamma) in the regulation of IL-6 expression in the peri-infarct cortical tissue in rats exposed to focal cerebral ischaemia.
Journal of Neuroendocrinology, Volume 20, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1213-1223(11)
Cyclic GMP (cGMP) is known to play important roles for neuronal development and neurite pathfinding. However, the regulatory mechanism that governs the synthesis of cGMP in the nervous system is not well defined.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica Published Online: 22 Oct 2008
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Increasing attention has been focused on the pain and health-related quality of life (HrQOL) in patients with PD.
Cancer Causes and Control Cancer Causes and Control 10.1007/s10552-008-9243-5
Neuroblastoma is the most common cancer among infants, suggesting an etiologic role for prenatal factors. In this case-cohort study, neuroblastoma cases (n = 529) diagnosed between 1985 and 2001 were identified from the New York State Cancer Registry and were matched to the electronic birth records for 1983–2001 from New York State and New York City.
Unilateral neglect after acute right hemispheric stroke significantly impedes poststroke recovery. We studied patients with right hemispheric stroke to determine whether increasing age was associated with more frequent or more severe neglect.
To develop a grading scale to predict the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and prognosis after treatment with IV tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) in patients with ischemic stroke.
To develop a grading scale to predict the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and prognosis after treatment with IV tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) in patients with ischemic stroke.
Current Atherosclerosis Reports Volume 10, Number 4 / August, 2008 339-346
Over the past several years, active investigation into neuroimaging in the setting of acute ischemic stroke has improved our understanding of and ability to visualize the dynamic pathophysiology of acute cerebrovascular disease.
Certain genetic defects in LRRK2 and parkin are pathogenic for Parkinson's disease (PD) and both proteins deposit in the characteristic Lewy bodies. LRRK2 is thought to be involved in the early initiation of Lewy bodies. The involvement of LRRK2 and parkin in the similar cellular deposition of fibrillar
{alpha}-synuclein in glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCI) in multiple system atrophy
(MSA) has not yet been assessed.
Patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) presenting with large intracerebral (ICH) or sylvian hematomas (SylH) have poor outcomes due to the mass effect of significant brain stem compression following mass effect.
Echogenicity of carotid plaque well reflects the risk of ischemic stroke and may be predictive of the histologic content of the plaque. However, objective evaluation of plaque echogenicity has been hampered by a lack of established quantitative measures.
For stroke admissions, the 'weekend effect' has been associated with higher stroke fatality. However, it is unclear if stroke case fatality shows this pattern if the onset day is taken into account.
Studies on the suicide risk among patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in countries without legalized euthanasia or assisted suicide are important additions to data on the wish to die of these patients.
Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN DBS) improves motor symptoms in idiopathic Parkinson's disease, yet the mechanism of action remains unclear.
This review summarizes our current knowledge of multisensory vestibular structures and their functions in humans. Most of it derives from brain activation studies with PET and fMRI conducted over the last decade.
Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) are two neurodegenerative disorders within the category of tauopathies, which must be considered in differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
Brain and brainstem changes of serotoninergic 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HT)1A receptor density have been reported in patients with major depressive disorder as well as in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), using PET and the selective antagonist radiotracers [11C]WAY-100635 or [18F]FC-WAY.
By preventing access of drugs to the CNS, the blood-brain barrier hampers developments in brain pharmacotherapy. Strong efforts are currently being made to identify drugs that accumulate more efficaciously in ischaemic brain tissue.
Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation improves motor symptoms and quality of life in advanced Parkinson's disease. As after other life-altering surgeries, suicides have been reported following deep brain stimulation for movement disorders.
American Journal of Kidney Diseases November 2008 Volume 52 Number 5
West Nile virus is a common viral infection in endemic areas. Although the disease has a benign course in immunocompetent individuals, it tends to run a more malignant course in immunocompromised patients such as solid-organ transplant recipients.
It is unclear whether diets with high glycemic index (GI) and low cereal fiber (CF) are associated with greater risk of stroke. We aimed to assess the relationship between dietary GI and CF content, retinal microvasculature changes, and stroke-related mortality.
The axonal forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT2) disease are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders. Mitofusin 2 gene (MFN2) mutations are the most common cause of CMT2. Complex phenotypes have been described in association with MFN2 gene mutations, including CMT2 with pyramidal features (hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy [HSMN V]) and CMT2 with optic atrophy (HMSN VI).
Poor nutrition is a common complication of strokes severe enough to require inpatient rehabilitation. We therefore tested whether intensive nutritional supplements given to undernourished patients from the time of their admission to a specialized stroke rehabilitation service would improve patient outcomes.
Current Atherosclerosis Reports Volume 10, Number 4 / August, 2008 354-360
Permanent neurologic injury and death remain common outcomes following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Although many sophisticated techniques are evolving for securing intracranial aneurysms to prevent rebleeding, progress is lagging in the management of posthemorrhagic complications, particularly cerebral vasospasm
To investigate the relationship between white matter tract integrity and language and memory performances in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).
Neurology India Year : 2008 Volume : 56 Issue : 3 Page : 394
A ten-year-old boy presented with inability to run, progressive difficulty in walking and weakness of proximal muscles of lower and upper limbs from the age of three years. By the time he presented to us, he was unable to stand even with support.
Neurology India Year : 2008 Volume : 56 Issue : 3 Page : 236-247
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an X-linked disorder, is the most common muscular dystrophy in children, presenting in early childhood and characterized by proximal muscle weakness and calf hypertrophy in affected boys. Patients usually become wheelchair-bound by the age of 12 years, and die of cardiorespiratory complications in their late teens to early twenties.
Neurology India Year : 2008 Volume : 56 Issue : 3 Page : 231-235
The field of myology has undergone remarkable changes. From the period of early clinical descriptions and clinical classifications, new knowledge of these disorders has come from the developments of histopathology, enzyme histochemistry and later, immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy.
Journal of Neuro-Oncology 0167-594X (Print) 10.1007/s11060-008-9706-2
L-2-Hydroxyglutaric aciduria (l-2-OHGA) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited encephalopathy. This inborn error, characterized by psychomotor retardation, progressive ataxia and typical magnetic resonance imaging findings, presents in early infancy.
Critical Care Medicine. Ninth Wolf Creek Conference on CPR: Addressing the Scientific Basis of Reanimation. 36(11) Suppl:S481-S485, November 2008
Delayed neurodegeneration after transient global brain ischemia offers a therapeutic window for inhibiting molecular injury mechanisms. One such mechanism is calpain-mediated proteolysis, which peaks 24 to 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia in rats. This study tests the hypothesis that delayed calpain inhibitor therapy can reduce brain calpain activity and neurodegeneration after transient forebrain ischemia.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 15, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1191-1198(8)
To examine whether three-dimensional (3-D) kinematic analysis can detect changes in upper limb tasks (reach and hand-to-mouth) in children with hemiplegia, following upper limb botulinum toxin A injections.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 15, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1148-1154(7)
Whilst disorders of emotion are commonly comorbid with Parkinson's disease (PD), evidence concerning their association with PD risk is limited. We investigate the prospective association between selected measures of emotional health and incident suspected PD.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 15, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1216-1221(6)
Although sudden death (SD) accounts for numerous cases of premature mortality in patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), the risk factors responsible for this dramatic event remain unclear.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 15, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1212-1215(4)
The medical treatment available for patients with essential tremor (ET) is often inadequate. Furthermore, the efficacy of the medical treatments currently available for patients with ET of cranial nerve areas is less satisfactory than that of the medical treatments available for patients with ET involving the upper extremities.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 15, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1222-1230(9)
Physical mechanisms are the possible factors involved in the development and maintenance of long-term handicaps after acute whiplash injury. This study prospectively examined the role of active neck mobility, cervical and extra-cervical pains, as well as non-painful complaints after a whiplash injury as predictors for subsequent handicap.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 15, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1245-1251(7)
To prospectively investigate causes of death and the circumstances surrounding death in 302 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The functional status of patients immediately before death was also determined.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 15, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1168-1172(5)
Sexual dysfunction (SD) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) has not been very well studied, as most of the research has methodological restrictions like having no control group, using invalid assessment tools, unidimensional investigation of sexual functions and inclusion of males/females only.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 15, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1206-1211(6)
This study examines whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms are associated with the risk of spontaneous deep intracerebral hemorrhage (SDICH) in Taiwan using a case-control study.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 15, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1180-1190(11)
Functional neuroimaging studies have suggested a dysfunction of prefrontal regions in clinically pre-symptomatic individuals with the Huntington's disease (HD) gene mutation (pre-HD) during cognitive processing. The objective of this study was to test the impact of cognitive demand on prefrontal connectivity in pre-HD individuals.
J Med Genet. Published Online First: 17 October 2008. doi:10.1136/jmg.2008.062463
Mutations in the TARDBP gene, which encodes the TAR DNA binding protein (TDP-43), have been described in individuals with familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We screened the TARDBP gene in 285 French sporadic ALS patients to assess the frequency of TARDBP mutations in ALS. Six individuals had potentially deleterious mutations of which three were novel including an Y374X truncating mutation and P363A and A382P missense mutations.
Pediatric Blood & Cancer Published Online: 20 Oct 2008
Craniopharyngioma is a benign brain tumor that can be treated with some combination of surgery, intracystic chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Treatment for craniopharyngioma, especially radiation therapy, is associated with a variety of long-term toxicities including vascular abnormalities. We report on the incidence of vascular abnormalities seen in the children with craniopharyngioma who received radiation therapy at our institution.
Current Medical Research and Opinion, Volume 24, Number 10, October 2008 , pp. 2883-2895(13)
This study compares once-daily ropinirole 24-h prolonged release and three-times-daily ropinirole immediate release in patients with early Parkinson's disease.
Hypoxia commonly occurs in solid tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) and often interferes with therapies designed to stop their growth. We found that pediatric high grade glioma (HGG)-derived precursors showed enhanced expansion in a lower oxygen tension, typical of solid tumors, than normal CNS precursors.
To investigate whether estimates of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) in brain tumors, obtained by using dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast material–enhanced magnetic resonance
(MR) imaging vary with choice of data acquisition and postprocessing methods.
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 65(4):789-793, October 2008
The aim of this study was to establish a head trauma registry to (a) examine demographics, etiology, severity, clinical course, and outcome; (b) compare results with previous published series; (c) identify causes of bad outcomes; and (d) propose methods to improve therapy and prognosis.
Brucellosis is prevalent in North and East Africa, the Middle East, South and Central Asia, South and Central America and the Mediterranean countries of Europe.
Experience with dissection of the temporal bone is essential for training in skull-base surgery, but only a limited number of neurosurgical residents have the opportunity of cadaver dissection.
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.108.173658
Rupture of unstable atherosclerotic plaques is the pathological substrate for acute ischemic events. Underlying cellular and molecular characteristics of plaque rupture have been studied extensively. However, the natural course of symptomatic plaque remodeling after ischemic events is relatively unexplored.
Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. 67(10):963-975, October 2008
Frontotemporal lobar degenerations are a group of disorders characterized by circumscribed degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes and diverse histopathologic features.
Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. 67(10):954-962, October 2008
Cellular transplantation in the form of bone marrow has been one of the primary treatments of many lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs). Although bone marrow transplantation can help central nervous system manifestations in some cases, it has little impact in many LSD patients.
Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. 67(10):1001-1010, October 2008
Chronic microglial activation is an important component of many neurological disorders, and imaging activated microglia in vivo will enable the detection and improved treatment of neuroinflammation.
Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. 67(10):976-983, October 2008
Spirochetal infections are an important cause of neurological disease. In previous studies of the pathogenesis of spirochetal brain infection, mice inoculated with Borrelia turicatae, an agent of tick-borne relapsing fever in North America, developed mild meningitis and parenchymal activation/infiltration by interleukin 10 (IL-10)-producing microglia/macrophages.
Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. 67(10):984-993, October 2008
HtrA2/Omi is a mitochondrial serine protease that is released into the cytosol and promotes apoptotic processes by binding to several members of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family.
Glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1) is regarded as one of the mammalian cell's main antioxidant enzymes inactivating hydrogen peroxide and protecting against oxidative stress.
Risk of stroke is higher in black Caribbeans in the United Kingdom compared with black Caribbeans in their country of origin. We investigated if these differences were caused by variations in prior-to-stroke risk factors.
Coronary Artery Disease. 19(7):535-540, November 2008
Despite increasing sophistication of brain imaging, neurovascular evaluation, and laboratory testing, a sizable proportion of ischemic strokes defy etiologic classification. Many, if not most, of such 'cryptogenic' strokes may stem from unrecognized cardiac or aortic embolism, with a bimodal pathophysiology potentially dominated by interatrial septal abnormalities in young adults, and by subclinical aortic and large-artery atherothrombotic embolism in older individuals.
Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) offer little direct benefit to patients with hemispheric stroke because current platforms rely on signals derived from the contralateral motor cortex (the same region injured by the stroke).
Platelets bearing complement C4d were recently reported to be 99% specific for a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and associated with neuropsychiatric lupus. We compared the prevalence of platelet C4d and investigated the clinical associations of platelet C4d in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
The Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-MOnitoring STudy (SITS-MOST) unadjusted results demonstrated that intravenous alteplase is well tolerated and that the effects were comparable with those seen in randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) when used in routine clinical practice within 3 hours of ischemic stroke onset.
Little is known about the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the risk of incident stroke. This study is designed to identify particular clusters of MetS components that carry the highest risk of incident stroke.
Therapeutic temperature modulation is widely used in neurocritical care but commonly causes shivering, which can hamper the cooling process and result in increases in systemic metabolism. We sought to validate a grading scale to assist in the monitoring and control of shivering.
The objective was to investigate the role of infant and maternal thrombophilia in a cohort of mothers and infants presenting with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke.
Reocclusion of intracranial arteries after successful recanalization is associated with poor clinical outcome. The role of Factor V Leiden mutation in intracranial arterial thrombosis/rethrombosis is unclear.
Thrombolysis with tPA is the only FDA-approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke. But its widespread application remains limited by narrow treatment time windows and the related risks of cerebral hemorrhage.
The association between cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) and the risk of falls in older people is uncertain, with no supporting prospective evidence. We aimed to determine the risk of incident falls associated with WML volume, and the interactions between WML volume, gait, and other sensorimotor factors leading to falls.
Cerebral microembolic signals detected by transcranial Doppler are frequent during carotid angioplasty with stenting and carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Their potential harmful effects on the brain are, however, unclear. The aim of this study was to relate the frequency and type of per-procedural microembolic signals to procedure-related ipsilateral ischemic strokes and new ipsilateral ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted cerebral MRI.
Clinical Cancer Research 14, 6640-6646, October 15, 2008
Previous literature provides some evidence that atopic diseases, IgE levels, and inflammatory gene polymorphisms may be associated with risk of glioblastoma.
While intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) has been approved for acute stroke therapy within 3 hours, the optimum management of basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is still a matter of debate.
Notch signaling activity regulates arteriogenesis. Presenilin 1 (PS1) mediates Notch signaling activity via cleavage of Notch, liberating Notch intracellular domain (NICD). We tested the hypothesis that simvastatin enhances arteriogenesis after stroke by increasing PS1 activation of the Notch signaling pathway.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 40(9):1573-1580, September 2008
The extent to which cardiorespiratory fitness and cycling power can be improved in individuals with paraplegia by progressive, high-volume, home-based, electrically stimulated (ES) cycle training was investigated using a novel, sensitive method and protocol that allowed high-resolution power output analyses to be performed for the first time in ES cycling.
Emergency Medicine Australasia, Volume 20, Number 5, October 2008 , pp. 410-419(10)
To improve appropriate ordering of head computed tomography (CT) in patients presenting with a head injury by applying an evidence-based head injury guideline.
Emergency Medicine Australasia, Volume 20, Number 5, October 2008 , pp. 420-424(5)
Confusion is a common reason for presentation of elderly patients to the ED. There are many potential causes of confusion, which include acute neurological events. Computerized tomography (CT) scans are often routinely ordered to investigate confusion, despite the recommendation of guidelines against routine use. The aim of the present study was to determine the usefulness of CT brain scans in a prospective cohort of confused elderly patients presenting to an ED.
Clinical Cancer Research 14, 6590-6601, October 15, 2008
To predict individual survival times for neuroblastoma patients from gene expression data using the cancer survival prediction using automatic relevance determination (CASPAR) algorithm.
The recent paper by Perez-Barcena and colleagues suggests that not all barbiturates are created equal, as thiopental appeared to lower intracranial pressure more efficaciously than pentobarbital in patients with severe traumatic brain injury and refractory intracranial hypertension.
In this article, after providing a description of the technique of brain positron emission tomography (PET), the review focuses on the application of PET and other recent advances of neuroimaging in understanding the structural, pathophysiological, and pharmacological changes associated with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Nontraumatic spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage occurs most commonly into the subarachnoid space and brain parenchyma, in contrast to subdural and epidural hematomas that are usually traumatic.
Improvements of radionuclide and magnetic resonance-based imaging modalities over the past decade have enabled clinicians to noninvasively assess the dynamics of disease-specific processes at the molecular level in humans.
The diagnostic evaluation of the patient with partial or localization-related epilepsy is designed to identify treatment strategies that will permit the individual to be seizure-free.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive technique which can acquire important quantitative and anatomical information from an individual in any plane or volume at comparatively high resolution.
One of the most prolific chemical and anatomical imaging techniques of recent decades, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), includes the ability to noninvasively assess neurochemical changes with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).
To evaluate the effects of ropinirole on selected nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), including anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances/excessive daytime sleepiness, and sexual functions.
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is obtained by the injection of one of a series of compounds that cross the blood-brain barrier and are distributed in the brain according to regional perfusion or to the density of a given receptor.
The aims of this study were (1) to establish a prospective community-based stroke registry in Mumbai of subjects having 'first-ever stroke' (FES) and (2) to collect standardized data on annual incidence, stroke subtypes, and case fatality rate at 28 days during the years 2005 and 2006.
Glial brain tumors span a wide range of neoplasms with distinct clinical and histopathological features. This report presents the descriptive epidemiology of glial tumors by histological subtype and tumor behavior.
European Journal of Neuroscience Published Online: 16 Oct 2008
We show in a unifying computational approach that representations of spatial scenes can be formed by adding an additional self-organizing layer of processing beyond the inferior temporal visual cortex in the ventral visual stream without the introduction of new computational principles.
Previous research has demonstrated that [alpha]2 agonists improve working memory performances in healthy individuals and in primates with prefrontal lesions. We conducted this study to determine whether the [alpha]2 agonist, guanfacine, could improve working memory performances in patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) and/or in those with focal epilepsy outside the frontal lobes (ie, temporal lobe epilepsy [TLE]).
The aim of the study was to explore the potential effect of the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor entacapone coadministration on the rate of absorption and matched latency to motor response of an oral test dose of levodopa/benserazide in the treatment of Parkinson disease (PD).
Uncaria tomentosa (UT), also known as cat's claw, isa Peruvian Rubiaceae species widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a wide range of health problems. There is no report about the use, safety, and efficacy of UT in neurological disorders.
The Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms syndrome describes a hypersensitivity reaction to a number of drugs. It is characterized by a triad of fever, rash, and internal organ involvement.
A 51-year-old woman became depressed following the death of her father-in-law. She was given 50 mg of milnacipran a day. One week after starting milnacipran, she developed parkinsonism.
Spinal Cord advance online publication 21 October 2008; doi: 10.1038/sc.2008.125
This study was designed to investigate the effects of oxidant and antioxidant treatment, as well as regular exercise, on neurotrophin levels in the spinal cord of rats.
Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) is the most unfavorable complication after IV thrombolytic treatment. We aimed to determine the relationship between early recanalization and the risk of sICH.
While up to a third of patients may experience a decline in memory following an anterior temporal lobe resection (ATL) for epilepsy, between 10 and 20% may experience a postoperative improvement in function.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an inexorably progressive motoneuron disease, is accompanied by significantly increased markers of inflammation. These inflammatory constituents could protect, harm, do neither, or do both.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2008;79:1295-1297; doi:10.1136/jnnp.2007.138131
Kernohan's notch phenomenon is the ipsilateral hemiplegia caused by compression of the contralateral cerebral peduncle against the tentorial edge by a supratentorial mass. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could be useful for exploring the state of the corticospinal tract (CST).
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2008;79:1197-1201; doi:10.1136/jnnp.2008.147983
A clear understanding of the impact sex differences play in clinical traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcome remains elusive. Animal research suggests that females have better functional outcomes following TBI than males.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2008;79:1287-1294
Balance control performance after vestibular schwannoma surgical removal follows a course that is characterised by a deterioration in postural performance immediately after unilateral vestibular deafferentation (uVD) and a recovery process (vestibular compensation). However, sensory strategies for balance vary during tumoral growth, which could lead to differences in the preferential use of sensory afferences.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2008;79:1275-1281
Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is a significant public health problem affecting approximately 1 million people annually in the USA. A total of 10-15% of individuals are estimated to have persistent post-traumatic symptoms.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2008;79:1236-1244
The presence and degree of neuronal degeneration already existing in patients at their initial presentation with a clinically isolated syndrome suggestive of multiple sclerosis (CIS) is unclear, and whole brain or whole normalised grey matter analyses have not demonstrated significant atrophy in CIS cohorts at clinical presentation.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2008;79:1282-1286
Little is known about the long-term clinical course and management of patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) treated by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2008;79:1218-1223
To study the effect of combination therapy with aspirin and dipyridamole (A+D) over aspirin alone (ASA) in secondary prevention after transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke of presumed arterial origin and to perform subgroup analyses to identify patients that might benefit most from secondary prevention with A+D.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2008;79:1202-1207
Accurate diagnosis of the cause of parkinsonism during life can be difficult, particularly at presentation, but few studies have described changes in clinical diagnosis over time and the effect of applying strict research criteria.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether coil embolisation with a new complex-shaped Guglielmi Detachable Coil
(GDC 360; Boston Scientific Neurovascular, Fremont, CA, USA) has any effect on the stability of aneurysm occlusion.
Pediatric Emergency Care. 24(10):697-699, October 2008
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is an uncommon inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It generally presents after a nonspecific viral infection.
British Journal of Community Nursing, Vol. 13,
Iss. 10 , 03 Oct 2008, pp 457 - 463
Apomorphine hydrochloride infusion therapy is used by approximately 1000 people with advanced Parkinson’s disease in the UK (Britannia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, 2008).
Using a 12-item questionnaire, we assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) toward epilepsy and identified determinants of inappropriate attitudes toward people with epilepsy (PWE) among 910 randomly selected secondary school students in Batibo (Cameroon).
Pyridoxine-dependent seizure (PDS) is a rare disorder characterized by seizures that are resistant to common anticonvulsants, and that are ultimately controlled by daily pharmacologic doses of pyridoxine (vitamin B6). Mutations of the antiquitin gene (ALDH7A1) are now recognized as the molecular basis of cases of neonatal-onset PDS.
Double-blind randomized trial to assess efficacy and tolerability of once-daily extended-release levetiracetam (LEV
XR) tablets (2 × 500 mg) as add-on therapy in patients (12-70 years old) with partial-onset seizures (POS) refractory to one to three antiepileptic drugs.
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) of the liver with cerebral and pulmonary metastasis was diagnosed in a Tibetan monk who initially presented with severe headache to an emergency department in Germany.
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 65(4):785-788, October 2008
The mortality risk in elderly patients who sustained head trauma resulting in intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) while taking the antiplatelet agents aspirin (ASA) or clopidogrel or both (Plavix) was evaluated.
International Review of Psychiatry, Volume 20, Issue 4 August 2008 , pages 364 - 373
Although Parkinson's disease (PD) has been considered to primarily affect motor abilities, increasing emphasis is being placed on cognitive and behavioural impairment in this disorder. Depression, dementia, psychosis and impulse control disorders have a major impact on quality of life for both patients and families.
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2008 38(10):715-718
A multicenter phase I clinical trial, namely, Integrated Japanese Multicenter Clinical Trial: A Phase I Study of Interferon-β and Temozolomide for Glioma in Combination with Radiotherapy (INTEGRA Study), is being conducted for patients with high-grade glioma in order to evaluate the safety, feasibility and preliminary clinical effectiveness of the combination of interferon-{beta} and temozolomide.
First, an extensive systematic search was undertaken to identify and appraise existing stroke rehabilitation websites. Seventeen websites met specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Although some addressed stroke rehabilitation interventions in layperson language, none discussed the numerous treatment options based on scientifically based information.
Profound loss of awareness for the past in amnesia has implications for our understanding of memory and belief systems, and how they may become disrupted in neurological conditions.
The presence of confabulation following brain damage can obstruct neuropsychological rehabilitation and management. A recent theoretical approach to confabulation emphasises that neurocognitive deficits are not sufficient to account for the content of confabulation.
The judgement of personality change following acquired brain injury (ABI) is a powerful subjective and social action, and has been shown to be associated with a range of serious psychosocial consequences.
This study explored the effects of severe acquired brain injury (ABI) on self-esteem. A within-subjects design investigated 22 severe ABI survivors' self-reported responses on measures of self-esteem, mood and awareness of deficit. Data on cognitive ability and awareness of degree of executive impairment were included in the analysis.
There is a growing body of literature on the nature of subjective changes experienced following brain injury. This study employs personal construct and qualitative research methods to address the question of how people make sense of, or construe, themselves after brain injury.
Using discourse analysis, this paper explores the co-construction of identity for individuals who have sustained a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
A survey study of patients recovering from stroke (N = 53) examined the extent to which belonging to multiple groups prior to stroke and the maintenance of those group memberships (as measured by the Exeter Identity Transitions Scales, EXITS) predicted well-being after stroke. Results of correlation analysis showed that life satisfaction was associated both with multiple group memberships prior to stroke and with the maintenance of group memberships.
Most research investigating the efficacy of neurorehabilitation has focused upon pre- versus post-intervention functioning, which is important for evidence-based practice but overlooks the therapeutic process. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to investigate a participant's perspective of experiences in therapy throughout an awareness rehabilitation intervention.
Abstract
Difficulty re-establishing an organised and compelling sense of personal identity has increasingly been identified as a critical theme in outcome studies of individuals with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a serious obstacle to active engagement in rehabilitation.
Many people experience identity change after brain injury. Impaired self-awareness after acquired brain injury is also common and can, along with other factors, affect the identity change a person may experience. Holistic rehabilitation programmes attempt to address both cognitive and emotional difficulties and specifically problems of self-awareness after brain injury.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis First Published on: 14 October 2008
Our objective was to develop a validated questionnaire that can measure the extent to which dimensions of caring affect the health of carers of patients with motor neuron disease. An initial 190-item questionnaire was developed from in-depth interviews, focus groups and two pilot studies with carers.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis First Published on: 14 October 2008
Ubiquitin inclusions represent a cytopathological hallmark of ALS. The ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation pathway may also be involved in the pathophysiology of SOD1 mutated ALS cases as demonstrated in transgenic animals.
Journal of Child Neurology 2008, doi:10.1177/0883073808320756
In our large population-based cohort, 3.1% of adults had seizures within the first 24 h of acute stroke. The objective of our study was to determine a similar incidence in children and compare by stroke subtype.
To describe an unusual case of bilateral meningoencephaloceles with concurrent bilateral superior semicircular canal dehiscene (SSCD) and to discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of SSCD.
Patients with 'dynamic aphasia' exhibit reduced spontaneous speech despite well preserved basic language functions. This disorder may allow insights into the conceptual preparation of messages.
Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain Published Online: 13 Oct 2008
To investigate a clinical population of patients with hemicrania continua (HC), looking at the diagnostic problems they have encountered and their use of healthcare resources and at issues relating to the effectiveness of treatments.
European Journal of Neuroscience Published Online: 14 Oct 2008
The reduced ability of central axons to regenerate after injury is significantly influenced by the presence of several molecules that inhibit axonal growth.
European Journal of Neuroscience Published Online: 14 Oct 2008
Representing the affective value of a reward on a continuous scale may occur separately from making a binary, for example yes vs no, decision about whether to choose the reward.
Pediatrics International Published Online: 6 Oct 2008
The aim of the present study was to investigate the predictive parameters for encephalopathy in complete hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in a large outbreak of O157: H7 infection in 1996.
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology Published Online: 24 Aug 2008
Evaluation of dermal nerve fibers in conventional vertical sections is difficult because of the small number of fibers available for examination. In this study, we evaluated dermal sheet mounts for fibers in which the majority of fibers can be visualized.
Congenital intracranial teratoma is a rare disease. A fetus with a congenital intracranial teratoma presenting with a hydrocephalus at 27 weeks' gestation is presented.
Currently very few drugs are supported for routine use for acute ischaemic stroke. Sanchi is one of the most widely used herbal medicines for ischaemic stroke in China.
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 65(4):778-784, October 2008
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein found in the cytoskeleton of astroglia. Recent work has indicated that GFAP may serve as a serum marker of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is released after central nervous system cell damage.
Journal of Sleep Research Published Online: 13 Oct 2008
The regulation of the timing of sleep is thought to be linked to the temporal dynamics of slow-wave activity [SWA, electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power in the -0.75-4.5 Hz range] in the cortical non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep EEG.
We retrospectively evaluated computed tomography angiography (CTA) and perfusion imaging (CTP) of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) for any correlation between degree of vasospasm and perfusion deficit.
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