Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2004
Letter Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of interferon beta-1a on spasticity in primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2004
Clinical TrialDiffusion tensor MRI correlates with executive dysfunction in patients with ischaemic leukoaraiosis.
Cerebral small vessel disease is a common cause of vascular dementia. Both discrete lacunar infarcts and more diffuse ischaemic changes, seen as confluent high signal (leukoaraiosis) on T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), occur. However, there is a weak correlation between T2 lesion load and cognitive impairment. Diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) is a new technique that may provide a better index of white matter damage. ⋯ Diffusion tensor measurements correlate better with cognition than conventional MRI measures. They may be useful in monitoring disease progression and as a surrogate marker for treatment trials. The findings support the role of white matter damage and disruption of white matter connections in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in cerebral small vessel disease.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2004
Fluctuating cognition in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease is qualitatively distinct.
To document and illustrate qualitative features of fluctuating cognition as described by care givers of patients with probable dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). To determine whether the quality of the fluctuations differs between DLB and AD. To examine the clinical utility of two recently developed rating scales. ⋯ Fluctuations occurring in DLB have particular characteristics that are distinguishable from fluctuations occurring in AD. Interpretation and application of the fluctuation criterion continues to limit the diagnostic sensitivity of the consensus criteria for DLB. Findings suggest that explicit documentation and a wider appreciation of these distinctions could improve the reliability with which less experienced clinicians identify this core diagnostic feature in the clinical setting.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2004
Clinical TrialRemoval of large acoustic neurinomas (vestibular schwannomas) by the retrosigmoid approach with no mortality and minimal morbidity.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of removing large acoustic neurinomas (> or =3 cm) by the retrosigmoid approach. ⋯ The method resulted in a high rate of functional facial nerve preservation, a low incidence of complications, and good functional outcomes, with no mortality and minimal morbidity. Very favourable results can be obtained using the retrosigmoid approach for the removal of large acoustic neurinomas.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2004
Saccade dysfunction associated with chronic petrol sniffing and lead encephalopathy.
In chronic petrol sniffers, recent exposure to high levels of leaded petrol may give rise to a lead encephalopathy characterised by tremor, chorea, ataxia, hyperreflexia, convulsive seizures, and death. Neurological abnormalities associated with lead encephalopathy involve the cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and brain stem. ⋯ Chronic petrol abuse is associated with cortical and basal ganglia abnormalities that are at least partially recoverable with abstinence. Additional long term cerebellar and brain stem abnormalities are associated with lead encephalopathy.