Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Dec 2018
Non-motor features of Parkinson's disease in a nested case-control study of US men.
Several non-motor features may individually contribute to identify prodromal Parkinson's disease (PD), but little is known on how they interact. ⋯ Concurrent constipation, probable RBD and hyposmia are strongly associated with PD. Because these features often precede motor symptoms and their co-occurrence could provide an efficient method for early PD identification.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Dec 2018
Retinal ganglion cell loss in neuromyelitis optica: a longitudinal study.
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are inflammatory conditions of the central nervous system and an important differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Unlike MS, the course is usually relapsing, and it is unclear, if progressive neurodegeneration contributes to disability. Therefore, we aimed to investigate if progressive retinal neuroaxonal damage occurs in aquaporin4-antibody-seropositive NMOSD. ⋯ This study clearly shows GCIP loss independent of ON attacks in aquaporin4-antibody-seropositive NMOSD. Potential explanations for progressive GCIP thinning include primary retinopathy, drug-induced neurodegeneration and retrograde neuroaxonal degeneration from lesions or optic neuropathy. pRNFL thickening in the patients presenting with attacks during F/U might be indicative of pRNFL susceptibility to inflammation.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Dec 2018
Physiological effects of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation surgery in cervical dystonia.
Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) surgery is clinically effective for treatment of cervical dystonia; however, the underlying physiology has not been examined. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to examine the effects of STN DBS on sensorimotor integration, sensorimotor plasticity and motor cortex excitability, which are identified as the key pathophysiological features underlying dystonia. ⋯ NCT01671527.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Dec 2018
Developing and validating Parkinson's disease subtypes and their motor and cognitive progression.
To use a data-driven approach to determine the existence and natural history of subtypes of Parkinson's disease (PD) using two large independent cohorts of patients newly diagnosed with this condition. ⋯ We have found four novel clusters that replicated well across two independent early PD cohorts and were associated with levodopa response and motor progression rates. This has potential implications for better understanding disease pathophysiology and the relevance of patient stratification in future clinical trials.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Dec 2018
Late functional improvement after lacunar stroke: a population-based study.
Recovery in function after stroke involves neuroplasticity and adaptation to impairments. Few studies have examined differences in late functional improvement beyond 3 months among stroke subtypes, although interventions for late restorative therapies are often studied in lacunar stroke. Therefore, we compared rates of functional improvement beyond 3 months in patients with lacunar versus non-lacunar strokes. ⋯ Patients with lacunar strokes have significant potential for late functional improvement from 3 to 12 months, which should motivate patients and clinicians to maximise late improvements in routine practice. However, since late recovery is common, intervention studies enrolling patients with lacunar strokes should be randomised and controlled.