Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2010
Predictors and long-term outcome of seizures after bacterial brain abscess.
Seizures are one of the most important neurological complications of bacterial brain abscesses. A better understanding of the risk factors of seizures following bacterial brain abscesses is needed to predict those who will require treatment. ⋯ Cox's proportional hazards model demonstrated that valvular heart diseases as the underlying diseases and the presence of a fronto-parietal distribution of bacterial brain abscess were independently predictive of seizures, and the presence of late seizures was predictive of developing epilepsy. Most first seizures occurred within 3 y after bacterial brain abscesses.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2010
Molecular imaging in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: visual assessment of [11C]PIB and [18F]FDDNP PET images.
To evaluate visual assessment of [(11)C]PIB and [(18)F]FDDNP PET images as potential supportive diagnostic markers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). ⋯ Visual assessment of [(11)C]PIB images was straightforward and accurate, showing promise as a supportive diagnostic marker for AD. Moreover, [(11)C]PIB showed the best combination of sensitivity and specificity. Visual assessment of [(18)F]FDDNP images was insufficient. The quantitative analysis of [(18)F]FDDNP data showed a considerably higher diagnostic value than the visual analysis.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2010
Association of the human leucocyte antigen region with susceptibility to Parkinson's disease.
The core pathology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is a loss of the dopaminergic neurons in the nigro-striatal pathway, but this is only part of a more widespread pathological process, the nature of which is unknown. Recent data suggest a possible role for inflammation in this disease process. The Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) region is one of the most important genetic susceptibility factors in many immune-mediated diseases but has not been extensively investigated in PD. ⋯ These data suggest a possible role of the HLA region in susceptibility to Parkinson's disease and as such are consistent with other evidence supporting the role of an inflammatory process in the cellular loss in Parkinson's disease, especially of the nigral dopaminergic neurons.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2010
Identifying and prioritising epilepsy treatment uncertainties.
To identify and prioritise uncertainties regarding epilepsy treatment from people with epilepsy, their carers and epilepsy clinicians. ⋯ Patient uncertainties were often focussed on very practical considerations-how to take prescribed medication, access to services and how to minimise drug side effects. Clinicians' questions were also practical but clustered around 'the challenging consultation'-for example, NEAD, sudden unexplained death in epilepsy and prescribing in pregnancy. The authors have published the research questions on NHS Evidence and are working with them to identify those questions which represent genuine uncertainties. The authors encourage other clinicians to seek patient and carers' priorities in order to shape their research agenda.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2010
Could clinical diffusion-mismatch determined using DWI ASPECTS predict neurological improvement after thrombolysis before 3 h after acute stroke?
Clinical-diffusion mismatch (CDM) between stroke severity and volume of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions seems to predict penumbra. The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score on DWI (DWI ASPECTS) is a simple score for identifying ischaemic lesions. The authors examined whether CDM using DWI ASPECTS can predict neurological improvement in patients with acute stroke treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). ⋯ CDM determined using DWI ASPECTS may be associated with neurological improvement in patients treated with intravenous t-PA.