Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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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
Clinical TrialThe exercise test as a monitor of disease status in hypokalaemic periodic paralysis.
To evaluate exercise test responses in hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (HPP), to determine its value as a diagnostic tool and the factors that could affect the responses. ⋯ The exercise test is a useful diagnostic test for periodic paralysis, but in the absence of recent weakness negative results must be viewed with caution. It has advantages over the DNA test in being a non-invasive functional test that can provide insights into abnormalities of muscle excitability.
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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
Association of polymorphisms in the Tau and Saitohin genes with Parkinson's disease.
The Saitohin gene has recently been identified in intron 9 of the Tau gene. Because an association between Parkinson's disease and Tau has been described, Saitohin represents a candidate gene for Parkinson's disease. ⋯ The data suggest that there is a functional polymorphism at this locus involved in Parkinson's disease.