Acta neurologica Belgica
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Acta neurologica Belgica · Jun 2012
Plasma oxidative and inflammatory markers in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder after alzheimer's disease. Neuroinflammation and oxidative damage are implicated to be responsible for the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. However, there are a few studies showing the changes in the biomarkers for neuroinflammation and oxidative damage in neurodegenerative diseases. ⋯ Plasma ICAM levels at stage 1 and 2 and CRP levels at stage 2 patients were significantly higher than controls (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, and p < 0.01, respectively). We insist that further studies have to be conducted to establish neuroinflammation and oxidative damage in PD. Establishing the roles of these pathological processes in PD might be the key to effective therapy at an early stage by antioxidants and/or anti-inflammatory drugs.
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Acta neurologica Belgica · Mar 2012
Review Case ReportsTo control or not? A motivational perspective on coping with pain.
Pain relief is often the primordial treatment objective in pain patients. However, an exclusive focus upon pain relief may have costs. Evidence is accumulating that persistent attempts to gain control over pain may, paradoxically, hinder successful adaptation to pain and increase frustration and limitations due to pain. ⋯ A clinical implication is that cautiousness is warranted in promoting strategies exclusively aimed at pain relief. Beyond standard medical care, interventions should also be aimed at the improvement of functioning despite pain. Certainly those patients for whom there is no definite or sound cure to pain and who increasingly experience emotional and physical problems due to pain might benefit from paramedical help by psychologists and/or physiotherapists.
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Acta neurologica Belgica · Dec 2011
Case ReportsAcute shoulder-girdle neuralgic amyotrophy (Parsonage-Turner syndrome with saphenous nerve involvement.
Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) is a relatively rare cause of upper extremity weakness and pain. There is currently no effective treatment for PTS although corticosteroids are recommended. Here we report the case of a man with acute PTS and exceptional involvement of both saphenous nerves, advantageously treated with intravenous immunoglobulin.
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FDG-PET in ALS most typically demonstrates a primary (and sometimes also supplementary) motor cortex hypometabolism, often associated with more diffuse cortical hypometabolism involving mostly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the medial and lateral premotor cortices, and the bilateral insular cortex involvement. In ALS-FTD, extensive temporal hypometabolism is seen in addition to severe diffuse frontal hypometabolism. ⋯ In ALS, more diffuse frontal and temporal FDG-PET hypometabolism was seen than earlier reported, with the anterolateral area as the best preserved part of the frontal lobe. In ALS-FTD, relatively preserved perirolandic metabolism was seen, associated with severe frontal and temporal hypometabolism.