Revista de neurologia
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Revista de neurologia · May 2003
[Monitoring dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials at the ERB point, the cervical spinal cord and the cerebral cortex in the diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy].
Recording at various levels of the somatosensory pathway is often used in somatosensory evoked potentials to mixed nerve stimulation (SEP), but not in dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSEP) in which only the cortical potential is usually recorded. The aim of our study was to compare the recordings of upper limb DSEP at Erb point, cervical cord, and subcortical and cortical levels with SEP recordings in healthy subjects and patients with cervical radiculopathy. ⋯ We found that it is possible to record and to identify all the potentials in DSEP as observed in the SEP. On cervical radiculopathy, DSEP with the present technique increase the sensitivity and give some additional and useful information regarding the extension and localization of the pathology. Besides, DSEP recording is a non invasive technique, non traumatic and well tolerated for our patients.
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Revista de neurologia · May 2003
Review[Modern day psychosurgery: a new approach to neurosurgery in psychiatric disease].
To obtain an up to date review of the different possible surgical approaches in the management of certain psychiatric disorders that are refractory to conservative treatment (pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy). ⋯ The most noteworthy progress in psychosurgery in recent years has been the combination of a more rigorous selection of patients and the higher degree of specificity with which treatment is performed on the brain structures involved in psychiatric disease. The most widely employed psychosurgical procedures at present are cingulotomy, anterior capsulotomy, subcaudate tractotomy, limbic leucotomy and postero medial hypothalamotomy, with favourable responses in about 35 70% of cases. The psychiatric diagnoses where the best results are to be found are obsessive compulsive disorder, chronic anxiety states and major depression. Current progress in neuroimaging techniques, increased neurophysiological knowledge and the revolutionary neuromodulation techniques, especially deep brain stimulation, offer an even more promising future for psychiatric neurosurgery.
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Revista de neurologia · Apr 2003
Review[Applications of the determination of brain tissue oxygen pressure (PtiO2)].
We review the basic aspects concerning the technique of measurement of partial brain tissue oxygenation (PtiO2) monitoring, and its indications in neurological patients. ⋯ Monitoring the PtiO2 of focal brain tissue is a safe and reliable method for regulating cerebral oxygenation. PtiO2 monitoring has some advantages over other established methods such as near infra red spectroscopy and SjO2 monitoring: 1) recalibration is not necessary, and 2) once inserted, it allows valid and stable measurement lasting hours and even days.
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In this review we study drug addiction from a neurobiological point of view, emphasizing the dopamine hypothesis. This is basic to explain how a genetic feature is related with an alteration of this neurotransmitter and can connect with environmental factors to develop the addiction problem. ⋯ Knowing the neurobiological mechanisms involved in addiction and its relation with dopamine and the reward system can help us understand that problem and aid the rational development of treatment