Journal of the neurological sciences
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Observational Study
Use of the King-Devick test for sideline concussion screening in junior rugby league.
To determine whether the King-Devick (K-D) test used as a sideline test in junior rugby league players over 12 matches in a domestic competition season could identify witnessed and incidentally identified episodes of concussion. ⋯ The K-D test was quickly and easily administered making it a practical sideline tool as part of the continuum of concussion assessment tools for junior rugby league players.
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We sought to evaluate the potential enhanced fibrinolytic and antiplatelet activity of dabigatran etexilate (DE) due to decreased thrombin levels in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack and non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). ⋯ Our findings indicate that DE might affect platelet function and fibrinolysis and highlight the potential role of ETP as an alternative option in DE monitoring. The intensity and clinical relevance of DE antiplatelet and fibrinolytic effects require further investigation.
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Ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) has been established as a potential biomarker of neuronal damage. There is not much information about the effects of white matter lesions (WMLs) on serum and urine UCH-L1 levels in white matter disease patients. This study was aimed to assess whether serum or urine UCH-L1 levels are a reliable marker of brain damage in patients with WMLs. ⋯ These findings suggest that serum UCH-L1 levels may serve as a novel biomarker for neuronal damage from WMLs, especially S-WMLs.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of clinical, electrophysiological, sonographic and MRI features in CIDP.
We investigated the applicability of nerve ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). ⋯ Nerve ultrasound and MRI findings show the same morphological fascicle alterations in peripheral nerves in correlation to ODSS. Nerve ultrasound as an affordable tool, easy and quick to perform, could replace MRI in daily routine for monitoring peripheral nerve morphology.
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Although adoption of new clinical criteria for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) leads to an increase in the proportion of patients diagnosed with probable DLB, the sensitivity of clinical diagnostic criteria of DLB is low, and there are no generally accepted clinical or imaging biomarkers to distinguish DLB from other types of dementia. In this study, we investigated whether neurocirculatory abnormalities and cardiac sympathetic denervation differed in controls and patients with subjective memory impairment (SMI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and DLB. We also assessed whether spontaneous features of Parkinsonism might be related to the neurocirculatory abnormalities and cardiac sympathetic denervation found in DLB. ⋯ Our results suggest that MIBG scintigraphy and autonomic function tests may be useful for distinguishing between DLB and AD in clinical practice. Myocardial postganglionic sympathetic denervation and autonomic dysfunctions are present in patients with DLB regardless of spontaneous Parkinsonism.