Journal of the neurological sciences
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Curcumin improves the integrity of blood-spinal cord barrier after compressive spinal cord injury in rats.
Previous studies have shown that curcumin (Cur) can produce potent neuroprotective effects against damage due to spinal cord injury (SCI). However, whether Cur can preserve the function of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) is unclear. The present study was performed to investigate the mechanism underlying BSCB permeability changes, which were induced by treatment with Cur (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg, i.p.) after compressive SCI in rats. ⋯ ZO-1 and occludin expression was upregulated by Cur (150 mg/kg) treatment after SCI, and this effect was blocked by the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin. Long-term effects of Cur on motor recovery after SCI were observed. Our results indicated that Cur can improve motor function after SCI, which could correlate with improvements in BSCB integrity.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
IncobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®) injected for blepharospasm or cervical dystonia according to patient needs is well tolerated.
Typically, botulinum toxin injections for blepharospasm or cervical dystonia (CD) are administered at approximately 3-month intervals, reflecting concerns that shorter intervals might increase the risk of adverse events (AEs) and development of neutralizing antibodies. These post-hoc analyses investigated flexible incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®) injection intervals (6-20 weeks) in patients with blepharospasm or CD. Patients received up to 6 injections at intervals ≥ 6 weeks, as determined by physician assessment upon patient request. ⋯ AE frequency and severity were similar for intervals <12 weeks and ≥ 12 weeks in both studies. In conclusion, repeated incobotulinumtoxinA injections employing flexible intervals (6-20 weeks) per patients' needs were well tolerated. No additional safety concerns were observed with <12-week intervals compared with ≥ 12-week intervals.
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Dengue is a common arboviral infection in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and caused by infection with one of the 4 serotypes of dengue virus. Neurologic manifestations are increasingly recognised but the exact incidence is unknown. Dengue infection has a wide spectrum of neurological complications such as encephalitis, myositis, myelitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and mononeuropathies. ⋯ Even for other neurological syndromes like myelitis, myositis, GBS etc., dengue infection should be kept in differential diagnosis and should be ruled out especially so in endemic countries during dengue outbreaks and in cases where the aetiology is uncertain. A high degree of suspicion in endemic areas can help in picking up more cases thereby helping in understanding the true extent of neurological complications in dengue fever. Also knowledge regarding the various neurological complications helps in looking for the warning signs and early diagnosis thereby improving patient outcome.
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Our aim was to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare brain activation changes due to botulinum toxin A (BoNT) application between two chronic stroke patient groups with different degree of weakness treated for upper limb spasticity. ⋯ Study of two age-matched groups with mild and severe weakness demonstrated different effects of BoNT-lowered spasticity on sensorimotor networks. Group A performing movement imagery manifested BoNT-induced reduction of activation in structures associated with visual imagery. Group B performing movement manifested reduced activation extent and reduced activation of structures outside classical motor system, suggestive of motor network normalization.
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Intracranial pressure (ICP) is frequently elevated following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). In this prospective study, the factors associated with increased ICP and the relationship between ICP and the aSAH grade were evaluated. ⋯ ICP following aSAH positively correlates with the patient's consciousness, but no relationship was detected between ICP and the subarachnoid hemorrhage volume.