Neurology
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Length of stay (LOS) is the main cost-determining factor of hospitalization of stroke patients. Our aim was to derive and validate a simple score for the assessment of the risk of prolonged LOS for acute stroke patients in a national setting. ⋯ A simple prolonged length of stay score, based on available baseline information, may be useful for tailoring policy aimed at better use of resources and optimal discharge planning of acute stroke patients.
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Dominant, left anteromedial temporal lobe resection (AMTLR) for seizure control carries risks to verbal episodic memory and visual object naming. Consistent with traditional thinking, verbal memory decline is considered a consequence of hippocampal removal and naming decline has been attributed to lateral temporal resection. Interestingly, recent findings suggest a potential relation between visual naming and hippocampal integrity, which is consistent with studies that link the hippocampus with higher level visual processing. Historically, naming has been evaluated using visual object naming tasks; however, naming can also be assessed using auditory verbal descriptions. Recent cortical stimulation studies have shown a neuroanatomic distinction between visual naming and auditory description naming. We speculated that unlike visual naming, the hippocampus is not involved in auditory naming, and hypothesized that left AMTLR would not result in auditory naming decline, despite visual naming and verbal memory decline. ⋯ Results suggest that left anteromedial temporal lobe resection presents a greater risk to visual naming than auditory naming in patients with left medial temporal lobe epilepsy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Mexiletine is an effective antimyotonia treatment in myotonic dystrophy type 1.
To determine if mexiletine is safe and effective in reducing myotonia in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). ⋯ This study provides Class I evidence that mexiletine at dosages of 150 and 200 mg 3 times daily over 7 weeks is well-tolerated and effective in reducing handgrip relaxation time in DM1.