Frontiers in neurology
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2018
Basis of Shoulder Nerve Entrapment Syndrome: An Ultrasonographic Study Exploring Factors Influencing Cross-Sectional Area of the Suprascapular Nerve.
As changes in nerves' shape and size are common ultrasonographic findings of entrapment neuropathy, measurement of the nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) becomes the mostly used indicator to differentiate normality from pathology. Recently, more US research has been conducted to measure the shape of the suprascapular notch and the diameter of the suprascapular nerve. Because the suprascapular nerve is paramount for various shoulder disorders, the present study aims to establish normal values of suprascapular nerve sizes at different levels as well as to investigate potential influence of participants' characteristics on the CSA measurements. ⋯ In conclusion, the inside-epineurium method has better reliability for nerve CSA assessment but the outside-epineurium method is needed for quantifying the size of distal suprascapular nerve. Gender difference in CSA values should be considered during evaluation of the most proximal nerve segment. Using the outside-epineurium method, the distal suprascapular nerve would be estimated larger than its proximal portion and the segmental discrepancy should be not misinterpreted as pathology.
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Objective: The performance of the Sudoscan technology for diagnosing diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) was evaluated against the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART). Furthermore, the association of Sudoscan with two clinical neuropathy scoring systems was evaluated. Methods: Forty-seven patients with type 2 diabetes (20 without DPN, 27 with DPN) and 16 matched controls were examined for neuropathic symptoms and for the extent of sensory deficits. ⋯ Conclusions: Sudoscan shows a good performance in detecting subjects with DPN and it correlates well with clinical signs and symptoms of neuropathy. Significance: This study provides evidence that Sudoscan has high potential to be used as screening tool for DPN and possibly also for small fiber neuropathy in diabetic patients. HIGHLIGHTS - The sudomotor function test Sudoscan shows a good performance to detect diabetes peripheral neuropathy.- Sudoscan measures significantly correlate with clinical signs and symptoms of neuropathy.- The Sudoscan technology may help to secure clinical diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2018
Direct Bypass Surgery Vs. Combined Bypass Surgery for Hemorrhagic Moyamoya Disease: A Comparison of Angiographic Outcomes.
Objective: Extracranial-intracranial bypass is currently recognized as the optimal treatment for hemorrhagic-type moyamoya disease (MMD) which reduces incidence of rebleeding. Recent studies have reported the advantage of combined bypass over direct bypass for the general MMD patients. However, the effect of direct bypass and combined bypass surgery specifically for hemorrhagic-type MMD had not been investigated yet. ⋯ Conclusion: Combined bypass surgery and direct bypass surgery offered similar revascularization for hemorrhagic MMD. Bypass patency and dural angiogenesis both contributed to revascularization independently. The potential of indirect bypass to grow new vessels in hemorrhagic-MMD patients was generally limited, but dural leaflets offered better neoangiogenesis than STA grafts and was therefore recommended for surgical revascularization of hemorrhagic MMD.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2018
Extended Erythropoietin Treatment Prevents Chronic Executive Functional and Microstructural Deficits Following Early Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats.
Survivors of infant traumatic brain injury (TBI) are prone to chronic neurological deficits that impose lifelong individual and societal burdens. Translation of novel interventions to clinical trials is hampered in part by the lack of truly representative preclinical tests of cognition and corresponding biomarkers of functional outcomes. To address this gap, the ability of a high-dose, extended, post-injury regimen of erythropoietin (EPO, 3000U/kg/dose × 6d) to prevent chronic cognitive and imaging deficits was tested in a postnatal day 12 (P12) controlled-cortical impact (CCI) model in rats, using touchscreen operant chambers and regional analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). ⋯ Taken together, extended EPO treatment restores executive function and prevents microstructural brain abnormalities in adult rats with cognitive deficits in a translational preclinical model of infant TBI. Sophisticated testing with touchscreen operant chambers and regional DTI analyses may expedite translation and effective yield of interventions from preclinical studies to clinical trials. Collectively, these data support the use of EPO in clinical trials for human infants with TBI.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2018
Case ReportsSporadic MM-1 Type Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease With Hemiballic Presentation and No Cognitive Impairment Until Death: How New NCJDRSU Diagnostic Criteria May Allow Early Diagnosis.
Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is the most common human prion disorder. Although associated with heterogeneous clinical phenotypes, its distinctive feature is the presence of a rapidly progressive multidomain cognitive impairment. ⋯ We review sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease diagnostic criteria and their updates since their first formulation, highlighting their limitations in clinical diagnostic work-up. Finally, we discuss the recently introduced National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Research and Surveillance Unit diagnostic criteria, suggesting how their application could support an early clinical diagnosis, even in atypical cases, such as the one presented.