Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jun 1997
Neuropsychological disorders after coronary bypass surgery.
A prospective assessment of neuropsychological impairment in the early postoperative stage after coronary bypass surgery. ⋯ Simple preoperative neuropsychological assessment may be helpful and clinically applicable in identifying patients at risk for postoperative cognitive dysfunction and may contribute to improve postoperative management aiming at the prevention of delirium or other transient neuropsychological disorders.
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To investigate the cause of sporadic motor neuron disease (MND) by twin study, so allowing (1) estimation of the genetic contribution, and (2) collection of matched pairs for a case-control study of possible environmental factors. ⋯ This "death discordant" method for twin collection has proved to be viable, and has allowed the ascertainment of a large population sample in a rare disease. The genetic role in sporadic MND is substantial, and higher than expected. Exposure to industrial chemicals, particularly constituents of petrochemicals and paints, may contribute to the aetiology of MND.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jun 1997
Comparative StudyCytomegalovirus infections and anti-GM2 antibodies in Guillain-Barré syndrome.
To investigate whether antecedent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome are associated with the presence of specific antiganglioside antibodies, acute phase serum samples from 130 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome and 200 controls were tested. Anti-GM2 IgM antibodies were found more often in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome with CMV infection (22%) than in patients without the infection (2%) (P = 0.003). CMV infections may elicit anti-GM2 antibodies in susceptible patients, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with CMV.