Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2005
Axonal damage accumulates in the progressive phase of multiple sclerosis: three year follow up study.
Neurofilament phosphoforms (Nf) are principal components of the axoskeleton released during axonal injury. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Nf phosphoforms might be useful surrogate markers for disability in multiple sclerosis (MS), aid in distinguishing clinical subtypes, and provide valuable prognostic information. ⋯ The increase in NfH during the progressive phase of the disease together with the correlation of NfH(SMI35) with all clinical scales at follow up suggests that cumulative axonal loss is responsible for sustained disability and that high NfH(SMI35) levels are a poor prognostic sign.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2005
Clinical TrialSubthalamic nucleus stimulation in tremor dominant parkinsonian patients with previous thalamic surgery.
Before the introduction of high frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), many disabled tremor dominant parkinsonian patients underwent lesioning or chronic electrical stimulation of the thalamus. We studied the effects of STN stimulation in patients with previous ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) surgery whose motor state worsened. Fifteen parkinsonian patients were included in this study: nine with unilateral and two with bilateral VIM stimulation, three with unilateral thalamotomy, and one with both unilateral thalamotomy and contralateral VIM stimulation. ⋯ The UPDRS motor score, tremor score, difficulties in performance of activities of daily living, and levodopa equivalent daily dose significantly decreased after STN stimulation. Neither axial symptoms nor neuropsychological status significantly worsened after the implantation of the STN electrodes. The parkinsonian motor state is greatly improved by bilateral STN stimulation even in patients with previous thalamic surgery, and STN stimulation is more effective than VIM stimulation in tremor dominant parkinsonian patients.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2005
Clinical TrialApomorphine in idiopathic restless legs syndrome: an exploratory study.
Dopaminergic and opioidergic drugs have been found to be effective in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS). ⋯ Apomorphine may be an effective treatment for idiopathic RLS. Its effectiveness may reflect both to its dopaminergic and its opioidergic activity, and is not diminished significantly by blocking only one of these pathways. The trend to a worsening of the PLMW index with metoclopramide hints at a primarily dopaminergic effect of apomorphine in idiopathic RLS.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2005
Historical ArticleKanner's infantile autism and Asperger's syndrome.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2005
Comparative StudySex hormones modulate brain damage in multiple sclerosis: MRI evidence.
Sex related differences in the course and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) could be mediated by the sex hormones. ⋯ The hormone related modulation of pathological changes supports the hypothesis that sex hormones play a role in the inflammation, damage, and repair mechanisms typical of MS.