Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2014
Interhemispheric difference of pallidal local field potential activity in cervical dystonia.
Cervical dystonia (CD) produces involuntary neck muscle contractions that result in abnormal and often asymmetrical postures of the head and neck. Basal ganglia oscillatory activity in the 3-12 Hz band correlating with involuntary muscle activity suggests a role in the pathophysiology of primary dystonia. Despite the asymmetrical postures seen with CD, no comparison of interhemispheric differences of pallidal local field potential (LFP) activity has been reported. ⋯ Interhemispheric differences in synchronisation of pallidal LFP activity in 4-12 Hz and 13-30 Hz bands are related to the CD clinical condition, suggesting that these frequencies are important in the pathophysiology of dystonia.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2014
Dopamine dysregulation syndrome in Parkinson's disease: from clinical and neuropsychological characterisation to management and long-term outcome.
Dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) refers to a compulsive pattern of dopaminergic drug misuse complicating Parkinson's disease (PD). To date, few data are available on DDS risk factors, cognitive profile and long-term outcome. ⋯ Clinicians should be aware of risk factors predisposing to DDS. Duodenal levodopa infusion and, less consistently, STN-DBS were more commonly associated with DDS remission. Effective caregiving plays a key role in long-term behavioural outcome.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2014
Overcoming artefact: anticipation in 284 Portuguese kindreds with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) ATTRV30M.
Early-onset (≤40 years) and later-onset (≥50 years) cases of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) ATTRV30M are not different entities, often coexisting in the same family, and showing anticipation (earlier age-at-onset (AO) in younger generations, usually associated with more severe phenotype). Historically, anticipation has been ascribed to ascertainment biases. Our aim was to study anticipation in a very large number of FAP kindreds, removing possible biases, and gain further insight into parent-of-origin effects. ⋯ These findings confirm anticipation as a true biological phenomenon, also in FAP ATTRV30M. Acknowledgment of anticipation may have important clinical implications in genetic counselling of offspring and in follow-up of mutation carriers.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2014
Brain arteriovenous malformations and seizures: an Italian study.
To evaluate seizures as first clinical manifestation of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), in relation to angioarchitectural features of these vascular anomalies. ⋯ Vascular remodelling and haemodynamic changes of AVMs might create conditions for epileptogenesis. However, here we show that malformations with specific angiographic characteristics are more likely to be associated with seizures as first clinical presentation. Location is the most important feature related to epilepsy and in particular the temporal lobe might play a crucial role in the occurrence of seizure.