Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2015
Increased prevalence of ECG markers for sudden cardiac arrest in refractory epilepsy.
People with epilepsy are at increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) due to ECG-confirmed ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, as seen in a community-based study. We aimed to determine whether ECG-risk markers of SCA are more prevalent in people with epilepsy. ⋯ ERP and severe QTc prolongation appear to be more prevalent in people with refractory epilepsy. Future studies must determine whether this contributes to increased SCA risk in people with epilepsy.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2015
Botulinum toxin and blink rate in patients with blepharospasm and increased blinking.
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of botulinum toxin (BoNT) on blink rate (BR) in patients with blepharospasm (BSP) and increased blinking (IB). ⋯ BoNT differentially modulates BR in patients with BSP and IB depending on the baseline BR. BoNT injection reduces BR only when the blink generator is overactive, possibly influencing tear film retention.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2015
Hospitalisation and comorbidities in Parkinson's disease: a large Australian retrospective study.
Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) require higher levels of care during hospitalisation. Management of comorbidities in these patients aims to optimise function while minimising complications. The objective of this study was to examine patterns of hospitalisation of patients with PD in NSW with regards to sociodemographic factors, comorbidities and aspects of clinical management. ⋯ Patients with PD are more likely to suffer serious health problems, including delirium, adverse drug reactions, syncope, falls and fractures than controls. These findings highlight PD as a multisystem neuropsychiatric disorder in which motor and non-motor features contribute to morbidity. Increased awareness of the added risk PD poses in acute hospitalised patients can be used to inform strategies to improve patient outcomes.