Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2015
Herpes simplex encephalitis in glioma patients: a challenging diagnosis.
In recent years, herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) has been reported with increasing frequency in settings of immunosuppression, such as acquired immunodeficiency, transplantation and cancer. As observed, in immunocompromised individuals HSE presents peculiar clinical and paraclinical features, and poorer prognosis. ⋯ The substantial incidence of HSE observed in our centres together with the difficulty in diagnosing the condition suggest that the incidence of this complication may be highly underestimated. The aim of our report is to strengthen the observation of HSE in patients with HGG and outline the key elements that may allow its diagnosis.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2015
Comparative Study Clinical TrialAβ imaging with 18F-florbetaben in prodromal Alzheimer's disease: a prospective outcome study.
We assessed the clinical utility of β-amyloid (Aβ) imaging with (18)F-florbetaben (FBB) in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by evaluating its prognostic accuracy for progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD), comparing semiquantitative with visual scan assessment, and exploring the relationships among Aβ, hippocampal volume (HV) and memory over time. ⋯ (18)F-florbetaben Aβ imaging facilitates accurate detection of prodromal AD. As neurodegeneration progresses, and in contrast with the early stages of the disease, hippocampal atrophy and not Aβ, seems to drive memory decline.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2015
Multicenter StudyCervical spinal cord volume loss is related to clinical disability progression in multiple sclerosis.
To examine the temporal evolution of spinal cord (SC) atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS), and its association with clinical progression in a large MS cohort. ⋯ SC MRI parameters including baseline UCCA and SC lesions were significant MRI predictors of disease progression. Progressive 24-month upper SC atrophy occurred in all MS subtypes, and was faster in patients exhibiting disease progression at month-24.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2015
Anatomic correlates of deep brain stimulation electrode impedance.
The location of the optimal target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) remains controversial. Electrode impedance affects tissue activation by DBS and has been found to vary by contact number, but no studies have examined association between impedance and anatomic location. ⋯ In the vicinity of DBS electrodes chronically implanted in STN, impedance is lower at the rostral STN border and in white matter, than in STN. This finding suggests that current reaches white matter fibres more readily than neuronal cell bodies in STN, which may help explain anatomic variation in stimulation efficacy.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2015
Bidirectional trans-synaptic axonal degeneration in the visual pathway in multiple sclerosis.
To investigate the coexistence of anterograde and retrograde trans-synaptic axonal degeneration, and to explore the relationship between selective visual pathway damage and global brain involvement in longstanding multiple sclerosis (MS). ⋯ This study provides evidence for presence of bidirectional (both anterograde and retrograde) trans-synaptic axonal degeneration in the visual pathway of patients with MS. Additionally, thinning of the retinal pRNFL and GCC are related to global white and grey matter atrophy in addition to pathology of the visual pathway.