Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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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
Effect of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation on dual-task cognitive and motor performance in isolated dystonia.
Subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) can improve motor complications of Parkinson's disease (PD) but may worsen specific cognitive functions. The effect of STN DBS on cognitive function in dystonia patients is less clear. Previous reports indicate that bilateral STN stimulation in patients with PD amplifies the decrement in cognitive-motor dual-task performance seen when moving from a single-task to dual-task paradigm. We aimed to determine if the effect of bilateral STN DBS on dual-task performance in isolated patients with dystonia, who have less cognitive impairment and no dementia, is similar to that seen in PD. ⋯ This study suggests the effect of STN DBS on working memory and attention may be much less consequential in patients with dystonia than has been reported in PD.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2015
Altered hypothalamic functional connectivity in cluster headache: a longitudinal resting-state functional MRI study.
Neuroimaging studies implicate hypothalamic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of cluster headache (CH). Disruptions in non-traditional pain processing areas, including the cerebellum and visual cortex, have also been reported in CH. It is unknown whether the hypothalamus interacts significantly with these areas, and whether any such interactions vary between the 'in-bout' and 'out-of-bout' periods in CH. This study aimed to investigate the resting-state functional connectivity (FC) of the hypothalamus of patients with CH. ⋯ Our findings suggest that in CH, FC differences between the hypothalamus and its regional distribution extends beyond traditional pain processing areas, primarily to the cerebellar, frontal and occipital areas. These changes may be important and associated with CH pathophysiology.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2015
Interobserver agreement and validity of bedside 'positive signs' for functional weakness, sensory and gait disorders in conversion disorder: a pilot study.
Conversion disorder (CD) is no longer a diagnosis of exclusion. The new DSM-V criteria highlight the importance of 'positive signs' on neurological examination. Only few signs have been validated, and little is known about their reliability. ⋯ Our study confirms that six bedside 'positive signs' are highly specific for CD with good-excellent inter-rater reliability; we propose to consider them as 'highly reliable signs'. In addition 13 signs could be considered as 'reliable signs' and six further signs as 'suggestive signs' while all others should be used with caution until further validation is available.