Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jun 2015
ReviewThe use and misuse of short cognitive tests in the diagnosis of dementia.
Short cognitive tests are widely used in medicine to assess patients with memory problems but their role in the assessment of patients with cognitive problems is often misunderstood. They are a part of the examination of the patient and not tests for dementia or 'case-finding tools'. ⋯ Their use in clinical practice particularly in response to national directives aimed at increasing diagnosis rates in dementia needs a clear understanding of their role and limitations. A new classification of short cognitive tests is proposed with guidance on their use in clinical medicine.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jun 2015
Spinal cord grey matter abnormalities are associated with secondary progression and physical disability in multiple sclerosis.
In multiple sclerosis (MS), pathological studies have identified substantial demyelination and neuronal loss in the spinal cord grey matter (GM). However, there has been limited in vivo investigation of cord GM abnormalities and their possible functional effects using MRI combined with clinical evaluation. ⋯ The study findings suggest that pathological involvement of the spinal cord GM contributes significantly to physical disability in relapse-onset MS and SPMS in particular.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jun 2015
Helicobacter pylori infection as a protective factor against multiple sclerosis risk in females.
In recent years, a relationship between Helicobacter pylori and many disease conditions has been reported, however, studies in its relationship with multiple sclerosis (MS) have had contradictory results. ⋯ Our results could reflect a protective role of H. pylori in the disease development. However, it may be that H. pylori infection is a surrogate marker for the 'hygiene hypothesis', a theory which postulates that early life infections are essential to prime the immune system and thus prevent allergic and autoimmune conditions later in life. The fact that the association between H. pylori seropositivity and MS risk was seen almost exclusively in females requires further investigation.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jun 2015
Serum high mobility group box 1 is upregulated in myasthenia gravis.
High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) functions as an inflammatory mediator and is implicated in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. Our primary aim is to determine whether HMGB1 is involved in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG). ⋯ Serum HMGB1 is elevated in patients with MG and may play a key role in the inflammation of the neuromuscular junction.