Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jul 2013
1H-MR spectroscopy metabolite levels correlate with executive function in vascular cognitive impairment.
White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are associated with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) but fail to correlate with neuropsychological measures. As proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) can identify ischaemic tissue, we hypothesised that MRS detectable brain metabolites would be superior to WMHs in predicting performance on neuropsychological tests. ⋯ These results suggest that estimates of neurometabolite levels provide additional and useful information concerning cognitive function in VCI not obtainable by measurements of lesion load.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jul 2013
Poststroke dementia is associated with recurrent ischaemic stroke.
To investigate whether poststroke dementia (PSD) diagnosed after ischaemic stroke predicts recurrent ischaemic stroke in long-term follow-up. ⋯ Poststroke dementia predicts recurrence of ischaemic stroke in long-term follow-up and should be considered when estimating prognosis.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jul 2013
Blood-brain barrier destruction determines Fisher/Bickerstaff clinical phenotypes: an in vitro study.
To ascertain the hypothesis that the phenotypic differences between Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE) and Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) are derived from the differences in the effects of sera on blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-nerve barrier. ⋯ Only the sera obtained from BBE patients destroyed BBB and it might explain the phenotypical differences between BBE and MFS. BBE sera disrupted BBB, possibly via the autocrine secretion of MMP-9 from BBB-composing endothelial cells.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jul 2013
Isolated theory of mind deficits and risk for frontotemporal dementia: a longitudinal pilot study.
Recent data suggest that theory of mind (ToM) deficits represent an early symptom of the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, longitudinal data on the natural history of subjects presenting with isolated ToM deficits are lacking. The aim of the study was to verify if isolated ToM deficits represent an at-risk state for prefrontal dysfunction and bvFTD. ⋯ Our data suggest that isolated ToM deficits could represent an at-risk situation for the development of future prefrontal dysfunction and bvFTD. ToM evaluation should be included in neuropsychological protocols aimed to evaluate the early phases of dementia.