Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2003
Contralateral medial temporal lobe damage in right but not left temporal lobe epilepsy: a (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the hippocampus is useful in lateralising the epileptic focus in temporal lobe epilepsy for subsequent surgical resection. Previous studies have reported abnormal contralateral MRS values in up to 50% of the patients. ⋯ Unilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with widespread metabolic abnormalities which involve contralateral mesial and neocortical temporal lobe structures. These abnormalities appear to be more pronounced in patients with RTLE.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2003
CSF galanin and cognition after shunt surgery in normal pressure hydrocephalus.
"Normal" pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is associated with injury to neurotransmitter and neuropeptide systems that recovers after surgery. This could be linked to changes in galanin, a neuropeptide with inhibitory effects on basal forebrain cognitive function. ⋯ The cognitive and clinical improvement after shunt implantation correlated with CSF galanin levels, suggesting that the distribution or function of this agent involves cerebral structures that have some potential for recovery. In this study, galanin was related to several cognitive functions that may be associated with the fronto-subcortical deficits underlying cognitive dysfunction in normal pressure hydrocephalus.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2003
Clinical experience with gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of vestibular schwannomas secondary to type 2 neurofibromatosis.
To evaluate the results of stereotactic radiosurgery treating vestibular schwannomas secondary to type 2 neurofibromatosis. ⋯ Radiosurgery is a valuable minimally invasive alternative treatment for these tumours. For most patients, it controls growth or defers the need for surgery, or both. There is a price in terms of hearing function, although this may compare favourably with the deafness associated with the natural history of the disease, and with surgery. In deciding on therapy, patients should be aware of this treatment option.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2003
Comparative StudyPhysical anhedonia in Parkinson's disease.
Anhedonia is the inability to experience physical or social pleasure. Its physical component is hypothesised to be due to dysfunction of a dopaminergic frontotemporal-subcortical circuit and has never been investigated as a possible affective complication of Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of this study was to formally assess prevalence and correlates of physical anhedonia in PD patients compared with normal controls. ⋯ Anhedonia levels were significantly higher in PD patients with respect to controls, although not extremely elevated; prevalence rate was 40% for parkinsonians, while no anhedonics were found among controls. Clinical, neuropsychological, and quantitative neuroradiological features did not show any significant correlation with physical anhedonia. Physical anhedonia appears to be a relatively frequent, although mild, affective disturbance of PD, independent from neurological, frontal, and depressive aspects.