Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2000
Clinical TrialWhich neuropsychiatric and behavioural features distinguish frontal and temporal variants of frontotemporal dementia from Alzheimer's disease?
To investigate the prevalence of changes in mood, personality, and behaviour in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and hence, which features reliably distinguish between them. To establish whether the frontal and temporal variants of FTD are characterised by different behavioural changes. ⋯ This questionnaire disclosed striking differences between patients with FTD and AD, but only stereotypic behaviour, changes in eating preference, disinhibition, and features of poor social awareness reliably separated the groups. The patients with fv FTD and semantic dementia were behaviourally very similar, reflecting the involvement of a common network, the ventral frontal lobe, temporal pole, and amygdala. Dysexecutive symptoms and poor self care were found to be affected by the severity of the disease, reflecting perhaps spread to dorsolateral prefrontal areas relatively late in the course of both FTD and AD. This questionnaire may be of value in the diagnosis and the monitoring of therapies.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2000
Clinical TrialAcoustic neuroma surgery as an interdisciplinary approach: a neurosurgical series of 508 patients.
To evaluate an interdisciplinary concept (neurosurgery/ear, nose, and throat (ENT)) of treating acoustic neuromas with extrameatal extension via the retromastoidal approach. To analyse whether monitoring both facial nerve EMG and BAEP improved the functional outcome in acoustic neuroma surgery. ⋯ Acoustic neuroma surgery via a retrosigmoidal approach is a safe and effective treatment for tumours with extrameatal extension. Functional results can be substantially improved by intraoperative monitoring. The interdisciplinary concept of surgery performed by ENT and neurosurgeons was particularly convincing as each pathoanatomical phase of the operation is performed by a surgeon best acquainted with the regional specialties.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jul 2000
Injections of botulinum toxin A into the salivary glands improve sialorrhoea in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Sialorrhoea is a socially disabling problem in bulbar amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Botulinum toxin A (BoNT/A) was injected into the salivary glands in five patients with bulbar ALS and sialorrhoea. ⋯ BoNT/A ameliorated sialorrhoea and quality of life without major adverse effects. BoNT/A may be a relatively safe and effective treatment for sialorrhoea in selected patients.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jul 2000
Neurovascular decompression for idiopathic tarsal tunnel syndrome: technical note.
The surgical outcome of idiopathic tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is reported to be worse than that attributable to ganglion, tarsal coalition, or tumour, and therefore further development in the surgical treatment for idiopathic TTS is considered to be necessary. Here the efficacy of neurovascular decompression for patients with idiopathic TTS is evaluated. ⋯ Neurovascular compression syndrome plays a part in idiopathic TTS, and adding neurovascular decompression to resection of the flexor retinaculum is effective.