Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Jun 2005
Functional outcome of intrathecal baclofen administration for severe spasticity.
To estimate the functional benefit in patients with severe spasticity treated with intrathecal baclofen infusion through an implantable pump and to stress the need for functional assessment of these patients with a functional scale. ⋯ Reduction of spasticity and spasms achieved with intrathecally delivered baclofen, leads to functional improvement and pain relief.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Apr 2005
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialPaced visual serial addition test in multiple sclerosis.
The paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT), a subtest of the multiple sclerosis functional composite score (MSFC), is increasingly used in the evaluation of cognitive function in multiple sclerosis (MS). While patient acceptance for the PASAT is low, its visual version, the paced visual serial addition test (PVSAT), is perceived to be better tolerated. The aim of this study was to investigate the interchangeability of PVSAT and PASAT in the evaluation of cognitive function in MS. ⋯ PASAT-3 correlated highly with both PVSAT-3 and PVSAT-2. MSFC-v scores calculated with PVSAT-2 and PVSAT-3 values correlated highly with MSFC scores calculated with PASAT-3 results. The results suggest that the PVSAT can be used as an alternative for the PASAT in the MSFC.
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Candida meningitis, a previously rare occurrence, has been increasing in prevalence and often is a result of complications of neurosurgery. We describe the case of a 49-year-old man who presented with headache, vertigo, intermittent blurred vision, and multiple episodes of nausea and vomiting. Computed tomography (CT) showed a left cerebellar hemorrhage with obliteration of the fourth ventricle causing hydrocephalus. ⋯ He then presented with increased vertigo and ataxia. Cerebrospinal fluid cultures grew C. tropicalis, which again showed susceptibility to fluconazole with a MIC of 1 microg/mL, identical to that in the previous infection. However, a second course of fluconazole failed to control the infection despite adequate cerebrospinal fluid levels.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Dec 2004
Clinical features of 1039 patients with neurophysiological diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.
To describe the clinical features of patients with a neurophysiologic diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. ⋯ The clinical presentation of CTS is pleomorphic, ranging from the absence of symptoms to very severe cases. This variation probably is dependent on coexistent diseases, such as tendinitis and fibromyalgia, as well as on subjective aspects of the patients.
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To evaluate the Cx43 expression of astrocytic tumors and correlate their expression with degrees of malignancy and proliferation activity of tumors. ⋯ Cx43 expression level is inversely correlated with the tumor grade and proliferation activity of tumor, suggesting the potential role of Cx43 in the malignant progression of astrocytic tumors.