Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie
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Higher mercury concentrations were found in brain regions and blood of some patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Low levels of inorganic mercury were able to cause AD- typical nerve cell deteriorations in vitro and in animal experiments. Other metals like zinc, aluminum, copper, cadmium, manganese, iron, and chrome are not able to elicit all of these deteriorations in low levels, yet they aggravate the toxic effects of mercury (Hg). ⋯ The available data does not answer the question, whether mercury is a relevant risk factor in AD distinctively. In sum, the findings from epidemiological and demographical studies, the frequency of amalgam application in industrialized countries, clinical studies, experimental studies and the dental state of Alzheimer patients in comparison to controls suggest a decisive role for inorganic mercury in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease. Other factors currently discussed as causes (e. g. other metals, inflammations, dietetic factors, vitamin deficiency, oxidative distress, and metabolic impairments) may act as co-factors.
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Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr · Jun 2007
Review[Complex regional pain syndromes: new aspects on pathophysiology and therapy].
Complex-regional pain syndromes (CRPS), formerly known as Sudeck's dystrophy and causalgia, belong to the neuropathic pain syndromes. CRPS may develop following fractures, limb trauma or lesions of the peripheral or central (CNS) nervous system. Occasionally, CRPS may also develop spontaneously. ⋯ Sympathetic blocks are useful for the treatment of sympathetically maintained pain. Invasive therapeutic concepts include implantation of spinal cord stimulators. This review covers new aspects of pathophysiology and therapy of CRPS.
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Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr · Mar 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study[Cubital tunnel syndrome--simple nerve decompression or decompression with subcutaneous anterior transposition?].
The purpose of this prospective, randomised and controlled study was to evaluate which kind of operative technique for treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome is favourable: subcutaneous anterior transposition or nerve decompression without transposition. This study included 66 patients suffering from pain and/either neurological deficits with clinically and electrographically proven cubital tunnel syndrome. 32 patients underwent nerve decompression without transposition, whereas 34 underwent subcutaneous transposition of the nerve. Follow-up examinations evaluating pain, motor and sensory deficits as well as motor nerve conduction velocities were performed three, nine and 24 months postoperatively. Irrespectively of operative procedures (simple decompression vs. subcutaneous anterior transposition) there were no significant differences between the outcomes of the two groups at either postoperative follow-up examination (p > 0.05).
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Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr · Feb 2007
Multicenter Study[Oxcarbazepine in the treatment of epilepsy].
Oxcarbazepine (OXC; Timox) is a new antiepileptic drug (AED) chemically related to carbamazepine (CBZ), with comparable efficacy but superior safety according to controlled clinical trials. In a prospective, post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study the efficacy and tolerability of OXC were investigated under conditions of daily routine practice. ⋯ The results underline the high antiepileptic efficacy and good tolerability of OXC previously demonstrated in controlled clinical trials. When changing from CBZ to OXC, immediate (overnight) switching showed particularly favorable results.