Neurophysiologie clinique = Clinical neurophysiology
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Cold evoked potentials (CEPs) represent a novel technique to assess the integrity of cold-specific pathways within the somatosensory system. So far an objective assessment of these pathways has not been implemented into the clinical routine. Specifically, CEPs may help to elucidate the pathophysiological underpinnings of altered cold processing in neurological diseases. ⋯ The acquisition of CEPs from cervical dermatomes is feasible. Since involvement of cold-specific pathways is relevant for several pathologies in clinical neurology, the application of CEPs may complement existing techniques like contact heat and laser stimulation in the assessment of peripheral and central nervous system disorders. Future studies employing different stimulation paradigms using faster cooling are warranted in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
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To determine the prognostic value of continuous electroencephalography (EEG) in children undergoing therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest. ⋯ Early TTNT and EEG reactivity help to predict good neurological outcome in children undergoing therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest. Seizures and status epilepticus may predict poor neurological outcome.
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Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is very common and has psychological and physical consequences. Patients with CUD present hypoactivity of the prefrontal cortical area. Thus, excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the premotor cortex/dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PMC/DLPFC), given its ability to increase prefrontal area excitability and to modulate cortico-limbic activity, could result in a decrease in cocaine intake. ⋯ Only a few studies have evaluated the efficacy of rTMS for CUD treatment in humans, with limitations concerning small sample size, short treatment duration, different rTMS protocols and the absence of a placebo-controlled group. Our study will attempt to overcome these shortcomings and will provide data that can be used for future larger studies of non-invasive left PMC/DLPFC stimulation as a treatment for CUD.
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Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease associated with antibodies against the nicotinic muscle acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction. Dysautonomia has been previously described in MG. Electrochemical skin conductance (ESC), assessed by Sudoscan®, is a non-invasive method that allows evaluation of sudomotor function. Since sweat glands are innervated by sudomotor, postganglionic, cholinergic sympathetic C-fibers, we hypothesized that ESC could be a reliable method for assessing autonomic dysfunction in MG. ⋯ We could not prove the presence of autonomic sympathetic dysfunction in our cohort of MG patients when assessed by Sudoscan®. In addition, Compass-31 was not a useful questionnaire in this clinical context.