Acta neurologica Scandinavica
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Nov 2007
Demographics, injury characteristics and outcome of traumatic brain injuries in northern Sweden.
OBJECTIVES - To describe demographics, injury characteristics and outcome of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in northern Sweden over 10 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS - Data were retrospectively collected on those individuals (n = 332) in Norrbotten, northern Sweden, with a TBI who had been transferred for neurosurgical care from 1992 to 2001. RESULTS - A majority were older men with a mild TBI and an acute or chronic subdural hematoma following a fall. ⋯ Most individuals received post-acute care and brain injury rehabilitation. A majority had a moderate or severe disability, but many were discharged back home with no major changes in their physical or social environment. CONCLUSIONS - Our data confirm the relationship between age, cause of injury, injury severity and outcome in relation to TBI and underscore the need for prevention as well as the importance of TBI as a cause of long-term disability.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Nov 2007
CSF biomarkers in the evaluation of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.
BACKGROUND - To evaluate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers for neuronal degeneration and demyelination in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH), subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy (SAE), and neurologically healthy subjects. METHODS - Lumbar CSF concentrations of sulfatide, neurofilament protein light (NFL), total-tau (T-tau), hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau), and beta-amyloid(1-42) (Abeta42) were analyzed in 62 INPH patients, 26 SAE patients, and 23 neurologically healthy controls. In INPH patients, samples before and after shunt surgery were analysed. ⋯ No difference was seen for sulfatide. All markers except Abeta42 were significantly elevated after shunt surgery. CONCLUSIONS - The most striking finding was the power of the combined pattern of NFL, P-tau, and Abeta42 in distinguishing between the clinical diagnoses of INPH, SAE, and neurologically healthy elderly.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Oct 2007
Controlled Clinical TrialSingle-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of pregabalin for ataxia in cortical cerebellar atrophy.
To preliminarily compare the efficacy of pregabalin with that of placebo on the cerebellar signs caused by cortical cerebellar atrophy (CCA). A deficiency of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been described in the cerebellum in CCA, and pregabalin has been shown to enhance GABA release in rat hippocampus. ⋯ Pregabalin was superior to placebo in the improvement of the cerebellar signs caused by CCA. Further studies are needed to confirm the present results.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Oct 2007
Controlled Clinical TrialTranscranial Doppler for evaluation of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
The value of transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography in assessing patients with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is uncertain. We sought to determine the contribution of TCD to their evaluation. ⋯ TCD parameters had no useful unique features for monitoring IIH patients.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Oct 2007
Phrenic nerve conduction in the early stage of Guillain-Barre syndrome might predict the respiratory failure.
To investigate whether phrenic nerve conduction in the early phase of Guillain- Barre syndrome (GBS) predicts the need for respiratory assistance during the subsequent clinical course. ⋯ Our findings showed that not only delayed distal latency but also decreased amplitude may predict the need for respiratory assistance during the subsequent disease course.