Current opinion in neurology
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Curr. Opin. Neurol. · Oct 2014
ReviewClinical and scientific aspects of muscle-specific tyrosine kinase-related myasthenia gravis.
Antibodies to muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) characterize up to 5% of myasthenia gravis patients. This review focuses on the differences to clinical antiacetylcholine receptor-myasthenia gravis, and on the physiology and animal studies that elucidate the role of MuSK and help explain the clinical disease. ⋯ MuSK myasthenia gravis has distinct clinical and pathophysiological features.
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Curr. Opin. Neurol. · Aug 2014
ReviewPeripheral nerves and plexus: imaging by MR-neurography and high-resolution ultrasound.
The purpose of this study is to review advances in magnetic resonance (MR)-neurography and nerve-ultrasound for the precise visualization and localization of nerve lesions not only in nerve trauma or mass lesions, but also in entrapment-related and spontaneously occurring intrinsic neuropathies. These advances may improve the understanding and classification of peripheral neuropathies. ⋯ High-resolution nerve imaging with extended anatomical coverage is feasible and improves the topographic description of spatial lesion dispersion which is particularly relevant for the discrimination between focal and nonfocal neuropathies.
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Curr. Opin. Neurol. · Aug 2014
ReviewUpdate on SPECT and PET in parkinsonism - part 1: imaging for differential diagnosis.
To give an update on recent findings concerning the use of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) for differential diagnosis and prognosis of neurodegenerative parkinsonism and related disorders. ⋯ SPECT and PET are established methods for the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism with significant therapeutic and prognostic impact. Given the limited accuracy of the clinical diagnosis as the reference standard, future studies with post-mortem verification are needed for validation of diagnostic imaging pattern, particularly in tauopathies.
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Curr. Opin. Neurol. · Jun 2014
ReviewAutoimmune encephalitis as differential diagnosis of infectious encephalitis.
This review describes the main types of autoimmune encephalitis with special emphasis on those associated with antibodies against neuronal cell surface or synaptic proteins, and the differential diagnosis with infectious encephalitis. ⋯ http://links.lww.com/CONR/A25,
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The aim is to systematically and critically review the relationship between migraine and estrogen, the predominant female sex hormone, with a focus on studies published in the last 18 months. ⋯ Current literature has consistently demonstrated that headache, in particular migraine, is more prevalent in women as compared with men, specifically during reproductive years. Recent studies have found differences in headache characteristics, central nervous system anatomy, as well as functional activation by fMRI between the sexes in migraine patients. Although the cause underlying these differences is likely multifactorial, considerable evidence supports an important role for sex hormones. Recent studies continue to support that MRM is precipitated by drops in estrogen concentrations, and minimizing this decline may prevent these headaches. Limited data also suggest that specific regimens of combined hormone contraceptive use in MRM and migraine with aura may decrease both headache frequency and aura.