Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
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We studied 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) levels in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the effect of vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin D levels were checked in 37 consecutive patients with ALS. Demographic data, vitamin D supplementation, change in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) score, and side effects from vitamin D were noted over a 9 month follow-up period. ⋯ No side effects secondary to vitamin D supplementation were reported. Vitamin D supplementation at 2000 international units daily was safe over a period of 9 months and may have a beneficial effect on ALSFRS-R scores. Further studies are warranted to determine whether there is a benefit in vitamin D supplementation for all ALS patients.
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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a viable therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). The impact of subthalamic nucleus (STN) lead placement (lateral versus medial) on motor outcome, however, has not been systematically evaluated. Forty-eight patients with PD underwent STN-DBS surgery and were evaluated postoperatively for 48 weeks for motor improvement as measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III (standardized motor examination) and levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD). ⋯ No significant difference in stimulation voltage was noted with respect to lead location. Our study did not find a significant effect for the location of active contact and motor outcome neither within the subregions of the STN nor between the STN and surrounding fibers. Further research is needed to better understand the neurophysiological basis for these results.
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Few studies detail the risk of in-hospital seizures following elective surgical or endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA). We compared the peri-procedural seizure incidence for clipping and coiling of UIA. A retrospective cohort study using the Australian National Hospital Morbidity Database from 1998 to 2008 was conducted. ⋯ Overall, elective surgical treatment of UIA is associated with a higher risk of seizure occurrence compared to endovascular coiling. Contrary to conventional thinking, the risk of seizures following endovascular treatment is not entirely absent. Current recommendations must be considered in relation to the issue of driving after elective intracranial aneurysm treatment.