Journal of the neurological sciences
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Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is generally observed in brain injury and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients and is consistently associated with poor neurological outcome. Intracranial pressure variability (IPV) is a better predictor of long-term neurological outcome than mean ICP in traumatic brain injury patients. However, whether IPV regulates functional outcome in ICH patients has not been investigated. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between IPV and functional outcome in ICH patients and determined whether IPV is a valid predictor of neurological outcome in ICH patients. ⋯ The results suggest that high IPV is correlated with poorer outcome in ICH patients. Managing the ICP at an appropriate level during the early phase after ICH may improve functional outcome in ICH patients.
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Case Reports
Insights into thermoregulation: a clinico-radiological description of Shapiro syndrome.
Shapiro syndrome is a rare entity, comprising a triad of recurrent hypothermia, hyperhidrosis and congenital agenesis of the corpus callosum. Fewer than 50 cases have been described, almost invariably in patients presenting in childhood or early adulthood. We present a case of an 80 year old woman presenting with recurrent bouts of shivering, sweating and profound malaise, who sought medical attention because the frequency and severity of attacks worsened in her later years. ⋯ These findings imply that aberrant thermoregulation in Shapiro syndrome involves a number of structures remote from the callosal region. We also present neuropsychometric findings in our patient, of which there have been no reports to date. We postulate that the ageing brain may be more susceptible to the paroxysmal neurochemical fluxes implicated in the syndrome.
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Vitamin B12 deficiency is a well recognized cause of posterolateral myelopathy. In Indian subcontinent, it may coexist with nutritional copper deficiency producing partial response of patients to B12 supplementation. Hence the study was planned to look for association of hypocupremia and B12 deficiency. ⋯ In cases of B12 deficiency myelopathy not responding to supplementation, copper deficiency must be sought at the earliest to avoid and treat persistent neurological disability.
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The Sports Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2) and King-Devick (K-D) tests have both been proposed as sideline tools to detect sports-related concussion. We performed an exploratory analysis to determine the relation of SCAT2 components, particularly the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), to K-D test scores in a professional ice hockey team cohort during pre-season baseline testing. We also examined changes in scores for two athletes who developed concussion and had rinkside testing. ⋯ In this study of professional athletes, scores for the K-D test, a measure for which saccadic (fast) eye movements are required for the task of rapid number naming, were associated with reductions in Immediate Memory at a pre-season baseline. Both working memory and saccadic eye movements share closely related anatomical structures, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). A composite of brief rapid sideline tests, including SAC and K-D (and balance testing for non-ice hockey sports), is likely to provide an effective clinical tool to assess the athlete with suspected concussion.