Arch Neurol Chicago
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Arch Neurol Chicago · Jan 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialIntermittent prednisone therapy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a randomized controlled trial.
Prednisone treatment is used to prolong ambulation in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, since severe adverse effects often accompany prednisone treatment, it is debatable whether the benefits of prednisone treatment outweigh its adverse effects. ⋯ Prednisone slowed deterioration of muscle function and muscle force in ambulant patients with DMD. Although adverse effects were present, patient quality of life was not affected. Therefore, short-term prednisone treatment can be recommended to preserve motor functions in ambulant patients with DMD.
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Arch Neurol Chicago · Jan 2005
Case Reports Comparative StudyStimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in a patient with Parkinson disease and essential tremor.
The preferred surgical target for the treatment of Parkinson disease (PD) is either the internal globus pallidus or the subthalamic nucleus (STN); the target for treatment of essential tremor (ET) is the thalamic subnucleus ventralis intermedius (Vim). Some patients with PD have coexistent ET, and the identification of a single surgical target to treat both parkinsonian motor symptoms and ET would be of practical importance. ⋯ Placement of an STN DBS should be considered as the procedure of choice for surgical treatment of patients with a combination of PD and ET.
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Arch Neurol Chicago · Dec 2004
Comparative StudyGene vaccination to bias the immune response to amyloid-beta peptide as therapy for Alzheimer disease.
The amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide has a central role in the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer disease (AD). Immunization of AD transgenic mice with Abeta(1-42) (Abeta(42)) peptide reduces both the spatial memory impairments and AD-like neuropathologic changes in these mice. Therapeutic immunization with Abeta in patients with AD was shown to be effective in reducing Abeta deposition, but studies were discontinued owing to the development of an autoimmune, cell-mediated meningoencephalitis. We hypothesized that gene vaccination could be used to generate an immune response to Abeta(42) that produced antibody response but avoided an adverse cell-mediated immune effect. ⋯ Gene-gun-administered genetic immunization with the Abeta(42) gene in wild-type BALB/c and AD transgenic mice can effectively elicit humoral immune responses without a significant T-cell-mediated immune response to the Abeta peptide. This immunotherapeutic approach could provide an alternative active immunization method for therapy and prevention of AD.
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Arch Neurol Chicago · Dec 2004
Comparative StudyMusculoskeletal pain in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 2.
Myotonic dystrophy type 2/proximal myotonic myopathy (DM2/PROMM) is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder. Musculoskeletal pain is one of its frequent symptoms but also occurs in other chronic noninflammatory muscle disorders (OMD). ⋯ Besides many similarities, DM2/PROMM-associated musculoskeletal pain shows features distinct from OMD.
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Arch Neurol Chicago · Nov 2004
Review Case ReportsSerial 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis.
To review and expand the existing literature of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE). ⋯ The results of functional and structural imaging in PLE may differ substantially. Results of FDG-PET can demonstrate focal hypermetabolism over a long time, which may indicate therapeutic potential. A prospective study with more patients will be needed to clarify the relevance of PET as a possible outcome measure in PLE. Future studies should include scalp or semi-invasive electroencephalographic recordings during PET acquisition.