Neurology
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Major neurologic improvement at 24 hours after administration of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in acute stroke may predict good outcome at 3 months. ⋯ Major neurologic improvement after rt-PA was observed in 28% of patients and independently predicted good outcome at 3 months. Female sex, glucose levels < 8 mmol/L, and absence of cortical involvement at 24 hours CT scan were associated with major neurologic improvement.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Clinical importance of microbleeds in patients receiving IV thrombolysis.
Cerebral microbleeds (MBs) detected on gradient echo (GRE) imaging may be a risk factor for hemorrhagic complications in patients with stroke treated with IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). ⋯ The presence of cerebral microbleeds on gradient echo imaging does not appear to substantially increase the risk of either symptomatic or asymptomatic brain hemorrhage following IV tissue plasminogen activator administered between 3 and 6 hours after stroke onset.
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To examine the effect of multidisciplinary ALS care on the quality-of-life (QoL) in patients with ALS and their caregivers. ⋯ High standard of care improves mental quality-of-life in patients with ALS.
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Abnormal cortical pain responses in patients with fibromyalgia and conversion disorder raise the possibility of a neurobiologic basis underlying so-called "functional" chronic pain. ⋯ Percept-related fMRI revealed abnormal urge- and pain-related forebrain activity during rectal distension in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As visceral stimulation evokes pain and triggers unconscious processes related to homeostasis and reflexes, abnormal brain responses in IBS may reflect the sensory symptoms of rectal pain and hypersensitivity, visceromotor dysfunction, and abnormal interoceptive processing.