Neurology
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To assess the clinical validity of clinical diagnostic criteria for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). ⋯ The proposed CDLB criteria have high negative predictive value and thus do well at excluding patients with DLB. Positive predictive value of 75% can be achieved by a combination of any three major or minor criteria, providing the analysis is confined to patients with mild to moderate dementia. Criteria were most accurate if confined to patients with pure DLB who had mild to moderate dementia.
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To study intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density in distal leg skin biopsies, sural nerve morphometry, electrophysiology, and clinical features in patients with peripheral neuropathies. ⋯ Distal leg Intraepidermal nerve (IENF) density may be more sensitive than sural nerve biopsy in identifying small fiber sensory neuropathies. Assessments of IENF density and large fiber measures on biopsy and electrophysiology are both useful for characterizing sensory and sensorimotor neuropathies.
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To evaluate the course of seizure control after reinstitution of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in patients whose AEDs were discontinued during inpatient EEG-video monitoring. ⋯ Seizure improvement after reinstitution of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is due primarily to prolongation of the interval from reinstitution of AEDs to the next seizure. This may reflect increased patient responsiveness to AED therapy after a drug "holiday" and has implications for experimental AED testing in the setting of presurgical evaluation.
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To perform an open-label, long-term efficacy and safety/tolerability study of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) of 454 patients with refractory epilepsy. ⋯ Long-term, open-label vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) provided seizure reduction similar to or greater than acute studies, for median reductions and for those reaching a > or =50% seizure reduction. VNS remained safe and well tolerated, with nearly three-quarters of the patients choosing to continue therapy.