Nō to shinkei = Brain and nerve
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There have been very few studies trying to explain about daily life features of patients with very mild Alzheimer disease (AD) and of those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The purpose of this study was 1) to clarify characteristics of very mild AD and MCI in their daily life, and 2) to examine items in a questionnaire that can be useful for detecting subjects of suspected AD. ⋯ These findings indicated that an exploration of memory complaints and deteriorations of IADL was useful for the detection of MCI and very mild AD, especially 7 items described above could be used as a simple questionnaire for the elderly.
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Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) requires the presence of regional pain and sensory changes associated with findings such as abnormal skin color, temperature change, sudomotor activity, or edema, following a noxious event. Complex regional pain syndrome type I induced by phenobarbital (PB) is not well known, although several reports have strengthened the association between PB and CRPS-I. I reviewed the charts of 99 patients treated with PB to assess the incidence, clinical characteristics, investigations, dosage and plasma concentration of PB, and risk factors in the development of CRPS-I. ⋯ One patient was followed longitudinally, documenting improvement following discontinuation, reexacerbation with PB rechallenge, and remission once more when PB were discontinued. The higher incidence should depend on the coexistence of separate risk factors such as age and PB dosage. Recognition of CRPS-I induced PB, early diagnosis, and withdrawal of PB are important for symptomatic relief and improvement of QOL.
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Seven hundred and fifty five cases of acute non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage were admitted to the department of neurosurgery of our hospital from July, 1995 to March, 2004. In 555 patients cerebral angiography was conducted but initial angiography was negative in 30 patients. Except 10 general condition poor patients, in 20 initial angiogram-negative patients were undergone repeated angiography. ⋯ Patients with non-perimesencephalic SAH had a higher rate of complication. In the non-perimesencephalic group, 3 patients developed hydrocephalus and 3 patients had vasospasm, which were found by repeated angiography. Therefore, repeated angiography is recommended for better clinical outcome by early detection and management of serious complications in this group of patients.
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We report a 66-year-old woman with a presyrinx state due to adhesive arachnoiditis. She had a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage one year ago. She became aware of gait disturbance and abnormal sensation at the chest 6 months ago. ⋯ The arachnoid cyst in the spinal canal was decreased in the size. The presyrinx state is recently recognized condition before the formation of syringomyelia and that is known to resolve with proper treatment. We wish to emphasize we could prevent a progression to syringomyelia by a proper treatment for the presyrinx state.
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To investigate the correlation of the cognitive function and the duration of the illness with the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), by means of an objective diagnostic index of brain imaging, stereotactic extraction estimation (SEE) of 123I-IMP SPECT. ⋯ SEE for Z-score images of 3D-SSP revealed a close relationship between the decline of the MMSE score and the duration of the illness, and the perfusion reduction of the posterior cingulate cortex in patients with PD. These findings suggest that the perfusion reduction of the posterior cingulate cortex reflects the decline of cognitive impairment of patients with PD.