Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
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Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP), short-latency electromyographic responses elicited by acoustic stimuli, evaluate the function of vestibulocollic reflex and may give information about brainstem function. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the potential contribution of VEMP to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Fifty patients with MS and 30 healthy control subjects were included in this study. ⋯ In patients with MS, absence of p1-n1 wave was more frequent in patients with than without vestibular symptoms [absence of p1-n1 wave: vestibular symptoms, 9 (45 %) ears; no vestibular symptoms, 16 (20 %) ears; P ≤ 0.03] and patients with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≥ 5.5 [absence of p1-n1 wave: EDSS ≥ 5.5, 7 (70 %) ears; EDSS <5.5, 18 (20 %) ears; P ≤ 0.001]. Abnormal VEMP may be noted in MS patients, especially those with vestibular symptoms and greater disability. The VEMP test may complement other studies for diagnosis and follow-up of patients with MS.
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To use DCE-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging to evaluate the hyperbaric oxygen efficacy (HBO) in experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). Forty-two rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: TBI, TBI + HBO, sham group, sham + HBO. The TBI + HBO and sham + HBO received a total of 10 HBO treatments within 7 days following TBI, and MRI was performed within a month after TBI. ⋯ ADC was lower in the TBI + HBO group than in the TBI group at both acute and subacute phase (p < 0.01). The VCS was higher in TBI + HBO group than TBI group at 30 days (p < 0.05). HBO could improve the impaired BBB and cytotoxic edema after TBI and promote the recovery of neurofunction.
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Review Meta Analysis
Voxelwise meta-analysis of white matter abnormalities in progressive supranuclear palsy.
White matter deficits constitute one element of the network dysfunction that underlies progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Cumulative evidence of white matter abnormalities in patients with PSP has been reported using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), but these studies have not been quantitatively reviewed and not all findings have been entirely concordant. Whole-brain VBM studies comparing PSP patients with healthy controls (HC) were systematically searched in the PubMed and EMABSE databases from January 1990 to April 2013. ⋯ No WMV increase was reported. Meta-regression showed both MMSE and UPDRS III scores correlated with WM changes in the regions from bilateral midbrain to basal ganglia. Our findings provide evidence for white matter atrophy in the midbrain, pons and several regions near the basal ganglia, representing the main pathophysiology of PSP.