Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry articles from July 2003

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry archives from July 2003

Oestrogen, brain function, and neuropsychiatric disorders: oestrogen has multiple effects on brain function.(Editorial)
July 1, 2003... There is an increasing amount of research on the neurobiological effects of oestrogen. Also, health professionals are being asked for guidance on whether women should be prescribed oestrogen and progestogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) not...

Clinical radiologic correlations in acute stroke: is the signal intensity at the end of the tunnel getting brighter quicker? (Editorial Commentaries).
July 1, 2003... Is time to clot lysis the key factor predicting outcome after focal cerebral ischaemia? Current practice relies on time dependent criteria for decisions regarding acute stroke therapy. This is based on the results of the NINDS rt-PA Stroke...

Head injury and Alzheimer's disease: update on the link between head injury and Alzheimer's disease. (Editorial Commentaries).
July 1, 2003... In this issue (see pp 857-862) Fleminger and colleagues (1) provide a timely update on the status of the link between head injury and Alzheimer's disease. Forty three case-control studies are identified in their review, and 15 met strict...

Surgery for chronic subdural haematoma: is there an evidence base? It is time for a well designed and adequately sized clinical trial of the treatment of chronic subdural haematoma. (Editorial Commentaries).
July 1, 2003... In their paper on pp 937-943 (this issue), (1) Weigel et al have assessed in a systematic way the published studies on outcome following different surgical treatments for chronic subdural haematoma. They suggest that burr hole evacuation has...

The outcome of depressive disorders in the setting of neurological illness: depression is a common and disabling feature in neurological outpatients. (Depression).
July 1, 2003... The depressions are a heterogeneous group of conditions. This is particularly true when depressive symptoms are experienced in the setting of coarse brain disease. Here the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and aetiology offer...

Neurological stamp: Otto Loewi (1873-1961).
July 1, 2003... Otto Loewi, the son of a wine merchant, was born in Frankfurt-am-Main. As a young man he wished to study art history but, persuaded by his parents, he studied medicine at the Universities of Strasbourg and Munich. Loewi held professorships in...

Long term treatment and disease severity change brain responses to levodopa in Parkinson's disease. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objectives: Degeneration of nigrostriatal neurons and subsequent striatal dopamine deficiency produce many of the symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD). Initially restoration of striatal dopamine with oral levodopa provides substantial benefit,...

Lewy body cortical involvement may not always predict dementia in Parkinson's disease. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Background: The presence of Lewy bodies (LB) in the neocortex and limbic system in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) is commonly thought to be linked with cognitive impairment. The authors present here a series of patients with diagnosis...

Head injury as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease: the evidence 10 years on; a partial replication. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objective: To determine, using a systematic review of case-control studies, whether head injury is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. We sought to replicate the findings of the meta-analysis of Mortimer et al (1991). ...

Melissa officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of Melissa officinalis extract using a fixed dose (60 drops/day) in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Design: A four month, parallel group, placebo controlled trial undertaken...

The prevalence of frontal variant frontotemporal dementia and the frontal lobe syndrome in a population based sample of 85 year olds. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of the frontal lobe syndrome (FLS) and the frontal variant of frontotemporal dementia (fvFTD) in a population based sample of 85 year olds. Methods: A representative sample of 85 year olds (n = 451)...

Cognitive presentation of multiple sclerosis: evidence for a cortical variant. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Background: Although neuropsychiatric complications are well recognised, the presentation of multiple sclerosis with cognitive or neuropsychiatric symptoms has generally been considered a rare occurrence and to reflect subcortical pathology....

Longitudinal study of cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: neuropsychological, neuroradiological, and neurophysiological findings. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objective: (1) To assess cognitive function and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) involvement in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; (2) to monitor disease evolution, cognitive dysfunction, and cerebral lesion burden over time (mean...

Differences in the diagnostic accuracy of acute stroke clinical subtypes defined by multimodal magnetic resonance imaging. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Background: Despite its importance for acute stroke management, little is known about the underlying pathophysiology when patients with acute stroke are classified using clinical methods. Objective: To examine the relation between the...

Lack of hemispheric dominance for consciousness in acute ischaemic stroke. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Background: Previous reports have suggested left hemispheric dominance for maintaining consciousness, although there is controversy over this claim. Objective: To compare early impairment of level of consciousness between patients with...

The outcome of depressive disorders in neurology patients: a prospective cohort study. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Background: In a previous prospective study of 300 consecutive new attenders at neurology outpatient clinics, depressive disorders were diagnosed in 119 patients (40%) and major depressive disorder in 77 (26%). Objective: To describe the...

The outcome of neurology outpatients with medically unexplained symptoms: a prospective cohort study. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Background: In a previous cross sectional study of 300 consecutive new attenders at neurology outpatient clinics, 90 were detected with symptoms that were rated as "not at all" or only "somewhat" explained by organic disease. Objective: To...

Functional recovery after surgical resection of low grade gliomas in eloquent brain: hypothesis of brain compensation. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objectives: To describe functional recovery after surgical resection of low grade gliomas (LGG) in eloquent brain areas, and discuss the mechanisms of compensation. Methods: Seventy-seven right-handed patients without deficit were operated...

Spontaneous haemorrhage into metastatic brain tumours after stereotactic radiosurgery using a linear accelerator. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objective: To determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of spontaneous haemorrhage into metastatic brain tumours after radiosurgery. Methods: Intratumour haemorrhage rate, clinical features, and treatment were evaluated in 54...

Median nerve neurofibroma. (Neurological Picture).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A 61 year old man presented with a 6 months history of intermittent paraesthesia and numbness in the first three radial digits of the right hand. Initially, the symptoms occurred during his activity as masseur when performing vigorous movements...

Long term course of the H reflex after selective tibial neurotomy. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the long term clinical and electrophysiological outcome by recording the H reflex in a consecutive series of six patients treated by selective tibial neurotomy for spastic equinus foot. ...

New evidence for an association between the CSF HVA:5-HIAA ratio and psychopathic traits. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objectives: To replicate the relation between the CSF HVA:5-HIAA ratio and psychopathic traits previously reported in a pilot group of 22 perpetrators of violent crimes. Methods: CSF monoamine metabolite concentrations in another 28...

Observer independent analysis of cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objectives: To evaluate cerebral glucose metabolism, assessed by 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), using an observer independent analytical approach; and to...

Early diagnosis of external ventricular drainage infection: results of a prospective study. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of total drainage time on the risk of catheter infection, and the predictive value of standard laboratory examinations for the diagnosis of bacteriologically recorded cerebrospinal...

Cognitive dysfunction in young men following head injury in childhood and adolescence: a population study. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objectives: To examine the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction among young men who had suffered a head injury during childhood or adolescence, in particular focusing upon the effects of age and the severity of the injury. Methods: By cross...

Outcome of contemporary surgery for chronic subdural haematoma: evidence based review. (Paper).
July 1, 2003... Objective: To evaluate the results of surgical treatment options for chronic subdural haematoma in contemporary neurosurgery according to evidence based criteria. Methods: A review based on a Medline search from 1981 to October 2001 using...

The role of the PTPRC (CD45) mutation in the development of multiple sclerosis in the North West region of the United Kingdom. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Background: A point mutation in protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor, type c polypeptide (PTPRC) has been associated with familial multiple sclerosis; This CG mutation at position 77 of exon 4 results in altered expression of CD45 isoforms on...

Interferon beta in multiple sclerosis: experience in a British specialist multiple sclerosis centre. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Background: The efficacy of interferon beta (IFN beta) is well established in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the use of this drug in clinical practice is complex, especially because it is only partially effective, its...

Historical Note: Sir James Crichton-Browne (1840-1938).
July 1, 2003... James Crichton-Browne (1) was born in Edinburgh, the son of Dr WAF Browne, first superintendent of Crichton Royal, Dumfries. James was educated in Dumfries and began his medical studies at Edinburgh University in 1857, a pupil of Joseph Lister...

MRI lesion volume heterogeneity in primary progressive MS in relation with axonal damage and brain atrophy. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Pelletier, D. Objectives: To investigate whether axonal damage in primary progressive (PP) multiple sclerosis (MS), as measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HMRS) imaging and brain atrophy, is a function of T2 weighted brain...

Low leucocyte myeloperoxidase activity in patients with multiple sclerosis. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... The gene for myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS). By measuring [H.sub.2][O.sub.2] dependent oxidation of 3,3'5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine with spectrophotometry the authors investigated MPO activity in peripheral...

Olfactory deficits and sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease: a case--control survey. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Background: Olfactory and sleep disturbances common in Parkinson's disease, and may be early disease indicators. Objective: To obtain information about olfactory and sleep deficits preceding the onset of motor symptoms in Parkinson's...

Low vitamin B-12 status in confirmed Alzheimer's disease as revealed by serum holotranscobalamin. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Objective: To examine the possible association of holotranscobalamin, the active fraction of serum cobalamin, with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: 51 patients with pathologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease and 65 cognitively screened...

Similarity and disparity of obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia in MR volumetric abnormalities of the hippocampus-amygdala complex. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Objectives: Given that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia may share clinical symptoms as well as functional brain abnormalities, this study was designed to clarify common and different morphological abnormalities in OCD and...

Population study extends profile of Rett Syndrome. (Echo).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The first genetically described population based study in Rett syndrome--a childhood developmental disorder-has provided a more complete clinical picture to enable correct diagnosis and prognostication. It provides invaluable information for...

Alterations of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in atypical Pick's disease without Pick bodies. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Background: Atypical Pick's disease without Pick bodies is a type of frontotemporal dementia characterised by semantic dementia and temporal dominant lobar atrophy with ubiquitinopathy. No neurochemical analyses have ever been reported in this...

Genetically confirmed clinical Huntington's disease with no observable cell loss. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Huntington's disease (HD) results from neurodegeneration of the neostriatum. The mutation on chromosome 4 is an expansion in a triplet repeat (CAG), located within the IT15 gene. Only six patients have been reported with clinical features of HD...

Apolipoprotein E genotypes and clinical outcome in Guillain-Barre syndrome. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Background: Polymorphism of the gene encoding the cholesterol transport protein apolipoprotein E (APOE, gene; apoE, protein), known to be involved in axonal regeneration and remyelination, influences outcome after a variety of central nervous...

Atypical herpes type 2 encephalitis associated with normal MRI imaging. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... We describe a case of chronic atypical herpes simplex type 2 encephalitis in an immunocompromised 68 year old man presenting with headache and cognitive changes without focal neurological or MRI findings. To our knowledge this is the first...

Telemedicine Information Exchange: http://tie.telemed.org. (Neuronline).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Doctors often feel a bit threatened by the technobabble and management speak that can be associated with telemedicine. Happily these are absent from the Telemedicine Information Exchange. which is run by the Telemedicine Research Center in...

Wallerian degeneration of the inferior cerebellar peduncle depicted by diffusion weighted imaging. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Wollerian degeneration of the inferior cerebellar peduncle has never been demonstrated on imaging studies. We describe a case in which it was depicted by thin slice diffusion weighted imaging. Location to the inferior cerebellar peduncle was...

Influence of age on the association between primary hemifacial spasm and arterial hypertension. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Objective: To investigate the association between primary hemifacial spasm and arterial hypertension. Subjects: 114 patients with primary hemifacial spasm and 228 neurological controls, matched for age, sex, and referral centre, were...

Vocal fold motion impairment in patients with multiple system atrophy: evaluation of its relationship with swallowing function. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Background: Vocal fold motion impairment {VFMI), especially vocal fold abductor paralysis, is frequently seen in multiple system atrophy (MSA). Since the regulation system of laryngeal function is closely related to swallowing function,...

The effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation on movement selection. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Objective: To attempt to replicate previous findings that showed an influence of transcranial magnetic stimulation of the cortical motor areas on the selection of motor programmes on the contralateral side. Methods: Healthy volunteers were...

Informed consent in trials for neurological emergencies: the example of subarachnoid haemorrhage. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Background: In patients with acute life threatening diseases, and in their relatives, the ability to make a balanced decision on participation in a clinical trial may be impaired. Objectives: To assess what relevant information could be...

Brain stem and cerebellar dysfunction after lumbar spinal fluid drainage: case report. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Lumbar spinal fluid drainage is a common procedure to reduce the of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula after skull base fractures or various transdural neurosurgical procedures. Nevertheless, this simple and effective technique can lead to...

Prolonged survival in motor neuron disease: a descriptive study of the King's database 1990-2002. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... Motor neuron disease is a clinically heterogeneous disease with significant differences in survival. The authors hove characterised a subset of long term survivors seen in a tertiary clinic over a 12 year period in terms of clinical variables...

Autoantibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase in downbeat nystagmus. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... The cause of downbeat nystagmus (DBN) remains undiagnosed in about 40% of patients. This paper reports the presence of antiglutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GAD-Ab) in a patient with DBN. Antibodies against GABAergic neurons located in...

Detection of Staphylococcus aureus by 16S rRNA directed in situ hybridisation in a patient with a brain abscess caused by small colony variants. (Short Report).
July 1, 2003... A 45 year old man was admitted to hospital with a right sided facial paralysis and three month history of seizures. Computed tomography showed a left temporal mass including bath intracerebral and extracerebral structures. Ten years earlier the...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... Regional cerebral glucose metabolism in akinetic catatonia and after remission K L Kahlbaum published in 1874 the first recorded description of catatonia. Akinetic catatonia is now defined as a neuropsychiatric syndrome principally...

PostScript.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... CORRESPONDENCE Organisation of the sympathetic skin response in spinal cord injury With much interest we read the article of Cariga et al (1) who studied the capacity of the isolated spinal cord to generate a sympathetic skin response...

Management of stroke: a practical guide for the prevention, evaluation and treatment of acute stroke, 2nd edition. (Book Reviews).(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... Edited by Harold P Adams, Gregory J del Zoppo, and Rudiger von Kummer (Pp 303, US$24.95). Published by Professional Communications Inc, Caddo, 2002. ISBN 1-884735-517 This textbook exemplifies the recent and dramatic changes in the...

Diseases of the nervous system: clinical neuroscience and therapeutic principles. (Book Reviews).(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... Edited by A K Asbury, G M McKhann, W I McDonald, et al. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2002, [pounds sterling]250.00, II volumes. ISBN 0-521-79351-3 The third edition of this well known book is subtitled Clinical neuroscience and...

Fighting for mental health. A personal view. (Book Reviews).(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... N Sartorius. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002, [pounds sterling]29.95, pp 266. ISBN 0 521 58243 1 This volume is a collection of essays and articles written by Norman Sartorius, the very eminent and influential psychiatrist....

Essential pharmacology of antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. (Book Reviews).(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... By Stephen M Stahl (Pp 152, [pounds sterling]24.95). Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002. ISBN 0-521-89074-8 This short book is an update of the two chapters from the second edition of Stahl's larger textbook Essential...