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Clinical Neuroscience - 2017;70(05-06)
Content
Clinical Neuroscience
MAY 30, 2017
[Prevention of invasive meningococcal infection, recognition and first treatment of the disease in primary care]
[Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, is a Gram-negative diplococcal bacterium that is only found naturally in humans. The meningococcus is part of the normal microbiota of the human nasopharynx and is commonly carried in healthy individuals. In some cases systemic invasion occurs, which can lead to meningitis and/or septicemia. Invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis is potentially devastating, with a high case fatality rate and high rates of significant sequelae among survivors after septicaemia or meningitis. Between 2006-2015 every year between 34 and 70 were the numbers of the registered invasive disease because of Neisseria meningitis, the morbidity rate was 0.2-0.7⁰⁄₀₀₀₀. Half of the diseases (50.7%) were caused by B serotype N. meningitidis, 23.2% were C serotype. In this article the authors summarise what you must do and must not do as primary care physician when suddenly meeting a young patients suspected of having meningococcus infection. ]
Clinical Neuroscience
MAY 30, 2017
[EEG-based cerebral networks in 14 neurological disorders]
[Background - Brain networks have not been systematically investigated yet in most neurological disorders. Purpose - To investigate EEG functional connectivity (EEGfC) networks in 14 neurological disorders. Patients - Potentially eligible patients were collected from clinical and EEG databases. All the available clinical data and EEG records were critically revised. All the patients who suffered of a single neurological disorder (out of the 14) and had a good quality EEG recording entered the study. Confoundig factors as comorbidity and CNS-active drug effects were eliminated as far as possible. EEG analysis - Three minutes of resting-state, waking EEG activity were selected for analysis. Current source density (CSD) values were computed for 2394 cortical voxels by Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA). Thereafter, Pearson correlation coefficients were computed between all pairs of 23 cortical regions of interest (ROI) in each hemisphere (LORETA Source Correlation, LSC software). Computation was carried out for conventional EEG broad bands and very narrow bands (1 Hz bandwidth) between 1 and 25 Hz as well. Correlation coefficients of each group were statistically compared to our normative EEG (LSC) database by two-talied t-tests. Bonferroni-corrected p<0.05 values were accepted as statistically significant, and were graphically displayed as topographical networks. Results and conclusion - Group-specific networks were demonstrated. However, non-specific networks, charasteristic for most groups, were detected as well. Common finding were: decreased connectivity in the alpha band and increased connectivity in the delta, theta bands and upper-beta band. Decreased alpha-band connectivity presumably reflected primary lesional effects and on the other hand, non-specific vulnerability of “rich club connections”. Increased connectivity in the slow bands presumably indicated adaptive-compensatory activity of brain homeostasis. ]
Clinical Neuroscience
MAY 30, 2017
[Relationship between the number of hours of sunshine and the number of (violent) suicides in Hungary]
[Aim - Studying the impact of the sunshine on the numbers of suicides. The number of suicides is highest in the late spring and early summer months, while it is lowest in the cold, gloomy winter. Although the exact causes are still un-known, there are some theories about this phenomenon. A number of studies conducted in recent years have conclud-ed that the rise in suicide rate during the warm months might be due to an increased exposure to sunlight, especially in the cases of the violent method. We studied the validity of this hypothesis on a large Hungarian database. Methods and subjects - We analyzed the number of monthly hours of sunshine and the number of suicides by sex and by violent vs. non-violent method over a 360-month period. Our sample consisted of 127 877 committed suicides between 1971 and 2000. The parabolic trend of seasonality had to be removed from the suicide time series, then regression analysis was conducted on the seasonally adjusted data. Results - Our analysis revealed that in Hungary there was no statistically significant direct relationship between the number of hours of sunshine and the number of suicides. Moreover, there was no correlation between the hours of sunshine and the number of violent suicides either. Conclusion - If the above claim were confirmed in subsequent research, it would mean that our current therapeutic regime should be reconsidered during the spring-summer seasons.]
Clinical Neuroscience
MAY 30, 2017
[Experience with natalizumab-treatment at Semmelweis University]
[Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. During the last two decades, numerous disease modifying drugs have been introduced for the treatment of the relapsing-remitting form of the disease. Since 2010, natalizumab (NTZ) treatment has been used as a second-line therapy for patients with breakthrough disease. In comparison to conventional immunomodulant drugs, NTZ has a more specific effect in that it prevents the entry of immune cells into the central nervous system without interfering with systemic immune response. The efficacy and the safety of NTZ have been confirmed by several studies. The most severe side-effect of NTZ is progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, which has been associated with an increased incidence in patients with anti-JCV antibody positivity, and in those who have been undergoing NTZ treatment for over two years and who have received prior immunosuppressive therapy. In the present study, our experience with natalizumab treatment of 37 patients at the Department of Neurology of Semmelweis University during the last 6 years is presented. We have observed a significant decrease of disease activity in our patients; in many cases the disease has become inactive both clinically (36/37) and radiologically (34/37). The patients’ quality of life has improved significantly during the treatment. In accordance with the literature, we confirm that NTZ is a highly effective treatment in a carefully selected patient group, and can be administered without significant inconvenience to the patient. ]
Clinical Neuroscience
MAY 30, 2017
Independent validation of the Quality of Life in Essential Tremor Questionnaire (QUEST)
Quality of Life in Essential Tremor Questionnaire (QUEST) was specially developed for essential tremor population to measure the health-related quality of life. Besides the development of the Hungarian version, we performed an independent testing of the scale adding further information on its clinimetric properties. In this study 133 ET patients treated at University of Pécs, Hungary, were enrolled. Besides QUEST, we assessed Patient’s Global Impression-Severity (PGI-S) and Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scales. After the independent validation in accordance to the Classic Theory of Tests, we evaluated cut-off values for detecting clinically meaningful ET-related disabilities based on receiver operating characteristics analysis. Cronbach’s a was 0.897. QUEST demonstrated high convergent validity with PGI and divergent validity with disease-duration, positive family history, need for deep brain stimulation surgery, and the presence of depression and anxiety. Presence of moderate ET-related disabilities was identified by scores > 11.25 points on QUEST-SI (sensitivity: 77.4%, specificity: 83.3%); whereas scores > 20.35 points indicated severe ET-related disabilities (sensitivity: 83.3%, specificity: 59.1%). We demonstrated that the fundamental clinimetric properties of the QUEST are satisfactory.
Clinical Neuroscience
MAY 30, 2017
The role of the insula in the parieto-frontomedial epileptic network. Clues from successful surgical treatment
We present a case of MRI negative SMA seizure with the seizure onset zone in the secondary leg area on the superior bank of the Sylvian fissure, localized with multiscale electro-clinical and neuroradiological examinations. The 34-year-old female patient’s intractable epilepsy started at age 14. She had diffuse pain aura in her left leg followed by tonic posturing with fully preserved consciousness suggesting parieto-fronto-medial seizure propagation. Her daily nocturnal SMA seizures became drug-resistant. Multiple 3T MRI images and neuropsychological evaluations were normal. Interictal PET detected a right parietal and insular FDG hypometabolism. The seizure onset zone and the symptomatogenic zone were localized by invasive electrophysiology. The insular deep electrode showed the propagation of ictal activity with an onset in the secondary sensory leg area through the insula to the fronto-medial surface. Eighteen spontaneous seizures, electrical cortical stimulation and cortical mapping confirmed the designated area of the resection, which was later proved macroscopically abnormal during surgery. The histological and immunohistological workup confirmed focal cortical dysplasia (IIb type). Postoperative postprocessing morphometry of the preoperative MRI study confirmed the lesion in the right inferior parietal lobe. The patient remained seizure free after surgery for more than 4 years, and medication free for the last two years. Our results concluded that the insula has a „relay” or „node” function in the parieto-opercular-fronto-medial epileptic network. The insular functional connectivity predisposed frontal propagation of the epileptic activity in the connectome of her epilepsy. The three-way insular structural connectivity has determining function on the seizure propagation.
Clinical Neuroscience
MAY 30, 2017
[Non-contrast brain ct based systemic thrombolysis of two wake up ischemic stroke patients in rural settings]
[Background and presentation - Conventionally the acute ischemic stroke patients who wake up with symptomes (WUS - wake up stroke) cannot benefit from systemic thrombolysis due to the uncertainty of the exact onset time of the cerebrovascular event. Perfusion brain imaging could be used as patient selection tool but the method is not available in many settings. Simple non-contrast CT scan is easily accessible and reliable as it shows the different stages of the evolving ischemia with high accuracy. Early brain CT scan results of WUS patients have the same characteristics as the ones who are surely within therapeutic window. The intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) of WUS patients seems to be similarly successful as the ones with known onset time, the treatment does not come with excess complications, higher rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was not found in previous reports. Purpose - In this report we present two systemic thrombolysis cases of acute ischemic stroke patients who woke up with stroke symptoms. Methods - In 2014 and 2015 we performed systemic thrombolysis for one wake up stroke patients, respectively. Both patients had large vessel occlusion. Indication was based on favourable non-contrast brain CT scan results. Results - Treatment of these two patients with rTPA proved to be safe, no hemorrhage occurred after treatment. Conclusion - We presented two acute ischemic stroke patients with symptomes at early wake up who were treated intravenously with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator based on non-contrast CT alone without complications and some moderate improvement at 90 days in the settings of a rural town hospital in a middle income country.]
Clinical Neuroscience
MAY 30, 2017
Case report of a woman with anti amphiphysin positive stiff person syndrome
Stiff person syndrome is a rare neuroimmunological disease, characterized by severe, involuntary stiffness with superimposed painful muscle spasms, which are worsened by external stimuli. The classical form is associated with high levels of antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase. One of the variant forms is associated with antibodies against amphiphysin. This entity is a paraneoplastic syndrome, caused primarily by breast cancer, secondarily by lung cancer. Symptomatic therapy of anti amphiphysin positive stiff person syndrome includes treatment with benzodiazepines and baclofen (including intrathecal baclofen therapy). The effect of immunological therapies is controversial. Treatment of the underlying cancer may be very effective. In this report, we describe a 68 year old female presenting with an unusally rapidly developing anti amphiphysin positive stiff person syndrome, which was associated with breast cancer. Her painful spasms abolished after intrathecal baclofen treatment was initiated. Her condition improved spontaneously and significantly after cancer treatment, which enabled to start her complex rehabilitation and the simultaneous dose reduction of the intrathecal baclofen. The bedridden patient improved to using a rollator walker and the baclofen pump could be removed 18 monthes after breast surgery. This highlights the importance of cancer screening and treatment in anti amphiphysin positive stiff person syndrome cases.
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Clinical Neuroscience
[Headache registry in Szeged: Experiences regarding to migraine patients]
21. MAY
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Clinical Neuroscience
[The new target population of stroke awareness campaign: Kindergarten students ]
21. MAY
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Clinical Neuroscience
Is there any difference in mortality rates of atrial fibrillation detected before or after ischemic stroke?
27. NOV
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Clinical Neuroscience
Factors influencing the level of stigma in Parkinson’s disease in western Turkey
27. SEP
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Clinical Neuroscience
[The effects of demographic and clinical factors on the severity of poststroke aphasia]
18. JUL
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