[Neurological complications of Fabry-disease]
VASTAGH Ildikó, CONSTANTIN Tamás, KÉRI Anna, RUDAS Gábor, FEKETE György, BERECZKI Dániel
JANUARY 30, 2011
Clinical Neuroscience - 2011;64(01-02)
VASTAGH Ildikó, CONSTANTIN Tamás, KÉRI Anna, RUDAS Gábor, FEKETE György, BERECZKI Dániel
JANUARY 30, 2011
Clinical Neuroscience - 2011;64(01-02)
[Background - Fabry-disease (FD) is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disease. Deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A activity leads to the accumulation of neutral glycosphingolipids, primarily globotriaosylceramide (GL-3) in various tissues, particularly blood vessels, kidneys, myocardium and in ganglions of the peripheral and autonomic nervous system and causes diverse symptoms. The classical phenotype is seen in most males and rarely in females. In women, symptomes start later and the severity is milder. Both peripheral and central nervous system can be both affected. Objectives - Fabry-patiens and gene-carriers in the central region of Hungary are treated in the 2nd Pediatric Department, Semmelweis University. These patients are consulted by an interdisciplinary team. At present, four hemizygous male, four heterozygous female Fabry-patients and three asymptomatic heterozygous gene carriers are followed. Results - After reviewing the neurological complications of FD, we present clinical and neuroimaging data of our patients. Conclusion - We emphasize that neurologists should suspect the rare monogenic FD in the case of acroparaesthesia and heat-cold intolerance in childhood or adolescence; clinical signs of TIA/stroke or unexplained MRI alterations suggesting small vessel disease in young adults. Early diagnosis and introduction of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) can halt or reverse progression.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[The carpal tunnel syndrome is the most frequent compression-induced neuropathy. A severe but rare clinical manifestation of this disorder associates with ulceration, acral osteo-lysis and mutilation of the terminal phalanges of the second and third fingers. Recognition of this disorder is difficult, because various dermatological and internal diseases might lead to acral ulcerative lesions, and these patients are seldom referred to neurological and/or electrodiagnostic examination. In this article, we present three cases of this rare clinical form of carpal tunnel syndrome and discuss the electrodiagnostic findings. The early diagnosis is important since decompression of the median nerve in due time might prevent mutilation and could significantly improve the patients’ quality of life.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[The blood vessels which are running nearby the cranial nerves and the brainstem can be elongated; curves and loops of the vessels may develop mostly due to the degenerative alterations of ageing and these vessels can compress the surrounding neural elements. The authors report a review of vascular compression syndromes based on the literature and their own experience. The typical clinical symptoms of the syndromes subserving the proper diagnosis, the pathomechanism, the significance of imaging especially the magnetic resonance angiography, the experience with the surgical technique of microvascular decompression which is the only causal treatment of the syndromes are discussed. In cases of non-responsible medical treatment the microvascular decompression should be the eligible treatment in certain syndromes (trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm) for it is a highly effective and low risk method.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[The EEG is an indicator of all physiological and neuropsychological activity. The α rhythm was considered as a key phenomenon in research of human mentation from the discovery of EEG. Two methods are known for the estimation of cognitive deficit by the use of quantitative EEG (QEEG). The first is based on the hypothesis, that the mean values of the normal EEG from healthy volunters can be used as reference, and deviation from the normal values of EEG parameters may suggest disease. This kind of “neurometry” was elaborated by R. E. John. The second method asseses event related (ER) transients evoked by somatosensory and mental stimuli. Quantity and localization of signals may refer to the functional state of the cortex. These reactions depend strongly on the test-paradigms. Recognition of the attention-intention cycle disclosed the psysiological mechanism of ERD (event related desynchronisation) and ERS (event related synchronisation). In contrast with the classical “stimulus-reaction” model, both perception and voluntary movement are iniciated by the brain itself, and not by the environment. Human behavior and conscious actions depend on the intention. QEEG analysis proved that the attention and intention localize in segregate areas of the brain. Both “static” and “dinamic” neurometric methods are able to differenciate the EEG records of demented patients from healthy controls, furthermore some dementias from each other. We conclude that with the help of sofisticated methods of QEEG analysis minimal functional deficit of the electrogenesis can be recognized, which could be helpful in the differential diagnosis Notwithstanding the EEG can not explain the evolution neither the normal or the diseased mental processes. The only “instrument” which is able to approach the human mind is the human cogitation itself with the aids of appropriate tests. The QEEG can be conclusive in the analysis of particular processes of mental activity, such as timing, state of activation, hierarchical organisation of cortical territories and mechanism of electrogenesis.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[Both men and women are affected by the rare disease called Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. We don’t know exactly what causes it to evolve. It is usually put into the categories of either idiopathic inflammation or pseudotumor. Its patological feature is a non-specific inflammatory process with fibroblastic, lymphocytic, plasmocytic infiltration, which can be found, for the most part, in the wall of the sinus cavernosus. Granulocytic and giant-cell infiltrations have been described too. The possibility of autoimmune disease has also come up. In our current study we describe the case of a female patient who recovered with the help of a steroid therapy. Through examining her, we also found immunological alterations, which should urge us to thoroughly examine the further observations of this kind.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is a rare neurological disease and the diagnosis is based on case history and clinical features. Despite of simply diagnostic criteria, the recognition of the disease is sometimes delayed. The involuntary movements in PKD lead to anxiety, social isolation, trauma and worsens the quality of life. To establish the diagnosis many other paroxysmal syndromes have to be excluded. The disease responds to antiepileptic therapy well. The genetic background of the familiar cases is not known. Here we present a 19 year-old patient with PKD and review the current literature. Our patient’s events were triggered by sudden movements and last several seconds. His physical and neurological examinations were normal and responded well to carbamazepine therapy.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) has recently gained great interest in vascular neurology as the most common heritable cause of stroke and vascular dementia in adults. This autosomal dominant small vessel disease of the brain - unlike the sporadic, hypertensive form - appears already in adult midlife in the absence of vascular risk factors with ischemic episodes and progressive dementia, its first manifestation can be migraine with aura, and is often associated with psychiatric disturbances. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes showing a characteristic pattern may precede symptoms by more than a decade. The identification of the mautation of the NOTCH 3 gene responsible for the disorder encoding a transmembrane receptor of vascular smooth muscle cells - has given great impetus on research to understand the molecular and vascular pathogenesis of the disease. The special importance of this latter lies in the fact that CADASIL provides a pure genetic model for subcortical cerebral ischemia and vascular dementia without the confounding factors of comorbidities and advanced age. Thus insights into CADASIL may help us better understand the more common sporadic forms as well. Moreover CADASIL is one of the best studied examples of secondary migraine. Currently we have far less knowledge on other forms of hereditary small vessel disease of the brain such as CARASIL, HERNS, CRV, HVR, PXE etc. Neurologists are becoming more and more familiar with CADASIL, and with the wider availability of MRI it is increasingly diagnosed. However the disorder is still probably underrecognised. This review aims to summarize our current knowledge on CADASIL with special emphasis on diagnostic and diffrential diagnostic points for the practising neurologist.]
Clinical Neuroscience
Cognitive dysfunction (CD) is a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Alexithymia is a still poorly understood neuropsychiatric feature of PD. Cognitive impairment (especially visuospatial dysfunction and executive dysfunction) and alexithymia share common pathology of neuroanatomical structures. We hypothesized that there must be a correlation between CD and alexithymia levels considering this relationship of neuroanatomy. Objective – The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between alexithymia and neurocognitive function in patients with PD. Thirty-five patients with PD were included in this study. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale–20 (TAS-20), Geriatric Depression Inventory (GDI) and a detailed neuropsychological evaluation were performed. Higher TAS-20 scores were negatively correlated with Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) similarities test score (r =-0.71, p value 0.02), clock drawing test (CDT) scores (r=-0.72, p=0.02) and verbal fluency (VF) (r=-0.77, p<0.01). Difficulty identifying feelings subscale score was negatively correlated with CDT scores (r=-0.74, p=0.02), VF scores (r=-0.66, p=0.04), visual memory immediate recall (r=-0.74, p=0.01). VF scores were also correlated with difficulty describing feelings (DDF) scores (r=-0.66, p=0.04). There was a reverse relationship between WAIS similarities and DDF scores (r=-0.70, p=0.02), and externally oriented-thinking (r=-0.77,p<0.01). Executive function Z score was correlated with the mean TAS-20 score (r=-62, p=0.03) and DDF subscale score (r=-0.70, p=0.01) Alexithymia was found to be associated with poorer performance on visuospatial and executive function test results. We also found that alexithymia was significantly correlated with depressive symptoms. Presence of alexithymia should therefore warn the clinicians for co-existing CD.
Clinical Neuroscience
[Background – Dizziness is one of the most frequent complaints when a patient is searching for medical care and resolution. This can be a problematic presentation in the emergency department, both from a diagnostic and a management standpoint. Purpose – The aim of our study is to clarify what happens to patients after leaving the emergency department. Methods – 879 patients were examined at the Semmelweis University Emergency Department with vertigo and dizziness. We sent a questionnaire to these patients and we had 308 completed papers back (110 male, 198 female patients, mean age 61.8 ± 12.31 SD), which we further analyzed. Results – Based on the emergency department diagnosis we had the following results: central vestibular lesion (n = 71), dizziness or giddiness (n = 64) and BPPV (n = 51) were among the most frequent diagnosis. Clarification of the final post-examination diagnosis took several days (28.8%), and weeks (24.2%). It was also noticed that 24.02% of this population never received a proper diagnosis. Among the population only 80 patients (25.8%) got proper diagnosis of their complaints, which was supported by qualitative statistical analysis (Cohen Kappa test) result (κ = 0.560). Discussion – The correlation between our emergency department diagnosis and final diagnosis given to patients is low, a phenomenon that is also observable in other countries. Therefore, patient follow-up is an important issue, including the importance of neurotology and possibly neurological examination. Conclusion – Emergency diagnosis of vertigo is a great challenge, but despite of difficulties the targeted and quick case history and exact examination can evaluate the central or peripheral cause of the balance disorder. Therefore, to prevent declination of the quality of life the importance of further investigation is high.]
Hypertension and nephrology
[Affective temperaments (cyclothymic, hypertymic, depressive, anxious, irritable) are stable parts of personality and after adolescent only their minor changes are detectable. Their connections with psychopathology is well-described; depressive temperament plays role in major depression, cyclothymic temperament in bipolar II disorder, while hyperthymic temperament in bipolar I disorder. Moreover, scientific data of the last decade suggest, that affective temperaments are also associated with somatic diseases. Cyclothymic temperament is supposed to have the closest connection with hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is higher parallel with the presence of dominant cyclothymic affective temperament and in this condition the frequency of cardiovascular complications in hypertensive patients was also described to be higher. In chronic hypertensive patients cyclothymic temperament score is positively associated with systolic blood pressure and in women with the earlier development of hypertension. The background of these associations is probably based on the more prevalent presence of common risk factors (smoking, obesity, alcoholism) with more pronounced cyclothymic temperament. The scientific importance of the research of the associations of personality traits including affective temperaments with somatic disorders can help in the identification of higher risk patient subgroups.]
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Clinical Neuroscience
Alexithymia is associated with cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease3.
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Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice
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Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice
[The History of the Founding of the first State School of Nursing ]5.
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