[Post-stroke depression]
ASZALÓS Zsuzsa1, PATAKY Ilona1, SIMON Andrea1, NAGY Zoltán1
MARCH 20, 1993
Clinical Neuroscience - 1993;46(03-04)
ASZALÓS Zsuzsa1, PATAKY Ilona1, SIMON Andrea1, NAGY Zoltán1
MARCH 20, 1993
Clinical Neuroscience - 1993;46(03-04)
[The pathogenesis of depression following cerebrovascular accident (post-stroke depression) is poorly understood. Thirty seven (28%) out of 134 patients from the „Budapest Stroke Data Bank" were found to be depressed. Thirty two patients (86%) in this group were affected by depression within three months or the stroke. Diagnosis of depression was bades on CES-D, Ham-D and Zung scales, and a word fluency test was performed with 11 depressed and 11 non-depressed patients. Comparing the frequency of post-stroke depression in groups with ischemic damage of the carotid versus the vertebrobasilar system, as well as the left versus right middle cerebral artery, no significant differences were found. Depression reduced the activities of daily living (score: 7.8) compared to the activities of non-depressed patients (score: 3.8) at the same score of stroke – severity (4.7 versus 4.1). These observations suggest that post-stroke depression influences the rehabilitation of stroke patients, therefore the diagnosis and treatment of post-stroke depression may increase the efficacy of stroke rehabilitation.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[The diagnostic usefulness of brainstem auditory evoked potentials was compared with other diagnostic possibilities. Brainstem auditory evoked potential was examined in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Based on the duration of clinical symptoms, patients were divided into three groups: 85 patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA), 31 patients with prolonged ischaemic symptoms, and 35 patients with chronic symptoms were examined. The latency and interpeak latency of the auditory evoked potentials increased in 49,3 per cent. A subgroup within the TIA group was specially tested. The patients belonging to this group were admitted to the clinic soon after the onset of TIA. Acoustic evoked potentials showed increased latencies and interpeak latencies in 45,8 per cent of this group. The increasing latencies of the waves I. and III. and the interpeak latancies of I-II. and I-V. waves were the most frequent differences. Otoneurology demonstrated more frequent functional disturbances in brainstem than in acoustic evoked potentials in the second and third group. Computerized tomography is a really helpful only in examining chronic cases, while the CT reports 3,6 per cent hypodensities in the first group and 17,3 per cent in the third group. Brainstem auditory evoked potential testing is the most sensitive diagnostic method in the diagnosis of transient ischaemic attack.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[The authors report two cases of spontaneous intracerebral haematomas in children. Both children presented with serious symptoms of acute intracerebral haemorrhage. Investigations do not reveal the cause of the haemorrhage in either of the cases and angiography detected no arteriovenous malformation. The term ,,occult” is reserved for these cases, as spontaneous intracerebral haematomas do not result in space-occupying process or CSF passage blockage and may be treated medically.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[Middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocity and intracranial pressure (ICP) were recorded in 42 patients suffering from raised ICP. A major (ICP25 mmHg) or moderate (251CP15 mmHg) degree of intracranial hypertension was reduced by means of either continuous or intermittent CSF drainage. Measurements of MCA blood flow velocity were carried out with transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD). Three types of reactions were observed with regard to cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) changes in response to CSF drainage. Patients in Group 1 demonstrated pressure passive CBFV changes throughout the observed cerebral perfusion pressure (PP) range. In Group 2, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage brought about a transitory increase in CBFV for a few minutes. In Group 3, the reduction of ICP to the normal level did not influence CBFV at all. The pulsatility index (PI) of the cerebrovascular reserve capacity (CVR), which was highest in Group 1, changed in contrast with the CBFV changes in Groups 1 and 2. The pressure-passive velocity pattern (in Group 1) suggests that the blood vessels were at nearly maximum dilatation and were perhaps failing to constrict properly in response to increased PP. As recovery proceeded (Group 2), the mechanism became effective, thereby reestablishing autoregulation. Whereas clinical signs and computed tomography reveal only the trend of the ICP, TCD provides the possibility of a semi-quantitative evaluation of ICP changes and seems especially promising in the rapid assessment of the efficacy of treatment aimed at ICP reduction.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[The cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), as measured by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) via the transorbital route in the intracranial segment of internal carotid artery (ICA), and the regional cerebral blood (volume) flow (rCBF) in the corresponding cortical areas, as measured by the hydrogen clearance technique, were determined in 8 New Zealand White rabbits undergoing cisterna magna infusion for elevation of the intracranial pressure (ICP). In the lower range of autoregulation, i. e. at perfusion pressures (PP) between 80 and 40 mm of mercury and even below this, the changes in (CBFV) and CBF showed a strong correlation (0,86) under conditions with standard PCO2 (PaCO2)=35+2 mm of mercury). Autoregulation was exhausted at 40 mm of mercury and the cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) was minimal. Below this PP, the CBF and CBV dropped sharply, whereas CVR, gradually increased, indicating that, despite the maximally dilated resistance vessels, the intracranial hypertension causes the vascular resistance to increase, possibly via blocking of the venous outflow. Our results confirmed that non-invasive and easily (even at the bedside) applicable measurements of CBFV changes could substitute the cumbersome and expensive isotope measurements of CBF in intracranial hypertension.]
Clinical Neuroscience
[A 36 year old female is presented with focal segmental atrophy and weakness of the right lower limb affecting predominantly the lower leg. The slight asymmetry presentsince in her childhood started to progress at the beginning of the fourth decade. The EMG and the muscle histology revealed chronic neurogenic changes, which were consistent with spinal motoneuron lesions. The electrophysiological investigations verified the focal segmental localisation of the involvement. The benign course and the good prognosis of this clinical syndrome point out the importance of its recognition and separation from other motoneuron diseases. The cause of this disorder is unknown; probably, it has heterogeneous etiology.]
Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice
[The aim was to assess the levels of burnout and depressive symptoms among nursing staff members. We designed an online questionnaire for the present cross-sectional study, which was filled out by 10 285 participants between 01-27-2022 and 02-14-2022. The mean score of burnout showed a decrease compared to the score measured in 2021; however, the percent of nursing staff members suffering from burnout is still high (64.4%), from which 42% indicates severe burnout which would requires treatment. Concerning depressive symptoms, 57.8% of participants did not indicate the presence of depression, the rest presented different levels of depressive symptoms (6.8% showed severe depressive symptoms). Currently patients’ chance of recovery is under the expected level of what our healthcare system could provide, which is partially due to the affected mental state of healthcare nursing staff.]
Clinical Neuroscience
Background: This overview provides a summary of the applications of transcranial Doppler (TCD) in ischemic stroke. Results: A fast-track neurovascular ultrasound protocol has been developed for detecting occlusion or stenosis. The technique is more reliable in the carotid area than in the posterior circulation. By monitoring the pulsatility index the increased intracranial pressure can be diagnosed. TIBI score was developed for grading residual flow. TCD has been shown to accurately predict complete or any recanalization. Regarding recanalization, TCD has a sensitivity of 92%, a specificity of 88%, a positive predictive value of 96%, a negative predictive value of 78% and an overall accuracy of 91%, respectively. Sonothrombolysis seemed to be a promising application but randomized controlled trials have shown that it does not improve clinical outcome. TCD examination can detect microembolic signals (MES) which are associated with an increased risk of stroke. Microemboli were detected in symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and during carotid endarterectomy. The number of microemboli can be decreased by antithrombotic therapy. Contrast enchanced examination and Valsalva maneuver with continuous TCD monitoring can accurately screen for right-to-left shunt.
Clinical Neuroscience
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. Levodopa is the most effective drug in the symptomatic treatment of the disease. Dopamine receptor agonists provide sustained dopamin-ergic stimulation and have been found to delay the initiation of levodopa treatment and reduce the frequency of various motor complications due to the long-term use of levodopa. The primary aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of potent nonergoline dopamine agonists pramipexole and ropinirole in both “dopamine agonist monotherapy group” and “levodopa add-on therapy group” in Parkinson’s disease. The secondary aims were to evaluate the effects of these agents on depression and the safety of pramipexole and ropinirole. A total of 44 patients aged between 36 and 80 years who were presented to the neurology clinic at Ministry of Health Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey and were diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, were included into this randomized parallel-group clinical study. Dopamine agonist monotherapy and levodopa add-on therapy patients were randomized into two groups to receive either pramipexole or ropinirole. The maximum daily dosages of pramipexole and ropinirole were 4.5 mg and 24 mg respectively. Patients were followed for 6 months and changes on Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression-severity of illness, Clinical Global Impression-improvement, Beck Depression Inventory scores, and additionally in advanced stages, changes in levodopa dosages were evaluated. Drug associated side effects were noted and compared. In dopamine agonist monotherapy group all of the subsections and total scores of Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impression-severity of illness of the pramipexole subgroup showed significant improvement particularly at the end of the sixth month. In the pramipexole subgroup of levodopa add-on therapy group, there were significant improvements on Clinical Global Impression-severity of illness and Beck Depression Inventory scores, but we found significant improvement on Clinical Global Impression-severity of illness score at the end of the sixth month in ropinirole subgroup too. The efficacy of pramipexole and ropinirole as antiparkinsonian drugs for monotherapy and levodopa add-on therapy in Parkinson’s disease and their effects on motor complications when used with levodopa treatment for add-on therapy have been demonstrated in several previous studies. This study supports the effectiveness and safety of pramipexole and ropinirole in the monotherapy and levodopa add-on therapy in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
Clinical Neuroscience
Somatic symptoms without a clear-cut organic or biomedical background, also called “medically unexplained” or “somatoform” symptoms, are frequent in primary and secondary health care. They are often accompanied by depression and/or anxiety, and cause functional impairment. The Patient Health Questionnaire Somatic Symptom Scale (PHQ-15) was developed to measure somatic symptom distress based on the frequency and bothersomeness of non-specific somatic symptoms. The study aimed to (1) evaluate the Hungarian version of the PHQ-15 from a psychometric point of view; (2) replicate the bifactor structure and associations with negative affect described in the literature; and (3) provide the Hungarian clinical and scientific community with reference (normal) values split by sex and age groups. PHQ-15, depression (BDI-R), and subjective well-being (WHO-5) scores obtained from a large (n = 5020) and close to representative community sample (Hungarostudy 2006) were subjected to correlation analysis and linear structural equation modeling. The PHQ-15 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.810; McDonald’s ω = 0.819) and moderate to strong correlation with the BDI-R (rs = .49, p < 0.001) and WHO-5 (rs = -.48, p < 0.001). Fit of the bifactor structure was excellent; in independent analyses, the general factor was strongly associated with depression (β = 0.656±0.017, p < 0.001) and well-being (β = -0.575±0.015, p < 0.001), whereas the symptom specific factors were only weakly or not related to these constructs. The PHQ-15 score was higher in females and showed a weak positive association with age. The Hungarian PHQ-15 is a psychometrically sound scale which is positively associated with depression and negatively related to subjective well-being. The bifactor structure indicates the existence and meaningfulness of a general factor representing the affective-motivational component of somatic symptom distress. The Hungarian version of the PHQ-15 is a brief and usable tool for the pre-screening of somatization disorder (DSM-IV) or somatic symptom disorder (DSM-5). The reported reference values can be used in the future for both clinical and research purposes.
Clinical Neuroscience
[The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19 disease can lead to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It poses a serious challenge to the health care system, especially intensive care. Neurological patients, usually of advanced age and with a myriad of comorbidities, are at particular risk through the impact of the new coronavirus on their condition and nutritional capacity. Stroke is a leader in morbidity and mortality data, with a focus on dysphagia and its complications due to COVID-19 disease and acute cerebrovascular accident. In the acute phase of stroke, 30-50% of patients suffer from dysphagia, which still shows a prevalence of 10% six months later. Dysphagia results in decreased or insufficient fluid and nutrient uptake, supplemented by inactivity, leading to malnutrition and sarcopenia, which worsens overall condition, outcome, and rehabilitation efficiency. Screening and early detection of swallowing disorders is a fundamental issue in order to develop a personalized and timely-initiated nutritional therapy strategy. Nutritional therapy plays a key role in frequent intensive care due to COVID-19 disease, where it increases the chances of recovery and reduces the length of stay in the intensive care unit and mortality. This is especially true in critically ill patients requiring prolonged ventilation. In COVID-19 diagnosed patients, screening for dysphagia, bedside assessment, and instrumental examination, followed by swallowing rehabilitation, are of paramount importance. Stroke can also be a complication of the COVID-19 infection. Care for cerebrovascular patients has also adapted to the pandemic, “triazination” has become systemic, and dysphagia screening for stroke patients and nutritional therapy adapted to it have also shed new light. ]
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Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice
[Correlations Between Burnout and Socio-demographic and Workplace Related Factors Among Health-care Workers During The Covid-19 Pandemics]5.
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Clinical Neuroscience Proceedings
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Lege Artis Medicinae
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