[Cochlear implantation: results and perspectives in the therapy of profound deafness in Hungary]
KÜSTEL Marianna, RIBÁRI Ottó, RÉPÁSSY Gábor
APRIL 20, 2002
Lege Artis Medicinae - 2002;12(04)
KÜSTEL Marianna, RIBÁRI Ottó, RÉPÁSSY Gábor
APRIL 20, 2002
Lege Artis Medicinae - 2002;12(04)
[Cochlear implantation is a relatively new method that revolutionised the therapy of bilateral deafness and profound hearing loss of inner ear origin which could not be treated with surgery before. The function of the inner ear that is irreversibly damaged either because of congenital causes, trauma, infection or unknown origin is substituted by cochlear implant. In implanted patients the device fixed in the middle ear transmits the previously transformed electrical stimuli directly to the cochlear nerve via the electrodes inserted in the inner ear. Prior to implantation there is a detailed selection process and also a lengthy, followed by a several-year-long rehabilitation period, resulting in nearly perfect speech discrimination without lipreading in most cases. Cochlear implantation is indicated in the first place in case of prelingual deafs under 5 and postlingual deaf patients of any age. In the article authors discuss the theoretical basis, technical background and indications of cochlear implantation, while also providing an overview of the whole procedure from the preoperative examinations to postoperative rehabilitation.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
Lege Artis Medicinae
[BACKGROUND - Several studies have shown that a substantial part of patients with mood and anxiety disorders seeks help at their primary care physician. It is well known that recognition of these disorders cause difficulties for general practitioners. In our study starting in 1998, we attempted to map the psychiatric disorders present in primary care patients. This paper investigates the factors that may contribute to the difficulties in recognition and diagnosis of mental disorders. METHOD - 1815 primary care patients in 12 general practice offices has been evaluated for mood and/or anxiety disorders with DIS interview. The DIS diagnosis was compared with complaints and symptoms of patients and diagnosis given by their GPs. RESULTS - Diagnosis given by GPs and DIS evaluation showed low concordance. The main factor in this proved to be the presence of somatic disorders, whereas socio-demographic factors played little role. The highest concordance of diagnosis was found when acute or chronic somatic disorders were not present.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
Lege Artis Medicinae
[Modifications of the insulin molecule at the end of the B chain resulted in the development of some new, more physiological meal-related insulins, the rapid acting human insulin analogues. This survey summarises the characteristics (structure, absorption, immunogenicity, efficacy and safety) and the conditions of clinical application of the rapid-acting insulin analogues available at the moment in Hungary. Furthermore, authors evaluate the effect of application of rapid-acting insulin analogues on the quality of life and glycaemic control of the patients. The collaboration between the well-prepared health-care team and the well-educated and cooperative diabetic patient using rapid-acting insulin analogue could lead to a level of freedom of lifestyle that approximates that of healthy people.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
Clinical Neuroscience
Background - Several cochlear implant recipients experience functionality loss due to electrode array mal-positioning. The application of delicate perimodiolar electrodes has many electrophysiological advantages, however, these profiles may be more susceptible to tip fold-over. Purpose - The prompt realization of such complication following electrode insertion would be auspicious, thus the electrode could be possibly repositioned during the same surgical procedure. Methods - The authors present three tip fold-over cases, experienced throughout their work with Slim Modiolar Electrode implants. Implantations were performed through the round window approach, by a skilled surgeon. Standard intraoperative measurements (electric integrity, neural response telemetry, and electrical stapedial reflex threshold tests) were successfully completed. The electrode position was controlled by conventional radiography on the first postoperative day. Results - Tip fold-over was not tactilely sensated by the surgeon. Our subjects revealed normal intraoperative telemetry measurements, only the postoperative imaging showed the tip fold-over. Due to the emerging adverse perception of constant beeping noise, the device was replaced by a CI512 implant after 6 months in one case. In the two remaining cases, the electrode array was reloaded into a back-up sheath, and reinserted into the scala tympani successfully through an extended round window approach. Discussion - Future additional studies using the spread of excitation or electric field imaging may improve test reliability. As all of these measurements are still carried out following electrode insertion, real-time identification, unfortunately, remains questionable. Conclusion - Tip fold-over could be reliably identified by conventional X-ray imaging. By contrast, intraoperative electrophysiology was not sufficiently sensitive to reveal it.
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.
Hypertension and nephrology
[This consensus document is intended to provide guidance for the effective and efficient treatment of asymptomatic individuals with high uric acid levels and gout patients.]
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.]
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Clinical Neuroscience
Alexithymia is associated with cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease3.
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Clinical Neuroscience
[Cases of inborn errors of metabolism diagnosed in children with autism ]2.
Clinical Neuroscience
[The first Hungarian patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome after COVID-19]3.
Clinical Neuroscience
Retinal morphological changes during the two years of follow-up in Parkinson’s disease4.
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