Assessing and restoring cognitive functions early after stroke.
Authors: Zucchella C, Capone A, Codella V, Vecchione C, Buccino G, Sandrini G, Pierelli F, Bartolo M
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a frequent complication of stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive training performed early after stroke. Ninety-two patients were randomly assigned to either the study group (SG) or the control group (CG). Cognitive rehabilitation consisted of 16 individual one-hour sessions in which patients performed therapist- guided computer exercises. The patients in the CG performed a sham intervention. After four weeks all the patients were re-eva...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 19, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Effect of cranioplasty on functional and neuro - psychological recovery after severe acquired brain injury: fact or fake? Considerations on a single case.
We describe the pre- and post-operative neuropsychological and functional evaluation of a 30-year-old male patient who underwent cranioplasty following previous craniectomy for a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a spontaneously ruptured aneurysm of the right middle cerebral artery.
PMID: 25513715 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Functional Neurology)
Source: Functional Neurology - December 19, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Migraine in men: fact sheet. A publication to mark European Migraine Day of Action 2014.
Authors: Rossi P, Nappi G
PMID: 25473733 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Functional Neurology)
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Serious games for screening pre-dementia conditions: from virtuality to reality? A pilot project.
Authors: Zucchella C, Sinforiani E, Tassorelli C, Cavallini E, Tost-Pardell D, Grau S, Pazzi S, Puricelli S, Bernini S, Bottiroli S, Vecchi T, Sandrini G, Nappi G
Abstract
Conventional cognitive assessment is based on a pencil-and-paper neuropsychological evaluation, which is time consuming, expensive and requires the involvement of several professionals. Information and communication technology could be exploited to allow the development of tools that are easy to use, reduce the amount of data processing, and provide controllable test conditions. Serious games (SGs) have the potential to be new and effect...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
High prevalence of incomplete right bundle branch block in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy without cardiac symptoms.
This study in cardiac asymptomatic FSHD patients shows i) increased prevalence of incomplete RBBB in the absence of cardiomyopathy; ii) no progression of these abnormalities during eight years of follow-up. We conclude that FSHD patients without cardiac complaints do not need specific cardiac screening or surveillance. Furthermore, the increased prevalence of incomplete RBBB in the absence of cardiomyopathy suggests a selective involvement of the His-Purkinje system in FSHD.
PMID: 25473735 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Functional Neurology)
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Health-related quality of life after traumatic brain injury: Italian validation of the QOLIBRI.
We report the results of the Italian validation of the QOLIBRI. A total of 147 participants with TBI who had previously been discharged from the Santa Lucia Foundation rehabilitation hospital were recruited to investigate the concurrent validity of the Italian version of the QOLIBRI and to compare this instrument with several functional and cognitivebehavioral scales, taking into account various clinical parameters. The QOLIBRI met the standard criteria for internal consistency, homogeneity and test-retest reliability. The results suggest that it is very sensitive in relation to outcome as measured by the Extended Glasgow ...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Motor conduction measurement in myelopathy hand.
Authors: Shibuya R, Wada E, Iwasaki M, Yonenobu K, Yoshikawa H
Abstract
We studied the relationship between intramedullary high signal intensity (IMHSI) on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images and motor conduction in the spinal cords of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients. There was no significant difference between the biceps or triceps central motor conduction times (CMCTs) of the patients who did and did not exhibit IMHSI, whereas the abductor pollicis brevis CMCT was significantly longer in the patients who exhibited IMHSI (p<0.05) than in those who did not. The CMCT of the abductor poll...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis and rehabilitation in patients with complete facial palsy: cohort study of 30 patients followed up for three years.
Authors: Dalla Toffola E, Pavese C, Cecini M, Petrucci L, Ricotti S, Bejor M, Salimbeni G, Biglioli F, Klersy C
Abstract
Our study evaluates the grade and timing of recovery in 30 patients with complete facial paralysis (House-Brackmann grade VI) treated with hypoglossal-facial nerve (XII-VII) anastomosis and a long-term rehabilitation program, consisting of exercises in facial muscle activation mediated by tongue movement and synkinesis control with mirror feedback. Reinnervation after XII-VII anastomosis occurred in 29 patients, on average 5.4 months after surgery. Three years after the anastomosis, 23.3...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex enhances memory-guided responses in a visuospatial working memory task.
Authors: Giglia G, Brighina F, Rizzo S, Puma A, Indovino S, Maccora S, Baschi R, Cosentino G, Fierro B
Abstract
Several studies have shown that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is able to enhance performances on verbal and visual working memory (WM) tasks. Available evidence points to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as a critical area in visual WM, but to date direct comparisons of the effects obtained by stimulating the left versus the right DLPFC in the same subject are lacking. Our aim was to determine whether tDCS over the right DLPFC can differently affect performance as...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Knowledge of electromyography (EMG) in patients undergoing EMG examinations.
Authors: Mondelli M, Aretini A, Greco G
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge of electromyography (EMG) in patients undergoing the procedure. In one year, 1,586 consecutive patients (mean age 56 years; 58.8% women) were admitted to two EMG labs to undergo EMG for the first time. The patients found to be "informed" about the how an EMG examination is performed and about the purpose of EMG numbered 448 (28.2%), while those found to be "informed" only about the manner of its execution or only about its purpose numbered 161 (10.2%) and 151 (9.5%), respectively. The remaining 826 (52.1%) pati...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Long-lasting coma.
In this report, we describe the case of a patient who has remained in a comatose state for more than one year after a traumatic and hypoxic brain injury. This state, which we refer to as long-lasting coma (LLC), may be a disorder of consciousness with significantly different features from those of conventional coma, the vegetative state, or brain death. On the basis of clinical, neurophysiological and neuroimaging data, we hypothesize that a multilevel involvement of the ascending reticular activating system is required in LLC. This description may be useful for the identification of other patients suffering from this seve...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Cortical spreading depression: origins and paths as inferred from the sequence of events during migraine aura.
We report five cases of migraineurs who experience unusually abundant clinical phenomena during auras. These patients were selected from a cohort of migraine with aura patients who were interviewed, using a specially designed questionnaire, to evaluate the presence of higher cortical dysfunctions. On the basis of the aura symptoms they reported, we attempted to infer the origin and the possible paths of CSD in each patient. According to their reported symptoms, CSD could begin in the primary visual cortex, in the primary somatosensory cortex or simultaneously in both, and propagate to the posterior parietal cortex, the tem...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Chronobiological correlates of headache: three decades on.
Authors: Viana M, Nappi G
Abstract
In 1983 an international symposium entitled "Chronobiological Correlates of Headache" was held in Capri. This meeting provided an opportunity to debate new and stimulating aspects of headache, in particular the temporal pattern of headache and the periodicity of the underlying biological and environmental phenomena. Giuseppe Nappi presented his dyschronic hypothesis of primary headaches, which was based on the observation that these conditions involve not only a dysfunction in pain control systems, but also a vulnerability of the rhythmic physiological organization of the...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Co-occurrence of multiple sclerosis and Thomsen's myotonia: a report of two cases.
Authors: Ashtari F, Bahreiniv SA, Zahednasab H
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system in which an abnormal immune system response results in damage to the myelin sheaths surrounding nerves. The etiology of MS remains elusive, although it has been suggested to be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Here, we report two exceptional cases of patients affected by both MS and Thomsen's myotonia. Electromyography and MRI scans confirmed the presence of both diseases in the referred cases. Although the mechanisms underlying the co-occurren...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 5, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Survey of practices employed by neurologists for the definition and management of secondary non-response to botulinum toxin in cervical dystonia.
Authors: Ferreira JJ, Bhidayasiri R, Colosimo C, Marti MJ, Zakine B, Maisonobe P
Abstract
Secondary non-response (SNR) to botulinum toxin (BoNT) in cervical dystonia (CD) lacks a universal definition. We conducted a retrospective survey to develop a definition based on clinicians' practice. Fifty-seven neurologists completed a 17-item questionnaire. In defining SNR, insufficiently improved posture was considered to be more relevant (98% of physicians) than insufficiently improved pain (86%). The most frequently used diagnostic test for SNR was the frontalis test (68%); antibody testing was performed by onl...
Source: Functional Neurology - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
