Improved antioxidant defense in the ventral tegmental area increases pain tolerance in male rats.
In this study, 21 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: paired and socially isolated (SI). After one week of acclimatization, the SI rats were isolated for 14 days and the other rats were paired for the same period. On day 15, pain tolerance was assessed through the tail flick test, and two days later the rats were investigated for anxiety in an elevated plus maze (EPM). Indices of oxidative stress (levels of malondialdehyde, glutathione, nitrite/nitrate and catalase activity in the VTA) were then studied in the animals. Malondialdehyde in the VTA was found to be reduced in the SI rats compared with...
Source: Functional Neurology - November 22, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging can detect presymptomatic axonal degeneration in the spinal cord of ALS mice.
Authors: Gatto RG, Mustafi SM, Amin MY, Mareci TH, Wu YC, Magin RL
Abstract
Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), a MRI multi-shell diffusion technique, has offered new insights for the study of microstructural changes in neurodegenerative diseases. Mainly, the present study aimed to determine the connection between NODDI-derived parameters and changes in white matter (WM) abnormalities at early stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Spinal cords from ALS mice (G93A-SOD1 mice) were scanned in a Bruker Avance III HD 17.6T magnet. Fluorescent axonal-tagged mice (YFP, G93A-SOD1 m...
Source: Functional Neurology - November 22, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
An acute neurological complication of Crohn's disease.
Authors: Battista F, Tinella E, Colosimo C
Abstract
PMID: 30457970 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Functional Neurology)
Source: Functional Neurology - November 22, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Shaping a pain-free future for cluster headache patients. The Declaration of Paris.
Authors: Rossi P, Bruce S, De Pascual MA, Muller H, Tyminski EK, De La Torre ER
Abstract
PMID: 30457971 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Functional Neurology)
Source: Functional Neurology - November 22, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Shorter acute care hospital stay, longer stay in post-acute care facilities.
Authors: Formisano R, Contrada M, Aloisi M
PMID: 29984682 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Functional Neurology)
Source: Functional Neurology - July 10, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Understanding the pathophysiology of hyperglycemia-associated chorea-ballism: a systematic review of positron emission tomography findings.
Authors: Gómez Ochoa SA, Espín Chico BB
Abstract
Hyperglycemia-associated chorea-ballism (HCB) is an infrequent neurological syndrome whose pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Positron emission tomography (PET) studies have offered valuable information regarding regional glucose metabolism. The studies included were published between 1980-2017 and reported demographic, clinical, laboratory and imaging data from patients with HCB in whom a PET scan had been performed. Eleven patients were evaluated (women 82%, Asian origin 91%, mean age 71 years). The main findings were an increase in glucose metab...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 10, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
A review of 500 patients with acute stroke admitted to the University Hospital of Saudi Arabia. Similarities and differences compared with the published literature.
Authors: Zafar A
Abstract
Published studies have shown differences in types and underlying mechanisms of stroke between different regions of the world. There is a lack of published literature describing the characteristics of acute stroke in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to identify different types and associated risk factors among acute stroke patients in Saudi Arabia. In this descriptive study, records of 500 patients with acute stroke were included. Acute stroke was classified as ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis or subarachnoid hemorrhage. The TOAST c...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 10, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Direction-specific cortical response immediately after moving tactile stimuli in female humans.
This study looked for a direction-specific cortical response immediately after application of moving tactile stimuli in healthy female humans. Four pairs of stimulus electrodes were placed over the left index finger pulp on the distal-proximal axis. Four times, once in every 40 ms interval, an electrical stimulus to the finger pulp was delivered through one of the four pairs of electrodes; each time the stimulus site changed in order to induce a sensation of tactile motion. The slope of the electroencephalographic trace, as recorded from electrodes placed over the CP, P4 and right hMT+/V5 in the period 150-200 ms after the...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 10, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Impact of epilepsy after severe brain injury on safe resumption of driving: two-year follow-up.
Authors: Saviola D, De Tanti A, Delsoldato S, Chiari M, Inzaghi MG, Baldari F
Abstract
Safe resumption of driving after a severe acquired brain injury (sABI) is a strongly felt need because driving is related to recovery of independence and social-occupational re-integration. The aim of this prospective observational cohort study was to determine whether epilepsy secondary to sABI is a significant factor for being declared fit to drive by the relevant government authorities in Italy. In the period 2006-2015 we recruited 187 patients with sABI, 30 of whom (16.4%) developed secondary epilepsy. The interval b...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 10, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 492 patients in a vegetative state in 29 Italian rehabilitation units. What about outcome?
Authors: Avesani R, Dambruoso F, Scandola M, Formisano R, De Tanti A, Ferro S, Smania N, Roncari L, Rossato E
Abstract
Recent studies on recovery of consciousness of subjects in a vegetative state (VS) admitted to rehabilitation units have focused mainly on the identification of prognostic factors, whereas few studies have focused on outcome. The aim of this study was to compare demographic and clinical data and report functional outcome of patients in a VS due to severe acquired brain injury (ABI) of different aetiologies. The study was a retrospective multicentre cohort study and involved 492 patients in...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 10, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Laterality in Parkinson's disease may predict motor and visual imagery abilities.
Authors: Lo Monaco MR, Laudisio A, Fusco D, Vetrano DL, Ricciardi D, Delle Donne V, Proietti F, Zuccalà G, Silveri MC
Abstract
Experimental evidence suggests that motor imagery (MI) engages the same neural substrates supporting actual motor activities and is likely impaired when such substrates are damaged, as in Parkinson's disease (PD). MI intuitively relies on visual imagery (VI), because mental simulations of physical movements depend on the visual retrieval of these movements. Although VI is generally considered a right hemispheric function, the hemispheric dominance of MI is still in dispute. Dispar...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 10, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Development of a patient-centered questionnaire for post-stroke spasticity assessment: a reliability study.
Authors: Baricich A, Cosenza L, Sandrini G, Paolucci S, Morone G, Santamano A, Cinone N, Peri E, Picelli A, Invernizzi M, Ferrieri G
Abstract
In the emerging scenario of patient-centered medicine, it is becoming increasingly important to involve patients in the management of chronic diseases. The rehabilitation field currently has no assessment tool for evaluating the functional impact of post-stroke spasticity on activities of daily living. The aim of this study was to identify a tool to fill this gap. The "Spasticity Questionnaire in Real Life" (SPQR) was administered, twice, to 39 patients with poststro...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 10, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Musculoskeletal impairment and functional limitations in a patient affected by mutation in the laminin a-5 gene.
Authors: Liguori S, de Sire A, Moretti A, Sodano L, Sampaolo S, Gimigliano F, Iolascon G
PMID: 29984690 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Functional Neurology)
Source: Functional Neurology - July 10, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: the therapeutic window is larger but still "time is brain ».
Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: the therapeutic window is larger but still "time is brain».
Funct Neurol. 2018 Jan/Mar;33(1):5-6
Authors: Zivelonghi C, Tamburin S
PMID: 29633691 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Functional Neurology)
Source: Functional Neurology - April 12, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Pharmacological differences and clinical implications of various botulinum toxin preparations: a critical appraisal.
Authors: Ferrari A, Manca M, Tugnoli V, Alberto L
Abstract
Three different type A botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTAs) - onabotulinumtoxinA, abobotulinumtoxinA and incobotulinumtoxinA) - are currently marketed in Europe to treat several conditions. Differences between BoNTA preparations, which depend on their specific biotypes and manufacturing processes, lead to clinically relevant pharmacotherapeutic dissimilarities. All three available products are separately recognized and reviewed in American Academy of Neurology guidelines. The neurotoxin load/100U is likewise different among the different BoNTAs, with the...
Source: Functional Neurology - April 12, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
