Electrodiagnostic and nerve ultrasonographic features in upper limb spasticity: an observational study.
Authors: Picelli A, Tamburin S, Berto G, Chemello E, Gandolfi M, Saltuari L, Waldner A, Smania N
Abstract
To better understand the effects of spasticity on peripheral nerves, we evaluated the electrodiagnostic and nerve ultrasonographic features of the median and ulnar nerves in adults with upper limb spasticity. Twenty chronic stroke patients with spastic hemiparesis underwent nerve conduction study and nerve ultrasonography of the median and ulnar nerves at both upper limbs. Affected versus unaffected upper limb comparisons showed significant differences in the median and ulnar nerve distal motor latenci...
Source: Functional Neurology - October 20, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Nociceptive blink reflex habituation biofeedback in migraine.
Authors: de Tommaso M, Delussi M
Abstract
Reduced habituation of the nociceptive blink reflex (NBR) is considered a trait marker for genetic predisposition to migraine. In this open-label randomized controlled study, we aimed to test the efficacy of a biofeedback training based on learning of habituation of the NBR (NBR biofeedback) compared with pharmacological (topiramate) treatment and NBR biofeedback plus topiramate treatment in a cohort of migraine without aura patients eligible for prophylaxis. Thirty-three migraine patients were randomly assigned to three months of treatment with: 1) NBR biofeedback...
Source: Functional Neurology - October 20, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Recovery from vegetative state of patients with a severe brain injury: a 4-year real-practice prospective cohort study.
Authors: Baricich A, de Sire A, Antoniono E, Gozzerino F, Lamberti G, Cisari C, Invernizzi M
Abstract
Patients who have suffered severe traumatic or nontraumatic brain injuries can show a progressive recovery, transitioning through a range of clinical conditions. They may progress from coma to a vegetative state (VS) and/or a minimally conscious state (MCS). A longer duration of the VS is known to be related to a lower probability of emergence from it; furthermore, the literature seems to lack evidence of late improvements in these patients. This real-practice prospective cohort study was conducted in inpa...
Source: Functional Neurology - October 20, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonisms.
Authors: Crosta F, Desideri G, Marini C
Abstract
An association of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and other sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) with Parkinson's disease (PD) has been reported in some small studies. In the present study we investigated the occurrence of SDB in a large consecutive outpatient series. This is a case-control study in subjects attending a neurological clinic where all patients were screened for SDB by means of sleep-wake history, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and full-night polysomnography, when indicated. 3194 patients were recruited. Of these, 194 were affected by PD and 77 ...
Source: Functional Neurology - October 20, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Pisa syndrome in Parkinson's disease: electromyographic quantification of paraspinal and non-paraspinal muscle activity.
Authors: Geroin C, Squintani G, Morini A, Donato F, Smania N, Gandolfi MG, Tamburin S, Fasano A, Tinazzi M
Abstract
Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Pisa syndrome (PS) may present tonic dystonic or compensatory (i.e. acting against gravity) hyperactivity in the paraspinal and non-paraspinal muscles. Electromyographic (EMG) activity was measured in nine patients with PD and PS, three with PD without PS, and five healthy controls. Fine-wire intramuscular electrodes were inserted bilaterally into the iliocostalis lumborum (ICL), iliocostalis thoracis (ICT), gluteus medius (GM), and external oblique ...
Source: Functional Neurology - October 20, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Quantitative, functional MRI and neurophysiological markers in a case of Gerstmann-Str äussler-Scheinker syndrome.
We describe the case of a 40-year-old male, affected by a slowly progressive gait disturbance, leg weakness and cognitive impairment. Genomic DNA revealed a point mutation of PRNP at codon 102, resulting in P102L, and the diagnosis of GSS was confirmed. Somatosensory evoked potentials showed alterations of principal parameters, particularly in the right upper and lower limbs. Laser-evoked potentials were indicative of nociceptive system impairment, especially in the right upper and lower limbs. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed marked atrophy of the vermis and cerebellar hemispheres and mild atrophy of...
Source: Functional Neurology - October 20, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Analysis of Italian regulations on pathways of care for patients in a vegetative or minimally conscious state.
Authors: Sattin D, De Torres L, Dolce G, Arcuri F, Estraneo A, Cardinale V, Piperno R, Zavatta E, Formisano R, D'Ippolito M, Vassallo C, Dessi B, Lamberti G, Antoniono E, Lanzillotti C, Navarro J, Bramanti P, Marino S, Zampolini M, Scarponi F, Avesani R, Salvi L, Ferro S, Mazza L, Fogar P, Feller S, De Nigris F, Martinuzzi A, Buffoni M, Pessina A, Corsico P, Leonardi M
Abstract
Different rehabilitation models for persons diagnosed with disorders of consciousness have been proposed in Europe during the last decade. In Italy, the Ministry of Health has defined a national healthcare model, although, to date, ...
Source: Functional Neurology - October 20, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
The past and future of Functional Neurology.
Authors: D'Angelo E, Boller F, Wheeler-Kingshott CG, Vanacore N, Sandrini G, Cisari C, Tamburin S, Baricich A
PMID: 28676137 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Functional Neurology)
Source: Functional Neurology - July 7, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
European core curriculum in neurorehabilitation.
In conclusion, after defining the European medical core curriculum in neurorehabilitation, the next activities of the EFNR will be to try and reach the largest possible consensus on its content among all national societies across Europe in order to further validate it and try to extend it to the other, non-medical, professionals on the neurorehabilitation team in line with their core curricula defined by each professional association.
PMID: 28676138 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Functional Neurology)
Source: Functional Neurology - July 7, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Object decision and multiple sclerosis: a preliminary study.
Authors: Caputi N, Matrella A, Totaro R, Raparelli C, Pontecorvo S, Di Giacomo D, Passafiume D
Abstract
The aim of this research was to study cognitive dysfunctions in multiple sclerosis (MS) by exploring subtle cognitive tasks, usually not included in the standard neuropsychological assessment. We wished to investigate whether it is possible to identify object decision deficits in MS patients without evident cognitive impairment; secondary objectives were to understand whether these deficits can be detected in the early stages of the disease and whether there are differences related to different phenotype...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 7, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Cerebellar transcranial static magnetic field stimulation transiently reduces cerebellar brain inhibition.
Authors: Matsugi A, Okada Y
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) delivered using a compact cylindrical NdFeB magnet over the cerebellum modulates the excitability of the cerebellum and contralateral primary motor cortex, as measured using cerebellar brain inhibition (CBI), motor evoked potentials (MEPs), and resting motor threshold (rMT). These parameters were measured before tSMS or sham stimulation and immediately, 5 minutes and 10 minutes after stimulation. There were no significant changes in CBI, MEPs or rMT over time in the sh...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 7, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
HLA-DRB1*15 association with multiple sclerosis is confirmed in a multigenerational Italian family.
We describe a multigenerational Italian family with six individuals affected by MS, showing different clinical and neuroradiological findings. HLA-DRB1* typing revealed the presence of the DRB1*15:01 allele in all the MS cases and in 4/5 non-affected subjects. Reports on six multigenerational MS families have previously been published, giving similar results. The HLA-DRB1*15:01 allele was confirmed to be linked to MS disease in this family; moreover, its presence in non-affected subjects suggests the involvement of other susceptibility factors in the development and expression of the disease, in accordance with the complex...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 7, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
The Italian real-life post-stroke spasticity survey: unmet needs in the management of spasticity with botulinum toxin type A.
Authors: Picelli A, Baricich A, Cisari C, Paolucci S, Smania N, Sandrini G
Abstract
The present national survey seeking to identify unmet needs in the management of spasticity with botulinum toxin type A focused on the use of OnabotulinumoxinA, since this is the brand with the widest range of licensed indications in Italy. Physicians from twenty-four Italian neurorehabilitation units compiled a questionnaire about "real-life" post-stroke spasticity management. OnabotulinumtoxinA was reported to be used in the following average doses: upper limb 316.7 ± 79.1 units; lower limb 327.8 ± 152.3; upper and lowe...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 7, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Sensitivity of multi-shell NODDI to multiple sclerosis white matter changes: a pilot study.
Authors: Schneider T, Brownlee W, Zhang H, Ciccarelli O, Miller DH, Wheeler-Kingshott CG
Abstract
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is sensitive to white matter (WM) damage in multiple sclerosis (MS), not only in focal lesions but also in the normal-appearing WM (NAWM). However, DTI indices can also be affected by natural spatial variation in WM, as seen in crossing and dispersing white matter fibers. Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) is an advanced diffusion-weighted imaging technique that provides distinct indices of fiber density and dispersion. We performed NODDI of lesion tissue ...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 7, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
Ixcellence Network ®: an international educational network to improve current practice in themanagement of cervical dystonia or spastic paresis by botulinum toxin injection.
Ixcellence Network®: an international educational network to improve current practice in themanagement of cervical dystonia or spastic paresis by botulinum toxin injection.
Funct Neurol. 2017 Apr/Jun;32(2):103-110
Authors: Fheodoroff K, Bhidayasiri R, Jacinto LJ, Chung TM, Bhatia K, Landreauf T, Colosimo C
Abstract
Botulinum toxin is a well-established treatment for a number of conditions involving muscle hyperactivity, such as focal dystonia and spastic paresis. However, current injection practice is not standardized and there is a clear need for structured training. An internat...
Source: Functional Neurology - July 7, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research
