ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate and compare the language features among patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia(bv-FTD),Alzheimer's disease(AD) and healthy controls,and to determine the clinical value of language tests in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the two kinds of dementia diseases.Methods A total of 17 bv-FTD patients,18 AD patients and 18 healthy controls were enrolled in Beijing hospital from Nov.2012 to Dec.2013.The language performances in four aspects of listening,speaking,reading and writing by seven items of listening comprehension,repetition,naming,speaking,read aloud,reading comprehension and writing were compared by using the one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)and least significant difference(LSD)tests.Results There were significant differences among the three groups in speaking general scores (AD 128± 46,bv-FTD 113 ± 19,controls 158 ± 13) (F =23.34,P =0.049) and in writing (AD 8 ± 5,bv-FTD 8 ± 4,controls 11 ± 1) (F =27.07,P =0.000).A t rend of statistical difference was observed in general scores of listening comprehension(F =20.96,P =0.060).No difference was found in general scores of repetition,in naming,in reading aloud and in reading comprehension(all P ＞ 0.05).As compared with controls,bv-FTD patients were comprehensively impaired in sub-items of listening comprehension,in naming and in speaking(all P ＜0.05).As compared with controls,AD patients were significantly impaired in a few sub-items of listening comprehension,in naming and in speaking(P ＜0.05).There were significant differences in naming objects,grammar and word finding between AD patients and bv-FTD patients(51± 19 vs.47±13,6±1 vs.6±1,6±1 vs.6±1,P=0.037,0.010 and 0.021,respectively).Conclusions The detailed language examinations are helpful for screening AD and bv-FTD.However,the values are limited in the differential diagnosis between the two types of dementia diseases.It is necessary to combine the detailed language examinations with other tests.
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Objective@#To investigate the prevalence of oral mucosal diseases (OMD) in patients with cerebrovascular disease.@*Methods@#A total of 182 patients with cerebrovascular disease and 166 controls were examined for OMD to compare the differences of prevalence rates.@*Results@#The prevalence of OMD in patients with cerebrovascular disease appeared higher than that in the control group. Oral candidiasis was most commonly seen (11.1%, 20/182), followed by fissured tongue (5.0%, 9/182), traumatic ulcer (2.8%, 5/182), herpes labialis (2.2%, 4/182), recurrent oral ulcer (1.6%, 3/182), chronic cheilitis (1.6%, 3/182) and oral leukokeratosis (1.6%, 3/182).@*Conclusion@#Patients with cerebrovascular diseases were susceptible to OMDs, especially to oral candidiasis that called for more attention.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the clinical differences between patients with early-onset myasthenia gravis (EOMG)and those with late-onset myasthenia gravis(LOMG).Methods This was a retrospective study enrolling 157 MG patients.Based on the age of onset,patients were divided into the EOMG group(n=85)and the LOMG group(n =72).The groups were compared on clinical characteristics,including clinical manifestations,MG classification,electrophysiological findings on repetitive nerve stimulation(RNS),single fiber electromyography(SFEMG),levels of antibody against acetylcholine receptors(Ach-R Ab),antibody to muscle-specific kinase(MuSK Ab),titin antibody(Titin Ab),ryanodine receptor antibody(RyR Ab),thyroid function,thymectomy,thymus pathology and responses to treatment.Results The mean ages of onset were markedly different [(40.9 ± 9.7) years vs.(62.0 ± 12.2) years,P＜ 0.05] between the EOMG and LOMG groups.The LOMG group was associated with a significantly higher rate of the ocular form(50.0 ％,n=36 vs.32.9％,n=28,P＜0.05),a lower rate of the general form(50.0％,n=36 vs.67.1％,n=57,P＜0.05),and an increased risk of bulbar involvement(41.7％ n=30 vs.23.5％,n=20,P＜0.05)than those in the EOMG group.There was no significant difference in positive rates of RNAS and SFEMG,and levels of AChR Ab,MuSK Ab and double serum negative(DSN)MG between the groups (P＞0.05).Moreover,patients in the EOMG group were more likely to have abnormal thyroid function and higher percentages of receiving steroids,tacrolimus,plasma exchange therapy,and thymectomy (P＜ 0.05).Conclusions The clinical profiles of LOMG are different from those of EOMG in clinical manifestations,thyroid function,thymectomy frequency,striational antibody levels and disease-modifying drug options.