Standardization of the face-hand test in a Brazilian multicultural population: prevalence of sensory extinction and implications for neurological diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: The face-hand test is a simple, practical, and rapid test to detect neurological syndromes. However, it has not previously been assessed in a Brazilian sample; therefore, the objective of the present study was to standardize the face-hand test for use in the multi-cultural population of Brazil and identify the sociodemographic factors affecting the results. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study of 150 individuals. The sociodemographic variables that were collected included age, gender, race, body mass index and years of education. Standardization of the face-hand test occurred in 2 rounds of 10 sensory stimuli, with the participant seated to support the trunk and their vision obstructed in a sound-controlled environment. The face-hand test was conducted by applying 2 rounds of 10 sensory stimuli that were applied to the face and hand simultaneously. The associations between the face-hand test and sociodemographic variables were analyzed using Mann-Whitney tests and Spearman correlations. Binomial models were adjusted for the number of face-hand test variations, and ROC curves evaluated sensitivity and specificity of sensory extinction. RESULTS: There was no significant relationship between the sociodemographic variables and the number of stimuli perceived for the face-hand test. There was a high relative frequency of detection, 8 out of 10 stimuli, in this population. Sensory extinction was 25.3%, which increased with increasing age (OR=1.4[1:01–1:07]; p=0.006) and decreased significantly with increasing education (OR=0.82[0.71-0.94]; p=0.005). CONCLUSION: In the Brazilian population, a normal face-hand test score ranges between 8–10 stimuli, and the results indicate that sensory extinction is associated with increased age and lower levels of education.

Estereopsia en niños pseudofáquicos / Stereopsis in pseudophakic children

La estereopsia es el grado máximo que nos brinda la binocularidad y se desarrolla en los niños entre los 3 y 6 meses. Objetivo: determinar la presencia de estereopsia en niños pseudofáquicos, así como los factores asociados a la presencia de estereopsia en estos pacientes. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal y retrospectivo donde se incluyeron 25 niños mayores de 8 años previamente operados de catarata pediátrica en el Instituto Cubano de Oftalmología Ramón Pando Ferrer, que acudieron a la consulta entre junio y noviembre del año 2015. Se determinaron las variables estereopsia, lateralidad, origen de la catarata, edad de diagnóstico, edad de la cirugía y agudeza visual mejor corregida. Resultados: la estereopsia fina (60" o menos) se detectó en el 28 por ciento de los pacientes, y en el 68 por ciento algún grado de esta. Fue más frecuente en los pacientes con pseudofaquia bilateral y con cataratas traumáticas o del desarrollo, pero sin mostrar diferencias significativas. Todos los pacientes con estereopsia presentaron una agudeza visual mejor corregida mayor de 0,5 en su ojo de peor visión, y estadísticamente este resultado fue significativo. Conclusiones: la cirugía de catarata pediátrica permite desarrollar estereopsia. La agudeza visual posoperatoria es un factor determinante de esta(AU)

Stereopsis is the highest degree of binocularity and occurs in children aged 3 to 6 months of life. Objective: to determine stereopsis in pseudophakic children as well as the factors involved in stereopsis in these patients. Method: a retrospective, longitudinal and descriptive study of 25 children older than 8 years, who had been previously operated on of pediatric cataract in the Ramon Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Opthalmology. They went to the hospital from June to November, 2015. The variables were stereopsis, laterality, origin of cataract, age at diagnosis, age at the time of surgery and best corrected visual acuity. Results: fine stereopsis (60" or less) was detected in 28 percent of the patients, and some degree of it in 68 percent of them. It was more frequent in patients with bilateral pseudophakia and with traumatic or developmental cataract, but differences were not significant. All the stereoscopic patients had best corrected visual acuity over 0.5 in its worst vision eye, being this result statistically significant. Conclusions: the pediatric cataract surgery allows developing stereopsis and the postoperative visual acuity is a determining factor(AU)

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Meares-Irlen Syndrome: A Pilot Sudy

PURPOSE: To investigate patterns of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activation during sentence reading before and after wearing color-tinted lenses. METHODS: A total of 15 Meares-Irlen syndrome patients with a mean age of 23.4 years (range, 13 to 42 years) with no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders were scanned using a 3T MR scanner (Siemens, Tim-Trio, Germany). Each patient underwent two sessions of fMRI imaging (before and after MISViS color-tinted lens application). The fMRI paradigm included a block design of 20 seconds of rest (cross), 20 seconds of activation (sentence reading), and ten blocks (a total of 200 echo-planar image volumes) repeated for each session. Data preprocessing and analyses were performed using the SPM8 software package. RESULTS: The reading speed of patients improved more than 20% while wearing the selected lenses. When compared to the before-lens session, the after-lens session identified significant regions of activation in the left middle and superior temporal gyri (paired t-test; maximal z score, 5.38; Montreal Neurological Institute coordinate, -60 / -39 / 0; threshold at p < 0.05; corrected for multiple comparisons using family-wise error). No region of activation at the same threshold was found in the before-lens session as compared to the after-lens session. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, we confirmed activation in the left middle and superior temporal gyri during sentence reading after wearing color-tinted lenses. These results could explain the effectiveness of color-tinted lenses in patients with Meares-Irlen syndrome.

Specific Visual Symptoms and Signs of Meares-Irlen Syndrome in Korean

PURPOSE: To discriminate the visual symptoms and signs of Meares-Irlen syndrome (MIS) and nonspecific dyslexia from other ophthalmologic diseases (NODs). METHODS: Forty-five patients were enrolled. Thirty four of the patients with MIS whose symptoms improved with tinted lenses comprised MIS group. The other 11 patients whose reading difficulty improved with other ocular therapy and did not require tinted lenses comprised NODs group. The main symptoms causing dyslexia and associated ocular diseases were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age was 17.9 +/- 9.5 years in MIS group, and 19.3 +/- 11.0 years in NODs group. In MIS group, the most common symptoms while reading were difficulty to move lines (85%), doubling (53%), and difficulty in bright condition (27%). On the other hand, blurring was the most common symptom in NODs group (45%). The associated ocular diseases in the two groups were refractive error (79% and 73%), dry eye (29% and 18%), and exophoria (6% and 27%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Doubling, difficulty to move lines, and difficulty in bright condition while reading are main specific symptoms in MIS compared to nonspecific dyslexia from other ophthalmologic disorders.

Heminegligência / Hemineglect

A heminegligência, um fenômeno em que uma disfunção leva a uma desatenção da metade do campo visual e da percepção corporal, geralmente decorre de lesões do hemisfério parietal e está associado a um pior prognóstico quando acompanhada de anosognosia. O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, 73 anos, que desenvolveu heminegligência espacial associada à anosognosia e hemianopsia à esquerda decorrentes de um acidente vascular encefálico isquêmico (AU)

Hemineglect, a phenomenon in which a dysfunction leads to inattention of half the visual fi eld and body perception, usually results from damage to the parietal hemisphere and is associated with a worse prognosis when accompanied by anosognosia. The objective of this study is to present the case of a male patient, 73, who developed spatial hemineglect and anosognosia associated with left hemianopia resulting from an ischemic stroke (AU)

Neuropareidolia: diagnostic clues apropos of visual illusions / Neuropareidolia: pista diagnóstica a partir de uma ilusão visual

Diagnosis in neuroimaging involves the recognition of specific patterns indicative of particular diseases. Pareidolia, the misperception of vague or obscure stimuli being perceived as something clear and distinct, is somewhat beneficial for the physician in the pursuit of diagnostic strategies. Animals may be pareidolically recognized in neuroimages according to the presence of specific diseases. By associating a given radiological aspect with an animal, doctors improve their diagnostic skills and reinforce mnemonic strategies in radiology practice. The most important pareidolical perceptions of animals in neuroimaging are the hummingbird sign in progressive supranuclear palsy, the panda sign in Wilson's disease, the panda sign in sarcoidosis, the butterfly sign in glioblastomas, the butterfly sign in progressive scoliosis and horizontal gaze palsy, the elephant sign in Alzheimer's disease and the eye-of-the-tiger sign in pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegenerative disease.

O diagnóstico em neuroimagem envolve o reconhecimento de padrões específicos indicativos de doenças particulares. Pareidolia, é a perceção equivocada de algo claro e distinto a partir de um estímulo vago e obscuro, por vezes benéfico a quem interpreta exames de imagem na procura do diagnóstico. A este propósito, alguns animais podem pareidolicamente ser reconhecidos em neuroimagens associadas a determinadas doenças específicas, promovendo mais rapidez na habilidade diagnóstica e naturalmente reforçando estratégias mnemônicas individuais na prática do diagnóstico neuroradiológico. Alguns dos sinais de neuroimagens relacionados a percepções pareidolicas de animais são: o sinal do beja-flor na paralisia supra nuclear progressiva; o sinal do panda na doença de Wilson; o sinal do panda na sarcoisdose; o sinal da borboleta no glioblastoma; o sinal da borboleta no escoliose progressiva e paralisia do olhar horizontal; o sinal do elefante na doença de Alzheimeir; e o sinal do olho de tigre na doença degenerativa ligada a pantothenato kinase.

Screening tests are not enough to detect hemineglect

OBJECTIVE: To verify the sensitivity of the conventional subtests of the Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT) in the diagnosis of hemineglect after stroke. METHOD: One hundred and two patients with cerebral infarct or hemorrhage were prospectively evaluated. In 22, hemineglect was diagnosed using standard BIT criteria. The frequency of hemineglect using 6 commonly used screening subtests of this battery was assessed. RESULTS: Hemineglect would not be recognized in 10 patients if they were only screened using the line crossing test; this would be the case in 2 patients with the letter cancellation test; and in 4 patient with the line bisection test. Three patients would not be diagnosed even if both line crossing and line bisection tests were used. CONCLUSION: Hemineglect may not be recognized with single screening tests commonly used. The use of a standard battery is recommended to improve diagnostic sensitivity in individuals with various subtypes of hemineglect.

OBJETIVO: Verificar a sensibilidade dos subtestes convencionais da Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT) no diagnóstico da heminegligência após o acidente vascular cerebral (AVC). MÉTODO: Foram avaliados prospectivamente 102 pacientes com AVC. Em 22 casos heminegligência foi diagnosticada através do BIT. A freqüência de diagnóstico correto utilizando os 6 subtestes específicos desta bateria foi analisada. RESULTADOS: 10 pacientes não seriam diagnosticados como heminegligentes se fossem avaliados apenas com o " line crossing" , 2 se o teste de triagem escolhido fosse o " letter cancellation" , e 4 se utilizássemos apenas o " line bisection" . Além disso, 3 pacientes não teriam recebido o diagnóstico correto mesmo utilizando dois testes usuais de triagem - " line crossing" e " line bisection" . CONCLUSÃO: O uso de testes isolados de triagem pode falhar em diagnosticar heminegligência após o AVC. O uso de uma bateria formal de avaliação é necessário para identificar indivíduos com diferentes tipos de heminegligência.

Early impairment of cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND: Impairment in non-motor functions such as disturbances of some executive functions are also common events in Parkinson's disease patients. OBJECTIVE: To verify the performance of Parkinson's disease patients in activities requiring visuoconstructive and visuospatial skills. METHOD: Thirty elderly patients with mild or moderate stages of Parkinson's disease were studied. The assessment of the clinical condition was based on the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (56.28; SD=33.48), Hoehn and Yahr (2.2; SD=0.83), Schwab and England (78.93 percent), clock drawing test (7.36; SD=2.51), and mini-mental state examination (26.48; SD=10.11). Pearson's correlation and stepwise multiple regression were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The patients presented deterioration in visuospatial and visuoconstructive skills. CONCLUSION: The clock drawing test proved to be a useful predictive tool for identifying early cognitive impairment in thesbe individuals.

CONTEXTO: Comprometimento em funções não-motoras como perturbações em algumas funções executivas são também eventos comuns em pacientes com doença de Parkinson. OBJETIVO: Verificar as performances de pacientes com doença de Parkinson em atividades que requerem habilidades visuo-construtivas e visuo-espaciais. MÉTODO: Pacientes idosos (n=30) nos estágios leve ou moderado da doença de Parkinson foram estudados. O diagnóstico da condição clínica foi realizado por meio de: unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (56,28; SD=33,48), Hoehn e Yahr (2,2; SD=0,83), Schwab e England (78,93 por cento), teste do desenho do relógio (7,36; SD=2,51), e mini-exame do estado mental (26,48; SD=10,11). A correlação de Pearson e a análise de regressão múltipla foram empregadas na análise estatística. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes apresentaram deterioração nas habilidades vísuo-espaciais e visuoconstrutivas. CONCLUSÃO: O teste do desenho do relógio provou ser uma ferramenta útil e preditiva para identificar o comprometimento cognitivo precoce nesses indivíduos.

Visual status of Nepalese national football and cricket players.

This study was undertaken to assess the visual acuity, refractive status, stereopsis, colour vision and ocular morbidity of Nepalese national footballers and cricketers. Ninety-five national football and cricket players of different age group, who had at least played one international tournament representing Nepal, were included in the study. A thorough ocular examination of the players was done in the study period of six months, which revealed that higher-level professional players have significant visual problems. Among the players 70.0% had never had complete ocular examination, 8.0% were found with refractive error, 60.0% with stereo acuity equal or less than 40" of arc and 65.0% with ocular complaints.

Anosognosia en enfermedades cerebrales / Anosognosia in brain disorders

Se analiza la falta de noción de enfermedad y las confabulaciones en pacientes neurológicos con distintos defectos: hemiplejia, defectos visuales, defectos de la memoria, del lenguaje, traumatismo encefalocraneanos y demencia. Se discute la posible importancia de transtornos emocionales, de defectos focales y del deterioro cognitivo general como factores del desconocimiento de la enfermedad. Se concluye que existe una relación psicopatológica entre tener un defecto, ser anosognósico, y confabular suponiendo un rendimiento normal. Además se plantea que existiría un sistema funcional de darse cuenta, constituido por diversas áreas cerebrales importantes para el monitoreo de diferentes funciones y por las áreas prefrontales

Efecto de la desnutrición sobre el desarrollo neurointegrativo del niño: segunda parte / Effect of malnutrition on the neurointegrative development of the child: part II

En esta parte del estudio se compararon las proporciones de niños, con o sin antecedentes de desnutrición severa, que cometieron errores de equivalencia (juzgar como iguales formas diferentes). En todas las edades los supervivientes de desnutrición tuvieron niveles de competencia significativamente inferiores. Lo mismo ocurrió al comparar el desarrollo de la integración intersensorial auditivovisual. Considerando que la calificación es estimulación en el hogar también se asoció signifcativamente con la competencia cinestésico-visual, el retraso del desarrollo de esta función observado en los niños con antecedentes de desnutrición de tercer grado, viene a ser el resultado de los efectos de la desnutrición y de la acción negativa de ciertos factores microambientales relacionados con el cuidado del niño

Incidencia de trastornos de la agudeza visual en población preescolar / Frecuency of visual anomalies in preschool children

Con el fin de conocer la incidencia de trastornos visuales en los preescolares que asistían a la Escuela "Simón Bolívar" del Barrio Cerritos Blancos en la ciudad de Barquisimeto, se determinó la agudeza visual en 370 preescolares con edades comprendidas entre los 4 y los 7 años, 196 del sexo femenino y 174 del sexo masculino. Se utilizaron las cartas de Snellen siguiendo la técnica usual para la determinación de la agudeza visual. Se encontraron alteraciones en el 32,4 por ciento de los pacientes estudiados. No se encontraron diferencias en la frecuencia de alteraciones de acuerdo a la edad o al sexo. Se concluye que es importante realizar rutinariamente la determinación de la agudeza visual en preescolares, para detectar tempranamente la presencia de alguna alteración

Un caso de agnosia visual aperceptiva de tipo integrativa / A case of apperceptive visual agnosia showing an integrative disorder

Presentamos un paciente (C.A.) de 38 años afectado de alteraciones en el reconocimiento visual secundarias a una lesión isquémica cerebral posterior bilateral (RNM). En el examen neuropsicológico encontramos dificultades en reconocer visualmente rostros, objetos y figuras de objetos, a pesar de que los puede ver, dibujar y describir. El reconocimiento táctil y auditivo fue normal. Nuestro paciente tiene una prosopoagnosia, una agnosia visual de objetos, una simultagnosia, una agnosia topográfica y una amnesia episódica global. El defecto en el reconocimiento de objetos y de rostros no responde sólo a un trastorno perceptivo (representación formal). El conocimiento semántico de objetos y rostros es correcto pues puede evocar verbalmente la imagen eidética de aquellos que no puede reconocer (representación semántica). El paciente falla en el estadio de integración jerarquización de las partes necesarias para el correcto apareamaiento entre la imagen visual que ingresa con la imagen eidética del conocimiento semántico correspondiendo a una agnosia visual de tipo integrativa