ABSTRACT
Thirty-six patients with a peripheral localized nerve lesion (18 of median nerve, 7 of ulnar nerve, 2 of radial nerve, 1 of lateral cutaneous brachii nerve, 1 of sciatic nerve, 5 of peroneal nerve and 2 of tibial nerve), were evaluated by Computed Tomography (CT). We used a high resolution scanner (Siemens Somatom CR) and we performed 2mm thickness slices. Sagittal and coronal reconstructed images were obtained too. Thirty-two out of 36 patients underwent surgery. CT scan was useful in all cases in defining the relationship between nerve lesions and surrounding tissues and in planning surgical procedures. The CT evaluation of tissues densities and characteristics allowed us to define the pathologic nature of the lesions in 10 cases.
Subject(s)
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Adult , Epidermal Cyst/diagnostic imaging , Epidermal Cyst/pathology , Epidermal Cyst/surgery , Female , Fibroma/diagnostic imaging , Fibroma/pathology , Fibroma/surgery , Giant Cell Tumors/diagnostic imaging , Giant Cell Tumors/pathology , Giant Cell Tumors/surgery , Humans , Lipoma/diagnostic imaging , Lipoma/pathology , Lipoma/surgery , Male , Nerve Compression Syndromes/diagnostic imaging , Nerve Compression Syndromes/pathology , Nerve Compression Syndromes/surgery , Neurofibroma/diagnostic imaging , Neurofibroma/pathology , Neurofibroma/surgery , Peripheral Nerves/diagnostic imaging , Peripheral Nerves/pathology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/pathology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/surgery , Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms/pathology , Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms/surgery , Synovial Cyst/diagnostic imaging , Synovial Cyst/pathology , Synovial Cyst/surgeryABSTRACT
Mental retardation and personality disorders are commonly described among the symptoms of myotonic dystrophy. Nevertheless, this tendency is not supported by systematic studies performed on large samples, whose results are controversial. We studied the cognitive functions and personalities of a group of 28 patients, in whom myotonic dystrophy had commenced in juvenile or adult life. The severity of the disease was variable, but all subjects were self-sufficient. Only 7.1% of subjects showed low intelligence with deterioration of perceptual-motor functions. This was not correlated with the severity of their disease. Women had a substantially lower mean Wechsler-Bellevue score than men. The personality function study of the entire group showed no change of psychiatric relevance but did present a depressive attitude with marked somatic concern and difficulties in establishing relationships in social life.
Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability/psychology , Intelligence , Muscular Dystrophies/psychology , Myotonia Congenita/psychology , Personality Disorders/psychology , Activities of Daily Living/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Chromosome Aberrations/genetics , Chromosome Aberrations/psychology , Chromosome Disorders , Female , Genes, Dominant/genetics , Humans , Intellectual Disability/genetics , Male , Middle Aged , Muscular Dystrophies/genetics , Myotonia Congenita/genetics , Neuropsychological Tests , Personality Disorders/genetics , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Deep peroneal nerve mononeuropathy is rarely observed in clinical practice. We describe a case in which the syndrome was caused by a clinically not detectable ganglion within the anterior compartment of the leg. Electrophysiological data allowed us to localize the site of the lesion for a correct planning of CT scan. CT scan showed a low density tissue occupying the anterior compartment of the leg and its relationships to muscles, septa, bones and vessels. Electrophysiological data and CT scan utilities are discussed.
Subject(s)
Ganglia/physiopathology , Peroneal Nerve/physiopathology , Adult , Electromyography , Female , Ganglia/diagnostic imaging , Ganglia/pathology , Humans , Leg/diagnostic imaging , Neural Conduction/physiology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/pathology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/surgery , Peroneal Nerve/diagnostic imaging , Peroneal Nerve/pathology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedSubject(s)
Clomipramine/therapeutic use , Myotonia/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
9 subjects with myasthenia gravis, chronically treated with prednisone, underwent an open clinical trial with cyclosporine, an immunosuppressive and immunomodulator drug. Preliminary results after one year of treatment show that cyclosporine induces a further improvement of myasthenic symptoms, and that prednisone may be reduced or discontinued without relapse of clinical symptoms. Side effects of cyclosporine are very frequent and largely influence the treatment.
Subject(s)
Cyclosporins/therapeutic use , Myasthenia Gravis/drug therapy , Prednisone/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Adult , Autoantibodies/analysis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Myasthenia Gravis/immunology , Neurologic Examination , Receptors, Cholinergic/immunologyABSTRACT
We describe the case of a young man addicted to heroin with the clinical pattern of symmetrical brachial neuropathy, without other neurological involvement. Lead poisoning was detected and chelating therapy induced a marked improvement of the clinical symptoms. The possible toxic effect of heavy metals in the pathogenesis of brachial and lumbar plexopathies during heroin addiction has previously been suggested by other authors, but never detected.
Subject(s)
Heroin , Lead Poisoning/etiology , Substance-Related Disorders/complications , Adult , Humans , Lead Poisoning/diagnosis , MaleABSTRACT
The possible toxical effect of heavy metals in the pathogenesis of brachial and lumbar plexopathies during heroin addiction has been previously hypothesized by some authors, but never detected. A 24-year-old man, addicted to heroin showed the clinical picture of a symmetrical brachial neuropathy, without other neurological involvement. Lead poisoning was detected in this patient and the chelating therapy induced a marked improvement of the clinical symptoms.
Subject(s)
Brachial Plexus/pathology , Heroin , Lead Poisoning/physiopathology , Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced , Substance-Related Disorders/physiopathology , Adult , Brachial Plexus/drug effects , Humans , Lead Poisoning/complications , Male , Nervous System Diseases/complications , Substance-Related Disorders/complicationsABSTRACT
A case of ulnar nerve compression in Guyon's canal by a giant cell tumor is reported. The principal anatomo-surgical, clinical and instrumental features are discussed and the relevant literature analyzed.
Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms/surgery , Giant Cell Tumors/surgery , Nerve Compression Syndromes/surgery , Ulnar Nerve/surgery , Wrist Joint/surgery , Wrist/innervation , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neurologic Examination , Postoperative Complications/diagnosisSubject(s)
Carbohydrates/urine , Muscular Dystrophies/urine , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Myotonic Dystrophy/physiopathology , Adolescent , Adult , Echocardiography , Electrocardiography , Female , Heart Ventricles/physiopathology , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The morphological alterations of anterior horn neurons of the spinal cord of rabbits produced by the administration of ricin conveyed via retrograde axonal flow are described. The differences with the primary response after axonal transection and the similarity with degenerative abiotrophic systemic lesions are discussed.
Subject(s)
Neurons/drug effects , Ricin/pharmacology , Spinal Cord/drug effects , Animals , Male , Neurons/cytology , Rabbits , Spinal Cord/anatomy & histologyABSTRACT
Clinical use of cis-platinum in the treatment of many human tumors is increasing. Since side effects could represent a limitation of its use, we evaluated neurotoxic effects of this compound in a group of 23 patients on antiblastic treatment for gynecological neoplasms. Evaluation was performed by clinical-neurological examination, neurophysiological data (electromyography, maximal motor conduction velocity, and sensory conduction velocity) and potentials. Seven patients reported subjective symptoms of neurological involvement. In 2 cases there was a change in the electromyographic pattern. The otolaryngological examination showed a change in the hearing threshold in 3 patients and in 1 case the fatigue test was positive. Neurotoxic effects and hearing damage was not related to the treatment schedule.
Subject(s)
Cisplatin/adverse effects , Hearing Disorders/chemically induced , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Audiometry , Carcinoma/drug therapy , Choriocarcinoma/drug therapy , Cisplatin/administration & dosage , Electromyography , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology , PregnancyABSTRACT
The authors analyze both anatomical and physiological aspects of human movement in the light of biological evolution of the nervous system.
Subject(s)
Movement , Nervous System Physiological Phenomena , Cerebellum/physiology , Cerebral Cortex/physiology , Humans , Motor Neurons/physiology , Spinal Cord/physiologyABSTRACT
Starting from a case they observed and from similar cases of literature, the authors underline the variability of clinical aspects of MDCF which in this case was associated with absence of both motorial acquisitions and skeletal alterations. They underline how their case is characterized by the presence and consistence of musculotendinous retractions and by muscular weakness.
Subject(s)
Muscles/pathology , Muscular Diseases/congenital , Adolescent , Biopsy , Humans , Male , Muscular Diseases/diagnosis , Muscular Diseases/pathologyABSTRACT
Authors refer to a clinical case in which they observed the association of bilateral cervical ribs with aneurism of subclavian artery. They underline the high frequencey of occasional observations of anomalies of the thoracic outlet, and consider the possible pathogenetic mechanisms of the thoracic outlet syndrome and associated vascular damages.
Subject(s)
Aneurysm/complications , Cervical Rib Syndrome/complications , Subclavian Artery , Thoracic Outlet Syndrome/complications , Adult , Aneurysm/surgery , Cervical Rib Syndrome/surgery , Female , HumansABSTRACT
On the ground of preceding researches carried out about myodystrophias, the authors studied the melituric symptomatology in both a group of myasthenic patients and a group of control. The chromatographic analysis and the dosage of some urinary carbohydrates, showed that there are not statistically significant differences between the group of myasthenic patients and that of controls.