Neurology News & Articles

1 Expansion of CD27high plasmablasts in transverse myelitis patients that utilize VH4 and JH6 genes and undergo extensive somatic hypermutation Genes and Immunity, May 2, 2013
Ligocki AG et al. - Patients with the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) typically present with the clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) transverse myelitis (TM) or optic neuritis (ON). The goal of this study was to characterize the B-cell populations and immunoglobulin genetics in TM patients. The authors found a unique expansion of CD27high plasmablasts in both the cerebrospinal fluid and periphery of TM patients that is not present in ON patients. Additionally, plasmablasts ...

2 Predicting multiple sclerosis following isolated optic neuritis in children European Journal of Neurology, May 14, 2013
Heussinger N et al. - The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of conversion to multiple sclerosis (MS) in children following isolated ON and to evaluate the performance of current diagnostic methods such as cranial magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and oligoclonal bands in spinal fluid (OCB) as predictive factors for MS development. Multiple sclerosis-like cMRI lesions and OCB are suitable for assessing the risk of progression to MS ...

3 Unusual Association of Epidemic Dropsy with Brachial Neuritis and Palatal Palsy The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, May 20, 2013
Sahoo S et al. - Epidemic dropsy (ED) results from accidental ingestion of adulterated mustard oil with argemone oil. Chief organs involved in this disease are heart, subcutaneous tissue, eyes and kidneys. Nervous system involvement is very rare. Objective manifestation of neurological involvement is even rarer. The authors report two cases from the same family, who were victims of epidemic dropsy along with their parents. One of them showed objective neurologic involvement in the form ...

4 Detection of isolated covert saccades with the video head impulse test in peripheral vestibular disorders Auris Nasus Larynx, May 3, 2013
Blodow A et al. - The aim of the study was to investigate the horizontal vestibulo-ocular-reflex (VOR) (hVOR) by means of video head impulse test (vHIT) in peripheral vestibular disorders. The vHIT detects abnormal hVOR changes in the combination of gain assessment and refixation saccades. Since isolated covert saccades in hVOR changes can only be seen with vHIT, peripheral vestibular disorders are likely to be diagnosed incorrectly with the clinical head impulse test (cHIT) ...

5 Invasive Meningococcal Infection: Analysis of 110 cases from a Tertiary Care Centre in North East India The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, May 6, 2013
Hazarika RD et al. - To report an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease from Meghalaya, in the north east India, from January 2008 through June 2009. This is the first epidemic report of invasive meningococcal disease from the north east India. Chloramphenicol acts well in areas with penicillin or cephalosporin resistance. Mortality reduces significantly with early diagnosis and prompt intervention. Methods Retrospective review of case sheets was done. One hundred ten ...

6 Vestibular Perception following Acute Unilateral Vestibular Lesions PLOS ONE, May 13, 2013
Cousins S et al. - Little is known about the vestibulo-perceptual (VP) system, particularly after a unilateral vestibular lesion. Authors investigated vestibulo-ocular (VO) and VP function in 25 patients with vestibular neuritis (VN) acutely (2 days after onset) and after compensation (recovery phase, 10 weeks). They hypothesised that the vestibular lesion or the compensatory processes could dissociate VO and VP function, particularly if the acute vertiginous sensation ...

7 Nervous System Lyme Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment Current Treatment Options in Neurology, May 14, 2013
Halperin JJ - The tick-borne spirochete responsible for Lyme disease is highly antibiotic-sensitive. Parenteral regimens can be reserved for those very rare patients with parenchymal CNS involvement, other severe forms of infection, or the approximately 5 % of patients who fail to respond to oral regimens. Treatment related misconceptions can be attributed to confusion in three principal realms: The appropriate approach to diagnosis (who should be treated); ...