摘要:

Introduction– Continued studies of frequency trends in carefully selected sites around the world can provide clues to the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS).Material and methods– Based on information from three different, semi‐independant sources of information, we have examined the temporal trends in the average annual age‐adjusted rates of disability pension incidence, mortality, and incidence of MS from 1966 to 1991 in More and Romsdal County, Norway.Results– The average annual age‐adjusted disability pension incidence rates (1966–68 = 3.62/100,000; 1990–91 = 7.33/100,000), the mortality rates (1966–68=0.91/100,000; 1990–91 = 1.88/100,000), and the incidence rates (1966–68 = 4.22/100,000; 1990–91 = 5.02/100,000) all showed a statistically significant increase. The difference in the development of MS‐specific disability pension prevalence rates in the county compared to the nation is notable.Conclusions– We consider that the increase in disability pension incidence, mortality, and incidence of MS is of biological significance. Thus three different sources of information corroborate corresponding trends indicating that better case ascertainment and improved diagnostic facilities only partially can explain the reported MS

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00001.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

We describe a young woman who developed left ventricular failure and pulmonary edema during fulminant onset of multiple sclerosis. One of the numerous plaques was located in the the left inferior cerebellar peduncle near the dorsal motor vagal and solitary tract nuclei. Within two days pulmonary edema had cleared, and within three days left ventricular function was normal. To our knowledge, left ventricular failure has not earlier been verified in acute multiple sclerosis.

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00002.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEPs) were studied in 30 definite multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in addition to brain‐stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs). BAEP abnormalities were detected in 18 (60%) patients. MLAEPs were abnormal in 22 (73%) of them. In 15 patients BAEPs and MLAEPs were both abnormal. MLAEPs were found abnormal in 7 of the 12 patients with normal BAEPs. In 18 patients with abnormal BAEPs only 3 had normal MLAEPs. MLAEPs abnormalities are consistent with a rostral auditory pathway involvement. Therefore, they can be used in combination with BAEPs to examine the whole auditory system to improve the sensitivit

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00003.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Introduction– Disease associations may provide useful etiological leads in relation to diseases of unknown cause.Material and methods– We conducted a hospital‐based case‐control study of 155 MS patients and 200 controls in Hordaland County, Norway to investigate the possible association between MS and autoimmune diseases.Results– The MS patients had a statistically significant more frequent coexistence of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and goitre when compared to the controls (OR = 2.96; 95% CI 1.23–7.66). This difference persisted when analysing the definite MS cases separately (OR = 2.90; 95% CI 1.10–7.96). The familial occurrence of chronic inflammatory diseases was not significantly different in cases and controls. A significant increased risk to develop MS occurred in first degree relatives of MS patients (OR = 12.58; 95% CI 1.73–552).Conclusion– Acknowledging the low figures, the uncertain estimates with large confidence intervals, and thus the obvious role of chance in this study, the results might indicate that a generalized, genetically controlled problem of the immune system could result in aggregates of the reported diseases, all of which are partly characterized by abberrations of

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00004.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Introduction– In the present study, the pattern of memory and learning deficits in two cognitively different, but clinically and demographically similar, multiple sclerosis (MS) groups was compared.Material&methods– 23 patients represented the cognitively preserved MS group and 22 patients the MS group with early cognitive decline. A control group of 35 healthy controls was also included. The cognitive status of the subjects was defined using the Mild Deterioration Battery (MDB). Furthermore, all subjects were given a set of memory and learning tests and were instructed to evaluate the frequency of their memory and learning difficulties. The Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) was also administered to all subjects.Results– The cognitively deteriorated patients, even those with normal MMSE performance, showed widespread memory and learning deficits, but adequate self‐evaluation of their everyday memory and learning difficulties. The preserved group, in turn, performed similarly to the controls.Conclusion– Widespread memory and learning deficits are associated with relatively mild cognitive decline in MS. These deficits were observable in the intermediate‐length screening battery, the MDB, but not in the MMSE. The present study suggests that the accuracy of patients’own evaluations of their memory and other cognitive problems is superior to the results of very brief screening batteries, like the MMSE. Therefore, brief screening in neuropsychological assessment of MS patients is no

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00005.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The value of quantitative electroencephalography (q‐EEG) in the differential diagnosis of multi‐infarct dementia (MID) and dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) is controversial. To evaluate the possible diagnostic role of q‐EEG in these two conditions we studied 18 healthy adults, 16 healthy elderly (HE), 29 DAT patients and 45 MID patients. MID patients showed a significant increase of delta activity on the occipital regions, a significant widespread increase of theta activity, a significant widespread decrease of alpha activity. DAT patients showed a significant widespread increase of delta and theta activity, a significant widespread decrease of alpha activity. Spectral profile analysis showed an asymptotic exponential peak frequency at 4.33 HZ, and the disappearance of dominant activity in DAT patients; a 1 Hz decrease of peak frequency with a preserved normal profile in MID patients. We conclude that q‐EEG is a useful ancillary test to differentiate MID f

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00006.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Introduction– Attentional deficits have been shown in Alzheimer's disease but it is unknown whether this reflects disease specific impairment or is present in other neurodegenerative disorders.Material&methods– We administered a verbal dichotic listening task (free recall and selective allocation to the left or right ear) to 17 patients with Alzheimer's disease, 19 patients with Huntington's disease, 10 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease with clinical evidence of dementia (DemPD), 22 non‐demented patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and 22 healthy controls. Patients with dementia were matched for dementia severity and performance in the 3 recall conditions was used as a measure of attentional capacity.Results– Patients with dementia (Alzheimer and Huntington patients, DemPD) were less accurate than those without dementia (PD and normal subjects). Demented subjects performed at comparable levels regardless of specific diagnosis; likewise those without dementia also achieved similar levels. All groups had a right ear preference under the free recall condition. Alzheimer and Huntington patients showed consistent right ear preference under all recall conditions, while PD patients, like controls, could selectively allocate attention to the left under left ear recall, regardless of the presence of dementia.Conclusion‐ The findings suggest a double dissociation. Non‐selective attentional processing is affected by dementia presence versus absence but not by specific disease, while selective attentional processing shows disease specific impairments, regardless of the presence

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00007.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

We used the NINDS‐AIREN criteria to diagnose vascular dementia (VD), and compared apolipoprotein E (apoE) allele frequencies and apoE concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between patients with possible (n=19) and probable (n = 33) VD and controls (n=105). There was no difference in apoE4 frequency between patients with probable VD and controls. Serum and CSF apoE concentrations did not differ between VD patients and contols. Our results suggest that apoE plays no role in the development of V

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00008.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Introduction– We performed a study of mortality from primary malignant brain tumors (PMBT) in the province of Bologna, Italy, during the years 1986 to 1988.Material and methods– The study was based on death certificates from the Cancer Registry of the province of Bologna. We verified death certificates for both false‐positive and false‐negative cases.Results– The crude mortality rate was 6.7/100,000 population per year. The age and sex‐adjusted mortality rate, standardized to the Italian population (Italy 81), was 5.34/100,000 (95% CI = 3.9 to 6.7).Conclusion– Our figures are higher than those previously reported in Italy, but are similar to values of incidence and mortality found in northern Europe and in

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00009.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Introduction– Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) often wake up at night due to pain and numbness of affected fingers and hand. We studied the sleep disorder caused by CTS.Subjects and methods– 34 consecutive patients referred for operative treatment of CTS answered to a sleep questionnaire and the results were compared to a stratified random sample of 1600 Finns aged 36–50 year, whose response rate to the mailed questionnaires was 75.2% (n=1186). Six CTS patients underwent a polygraphic sleep study before and after operative treatment of CTS.Results– CTS patients reported suffering from poor sleep quality, fragmentary sleep and daytime sleepiness more often than controls. Before operative treatment of CTS there were more nocturnal body movements (p<0.01) and awakenings lasted longer (p<0.05) than after operation. During preoperative sleep studies no drop in median nerve conduction was detected during awakenings.Conclusions– Patients with CTS suffer from fragmentary sleep. Although patients reported waking up for the pain or numbness of hands no impairment in median and ulnar nerve conduction could be observed during these awakenings. Operative treatment of hand entrapment significantly reduced the number of nocturnal

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00010.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY