Facial nerve grading instruments: systematic review of the literature and suggestion for uniformity.

Background: A variety of facial nerve grading scales have been developed over the years with the intended goals of objectively documenting facial nerve function,tracking recovery, and facilitating communication between practitioners. Numerous scales have been proposed; however, all are subject to limitation because of varying degrees of subjectivity, reliability, or longitudinal applicability. At present, such scales remain the only widely accessible modalities for facial functional assessment.

Regional grey and white matter volumetric changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome): a voxel-based morphometry 3 T MRI study.

Objective: It is not established whether myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is associated with structural brain changes. The aim of this study was to investigate this by conducting the largest voxel-based morphometry study to date in CFS.

Methods: High-resolution structural 3 T cerebral MRI scanning was carried out in 26 patients with CFS and 26 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers.

Increased tenderness in the left third intercostal space in adult patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis: a controlled study.

A clinical sign has not thus far been associated with myalgic encephalo myelitis (ME). The present study involved systematic clinical examination that included inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation of the thorax of 42 ME patients and 20 age-matched healthy controls while sitting. Left lateral third intercostal space tenderness was noted in 34 (81%) of the patients and in none of the controls, a difference that was highly statistically significant.

Osteophyte-induced rupture of a scalp tissue expander.

Tissue expansion is in widespread use for the reconstruction of congenital and acquired defects. Complications of tissue expansion are well documented, the most common being infection or extrusion of the expander. Although the complications associated with scalp tissue expansion are similar to those experienced elsewhere in the body, site-specific complications can occur.