Ethnic variations in risk factor profile, pattern and recurrence of non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke.

Background: Ischemic stroke is influenced by ethnic and geographical variations. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factor profiles, subtypes and recurrence of non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke for the two largest subpopulations, the Arab and South Asians, at the only stroke-admitting hospital in Qatar.

Methods: Data on stroke patients admitted to Hamad Medical Corporation from January through December 2001 were reviewed in January 2005.

Downbeat nystagmus following classical heat stroke.

Cerebellar syndrome following classical heat stroke is rare. We report a case of a 39-year-old man who presented with a cerebellar syndrome including downbeat nystagmus. MRI taken after 3 days of admission was normal.

Schwannoma of the vestibulocochlear nerve presenting as isolated paroxysmal vertigo.

We report a patient with a schwannoma of the eighth cranial (vestibulocochlear) nerve who presented with isolated episodes of paroxysmal vertigo and positive Dix-Hallpike maneuver, and without the common features of hearing loss, disequilibrium and tinnitus. There are no previous reports of paroxysmal episodes of vertigo as the sole manifestation of schwannoma of the vestibulocochlear nerve. Hence, recurrent paroxysmal vertigo should therefore prompt the physician to rule out schwannoma of the vestibulocochlear nerve as a potential cause even in the presence of normal hearing tests.

"Man-in-the-barrel" syndrome as delayed manifestation of extrapontine and central pontine myelinolysis: beneficial effect of intravenous immunoglobulin.

"Man-in-the-barrel" syndrome has been rarely described following osmotic myelinolysis. We report a case of a 45-year-old woman admitted with septicemia and severe hyponatremia. She presented with a "man-in-the-barrel" syndrome which developed more than 10 days after rapid correction of the hyponatremia.