Oral function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: A matched case-control study.

Background & Aims: Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) develop swallowing difficulties with the progression of the disease. The present study aimed at comparing oral function and body composition between ALS patients and healthy controls, and at evaluating which parameters are the most discriminant between both groups.

Methods: We included ALS patients at the start of their multidisciplinary follow-up at the Geneva University Hospitals and healthy age-, gender-, and dental status-matched adults.

[The role of the primary care physician in the evolution of a care model in a medico-educational establishment].

Following the retirement of the referring physician of an institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (DID), the residents found themselves without a general internist. A joint reflection then took place between four actors concerned by the subject: the management of the institution, the health department, Valais hospital and the family and child physician canton branch. At the end of the project, the primary care physician is found to be central to caseload management.

Early advance care planning in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: results of a systematic intervention by a palliative care team in a multidisciplinary management programme - a 4-year cohort study.

Introduction: Although recommended, the implementation of early advance care planning is suboptimal in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Barriers to advance care planning include healthcare professionals’ and patients’ reluctance, and uncertainty about the right time to initiate a discussion.

Aim Of The Study: To determine how often advance care planning was initiated, and the content of the discussion in a first routine palliative care consultation integrated within a multidisciplinary management programme.

[Top 5 somatic problems of people suffering from mental disabilities with behavioral disorders].

Behavioural disorders in adults with mental disabilities are very common and represent a diagnostic challenge. In fact, they often hide a somatic problem, which is more frequent in this population compared to the general population. These somatic symptoms may cause or enhance psychiatric symptoms.

Multidisciplinary care in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a 4-year longitudinal observational study.

Over a four-year period, ALS patients complied with the modalities of the multidisciplinary management follow-up without any drop-outs. The multidisciplinary management structure also contributes to increasing the experience and knowledge of the clinicians involved in managing patients suffering from this rare disease.

[Intensive psychosocial medicine in primary care : some practical tools].

The psychosocial crisis is a frequent problem. Because of its complexity and variable nature, it can exceed the resources (administrative, communication) available to the family doctor in his daily practice. It requires specific tools in order to take care of the patient as a whole and identify the main issues.

Assessing Inspiratory Muscle Strength for Early Detection of Respiratory Failure in Motor Neuron Disease: Should We Use MIP, SNIP, or Both?

Background: Motor neuron disease (MND) invariably impacts on inspiratory muscle strength leading to respiratory failure. Regular assessment of sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) and/or maximal mouth inspiratory pressure (MIP) contributes to early detection of a requirement for ventilatory support.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the feasibility, agreement, and performance of both tests in MND.

Epilepsy and tobacco smoking: a cross-sectional study.

There is little data concerning the prevalence of smoking in the population of people with epilepsy. The present study addresses this aspect in a sample of 429 unselected adults with epilepsy living in French-speaking Switzerland. The criterion of at least one cigarette per day for the past 6 months was used to define the status of "current" smoker.

Gait Performance and Use of Mental Imagery as a Measure of Disease Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Objective: Gait and balance are key determinants of disease status in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aims at testing the relationship between the imagery of gait and disability in patients with ALS.

Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients (63.

A child with ictal vocalizations and generalized epilepsy.

Ictal vocalizations in the form of both articulate speech and non-speech vocalizations have been described in focal epilepsies, with seizures originating mainly from the frontal and temporal lobe, however, this phenomenon has not been described in generalized epilepsies. We report the case of an adolescent boy with juvenile-onset generalized epilepsy who presented with ictal "ovine vocalizations" (resembling the bleating of sheep). The ictal EEG revealed a clear correlate of vocalizations with time-locked generalized spikes and polyspike discharges.

Is tracheostomy still an option in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? Reflections of a multidisciplinary work group.

Question Under Study: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with a poor prognosis. Survival and quality of life of ALS patients have improved through the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches, the use of percutaneous gastrostomy and of noninvasive (NIV) or invasive ventilation. The question of whether or not to propose invasive ventilation (by tracheostomy: TPPV) to ALS patients remains a matter of debate.

Antibody-mediated status epilepticus: a retrospective multicenter survey.

Background: In recent years, an increasing number of auto-antibodies (AB) have been detected in the CSF and serum of patients with new onset epilepsy. Some of these patients develop convulsive or nonconvulsive status epilepticus (AB-SE), necessitating intensive medical care and administration of multiple antiepileptic and immunomodulatory treatments of uncertain effectiveness.

Objectives: In this retrospective multicenter survey we aimed to determine the spectrum of gravity, the duration and the prognosis of the disorder.