Standard method for developing stroke registers in low-income and middle-income countries: experiences from a feasibility study of a stepwise approach to stroke surveillance (STEPS Stroke).

Background: Stroke is a leading global cause of death, with an estimated 5.8 million fatal events in 2005, two-thirds of which happened in low-income and middle-income countries. In these regions, epidemiological methods to establish hospital-based stroke registers for clinical audit or studies to estimate incidence are scarce.

High incidence of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in south India.

During 1983-7 a clinical diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) was confirmed by the detection of measles virus haemagglutination inhibiting antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 81 subjects resident in Tamilnadu. The antibody titre (reciprocol of the end-point dilution) in the CSF ranged from 2 to 32 and in the sera from 8 to 2048. The CSF:serum ratios of titres were 1:4-1:64 in 80 cases and 1:128 in one case.

Plasma lactate in anterior horn cell disease.

This communication reports biochemical findings in 7 patients with anterior horn cell disease. The diagnosis was confirmed by evidence of denervation in the EMG and mukle biopsy with normal motor conduction velocities. In 4 of these patients, upper extremities were involved in a symmetrical fashion.

Anterior horn cell disease seen in South India.

Thirty-two patients with clinical evidence of anterior horn cell dysfunction are descirbed. This group of patients could be divided into those with bulbar dysfunction, and those without. Eighth cranial nerve involvement was seen in 10%.