Validation of the classification criteria for cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate the classification criteria for cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (CV).

Methods: Twenty-three centres were involved. New patients with CV (group A) and controls, i.

Dietary and lifestyle variables in relation to incidence of Parkinson's disease in Greece.

Identification of dietary and lifestyle variables associated with the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) may offer pathogenetic clues and prevention opportunities. In a population-based prospective cohort study, 26,173 participants in the EPIC-Greece cohort had sociodemographic, anthropometric, medical, dietary and lifestyle variables ascertained at enrolment and periodically reassessed with follow-up contacts. Based on these data, subjects were screened as possible PD cases if they (1) reported either a medical diagnosis of PD or use of anti-PD drugs and (2) did not report preceding causes of secondary parkinsonism.

Differences in EEG delta frequency characteristics and patterns in slow-wave sleep between dementia patients and controls: a pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate the modifications of EEG activity during slow-wave sleep in patients with dementia compared with healthy elderly subjects, using spectral analysis and period-amplitude analysis.

Methods: Five patients with dementia and 5 elderly control subjects underwent night polysomnographic recordings. For each of the first three nonrapid eye movement-rapid eye movement sleep cycles, a well-defined slow-wave sleep portion was chosen.

Co-segregation of Huntington disease and hereditary spastic paraplegia in 4 generations.

Introduction: Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by choreic hyperkinesias, cognitive decline, and psychiatric manifestations, caused by an increased number of CAG repeats in the IT15 gene on chromosome 4p16.3. Silver syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant form of complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia, characterized by lower limb spasticity in addition to amyotrophy of the small muscles of the hands.

Sensorineural hearing loss complicating severe rickettsial diseases: report of two cases.

Sub-acute focal neurological manifestations are reported rarely in systemic rickettsial diseases and are considered to be secondary to immune-mediated mechanisms. We present two cases of transient sensorineural hearing loss complicating the course of severe rickettsial diseases caused by Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia conorii, respectively. The diagnosis was based on the presence of high IgM antibodies and the prompt response to doxycycline treatment.

Psychosis as presenting symptom in adult-onset Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome.

Background: Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome is characterized by pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs, and dysarthria and dementia. Psychiatric symptomatology can emerge in the course of the disorder. Mutations in the pantothenate kinase 2 gene have been found in many cases.