Validation of the Finnish Version of the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale.

Introduction: The Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UDysRS) was developed to provide a comprehensive rating tool of dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease (PD). Because dyskinesia therapy trials involve multicenter studies, having a scale that is validated in multiple non-English languages is pivotal to international efforts to treat dyskinesia. The aim of the present study was to organize and perform an independent validation of the UDysRS Finnish version.

Reappearance of Symptoms after GPi-DBS Discontinuation in Cervical Dystonia.

Background: Deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus interna (GPi-DBS) is a highly efficacious treatment for cervical dystonia. Typically, the treatment response is delayed, appearing and increasing even months after implantation. However, it is not known how fast the symptoms reappear and whether there is a long-term therapeutic effect after the stimulation is discontinued.

Deep brain stimulation for monogenic Parkinson's disease: a systematic review.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. The key DBS efficacy studies were performed in PD patients with unknown genotypes; however, given the estimated monogenic mutation prevalence of approximately 5-10%, most commonly LRRK2, PRKN, PINK1 and SNCA, and risk-increasing genetic factors such as GBA, proper characterization is becoming increasingly relevant. We performed a systematic review of 46 studies that reported DBS effects in 221 genetic PD patients.

Steroid-responsive encephalopathy with a peculiar CSF biomarker profile in an 89-year-old man.

Being treatable, steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT), or Hashimoto's encephalopathy, should be distinguished from untreatable conditions. Our patient was a previously healthy 89-year-old man, who presented with cognitive and balance deterioration over several months. His cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination was positive for protein 14-3-3 but no other test suggested Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease.

Prevalence of life-supporting prolonged invasive ventilation support in Finland.

Background: There is no comprehensive data in our country on the prevalence of life-supporting prolonged invasive ventilation support. The objective of the survey was to clarify in all hospital districts of continental Finland the prevalence of patients who were dependent on invasive ventilation support, and the disease leading to the treatment.

Patients And Methods: The KOTIVEHNO 2015 survey was carried out as population-based cross-sectional study by sending a questionnaire to all doctors in charge of prolonged invasive ventilation support.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Does Not Correlate with Risk for Maternal Breast Cancer: Results from the Finnish Maternity Cohort.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is necessary for the maintenance of early pregnancy and promotes normal breast cell differentiation. Administered hCG reduces risk of carcinogen-induced breast cancer in animal models, and higher circulating hCG concentrations were associated with significantly lower long-term risk of breast cancer in a prior nested case-control study. In this study, we investigated early-pregnancy hCG concentrations and subsequent breast cancer risk.

Recurrent paraparesis and death of a patient with 'whippet' abuse.

Nitrous oxide is increasingly used as a recreational drug that is easily and legally available worldwide. Occasional nitrous oxide use has been considered relatively safe without the development of addiction or major adverse effects. However, heavy long-term nitrous oxide abuse can be associated with severe neurological complications, and even deaths have been described.

Etiology, diagnostics and treatment of cardiogenic stroke.

Approximately 15 to 40% of cerebral infarctions and transient ischemic attacks (TIA) are of cardiac origin. Knowledge of a significant cardiac disease arouses the suspicion of cardiogenic embolism, but its diagnosis requires identification of the source of embolism. Atrial fibrillation is the most common cause of cardiogenic embolism, and should be actively sought after an ischemic cerebrovascular attact.

Hypermetabolism of Olivary Nuclei in a Patient with Progressive Ataxia and Palatal Tremor.

Background: The pathophysiology of the movement disorder progressive ataxia with palatal tremor (PAPT) is unclear.

Case Report: A 77-year-old male presented with dysarthria, ataxia, and 1-2 Hz palatal tremor. A diagnosis of probable sporadic PAPT was established.

[Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and respiratory insufficiency].

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease causing degeneration of motor neurons, without any curative treatment. The most common cause of death is respiratory arrest due to atrophy of the respiratory musculature. ALS-associated respiratory insufficiency differs in mechanism from the more common causes of dyspnea, such as diseases of pulmonary or cardiac origin.

[Phenotype and incidence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Finland in 1997-2013].

Introduction: The incidence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in Finland in 1974-1989 was reported to be 0.6/1 000 000. Our aim was to compare the current incidence of CJD in Finland with the earlier incidence and also study the diagnostics of the disease.

Extracellular enzyme activities and nutrient availability during artificial groundwater recharge.

Natural organic matter (NOM) removal is the main objective of artificial groundwater recharge (AGR) for drinking water production and biodegradation plays a substantial role in this process. This study focused on the biodegradation of NOM and nutrient availability for microorganisms in AGR by the determination of extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs) and nutrient concentrations along a flow path in an AGR aquifer (Tuusula Water Works, Finland). Natural groundwater in the same area but outside the influence of recharge was used as a reference.

Neutropenic infections add significant costs to palliative chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Background: The key clinical question in treating cancer patients for palliation is balancing issues on efficacy, toxicity and cost. The costs of chemotherapy have risen substantially during recent years, yet many patients are treated even at the end of their life with unresponsive cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the additional treatment costs during six months on chemotherapy to manage toxicity.