fMRI and acoustic analyses reveal neural correlates of gestural complexity and articulatory effort within bilateral inferior frontal gyrus during speech production.

In an event-related fMRI study of overt speech production, we investigated the relationship between gestural complexity and underlying brain activity within bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). We operationalized gestural complexity as the number of active articulatory tiers (glottal, oral, nasal) and the degree of fine-grained temporal coordination between tiers (low, high). Forty-three neurotypical participants produced three types of highly-frequent non-word CV-syllable sequences, which differ systematically in gestural complexity (simple: ['dadada], intermediate: ['tatata], complex: ['nanana]).

Evaluation of Phonatory Behavior and Voice Quality in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Treated with Deep Brain Stimulation.

Objectives: The effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on phonatory behavior and voice quality in eight patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was examined instrumentally and perceptually. The acoustic signals of vowel productions obtained from patients (produced with and without stimulation) and from a group of 16 healthy control speakers were analyzed to prove statistically the changes of phonatory behavior and voice quality.

Study Design: This is a randomized study.

Prospective study of p-[123I]iodo-L-phenylalanine and SPECT for the evaluation of newly diagnosed cerebral lesions: specific confirmation of glioma.

Purpose: The differentiation between gliomas, metastases and gliotic or inflammatory lesions by imaging techniques remains a challenge. Gliomas frequently exhibit increased uptake of radiolabelled amino acids and are thus amenable to PET or SPECT imaging. Recently, p-[123I]iodo-L-phenylalanine (IPA) was validated for the visualization of glioma by SPECT and received orphan drug status.

Effect of bilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus on different speech subsystems in patients with Parkinson's disease.

The effect of deep brain stimulation on the two speech-production subsystems, articulation and phonation, of nine Parkinsonian patients is examined. Production parameters (stop closure voicing; stop closure, VOT, vowel) in fast syllable-repetitions were defined and measured and quantitative, objective metrics of vocal fold function were obtained during vowel production. Speech material was recorded for patients (with and without stimulation) and for a reference group of healthy control speakers.

Intra-individual comparison of p-[123I]-iodo-L-phenylalanine and L-3-[123I]-iodo-alpha-methyl-tyrosine for SPECT imaging of gliomas.

Objectives: Radioactive amino-acids accumulate in gliomas even with an intact blood-brain-barrier. L-3-[(123)I]-iodo-alpha-methyl-tyrosine (IMT) is well established for SPECT imaging of gliomas. Recently, we introduced p-[(123)I]-iodo-L-phenylalanine (IPA) for the characterisation of brain lesions.

A randomized trial of deep-brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease.

Background: Neurostimulation of the subthalamic nucleus reduces levodopa-related motor complications in advanced Parkinson's disease. We compared this treatment plus medication with medical management.

Methods: In this randomized-pairs trial, we enrolled 156 patients with advanced Parkinson's disease and severe motor symptoms.

Effect of deep brain stimulation on different speech subsystems in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The effect of deep brain stimulation on articulation and phonation subsystems in seven patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was examined. Production parameters in fast syllable-repetitions were defined and measured, and the phonation quality during vowel productions was analyzed. Speech material was recorded for patients (with and without stimulation) and for a group of healthy control speakers.

Validation of brain tumour imaging with p-[123I]iodo-L-phenylalanine and SPECT.

Purpose: The aims of this prospective study were to validate single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with p-[(123)I]iodo-L-phenylalanine (IPA) in brain tumours and to evaluate its potential for the characterisation of indeterminate brain lesions.

Methods: In 45 patients with indeterminate brain lesions or suspected progression of glioma, amino acid uptake was studied using IPA-SPECT and compared with the final diagnosis established by biopsy or serial imaging. After image fusion of IPA-SPECT and magnetic resonance imaging, the presence of tumour was visually determined by two independent observers.

Peroperative transcranial sonography for electrode placement into the targeted subthalamic nucleus of patients with Parkinson disease: technical note.

Background: In the search for a better preoperative knowledge of the position of probes and electrodes, we assessed the feasibility and the usefulness of transcranial sonography during surgery for the implantation of stimulation electrodes into the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Methods: Transcranial sonography was carried out during stereotactic surgery in 8 patients with Parkinson's disease who had a suitable temporal bone window on the side receiving the electrode. Test stimulation parameters were 130 Hz, 0.

Improvement of upper limb ataxia and intention tremor allowing cessation of thalamic electrostimulation after four years.

A 34-year-old female patient suffering from multiple sclerosis was treated with thalamic electrostimulation for right dominant brachial ataxia and intention tremor. At the end of the fourth year, the energy of the battery of the impulse generator was depleted. However, the patient was able to use her hands without major impairment with the stimulator OFF; due to a stable reduction of the degree of ataxia and intention tremor.

Bilateral high-frequency electrical impulses to the thalamus reduce voice tremor: acoustic and electroglottographic analysis. A case report.

An 81-year-old female patient suffering from disabling Holmes' tremor affecting both upper extremities, the head and additionally the vocal apparatus underwent bilateral thalamic ventralis intermedius nucleus (v.i.m.

[Effect of deep brain stimulation on glottal phonation in patients with Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis].

The present study examines the effect of neurostimulatory operations on glottal phonation of 3 parkinsonian patients and 3 patients with multiple sclerosis. With the help of two voice analysis programs (MDVP from Kay Elemetrics and EEG Program by Marasek) for the acoustic and electroglottographic definition of voice characteristics, vowel productions of the patients, which were recorded under two conditions (with and without stimulation), were analysed. In a first step, significantly different intrasubject means in the two conditions indicate the effect of neurostimulation.

Comparison of tc-99m depreotide and in-111 octreotide in recurrent meningioma.

Purpose: For more than a decade, In-111 octreotide has been known to accumulate in meningiomas as a result of the expression of subtype 2 somatostatin receptors. Improved imaging characteristics can be expected with the recently developed radiotracer Tc-99m depreotide, which also binds to subtype 2 somatostatin receptors.

Materials And Methods: The authors examined a patient with intraorbital and extracranial recurrent meningioma using SPECT with Tc-99m depreotide and In-111 octreotide.

Clinical value of iodine-123-alpha-methyl-L-tyrosine single-photon emission tomography in the differential diagnosis of recurrent brain tumor in patients pretreated for glioma at follow-up.

Purpose: To assess the clinical potential of iodine-123-alpha-methyl-L-tyrosine (IMT) and single-photon emission tomography (SPET) in the differential diagnosis of recurrences in patients pretreated for gliomas at follow-up.

Patients And Methods: Seventy-eight patients were examined after primary therapy over 36 months. Histopathologic diagnoses of all patients was known at first treatment; magnetic resonance and/or computed tomography examination was performed in addition to IMT-SPET.