Posterior cortical atrophy with prominent alexia without agraphia in a Tourette syndrome.

We report for the first time a patient with childhood-onset Tourette's syndrome (TS) who developed alexia without agraphia, acalculia, visual agnosia for objects and faces, and preserved mnesic functions in older age. Neuroimaging studies demonstrated temporo-parieto-occipital cortical atrophy and fronto-temporo-parieto-occipital hypometabolism, both more prominent on the left side. This case fulfils the diagnostic criteria of posterior cortical atrophy (PCA).

Relationships between constructional and visuospatial abilities in normal subjects and in focal brain-damaged patients.

We tested 125 normal subjects and 24 right and 22 left focal brain-damaged patients (RBD and LBD) on the Rey figure copying test and on a battery of perceptual and representational visuospatial tasks, in search of relationships between constructional and visuospatial abilities. Selected RBD and LBD were not affected by severe aphasia, unilateral spatial neglect or general intellectual defects. Both RBD and LBD showed defective performances on the constructional task with respect to normal subjects.

Aphasia as a rare presentation of monosymptomatic demyelinating disease: case report and review of the literature.

We present a case of sudden-onset aphasia due to a single pathological lesion, which at neuroradiological imaging studies was suggestive of glioma, while on biopsy proved be of demyelinating nature. Every cause of demyelinating lesions of the central nervous system was considered in the differential diagnosis, concluding for a primary demyelinating disease. The clinical and radiological differences between multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis are discussed.

In vivo determination of root canal length: a preliminary report using the Tri Auto ZX apex-locating handpiece.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical perfomance of a cordless handpiece with a built-in apex locator - the Tri Auto ZX - designed for root canal preparation with nickel-titanium rotary files.

Methodology: Twenty-five human maxillary incisor and canine teeth scheduled for extraction with mature apices were selected for the study. Informed written consent was obtained from each patient before treatment.

Do visuospatial and constructional disturbances differentiate frontal variant of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease? an experimental study of a clinical belief.

Background: In recent years several attempts have been made to distinguish frontotemporal dementia (FTD) from Alzheimer's disease (AD) on neuropsychological grounds; in particular, it has been suggested that FTD patients show spared spatial abilities with respect to AD patients.

Objective: We aimed at verifying whether patients with the frontal variant of frontotemporal dementia (fv-FTD) and AD patients perform differently on visuospatial and constructional tasks.

Methods: We assessed a wide range of visuospatial abilities and provided a qualitative analysis of constructional performances in 14 fv-FTD patients and 11 AD patients, matched for general cognitive abilities.