Vitamin D receptor gene is epigenetically altered and transcriptionally up-regulated in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) and poor outcome. However, the specific role that vitamin D plays in MS still remains unknown. In order to identify potential mechanisms underlying vitamin D effects in MS, we profiled epigenetic changes in vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene to identify genomic regulatory elements relevant to MS pathogenesis.

Cortico-juxtacortical involvement increases risk of epileptic seizures in multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: Previous studies have reported an increased risk for epileptic seizures in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, data on the pathogenesis of seizures remain inconclusive. The aim of our study is to evaluate prevalence, clinical and paraclinical features of epileptic attacks in our MS cohort and to search MS-specific risk factors for epileptic seizures.

[Myasthenic crisis and Takotsubo syndrome: a non-chance relationship].

INTRODUCTION. Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a rare condition that mimics an acute myocardial infarction. It is associated with precordial pain, ST segment elevation, absence of coronary occlusion and reversible deformation of the left ventricle due to anteroapical dyskinesia that is reminiscent of a Japanese art of fishing octopuses (tako-tsubo).

Spasticity improvement in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis switching from interferon-β to glatiramer acetate: the Escala Study.

Background: A recent pilot study suggested spasticity improvement during glatiramer acetate (GA) treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who previously received interferon-β (IFN-β).

Objective: To evaluate changes in spasticity in MS patients switching from IFN-β to GA.

Methods: Observational, multicentre study in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and spasticity switching from IFN-β to GA.

[Spanish multi-centre observational study of the first attacks suggestive of multiple sclerosis: the PREM cohort].

Introduction: Recent studies have shown the need to optimise the management of patients after a first attack suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS). Our aim is to determine whether the results from follow-ups in these studies are reproducible within a Spanish multi-centre context.

Patients And Methods: The PREM study (observational prospective Spanish multi-centre study at 24 months) included patients in the first three months following a first event suggestive of MS with at least two typical lesions in a magnetic resonance scan.

[Rhombencephalitis caused by Listeria: clinical-radiological correlation].

Rhombencephalitis due to Listeria is a serious and infrequent infection of the brainstem. It principally affects subjects who were previously healthy. It shows itself clinically in two phases: the first with unspecific symptoms, which could last one week, and the second with the appearance of focal neurologic signs at the level of the brainstem.

[Internal carotid stenosis and giant cell arteritis].

We report on the case of a 69-year-old man admitted with a transient ischemic attack preceded by a two months history of severe headache. Giant cell arteritis was diagnosed by means of temporal artery biopsy. Angiography showed an intra- and extracranial stenosis of the left internal carotid artery.

Acute carotid obliteration: a new vascular manifestation in POEMS syndrome.

The case of a 65-year-old woman with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, skin changes and monoclonal gammopathy of IgG-lambda type is described. This patient developed an acute carotid obliteration during oral anticoagulation and despite absence of vascular risk factors. Macroangiopathy has been described as a rare systemic manifestation of POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal spike and skin changes), affecting the coronary and lower limbs arteries.

[Variation of Mini-Mental-State examination scores due to age and educational level. Normalized data in the population over 70 years of age in Pamplona].

The Mini-Mental-State Examination (MMSE) is widely used as a screening tool for dementia in epidemiological studies. Its applicability in population-based studies is nevertheless limited by its low specificity. The effect of age and educational level have been usually ignored when cut-off scores have been selected.

Bilateral pallidostriatal necrosis caused by a wasp sting: a clinical and pathological study.

A previously healthy man developed an acute encephalopathy with coma after a single wasp sting on his chin. Brain CT showed bilateral pallidostriatal radio-lucencies. He died 72 hours after the sting with no evidence of primary cardiorespiratory failure or allergic reaction.

Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and other dementing disorders in Pamplona, Spain.

We investigated the prevalence of dementing disorders in the city of Pamplona, Spain, using a door-to-door two-phase approach. We first administered the Cambridge Examination of Mental Disorders of the Elderly (CAMDEX) to all survivors, as of March 1, 1991, of a probability sample of the total population identified in 1989 (n = 1,127). Using specified diagnostic criteria, the study neurologists extensively investigated those subjects who screened positive on CAMDEX.

Temporal discrimination is abnormal in Parkinson's disease.

Temporal discrimination thresholds (TDT) for recognition of paired sensory (tactile, auditory and visual) stimuli given over a wide range of time intervals were assessed in 44 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 20 age-matched normal subjects. A significant increment in TDT for all three sensory modalities was found in PD patients compared with controls. This abnormality was greatly attenuated for about 2 h by a single levodopa/carbidopa (250/25 mg) tablet.

The anatomical basis of somaesthetic temporal discrimination in humans.

Somaesthetic temporal discrimination (STD) is the ability to perceive as separate two successive somaesthetic stimuli applied to the same or different parts of the body. Paired electrical stimuli were applied to the index finger, using different time-intervals, to study the STD threshold (STDT) in 84 normal subjects and 51 patients with focal cerebral lesions. Abnormal STDT values were found on the affected side of patients with a lesion of the primary somatosensory cortex, and internal capsulethalamus.

[Brain photon emission tomography. Value of the corticocerebellar index and gammagraphic patterns in Alzheimer's disease and other diseases].

Brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc-HMPAO is a diagnostic tool for evaluating regional cerebral blood flow. Recently, the diagnostic possibilities of the method are being investigated in some neurologic disorders, such as cerebrovascular accidents, seizures and dementia. This work has been carried out with 54 subjects, 9 healthy volunteers and 45 patients (31 dementia and 14 epileptics), in order to evaluate gammagraphic patterns and the utility of cortico/cerebellar activity indexes.