Swallowing in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia.

Background: Swallowing and feeding problems may occur with the progression of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and can impair the anticipatory and oral preparatory phases of swallowing.

Objective: To characterize swallowing problems and the feeding situation of patients with bvFTD and to correlate the swallowing problems with functionality, executive functions, cognitive and behavioral features.

Methods: Consecutive outpatients with bvFTD in mild, moderate and severe dementia stages were recruited along with their caregivers.

Restless legs syndrome is highly prevalent in patients with post-polio syndrome.

Objective: Few studies have quantified the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with post-polio syndrome (PPS). Our objective was to assess the prevalence and severity of RLS in patients with PPS and to examine the demographic characteristics of this population.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from April 2010 to May 2012 at the outpatient Neuromuscular Disorders clinic of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Swallowing in primary progressive aphasia.

Background: Few studies have described characteristics of swallowing in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and its variants.

Objective: To describe and characterize swallowing and eating behaviors of patients with PPA, as well as their correlates with neuropsychiatric symptoms and patterns of communication.

Methods: We studied 16 patients with PPA and 16 their caregivers.

Circadian variation of fatigue in both patients with paralytic poliomyelitis and post-polio syndrome.

Objective: It was to evaluate the degree of fatigue in patients with paralytic poliomyelitis (PP) and with post-polio syndrome (PPS), and correlate it with parameters of sleep and the circadian cycle.

Methods: Thirty patients, 17 female (56.7%), participated in the study: they answered the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale and performed a nocturnal polysomnographic study.

Frequency and clinical manifestations of post-poliomyelitis syndrome in a Brazilian tertiary care center.

Objective: To determine the frequency and clinical manifestations of patients with post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS) in a Brazilian division of neuromuscular disorders.

Methods: A total of 167 patients with prior history of paralytic poliomyelitis was investigated for PPS, based on international diagnostic criteria. Other variables analyzed were: gender, race, age at poliomyelitis infection, age at PPS onset, and PPS symptoms.

Clinical correlates of the restless legs syndrome.

Objective: To determine the clinical correlates of the restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a Brazilian sleep disorders center.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 118 patients with RLS from January, 2004, to December, 2010. The analyzed variables were: age at disease onset, gender, race, years of school instruction, primary and secondary RLS, and treatment options.

Epidemiology of primary and secondary headaches in a Brazilian tertiary-care center.

Objective: To analyze the demographic features of the population sample, the time of headache complaint until first consultation and the diagnosis of primary and secondary headaches.

Method: 3328 patients were analyzed retrospectively and divided according to gender, age, race, school instruction, onset of headache until first consultation and diagnosis(ICHD-II, 2004).

Results: Sex ratio (Female/Male) was 4:1, and the mean age was 40.