Cardiac sympathetic denervation in symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers of the E46K mutation in the α synuclein gene.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze autonomic function and cardiac sympathetic innervation in symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers of the E46K alpha-synuclein gene (SNCA) mutation.

Patients And Methods: Autonomic function tests were performed in six patients, four of whom were symptomatic carriers (ages: 46, 59, 52 and 28-years) and two who were asymptomatic carriers (ages: 52 and 29 years). Autopsy studies were performed on an additional two symptomatic carriers not eligible for autonomic testing.

Impact of preventive therapy with nadolol and topiramate on the quality of life of migraine patients.

Preventive therapy is aimed at reducing migraine frequency, but should also improve the much deteriorated quality of life of the migraneur. We aimed to evaluate the impact of preventive therapy with two widely employed drugs (topiramate and nadolol) on the quality of life of migraine patients. A population of consecutive migraineurs aged > or = 16 years, with frequent migraines, was selected prospectively for evaluation at baseline and after 16 weeks of therapy with nadolol or topiramate (40 mg and 100 mg daily, respectively) by generic and specific quality of life questionnaires (SF-36 and MSQOL) and by an anxiety and depression scale (HADS).

Analysis of the reasons for exclusion from tPA therapy after early arrival in acute stroke patients.

Objective: Only a small percentage of patients with acute stroke receive thrombolytic therapy, mainly due to late hospital arrival. Factors excluding those who arrive within 3h after stroke onset are less well known.

Patients And Methods: During the first year after implementing a protocol for stroke thrombolysis, we prospectively evaluated all patients with stroke admitted to our center within 3h from onset.

Migraine-associated seizures with recurrent and reversible magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities.

Migraine and epilepsy are highly comorbid, but the nature of their association remains unclear. Exceptionally, reversible brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities following migraine and seizures have been reported. There are no descriptions, however, of patients with recurrent brain MRI changes.

[Postoperative bilateral brachial plexopathy mimicking the "man-in-the-barrel" syndrome].

We describe a patient with a postoperative bilateral upper limb palsy due to involvement of the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. The weakness distribution (bilateral upper limb paresis without leg involvement) reminded of the classic "man-in-the-barrel" syndrome, which is usually due to bilateral watershed infarcts of the brain in relation with severe hypotension. Bilateral postoperative brachial plexopathies are very uncommon and should be distinguished from the "man-in-the-barrel" syndrome of "central" origin, since the former bears a much better prognosis and management is different.