Distal motor latency and residual latency as sensitive markers of anti-MAG polyneuropathy.

There is debate whether the terminal latency index (TLI) is a sensitive marker for polyneuropathy with anti-myelin-associated-glycoprotein antibodies (anti-MAGP). We examined 6 patients with an anti-MAGP and 6 patients with a chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The electroneurographic features studied were: distal compound motor action potential (CMAP), distal motor latency (DML), motor conduction velocity (MCV) elbow to wrist (distal MCV), MCV axilla to elbow (proximal MCV), MCV distal/proximal, terminal latency index (TLI), residual latency (RL), F-wave, and modified F ratio.

[Actual aspects of myasthenia gravis treatment].

This paper reviews treatment strategies of myasthenia gravis (MG) that are currently in use: 1. enhancement of neuromuscular transmission with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors; 2. short-term immunotherapies, including plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy; 3.

[Immunopathology and treatments of Guillain-Barré syndrome and of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy].

The concepts of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) have changed over the last decade. The spectrum of GBS ranges from acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy to pure motor, sensory-motor or bulbar variants and the Miller Fisher syndrome. Also CIDP includes different variants in addition to the typical clinical picture with symmetrical proximal and distal weakness, such as a form with predominant distal weakness, a pure sensory form, an asymmetric form and a form with predominant cranial nerve involvement.

[Neurological complications of HIV infection. Review: new diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic aspects].

About one third of patients with HIV infection show neurological complications with considerable morbidity and high mortality. This is an actualized review of the most important neurological manifestations resulting from primary HIV infection, from secondary opportunistic infections, or as complications of antiretroviral therapy. The primary neurological manifestations, including HIV-associated dementia complex, myelopathies, peripheral neuropathies and myopathies, the more common opportunistic infections, primary central nervous system lymphoma and cerebrovascular diseases, are discussed in the light of new evidence in diagnosis, therapy and prognosis.

[Intermittent paraparesis as manifestation of a bilateral chronic subdural hematoma].

Chronic subdural haematomas are mainly related to slight or moderate head trauma with consecutive lesion of bridge or cortical veins and bleeding in the subdural space. Further predisposing factors are known impairment of coagulation (coagulopathies, treatment with anticoagulants, alcohol abuse), risk factors for degenerative disease of the arteries (diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension), and development of pressure gradients (hydrocephalus, epileptic seizures, lumbar puncture, CSF drainage and cerebral atrophy). Chronic subdural haematomas appear bilaterally in 20 to 25% of cases.

Visual disturbances and transurethral resection of the prostate: the TURP syndrome.

A 73-year-old man with a history of a cerebral and a cardiac vascular disease and atrial flutter developed visual disturbances characterized by vision being dark in both eyes and by seeing as through a color photographic negative immediately after an uncomplicated transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for prostatic hyperplasia under spinal anesthesia. There was complete remission of the symptomatology after 2.5 h.

[Neurology at the threshold of the 21st century].

In the controversial field of a continuously changing neurology with the problem of rising medical costs, the perspectives of modern neurology at the beginning of a new century are described by four aspects: 1. Relatively new are the studies of neuropsychiatric symptoms in neurologic diseases. An immediate diagnosis and treatment of these symptoms can improve the outcome of the neurologic disease.

[Neurosarcoidosis of the central nervous system. Analysis of the long-term follow-up of 8 cases].

We present retrospective and follow-up data of eight patients with sarcoidosis involving the central nervous system (CNS). The diagnosis was established definitely by histological evidence in seven cases. Biopsies were taken directly from the CNS or the covering meninges in two of them.

Pamidronate for pain control in patients with malignant osteolytic bone disease: a prospective dose-effect study.

In a prospective dose-escalation study tolerability and effectiveness of repeated infusions with intravenous pamidronate were investigated. A total of 80 patients with proven malignancy and pain due to osteolytic bone disease were enrolled. Doses of 30 mg, 45 mg, 60 mg and 90 mg pamidronate, given every 4 weeks, 3 weeks or 2 weeks were tested.

Attitudes of Swiss physicians in prescribing opiates for cancer pain.

Following clinical observations showing that opiates are sometimes not consistently administered for chronic cancer pain, a survey was conducted among 1200 physicians in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Their opium-prescribing habits were assessed by means of a postal questionnaire. The results indicate that, among the majority of physicians completing the questionnaire, established guidelines and basic principles of pain control with opiates in cancer patients are largely understood.

[Chronic tumor pain and opiates: a survey of prescription practice among physicians of German-speaking Switzerland].

Motivated by clinical experience that opioids are still not administered adequately in cancer pain, a survey about their use involving 1200 physicians of the German-speaking part of Switzerland was conducted. The results confirm that a part of the treating physicians uses opioids not rationally, but that the majority follows established guidelines in the treatment of cancer pain. The results are compared and discussed with the current literature on the management of cancer pain.

Preliminary results of a study assessing asthenia and related psychological and biological phenomena in patients with advanced cancer.

Asthenia is a very common symptom of patients with advanced cancer, but its investigation is hindered by a lack of suitable validated measuring instruments. The goal of the present study was to construct and validate a questionnaire for the study of asthenia in cancer patients, as well as to establish correlations with other symptoms and physiological and biochemical parameters. A group of 31 patients with advanced cancer and a control group of 30 healthy volunteers were examined.