Listeria monocytogenes meningoencephalitis in adults: analysis of factors related to unfavourable outcome.

Purpose: To analyse the short-term outcome in patients with Listeria monocytogenes meningoencephalitis (LMME) to improve management and outcome.

Methods: Observational study with adult patients with LMME between 1977 and 2009 at a tertiary hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Parameters that predicted outcome were assessed with univariate and logistic regression analysis.

Analysis of stroke care resources in Spain in 2012: have we benefitted from the Spanish Health System's stroke care strategy?

Introduction: The Spanish Health System's stroke care strategy (EISNS) is a consensus statement that was drawn up by various government bodies and scientific societies with the aim of improving quality throughout the care process and ensuring equality among regions. Our objective is to analyse existing healthcare resources and establish whether they have met EISNS targets.

Material And Methods: The survey on available resources was conducted by a committee of neurologists representing each of Spain's regions; the same committee also conducted the survey of 2008.

Health care resources for stroke patients in Spain, 2010: analysis of a national survey by the Cerebrovascular Diseases Study Group.

Introduction: Stroke is currently a major social health problem. For this reason, the Spanish Ministry of Health approved the Stroke National Strategy (SNS) in 2008 to improve the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of stroke patients. This plan intends to guarantee 24-hour, 365-days neurological assistance in the whole country by the end of 2010.

[Heterogeneous topography of Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome].

Introduction: Bilateral facio-pharyngo-laryngo-glosso-masticatory palsy with automatic-voluntary dissociation is known as Foix-Chavany-Marie (FCM) syndrome. It is usually due to bilateral cortical lesions involving both anterior opercula (biopercular syndrome). We describe three patients with FCM syndrome associated with ischemic lesions in two atypical localizations: a) bilateral subcortical infarcts, and b) unilateral opercular infarct.

[Evolution of the demand for ambulatory neurological care and pathologies attended in neurology clinics in the health care district of Tortosa, Tarragona].

Aims: An analysis was conducted to determine whether there were any changes in the demand for health care, demography and pathologies attended in outpatient departments within the health care district of Tortosa between 1997 and 2003.

Patients And Methods: Data about the demand for and attendance at first neurology visits over the period 1997 and from March 2003 to February 2004 was collected prospectively. Information concerning age, sex, groups of pathologies, diagnoses, rates of requests for first visits, source of the demand and destination after the visit were compared.

[Cerebral venous thrombosis as the presenting symptom of systemic lupus erythematosus].

Introduction: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an infrequent process in systemic lupus erythematosus. We report the case of a female patient whose initial manifestation of lupus was a CVT.

Case Report: A 30-year-old female who presented headaches and diminished visual acuity; on exploring the patient bilateral papilloedema was found.

[Transient paraparesis as a manifestation of left carotid stenosis].

Introduction: Paraparesis caused by a cerebrovascular disorder is infrequent, although it is seen in infraction of both anterior cerebral arteries (ACA), in vertebrobasilar insufficiency syndromes or in infarction of the border zones of the anterior circulation.

Case Report: Male aged 52 years, right handed, with a history of high blood pressure, who visited because of two episodes of transient paraparesis that lasted 5 minutes and 15 hours. During the last episode the presence of paraparesis and left Babinski sign were observed.

[Acute cerebrovascular accident in the primary antiphospholipid syndrome].

Objective: To report the prevalence of acute cerebrovascular accidents (ACVA) and risk factors for thrombosis among patients diagnosed of primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPLS) and to compare this group with that of patients with PAPLS but not ACVA.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective data analysis of 30 patients consecutively diagnosed of PAPLS. Episodes of ACVA were quantitated and other cardiovascular risk factors were determined.

[Paroxysmal phenomena in multiple sclerosis. Brain stem crisis].

The authors report three cases of multiple sclerosis which presented, during its course, paroxysmal attacks, also denominated brain-stem seizures. They review the literature with special reference to the incidence and the clinical forms of these paroxysmal phenomena, and they discuss the proposed pathogenic mechanisms. According to the authors, the literature review and the clinical picture of their cases, have shown a direct relation between these paroxysmal symptoms and a neighboring bout of the disease.