Multiple sclerosis management for low-income minorities.

Low-income minorities with complex chronic diseases and physical disabilities have difficulty accessing appropriate healthcare often resulting in suboptimal care. A survey was performed to determine the impact of cultural and socioeconomic factors on the quality of care for low-income minorities with multiple sclerosis (MS) enrolled in Independence Care System (ICS), a Medicaid long-term managed care plan. All 92 ICS members with a diagnosis of MS were surveyed on three aspects of their care: specialty contact, immunomodulating drug therapy and osteoporosis prevention.

Preventive healthcare in women with multiple sclerosis.

The health maintenance of women with diverse disabilities and chronic disabling conditions has been neglected by medical professionals. Interest in their basic health promotion has been eclipsed by the narrowed focus on their underlying conditions. We surveyed preventive medical practices of 220 women with multiple sclerosis (MS).

MRI in epilepsy.

A retrospective study was done of the MRI and CT scans of 267 consecutive patients sent for an evaluation of one or more seizures. 21% (57/267) of the MRI scans were abnormal. The CT scan was normal in 28% of these MRI documented abnormal cases.

MRI appearance of AIDS subacute encephalopathy.

A case of biopsy documented subacute encephalopathy of AIDS was evaluated by CT and MRI. CT scanning revealed ventriculomegaly and ill-defined nonspecific periventricular white matter hypodensities. MRI, however, demonstrated extensive unequivocal diffuse white matter disease as the cause of the ventriculomegaly.

Magnetic resonance imaging examination of denervated muscle.

Denervated muscles due to lumbar radiculopathy, peroneal axonal neuropathy and hypoglossal neuropathy were studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Denervated muscle was clearly distinguished from normal muscle by its higher intensity signal. Comparison of the resulting signal intensity of the muscle using various imaging parameters suggests an alteration in water macromolecular binding.

Suprascapular neuropathy related to the use of crutches.

A 41-year-old man with shoulder pain was found to have a suprascapular neuropathy. The nerve injury was believed to be secondary to improper crutch usage. The pathophysiology of this unusual cause of suprascapular neuropathy involves injury to the nerve due to exaggerated movements around the shoulder joint.