Electrophysiological analysis shows dizziness as the first symptom in human T cell lymphotropic virus type-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.

Dizziness is a symptom in human T cell lymphotropic virus type-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and may occur due to vestibulospinal tract dysfunction. This tract can be assessed by an electrophysiological test called vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP). The aim was to correlate the result of VEMP generated by acoustic stimuli and dizziness in individuals with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-asymptomatic infection and HAM/TSP.

Brazilian version of the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E).

Objective: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E) and to assess its psychometric properties.

Methods: This study involved 98 outpatients who underwent psychopathological evaluation with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus Version, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), and a Portuguese version of the NDDI-E.

Results: The NDDI-E was easily understood and quickly administered to most of the patients.

Psychiatric disorders in temporal lobe epilepsy: an overview from a tertiary service in Brazil.

Purpose: To evaluate the frequency and intensity of psychiatric disorders in a group of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients from a tertiary-care center.

Methods: Clinical and sociodemographic data of 73 patients were collected and a neuropsychiatric evaluation was performed with the following instruments: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), structured clinical interview (MINI-PLUS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).

Results: Patients with TLE showed a high frequency of lifetime psychiatric disorders (70%), the most frequent being mood disorders (49.

Vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in the evaluation of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy.

Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy (SMR) is the most severe and disabling form of schistosomiasis. The diagnosis is based on clinical, laboratory, and image data. Vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is a neurophysiologic test that assesses the vestibulospinal pathway through acoustic or galvanic stimuli.

Morbidity of Schistosomiasis mansoni in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

From 2002 to 2005, a program of active search for patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and schistosomal myeloradiculopathy has been implemented in the state of Minas Gerais by the local Health Department. The state was divided in 28 regional health centers and the local representatives have been trained to identify and direct patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and neuroschistosomiasis to a reference center in Belo Horizonte, the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. Seventy five patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and 54 with schistosomal myeloradiculopathy have been referred and examined in the reference center in a period of time of 3 years.