Genetic determination of motor neuron disease and neuropathy.

Following the completion of the Human Genome Project, a lot of progress has been made in understanding the genetic basis of motor neuron diseases (MNDs) and neuropathies. Spinal Muscular Atrophies (SMA) are caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene localized on Chromosome 5q11. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) has been found to have at least 18 different types, many of them associated to different genetic loci (e.

Progression of optic neuritis to multiple sclerosis in the County of Split-Dalmatia, Croatia.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of monosymptomatic optic neuritis (MON) and progression of MON to multiple sclerosis (MS) from the Mediterranean region of southern Europe in the County of Split-Dalmatia, Croatia during the 11 years period from 1991 to 2001. This study was made retrospectively on the 87 cases (59 female, aged 25.9 +/- 11.

Successful conservative and endoscopic treatment of pancreatic fistula due to splenectomy following blunt abdominal trauma.

Pancreatic fistula most commonly occur as a consequence of resective procedures and pseudocyst drainage, and rarely as a consequence of splenectomy. Conservative treatment can have good results, but it is long lasting and demands long hospitalization. In case of conservative treatment failure, operative treatment is indicated, but this has significantly higher percentage of morbidity and mortality.

Hemifacial spasm in vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia.

Vascular compression of the facial nerve is a well recognized cause of hemifacial spasm (HFS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) provide vascular and brain tissue diagnosis in a single non-invasive examination and should be recommended as primary neuroradiological procedure in HFS. We report a rare case of symptomatic HFS caused by a vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia.

Peripheral nerve war injuries.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate peripheral nerve war injuries sustained during the war in southern Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Patients And Methods: During the war in Croatia, 713 patients (99% male and 1% female) with wounds inflicted by firearms were examined at the Laboratory of Neurophysiology, University Hospital, Split. The patients, soldiers and civilians alike, ranged in age from 6 to 73 years (average, 28 years).