Impaired oculomotor function in a community-based patient population with newly diagnosed idiopathic parkinsonism.

The differential diagnosis of idiopathic parkinsonism can be very challenging, especially early in the course of the disease. Oculomotor function has been reported to differ between the diseases constituting idiopathic parkinsonism. A detailed examination of the oculomotor functions could thus possibly be useful in the early differential diagnostic procedure.

Eye motility and auditory brainstem response dysfunction after whiplash injury.

The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of brain/brainstem dysfunction after acute whiplash trauma (grades II and III according to the Quebec Task Force Classification on whiplash-associated disorders) and to investigate a possible correlation between the development of chronic symptoms and objective findings from auditory brainstem response (ABR) and eye motility tests. We used ABR and oculomotor tests and a thorough clinical, subjective and psychological evaluation in a sample of prospective whiplash trauma patients who were followed up for 2 years after the trauma. The initial test results did not reveal any prognostic clinical signs for the tested group as a whole, but we could discriminate some patients with clinical symptoms and signs paired with pathologic test results.

Influences on the fusimotor-muscle spindle system from chemosensitive nerve endings in cervical facet joints in the cat: possible implications for whiplash induced disorders.

The aim of the present study was to establish if there exists reflex connections from ligamentous structures in cervical facet joints and the fusimotor system of dorsal neck muscles. In seven cats, anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose, bradykinin (BK) of concentrations between 12 and 50 microg was injected into the facet joint between C1 and C2. Recordings were made from single muscle spindle afferents (MSA) originating in contralateral trapezius and splenius muscles (TrSp).

Effects of acupuncture, cervical manipulation and NSAID therapy on dizziness and impaired head repositioning of suspected cervical origin: a pilot study.

In a single-subject experiment undertaken on 14 consecutive patients, the effects of acupuncture, cervical manipulation, no therapy, and NSAID-percutan application on kinesthetic sensibility, dizziness/vertigo and pain were studied in patients with dizziness/vertigo of suspected cervical origin. The ability to perceive position of the head with respect to the trunk was studied. The effects of different forms of therapy-and none-on dizziness and neck pain were compared, using a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS).

Bradykinin and muscle stretch alter contralateral cat neck muscle spindle output.

The objective of this study was to investigate the activity of primary and secondary muscle spindle afferents (MSAs) in neck muscles, when the contralateral splenius or trapezius muscles were (1) exposed to i.m. injection of bradykinin (BK) (6-86 microg/ml), (2) stretched, (3) stretched during exposure to BK or (4) stretched after exposure to BK.

Oculomotor dysfunction in rheumatoid patients with upper cervical dislocation.

Several studies of patients with chronic cervical pain and chronic whiplash syndrome report a high frequency of oculomotor function derangements pointing towards brainstem involvement and/or default sensory input from neck afferents. In light of these reports, it seems important to investigate other patient groups with similar upper cervical spine disorders. In this study, voluntary eye motor performance was evaluated in 11 rheumatoid patients (RA) with upper cervical dislocation and a clearly noticed joint affection of the cervical spine.

Cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility, active range of cervical motion, and oculomotor function in patients with whiplash injury.

Objective: To investigate cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility, active range of cervical motion, and oculomotor function in patients with whiplash injury.

Design: A 2-year review of consecutive patients admitted to the emergency unit after whiplash injury.

Setting: An otorhinolaryngology department.

Increased intramuscular concentration of bradykinin increases the static fusimotor drive to muscle spindles in neck muscles of the cat.

The aim of the present study was to investigate if increased intramuscular concentrations of bradykinin (BK) in one muscle influence the activity in primary and secondary muscle spindle afferents (MSAs) originating from both ipsi- and contralateral muscles, via fusimotor reflexes. The ipsilateral trapezius (TR) and the splenius (SP) muscles were subjected to sinusoidal stretches and 2-3 MSAs were simultaneously recorded from these muscles. Responses of 29 MSAs (15 SP and 14 TR) were registered in five adult cats anaesthetised with alpha-chloralose.

Outcomes of individualized interventions in patients with severe eating difficulties.

The aim of this case study is to describe the outcomes of individualized interventions for patients with severe eating difficulties. The participants were 15 patients who had severe eating difficulties following a stroke or brain tumor and were receiving oral feeding or tube feeding. Interventions focused on training functions needed for eating, activities in eating, and discussions with the patient.

Eating despite severe difficulties: assessment of poststroke eating.

A programme for the assessment and nursing diagnoses of eating difficulties among stroke patients was tested. The patients' experiences regarding eating were expressed in interviews and dialogues. Eating was observed during both a test meal and regular meals.

Influences on the gamma-muscle spindle system from muscle afferents stimulated by increased intramuscular concentrations of bradykinin and 5-HT.

There is evidence that static muscular contractions induce a release of bradykinin (BK) in the working muscle, and that increased concentration of BK and 5-HT in a muscle increases the discharge rate of a subpopulation of group III and group IV muscular afferents. It is also known that activity in group III and IV muscle afferents may activate gamma-motoneurones to both homonymous and heteronymous muscles. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether increased concentration of BK and 5-HT in one muscle may influence the activity in primary and secondary muscle spindle afferents (MSAs) from the chemically affected muscle and from surrounding muscles, via fusimotor reflexes.

Effects of L-DOPA on fusimotor control of triceps surae muscle spindles in the cat.

The experiments were performed on lightly alpha-chloralose anaesthetised and spinalized cats. Alterations in fusimotor activity were assessed by recordings from single spindle afferents (90 primary and 12 secondary) from the triceps surae muscle, before and after i.v.

Eye motility dysfunction after soft-tissue injury of the cervical spine. A controlled, prospective study of 38 patients.

We investigated eye motility prospectively in 40 patients with a soft-tissue injury of the cervical spine. The initial oculomotor test, performed within 3 months, was pathologic in 8 patients. The follow-up test in 38 patients, on average 15 months after the accident, remained pathologic in the 8 patients and 5 additional patients had changed from normal to pathologic test results.

Aberrant frequency tuning and early stereociliary derangement in genetic inner ear disease.

We have developed an auditory brainstem response (ABR) based method for frequency selective forward masking tuning curve technique. Normative data from CBA/CBA mice are compared with tuning curves (TCs) from heterozygote dancer mice which in most cases initially had a normal ABR threshold. The sharpest tuning in normal mice was obtained at 10 kHz (Q10 = 7.

Oculomotor problems after cervical spine injury.

Oculomotor function was investigated in 39 patients with a previous soft-tissue injury of the cervical spine. The velocity, the accuracy, and the pattern of the eye movements were disturbed in 20 patients with chronic and disabling symptoms. Oculomotor function in the 19 asymptomatic patients did not differ from a control group.

Expression of intermediate filament proteins in the inner ear of the dancer mouse mutant.

The expression of intermediate filaments (using well defined monoclonal antibodies to detect neurofilaments, vimentin, and cytokeratins nos. 8 and 18) was analysed in the inner ear of the dancer mouse mutant (with a morphogenetic type of inner ear defect) and compared with that in the normal CBA/CBA mouse. A similar pattern of immunoreactivity was found in the two mouse strains.

Vestibular hair cell pathology in the dancer mouse mutant.

The morphogenetic type of inner ear defect in the dancer (Dc/+) mouse mutant affects primarily the vestibular part of the labyrinth. The animals show a circling-waltzing behaviour. The inner ears from 7-day to 12-month-old Dc/+ mutants have been analysed.

Age-related auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold changes in the dancer mouse mutant.

An age-related analysis of auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds in 42 heterozygotic dancer mouse mutants (1-13 months old) showed an impairment of ABR thresholds with increasing age, though individual threshold curves could vary considerably. As compared with normal CBA/CBA mice, a progressive deterioration of ABR thresholds occurred from the 2nd postnatal month onwards. The dancer mutant has an inner ear with a morphogenetic type of defect, caused by a semidominant gene which is located in chromosome 19.

A frequency-specific auditory brainstem response technique exemplified in the determination of age-related auditory thresholds.

Using gated sinusoidal stimuli (tone bursts), frequency-specific auditory brainstem responses (ABR) have been recorded in mice. The gating function represents a filter with a constant narrow bandwidth in the investigated frequency range 2-31.5 kHz.

Aberrant elemental composition of otoconia in the dancer mouse mutant with a semidominant gene causing a morphogenetic type of inner ear defect.

The elemental composition of otoconia from Jerker and Dancer mouse mutants was analysed in both maculae. A normal elemental content was found in otoconia from Jerker mutants, whereas in the Dancer mutant a large number of otoconia from both maculae contained very high concentrations of phosphorus. In these otoconia, the phosphorus calcium ratio was approximately 1:8, in Jerker (and normal) otoconia approximately 1:150-200.

Vestibulo-oculomotor disturbances caused by occupational hazards.

Air-borne pollutants inhaled by workers when welding or in environments containing hydrocarbon solvents can result in occult CNS disturbances. The disturbances can appear as a psycho-organic syndrome, but early symptoms such as vertigo or dizziness may indicate the presence of a vestibular involvement.