Photochemically modified diamond-like carbon surfaces for neural interfaces.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) was modified using a UV functionalization method to introduce surface-bound amine and aldehyde groups. The functionalization process rendered the DLC more hydrophilic and significantly increased the viability of neurons seeded to the surface. The amine functionalized DLC promoted adhesion of neurons and fostered neurite outgrowth to a degree indistinguishable from positive control substrates (glass coated with poly-L-lysine).

Autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia with axonal sensory motor polyneuropathy maps to chromosome 21q 22.3.

Aim: Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) are a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of disorders. At present, 19 autosomal dominant loci for HSP have been mapped. We ascertained an American family of European descent segregating an autosomal dominant HSP associated with peripheral neuropathy.

Lipid profiles and ischemic stroke risk: variations by sex within racial/ethnic groups.

Evidence implicates lipid abnormalities as important but modifiable risk factors for stroke. This study assesses whether hypercholesterolemia can be used to predict the risk for etiologic subtypes of ischemic stroke between sexes within racial/ethnic groups. Data elements related to stroke risk, diagnosis, and outcomes were abstracted from the medical records of 3,290 acute stroke admissions between 2006 and 2010 at a regional stroke center.

Disparities in acute stroke severity, outcomes, and care relative to health insurance status.

Background: To examine the differences in risk factors and length of hospital stay (LOS) between the insured and uninsured stroke patients, identifying the root causes of increasing hospital stay.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of stroke registry data of acute stroke patients (N = 19,255) was analyzed to compare risk factors, severity, outcome, and LOS by insurance status. Chart review of patients from a comprehensive stroke center (N = 3290) was studied in greater detail for causes of extended length of stay.

Intensified hypnic jerks: a polysomnographic and polymyographic analysis.

Purpose: To analyze the nature and propagation of muscle bursts in patients presenting with intensified hypnic jerks and sleep onset insomnia.

Methods: We obtained polymyographic recordings from cranially and spinally innervated muscles during polysomnographic study in 10 subjects presenting with repeated jerking movements at sleep onset, anxiety and sleep onset insomnia. One subject also had daytime polymyography during relaxed wakefulness and drowsiness as well as back-averaging of the EEG preceding the muscle bursts.

Inclusion-body myositis associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Sporadic inclusion-body myositis (s-IBM) is a myopathy that is characterized by progressive weakness and muscle pathology demonstrating inflammation and rimmed vacuoles. In addition, similar to the pathology observed in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, the deposition of beta-amyloid and phosphorylated tau proteins in muscle fibers has been reported. These shared pathologic features have prompted hypotheses suggesting a shared etiology of these two conditions.

An analysis of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and glutathione S-transferase omega-1 genes as modifiers of the cerebral response to ischemia.

Background: Cerebral ischemia involves a series of reactions which ultimately influence the final volume of a brain infarction. We hypothesize that polymorphisms in genes encoding proteins involved in these reactions could act as modifiers of the cerebral response to ischemia and impact the resultant stroke volume. The final volume of a cerebral infarct is important as it correlates with the morbidity and mortality associated with non-lacunar ischemic strokes.

Review of the possible relationship and hypothetical links between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the simple sleep related movement disorders, parasomnias, hypersomnias, and circadian rhythm disorders.

Recent evidence has been accumulating that the sleep of individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not only disrupted in a nonspecific way but that ADHD has an increased association with simple sleep related movement disorders such as restless legs syndrome/periodic limb movements in sleep (RLS/PLMS), rhythmic movement disorder (body rocking and head banging), and parasomnias, such as disorders of partial arousal (sleep walking, sleep terrors, and confusional arousals). In addition increased associations have been reported between ADHD and hypersomnias such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea as well as circadian rhythm disorders, such as delayed sleep phase syndrome. These relationships are reviewed and the implications for such associations are explored.

De novo formation of large arteriovenous shunting and a vascular nidus mimicking an arteriovenous malformation within an anaplastic oligodendroglioma: treatment with embolization and resection.

The authors report the de novo occurrence and treatment of an arteriovenous lesion within an anaplastic oligodendroglioma in a patient with previously unremarkable brain imaging. Intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are believed to be congenitally acquired lesions, and their association with brain neoplasms is extremely rare. Diagnostic imaging revealed a mass lesion with large arteriovenous shunts and a vascular nidus mimicking a true AVM.

The intron 4c allele of the NOS3 gene is associated with ischemic stroke in African Americans.

Background: Ischemic stroke is the most common cause of disability in North America and in addition to the generally accepted risk factors, there is increasing evidence for the potential pathophysiological role of genes. One of these genes, the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS3) has been reported as a genetic risk factor for ischemic stroke. To independently confirm and extend the results of these previous reports, we investigated this gene as a risk factor for stroke in an ethnically diverse study population.

The scoring of movements in sleep.

The International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-2) has separated sleep-related movement disorders into simple, repetitive movement disorders (such as periodic limb movements in sleep [PLMS], sleep bruxism, and rhythmic movement disorder) and parasomnias (such as REM sleep behavior disorder and disorders of partial arousal, e.g., sleep walking, confusional arousals, night terrors).

Successful emergent angioplasty of neurosarcoid vasculitis presenting with strokes.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease with neurologic involvement in approximately 5% of cases. Ischemic events related to neurosarcoid vasculitis are rare. We report the successful treatment of symptomatic neurosarcoid vasculitis with angioplasty.

Ropinirole is effective in the treatment of restless legs syndrome. TREAT RLS 2: a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition with significant impact on sleep and quality of life (QoL). This double-blind, randomized, 12-week, multinational study compared the efficacy and safety of ropinirole and placebo in RLS. In total, 267 outpatients with moderate-to-severe RLS were randomly assigned to ropinirole (0.

Some children with growing pains may actually have restless legs syndrome.

Study Objectives: Growing pains may be an important clue to the diagnosis of childhood restless legs syndrome (RLS). However, there are no previous studies to determine whether a subpopulation of children with growing pains meet the diagnostic criteria for RLS. The purpose of this study is to determine if some children with growing pains meet diagnostic criteria for RLS and to compare the polysomnographic characteristics of these children to controls.

Rehabilitative management of patients with disorders of consciousness: grand rounds.

Background: There are no standards of care to guide the selection of rehabilitation assessment and treatment procedures for patients with disorders of consciousness. Recently, consensus-based recommendations for management of patients in the vegetative and minimally conscious states have been developed and disseminated in neurology and neurorehabilitation. This is an important first step toward achieving evidence-based guidelines of care.

Is there a subpopulation of children with growing pains who really have Restless Legs Syndrome? A review of the literature.

Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) can begin in childhood and persist into adulthood. To our knowledge, no one has done a systematic review of the literature to determine if the descriptions of 'growing pains' are consistent with the diagnosis of childhood RLS. Our group and that of Ekbom have noted that childhood onset RLS can be misdiagnosed as 'growing pains'.

Review of receptor agonist and antagonist studies relevant to the opiate system in restless legs syndrome.

Background And Purpose: Therapeutic studies of the opioids in restless legs syndrome (RLS) are reviewed.

Patients And Methods: Opioids appear to be a good short and long-term treatment for RLS as shown in open-label, double-blind and long-term follow-up studies. However, the number of studies is more limited than for other therapeutic modalities in RLS such as dopaminergic agents.

Drug-induced pseudotumor cerebri.

Pseudotumor Cerebri (PTC) is an uncommon disorder whose etiology is largely unknown, although its association with steroid withdrawal, hypervitaminosis A, and the use of the tetracycline group of drugs has been well documented. We report here a case in which a patient on chronic divalproex therapy for a seizure disorder developed PTC. Changing his antiepileptic medication from divalproate to topiramate effected a remission of PTC symptoms while maintaining his seizure-free status.

Neurological evaluation of urinary incontinence in the female patient.

Background: Urinary incontinence is one of the most common medical complaints of women older than 50 years of age. Understanding the anatomy and physiology is important in the diagnosis and management of these patients.

Review Summary: Evaluation of the incontinent patient is complicated by the frequent vagueness of the patient's complaints, complexity of anatomic pathways involved in maintaining continence, and the poor availability of specific diagnostic tests for evaluating incontinence.

A unilateral presentation of 'Satoyoshi syndrome'.

Satoyoshi syndrome is a rare, slowly progressive disorder of unknown etiology with a poor long-term prognosis. The syndrome consists of the following clinical features: (1) painful, intermittent muscle spasms; (2) alopecia; (3) diarrhea; and (4) skeletal abnormalities in cases of juvenile onset. The age of onset is typically less than 20 years of age, although three adult onset cases had been reported.

Long-term follow-up on restless legs syndrome patients treated with opioids.

The medical records of 493 patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) from three major centers were studied to determine the number and outcome of patients who had been treated with opioids as a monotherapy. At one time or another 113 patients (51 men, 62 women; age range, 37-88 years) had been on opioid therapy either alone (36 patients) or with opioids added secondarily to other medications used to treat RLS (77 patients). Twenty-three of the 36 opioid monotherapy patients had failed dopaminergic and other therapeutic agents prior to the initiation of opioid monotherapy.

Spectral modulation of cortical connections measured by EEG coherence in humans.

Objective: Description of coherence patterns of cortical EEG.

Methods: EEG recordings were collected from 9 subdural electrode grids implanted in 6 patients undergoing EEG monitoring for refractory epilepsy.

Results: Coherence decreased with increasing inter-electrode distance and exhibited considerable variability at the same inter-electrode distances.