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Biomedical subjects

G Assal

Publications and source records attributed to G Assal.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Unilateral left paramedian infarction of thalamus and midbrain: a clinico-pathological study.

In a patient with a unilateral embolic infarct in the left posterior thalamo-subthalamic paramedian artery territory, neuropathological studies showed involvement of the intralaminar, dorsomedial, and internal part of the ventral posterior nuclei of the thalamus, of the rostral part of the mesencephalic reticular formation, and of the posterior commissure. The patient showed upgaze palsy for voluntary saccades, smooth pursuit and vestibulo-ocular movements, sustained downgaze, right-sided motor hemineglect and facio-brachial hypaesthesia, motor transcortical aphasia and anterograde amnesia. This case confirms that unilateral destruction of the posterior commissure, rostral interstitial nucleus of the MLF and interstitial nucleus of Cajal produces a non-dissociated upgaze palsy. Involvement of the nucleus of Cajal probably produced the sustained downward deviation of the eye, by causing predominance of downward vestibulo-ocular inputs. This case also shows that thalamic aphasia and anterograde amnesia may be related to a paramedian lesion of the thalamus, with special reference to involvement of the dorsomedial nucleus, in the absence of lesion of the pulvinar and mamillo-thalamic tract and of conspicuous involvement of the ventral lateral nucleus. Selective hemineglect for motor tasks may occur in infarction of the dominant thalamus, involving the intralaminar nuclei.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

[Supratentorial intracranial arachnoid cysts].

20 cases of supratentorial arachnoid cysts are reported. Their classification according to the clinical symptomatology allows to separate them in 3 categories: those presenting with intracranial hypertension and/or a focal neurological deficit (7 cases), those presenting with headache (4 cases) or epilepsy (4 cases), those which were found incidentally and where asymptomatic (5 cases). The neuropsychological examination showed that 5 cysts of the left sylvian fissure had some memory deficit in the verbal modality, but remarkably none was found to have signs of aphasia on detailed testing. Indications for surgical treatment are discussed considering the various clinical groups, the results of neuropsychological evaluation and the neuroradiological findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Transformation to an animal. Metamorphosis or metaphor? A delusional episode following brain contusion].

Three years after a serious cerebral contusion a patient became delirious for a period of several months. During that time he pretended to turn into a cock. This theme is interpreted as a metaphorical expression rather than as a firm belief in a real metamorphosis. The feelings of strangeness considered as a matricial condition of delirious phenomenons are debated. Of first importance are the lesions of the right hemisphere upon which are often added more diffuse impairments of the frontal lobes and of the brain stem. The rarity of this phenomenon is to be emphasized whereas the references to animals seem to haunt human soul.

Brain Concussion↗
PubMed1985

[Post-traumatic deficit syndromes].

We discuss the evolution of psychological disorders following head injury. Even when the trauma seems mild at first, it may then give rise to cerebral lesions, particularly in the brain stem. Cerebral contusions in closed head injuries are responsible for consciousness disorders of varying duration, which are followed by mental confusion. At this point akinetic mutism or a Kluver and Bucy syndrome may appear. We consider memory disorders and other cognitive ones, the focus being on psychiatric disturbances of various kind.

Akinetic Mutism↗
PubMed1985

[Cerebral atrophy and dementia in Parkinson disease].

The intellectual impairment appearing during the Parkinson's disease has been analysed and compared with the severity of the motor deficit respectively with the presence of the cerebral atrophy determined by computed tomography. The organic mental syndrome was more frequently observed in males and well correlated with the degree of cortical and subcortical atrophy.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Degenerative aphasia].

A woman had difficulties in word finding since age 59, this became a Broca's aphasia then a global aphasia. The only possible expression was written and agrammatic with many semantic errors. Calculation was preserved as well as constructional praxis. Ideomotor praxis was slightly impaired. Visual recognition and somatagnosia were normal. Neurological examination showed neither motor nor sensitive impairment. Visual fields were normal. CT scan at onset was normal. Later a slight cortical atrophy appeared predominating on the sylvian fissures, slightly more severe on the left side. Reviewing the literature the authors draw attention on the possible occurrence of an evolutive aphasia being the first evidence of a dementia. The impairment of the other cognitive functions would only appear after several years.

Aphasia↗
PubMed1985

[An aspect of utilization behavior: dependence on written language].

A case of a double frontal lesion associated to a posterior right hemispherical damage is reported because of a reading disability which consisted on the one hand in reading the titles of books and newspapers which the patient manipulated with a utilisation behavior, on the other hand in reading any written information coming into her sight (Names of streets, trade names).

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Clinical neuropsychological study of a population of patients with multiple sclerosis].

A neuropsychological evaluation of 41 patients with multiple sclerosis was carried out. The investigation included language and memory tests, a visual reproduction task, and one test sensitive to frontal lobe damage. The results show that most of the patients have neuropsychological defects mainly concerning memory. However, only one case of global deterioration was found. The result also suggest that men are more impaired than women, without correlation with age or length of illness. These findings are discussed in the light of the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Thalamic hematomas: neuropsychological aspects. Report of 11 cases and review of literature.

We have recently observed 11 cases of thalamic hematomas. 5 of them (3 left and 2 right) were submitted to a detailed neuropsychological examination. All hematomas were mainly limited to the thalamus and the internal capsula without significant invasion or compression of surrounding structures. The level of consciousness was usually good. 4 of the 8 patients with left-sided hematomas showed dysphasia and the 3 patients submitted to a detailed neuropsychological examination suffered also severe and persistent mnesic disturbances (verbal and non-verbal). On the other hand, the two patients with right thalamic hematomas presented on neuropsychological testing non-verbal mnesic disturbances and features indistinguishable from right parietotemporal cortical lesions. Vital outcome was highly favourable since no patient died. Functional recovery was also rather satisfactory but formal neuropsychological testing of memory, language and right cortical functions showed significant persistent deficits at time of follow-up in most cases examined. Relevant literature is reviewed and possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed. Among various hypothesis concerning neuropsychological impairments, dysfunction of a specific alerting system appears the most seducing possibility but does not explain all observed deficits.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

[Arithmetic intuition in an acalculic].

At age 54, a patient presented Wernicke's aphasia and a Gerstmann's syndrome with right hemianopia. CT scan showed a low density area in the left hemisphere in the posterior parts of T1 and T2 and parts of T3, extending into the gyrus angularis and gyrus supramarginalis. Wernicke's aphasia, digital agnosia and confusion between left and right hand improved six months later, but agraphia remained total and calculation disorders, both for mental and written calculation, were still very severe. Operation processes were retained. A dramatic improvement of performances could be obtained with written multiple choice questions.

Aphasia, Wernicke↗