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Biomedical subjects

P Corcia

Publications and source records attributed to P Corcia.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Neuropsychologic and adaptive functioning in adolescents and young adults shunted for congenital hydrocephalus.

The major aim of this study was to assess whether the syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities described in hydrocephalic children is observed in adulthood. Eleven adults shunted for congenital hydrocephalus related to spina bifida and eight adults shunted for hydrocephalus related to aqueductal stenosis were administered an extensive neuropsychologic battery to investigate discrepancies between verbal and visuospatial cognition, verbal and visuospatial long-term memory, and psycho-social adaptive abilities. The results showed no discrepancies between Wechsler Performance IQ or Verbal IQ in either hydrocephalic group. Nevertheless, the subjects with spina bifida appeared more cognitively impaired than the subjects with aqueductal stenosis, who performed normally on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised. Memory assessment using Signoret's Memory Battery revealed no discrepancy between verbal and visuospatial memory in the hydrocephalic group. Nevertheless, the subjects with spina bifida had poorer verbal and visuospatial memory performance than the subjects with aqueductal stenosis. There were no differences on the Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scale between subjects with spina bifida and those with aqueductal stenosis in autonomy, socialization, and daily living skills. These results suggest that shunted congenital hydrocephalus is not characterized by nonverbal learning disabilities syndrome in adolescence or in adulthood.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

[Acute demyelinating motor neuropathy: an atypical form of the Guillain-Barre syndrome?].

A 33-year-old man presented an acute motor demyelinating neuropathy following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis. The patient was improved with an IgIV treatment. Clinical features and course time were compatible with the diagnosis of a Guillain-Barré syndrome. The electrophysiologic studies were in favor of multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction blocks. We discuss the nosologic group of this neuropathy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

[Cerebrospinal fluid complement and antinuclear antibodies in lupus meningoencephalitis].

Central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) requires immediate treatment. We report a case in a 30-year-old woman. Clinical features associated asthenia, headache, right nystagmus and coma. A mechanical ventilation was started. The neurologic pattern appeared three months after an initial treatment with pulsed doses of glucocorticoid (500 mg per day for 3 days) and one month after an oral cyclophosphamid regimen (50 mg twice a week). The cerebral involvement was evidenced by MRI and comparative analysis of the antinuclear auto antibodies (ANA) and the complement components in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), pleural fluid and serum. The MRI slices showed a well-defined meningeal focal lesion. CSF-cell count was normal. CSF-proteins were elevated. ANA were positive, total complement (UI/l) was low, C4 component (g/l) was 0.11, undetectable and 0.25 respectively in plasma, CSF fluid and pleural fluid. The ANA specific pattern was anti-Sm2. We affirmed that specific cerebral injury was present because there were clinical and imaging features and a decrease of the C3 and C4 component in the CSF. The treatment associated in travenous pulsed doses of methylprednisolone (1000 mg per days for 3 days) and cyclophosphamid (500 mg per day for three days). Mechanical ventilation was with drawn one day after the end of the pulse therapy. The diminution of the complement component could help improving cerebral involvement of SLE. More clinical studies are required.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Anticonvulsants can aggravate idiopathic generalized epilepsy].

Antiepileptic drugs can sometimes worsen idiopathic generalized epilepsies. Relevant data are based on empirical experience of epileptologists and on few published case-reports according to the suspected drug with serious methodological limitations. Some animal models of epileptic syndromes such as genetic models of absence seizures in rat seem to be helpful for understanding the possible mechanisms underlying drug-induced syndrome aggravation. Adequate epileptic syndrome diagnosis is needed before starting antiepileptic drug.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Significance of single photon emission computed tomography and akinetic mutism].

Akinetic mutism is a reactive status with permanent opening of the eyes. The accountable lesions are always bilateral. The injured cerebral structures include the frontal gyri, the thalami or the mesencephalic areas. In one case of a 44-year-old patient, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography were not contributive. Tc99m brain SPECT imaging was performed and displayed bilateral frontal hypoactivity. This case suggests that this technique could be helpful for diagnosis when clinical features and radiological pattern are opposite.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Sleep and the epilepsies.

To review the numerous works concerning sleep and epilepsy, this review considers the effects of sleep, firstly on seizures and secondly on paroxysmal interictal EEG activity (PA), in the different types of epilepsy according to the International League against Epilepsy classification. Apart from the exceptions of the definite nocturnal preponderance of seizures in idiopathic rolandic epilepsy and of the mostly nocturnal occurrence of seizures in some types of familial or sporadic frontal-lobe epilepsy, assessing a seizure according to the time of day it occurs is of no diagnostic or predictive value. In generalised idiopathic epilepsy, as in partial symptomatic or cryptogenic epilepsy, only about 20% of the patients had a sleep increase in PA. This percentage is higher (75%) in idiopathic partial epilepsy. Stereoelectroencephalography demonstrates a relative stability of spiking within the focus across the states of vigilance and an increase in transmitted discharges during stages 3 and 4. In the Landau and Kleffner syndrome, as in the syndromes of continuous spike-waves during sleep, there is a huge, unexplained increase in PA during sleep. The neuropsychological consequences of this PA have some relationship with their localisation and the patient's age at the time of occurrence. Sleep PA has also been reported in several groups of non-epileptic subjects. As regards the effect of epilepsy on sleep, sleep may be lighter and abnormally discontinuous in the absence of seizures, particularly in temporal-lobe epilepsy.

Epilepsy↗
PubMed1997

[Indications for emergency EEG. Focal neurologic deficits and partial epileptic seizures in adults].

A focal neurological deficit is defined as the clinical expression of a structural or functional, transient or permanent abnormality that can be ascribed to a particular brain region. In that context, the indications of an EEG as part of the emergency management may be summarized as follows: i) The EEG in not indicated for the diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic management of transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or migraine; ii) The possible prognostic value of EEG during the acute phase of stroke has not yet been validated; iii) In partial epileptic seizures, especially complex partial epilepsy, the EEG is useful but not always indispensable for diagnosis. Its therapeutical and prognostic implications are still uncertain. Lastly, EEG is an absolute indication as part of the emergency management of focal deficits in a febrile context, where its diagnostic and prognostic value are unequaled.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Paraneoplastic encephalomyeloneuritis with anti-Hu antibodies and cancer of the rectum].

We report the case of a 62-year-old man affected by anti-Hu-associated paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis. The underlying tumor was a neuroendocrine cancer of the rectum expressing Hu antigen. The neurologic presentation was limited to moderate sensitive neuropathy associated with two complex partial seizures (dreamy state) without any further signs of limbic encephalopathy. A paraneoplastic etiology should be considered in patients with moderate symptomatology. Paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis with anti-Hu antibodies is not always associated with small-cell lung cancer.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1997

[Cerebral achromatopsia without prosopagnosia, alexia, object agnosia].

A 62-year-old woman was admitted for a disorder of color vision. This cerebral achromatopsia was isolated, without prosopagnosia, alexia, object agnosia. MRI showed bilateral temporo-occipital infarcts, including lingual and fusiform gyrus. Neuropsychological examination and topographic hypotheses are discussed.

Color Perception↗