Tumors preceding ALS onset and ALS: results from a case-control study.

Determinants of depressive symptoms among spouse caregivers of patients with Parkinson's disease

Depression and associated factors among spouse-caregivers of patient with Parkinson’s disease

Recurrent Ischemic Stroke and Bleeding in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Who Suffered an Acute Stroke While on Treatment With Nonvitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants: The RENO-EXTEND Study.

Background: In patients with atrial fibrillation who suffered an ischemic stroke while on treatment with nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants, rates and determinants of recurrent ischemic events and major bleedings remain uncertain. Methods: This prospective multicenter observational study aimed to estimate the rates of ischemic and bleeding events and their determinants in the follow-up of consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation who suffered an acute cerebrovascular ischemic event while on nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant treatment. Afterwards, we compared the estimated risks of ischemic and bleeding events between the patients in whom anticoagulant therapy was chan…

Cholesterol levels and risk of hemorrhagic transformation after acute ischemic stroke.

<i>Background:</i> The association between cholesterol levels and hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is still controversial. Studies investigating this issue are influenced by treatments as some are characterized by a higher risk of HT. The aim of our study was to evaluate, in a hospital-based series of patients not treated with thrombolysis, the relationship between cholesterol levels and HT. <i>Methods:</i> We retrospectively collected information about total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) levels at admission in a consecutive series of 240 patients with anterior ischemic stroke (IS). The TC and LDLC levels were arranged in 3 groups acc…

A post-marketing comparison study on disability modification in progressive multiple sclerosis after interferon beta-1b or mitoxantrone therapy

Frequency and determinants for hemorragic transformation of cerebral infarction

PINK1 MUTATIONS AND THE RISK OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE IN FAMILY MEMBERS OF SOUTHERN ITALY

Multiple sclerosis survival: a population-based study in Sicily.

Background and purpose: There are few population-based surveys on multiple sclerosis (MS) survival. To investigate MS survival in MS patients recruited during surveys conducted in Sicily. Methods: Multiple sclerosis patients identified during previous surveys were randomly matched to two referent subjects by residence, year of birth, and gender. Living status was obtained by municipality records (end of follow-up June, 30th 2007) and, for the deceased, date and causes of death were searched. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to calculate differences in mortality between MS patients and referent subjects. MS risks for mortality with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated. Results: We …

FREQUENCY AND DETETRIMINANTS OF HEMORRHAGIC TRASFORMATION OF CEREBRAL INFARCTION

A CASE-CONTROL STUDY ON THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DIABETES AND PD

Frequency and determinants for hemorrhagic transformation of posterior cerebral stroke : Posterior ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic transformation.

BACKGROUND: hemorrhagic transformation is a threatening ischemic stroke complication. Frequency of hemorrhagic transformation differs greatly among studies, and its risk factors have been usually studied in patients with anterior ischemic stroke who received thrombolytic therapy. We evaluated, in a hospital-based series of patients with posterior ischemic stroke not treated with thrombolysis, frequency and risk factors of hemorrhagic transformation. Patients with posterior circulation stroke were seen in our Department during the period January 2004 to December 2009. Demographic and clinical information were collected. We estimated risk for spontaneous hemorrhagic transformation by means of…

LATE MORTALITY OF HEMORRHAGIC TRANSFORMATION OF ISCHEMIC STROKE

Introduction. Hemorrhagic transformation (HT), a complication of ischemic stroke (IS) is supposed to influence patient’s prognosis. Aim of our study was to evaluate, in a hospital-based series of patients not treated with thrombolysis, the relationship between HT and late mortality. Methods. Mortality of individuals with spontaneous HT was compared to that of individuals without. Medical records of patients diagnosed with anterior IS during the period 2004-2006 were reviewed. Living status was obtained from the public record office of the municipality of Palermo or indirectly by telephone interview. Outcome measure was 90 days survival after IS onset. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to con…

Determinants of depressive symptoms among spouse caregivers of patients with Parkinson’s disease

MRI abnormalities following repeated and incoming seizures.

Abstract Neuroimaging, an important diagnostic tool frequently used in the evaluation of patients with epilepsy, has mainly the aim to identify structural abnormalities needing a treatment and to contribute to the definition of the aetiology. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in epilepsy is more sensitive than computerized tomography (CT) scan for detecting abnormalities. Status epilepticus (SE) and repeated incoming seizures may determine extensive and transient or long lasting pronounced MRI changes. We describe a case of a 41-year-old woman with a history of brain neoplasm, whose contrast-enhanced MRI images following repeated and incoming seizures were characterized either by rever…

Cholesterol level and hemorrhagic trasformation after ischemic stroke

Frequency and determinants for hemorrhagic trasformation of cerebral infarction

Depression and associated factors among spouse-caregivers of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Identification of the novel D297fsX318 PINK1 mutation and phenotype variation in a family with early-onset Parkinson's disease

Herein we first describe a novel homozygous single nucleotide deletion in PINK1 exon 4 (889delG) which results in a loss of kinase domain on the PINK1 protein (D297fsX318). This mutation was identified in two brothers with early-onset Parkinson disease (EOPD) from a Sicilian consanguineous family. Of note, while one of the two patients developed mental deterioration and psychiatric problems, the other showed no cognitive decline. The present study supports the view that PINK1 is a pathogenic gene in some Italian families with EOPD and contributes to define the PINK1-associated phenotype. Herein we first describe a novel homozygous single nucleotide deletion in PINK1 exon 4 (889delG) which r…

Diabetes preceding Parkinson's disease onset. A case–control study

Abstract Objective To assess the association between diabetes preceding Parkinson's disease (PD) and PD. Methods PD individuals were matched to PD free individuals randomly selected from people in the same municipality as the cases. Occurrence of diabetes preceding PD onset among cases and controls was assessed through a structured questionnaire. Information regarding current and past medical treatment and other variables was also collected. We used univariate and multivariate logistic models to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR). Covariates are adjusted for included education, smoking habit, alcohol and coffee consumption. Results 318 PD individuals (165 women, 153 men) and 318 …

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an autoimmune disorder characterised by fever, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, renal insufficiency, and thrombocytopenia. Neurological involvement, a prominent component of TTP, is characterised by a variety of brain lesions which include reversible cerebral oedema or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS). TTP is frequently associated with deficiency of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, ADAMTS13.Here, we report a case of TTP with severe acute encephalopathy. Posterior leukoencephalopathy and brainstem oedema with triventricular hydrocephalus were observed on MRI. The …

Multiple sclerosis survival: a population-based study in Sicily

Background and purpose:  There are few population-based surveys on multiple sclerosis (MS) survival. To investigate MS survival in MS patients recruited during surveys conducted in Sicily. Methods:  Multiple sclerosis patients identified during previous surveys were randomly matched to two referent subjects by residence, year of birth, and gender. Living status was obtained by municipality records (end of follow-up June, 30th 2007) and, for the deceased, date and causes of death were searched. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to calculate differences in mortality between MS patients and referent subjects. MS risks for mortality with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated. Results:  …

BODY MASS INDEX DOES NOT CHANGE BEFORE PARKINSON'S DISEASE ONSET.

Background and purpose:  Previous studies on the association between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and body mass index (BMI) have reported conflicting results. We investigated the relationship between PD and BMI by a case–control study. Methods:  PD patients were randomly matched to healthy individuals by sex and age. BMI distribution in cases has been compared with BMI of controls and odd ratios (ORs) with 95% CI were calculated. Results:  We included 318 PD patients and 318 controls. We observed no association between PD and BMI. BMI distribution in cases and controls was similar also when we adjusted for diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and the time elapsed between PD onset and the interview (O…

PINK mutation and the risk of parkinson's disease in family members of southern Italy

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Predictors of caregiver burden in partners of patients with Parkinson's disease

Frequency and Determinants for Hemorrhagic Transformation of Cerebral Infarction

Risk Factors for Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation on Non–Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention

Background and Purpose: Clinical trials on stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation have consistently shown clinical benefit from either warfarin or non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). NOAC-treated patients have consistently reported to be at lower risk for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) than warfarin-treated patients. The aims of this prospective, multicenter, multinational, unmatched, case-control study were (1) to investigate for risk factors that could predict ICH occurring in patients with atrial fibrillation during NOAC treatment and (2) to evaluate the role of CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc and HAS-BLED scores in the same setting. Methods: Cases were consecutive pa…

LEPROSY: A CASE REPORT FROM SICILY, ITALY

...

Frequency and determinants for hemorrhagic transformation of cerebral infarction.

<i>Background:</i> Frequency and associated risk factors for hemorrhagic transformation (HT), a worrying complication of ischemic stroke (IS), are not clearly defined. Our aim was to estimate the overall frequency and risk factors for HT in a hospital-based population. <i>Methods:</i> A retrospective review of medical records of patients discharged from our department during the period 2004–2006 with a diagnosis of anterior IS. Demographic, clinical and hematological information was collected. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate risk for spontaneous HT. <i>Results:</i> We included 240 patients (125 males, 52%), mean ag…

Frequency and determinants for hemorrhagic transformation of posterior cerebral stroke

Abstract Background hemorrhagic transformation is a threatening ischemic stroke complication. Frequency of hemorrhagic transformation differs greatly among studies, and its risk factors have been usually studied in patients with anterior ischemic stroke who received thrombolytic therapy. We evaluated, in a hospital-based series of patients with posterior ischemic stroke not treated with thrombolysis, frequency and risk factors of hemorrhagic transformation. Patients with posterior circulation stroke were seen in our Department during the period January 2004 to December 2009. Demographic and clinical information were collected. We estimated risk for spontaneous hemorrhagic transformation by …

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in a Population of Patients with Epilepsy: a Case-Control Study

Background and purpose There are several primary causes for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and sleep disorders in patients with epilepsy. Up to now, studies in the literature report conflicting data in terms of both prevalence and aetiology. The aim of our study was therefore to evaluate the prevalence of EDS and some sleep disorders in a population of patients with epilepsy treated with no more than two antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). We also investigated the role of the depression of mood as a variable that can negatively affect EDS. Methods We prospectively and consecutively recruited 99 patients with a diagnosis of epilepsy, sleep disorders and EDS, belonging to the Centre for Epilepsy …

Leprosy: report of a case with severe peripheral neuropathy

Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, with cutaneous and neurological manifestations. Leprosy is very rare in Europe but some cases are reported, especially among people coming from endemic areas. Here, we report a case of Hansen's disease and emphasize the importance of a prompt diagnosis and treatment also in non-endemic areas.

Early and late mortality of spontaneous hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic stroke.

Background Hemorrhagic transformation (HT), a complication of ischemic stroke (IS), might influence patient's prognosis. Our aim is to evaluate, in a hospital-based series of patients not treated with thrombolysis, the relationship between HT and mortality. Methods We compared mortality of individuals with spontaneous HT with that of individuals without. Medical records of patients diagnosed with anterior IS were retrospectively reviewed. Outcome measures were 30- and 90-day survival after IS onset. Kaplan–Meier estimates were used to construct survival curves. Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) for the main outcome measure (death). HT was stratified in he…

Cholesterol level and hemorrhagic transformation after ischemic stroke