Search results for "Cranial nerve"

The aristaless (Arx) gene: one gene for many "interneuronopathies".

2009

The ARX (Aristaless-related (X-linked) homeobox) gene is not only present in arthropods and their ancestors, but also in vertebrates including humans (ARX orthologs). The gene is composed of 5 coding exons and it is expressed predominantly in foetal and adult brain and skeletal muscle. In this review we report on our experience and review the existing literature on the genotype and phenotype heterogeneity associated with ARX abnormalities in humans ranging from severe neuronal migration defects (e.g., lissencephaly), to mild forms of X-linked mental retardation without apparent brain abnormalities. The ARX-related disorders are reviewed focusing on their clinical features and on the role of…

Intraoperatives Monitoring motorischer Hirnnerven bei Operationen an Hals und Schädelbasis

1994

Intraoperative monitoring of cranial nerves is performed to minimize postoperative cranial nerve dysfunction. We performed electrophysiological monitoring of motor cranial nerves with a NIM 2 unit from Xomed Treace and a patient multiplexer developed in our clinic. This multiplexer allows simultaneous monitoring of 4 cranial nerves and is additionally equipped with a bipolar stimulation mode. This intraoperative monitoring was employed during 102 skull base operations. Of these 102 operations, 44 were acoustic neuroma removals by translabyrinthine approach and 36 by a middle fossa approach. Various operations including removal of tumours of the jugular foramen and the infratemporal fossa we…

SOMATOTOPIC ORGANIZATION OF THE CRANIAL NERVE NUCLEI INVOLVED IN EYE MOVEMENTS: III, IV, VI.

2017

The oculomotor nucleus is divided into: 1. somatic medial column innervating the superior rectus muscle and somatic lateral column, further subdivided into a lateral column innervating the inferior rectus, inferior oblique and medial rectus muscles; 2. central nucleus innervating the levator palpebrae superioris muscle; 3. visceral nucleus innervating the pupillary sphincter muscle, consisting of the following two groups of neurons: cholinergic, preganglionic neurons supplying the ciliary ganglion, termed the Edinger- Westphal preganglionic (EWpg) neuron population, and the centrally projecting, peptidergic neurons, termed the Edinger-Westphal centrally projecting (EWcp) population. A detai…

Uvular paralysis after dental anesthesia

2002

Cranial nerve motor effects resulting from intraoral anesthesia are infrequent but well documented. Facial nerve involvement caused by diffusion of the anesthetic solution towards the parotid can give rise to a transient facial motor defect that tends to disappear as the anesthetic effect wears off.1,2 Facial paralysis lasting for several days has also been related to intraoral anesthesia, possibly due to reflex spasm and ischemic neuritis.1,3 One report described a patient with isolated involvement of the chorda tympani nerve following inferior alveolar injection, associated with dysgeusia.4 Ophthalmologic complications secondary to intraoral anesthesia include transient blindness resultin…

Stereotactic fractionated irradiation of optic nerve sheath meningioma: a new treatment alternative

2002

Background: Primary optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM) is a rare but almost invariably blinding tumour when its natural history is observed in a “wait and see” strategy. Surgery has hitherto only been advocated in case of progressive disease involving intracranial structures, as it leads to iatrogenic blindness in the overwhelming majority of cases. Therefore, treatment options bearing lesser risk of functional deterioration are highly desirable, both in cases of intracranial involvement as well as during earlier phases of the disease which are currently generally left untreated. The authors report the outcome of the largest series of patients to date treated by stereotactic fractionated …

Persistent idiopathic unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy.

1998

Incidence and lifetime prevalence of Bell's palsy in two Sicilian municipalities

1996

Introduction - In a door-to-door two-phase survey of common neurologic diseases conducted in two Sicilian municipalities, we investigated the incidence and the lifetime prevalence of Bell's palsy (BP). Material & methods - During phase 1, we administered a screening instrument for facial palsy to 11,901 adult persons. During phase 2, study neurologists using specified diagnostic criteria evaluated those subjects who screened positive. Results - We found 73 subjects who had experienced BP during their life. The lifetime prevalence as of November 1, 1987, was 642.8 cases per 100,000 population age 15 years and above. The prevalence increased with age and was similar in men and women. Eighteen…

Vestibular Function after Acoustic Neuroma Removal with Preservation of One Branch of the Vestibular Nerve

2002

Background Vestibular compensation after acoustic neuroma surgery is affected by many parameters. Apart from surgical approach, age of the patient, and comorbidity, the use of rehabilitative vestibular training and the degree of preoperative vestibular compensation play their respective roles. Objective To examine whether and how surgical preservation of one branch of the vestibular nerve affects the compensation process in patients after acoustic neuroma removal. Study design Prospective study involving 29 patients with acoustic neuromas. In 15 patients operated on by the middle fossa or retrosigmoid approach, one branch of the vestibular nerve could be preserved intraoperatively, and the …

Overview of the History of the Cranial Nerves: From Galen to the 21st Century

2018

Throughout history the description and classification of the cranial nerves has been linked to the development and characteristics of anatomy and the role that it played as a tool in providing rationality to medicine, together with social, cultural, religious, and philosophical factors. Anatomists were interested in the cranial nerves, but they disagreed on their number and their paths. We can divide the history of the cranial nerves into three different periods: the first, early or macroscopic period; the second or microscopic period; and the third period or ontogenesis and genoarchitecture. The main aim of this article is to show how the description and knowledge of the cranial nerves wer…

Cranial nerve function in workers exposed to polychlorinated dioxins and furans

2002

OBJECTIVE: To look for possible effects of polychlorinated dioxins and furans (PCDD/F) on cranial nerve function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical and neurophysiological examinations [visual and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (VEP and BAEP), blink reflex] in 121 PCDD/F exposed workers of one pesticide producing plant. RESULTS: BAEP abnormalities were more frequent in workers with chloracne (6 of 33 workers, 18.2%) than in those without chloracne (7 of 84, 8.3%), but this was not statistically significant (chi2: 2.33). VEP abnormalities were seen in one worker with and two without chloracne. Clinically visual functions were normal except in one worker, who was amaurotic since birth. Blin…