Pivotal role of obliquus capitis inferior in torticaput revealed by single-photon emission computed tomography.

Torticaput is the most common primary form of cervical dystonia (CD). Obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) plays a major role in ipsilateral rotation of the head. The present study aimed to use single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) to determine the involvement of OCI in torticaput and in torticaput associated with no-no tremor. We retrospectively analyzed the SPECT/CT images of 60 patients with torticaput as the main abnormal posture and ranked the affected muscles. The affected muscles in patients with no-no tremor were also ranked. The correlation between the radioactivity of OCI and the thickness of OCI measured by ultrasonography was analyzed. The agreement between SPECT/CT and electromyography in detecting OCI was also analyzed. After sternocleidomastoid muscle (81.7%), OCI was the second most affected muscle (70.0%) in torticaput, followed by splenius capitis (63.3%). In 23 patients with no-no tremor, OCI (78.3%) and sternocleidomastoid muscle (78.3%) were the most frequently affected muscles, followed by splenius capitis (69.6%). Furthermore, bilateral muscle involvement was commonly seen in patients with no-no tremor, especially for OCI (12/23) and sternocleidomastoid muscle (11/23). A positive correlation was found between the radioactivity and thickness of OCI (r = 0.330, P < 0.001). The total agreement rate between SPECT/CT and electromyography in the diagnosis of OCI excitement was 94.0%, with kappa value = 0.866 (P < 0.001). OCI plays a critical role in torticaput and no-no tremor. SPECT/CT could be a practical tool to help clinicians detect abnormally excited OCI.

Facteurs associes a la neuropathie diabetique a l'hopital national de Lamorde (Niamey-Niger)

OBJECTIFS. Identifier les facteurs associes a la neuropathie chez les patients diabetiques suivis a l'Hopital National de Lamorde. MeTHODES. Il s'agit d'une etude transversale; prospective sur une duree de 6 mois (Avril a Octobre 2014). Ont ete inclus les patients diabetiques vus en consultation durant la periode d'etude. Le score de Michigan neuropathy screening instrument(MNSI) a permis d'etablir le diagnostic de neuropathie peripherique et la douleur neuropathique a ete diagnostiquee sur la base du score DN4. ReSULTATS. Sur 200 patients inclus; 46% avaient une neuropathie peripherique dont 24% une douleur neuropathique. La survenue de la neuropathie peripherique est significativement correlee au diabete de type 2; a l'age des patients; au sexe masculin; a l'anciennete du diabete et a un bas niveau socio-economique. Une association au desequilibre glycemique a ete observe chez 46;2 % des cas mais non significative (p=0;055). La neuropathie etait egalement associee a la nephropathie; a une retinopathie diabetique et a la dysfonction erectile chez hommes.CONCLUSION. La neuropathie diabetique est frequente au Niger. Sa survenue denote de la presence d'autres facteurs