Validity and reliability of the Russian version of the revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to elaborate a valid and reliable Russian version of the ALSFRS-R. METHODS: Russian adaptation of the ALSFRS-R was applied twice in 50 ALS patients followed by the test-retest analysis with a 7-day interval between applications and internal consistency analysis. RESULTS: Test-retest analysis showed very strong correlation for all of the ALSFRS-R variables. The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.83. CONCLUSION: The elaborated Russian version of the ALSFRS-R has shown to be comparable with the original English version of the scale.

[Rare variant of median nerve compression: compression by brachial artery false aneurysm combined with carpal tunnel syndrome. Case report and literature review]. / Redkii variant kompressii sredinnogo nerva: kompressiya lozhnoi anevrizmoi plechevoi arterii v sochetanii s sindromom karpal'nogo kanala. Sluchai iz praktiki i obzor literatury.

BACKGROUND: The authors present severe compression of the median nerve by iatrogenic false aneurysm of the brachial artery combined with carpal tunnel syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An 81-year-old woman developed acute anesthesia of fingers I-III of the left hand, impaired flexion of the thumb and forefinger, swelling of the hand and forearm, local pain in postoperative period after angiography. The patient was previously followed-up for transient numbness in both hands for 2 years with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Electroneuromyography and ultrasound of the median nerve at the level of shoulder and forearm were carried out. We visualized a pulsatile lesion with Tinel's sign within the elbow (false aneurysm of the brachial artery). RESULTS: Resection of brachial artery aneurysm and neurolysis of the left median nerve were followed by regression of pain syndrome and improvement of motor function of the hand. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates a rare variant of acute high compression of the median nerve after diagnostic angiography. This situation should be considered in differential diagnosis with classical carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Neuralgic amyotrophy]. / Nevralgicheskaya amiotrofiya.

A review of the literature covering the issues of etiology, pathogenesis, variety of atypical forms, diagnosis and management of patients with neuralgic amyotrophy is presented.

[Informative value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of intraneural perineurioma]. / Informativnost' UZI v diagnostike intranevral'noi perinevriomy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical and sonographic features of confirmed intraneural perineurioma in 5 patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report clinical and sonographic features and retrospective follow-up data in 5 patients with intraneural perineurioma verified by biopsy. RESULTS: In all cases, symptoms were represented by a slowly progressive painless mononeuropathy with muscle atrophy and impaired tendon reflexes. Ultrasound examination revealed locally enlarged cross-sectional area of the nerve that was confirmed by intraoperative visualization. CONCLUSION: Intraneural perineurioma should be obligatory suspected in case of fusiform thickening of the nerve with locally changed echogenicity. Pooled multiple-center studies with large samples are needed to determine sensitivity and specificity of the main ultrasound parameters including changes in cross-sectional area and echogenicity of the nerve.

[Mononeuropathy of dorsal interosseous nerve: compression by return radial arteries]. / Mononeiropatiia zadnego mezhkostnogo nerva: kompressiia vozvratnymi luchevymi arteriiami.

Among many causes of compression neuropathies involving the radial nerve, compression of the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) by the returning radial arteries is rare. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical instrumental characteristics of cases of mononeuropathy caused by compression of the return radial arteries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two observations with neuropathy of the deep branch of the radial nerve, manifested by weakness in the corresponding muscles, inconsistent pain syndrome with previous stereotypic (recurring) physical activity are presented. RESULTS: According to the results of ultrasound examination of posterior interosseous nerve, a local hypoechogenic increase in the cross-sectional area of nerve of different lengths was revealed. During surgical decompression of the nerve, in the first case, a tight arterial loop was found around the nerve, in the second case, expanded arterial trunks, one of which, of small diameter, covered the nerve in the 'loop', and the other, larger, pierced the nerve. After the operation, regression of motor deficiency and relief of pain were noted.

[Chronic dysimmune hypertrophic plexopathy as a variant of atypical chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy]. / Khronicheskaia dizimmunnaia gipertroficheskaia pleksopatiia kak variant atipichnoi khronicheskoi vospalitel'noi demieliniziruiushchei polineiropatii.

The authors report the clinical case of a 7-year-old child with gradual development in left leg weakness considering by the neurologist as the unknown lesion of the sciatic nerve. According to the results of clinical and instrumental examinations, the diagnosis was established as a focal form of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The dysimmune cause of the disease was confirmed by MRI of the lumbosacral plexus with contrast enhancement of neural structures and response to therapy with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin in combination with corticosteroids.

[Sonographic characteristics of non-traumatic focal hourglass-like nerve constriction]. / Sonograficheskie kharakteristiki netravmaticheskoi fokal'noi konstriktsii nerva po tipu 'pesochnykh chasov'.

AIM: To describe the sonographic phenomenon of the focal 'hourglass-like constriction' of the peripheral nerves (FCPN). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors described 7 patients meeting the criteria for the diagnosis of neuralgic amyotrophy with unilateral FCPN identified with ultrasound in 4 cases and detected intraoperatively in 3 cases (preliminary ultrasound was not performed). The US scanner Sonoscape Pro mode gray scale in the transverse and longitudinal scanning, linear probe 8-15 MHz and Logiq9 scanner with elastography were used. RESULTS: FCPN was detected in the single nerve in 4 patients, in two nerves in 2 patients and in 3 nerves in one patient. Among all the nerves involved in the pathological process, the radial nerve and its branches were affected in 73% (8 nerves); the ulnar nerve was involved in 18% (2 nerves) and the musculo-cutaneous nerve in 9%. The length of the constriction of the peripheral nerve did not exceed 1.7 mm. The deformation coefficient (DC) of constriction area was 3.8 to .,9; the change in the elasticity in the form of an increase of DC to 5.9 when compared to the intact portion of the nerve and a decrease in echogenicity were observed in one patient. CONCLUSION: High-resolution ultrasound of the nerve can be an informative method for the diagnosis of idiopathic non-traumatic FCPN mononeuropathy.

[Mortality from ischemic stroke and air pollution in Yaroslavl: a correlation analysis].

During the 2003-2006 period, the relationship of mortality from ischemic stroke (IS) and the environmental pollution in Yaroslavl, a Russian industrial center, was studied in 1983 patients with first ischemic stroke. A sample consisted of 978 men and 1005 women, the average age was 60.9±8.9 and 65.9±8.9 years, respectively. Additionally, the interactions between pollution, age, gender, and some of the major risk factors in these patients were analyzed.