Exaggerated pressor response to static squats in Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy subjects is likely an individual trait, not influenced by whole body vibration (WBV).

BACKGROUND: Reduced muscle strength is one symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). Strength can be increased by strength training, which may cause exaggerated blood pressure (BP) rise. It is believed that exercises performed on vibrating platform can strengthen leg muscles without excessive BP increase. OBJECTIVE: To measure the pressor response to static exercises performed during whole body vibration in PD patients. METHODS: Twenty-four aged PD patients and twelve healthy young volunteers participated in the study. PD subjects performed six repetitions of deep-, semi-squat, and calves at vibration frequency of 30 Hz. Each 30 s exercise was followed by 30 s rest. The young volunteers performed two sessions of above-mentioned exercises with and without vibration. BP was measured continuously. RESULTS: In PD patients, the highest BP values were observed during deep squat; systolic blood pressure rose 10 mmHg in 'weak responders', and 50 mmHg in 'strong responders'. This difference correlated with the rise in pulse pressure suggesting indirectly the role of stoke volume in individual response. In healthy subjects pressor response was also individually differentiated and not influenced by vibration. CONCLUSION: Deep and semi squat can evoke a strong cardiovascular response in some PD and healthy subjects. Low-magnitude vibrations likely did not affect pressor response.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy manifested as a brain tumour. Clinical and neuropathological characteristics of two cases.

We present two cases (female and male patients, aged 64 and 38, respectively) of focal mass lesions mimicking a brain tumour: one with cognitive function deficit, memory troubles, behavioral changes and left hemiparesis, the other with difficulty in orientation and right hemiparesis. General physical and neurological examinations, laboratory tests and neuroimaging were used to diagnose the cases. Both of them showed nonspecific changes in the brain tissue and the brain tumour was suspected. In the first case MRI scan revealed two pathological masses in the right frontal region and hemorrhagical focus with destructions inside lesions. Second patient's MRI scan revealed a pathological mass at the interface of the left temporal and occipital regions. The neurosurgical procedure was performed. The final diagnosis was established on the basis of neuropathological examination of postoperative material. On light microscopy examination a severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) was revealed. Amyloidoma was excluded due to the absence of amorphous material and eosynophylic masses. Tumefactive CAA is a rare condition. These two cases of focal, tumefactive, masslike lesions of diffuse cerebral amyloid angiopathy are reported because of diagnostic dilemmas. In patients with history of memory disfunction, neurological deterioration and different multiple changes observed in CT and MRI scans, such as hemorrhagic infarcts and ischemic cerebral lesions, CAA should be suspected. The imaging findings make a distinction between tumefactive CAA and brain tumours like gliomas difficult. A differential diagnosis of CAA and amyloidoma plays a significant role in a neuropathological examination.

Frequency and clinical characteristics of chronic daily headache in an outpatient clinic setting.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic daily headache (CDH) is not a diagnosis but a category that includes many disorders representing primary and secondary headaches. According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition (ICHD-II), CDH is defined as headache which occurs more often than 15 days per month for at least 3 months. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We assessed 1154 headache sufferers diagnosed in our headache outpatient clinic. Clinical history, physical and neurological examination, and laboratory tests were performed to make a diagnosis. RESULTS: CDH was diagnosed according to ICHD-II in 185 (16%) patients; their mean age was 41±17 years (80% were women). Chronic migraine was a cause of CDH in 49% (91/185) of patients, chronic tension-type headache in 18% (33/185), secondary headache in 25% (46/185) and unclassified pain in 8%. Medication overuse headache occurred in 15%. The most effective therapy in our patients was treatment with tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent cause of CDH in our cohort was chronic migraine. Women suffered more frequently than men. Antidepressants were the most effective preventive medications for all types of CDH, which may suggest that serotoninergic mechanisms can be an important factor in the pathophysiology of chronic pain syndromes.