The Perception of Art among Patients and Staff on a Renal Dialysis Unit.

This study investigated the purpose and effectiveness of giving outpatients an opportunity to engage in art activities while receiving dialysis treatment. A mixed method study was conducted. 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted with outpatients attending the dialysis unit and 13 surveys of clinicians were completed. The principle reasons to partake in the art activity programme included: to pass time, to relieve boredom, to be creative, to try something new, distraction from concerns, to stay positive and to achieve something new. Patients who did not participate in the programme pass their time primarily by watching TV or sleeping. All staff who partook in the survey were satisfied with the programme and wanted it to continue. Our findings indicate that the creative arts programme is viewed positively by staff and patients alike, and might be useful in other hospital departments. Further in depth qualitative research would be useful to interrogate the potential effect of engagement in art on positive mental health and quality of life for patients with chronic conditions.

Visual field defects after selective amygdalohippocampectomy and standard temporal lobectomy.

BACKGROUND: Selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SelAH) is increasingly performed in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis. To determine whether visual field defects are less pronounced after SelAH than after standard temporal lobectomy (StTL), we retrospectively analyzed postoperative quantitative visual fields after the 2 procedures. METHODS: Humphrey visual field analysis was obtained postoperatively in 18 patients who had undergone SelAH and in 33 patients who had undergone StTL. The SelAH was performed via a transcortical approach through the middle temporal gyrus and included the amygdala, 3 cm of the hippocampus, and the parahippocampal gyrus. The visual field pattern deviation was used for analysis. We considered a defect clinically significant if there were 3 contiguous coordinates affected at the 5% level or 2 at the 1% level. RESULTS: All but 2 of 18 patients who had undergone SelAH had homonymous superior quadrantic visual field defects contralateral to the side of the surgery. One patient had no defects by our criteria, and one had a mild defect that reached significance only in the ipsilateral eye. The averaged defect affected mostly coordinates close to the vertical meridian with relative sparing of points close to the horizontal meridian. All but 3 of the 33 patients who had undergone StTL had homonymous superior quadrantic visual field defects. One patient had no defects; 2 had defects that reached significance in only one eye. The averaged defect involved all points in the affected quadrant, but was also greater near the vertical meridian. Of 13 tested visual field coordinates, 4 were significantly less affected by SelAH in the ipsilateral eye and 3 in the contralateral eye. The coordinates close to the horizontal meridian were significantly spared by SelAH. CONCLUSIONS: Visual field defects are very common after SelAH but are significantly less pronounced than after StTL. In particular, the visual field close to the horizontal meridian is relatively spared in SelAH.

Improved renal allograft survival with vitamin D receptor polymorphism.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms in genes, coding for proteins involved in immune response, or the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis may influence immunological and non-immunological mechanisms that lead to allograft loss. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonists reduce allograft rejection in animal models, and there are a number of functional polymorphisms in VDR. METHODS: In all, 379 renal transplant recipients were genotyped for VDR (FokI & ApaI) polymorphisms, and the association of each genotype with renal allograft survival and acute rejection was determined. RESULTS: There was significantly improved allograft survival for patients who were homozygous or heterozygous for the VDR FokI T allele (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 0.488, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The association of VDR FokI T allele with improved renal allograft survival is a unique observation. The finding is in keeping with data showing the prevention of chronic allograft rejection with the use of Vitamin D receptor agonists.

Current management of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis: variations in awareness and management.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for the prevention of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis (CIO) have been widely published. There are no guidelines on the use of gastro-protectants with corticosteroids (CS). AIMS: To determine whether patients receiving CS therapy are evaluated and treated for osteoporosis risk, how management varied by steroid dose and diagnosis, and how many patients received gastro-protection. METHODS: A retrospective audit of 4,350 patients presenting to four medical specialities. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-one patients prescribed CS were identified. Indications for CS therapy included renal transplantation (32%) and asthma/respiratory diseases (23%), inflammatory arthritis/vasculitis (32%) and inflammatory bowel disease/auto-immune hepatitis/other (13%). Risk of osteoporosis was mentioned in 13% of charts. The prescription rates for bone protection agents varied from 69% to 4% according to the medical speciality attended. Gastro-protectants were prescribed for 44% of patients. CONCLUSION: There are large variations among medical specialties both in the prescription of gastro-protectant agents and in the use of measures to prevent CIO. Simpler guidelines could facilitate rational prescribing in these patients.

Cushing syndrome induced by serial occipital nerve blocks containing corticosteroids.

A patient with chronic daily headaches developed overt signs of Cushing syndrome during treatment with serial occipital nerve block injections. Investigation demonstrated an exogenous source of corticosteroids as the cause of the Cushing syndrome in this patient, thus, implicating the corticosteroid component of the occipital nerve blocks. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Cushing syndrome caused by occipital nerve blockade. Caution is warranted in employing even usual therapeutic doses of synthetic corticosteroids, particularly in long-acting or depot preparations.

Skew deviation and inferior oblique palsy.

PURPOSE: To describe ocular motility and neuro-ophthalmologic findings in six patients with an ocular tilt reaction (OTR) that mimicked an inferior oblique palsy (IOP). DESIGN: Observational Case Series. METHODS: Series of six patients presenting to tertiary care pediatric or neuro-ophthalmologist. RESULTS: Five patients had ocular motility and three-step test results suggesting an IOP; one patient had a suspected bilateral IOP. All six patients had excyclotorsion of the hypotropic eye, and four had incyclotorsion of the hypertropic eye. This is contrary to that expected with an IOP (incyclotorsion of the hypotropic eye). In addition, all six patients had other neurologic findings in the history or examination that were associated with neurologic insult rather than an isolated IOP. Two patients had surgery consisting of a superior rectus recession; this was successful in eliminating diplopia in both patients and in eliminating the vertical deviation and head posturing in one patient. CONCLUSION: While many vertical deviations that appear to be due to an inferior oblique palsy based on the results of the three-step test may be caused by inferior oblique weakness, skew deviation should also be considered in any patient with a history of head trauma, or other neurologic findings. The cyclotorsion observed in IOP is opposite that seen with OTR, and differentiates the two entities clinically. We postulate that these deviations are caused by damage to the otolithic projections that correspond to those from the ipsilateral posterior semicircular canal (on the side of the hypotropic eye).

Visual field defects after temporal lobe resection: a prospective quantitative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and quantify prospectively visual field changes in patients undergoing temporal lobe resections for intractable epilepsy. BACKGROUND: Visual field abnormalities occur after temporal lobe resections for epilepsy; however, we have not encountered published reports using automated static visual field analysis. METHODS: Humphrey visual fields (program 30-2) were obtained before and after partial temporal lobe resection in 32 consecutive patients with intractable epilepsy. A quantitative point-by-point analysis was made in the affected superior quadrant, and the defects were averaged for the whole patient group. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients developed a visual field defect, but none was aware of the defect. The points nearest fixation were relatively spared. The defects were greatest in the sector closest to the vertical meridian in the eye ipsilateral to the resection. The ipsilateral and contralateral mean field defects also differed in both topography and depth. A significant correlation was found between the extent of lateral temporal lobe resection and the degree of the defect in the contralateral eye. CONCLUSIONS: There are differences in the shape and depth of the ipsilateral and the contralateral field defects not previously reported. These findings demonstrate that certain fibers from the ipsilateral eye travel more anteriorly and laterally in Meyer's loop, and support the hypothesis that visual field defects due to anterior retrogeniculate lesions are relatively incongruous because of anatomic differences in the afferent pathways. Automated perimetry is a sensitive method of evaluating and quantifying visual field defects.

Comparison of 24-2 and 30-2 perimetry in glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous optic neuropathies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the 24-2 Humphrey visual field (HVF) (Humphrey, San Leandro, CA) strategy provides information comparable to that provided by the 30-2 strategy in patients with optic nerve disease. METHODS: In part A of the study, an occluder device was designed to cover the additional outer 22 points tested in the 30-2 strategy of 187 HVFs from neuro-ophthalmology patients with nonglaucomatous optic neuropathy and 206 HVFs from patients with glaucoma. This device converted the gray scale and probability plots of the 30-2 HVF to a 24-2 field. Fields were initially read using the occluder and then were read in a masked manner without the occluder and compared. In part B, 15 healthy volunteers performed both 30-2 and 24-2 HVFs. Testing time and global indices were compared. Ninety-five percent of the fields in the neuro-ophthalmology patients, 96% of the fields in patients under observation for suspected glaucoma, 98% of the fields in patients with ocular hypertension, and 100% of the fields in patients with glaucoma were read similarly with the 24-2 and 30-2 strategies. In the few cases in which a discrepancy was noted between the 24-2 and the 30-2 fields, appropriate clinical management would not have been compromised by using the 24-2 strategy. Most of these cases were in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and very subtle nerve fiber bundle defects. The 24-2 strategy had a significantly lower pattern standard deviation (P < 0.01) and corrected pattern standard deviation (P = 0.05) than did the 30-2 strategy. In addition, the 24-2 strategy shortened the standard threshold testing time by 28% in normal volunteers (P < 0.0001 ). CONCLUSIONS: In most cases, the 24-2 testing strategy provides information comparable to that provided by the 30-2 strategy in a shorter time and with less variability. A 30-2 HVF may be warranted in patients under observation for evolving idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Tonic ocular tilt reaction simulating a superior oblique palsy: diagnostic confusion with the 3-step test.

BACKGROUND: The tonic ocular tilt reaction (OTR) consists of vertical divergence of the eyes (skew deviation), bilateral conjugate ocular torsion, and paradoxical head tilt. The head and superior pole of both eyes are rotated toward the hypotropic eye. OBJECTIVE: To describe ocular motility and torsion findings in 5 patients with OTRs that mimicked superior oblique palsies (SOPs). RESULTS: In 5 patients, results of the 3-step test suggested an SOP (bilateral in 1 patient); however, no patient had the expected excyclotorsion of the hypertropic eye. Two patients had conjugate ocular torsion (intorsion of the hypertropic eye and extorsion of the hypotropic eye), and 2 patients had only intorsion of the hypertropic eye. All had other neurologic features consistent with more widespread brainstem disease. CONCLUSIONS: Vertical ocular deviations that 3-step to an SOP are not always caused by fourth nerve weakness. When a patient with an apparent fourth nerve palsy has ocular torsion that is inconsistent with an SOP, OTR should be suspected, especially if vestibular system or posterior fossa dysfunction coexists. The rules for the 3-step test for an SOP may be fulfilled by damaging the otolithic projections corresponding to projections of the contralateral anterior semicircular canal. Because results of the Bielschowsky head tilt test may be positive in patients with the OTR, the feature distinguishing OTR from an SOP is the direction of torsion. We advocate use of a fourth step-evaluation of ocular torsion-in addition to the standard 3 steps.

Stereotactic ventriculoperitoneal shunt for idiopathic intracranial hypertension: technical note.

OBJECTIVE: Lumboperitoneal shunting is the bastion of neurosurgical management for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). However, recent studies document a high failure rate for this procedure. The present study was designed to explore the feasibility of placing ventriculoperitoneal shunts under stereotactic control into patients with IIH as an alternative to lumboperitoneal shunting. METHODS: Seven patients with IIH for whom medical management had failed underwent stereotactic implantation of ventriculoperitoneal shunts. RESULTS: Shunt placement was successful and uncomplicated in each case. Five of seven patients experienced complete resolution of papilledema. The remaining two patients showed resolving papilledema. Six of seven patients experienced resolution of headache. The remaining patient continued to have headaches despite a radionuclide study demonstrating normal shunt function. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that stereotactic ventriculoperitoneal shunting may be a reasonable alternative to lumboperitoneal shunting in those patients with IIH who require surgical intervention.

Unusual ocular motility disturbances with increased intracranial pressure.

We evaluated nine patients with external ophthalmoparesis and increased intracranial pressure. The eye movements normalized when the intracranial pressure was controlled. Investigations for an underlying cause of elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure are warranted when ocular motility disorders are present.

False-negative hydroxyamphetamine (Paredrine) test in acute Horner's syndrome.

PURPOSE: To describe a false-negative hydroxyamphetamine test. METHOD: Two patients with acute unilateral Horner's syndrome whose pupils initially dilated equally to hydroxyamphetamine had pharmacologic localization to the postganglionic nerve in the second week following the onset of symptoms. RESULTS: Neuroimaging confirmed the postganglionic location in both cases. CONCLUSION: Falsely negative localization with hydroxyamphetamine can occur during the first week after injury, during which time the function of the boutons at the presynaptic terminal is lost.

Oculopalatal myoclonus after the one-and-a-half syndrome with facial nerve palsy.

PURPOSE: The one-and-a-half syndrome is an eye movement disorder characterized by a unilateral gaze palsy and an ipsilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia. The authors describe a previously unrecognized association between the one-and-a-half syndrome and oculopalatal myoclonus (OPM). METHODS: Five clinical cases are presented, with pertinent physical findings and radiologic studies. RESULTS: A previously unrecognized association of the one-and-a-half syndrome with subsequent development of OPM appears to exist. Involvement of the facial nerve in patients with the one-and-a-half syndrome may be a predictor of the subsequent development of OPM. CONCLUSION: Patients with the one-and-a-half syndrome and facial nerve palsy should be followed closely for possible future development of OPM.

False-negative cerebral radionuclide flow study, in brain death, caused by a ventricular drain.

A radionuclide cerebral blood flow study demonstrated normal flow in the face of clinical and electrical brain death in a patient who had a ventricular drain. After the drain became obstructed and was removed, a further radionuclide study demonstrated no flow, confirming the role of the drain in the earlier false-negative studies.

Spontaneous visual recovery from traumatic optic neuropathy after blunt head injury.

Four patients who developed immediate blindness (no light perception) after indirect traumatic optic neuropathy caused by blunt head injury recovered vision without surgical intervention. In one patient, whose affected eye recovered to a visual acuity of 20/50 + 2, corticosteroids were not used. In two of the other patients, visual recovery began before corticosteroids were instituted. One patient recovered a visual acuity of R.E.: 20/15, one recovered a visual acuity of L.E.: 20/25-2, and one recovered a visual acuity of R.E.: 20/200 but with useful temporal field vision. Many investigators advocate aggressive surgical therapy for indirect neuropathy, particularly when corticosteroids fail. Significant recovery may occur despite no light perception, however, with medical therapy or even without therapy.

Combined gaze palsy of horizontal saccades and pursuit contralateral to a midbrain haemorrhage.

A midbrain haemorrhage, revealed by CT, caused a contralateral supranuclear horizontal gaze palsy of both saccades and foveal pursuit. These findings confirm the hypothesis that the supranuclear pathways for pursuit decussate to the contralateral midbrain and then decussate back before innervating the ipsilateral paramedian pontine reticular formation.