Inguinal segmental nerve conduction of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in healthy controls and in patients with meralgia paresthetica.

A common entrapment site of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) is in the vicinity of the inguinal ligament. However the more distal segment of this nerve can also be affected. Electrophysiological evaluation of this nerve is difficult. Additionally, available methods have failed in the lesion localization of LFCN. In this study, we aimed to evaluate nerve conduction study in different segments of the LFCN. Nerve action potentials of the LFCN were recorded with distal surface electrodes from a relatively distant point (about 30 cm caudal to the spina iliaca anterior superior). An electrical stimulus was given both 10 cm distal to the SIAS and at the level of the SIAS. Inguinal segmental and distal sensory nerve conduction studies were performed on the LFCN. Thirty-eight healthy controls and 34 patients with meralgia paresthetica (MP) were analyzed by this method. All patients with MP showed electrophysiological abnormalities. Slowed sensory conduction on the inguinal channel (p:0.0001) and loss of response were the most frequent abnormalities (44.7% and 31.6%). In one patient, the only abnormality was slowed sensory conduction at the distal site. Our findings suggest that this technique can help in diagnosis and lesion localization in MP.

Evoked potentials and disability in multiple sclerosis: A different perspective to a neglected method.

UNLABELLED: Evoked potentials and disability in multiple sclerosis: a different perspective to a neglected method. OBJECTIVE: Because evoked potentials (EP) are reflections of the functional integrity of sensory-motor systems, they are expected to reflect the abnormality in patients with disabilities and handicaps and also be in correlation with scales. This assumption was tested. METHODS: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelopathy (M) and normal controls were investigated by EP, Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12, timed 25-foot walk test and extended disability status scale (EDSS). EP results were converted to ordinal values, and correlations of these values with scales were calculated. Sensitivity and specificity analysis of EP parameters was also performed. RESULTS: Total EP scores revealed high rates of abnormality in both groups, but MS revealed a different correlation pattern from M. The SEP+MEP summed score showed high sensitivity and specificity for MS and this was also correlated with the MS-related disability-ambulation scales including EDSS. The most specific parameter was the minimum M latency in the MEP study. CONCLUSIONS: Four extremity recordings of EP with the use of more parameters than usual and ordinal expression of results seem to be benefical in MS. Although this study was cross sectional in nature, results indicated that EP might be useful in clinical follow up.

Is obsessive-compulsive symptomatology a risk factor for Alzheimer-type dementia?

In the present study, we hypothesized that lifetime Obsessive-Compulsive (OC) symptomatology would be risk factors for the development of Alzheimer׳s disease (AD). For this aim, first we compared 39 patients with AD and 30 age and gender matched control subjects. We have found that lifetime and current OC symptoms (OCs) and comorbid diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder in AD patients were significantly more prevalent than in control group. AD patients had more likely to have lifetime and current hoarding, and checking obsessions compared to controls. The rate of lifetime and current hoarding, and checking compulsions also appeared to be higher in AD patients in comparison to control subjects. Hoarding and checking obsessions, and compulsions seemed to proceed through the dementia in contrast to other OCs. The mean number of lifetime compulsions seemed to predict the diagnosis of AD. When we compared AD patients with and without OCs, we have found that OC symptomatology prior to AD did not cause an earlier onset of dementia and more severe cognitive impairment. Further longitudinal clinical, genetic and neuroimaging investigations are required to determine if lifetime presence of OCs would predispose to the development of later AD.

Acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy with hyperreflexia in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is an acute inflammatory autoimmune polyradiculoneuritis. Progressive motor weakness and areflexia are essential for its diagnosis. Hyperreflexia has rarely been reported in the early healing period of Guillain-Barré syndrome following Campylobacter jejuni infection in patients with acute motor axonal neuropathy with antiganglioside antibody positivity. In this study, we report a 12-year-old girl presenting with complaints of inability to walk, numbness in hands and feet, and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes since the onset of the clinical picture, diagnosed with acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy type of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Effects of 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on long-latency reflexes and cortical relay time.

Long-latency reflexes (LLRs) of hand muscles include a transcortical component. Cortical relay time estimated by the subtraction of motor and somatosensory evoked potentials from LLR reflects the physiology of the central neural pathway of LLR. It is believed that 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the primary motor cortex can decrease cortical excitability for approximately 15 minutes at intracortical level. The aim of the study was to analyze LLR and cortical relay time before and after 1-Hz rTMS. Long-latency reflex and H reflex obtained from the thenar muscles by electrical stimulation of the median nerve of 16 healthy subjects. Additionally, motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials were also recorded. Cortical relay time was calculated by the subtraction of motor evoked potential and somatosensory evoked potential latencies from LLR. These electrophysiologic recordings were performed before and after 15 minutes of 1-Hz rTMS over the motor area for the thenar muscles in the primary motor cortex. The amplitudes of LLR and motor evoked potential were significantly decreased after rTMS, but the H reflex of the thenar muscle and somatosensory evoked potentials were unchanged. The major finding of our study was a shortened duration of cortical relay time after rTMS. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the LLR of the thenar muscles has a transcortical pathway and cortical relay time that can give some information about the physiology of the intracortical pathway of LLR.

Microscopic polyangiitis presenting with medullary infarct.

Microscopic polyangiitis is a small vessel vasculitis which is rarely associated with ischemic stroke. Cerebrovascular disease has rarely been reported in connection with this disease. It may cause fatal hemorrhage, hemorrhagic conversion and multiple lacunar infarcts. We report here a 55-year-old woman with left medullary oblangata infarction without any symptoms of microscopic polyangiitis. During hospitalization, retinal ischemia, mononeuritis multiplex and pulmonary infiltration developed. Sural nerve biopsy was concomitant with small vessel vasculitis. Elevated CRP and sedimentation and positive P-ANCA led to confirmation of a diagnosis of microscopic polyangiitis. Our patient is a rare case of microscopic polyangiitis presenting with medullary infarction. Although the characteristics of this disease are well-known, the first symptom can be a medullary infarction, which has not been reported in literature before.

Upper and lower extremity proprioceptive inputs modulate EMG activity of the trapezius.

Axial muscles like the trapezius have different reflexive and functional properties. The aim of this study was to analyze the long latency reflexes obtained from the trapezius by the electrical stimulation of upper and lower extremity peripheral nerves. Thirty-one healthy volunteers were included in the study. Surface EMG activity of both trapezius muscles was recorded and averaged after electrical stimulation of the median and peroneal mixed nerves. The recordings were performed during supine and erect posture in nine subjects to evaluate of the effect of postural differences on reflex response. Reflex recordings were also performed in six subjects from some other muscles together with the trapezius by the stimulation of the peroneal nerve. Reflex responses including three components were recorded from the trapezius muscle (unilateral or bilateral) by electrical stimulation of the peroneal nerve. The most stable of them was the second component (23/31) which had a latency of 72.6 ± 7.9 ms for the ipsilateral, and 74.2 ± 8.5 ms for the contralateral trapezius (15/31). For median stimulation, the first component recorded at 32.0 ± 6.7 ms was the most stable (25/31). The second component was more frequently recorded on the contralateral side (14/31). Erect posture increased the amplitude of these components. Upper and lower extremity proprioceptive inputs modulate the EMG activity of the trapezius. This modulation probably related with postural adjustments.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and respiratory failure due to phrenic nerve involvement.

In this article, 2 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) are presented. These patients developed respiratory failure which could not be explained by any cardiac or pulmonary pathology. The first case had pure motor involvement and probable CIDP, and the second case had severe sensorial dysfunction and an ataxic picture in addition to motor symptoms. His clinical picture was compatible with distal acquired demyelinating sensory neuropathy without M protein. Electrophysiologic investigations of both patients disclosed impaired phrenic nerve conduction and neurogenic motor unit changes in the diaphragm. Both patients showed a moderate response to immunotherapy. Distal acquired demyelinating sensory and pure motor variant of CIDP can be a cause of respiratory dysfunction. Different clinical patterns of CIDP should be evaluated for phrenic nerve involvement.

The relationship between insulin resistance and hypercoagulability in acute ischemic stroke.

AIM: Insulin resistance has effects on the coagulation system, which is important in the acute phase of infarct. We examined the relationships between insulin resistance, hemostatic markers and stroke severity in acute ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: Protein C (PC), protein S (PS), fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and antithrombin III (AT III) were studied in 75 acute ischemic stroke patients with and without insulin resistance. RESULTS: The PC and PS levels of insulin-resistant patients were significantly lower than those of non-insulin-resistant patients (PC: 87 ± 19.23 vs. 97.89 ± 13.3%, p = 0.007; PS: 84.75 ± 15.72 vs. 93.21 ± 15.02%, p = 0.02), and both of the anticoagulants were correlated with the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA; r = -0.339, p = 0.003 and r = -0.481, p = 0.000, respectively). Additionally, the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score correlated negatively with PS (r = -0.329, p = 0.004) and AT III levels (r = -0.235, p = 0.04). The parameters with positive correlations with NIHSS were fibrinogen (r = 0.270, p = 0.019), fasting glucose (r = 0.358, p = 0.008) and HOMA (r = 0.286, p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The significant associations between insulin resistance and hemostatic markers may be relevant to stroke severity by causing a procoagulant tendency in acute ischemic stroke.

Sensory nerve conduction in branches of common interdigital nerves: a new technique for normal controls and patients with morton's neuroma.

In this article, a new electrodiagnostic approach is described for patients with Morton's neuroma. The new method is based on the anatomic fact that the two branches of the common plantar interdigital nerves innervate the lateral side of one toe and the medial side the next one. This study included 20 normal subjects (aged 28-58 years, 10 men and 10 women) and 4 patients with Morton's neuroma (aged 44-52 years, 4 women). The branches of adjacent common plantar interdigital nerves that innerve one toe were stimulated superficially and separately with half of one toe covered with a piece of medical tape. The recordings were obtained on the posterior tibial nerve at the medial malleolus with needle electrodes. Thus, the difference in latencies of obtained sensory nerve action potentials on the posterior tibial nerve with needle electrode was measured. From normal subjects' data, it was determined that a latency difference value of above 0.17 milliseconds (mean +/- 2.5 SD) in one toe was abnormal. All of the patients with Morton's neuroma showed abnormal interlatency difference values. This new method, which we have developed, is more sensitive, simple to use, does not require extra equipment, and does not cause excessive pain. We suggest that interlatency difference between branches of the common plantar interdigital nerves is a useful and sensitive method for the diagnosis of Morton's neuroma.

Adductor T reflex abnormalities in patients with decreased patellar reflexes.

The adductor reflex (AR) is a tendon reflex that has various features that differ from other tendon reflexes. This reflex was tested in different disorders presenting with diminished patellar reflexes such as diabetic lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy (DLRPN), L2-L4 radiculopathy, and distal symmetric diabetic neuropathy (diabetic PNP). The AR and crossed-AR (elicited by tapping the contralateral patellar tendon) were recorded using concentric needle electrodes. Additionally, the patellar T reflex (vm-TR) and vastus medialis H reflex (vm-HR) were recorded using surface electrodes. AR was recorded in only one out of eight patients with DLRPN, but it was recorded in 21 out of 22 patients with L2-L4 radiculopathy (95.5%). Of these reflexes, only AR showed prolonged latency in the L2-L4 radiculopathy group. The latencies of AR, vm-TR, and vm-HR were prolonged in patients with diabetic PNP. We conclude that AR can be useful in the differential diagnosis of some lower motor neuron disorders that present with patellar reflex disturbance. Muscle Nerve 40: 264-270, 2009.

Oxidative stress in acute ischemic stroke.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in acute ischemic stroke pathogenesis. Free radical formation and subsequent oxidative damage may be a factor in stroke severity. Serum levels of nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were measured within the first 48 h of stroke in 70 patients. The levels were also correlated with the clinical outcomes using Canadian Neurological Scale (CNS) scores. The results were compared with a control group consisting of 70 volunteers with similar stroke risk factors. Serum NO, MDA and GSH levels were significantly elevated in acute stroke patients. CNS score was negatively correlated with both MDA and NO levels. However, no statistically significant correlation between GSH levels and CNS scores was detected. Our results suggest deleterious effects of oxidative stress on clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke. The elevation of GSH levels may be an adaptive mechanism during this period.

Association of central pontin myelinolysis and extra-pontin myelinolysis in diabetic patient.

Central pontin myelinolysis and extra-pontin myelinolysis (CPM/EPM) implies the clinical picture after rapid recovery of hyponatremia or hyponatremia alone. SPM/EPM picture can occur without hyponatremia. Findings such as dysarthria, dysphagia, tetraparesia/plegy accompanies the clinical table. Our case was also diabetic, but there were no electrolyte imbalance in admission. The presence of diarrhea in medical history of the patient might indicate a short-term undetected electrolyte imbalance. In our diabetic case that has borderline metabolic status and lack of any detected electrolyte imbalance, we decided to present SPM/EPM table together with literature information.

Proximal femoral conductions in patients with lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy.

OBJECTIVES: Lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy (DLRPN) is a rare form of neuropathy observed in diabetic and rarely non-diabetic patients. Pathophysiology and lesion location are not clearly understood. Our aim was to analyze proximal and distal femoral conductions in patients with DLRPN. METHODS: Six patients with DLRPN, 14 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy and 25 healthy subjects were included in the study. We performed L3 monopolar root stimulation and femoral nerve trunk stimulation at the inguinal region and calculated lumbar plexus conduction time by subtracting the latency of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the vastus medialis evoked by femoral nerve stimulation from the latency of CMAP of vastus medialis evoked by L3 root stimulation. Additionally peak to peak amplitudes and areas of CMAPs were analyzed. RESULTS: Electrophysiological examination showed that there was an axonal involvement in all patients with DLRPN. Prolonged lumbar plexus conduction time (in five extremities), and prolonged distal latency of the femoral nerve (in five extremities) probably due to secondary demyelination were also observed. Similar abnormalities were not observed in the diabetic polyneuropathy group. CONCLUSIONS: DLRPN may affect different localizations on the peripheral nerves. L3 root stimulation may have an important role in the electrodiagnosis of DLRPN.

Primary diffuse leptomeningeal oligodendrogliomatosis causing sudden death.

Primary diffuse leptomeningeal oligodendrogliomatosis is a rare malignancy of central nervous system without evidence of a primary intraparenchymal focus. We present a 25-year-old woman with the postmortem diagnosis of primary diffuse leptomeningeal oligodendrogliomatosis. She was paraplegic and had sensory loss at the level of thoracal 8-9 for nearly 15 months. There was no symptom due to increased intracranial pressure. Unexpectedly she died just before biopsy. Autopsy revealed a nodular lesion at the level of thoracal 10 vertebra and diffuse oligodendroglioma throughout the leptomeninges of the brain and spine without intraaxial focus. To our knowledge, this is the first case of primary diffuse leptomeningeal oligodendrogliomatosis causing sudden death in the literature.

Adductor T and H reflexes in humans.

In the belief that changes in the adductor reflex (AR) may be helpful in evaluating lumbar root and plexus lesions, expression of the AR was studied in 43 healthy human subjects. ARs elicited with an electronic reflex hammer were recorded from the inner side of the proximal thigh using needle and surface electrodes, and patellar reflexes (PRs) were recorded simultaneously. These reflexes were obtained by tapping the ipsilateral medial aspect of the knee, the contralateral patellar tendon, the ipsilateral and contralateral anterior superior iliac spines, and the Achilles tendon. The H reflex of the obturator nerve was also evaluated in 17 cases. ARs were evoked consistently by tapping the ipsilateral medial aspect of the knee and by contralateral patellar tap, and by tapping ipsilateral and contralateral anterior superior iliac spines when a needle recording electrode was used. Sometimes an Achilles tendon tap also elicited the AR ipsilaterally. By contrast, the PR could only be elicited by a tap to the ipsilateral patellar tendon. ARs have somewhat different features than other well-known tendon reflexes such as the PR and are recorded consistently when a needle electrode is used, being elicited from both distal and proximal areas of the legs by tapping the Achilles tendon or anterior superior iliac spines unilaterally or bilaterally. Their role in evaluating lumbar root disease and monitoring adductor spasticity merits investigation.

Vascular Parkinsonism: a case of lacunar infarction localized to mesencephalic substantia nigra.

An 80-year-old caucasian man with acute onset parkinsonism is reported here. Lower limbs were predominantly involved and he did not show remarkable improvement with dopaminergic therapy. His MRI investigation showed an isolated lesion on the right side of the mesencephalon, consistent the localization of substantia nigra. The association of acute onset parkinsonism and this radiological finding is very rare in the literature.

Electrophysiological evaluation of the genitofemoral nerve in patients with inguinal hernia.

Groin pain in the lower abdomen but including the ilioinguinal region is frequent after inguinal hernia operations, but the integrity of the nerves in this region, including the genitofemoral nerve (GFN), has not been investigated. We studied GFN motor conduction time to the cremasteric muscle (CM), the CM electromyogram (EMG), and the CM reflex in 30 patients with unilateral inguinal hernia who underwent herniorrhaphy and in 26 similar patients who had no surgical intervention. Among the 30 patients undergoing herniorrhaphy, 14 (47%) showed motor involvement of the GFN, whereas 6 of the 26 (23%) patients not treated surgically had involvement of the GFN. These findings indicate that subclinical motor involvement of the GFN can be demonstrated by electrophysiological methods and is common after inguinal herniorrhaphy. Based on patient complaints, the herniated mass may also be responsible for motor involvement of the GFN in some patients before surgery.

Cutaneous silent periods of the vastus medialis evoked by the stimulation of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.

OBJECTIVE: Cutaneous silent period (CSP), which is a spinal reflex mediated by A-delta cutaneous afferents, is transient suppression of the electromyographic activity. In this study, our aim is to investigate CSPs of vastus medialis muscle (vm-CSP) evoked by the stimulation of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) in healthy controls and in patients with meralgia paresthetica (MP). METHODS: Twenty-one patients with MP (17 unilateral, 4 bilateral) and 27 healthy controls were included. Nerve conduction studies of LFCN and vm-CSP were analyzed in all subjects. A stimulus train consisting of five electrical shocks was applied to the skin at the anterolateral side of the thigh for recording of the vm-CSP. RESULTS: Nerve conduction abnormalities of LFCN were observed in all patients with MP. Mean duration of vm-CSP was 69.7+/-9.2ms, and mean onset latency was 44.7+/-6.9 in healthy controls. Onset latency of vm-CSP was significantly prolonged and the duration of vm-CSP was significantly shortened in patients with MP. Vm-CSP abnormalities were observed in 20/25 extremities with MP. CONCLUSIONS: Dysfunction of A-delta afferents may cause these findings in patients with MP. Additionally, spinal modulation of pain may also play a role in the explanation of our findings. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study demonstrates the CSP alterations in the patients with entrapment neuropathy of a cutaneous nerve.

Motor cortical thresholds and cortical silent periods in epilepsy.

We studied motor cortical thresholds (TIs) and cortical silent periods (SPs) evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in 110 epileptic patients. Sixty-two had primary generalised, 48 had partial type seizures. Fifteen out 110 patients were analysed both before and after anticonvulsant medication. Our aims were to evaluate the TI levels and the duration of SPs in patients with epilepsy and to determine the reliability of TMS in patients with epilepsy. There was no negative effect of TMS on the clinical status and EEG findings in patients with epilepsy. TIs obtained from patients with partial epilepsy were higher than those obtained from both controls and primary epileptics. The duration of SP in patients with primary epileptics was more prolonged than those obtained from controls. There was no correlation between EEG lateralisation and both SP duration and TI values. In de novo patient group, SP duration was significantly prolonged after anticonvulsant medication. We concluded that TMS is a reliable electrophysiological investigation in patients with epilepsy. The analysis of SP duration may be an appropriate investigation in monitoring the effect of anticonvulsant medication on the cortical inhibitory activity.