The course of quality of life and neurocognition in newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: The importance of QoL and neurocognitive functions in patients with glioblastoma (GB) is above controversy by now. We followed newly diagnosed GB patients treated with radio-chemotherapy during their course of disease by continuously evaluating their quality of life (QoL) and cognitive functions. METHODS: We included consecutive patients with newly diagnosed GB from 2010 to 2013 at the Medical University of Vienna. To assess QoL the EORTC QLQ C30 and BN20 questionnaire were used. Neurocognition was measured with the NeuroCog FX. The evaluations were done 6 times every three months, beginning at the beginning of radio-chemotherapy. RESULTS: 42 patients participated in this study. We also recorded QoL and neurocognition in 23 patients after the first disease progression. Patients maintained their cognitive summary score until relapse. Patients with left-sided tumors showed significant lower scores in the subscale verbal fluency than patients with right-sided tumors. The global health score of QoL decreased after the fifth evaluation (13months after diagnosis) whereas a peak of fatigue symptoms was obtained at the third evaluation. Furthermore, fatigue symptoms increased strongly 7months after diagnosis and patients' financial difficulties were mentioned more frequently by younger patients and in patients with lower education levels. CONCLUSIONS: QoL and cognitive long-term assessments are feasible also in some patients with GB after a symptomatic progression. Our study demonstrates maintenance of QoL and cognitive summary scales before tumor progression. Moreover, it highlights subgroups according to tumor location and socioeconomic factors.

[Consensus statement "Dementia 2010" of the Austrian Alzheimer Society]. / Konsensusstatement "Demenz 2010" der Osterreichischen Alzheimer Gesellschaft.

The Austrian Alzheimer Society developed evidence-based guidelines based on a systematic literature search and criteria-guided assessment with subsequent transparent determination of grades of clinical recommendation. The authors evaluated currently available therapeutic approaches for the most common forms of dementia and focused on diagnosis and pharmacological intervention, taking into consideration the situation in Austria. The purpose of these guidelines is the rational and cost-effective use of diagnostic and therapeutic measures in dementing illnesses. Users are physicians and all other providers of care for patients with dementia in Austria.

[Poisoning with a podophyllin-containing wart-treating tincture]. / Vergiftung mit Podophyllin-haltiger Warzentinktur.

HISTORY AND ADMISSION FINDINGS: A 57-year-old depressive and alcohol-dependent man was admitted because of frequent nausea and vomiting and abdominal complaints after he had ingested 40 ml of a tincture for treating warts. He was under the influence of alcohol, but normally oriented and without contributory findings other than his gastrointestinal complaints and tachypnea. INVESTIGATIONS: Transaminases were raised (GOT 1197 U/l, GPT 170 U/l, gammaGT 150 U/l, LDH 2047 U/l), as were creatine phosphokinase (426 U/l) and ferritin (12 200 ng/ml). Platelet count was 36000 mm3, Leucocytes count 11 700/mm (3). Gastroscopy showed marked mucosal necrosis along the entire esophagus and the pulled-up small intestine (state after gastrectomy). DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND COURSE: The patient became comatose within 5 hours, acidotic, oliguric, required ventilation and went into severe shock. The symptoms and the fact that podophyllin (pod.) was the main agent in the wart preparation confirmed the suspicion of pod. poisoning. Symptomatic and intensive care measures stabilized his critically grave condition. He was extubated on the 7th day after ingestion and on the 10th day was discharged at his own request in a relatively good general state. When he was re-admitted after 4 weeks he was without psychiatric symptoms but deeply depressed, and he had signs of a polyneuropathy in all limbs, typical of pod. toxin poisoning. CONCLUSION: Pod. toxin, a spindle poison, is the toxic agent of pod., the resin from the roots and rhizomes of various Berberis plants. While the potential toxicity of the resin, taken either orally or applied externally, has been long known, the poorly definied raw product is still being added to anti-wart tinctures.

[ALS-like sequelae in chronic neuroborreliosis]. / ALS-ähnlicher Krankheitsverlauf bei chronischer Neuroborreliose.

CSF investigation in a 61-year old female patient with clinical picture of motoneuron disease gave evidence for chronic infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. Improvement of clinical and CSF findings could be observed after antibiotic therapy. The diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis which was initially suspected had to be revised and the disorder was interpreted as chronic neuroborreliosis.

[Electrophysiological studies in acute Guillain-Barré syndrome]. / Elektrophysiologische Untersuchungen beim akuten Guillain-Barré-Syndrom.

Based on a synopsis of the literature and our own investigations we discuss the electrophysiological changes in acute Guillain-Barré syndrome. These changes must be viewed in relation to the clinical course of the illness. The SPA evoked by distal stimulation decreases by 50% during the first week of illness, continues decreasing in the second and third weeks and then shows a tendency to normalization. In a similar way, the motor NCV reaches a minimum in the third week and then shows a slow increase again. The motor NCV findings return to normal earlier than SPA. At an early stage we find changes in F-wave and distal latency as well. In connection with the clinical picture, the incidence of changes pointing to a primary demyelinating polyneuropathy can be seen as an electrophysiological sign for the Guillain-Barré syndrome. The relevant criteria are discussed. There are various views concerning the validity of the electrophysiological findings in terms of prognosis of acute Guillain Barré syndrome. Since prognosis is dependent, at first, on the amount of the denervation, the decrease of SPA is of importance. To be able to give a prognosis it is necessary to examine large number of motor nerves electrophysiologically. However, it is very often not possible to make a reliable electrophysiological prognosis in the individual case. The pathophysiological basis for electrophysiological changes in demyelinating PNP's is discussed.