An acute and long-term study with a dispersible formulation of levodopa/benserazide (Madopar®) in Parkinson's disease

The clinical efficacy, tolerability and administration regimens of a dispersible formulation of levodopa/benserazide (DM) were investigated in 30 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, complicated by motor fluctuations. All 30 patients showed delayed- “on” phenomenon after administration of the first morning dose of standard levodopa (SM), and 20 showed delayed- “on” phenomenon after the first afternoon dose. Patients were receiving standard formulations of levodopa as monotherapy or in combination. A double-dose study of the dispersible vs the standard formulation was performed in 30 patients, 24 of whom participated in a 36-month, follow-up clinical study. In the long-term study, SM was replaced with DM by substituting the first morning dose or the first morning and first afternoon doses. In the double-dose study, mean latency to “on” after the first morning dose was significantly shorter with DM than with SM (p < 0.001), whereas the duration of “on” was similar with the two preparations. The post-prandial delayed- “on” in the 14 patients who responded to therapy was significantly shorter for DM than for SM (p < 0.001). In the long-term study, the mean latency to “on” in all patients was significantly shorter than at baseline (p < 0.001). Time spent in “on” during the active day increased significantly, and remained stable during the 36-month study. No changes were apparent in the mean dosage of levodopa/day or the number of doses/day, and no acute or long-term adverse events were reported. In conclusion, these results confirm the long-term safety of the dispersible formulation, and its improved efficacy compared with standard levodopa formulations, as monotherapy and in association with slow-release formulations.     

Prediction of outcomes for brainstem cavernous malformation

Objective

Brainstem cavernous malformation (CM) poses a challenge to neurosurgeons in terms of operability, postoperative complications and unpredictable outcomes. The present study was conducted to analyze the clinical parameters that might predict the outcomes and to summarize our center experience in treatment of brainstem CM.

Methods

A total 59 patients with radiological and histologically confirmed brainstem CM diagnosed between 2000 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. All but five patients were deemed amenable to surgical resection. Complete resection was attempted in all CM and was achieved in 58/59 patients. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) score dichotomized as mRS 0–2 (favorable outcome) or mRS 3–6 (unfavorable outcome) was employed for neurological status assessment. The association of various clinical parameters to the different brainstem location was evaluated. Predictors of the surgical outcomes were analyzed using the univariate and multivaraite regression statistics.

Results

Mean age of 32 female and 27 male patients was 34.3 years. The differences in size of cavernoma, conservative treatment and complications were significantly associated with various location of the CM in the brainstem. Clinical parameters including age at presentation (p = 0.029, OR = 0.061, CI = 0.009–0.414), favorable preoperative mRS (p = 0.004, OR = 0.058, CI = 0.009–0.343), pontine location of CM (p = 0.018, OR = 0.017, CI = 0.001–0.495), and early surgical treatment (p = 0.05, OR = 0.087, CI = 0.07–1.03) were independent predictors of favorable surgical outcomes. Mean long-term follow up of 42.9 months was available in 31/59 (52.5%). The mean size of CM was 22.5 mm; small size (<10 mm) at presentation was associated with favorable outcomes at long-term follow-up (univariate analysis, p = 0.041, adjusted R² = 0.471). Preoperative mRS (p = 0.039) and location of the CM (p = 0.034) in the brainstem were predictors of good surgical outcomes at long term follow-up.

Conclusion

Favorable surgical outcomes can be predicted in brainstem CM patients with early age at presentation, pontine location of the cavernoma, favorable preoperative mRS and those undergoing early surgery. The outcomes at long-term follow-up were associated with location of the CM in the brainstem, size of the CM and the preoperative mRS.     

Immediate effect of two yoga-based relaxation techniques on cognitive functions in patients suffering from relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: A comparative study

Abstract

Cognitive impairment (CI) is an important feature of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Yogic relaxation techniques have been found useful in improving various cognitive domains in health and disease. Eighteen subjects (13 females) in the age range of 51.5?±?12.72 years with the diagnosis of RRMS by a neurologist (McDonald Criteria 2010) since last 18.16?±?12.59 years were recruited into the study from a neuro-rehabilitation centre in Germany. Assessments were done before and immediately after two randomly allocated 30-min sessions of yogic relaxation: Cyclic Meditation (CM) and SR (supine rest or shavasana). Assessments were done for attention, psychomotor performance, information processing speed, executive functions, and immediate and delayed recall using standard psychometric tools. RMANOVA was applied to analyse the data using SPSS version 10. Both CM and SR sessions improved scores on Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) (p?<?0.01) and Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) (p?<?0.05). There was a significantly better performance in Trail Making Test (TMT)-A and forward digit span (FDS) after CM as compared to SR (p?<?0.01). Yogic relaxation techniques may have an immediate enhancing effect on processing speed, psychomotor performance, and recall of RRMS patients. CM is better than SR in improving processing speed, short-term memory, and verbal working memory.     

Minimally invasive stereotactic puncture and thrombolysis therapy improves long-term outcome after acute intracerebral hemorrhage

The purpose of this study was to judge the clinical value of minimally invasive stereotactic puncture and thrombolysis therapy (MISPTT) for acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). A randomized control clinical trial was undertaken. According to the enrollment criteria, 122 acute ICH cases were analyzed, of which 64 cases received MISPTT (MISPTT group, MG) and 58 cases received conventional craniotomy (CC group, CG). The Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores, postoperative complications (PC), and rebleeding incidences were compared. Moreover, 1 year postoperation, the long-term outcomes of patients with regard to hematoma volume (HV) <50 mL and HV ≥50 mL were judged, respectively, by the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS), Barthel index (BI), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and case fatality (CF). MG patients showed obvious amelioration in GCS score compared with that of CG patients. The total incidence of PC in MG decreased compared with that of CG. The incidences of rebleeding in MG and CG were 9.4 and 17.2%, respectively (P = 0.243). There were no obvious differences between the CFs of MG and CG (17.2 and 25.9%, respectively, P = 0.199). The GOS, BI, and mRS representing long-term outcome for both HV <50 mL and HV ≥50 mL in MG were ameliorated significantly greater than that in CG patients (all P < 0.05). These data suggest that there are advantages with MISPTT not only in trauma and safety, but the MISPTT group had fewer complications and a trend toward improved short-term and long-term outcomes.     

比较三种不同手术方式对基底节脑出血患者长期神经功能及颅内感染的影响

目的探讨小骨窗手术、翼点入路经侧裂显微手术血肿清除+去骨瓣减压术及穿刺引流术对基底节脑出血患者长期神经功能及颅内感染的影响。方法将87例基底节脑出血患者按照随机数字表的顺序分为小骨窗显微血肿清除术组(A组)、穿刺引流术组(B组)及翼点入路经侧裂显微手术血肿清除+去骨瓣减压手术(C组),分析三组患者长期神经功能、颅内感染情况。结果 B组GOS评分显著高于A组(t值5.14,6.33,P0.05)。B组、C组血肿清除率显著高于A组(t=7.90,P0.05)。B组、C组改良Rankin评分、Barthel评分显著高于A组(t=2.69、3.01、3.47、5.52,P0.05)。各组颅内感染率无显著性差异(P0.05)。结论穿刺引流术、翼点入路经侧裂显微手术血肿清除+去骨瓣减压术治疗基底节脑出血的长期神经功能改善方面优于小骨窗微创手术,但术后颅内感染率无显著性差异。     

Memory characteristics in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: Insights from an eye tracking memory game and neuropsychological assessments

Aims

To compare different patterns of memory impairment in patients with two subtypes of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and healthy controls.

Methods

Thirty-five healthy controls and 41 patients with MTLE were recruited, of which 25 patients were diagnosed as hippocampal sclerosis (HS-MTLE), and the rest 16 patients were lesion-negative (MRI-neg MTLE). Participants completed the Wechsler memory assessment and a short-term memory game on an automated computer-based memory assessment platform with an eye tracker.

Results

Both the MRI-neg MTLE and HS-MTLE groups took longer time to complete the short-term memory game than healthy controls (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.087; p = 0.047, Cohen's d = 0.787). During the memory encoding phase, the MRI-neg MTLE group spent significantly shorter time than healthy controls on the difficult levels with three (p = 0.004, Cohen's d = 0.993) and four targets (p = 0.016, Cohen's d = 0.858). During the memory decoding phase, the HS-MTLE group spent less time looking on the targets compared to controls when recalling and finding four targets (p = 0.004, Cohen's d = −0.793), while the MRI-neg MTLE group spent significantly longer time on the distractors and shorter time on the region of interests (ROIs) for all difficulty levels (all p < 0.05) than controls. Furthermore, the eye tracking data were correlated with the scores of the Wechsler Memory Scale after Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Patients with MRI-neg MTLE demonstrate impaired memory mostly due to attention deficits, while those with HS-MTLE show memory impairment with relative sparing of attention. Eye tracking technology has the potential of facilitating the investigation of the mechanism of memory defect in MTLE and can serve as a supplementary neuropsychological tool for clinical diagnosis and long-term monitoring.     

立体定向微创手术对脑胶质瘤患者近远期疗效和神经功能评分的影响

目的 分析立体定向微创手术对脑胶质瘤患者近远期疗效和神经功能评分的影响。方法 选取2016年1月—2017年12月该院204例脑胶质瘤患者,依据患者治疗方式的不同,分为对照组（采取传统开颅手术）89例和研究组（采取立体定向微创手术）115例。评价两组近远期临床疗效,比较两组手术时间、术后住院天数和治疗前后中国卒中量表（CSS）评分、改良Barthel指数评分情况。结果 相比对照组,研究组治疗总有效率升高（P<0.05）,而手术时间和术后住院天数均减少（P<0.01）。相比治疗前,两组治疗后CSS评分均下降,改良Barthel指数评分均升高（P<0.05）;相比对照组,研究组治疗后CSS评分下降,改良Barthel指数评分升高（P<0.05）。研究组2年内复发率低于对照组,存活率高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 采取立体定向微创手术治疗可有效改善脑胶质瘤患者近远期疗效,可促进机体神经功能的恢复,同时可有效降低复发率,提高存活率。     

两种微创手术方法治疗基底节区中度脑出血临床疗效的比较研究

目的比较研究CT实时引导下软通道穿刺手术和小骨窗微创开颅手术治疗基底节区脑出血。方法选取266例出血量在20～40毫升的基底节区脑出血患者,其中208例采用CT实时引导下软通道穿刺血肿腔手术(穿刺组),58例患者行微创开颅手术(开颅组)。两组病人从住院天数、水肿期意识加深情况、再出血率及预后等方面进行比较。结果两组在平均住院天数(穿刺组11.53±0.418天VS开颅组11.30±0.778天)、入院3天GSC评分下降(穿刺组1.53±0.160分VS手术组1.48±0.232分)及再出血率(穿刺组1.92%VS开颅组1.72%)方面均无统计学差异(P0.05);而在出院时NIHSS评分提高方面,穿刺组较开颅组提高更显著(穿刺组2.98±0.247分VS开颅组2.05±0.186分,P 0.05)。结论对于基底节区中度脑出血患者,血肿腔穿刺手术和微创开颅手术比较,前者预后改善较后者明显。     

CT study in senile dementia of Alzheimer type

We evaluated 14 patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT) and 15 age-matched normal elderly controls using psychological test and computed tomography scans. The low-density rate (LDR) was used as an index of brain atrophy. SDAT patients had significantly higher scores on the Hasegawa Dementia Scale (p< 0.01) and significantly lower scores on the Bender Gestalt Test (p<0.01) than control subjects. The LDRs of the left and right hemispheres were significantly higher in the SDAT group than in the control group in all three slices investigated (p<0.05/6 = 0.0083). In SDAT patients, significant diagnosis by hemisphere interaction was observed in one slice (p<0.05), with higher LDR on the left than on the right (p<0.05/6 = 0.0083). Our findings suggest that cortical atrophy is predominant on the left side in patients with SDAT.     

Incidence, risk factors, and outcome of venous infarction after meningioma surgery in 705 patients

Central to safe and effective surgical resection of meningiomas is consideration of the venous anatomy both near and intrinsic to the tumor. The exact incidence of venous infarction following meningioma surgery has not been established. To determine this incidence, we present a large multivariate analysis of 705 patients undergoing craniotomy for resection of a histologically proven meningioma at our institution between 1991 and 2007. Clinical information was retrospectively reconstructed using patient medical records and radiologic data. Venous infarctions were identified by postoperative CT scans or MRI that demonstrated the typical imaging findings. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association with approach used and the rate of venous infarction, controlling for multiple independent variables. The overall rate of venous infarction (n = 705) was 2.0% of all patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-3.0%). Interestingly, on multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found the use of a bifrontal craniotomy was the sole independent predictor of venous infarction in this regression model (odds ratio, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.03-9.77; p < 0.05). We found that the rate of venous infarction was significantly reduced in the extended bifrontal group compared to the group not receiving biorbital osteotomies (0% versus 8.9%, ??²p < 0.05). We demonstrated that the most important factor determining the risk of venous infarction is the approach used to access the tumor.     

Enhanced antitumor effect of combined-modality treatment using convection-enhanced delivery of hydrophilic nitrosourea with irradiation or systemic administration of temozolomide in intracranial brain tumor xenografts

Abstract

Objective: Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a local infusion technique that delivers chemotherapeutic agents directly to the central nervous system, circumventing the blood–brain barrier and reducing systemic side effects. We previously reported the safety and efficacy of CED of ACNU (nimustine hydrochloride: 3-[(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl]-1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea hydrochloride), a hydrophilic nitrosourea, in rat brain tumor models. This study evaluated the efficacy of combined-modality treatments using CED of ACNU with irradiation or systemic administration of temozolomide.

Methods: Antitumor efficacy and toxicity of the treatment were evaluated using rat 9L intracranial brain tumor models.

Results: Combined treatment using CED of ACNU with irradiation produced significantly longer survival time than each treatment alone (versus CED: p<0.001, versus irradiation: p<0.05, log-rank test) or systemic administration of ACNU with irradiation (p<0.001). Long-term survival (120 days) and eradication of tumor occurred only in this combined-treatment group. We also showed that CED of ACNU plus systemic administration of temozolomide significantly enhanced survival rate compared with each treatment alone (versus CED: p<0.001, versus systemic temozolomide: p<0.05).

Discussion: Multimodality treatment using CED of ACNU, radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy with temozolomide is a promising strategy for treatment of brain tumors.     

Two-year follow-up results of the Isobar TTL Semi-Rigid Rod System for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease

We retrospectively assessed the indications, safety and efficacy of a new dynamic stabilization system (the Isobar TTL Semi-Rigid Rod System, Scient’x, Bretonneux, France) for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease in 37 consecutive patients (M:F = 16:21, mean age 40.2 years) with lumbar degenerative disease who underwent surgery between June 2006 and May 2009. One patient was lost to follow-up. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); range-of-motion (ROM) and disc height index (DHI) were assessed with radiography. Patients were followed for a mean of 24 months (range: 12–36 months). At the 3-month follow-up, there was significant improvement in VAS and ODI (p < 0.05); at long-term follow-up VAS showed additional significant improvement (p < 0.05) and ODI remained stable. At short-term follow-up, DHI was significantly restored (p < 0.05) and ROM declined slightly (but not significantly); however, at long-term follow-up DHI was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared to short-term follow-up and ROM was significantly decreased compared to the preoperative values (p < 0.05). There were new signs of degeneration at adjacent levels in 14 patients (39%) on long-term follow-up MRI. Revision was required in three patients (8%) 24 months after the first operation due to adjacent segment disease. Screw loosening was observed in four patients (11%). The Isobar System after microsurgical decompression for lumbar degenerative disease provided excellent improvement in leg and back pain and patient satisfaction at late follow-up; however, evidence to suggest that Isobar outperforms traditional fusion is lacking. Larger studies of longer duration are warranted.     

SYMPTOMATOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS DISTINGUISH BETWEEN FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA AND VASCULAR DEMENTIA WITH A DOMINANT FRONTAL LOBE SYNDROME

Objective. Our hypothesis was that patients with vascular dementia and a dominating frontal lobe syndrome have a symptomatology that reflects a more widespread lesion compared with patients with frontotemporal dementia. Design. Patients with vascular dementia and a dominating frontal lobe syndrome (VAD-F; N=11) were compared with regard to clinical symptoms and imaging features on CT scans of the brain with patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD; N=21). Setting. A neuropsychiatric diagnostic ward. Patients. Thirty-two inpatients, aged 48–78 years, with frontotemporal dementia or vascular dementia. Measures. Relatives were questioned about the initial symptoms. At the clinical investigation, mental and neurological symptoms and signs were recorded using the STEP method (stepwise comparative status analysis). CT scan features of the brain were evaluated by a trained neuroradiologist. The GBS-i (Gottfries–Bra3ne–Steen, intellectual variables) scale was used to measure the degree of dementia. Results. At the onset of dementia, loss of memory (p<0.001), sudden onset (p<0.001), confusion (p<0.05) and unspecified neurological signs (p<0.05) had been significantly more frequent in the VAD-F group. At the time of the clinical investigation, lack of social awareness and presence of primitive reflexes were more frequent in the FTD group (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) and visuospatial deficits more frequent in the VAD-F group (p<0.05). CT of the brain showed that, apart from brain infarcts (present only in the VAD-F group), paraventricular leukoaraiosis was significantly more pronounced in the VAD-F group (p<0.05). The groups did not differ with respect to age, age at onset or level of dementia. Conclusion. The findings support our hypothesis.     

Whole brain CT perfusion combined with CT angiography in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral vasospasm

Objective

To assess cerebral vasospasm (CVS) and monitor cerebral microcirculatory changes in patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) via CT angiography (CTA) combined with whole-brain CT perfusion (CTP) techniques.

Methods

Sixty patients with SAH (SAH group) and 10 patients without SAH (control group) were selected for a prospective study. CTP combined with CTA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) studies were performed on patients with initial onset of SAH less than three days. CTA and DSA as well as the CTP parameters such as cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), mean transit time (MTT), and time-to-peak (TTP) were acquired and analyzed. The relationship of CTA and CTP measurements was assessed in these acute SAH patients.

Results

CTP techniques were used to achieve the perfusion maps of the whole brain in patients with acute SAH. Compared to the control group, mean CBF value was significantly lower while both MTT and TTP values were significantly higher in SAH group (all p < 0.05). Further analysis revealed that mean CBF in patients with CVS, sCVS, Fisher III–IV and Hunt–Hess III–V significantly decreased when compared to patients with nCVS, asCVS, Fisher I–II and Hunt–Hess I–II (p < 0.05). Furthermore both MTT and TTP values were also significantly reduced in patient with CVS, sCVS, Fisher III–IV and Hunt–Hess III–V (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that changes of microcirculation in patients with SAH could be assessed by whole-brain CTP. CTP combined with CTA could detect both macroscopic evident vasospasm on CTA and alterations of microcirculation on CTP. Mean CBF was significantly lower in patients with SAH.     

Treatment of canine fucosidosis by intracisternal enzyme infusion

The blood brain barrier is the major obstacle to treating lysosomal storage disorders of the central nervous system such as canine fucosidosis. This barrier was overcome by three, monthly injections of recombinant canine α-l-fucosidase enzyme were given intracisternally. In dogs treated from 8 weeks of age enzyme reached all areas of central nervous system as well as the cervical lymph node, bone marrow and liver. Brainstem and spinal cord samples from regions adjacent to the injection site had highest enzyme levels (39–73% of normal). Substantial enzyme activity (8.5–20% of normal controls) was found in the superficial brain compared to deeper regions (2.6–5.5% of normal). Treatment significantly reduced the fucosyl-linked oligosaccharide accumulation in most areas of CNS, liver and lymph node. In the surface and deep areas of lumbar spinal cord, oligosaccharide accumulation was corrected (79–80% reduction) to near normal levels (p < 0.05). In the spinal meninges (thoracic and lumbar) enzyme activity (35–39% of normal control) and substrate reduction (58–63% affected vehicle treated samples) reached levels similar to those seen in phenotypically normal carriers (p < 0.05).The procedure was safe and well-tolerated, treated (average 16%) dogs gained more weight (p < 0.05) and there was no antibody formation or inflammatory reaction in plasma and CSF following treatments. The capacity of early ERT to modify progression of biochemical storage in fucosidosis is promising as this disease is currently only amenable to treatment by bone marrow transplantation which entails unacceptably high risks for many patients.     

Effect of low-intensity pure tone auditory stimulation on patients with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of low-intensity pure tone auditory stimulation on patients with rapid eye movement (REM), sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and attempt to identify a new method of RBD intervention.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with idiopathic RBD (iRBD) or symptomatic RBD (sRBD) were given auditory stimulation of low-intensity pure tones during their REM sleep. Sleep parameters including sleep process, sleep architecture as well as eye movements (EMs) frequency, and amplitude were recorded by polysomnography monitoring at pre-, intra-, and post-stimulation.

Results: Thirteen iRBD and 18 sRBD patients completed this study. Auditory stimulation significantly reduced the EMs frequency and amplitude in iRBD and sRBD patients (p < 0.05). In the iRBD group, the intra-stimulated FSL increased significantly than the pre-stimulated FSL (p < 0.05). After stimulation, patients had similar sleep latency (FSL), rapid eye movement sleep latency (RSL) and periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) compared with control. In the sRBD group, the intra-stimulated total sleep time, sleep efficiency was significantly increased, whereas the RSL and PLMS were significantly reduced compared with the pre-stimulated ones (all p < 0.05). The sRBD patients had similar time in bed, FSL and RBD episodes compared with control (all p < 0.05) in spite of significant difference before stimulation (all p < 0.05). However, the sleep architecture was not influenced by the stimulation despite the decrease in N3% in iRBD group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Low-intensity pure tone auditory stimulation may be a potentially effective intervention for RBD, especially for sRBD.     

CD8+ T-cell infiltrate in newly diagnosed glioblastoma is associated with long-term survival

A growing body of evidence supports the significant interplay between the immune system and glioma pathogenesis. Here we investigate whether the extent of local glioma-associated CD8+ T-cell infiltrate at initial presentation correlates with long-term survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The study was conducted by the University of California San Francisco Brain Tumor Research Center as part of the San Francisco Bay Area Adult Glioma Study, which included over 519 patients with GBM. A central neuropathology review was performed and populations of infiltrating CD8+ T-cells were quantified histologically. Of 108 patients studied, 43 patients had poor survival (<95 days) and 65 patients had extended long-term survival of >403 days. Tumors from long-term survivors were more likely than short-term survivors to have intermediate or extensive T-cell infiltrates compared to focal or rare infiltrates, and this association appears to be most significant in Caucasian women (p < 0.006). Thus, CD8+ T-cell infiltrate is associated with prolonged survival. Our data provide the impetus for more sophisticated studies to further elucidate prospectively the specific T-cell subtypes associated with long-term survival.     

Posturography in MS patients treated with high dose methylprednisolone

Objectives: To evaluate the sensitivity of the balance sway index (SI) to drug-induced functional changes during acute relapse in patients with MS.

Methods: Dynamic posturography was used to derive the SI in 11 healthy subjects and 13 MS patients before and after intravenous high dose methylprednisolone (HDMP).

Results: In both groups, SI was lower in the least demanding task and increased with test complexity. Compared to the healthy group, patients were distinguished by a higher SI both prior to and following administration of HDMP (p < 0.008). However, the effect of the drug on patients’ SI was unremarkable. Total Expanded Disability Status Scale score was lower after treatment compared to pre-treatment values (p < 0.001), with significantly lower mean score recorded in patients with pyramidal and cerebellar abnormalities (p = 0.017 and p = 0.011, respectively).

Discussion: The SI measure of dynamic posturography is not sensitive to short-term HDMP-induced functional changes during acute relapse in patients with MS. Further studies are needed to evaluate modified balance protocols and the possible long-term treatment effects of HDMP on SI.     

Delayed surgical management is not effective for severe Bell's palsy after two months of onset

Aims: To assess the effectiveness of delayed surgery and follow-up observation in managing severe Bell's palsy after two months of onset. Methods: Forty-one Bell's palsy patients with severe facial paralysis were treated after two months of onset. Eighteen patients in group I underwent decompression operations between two and three months after onset, and eight patients in group II underwent surgery after three months of onset; 15 patients in group III were managed with follow-up observation. All patients were followed up at the end of 3rd, 6th and 12th months, and surgical outcomes were compared with follow-up observations using House–Brackmann score and Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) scale. Results: Between groups I and III, the difference in the proportion of the patients with fair or poor recoveries was statistically significant (p < 0.05) at the three-month follow-up visit. There was no significant difference in the distribution of complete, fair or poor recoveries at the 12-month follow-up visits among the three groups (p < 0.05). The total FaCE score and five individual domains were significantly improved at the end of the follow-up period in groups I and III (p < 0.05). However, in group I, the lacrimal control scores were significantly decreased at the end of the follow-up period compared to scores before surgery (p < 0.05). After surgery, four patients had sensorineural hearing loss, three patients had tinnitus and no patients had vertigo. Conclusion: Patients with severe Bell's palsy after two months of onset would not benefit from delayed decompression surgery.