bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimal temporal frequencies in oscillatory movement hyperacuity measurements of visual function in cataract patients
Authors: Hurst Mark , Watkins Russell , Buckingham Terry 
Published: July 2002

SummaryHyperacuity tasks have been suggested for the assessment of potential visual function in the presence of cataracts. To test this suggestion, hyperacuity thresholds for an oscillating bar were measured in 30 subjects with idiopathic cataract and in 24 age‐matched normals over a range of oscillation frequencies. Each subject's cataract was categorized using the Oxford Clinical Cataract Classification and Grading System. Cataract was found to have a significant effect on thresholds, although a differential morphological effect on thresholds was equivocal. Thresholds at higher temporal frequencies were significantly raised when compared to the normal group. The main conclusion to be drawn from this study is that motion hyperacuity thresholds appear unaffected by cataract at low oscillation frequencies and should be used in preference to higher frequencies in the assessment of such patients.
Factors affecting the clinical testing of accommodative facility
Authors: Kȩdzia Bolesław , Pieczyrak Danuta , Tondel Grażyna , Maples Willis C. 
Published: July 2002

SummaryA number of variables in the accommodation flipper test are thought to contaminate the results: the time for naming symbols; the manual facility to actually operate the flippers; the minification or magnification of symbol target size by the lenses; saccadic eye movements; and the relationship between the accommodation stimulus and its response. With the exception of the last variable, all undesirable factors have been eliminated in a newly developed modified method of accommodation facility measurement. In this method, double measurement through plano and ±2.00 D lenses, is executed. The average time in seconds per one cycle, taking only the accommodation into account for a group of 43 children (age from 7 years 11 months to 9 years 11 months), is 3.7 monocularly and 8.5 binocularly and the average number of cycles per minute in this group is 32.1 and 33.8 monocularly (for the dominant and nondominant eye, respectively) and 22.6 binocularly. These results in sec/cycle do not differ considerablyfrom results received by other authors, if one considers the time necessary for naming the digits, mechanically changing the lenses, saccadic eye movements etc., and even those results given in cycles/minute do not differ either taking the wide ranges of standard deviations into account. However, the method reported here reflects accommodation facility more precisely. Measurements were performed also with the hand held flipper. Comparison of results summarised above and those obtained with a hand held flipper demonstrates that the hand held flipper is not a good device to measure accommodative facility.
COMPARISON BETWEEN A QUANTITATIVE CLINICAL SCALE AND NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL EVALUATION IN CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Authors: Capone L. , Gentile R. , Schoenhuber R. 
Published: July 2002

Background: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of the most frequent cause of pain and paresthesias in the upper extremities. Neurophysiological studies allow to confirm diagnosis based on clinical evaluation.Aim of the study: to investigate if the score of the Simovic and Weinberg Clinical Scale (SWCS) for CTS correlates to the neurophysiological severity assessment proposed by Padua.Material and methods: 65 consecutive patients with suspected CTS were examinated. 54 were females (mean age, 54.5; range, 23–83). Body mass index (BMI), wrist circumference, and symptoms duration were also calculated for each patient. The SWCS was administered to all patients before neurophysiological evaluation. The scale consists of 11 items (8 anamnestic and 3 clinical), which have a different impact on the total score (maximum 30/30). Diagnosis of CTS using SWCS can be probable (9–30/30), possible (7–8/30), or unlikely (1–6/30). CTS were classified using neurophysiological criteria according to Padua into six severity groups (from negative to extreme).Results: CTS severity according to Padua's criteria was related to higher scores in SWCS. No correlation was found comparing BMI and symptoms duration with clinical and neurophysiological severity. Wrist circumference was also not significant. There was no diagnosis of unlikely‐CTS at SWCS, but on the contrary 15 patients with probable CTS had no pathological findings at electrophysiological evaluation.Comment: Clinical severity assessed using SWCS correlates with neurophysiological severity. Irritative symptoms are easily recognized by the SWCS, even if there is no neurophysiological correlate. The use of a sensitive scale as SWCS allows to avoid useless neurophysiological studies if the diagnosis of CTS is unlikely.
CRYOGLOBULINEMIC NEUROPATHY: A CLINICAL STUDY OF 25 CASES
Authors: Ferraris A. , Marbini A. , Giuberti T. , Garini G. , Allegri I. , Gemignani F. 
Published: July 2002

Cryoglobulinemic neuropathy is probably the commonest form of vasculitic neuropathy, at least in Southern Europe. We studied 25 patients (19 females, 6 males) with symptomatic cryoglobulinemic neuropathy (HCV‐related in all patients but 4) clinically evident, and confirmed by neurophysiological study. Cryoglobulin was type 2 in 17 cases, type 3 in 4 cases, and not characterized in 4 cases. Neuropathy was more often in form of asymmetrical (mainly) sensory polyneuropathy (11 cases); other forms included symmetrical sensory polyneuropathy (8 cases), sensorimotor polyneuropathy (2 cases), and mononeuropathy multplex (4 cases). Neuropathy was often the presenting manifestation of the disease (16 cases), usually in association with purpura (9 cases). Purpura was the commonest non‐neurological manifestation (21 cases), and was especially severe in frequency and intensity in 11 cases. Purpura of relevant entity tended to be associated with more severe features of neuropathy, on clinical and neurophysiological grounds, and worsening course. Severe purpura was more often associated with asymmetrical neuropathy or mononeuropathy multiplex. Hepatic involvement, relevant in 7 cases and mild in 11 cases, did not correlate with the severity of neuropathic manifestations.Peripheral nerve involvement in mixed cryoglobulinemia has heterogeneous features, but factors conditioning its expression are poorly known. Our study suggests that the severity of neuropathy is correlated with purpura thus the pathogenic mechanisms of cutaneous and neurological manifestations may be interconnected.
ELECTRONEUROGRAPHY IN GUILLAIN‐BARRE, SYNDROME (GBS): SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY
Authors: Iuliano G. , Mauro A. , Esposito A. 
Published: July 2002

We assessed clinical sensitivity and specificity of different electroneurographic (ENG) parameters versus clinical diagnosis of GBS.Clinical data of 24 patients affected by upper and lower limb neuropathy were revised. In all the patients the neurophysiologic examination was performed according to the AAEM guidelines for GBS diagnosis. Fourteen patients (10 males, mean age 47.9, range 13‐70, and 4 females 71.5, 69–76) received a diagnosis of GBS. The non‐GBS group included nine males (59.11, 35–78) and one female (41 years) with different neuropathies (3 diabetic, 2 alcoholic, 5 unknown ethiology). Sensitivity and specificity of various neurophysiologic parameters were calculated.The single classical neurophysiological paremeters gave variable values of sensitivity and specificity. The new variables we introduced, Polineuropathy (diffusion of abnormal findings and F ‐ Wave latency) and Demyelination (distal motor evoked potential amplitude and/or motor conduction blocks) gave the highest value of sensitivity and specificity, when associated.
CIDP: DESCRIPTION OF FOUR PARTICULAR CASES
Authors: Manganelli F. , De Joanna G. , Bruno R. , Santoro L. 
Published: July 2002

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polineuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired polineuropathy, clinically heterogeneous, and is associated with demyelination of spinal roots and peripheral nerves with a monophasic, progressive or relapsing course.We describe four patients affected by CIDP with different clinical pictures.The first patient, a 54‐year‐old man, complained of a 10 year paresthesia, with a slight wasting and weakening of the right leg, where he showed the absence of deep tendon reflexes and a reduction of the vibration sense.The second patient, a 21‐year‐old woman, had distal paresthesia and mild weakness restricted to the left hand. Deep tendon reflexes were reduced and vibration sense was normal.The third patient, a 41‐year‐old man, with a 5 year history of muscle cramps more frequent in the upper limbs, showed mild weakness of the right forearm, absence of distal deep tendon reflexes, and a reduction of vibration sense in the lower limbs.The last patient, a 20‐year‐old man, showed a marked increase of CPK level, a severe and progressive proximal and distal hypotrophy in the upper and lower limbs, and respiratory distress. Deep tendon reflexes were absent.Nerve conduction studies showed a reduction of sensory and motor velocity, which was not homogeneous among the patients and among the explored nerves of each patients. Proximal motor conduction blocks were present only in three cases. CSF parameters were normal and antibodies anti nerve were absent in all patients.The first three patients were treated with IVIg with a clear clinical and electrophysiological improvement, the last patient showed a moderate improvement, only after cyclosporin A treatment.These four cases confirm that CIDP is clinically heterogeneous with a variable spectrum of symptoms and severity, from a minimal clinical evidence to a severe clinical picture as in our fourth patient.
EXPRESSION OF TENASCIN‐C IN THE SURAL NERVE OF PATIENTS WITH INHERITED DEMYELINATING NEUROPATHIES
Authors: Massa R. , Palumbo C. , Bernardi G. , Modesti A. 
Published: July 2002

Tenascin‐C (TN‐C) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein synthesized by glial cells that is involved in neuron–glia interactions. During development of peripheral nerve (PN), TN‐C is abundantly expressed by myelinating Schwann cells, while in the adult its synthesis is down‐regulated and its localization restricted to the node of Ranvier in myelinated nerve fibers.Interestingly, TN‐C expression is up‐regulated in the PN of some animal models of inherited human demyelinating neuropathies. Moreover, in TN‐C‐deficient mice, important morphological alterations of PN have been demonstrated.We have therefore studied the expression of TN‐C in sural nerve biopsies of patients with inherited demyelinating neuropathies such as CMT1 and HNPP, using immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence methods. At variance with control nerves, where TN‐C immunoreactivity was localized only in the perineurium and at the node of Ranvier, in all pathological nerves TN‐C was present also in a variable number of Schwann cells and myelin sheaths, sometimes marking whole myelin internodes.These data suggest that TN‐C expression by Schwann cells in human pathologic nerves may be a marker of active demyelination and/or remyelination. These events may be modulated by TN‐C by mediating adhesive interactions between axons and Schwann cells, in a way similar to that observed in the developmental stage.
DYSAUTONOMIA IN CRYOGLOBULINEMIC AND ALCOHOLIC NEUROPATHIES
Authors: Ammendola A. , Ambrosone L. , Ciccone G. , Argenzio F. , Cantore R. , Iannaccone S. , Ugolini G. , Di Iorio G. , Migliaresi S. , Bravaccio F. 
Published: July 2002

Sympathetic Skin Response (SSR) can evaluate the activity of both sensory afferent and sudomotor sympathetic efferent fibres in peripheral neuropathy (PN). This electrophysiological test was performed in two groups of patients: one with HCV‐related mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) and the other with chronic alcoholism (CA). Thirty consecutive HCV‐related MC patients, 25 female and 5 male, aged 35–74 years and thirty‐three consecutive CA patients, 8 female and 25 male, aged 24–69 years were studied. In all cases, neurological exam, peroneal, sural and ulnar nerve conduction velocity, standardised test battery for autonomic disorder (defined according to Bellavere, 1990) and SSR (recorded with electrodes attached to the palm and sole and considered abnormal if no response was recorded) were performed.PN was found in 27 MC patients (90%) and in 23 CA patients (69.6%). Autonomic dysfunction, shown by cardiovascular tests, was found in 3 MC patients, all with PN and in 6 CA subjects, all but one with PN. SSR resulted absent in 12 MC patients (40%): three of them with and 9 without dysautonomia; SSR was also absent in 9 CA patients (27.2%) (1 with and 8 without dysautonomia).In MC and CA patients, autonomic dysfunction frequency increases when SSR is studied together with standard cardiovascular tests. SSR provides further information about sympathetic autonomic system activity and therefore it is advisable to add this investigation to tests usually utilized in functional evaluation of autonomic nervous system.
INTRAMYELINIC EDEMA: AN ELEMENTARY PATHOLOGICAL LESION IN CIDP
Authors: Madia F. , Sabatelli M. , Quaranta L. , Lippi G. , Conte A. , Tonali P. 
Published: July 2002

Pathological abnormalities of sural nerve biopsies from patients affected by chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) include segmental demyelination, inflammatory infiltrates, axonal degeneration, subperineurial edema and Schwann cell proliferation.There are few reports in the literature (Waddy '89, Sabatelli '96) describing edema of the myelin sheath as an additional pathological feature of CIDP. This peculiar abnormality is a prominent finding in several experimental toxic and compression neuropathies. In 1993 Tatum described Intramyelinic Edema in experimental allergic neuritis induced by systemic passive transfer of human IgM anti‐myelin‐associated glycoprotein, and suggested that this change may play a role in the pathogenesis of demyelination.In order to establish whether intramyelinic edema may represent an elementary pathological lesion in human peripheral neuropathies, we reviewed morphological data of sural nerve biopsies from 46 CIDP patients admitted to our Institute from 1988 to 2001 and we compared them with findings from patients affected by other neuropathies.IE was observed in 6 patients with CIDP, but in none of the 500 patients affected by neuropathies of different etiology. In two out of the six patients the neuropathy was associated with IgM‐paraprotein, without anti‐MAG activity. IE was a prominent feature in only one patient while in the remaining patients it was confined to sporadic fibers. In one patient with a mild form of CIDP, IE was the only pathological finding. In the remaining patients it was associated with segmental demyelination and axonal loss.Our findings show that although IE is observed in only a minority of CIDP patients (13% of our series), this pathological finding may be considered a specific abnormality of inflammatory demyelinating neuropathies. We suggest that axonal shrinkage, which is invariably associated with IE, may represent a mechanism of loss of function in CIDP, in addition to segmental demyelination and axonal loss.
DIPHTHERITIC NEUROPATHY: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Monti F. , Zambito Marsala S. , Capus L. , Mascioli M. 
Published: July 2002

We describe the case of an Italian 51‐year‐old woman who developed a particular descending paralysis after severe pharyngeal infection. When she was taking a holiday in Madagascar she suffered a severe pharyngeal infection with pseudomembranes, neck oedema that lasted almost one month despite antibiotics treatment. One month after the infection, she developed a left lower cranial paralysis causing palatal and pharyngeal weakness, blurring of vision as a result of paralysis of accommodation. A severe descending paralysis followed consisting of weakness of limbs and paresthesia of extremities. EMG showed prolonged distal motor latencies, absence of F wave in the median nerve, and normal value of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities.Since the primary pathologic change is segmental demyelination, slowing of sensory and motor conduction velocity is a common electrophysiological finding. However, decreased conduction velocity and increased distal motor latency may not be present two weeks after the onset of neurological symptoms, and maximal electrophysiological abnormalities may be found after clinical recovery has began.We report this particular clinical picture to remind that adults vaccinated in childhood do not continue to have sufficient immunity to protect against diphtheria so diphtheritic neuropathy must be kept in mind because the clinical signs are similar to those seen in the Guillain Barré syndrome and the distinction between the two is sometimes difficult.
PHENOTYPE OF PMP22 TRANSGENIC SCHWANN CELLS IN CULTURE
Authors: Nobbio L. , Vigo T. , Mantero  , Levi G. , Abruzzese M. , Mandich P. , Mancardi G.L. , Schenone A. 
Published: July 2002

Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth type 1A (CMT1A) neuropathy is due to a duplication of the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) gene. In the sciatic nerves of PMP22 transgenic (PMP22tg) animals, Schwann cells (SC) switch on the myelinating program by producing detectable levels of myelin related proteins (PMP22, P0, MBP), but express also early maturational markers and antigens typical of non‐myelinating SC (p75NGFR).To further investigate PMP22tg SC behaviour, we established short‐term (five days) SC cultures from P30 normal and PMP22tg rats. Semiquantitative RT‐PCR was used to study PMP22, P0, MBP and p75NGFR mRNA expression, both in basal conditions and after forskolin (FSK) addition to mimic the axonal contact. SC proliferation rate was studied using a colorimetric assay (MTT based). Moreover, a gold particle motility assay was used to evaluate cell motility and shaping. Finally, preliminary experiments on SC migration in presence of IGFI were performed using a Boyden chamber.Homozygous and heterozygous PMP22tg SC, compared to normal ones, showed higher basal levels of PMP22 (0.82 vs 0.6 vs 0.09), P0 (2.24 vs 1.92 vs 0.53) and p75NGFR (1.33 vs 1.38 vs 0.34) mRNAs. FSK treatment (24 hrs) further increased PMP22 levels in homozygous (1.57 vs 0.82), heterozygous (0.93 vs 0.6) and normal (0.194 vs 0.09) cultures. PMP22tg SC showed a lower proliferation rate than normal ones. In basal conditions no differences were found between PMP22tg and normal SC in terms of cell area and motility, whereas FSK treatment determined, in PMP22tg SC, a significant decrease in cell area and motility. Finally, cell migration in the presence of a chemoattractant molecule did not differ between PMP22tg and normal SC.Cultured PMP22tg SC, besides maintaining the ability to overexpress PMP22, further increase its expression after FSK treatment. As PMP22tg SC in the presence of FSK also show a decreased motility and area, but migration seems to be identical between normal and transgenic cells, we conclude that axonal contact may increase PMP22 expression at a level that affects SC ability of forming myelin.
Glucose, Blood Pressure, and Lipid Control in Older People with and without Diabetes Mellitus: The Cardiovascular Health Study
Authors: Smith Nicholas L. , Savage Peter J. , Heckbert Susan R. , Barzilay Joshua I. , Bittner Vera A. , Kuller Lewis H. , Psaty Bruce M. 
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVES:To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk‐factor treatment and control in older adults with normal fasting glucose, impaired fasting glucose, and diabetes mellitus and whether those with diabetes mellitus had better risk factor control than older adults with normal fasting glucose.DESIGN:Secondary analysis of data from population‐based, prospective cohort study of risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in older people (Cardiovascular Health Study).SETTING:Community‐based.PARTICIPANTS:Community‐dwelling adults aged 65 and older.MEASUREMENTS:Fasting plasma glucose, serum cholesterol and its subfractions, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and body mass index.RESULTS:There were 579 (18%) cohort members with diabetes mellitus (77% receiving antidiabetic medication, 23% with fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL and no treatment), 213 (6%) with impaired fasting glucose, and 2,582 (77%) with normal fasting glucose. Of diabetic participants, 12% had recommended fasting glucose levels of less than 110 mg/dL. Of participants with hypertension, a larger proportion of diabetic participants than nondiabetic participants (89% versus 75%, P < .01) was treated with antihypertensive agents, but a smaller proportion of diabetic participants had recommended blood pressure levels of 129/85 mmHg or lower than nondiabetic participants had recommended blood pressure levels of 139/89 mmHg or lower (27% vs 48%, P < .01). Diabetic dyslipidemic participants were treated less often with lipid‐lowering therapy (26% versus 55%, P < .01) and achieved recommended low‐density lipoprotein goals less often (8% versus 54%, P < .01) than nondiabetic dyslipidemic participants.CONCLUSIONS:Overall, treatment and control of cardiovascular risk factors were suboptimal in this older population, especially among those with diabetes mellitus. Optimizing risk‐factor control can improve health outcomes in older adults with and without diabetes mellitus. J Am Geriatr Soc 50:416–423, 2002.
Helium reemission, desorption and microstructure evolution of graphites under helium ion implantation
Authors: Alimov V. Kh. , Scherzer B. M. U. , Chernikov V. N. , Ullmaier H. 
Published: July 2002

Helium reemission, trapping, and thermal desorption from highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG and HPG) of different orientation, polycrystalline graphite (EK98), and titanium doped graphite (RG-Ti-91) have been measured at irradiation temperatures of 300 K and 800 K. The implantation was performed with a 40 keV 4He ion beam. Detailed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation of the microstructure evolution was made on the implanted specimens. He reemission from basal oriented (BO) highly oriented pyrolytic graphite is accompanied by blistering and flaking leading to repetitive gas bursts. On edge oriented (EO) pyrolytic graphite three reemission peaks are observed during room temperature implantation, the first and smallest one being assigned to He release from intrinsic lenticular cavities, the second one occurs during early bubble formation when a small amount of implanted gas still escapes accumulation, and the third and largest peak being due to He release by bubble coalescence. The He reemission rate grows very slowly at room temperature and does not reach 100% up to the highest implanted fluence of 3.5⋅1018 He/cm2. At 800 K the He reemission rate from EO pyrolytic graphite reaches 100% immediately after starting implantation due to the high diffusive mobility of He.
EK98 and RG-Ti-91 show similar reemission behaviour. No gas bursts due to blistering are observed. The initial reemission rate at 300 K is higher than in EO pyrolytic graphite due to release of He via a network of intergranular channels. At 800 K reemission is rather similar to that from EO pyrolytic graphite. No thermal desorption of He from BO HOPG up to 1200 K is observed for implanted fluences ≤1016 He/cm2. At higher fluences the onset temperature of desorption decreases from 750 K at 2⋅1016 He/cm2 to 380 K at 1017 He/cm2 caused by thermal flaking due to pressure increase of He in submicroscopic cracks. In the other materials two desorption peaks are observed, the first one being related to He release from ‘‘solid solution,’’ while the second is attributed to gas escape from He filled bubbles. In contrast to the conclusions of Niwase et al. we find from the reemission kinetics and from selected area electron diffraction patterns (SADP) that graphite implanted at 300 K with He up to a damage of 10 dpa and more cannot be regarded as amorphous and shows a distorted turbostratic structure. The c parameter increases to (3.6..3.7)Å. Radiation effects in graphite implanted at 800 K are less pronounced up to damage levels of 200 dpa but may decrease the He diffusion coefficient.