Biomedical subjects

Bernard Dan

Publications and source records attributed to Bernard Dan.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Pediatric phantom vision (Charles Bonnet) syndrome.

Visual symptomatology in childhood often presents diagnostic difficulties. Recurrent paroxysmal visual complaints, although typically associated with migraine, may also signal other disorders. We describe a 9-year-old partially sighted male with paroxysmal zoopsias resulting from Charles Bonnet syndrome. This condition is characterized by paroxysmal visual hallucinations occurring in patients with chronic visual impairment, akin to the phantom-limb phenomenon. This pediatric case is the fourth report of this condition. We have reviewed the other cases.

Atrophy↗

PubMed2002

Benign intracranial hypertension: atypical presentation of Miller Fisher syndrome?

Acute ocular paresis, nausea, vomiting, and headaches associated with high intracranial pressure without obvious intracranial pathology are typical features of benign intracranial hypertension. We describe two young children whose presentation, initially suggestive of idiopathic or benign intracranial hypertension, evolved to comprise ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. This triad characterizes Miller Fisher syndrome, a clinical variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome that occurs rarely among children. In both patients, this diagnosis was supported by the clinical course and neurophysiologic findings. Plasma serology was positive for Campylobacter jejuni and anti-GQ1b antibodies in one patient and for antimyelin antibodies in the other. This report of two children with Miller Fisher syndrome presenting with intracranial hypertension adds to the findings for a similar patient treated previously, which raises the question concerning the possible role or contribution of benign intracranial hypertension in Miller Fisher syndrome.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed2002

Value of MR imaging of the brain in children with hypoxic coma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The contribution of MR imaging to identify hypoxic-ischemic injuries has been studied mostly in neonates or adults. The purpose of this study was to describe the MR imaging findings of toddlers and older children with hypoxic coma and to analyze the prognostic value of an MR imaging scoring system. METHODS: The conditions of 40 children with hypoxic coma (age range, 6 weeks to 18 years) were clinically graded according to the pediatric risk of mortality score, and MR imaging studies were performed. Sixty-four MR imaging studies were distributed in five categories according to their timing relative to the hypoxic event: days 1 through 3, 4-7, 8-15, 16-50, and after day 50. These were evaluated retrospectively by using an eight-point scoring system based on two lesion categories assessing watershed areas and basal ganglia involvement, including signal intensity and morphologic features with respect to maturation-related norms. Two age groups (< or =1 year and >1 year) were considered. The surviving children were grouped according to neurologic outcome. RESULTS: The occurrence of watershed areas or basal ganglia involvement was not significantly different in association with age. Sixteen children died. Twelve children had moderate to severe sequelae resulting from neurodevelopmental disabilities, and 12 had good neurologic outcomes. There was no correlation between pediatric risk of mortality score and neurologic evolution. There was a strong correlation between first MR imaging score (P <.001) and neurologic outcome. The sensitivity of the first MR imaging score was high (96%), even when obtained during the first 3 days, with a specificity of 50% and a positive predictive value of 82%. Six patients with definite abnormal MR imaging findings experienced good neurologic outcomes. CONCLUSION: The MR imaging scoring system proposed in this study can be used to establish an early prognosis in a significant proportion of children with hypoxic coma. It is helpful, even during the first 3 days after the event. However, some patients with definite abnormal MR imaging findings may experience good neurologic evolution.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Impaired emotional facial expression recognition is associated with interpersonal problems in alcoholism.

AIMS: Emotional facial expression (EFE) recognition has been shown to be impaired in abstinent alcoholics. The present study investigated the relationship between EFE recognition impairments and interpersonal difficulties in recently detoxified alcoholics (RA). METHODS: Thirty recently detoxified alcoholics were compared to 30 normal controls (NC) matched for age, sex and educational level on an EFE decoding test. This test involves 16 photographs depicting EFE of happiness, anger, disgust and sadness. Subjects were asked to fill in the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems evaluating six dimensions of interpersonal problems (assertiveness, submissiveness, intimacy, reliability, control and sociability). RESULTS: RA had EFE recognition deficits and more interpersonal problems, compared to NC. Reported interpersonal difficulties were correlated with EFE decoding problems. CONCLUSIONS: Interpersonal difficulties serve as a mediator between EFE accuracy problems and alcoholism. Impaired EFE recognition could have a role in the interpersonal difficulties encountered by RA and may therefore constitute a relapse factor.

Adult↗