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J A Bueri

Publications and source records attributed to J A Bueri.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Undulating toe movements in brain death.

For many years, death implied immobility. Nevertheless, there are anecdotal reports of spontaneous or reflex movements (SRMs) in patients with Brain death (BD). The presence of some movements can preclude the diagnosis of BD, and consequently, the possibility of organ donation for transplantation. McNair and Meador [(1992), Mov Dord7: 345-347] described the presence of undulating toe flexion movements (UTF) in BD patients. UTF consists in a sequential brief plantar flexion of the toes. Our aim was to determine the frequency, characteristics and predisposing factors of UTF movements in a prospective multicenter cohort study of patients with BD. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of BD were assessed to evaluate the presence of UTF using a standardized protocol. All patients had a routine laboratory evaluation, CT scan of the head, and EEG. Demographic, clinical, hemodynamic and blood gas concentration factors were analyzed. amongst 107 BD patients who fulfilled the AAN requirements, 47 patients (44%) had abnormal movements. UTF was observed in 25 (23%) being the most common movement (53%). Early evaluation (OR 4.3, CI95% 1.5-11.9) was a predictor of UTF in a multivariate regression model. The somato-sensory evoked potential (SSEPs) as well as brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) did not elicit a cortical response in studied patients with UTF. This spinal reflex is probably integrated in the L5 and S1 segments of the spinal cord. Abnormal movements are common in BD, being present in more than 40% of individuals. UTF was the most common spinal reflex. In our sample, early evaluation was a predictor of UTF. Health care professionals, especially those involved in organ procurement for transplantation, must be aware of this sign. The presence of this motor phenomenon does not preclude the diagnosis of BD.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Spontaneous and reflex movements in brain death.

Spontaneous and reflex movements may be found in patients with brain death (BD). The authors prospectively evaluated their frequency using a standardized protocol. Among 38 patients who fulfilled criteria for BD, the authors found 15 (39%) with spontaneous or reflex movements. The most common movement was finger jerks. Undulating toe flexion sign, triple flexion response, Lazarus sign, pronation-extension reflex, and facial myokymia also were seen. These movements may be more common than reported and do not preclude the diagnosis of BD.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Catalepsy after stroke.

Catalepsy denotes a tendency to maintain postures. We prospectively looked for catalepsy in 216 acute stroke patients. We found five patients with cataleptic postures. They were seen on the nonparetic side in all cases. Other movement abnormalities seen in the catatonic syndrome were absent. CT scans of the head showed ischemic infarctions in the middle cerebral artery territory in the five cases. Cataleptic postures associated with hemispheric lesions due to stroke may be a more common phenomenon than is believed, and their mechanism remains to be elucidated.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Reliability of the NINDS Myotatic Reflex Scale.

The assessment of deep tendon reflexes is useful for localization and diagnosis of neurologic disorders, but only a few studies have evaluated their reliability. We assessed the reliability of four neurologists, instructed in two different countries, in using the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Myotatic Reflex Scale. To evaluate the role of training in using the scale, the neurologists randomly and blindly evaluated a total of 80 patients, 40 before and 40 after a training session. Inter- and intraobserver reliability were measured with kappa statistics. Our results showed substantial to near-perfect intraobserver reliability, and moderate-to-substantial interobserver reliability of the NINDS Myotatic Reflex Scale. The reproducibility was better for reflexes in the lower than in the upper extremities. Neither educational background nor the training session influenced the reliability of our results. The NINDS Myotatic Reflex Scale has sufficient reliability to be adopted as a universal scale.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The effect of levodopa on the habituation of the acoustic-palpebral reflex in Parkinson's disease.

The aim of the present study was to assess the habituation of the blink responses evoked by repetitive auditory stimuli in patients with Parkinson's disease in different clinical states. We studied 28 parkinsonian patients. Eighteen patients without motor fluctuations were studied off and on levodopa, on two different sessions, one week apart. The remaining 10 parkinsonians had the wearing off phenomenon and were studied while being off their medication and while ON and OFF, as determined clinically, after a single dose of levodopa. Twelve age-matched controls were also studied in a single session. Unilateral auditory 1 kHz, 105 dB stimuli were delivered at a frequency of 0.2 Hz. The number of responses (R) from the orbicularis oculi was registered. R values were significantly smaller in controls and in treated parkinsonians than in untreated patients. R was also significantly smaller when ON than at baseline and when OFF in parkinsonians with the wearing off phenomenon. These results suggest a failure of the inhibition of the acoustic-palpebral reflex in Parkinson's disease. The improvement with levodopa and the similarities between the clinical and the electrophysiological changes suggest a dopaminergic role in the inhibition of this brainstem reflex.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1995

[Hemichorea associated with cerebral toxoplasmosis and AIDS].

Only 12 AIDS cases with hemichorea were reported in the literature. We report the first case of hemichorea associated with AIDS and cerebral toxoplasmosis in our country. A 26-year-old man had 3 episodes of focal seizures on the left side with subsequent loss of consciousness. A few weeks later, he noticed progressive left-sided weakness. Examination revealed a left hemiparesis. MRI of the head showed a round mass in the right frontal lobe and a smaller lesion in the left temporo-occipital area. Laboratory showed positive serum ELISA and Western Blot analysis for HIV antibodies. Serum tests for Toxoplasma showed elevated titers. He was treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. His weakness improved and he had no further seizures. Two weeks later, choreic movements appeared in the left foot, finally involving the entire left hemibody. A second MRI showed a new small lesion in the right cerebral peduncle. The patient completed 6 weeks of treatment, with further reduction in the size of the lesions. Nevertheless, the left hemichorea persisted. We believe that the hemichorea our patient had was caused by the contralateral peduncular lesion. Lesions involving the subthalamic nucleus or its connections may cause contralateral hemiballismus or hemichorea. In spite of the favorable response to antitoxoplasmic therapy, the hemichorea persisted. The present report illustrates an uncommon neurological complication in AIDS. We believe that a combination of a focal cerebral lesion and the HIV infection caused the movement disorder presented by the patient.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Motor activation time in Parkinson's disease.

Motor activation time (MAT), considered in the present work as the actual intracerebral processing delay during a reaction time (RT) task, was assessed in 17 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in 7 age-matched healthy volunteers. MAT was calculated by subtracting from the premotor RT the afferent and efferent times obtained by sensory and motor evoked potentials. When compared with healthy volunteers, patients exhibited significantly (p < 0.02) prolonged MATs. In a smaller group of 9 PD patients MAT and the auditory P3 event related potential were assessed while on antiparkinsonian treatment and after a 12-hour withdrawal period. During the off medication condition patients showed a significant slowing (p < 0.01) of MAT values without any remarkable change in P3 latency or amplitude. These results suggest that MAT slowing indicates an abnormal function of the dopaminergic mechanism involved in the initiation of movement which is not related to changes in the arousal or cognitive state.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1991

Peripheral nervous system and spinal cord involvement in lymphoma.

Nine-hundred-eighty-nine patients with diagnosis of lymphoma were studied. Forty-six cases (4.6%) had compressions of the spinal cord or roots. Forty-two patients (4.2%) had Herpes zoster virus infections, which in 6 cases were of disseminated type. The major predisposing factors for infection were: advanced stage of lymphoma, previous systemic chemotherapy and splenectomy. Toxic polyneuropathy secondary to chemotherapy was found in 39 patients (3.9%). In 14 cases, the polyneuropathic symptoms were the main complaint (Group 1), while in the remaining 25 cases the diagnosis was made during neurological consultations because of unrelated symptoms (Group 2). Both groups did not have significant differences in the total dose of chemotherapy received. The electrophysiological studies showed an axonal neuropathy in both groups. The discontinuation of chemotherapy was found to be a limiting factor in the appearance of neuropathic symptoms. Other less frequent forms of involvement were: compression of peripheral nerves or nerve plexi from lymphadenopathies (3 cases), radiation myelopathy (1 case), and Guillain-Barré Syndrome associated with Hodgkin's Lymphoma (1 case).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Craniocerebral involvement in lymphoma.

Nine-hundred-eighty-nine patients with lymphoma were studied. Fifty-three cases (5.3%) had lymphomatous craniocerebral infiltration. The principal factors of risk for this complication were: advanced stage of the lymphoma (III or IV), diffuse histiocytic, diffuse poorly differentiated lymphocytic, or mixed cellularity lymphoma histological type, bone marrow involvement, and previous systemic chemotherapy. Thirty-two per cent of the cases of meningeal lymphomatous infiltration were asymptomatic and represented autopsy findings. CT-scan was an useful test to detect brain focal parenchymatous infiltration, as opposed to meningeal infiltration. Mean survival time in patients with lymphomatous meningeal infiltration was 4.3 months, following the combined use of systemic chemotherapy, radiation therapy and intrathecal methotrexate. Two cases had primary cerebral lymphoma, although without associated immunodeficiency. Twenty patients (2%) had intracranial hemorrhage, in clear relationship with platelet alterations. Fifteen patients (1.5%) had CNS infection, caused by common bacteria or opportunistic agents. In 7 cases, the diagnosis was made at autopsy. Thirty-six autopsies were performed. In 8 cases (22%), pathologic findings such as, demyelination, microcalcifications, coagulative necrosis, or gliosis, suggested complications from treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

In vivo 31P NMR profiles of Alzheimer's disease and multiple subcortical infarct dementia.

We used in vivo phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectroscopy to study regional high-energy phosphate and phospholipid metabolism in brains of patients with dementia associated with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple subcortical cerebral infarctions (MSID). The MSID patients demonstrated elevations of the phosphocreatine (PCr)/inorganic orthophosphate (Pi) ratio in both the temporoparietal and frontal regions. Phosphomonoesters (PME) and the ratio of PME to phosphodiesters were elevated in the temporoparietal region of AD. Pi was also elevated in the frontal and temporoparietal regions of AD. Findings from 31P NMR were accurate in distinguishing MSID from AD. Values of PCr/Pi accurately classified 100% of the MSID patients and 92% of AD. Pi and PME, considered jointly, also accurately classified all MSID and all but 1 AD. Findings from in vivo 31P NMR spectroscopy appear to yield metabolic profiles useful in distinguishing AD from MSID.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Peripheral nerve involvement in Bell's palsy.

A group of patients with Bell's palsy were studied in order to disclose the presence of subclinical peripheral nerve involvement. 20 patients, 8 male and 12 female, with recent Bell's palsy as their unique disease were examined. In all cases other causes of polyneuropathy were ruled out. Patients were investigated with CSF examination, facial nerve latencies in the affected and in the sound sides, and maximal motor nerve conduction velocities, as well as motor terminal latencies from the right median and peroneal nerves. CSF laboratory examination was normal in all cases. Facial nerve latencies were abnormal in all patients in the affected side, and they differed significantly from those of control group in the clinically sound side. Half of the patients showed abnormal values in the maximal motor nerve conduction velocities and motor terminal latencies of the right median and peroneal nerves. These results agree with previous reports which have pointed out that other cranial nerves may be affected in Bell's palsy. However, we have found a higher frequency of peripheral nerve involvement in this entity. These findings, support the hypothesis that in some patients Bell's palsy is the component of a more widespread disease, affecting other cranial and peripheral nerves.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neuropsychological study of 12 patients with pure degenerative cerebellar disease].

INTRODUCTION: The cerebellum has been traditionally associated with motor control learning and performance. However, since 1970 a growing body of clinical and experimental evidences has suggested that the cerebellum may be involved in nonmotor cognitive functions as well. OBJECTIVE: To explore the presence of eventual cognitive impairment in non-demented patients with isolated degenerative cerebellar diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with the diagnosis of selective degenerative cerebellar disorders, either inherited or sporadic, were selected (mean age: 40.42 +/- 13.49 years; mean education level: 9.92 +/- 3.99 years; duration of illness: 12.13 +/- 11.27 years, MMSE: 26.75 +/- 1.5) and evaluated through a standardized neuropsychological tests battery. Normalized Z scores were estimated and compared against 0, employing the t test for one sample. RESULTS: Significant cognitive deficits were found in the following domains: executive, visuo-spatial, memory and attention functions. Performance on the Wisconsin test showed a significative number of perseverative errors. Memory deficits included verbal learning and free recall difficulties, with good recognition of the material presented. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study are consistent with the role of the cerebellum as modulator of mental functions. The cognitive deficits resulting from cerebellar pathology may be related with the disruption of cerebello-cortical connexions involving a complex network which includes the prefrontal region, suggesting that the cerebellum may process cortical information coming from different areas linked with the control of cognition.

Adolescent↗