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Biomedical subjects

J C García-Moncó

Publications and source records attributed to J C García-Moncó.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Cannabis and cerebrovascular disease].

INTRODUCTION: Drug use is a well-kown risk factor for cerebrovascular disease in young people. Cannabis is the most widely consumed among the illicit drugs worldwide, but it has only exceptionally been associated to cerebrovascular disease. CLINICAL CASE: We here describe 2 young patients (26 and 29 years, respectively) who suffered from ischemic stroke in temporal relation with cannabis consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The review of the literature on this topic reveals another 18 patients with stroke in association to cannabis use. They all were young people with ischemic stroke. Although a causal relationship is difficult to establish due to the widespread use of cannabis, this drug may play an etiologic role in ischemic stroke.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Acute confusional state secondary to transient headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis].

Pseudomigraine with pleocytosis (now referred to as syndrome of transient headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis, IHS ICHD-II code 7.8) is only infrequently accompanied by a confusional state and no cases have been described so far in association with severe agitation. We report on a patient who suffered from two episodes of headache with transient focal neurological deficits that were consistent with pseudomigraine with pleocytosis but that were followed by an intense confusional, agitated state that required admission in the intensive care unit. This possibility should be included in the differential diagnosis of confusional, agitated states.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Spontaneous brain hemorrhage associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis.

We present the case of a patient with late neuroborreliosis and a spontaneous temporal lobe hemorrhage. Although ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage have been reported in association with Lyme disease, intraparenchymal brain hemorrhage has not been previously described in the course of this disease. The patient is a 48-year old male with a progressive spastic paraparesis of months' duration who presented acute headache, confusion, severe left hemiparesis with sensory deficit and homonymous hemianopsia. A cranial computed tomography scan showed an extensive right temporal lobe hemorrhage with subarachnoid invasion. Brain angiographic and angio-magnetic resonance imaging studies excluded hemorrhage-predisposing vascular abnormalities. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies disclosed mononuclear pleocytosis with elevated protein levels. Both serum and CSF anti-Borrelia titers were significantly increased, and serum Western Blot showed bands to protein 34 (ops B), 57, 59 and 62. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone for 4 weeks, with a favorable outcome. It is suspected that cause of the hemorrhage was parenchymatous Lyme-associated vascular damage and/or microaneurysmatic rupture.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed2000

Hypoglossal schwannoma: an uncommon cause of twelfth-nerve palsy.

Hypoglossal schwannoma is an uncommon cause of 12th nerve palsy. We here report a pathologically proven case of left 12th nerve schwannoma in a 56-year-old woman who presented with progressive left tongue hemiatrophy and in whom cranial MRI disclosed a mass near the foramen jugular. Surgery showed a mass involving the hypoglossal nerve and the pathological examination was diagnostic of schwannoma.

Cranial Nerve Neoplasms↗
PubMed1998

Effect of focal cerebellar lesions on procedural learning in the serial reaction time task.

Prior studies have shown that procedural learning is severely impaired in patients with diffuse cerebellar damage (cortical degeneration) as measured by the serial reaction time task (SRTT). We hypothesize that focal cerebellar lesions can also have lateralized effects on procedural learning. Our objective was to assess the effects of focal cerebellar lesions in procedural learning as measured by the SRTT. We studied 14 patients with single, unilateral vascular lesions in the territory of the posterior-inferior or superior cerebellar artery, who were compared with ten age- and sex-matched controls in a one-handed version of the SRTT. Patients with lesions at any other level of the brain or posterior fossa were excluded by cranial magnetic resonance imaging. Our results show that patients do not acquire procedural knowledge when performing the task with the hand ipsilateral to the lesion, but show normal learning with the contralateral hand. No correlation was found with the side, size, or vascular territory of the lesion. We conclude that procedural learning is impaired in hemispheric cerebellar lesions and involves only the hand ipsilateral to the lesion, which suggests a critical role for the cerebellum and/or crossed cerebellar-prefrontal connections in this type of learning.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Diaschisis and neuropsychological performance after cerebellar stroke.

The cerebellum has been implicated in higher-order behavior. Blood flow studies (SPECT) have shown that cerebral diaschisis can appear after cerebellar lesions and this phenomenon could serve as a basis for a potential neuropsychological derangement after cerebellar insults. Our objectives in this study were to delineate the neuropsychological profile after cerebellar stroke, to evaluate cerebral diaschisis as measured by SPECT and to correlate the findings. We prospectively studied 26 patients with cerebellar stroke and 16 subjects matched for age, sex and educational level as a control group. A neuropsychological battery test, MRI and cerebral SPECT were performed in both groups. We found that cerebellar stroke results in motor control impairment and mild naming deficit, whereas no dysfunction in declarative memory, language, visuospatial or executive abilities is evident. The anatomical distribution of the lesion does not seem relevant in terms of neuropsychological impairment or diaschisis. Both ipsilateral and contralateral diaschisis as a result of a cerebellar stroke are found, but this phenomenon does not seem to result in overt neuropsychological derangement.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Resolution of a brainstem abscess through antituberculous therapy.

We describe an immunocompetent patient with a solitary brainstem abscess that responded to antituberculous therapy. Although prompt surgical therapy has been advocated, the possibility of medical resolution of brainstem tuberculous abscesses should be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Bilateral vertebral artery dissection in a patient with afibrinogenemia.

BACKGROUND: Afibrinogenemia, a rare coagulation disorder, has not been associated with vertebral artery dissections. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 28-year-old woman with afibrinogenemia developed spontaneous neck pain followed by a right medullary infarction, and MR angiography showed extensive bilateral vertebral artery dissection. She was treated with fibrinogen replacement and anticoagulants and showed a favorable evolution, with only mild residual right upper arm incoordination. CONCLUSIONS: In this patient spontaneous bilateral vertebral artery dissection complicated afibrinogenemia. Since anticoagulant therapy is usually indicated for arterial dissection, this association created a therapeutic problem. This patient received anticoagulants with fibrinogen replacement, which resulted in a favorable evolution.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Early cystic thoracic cord cavity complicating decompressive surgery for spondylotic spinal canal stenosis. Case report.

This is a report of a patient who developed thoracic cystic myelopathy immediately following an otherwise successful decompression operation for spondylotic stenosis secondary to osteophyte formation of the thoracic spinal canal. As this case shows, thoracic laminectomy is not without risks, and cystic myelopathy is a potential complication that should be borne in mind when surgery for spondylosis is being planned. Cavitation of the spinal cord may be associated with trauma secondary to extramedullary cord compression.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Neuropsychological differences but comparable regional cerebral blood changes in asymptomatic HIV-1-positive and -negative drug addicts.

The objective of this study was to characterize the cognitive status of a population of asymptomatic HIV-positive drug addicts (patient group) to document the relationship between neuropsychological results and cerebral blood flow defects as measured by single photon emission computed tomography. As a control group we employed an age-matched population of HIV-seronegative drug addicts. Some neuropsychological differences were found between patients and controls and between drug addicts and normal population. We could not detect any difference in cerebral blood flow rates among HIV-1-positive and -negative drug addicts.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1992

[Multifocal motor neuropathy after administration of gangliosides].

A case of a 38 years-old male with motor neuropathy with multifocal conduction blocks following the administration of ganglioside therapy is reported. There was generalized weakness without areflexia and normal parameters of the spinal fluid, including protein values. Electrophysiological data showed multiple conduction blocks with normal nerve conduction velocities. Antibodies against asialo-GM1 gangliosides were present in the cerebrospinal fluid. There could be a relationship between the ganglioside administration and the development of an immune-mediated neuropathy. Several cases of demyelinating polyradiculoneuritis after ganglioside treatment have been reported. If this association is confirmed, the apparent lack of toxicity of gangliosides should be reconsidered.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The characterization of a Spanish strain of Borrelia burgdorferi].

BACKGROUND: The characteristics of a Spanish strain of Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete which causes Lyme's disease, and which, up to the present, has not been isolated in Spain, are described. METHODS: The organism was obtained from ticks (Ixodes ricinus) from the northern part of Spain. It was studied in culture by dark field microscopy and the internal structure observed by electron transmission. The antigenic composition was analyzed under polyacrylamide electrophoresis, immunoblot and reactivity against monoclonal antibodies. Plasmid analysis was carried out by Southern blot. RESULTS: In culture the length of the organism is somewhat shorter than normal. It grows slowly and tends to autoagglutinate. It has 6-13 periplasmic flagella. The antigenic analysis of this microorganism through immunoblot and reactivity against different monoclonal antibodies showed differences with regards to other North American strains, with the most significant being the composition of certain proteins of the surface of the organism. These differences may have clinical repercussion. DNA analysis by Southern blot demonstrated slight differences in regard to the composition of plasmids compared to other strains analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Borrelia burgdorferi exists in Spain. The isolated strain shows peculiar characteristics with respect to others analyzed. The availability of an autochthonous strain may allow more reliable serological diagnosis in Spain.

Animals↗