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Biomedical subjects

J M Mercader-Sobrequés

Publications and source records attributed to J M Mercader-Sobrequés.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Diagnosis by imaging of the brain affected by AIDS].

Neurological complications are frequent in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). They are caused by neural structures being affected by the virus itself, and/or the development of opportunist infections and neoplasias secondary to the immunodepression. Cerebral toxoplasmosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalopathy are the commonest encephalopathic disorders seen in these patients. Primary cerebral lymphoma, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), tuberculosis, etc. are less common. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) are the most suitable techniques for diagnosis and follow-up of cerebral involvement in patients with AIDS. Although MR is more sensitive for the detection of lesions, particularly those in the white matter, CT is still the most widely used technique since its more readily available. Also it needs less cooperation from the patient. Although on some occasions combination of both techniques may suggest the aetiology of the lesion, these techniques are non-specific.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neuroimaging and cerebral palsy].

INTRODUCTION: A high percentage of subjects with cerebral palsy (CP) present brain injuries, which are revealed by neuroimaging techniques. On the whole the pattern of brain damage is heterogeneous. DEVELOPMENT: We review the studies that have described the brain damage in CP using structural and functional neuroimaging techniques. Brain damage is considered according to the type of CP and taking the gestational age into account. CONCLUSIONS: According to structural neuroimaging studies carried out in spastic diplegia, the brain pattern differs with the gestational age. In early subjects with spastic diplegia it is the periventricular white matter that is mainly affected. In spastic quadriplegia, cortico subcortical lesions and hypoplasia of the corpus callosum are also observed. Unilateral lesions predominate in the case of hemiplegia. Hemiplegic subjects may also present damage to the white matter, cortico subcortical lesions and congenital brain malformations. In these subjects, some of the injury patterns observed seem to be related with the clinical features they display. Dyskinetic CP is characterised by the absence of lesions and alteration of the basal ganglia and the thalamus. Very few studies have been conducted that take the different types of CP into account in comparing the findings of structural and functional neuroimaging.

Cerebral Palsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of diffuse cerebral atrophy in patients with a history of traumatic brain injury and its relation to cognitive deterioration].

INTRODUCTION: Diffuse damage secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be studied through volumetric analysis of several structures that are sensible to this kind of injury, such as corpus callosum, ventricular system, hippocampus, basal ganglia and the volume of cerebrospinal fluid spaces. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to describe how closed head injury (CHI) occurred in early years produce diffuse damage, and how this damage affects general cognitive functioning at long term. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Initially the group of subjects was composed of 27 head injured children and adolescents following paediatric moderate to severe TBI. From this initial group we selected 15 patients without focal lesion, or in case of having suffered focal lesion, this was smaller than 2,600 mm3. These subjects were assessed by means of volumetric analysis of cerebrospinal fluid spaces, corpus callosum, hippocampus and caudate nucleus, comparing the results with a matched control group. We calculated the degree of general cognitive ability of these subjects through tests of intellectual, memory, frontal lobe and motor speed functioning. RESULTS: This study demonstrates that early CHI produce a volume decrease in all measured structures. Corpus callosum atrophy is the factor that better explains general cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse damage secondary to moderate to severe peadiatric TBI has long term effects on several cerebral structures and on cognitive performance. Corpus callosum atrophy is the best predictor for general cognitive impairment, compared with other affected structures.

Adolescent↗