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Biomedical subjects

M Prosiegel

Publications and source records attributed to M Prosiegel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The localization of central pattern generators for swallowing in humans--a clinical-anatomical study on patients with unilateral paresis of the vagal nerve, Avellis' syndrome, Wallenberg's syndrome, posterior fossa tumours and cerebellar hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Our understanding of brainstem swallowing centers is mainly based on experimental animals. In order to solve this problem also in humans, a clinical-anatomical study on dysphagic patients with different lesion patterns was performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 43 consecutively admitted dysphagic patients with unilateral paresis of the vagal nerve (PVN), Avellis' syndrome (AS), Wallenberg's syndrome (WS), posterior fossa tumour (PFT) or cerebellar hemorrhage (CH) with regard to clinical and anatomical aspects. FINDINGS: There was a continuum with regard to functional outcome from neurogenic dysphagia (ND): Patients with PFT or CH had a significantly worse outcome than patients with WS; the outcome of WS patients was significantly worse than that of patients with PVN or AS. In AS only the Nucleus ambiguus (NA) and its surrounding reticular formation (RF) were affected. In all patients with WS, the infarctions of the dorsolateral medulla were situated in the rostral third of the medulla and affected the NA and the Nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) with their surrounding RF. In patients with PFT and CH, the NTS and its surrounding RF were affected on both sides. The overlap area of WS and PFT lesions is situated in the NTS and the surrounding RF, especially in its Nucleus parvocellularis. INTERPRETATION: Our results point to the fact, that in humans the dorsomedial central pattern generators (CPGs) for swallowing are situated in the rostral part of the dorsal medulla oblongata near the NTS/surrounding RF (especially Nucleus parvocellularis) and that the dorsomedial CPGs are superior to the ventrolateral CPGs (near the NA/surrounding RF) with regard to their swallowing-relevance. Furthermore, we hypothesize that due to the individual asymmetry of the swallowing-dominant forebrain hemisphere - the outcome from ND in WS depends on the side of the medullary infarction.

Adult↗

Swallowing therapy--a prospective study on patients with neurogenic dysphagia due to unilateral paresis of the vagal nerve, Avellis' syndrome, Wallenberg's syndrome, posterior fossa tumours and cerebellar hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: No studies exist dealing with the outcome of dysphagic patients with posterior fossa (IV. ventricle) tumours (PFT) or cerebellar hemorrhage (CH), and the outcome of patients with Wallenberg's syndrome (WS) after functional swallowing therapy (FST) has so far not been studied in detail. Patients and methods. 208 patients with neurogenic dysphagia (ND) who were consecutively admitted for functional swallowing therapy (FST) over a 3 year period to our hospital were examined clinically, by use of a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and/or fibreoptic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). The most frequent etiology was stroke (48%), followed by CNS tumours (13%). In the present study we defined three groups. Group 1 comprised 8 patients with PFT or CH. Group 2 consisted of 27 patients with WS, which was the leading cause among patients with non-hemispheric stroke. Since in WS a vagal nerve paresis due to affection of the Nucleus ambiguus occurs, 8 patients with Avellis' syndrome or unilateral paresis of the vagal nerve served as controls and were defined as group 3. Findings. In the three groups, functional feeding status showed significant improvement after FST comprising methods of restitution, compensation and adaptation, each of which were applied in more than 80% of patients. Outcome was, however, significantly worse in group 1 as compared to group 2 and in group 2 as compared to group 3. Dysfunction of the upper esophageal sphincter and reflex triggering were significantly more severely disturbed in groups 1 and 2 as compared to group 3. Group 1 showed significantly more severe disturbances of the oral phase as compared to groups 2 and 3. After FST, more than 50% (5/8) of group 1 and 30% (8/27) of WS patients (group 2) were dependent on tube feeding, whereas all patients of group 3 were full-oral feeders. Interpretation. This is the first study dealing with the outcome of dysphagic patients with PFT or CH. Based on our results it can be assumed that in these patients pressure is exerted on both dorsomedial central pattern generators (DMCPGs) for swallowing in a posterior-anterior direction. Due to the importance of the DMCPGs for swallowing, bilateral (and often MRI-invisible) lesions seem to be very harmful. For a better understanding of the pathomechanism responsible for ND in patients with PFT or CH, modern imaging methods such as proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy should be used for studying metabolic changes in the dorsal medulla in the future. Since the outcome of patients with WS with regard to dependence of tube feeding was not associated with the site or size of the lesion, it may due to the individual asymmetry of the swallowing-dominant forebrain hemisphere - depend on the side of the medullary infarction.

Adult↗

Dysphagia and multiple sclerosis.

Over 30% of persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) suffer from swallowing symptoms, a higher rate than previously assumed. Neurogenic dysphagia (ND) may cause many different kinds of oropharyngeal sensorimotor dysfunctions in pwMS, and is associated with both the amount of disability and brainstem signs. About 15% of pwMS with mild disability may also suffer from ND. Diagnostic tools comprise history taking, bedside screening examination (50 ml water test combined with assessment of pharyngeal sensation or with pulse oximetry) and sometimes a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). VFSS and FEES are complementary methods and both have advantages and disadvantages. Interventions for ND in pwMS are mainly based on functional swallowing therapy, including methods of restitution, compensation and adaptation. The aim of intervention is to prevent aspiration and aspiration pneumonia. Outcome assessment should focus on clinically relevant parameters, such as activity limitation, participation restriction and health-related quality of life.

Deglutition Disorders↗

[Deglutition disorders in neurological patients. A prospective study of diagnosis, pattern of impairment, therapy and outcome].

We performed a prospective study on 208 patients with neurogenic dysphagia who were consecutively admitted for swallowing therapy over a 3-year period. The most frequent etiology was stroke (48%). Videofluoroscopic and/or fiber optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing were performed in 204 patients. Swallowing therapy was comprised of restitution methods, compensation, and adaptation, each of which was applied in more than 80% of the patients. Mean duration of swallowing therapy was 2 months (full oral patients 1 month, patients dependent on tube feeding or tracheostomy 2.5 and 3.5 months, respectively). Fifty-five percent of the patients initially dependent on tube feeding were full oral feeders after swallowing therapy. A target variable reflecting functional feeding status showed significant improvement after swallowing therapy, also in patients with a disease duration of more than half a year, ruling out spontaneous recovery as a sole explanation of amelioration. The following variables were the main contributors to outcome prediction: functional feeding status, Barthel index, duration of disease, and degree of aspiration as shown by endoscopy.

Adolescent↗

Kinematic analysis of laryngeal movements in patients with neurogenic dysphagia before and after swallowing rehabilitation.

To examine whether kinematic analysis of laryngeal movements (which are closely linked to pharyngeal swallowing) can differentiate between normal and disturbed swallowing, we used a three-dimensional ultrasound movement recording system to measure the movements of the larynx during swallowing in 32 patients with neurogenic dysphagia caused by central nervous system lesions and in 32 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. At the beginning of an inpatient rehabilitation swallowing program, laryngeal movements in 24 patients were highly disturbed in terms of velocity curve irregularities. After rehabilitation, the majority of patients with hitherto irregular velocity profiles exhibited laryngeal kinematics that were indistinguishable from those of 32 healthy subjects. Kinematic analysis of laryngeal movements, therefore, is suitable for monitoring motor recovery of swallowing disturbances in patients with neurogenic dysphagia while undergoing swallowing rehabilitation.

Adult↗

[Depersonalization syndrome after acquired brain damage. Overview based on 3 case reports and the literature and discussion of etiological models].

Depersonalization after brain damage is still only rarely reported and poorly understood. We describe three patients between the ages of 21 and 25 who experienced depersonalization and derealization for periods of 6 weeks to 4 months, two after traumatic brain injury, the third after surgical and radiation treatment of a pineocytoma. Each one believed to be living in a nightmare and thought about committing suicide in order to wake up. One patient developed symptoms as described in Cotard delusion. Aspects of neuroanatomy, psychodynamics, and anthropology are discussed with reference to the literature. Frontal and temporal lesions seem only to play a facilitating role but not to be a necessary condition. There is evidence for additional influence of psychological and premorbid personality factors. Summarizing the current state of information we consider depersonalization with the experience of being in a dream or being dead as a heuristic reaction to brain damage. Similar models have already been discussed in neuropsychological disorders as for instance reduplicative paramnesias, neglect, and anosognosia.

Adult↗

Neurobehavioural disturbances, rehabilitation outcome, and lesion site in patients after rupture and repair of anterior communicating artery aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: To determine: (1) patterns of cognitive and psychiatric dysfunction; (2) those neurobehavioural parameters which mostly influence disability in activities of daily living (ADL) and handicap in occupational and psychosocial activities, and (3) underlying neuroanatomical pathology in patients after rupture and repair of anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm. METHODS: 30 patients were extensively examined by means of a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests, by rating of psychopathological symptoms, and by use of the functional independence measure (FIM), Glasgow outcome scale (GOS), and MRI. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: (1) Three main groups were characterised by primary impairment of memory, executive functions, or of attentional performance. Within these main groups, specific patterns were identified relating to extent of primary dysfunction and associated disorders. The variety of neuropsychological disturbances is in contradiction to the existence of an "ACoA syndrome" as an entity. (2) Rehabilitation outcome proved to be mostly associated with both memory and attentional performance. (3) In neuropathological terms, lesions of the medial septum and nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca (MS/ndbB) were closely associated with memory deficits and prefrontal lesions were associated with attentional, executive, and psychopathological dysfunctions. At the same time, bilateral lesions were associated with severe disturbances. The type and severity of the above mentioned deficits were independent of the side of lesion in unilateral cases, of rectus gyrus resection, and of the Hunt and Hess grading system.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Swallowing therapy of neurologic patients: correlation of outcome with pretreatment variables and therapeutic methods.

The results of swallowing therapy in 58 patients with neurologic disorders are presented. All patients received tube feeding, either partially or exclusively, at admission, and successful outcomes, defined as exclusively oral feeding, were achieved in 67% of patients over a median treatment interval of 15 weeks. A subset of 11 patients who had experienced disease onset 25 weeks or more prior to admission nonetheless had a similar success rate of 64%. No other pretreatment variable, including age, localization of lesion, type or degree of aspiration, or cognitive status, correlated with successful outcome. Indirect therapy methods such as stimulation techniques and exercises to enhance the swallowing reflex, alter muscle tone, and improve voluntary function of the orofacial, lingual, and laryngeal musculature were utilized in all but 1 patient. Direct methods including compensatory strategies such as head and neck positioning, and techniques such as supraglottic swallowing and the Mendelsohn maneuver were additionally employed in nearly one-half of patients. Swallowing therapy is associated with successful outcome, as defined by exclusively oral feeding, among patients with neurogenic dysphagia, regardless of pretreatment variables including time since disease onset. Indirect treatment methods appear to be effective when used either alone or in combination with direct methods. Achievement of oral feeding is not associated with undue risk of pneumonia. Further rigorous scientific studies are needed.

Adult↗

Neuropsychology and multiple sclerosis: diagnostic and rehabilitative approaches.

The frequency of cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is rather high and the estimates vary between 43% and 72% depending on the patient samples studied as well as on the methods of cognitive assessment. Despite the great impact of cognitive dysfunction on several aspects of the quality of life, the importance of accurate assessment and rehabilitation of neuropsychological deficits in MS patients has long been ignored. In this article, we first describe tests for the assessment of impairments, disabilities and handicaps. We emphasize that after screening with brief assessment instruments, detailed testing of the basic target deficits is mandatory for the planning of special cognitive training programs. Second, the correlation of certain cognitive deficit patterns with important magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables such as total lesion area, size of the corpus callosum and specific lesion location is outlined in detail. Third, some recommendations are made with regard to general rehabilitation principles such as restitution, compensation and adaptation as well as for special rehabilitation techniques including cognitive retraining of basic deficits and/or training of activities of daily living. Finally, we emphasize that there is a need for the development of tailor-made neuropsychological rehabilitation techniques for MS patients, which take into account the course and stage of the disease as well as the specific psychosocial problems of the individual patient.

Adult↗

Suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by sulfasalazine.

It has recently been suggested that the sulfidopeptide leukotriene C4 (LTC4), a 5-lipoxygenase product of the arachidonic acid metabolism and one of the most potent mediators of vascular permeability, might be involved in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Subsequently, 20 guinea pigs with EAE were treated with sulfasalazine, a substance with a proved leukotriene inhibiting effect, which has previously been described as exerting beneficial effects in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The sulfasalazine-treated guinea pigs showed a significantly better clinical outcome, as well as a significantly lower histological inflammation score compared with 19 controls.

Animals↗

Suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by dual cyclo-oxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase inhibition.

The release of leukotriene C4 (LTC4), an important 5-lipoxygenase product of the arachidonic acid metabolism from polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs) of guinea pigs with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of MS, has been found to be significantly increased compared with healthy animals. Subsequently, the dual cyclo-oxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor BW755C was applied to 15 guinea pigs with EAE. Two control groups (15 each) were treated with the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin or physiological saline, respectively. In the BW755C treated group, no animal developed symptoms of the disease in contrast to, respectively, 5 and 3 animals in the 2 other groups. Histological examination of the CNS revealed a highly significantly lower inflammation score in the BW755C treated animals, and the release of LTC4 from PMNLs was highly significantly decreased in this group compared with each of the others. The findings suggest that the vascular permeability enhancing LTC4 plays a pathogenetic role in EAE and indicate that inhibition of this sulfidopeptide leukotriene suppresses the disease. Therefore, the application of leukotriene inhibitors could contribute to the future treatment of MS.

4,5-Dihydro-1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyraz↗

[Anosognosia and anosodiaphoria in brain-damaged patients].

Anosognosia and anosodiaphoria are terms that have frequently been used to cover a wide variety of different concepts. A review of the literature provides the point of departure for presentation of the methodological problems arising from the use of these terms. We then discuss the concept of anosognosia as a linguistic behavioural pattern arising from the patient's reaction to the "non-accessibility" of a cerebral lesion. Anosognosia can thus be interpreted as behaviourally analogous to neglect. Anosodiaphoria is presented as a form of behaviour determined by the patient's attempt to come to terms with the consequences that a cerebral lesion has for his way of life.

Body Image↗

Leukotrienes B4 and C4 in MS.

Release of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from neutrophils and platelet-neutrophil suspensions in response to ionophore A23187 was measured in 12 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 8 healthy volunteers. LTC4 release from neutrophils, as well as from platelet-neutrophil suspensions, was significantly decreased in MS patients compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in the release of LTB4 between MS patients and controls. The findings suggest that permanent stimulation of platelets and neutrophils e.g., by encephalitogenic peptide leads to continuous LTC4 release with subsequent depletion of intracellular substrates serving as precursors for the formation of 5-lipoxygenase products. Since the target of microvascular actions of LTC4 are postcapillary venules, the release of this sulfidopeptide leukotriene might play a pathogenetic role in the formation of MS lesions.

Adult↗

Encephalitogenic peptide and platelet aggregation in multiple sclerosis.

Platelet aggregation (PA) stimulated by encephalitogenic peptide (EP) and PA induced by ADP were measured in 83 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 70 control subjects with other neurological diseases (OND). EP-stimulated PA was significantly increased in MS patients as compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in ADP-induced PA between patients with MS and OND. The results are discussed in terms of EP-stimulated platelets playing a role in the pathogenesis of MS by affecting the venular permeability of the brain.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗