Biomedical subjects

Marina Titlić

Publications and source records attributed to Marina Titlić.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Hemifacial spasm in vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia.

Vascular compression of the facial nerve is a well recognized cause of hemifacial spasm (HFS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) provide vascular and brain tissue diagnosis in a single non-invasive examination and should be recommended as primary neuroradiological procedure in HFS. We report a rare case of symptomatic HFS caused by a vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia. A 49-year-old women experienced left hemifacial spasm for 10 months. MRI showed an enlarged vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia of the left vertebral artery which compressed the seventh cranial nerve at its exit from the caude pons. MRI is essential in establishing the cause of HFS. Together with MR angiography it shows the correlation among the seventh cranial nerve, blood vessels and the structures of mid-brain. Vertebrobasilar delichoestasia is just one of the blood vessel anomalies which causes HFS and which can be shown by MRI. HFS caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia is quite rare.

Facial Nerve↗

PubMed2006

Psychosis and Wilson's disease: a case report.

In this article we present a case of a 26-year-old woman with clinical picture of acute psychosis, as the first and main manifestation of Wilson's disease, who developed abnormal involuntary choreoathetoid limb movements, few days after initiation of neuroleptic therapy. At the first movement neurological symptoms were misinterpreted as side effect of haloperidol, but consulted neurologist suggested additional diagnostic procedure which confirmed Wilson's disease. Psychiatric symptomatology and abnormal involuntary movements were the clinical manifestation of this disease, which improved with neuroleptic and chelating treatment. Interdisciplinary approach with good collaboration of psychiatrists and neurologists is crucial for Wilson's disease, because early diagnosis and treatment without delay is critical to the prognosis. This case serves as a reminder that involuntary movements can be side effect of antipsychotics but also the clinical manifestation of some illnesses, for example Wilson's, Huntington's and Fuhr's diseases.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2005

[Epileptic patient compliance with prescribed medical treatment].

Medically treated patients' non-compliance with the prescribed scheme is an exceptionally important issue, faced relatively often in medical treatment of epilepsy. OBJECTIVE, PATIENTS AND METHODS: Different demographic and clinical data, collected upon questionnaire completion from 146 patients suffering from epilepsy, were sorted out and integrated in the present research analyses with the objective to determine the possible correlation of collected data and compliance level recorded in the observed patients. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Generally, the subjects took pretty the prescribed therapy regularly: in 62% of subjects the compliance level was recorded as good, in 23% as satisfactory, and in the remaining 15% as unsatisfactory. The following factors were identified as possible predictors of the less precise adherence to the prescribed therapeutic regimen (p<0.01): regular consumption of alcohol, medical treatment of 6 or more years, and three or more daily drug doses. The correlation between the greater number of prescribed anti-epileptic medicines and lower compliance level (p=0.05) was also assessed. The study revealed a tendency towards lower compliance level in patients aged below 30. Surprisingly, the same tendency was observed in the subjects with more thoroughly controlled epileptic condition. In spite of different experiments aimed to improve the regularity in taking the prescribed therapy, the issue of non-compliance still poses a considerable obstacle to the more successful treatment of epileptic patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Multidose activated charcoal in the treatment of carbamazepine overdose with seizures: a case report.

Serious complications after carbamazepine poisoning, such as coma, seizures, respiratory failure, cardiac conduction abnormalities, and death are more likely with serum levels greater than 170 micromol L(-1). We report a case of a single massive carbamazepine overdose in a 19-year-old male, following attempted suicide, without prior history of seizure disorder. On admission, three hours after ingestion, serum carbamazepine concentration was 179 micromol L(-1) and Glasgow Coma Scale scored 6. The patient was intubated and treated with multiple doses of activated charcoal for 48 hours. Twelve hours after ingestion, two repeated generalised myoclonic seizures were noted when serum carbamazepine levels peaked at 181 micromol L(-1), and were successfully treated with diazepam. Carbamazepine serum level fell within the therapeutic range 63 hours after ingestion and the patient was discharged without any long-term sequelae. As there is no antidote for carbamazepine poisoning, supportive treatment remains the only, but usually potent option.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The correlation of changes of the optic nerve diameter in the acute retrobulbar neuritis with the brain changes in multiple sclerosis.

The aim of this paper is to compare diameter of healthy and affected optic nerve determined by ultrasound with brain lesions in acute retrobulbar neuritis in patients with multiple sclerosis. In this prospective study 20 patients with multiple sclerosis and acute retrobulbar neuritis were examined. Optic nerve diameter was measured by ultrasound. Brain lesions were detected by magnetic resonance. Correlation between demyelinating lesions of the brain in multiple sclerosis and optic nerve diameter was tested by Kruskal-Wallis test. Significant difference in diameter between healthy and affected optic nerve in acute retrobulbar neuritis was found. Demyelinating brain changes examined by magnetic resonance revealed periventricular lesions, subcortical lesions and lesions in corpus callosum. There is statistically significant correlation between optic nerve diameter and number of brain lesions in multiple sclerosis, p < 0.05. Diameter of optic nerve in retrobulbar neuritis measured by ultrasound correlates with brain lesions detected by magnetic resonance in multiple sclerosis.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2003

Syphilitic aneurysm: case report.

Tertiary syphilis is a rare, slowly progressive inflammatory disease that becomes clinically visible years after initial infection. Although it can affect any organ in the body, it shows a predilection for the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Today, however, cardiovascular syphilis is a medical curiosity because the disease can successfully be treated with antibiotics in its early phase. We present a case of a 43-year-old male patient with a syphilitic aneurysm of the descendent aorta and our choice of treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Disorders of color vision].

This review gives a summary of all colour vision disorders (dyschromatopsias) and diagnostic methods and tests. Colour vision is inadequately treated in current literature with regard to the choice of diagnostic methods and the interpretation of results for a single disorder, which contributes to wrong dyschromatopsia diagnosing seen every day in specialist practice. Examination for colour disorders is usually outpatient and is carried out by ophthalmology or neurology departments or occupational health services under the supervision of an ophthalmologist to prevent misinterpretation of results and wrong occupational choices. The problem is very serious, and proper education should be able to provide guidelines for correct and early diagnosis of dyschromatopsia. As the examination is not well defined, it is very important to set unique criteria in diagnosing any single colour vision disorder.

Color Perception Tests↗