Biomedical subjects

N Bargalló

Publications and source records attributed to N Bargalló.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Abnormal orbitofrontal development due to prematurity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of prematurity on sulcal formation. METHODS: We evaluated the depth and volume of the primary olfactory sulcus (developed at 16 weeks' gestation) and the secondary orbital sulci (which start to develop at 28 weeks' gestation) in a sample of 22 adolescents with history of very-preterm birth (VPTB). We compared this preterm sample with a sample of subjects born at term and matched by age, gender, and sociocultural status. The Anatomist/BrainVISA 3.0.1 package was used to identify and quantify the sulci. In addition, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to analyze possible reductions of gray and white matter in the orbitofrontal area. RESULTS: Compared with controls, we found a significant reduction in the secondary sulci depth but not in the primary sulcus in the VPTB. VBM analysis showed reduced gray-matter volume in VPTB in the orbital region. CONCLUSIONS: Premature birth affects cerebral gyrification, and this impairment is not reversible during childhood. Identification of the specific factors involved in abnormal brain maturation may lead to effective interventions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Cortical laminar necrosis related to prolonged focal status epilepticus.

Cortical laminar necrosis (CLN) is radiologically defined as high intensity cortical lesions on T1 weighted MRI images following a gyral distribution. Histopathologically, CLN is characterised by pannecrosis of the cortex involving neurones, glial cells, and blood vessels. It has been reported to be associated with hypoxia, metabolic disturbances, drugs, and infections. We present two patients who developed CLN and permanent neurological deficits after prolonged and repeated focal status epilepticus. The possible mechanisms leading to CLN in these patients are discussed, together with the implications of prompt and aggressive treatment in similar cases.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Complex motor behaviors in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Complex motor behaviors differing from typical automatisms were found in 12 of 502 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Movements involved proximal limb segments (6) or body axis (6) and were often preceded by auras and followed by automatisms. Seven of 12 patients are seizure free after surgery. The other 5 patients declined surgery.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Can the Wada test evaluate mesial temporal function? A SPECT study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of SPECT during intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP) to discriminate which patients performed the test with the hippocampus inactivated and correlate it with the risk of amnesia after anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL). METHODS: The authors studied 40 consecutive patients undergoing ATL for refractory epilepsy. SPECT was performed after IV injection of 99mTc-HMPAO during the IAP (IAP-SPECT). Interictal SPECT and IAP-SPECT were realigned to obtain the perfusion change percentage (PCP), allowing a quantitative measurement. Wechsler Memory Scale Revised (WMS-R) before and during the first year of follow-up was used to assess memory impairment after surgery. RESULTS: A decrease between 10 and 12% of the mean PCP values was observed in the frontal, parietal, and lateral temporal lobes of the injected side and in the contralateral cerebellum. However, no significant PCP changes were observed in the occipital or mesial temporal lobes. Thirty-eight passed the memory evaluation of the IAP and in 6 of those 38 patients a decline in memory was demonstrated 1 year after ATL. However, high preoperative neuropsychological score (in two patients) and IAP asymmetry scores (in other three patients) predicted postoperative memory risk in five of these six patients. Fourteen of the 38 patients (40%) had hypoperfusion of the hippocampus during the IAP-SPECT (i.e., the hippocampus was inactivated) and only 1 of these 14 patients (2.5%) developed memory impairment after temporal lobectomy. On the other hand, 5 of the 24 patients (13%) who had a functional hippocampus on IAP-SPECT developed memory impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the combination of SPECT, intracarotid amobarbital procedure, and neuropsychological testing predicted risk for all patients who had postoperative memory decline, indicating that risk prediction should be based on multiple factors. IAP-SPECT results demonstrated that the hippocampus is not inactivated in over 60% of patients and that the lack of accuracy of the IAP alone in predicting the risk of amnesia is probably related to an insufficient inactivation of the ipsilateral hippocampus during the test.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Apolipoproteins E and C1 and brain morphology in memory impaired elders.

Previous research has shown that polymorphisms of the apolipoproteins E ( APOE) and APOC1 represent genetic risk factors for dementia and for cognitive impairment in the elderly. The brain mechanisms by which these genetic variations affect behavior or clinical severity are poorly understood. We studied the effect of APOE and APOC1 genes on magnetic resonance imaging measures in a sample of 50 subjects with age-associated memory impairment. The APOE E4 allele was associated with reduced left hippocampal volumes and APOE*E3 status was associated with greater frontal lobe white matter volumes. However, no APOE effects were observed when analyses accounted for other potential confounding variables. The effects of APOC1 on hippocampal volumes appeared to be more robust than those of the APOE polymorphism. However, no modulatory effects on brain morphology outside the medial temporal lobe region were observed when demographic variables, clinical status, and other anatomical brain measurements were taken into consideration. Our results suggest that the role of the APOC1 polymorphism in brain morphology of the cognitively impaired elderly should be examined in further studies.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Hereditary subependymal heterotopia associated with mega cisterna magna: antenatal diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging.

Bilateral nodular subependymal heterotopia has recently been identified as a hereditary disease linked to the X-chromosome. The sonographic findings are very subtle and difficult to observe during the second trimester when the germinal matrix is at its largest. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging facilitates visualization of the periventricular area. We report a case of bilateral nodular heterotopia associated with mega cisterna magna diagnosed by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging at 29 weeks' gestation. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain of the mother revealed similar findings to those observed in the fetus and neonate. This case confirms the association between mega cisterna magna and bilateral periventricular nodular heterotopia and demonstrates that neuroimaging studies of the mother can contribute to the fetal diagnosis.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

(1)H-MR spectroscopy is sensitive to subtle effects of perinatal asphyxia.

The authors performed neuropsychological and (1)H-MRS studies in 18 subclinical patients with antecedents of perinatal asphyxia (PA) and in 18 matched control subjects. Patients with PA showed reduced values of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in both the basal ganglia and the midtemporal region (MTR) and reduced NAA/choline values in the MTR. Neuropsychological testing showed group differences in tasks related to attention and memory. These results indicate persistent dysfunctions in cerebral structures vulnerable to hypoxia and demonstrate the utility of MRS for the long-term evaluation of cerebral sequelae of neonatal asphyxia.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Doppler sonography of the intertransverse segment of the vertebral artery.

We assessed the utility of a Doppler ultrasonographic examination of the vertebral artery, limited to the intertransverse segment, in diagnosis of disease at any level of vertebrobasilar circulation. The vertebral artery was identified in all the patients, with a successful evaluation of the presence of disease in 112 of 116 (96.5%) vertebral arteries. All of the occlusions and subclavian steal syndromes were diagnosed. All of the vertebral arteries with abnormal Doppler findings had a pathologic angiographic study. In conclusion, Doppler ultrasonography of the intertransverse segment of the vertebral artery is useful owing to its applicability and accuracy.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Cortical laminar necrosis caused by immunosuppressive therapy and chemotherapy.

We report three patients in whom neurologic symptoms and cortical laminar necrosis developed after immunosuppressive treatment (cyclosporin A and FK 506) and polychemotherapy (vincristine and methotrexate). Initial neuroradiologic studies showed cortical and white matter involvement. Follow-up studies showed cortical hyper-intense lesions on T1-weighted MR images, consistent with cortical laminar necrosis. The clinical and radiologic data indicate that a transient hypoxic-ischemic process could have been responsible for the encephalic lesions in these three patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

The "target sign": is it a specific sign of CNS tuberculoma?

In brain lesions, the target sign has been defined as a central nidus of calcification or central enhancement surrounded by a ring of enhancement. It has been considered a pathognomonic finding of central nervous system (CNS) tuberculoma. The purpose of this report is to demonstrate that the target sign related to central enhancement is a nonspecific finding and may lead to erroneous diagnosis of CNS tuberculoma.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed1995

Magnetic resonance imaging of paraganglioma of the cauda equina.

The authors describe atypical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings for pathologically proven paraganglioma of the filum terminale in a 27-year-old man. MRI showed an intradural tumour, which enhanced after administration of gadolinium and which showed evidence of cystic areas. Hemosiderin rings and vessels were not observed.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

An unusual frontal ganglioglioma: CT and MRI.

We describe a ganglioglioma with atypical radiological appearances, in an uncommon location. CT showed a nonenhancing low-density lesion without calcification. On MRI the lesion gave nonspecific low signal on T1-weighted images and high signal on T2-weighted images. The tumour was in the right frontal lobe, producing bulging and thinning of the calvarium.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Intestinal tuberculosis in AIDS.

The radiological appearance of intestinal tuberculosis (IT) in six patients with AIDS is presented. Involvement of the ileocecal segment (five cases), cecum (four cases), and duodenum (one case) was seen on computed tomographic (CT) or barium studies. There were no significant differences in radiological manifestations of IT among patients with or without AIDS, but all six patients had an advanced stage of their disease at the time of diagnosis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

MRI and genetic correlates of cognitive function in elders with memory impairment.

The present study investigated the relationship between genetic variation, MRI measurements and neuropsychological function in a sample of 58 elders exhibiting memory decline. In agreement with previous reports, we found that the epsilon4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) and the D allele of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphisms negatively modulated the cognitive performance. Further, we found an association between the A allele of the apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) polymorphism and poorer memory and frontal lobe function. No clear associations emerged between MRI measures of white matter lesions (WML) or hippocampal sulcal cavities (HSC) and the cognitive performance after controlling for age effects. Further, the degree of WML or HSC lesions was in general not predisposed genetically except for the presence of the A allele of the APOC1 polymorphism that was related to a higher severity of HSC scores. Our results suggest that WML or HSC do not represent important brain correlates of genetic influences on cognitive performance in memory impaired subjects.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Differential cerebral and neuropsychological consequences in dizygotic twins with prenatal alcohol exposure.

AIM: To relate structural and functional findings in one adolescent dizygotic twin pair with prenatal alcohol exposure. METHOD: Neuropsychological and volumetric magnetic resonance studies were carried out on a 13-year-old preterm dizygotic twin pair with prenatal alcohol exposure. RESULTS: Neuropsychological and brain structural findings differed between the twins. The child with the more affected phenotype had large-scale cognitive deficits and presented significant atrophy in several brain structures. Both subjects had white matter volume reductions relative to the whole cerebral volume. CONCLUSION: The neuropsychological and neuroimaging data reflect long-term consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sacral pneumatocysts: CT appearance.

OBJECTIVE: CT findings of pneumatocyst of the sacrum have been evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients, six men and two women, with pneumatocysts of the sacrum were studied. Selective CT with 4 and 2 mm thickness was performed, and the intralesional attenuation coefficients were measured. RESULTS: All patients showed subchondral pneumatocysts of the sacrum with sclerotic margins related to the synovial portion of the sacroiliac joint. Intraarticular gas was found in six cases, and evidence of communication between the lesion and the joint was observed in two patients. Signs of bone degeneration were present in all cases. CONCLUSION: Pneumatocyst of the sacrum is a benign bone lesion associated with arthritic changes.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Functional magnetic resonance in the evaluation of the activity of the anterior cingulate cortex using Stroop's paradigm].

INTRODUCTION: Stroop s paradigm has been used to evaluate the anterior attention system which regulates the inhibitory capacity of automatic responses. Functional neuroimaging techniques have shown a preponderant role for the anterior cingulate cortex in carrying out this paradigm. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the activity of the anterior cingulate cortex in view of its clinical importance in the study of neurological and psychiatric disorders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven healthy volunteers took part in the study. The functional images were analyzed using the software SPM99 and by second order individual and group analysis. RESULTS: Initial local analysis showed activation in the right anterior cingulated cortex (Brodmann s area 32) and left central (areas 31 and 23); caudate nucleus (right body and left tail) and thalamus (bilateral). Overall there was significant activation of the left hemisphere, in areas 44 (Broca s area), 7, 40 (supra marginal gyrus and insular cortex, and in the right hemisphere in area 19. In spite of this there was great individual variation. CONCLUSIONS: The overall results are concordant with complex functional connections for attention and the control of automatic responses. In our study the anterior cingulated cortex was not selectively activated. The activation of the thalamus and caudate nucleus may be explained by their involvement in the frontostriatal circuits. The lack of individual consistency may be due to different personal cognitive styles of resolving conflicts. According to our results, Stroop s paradigm would not be clinically useful for showing good or bad functioning of the anterior cingulated cortex.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Cerebral activation during Stroop's test in a case of early focal brain injury].

INTRODUCTION: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) offers an important advantage over other functional neuroimaging techniques used with children because of its harmlessness. Previous studies conducted with adults with alexia suggested two ways the brain can reorganise reading after a brain injury affecting the left hemisphere, one contralateral and the other ipsilateral. CASE REPORT: We describe a study carried out using fMRI of a 10 year old girl with an injury to the left hemisphere caused by a fishing harpoon when she was 6 years old. As a result of the accident the girl presented a right hemiparesia. The girl s parents and teachers also reported difficulties in the acquisition of reading writing and arithmetic, as well as a certain degree of attentional deficit. An fMRI exploration was performed while the girl was doing the Stroop test. The structural MR images showed left hemisphere cortical lesions in the orbital and angular gyrus regions, in addition to the caudate and putamen nuclei, and in the inferior longitudinal bundle. The fRMI revealed a strong overactivation of the right dorsolateral frontal cortex, in the evaluation of interference, and activations of the right angular and bilateral supramarginal gyri, in the evaluation of word reading. CONCLUSION: The functional study suggests the existence of a reorganisation of reading that is both intra and inter hemispheric.

Brain↗