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N Dige

Publications and source records attributed to N Dige.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Short-term memory dysfunction in Kleine-Levin syndrome.

BACKGROUND: A previous investigation at our department of a young man with typical Kleine-Levin syndrome revealed short-term memory dysfunction as well as hypoperfusion of the temporal lobes on single photon emission tomography (SPECT) (CERETEC) examination, 6 and 7 years after recovery, suggesting long lasting or even permanent cerebral dysfunction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated four cases with classical adolescent Kleine-Levin syndrome characterized by hypersomnia and typical associated symptoms. We used neuropsychological testing and SPECT (CERETEC) of the brain. The results from the previous report related to above is included. RESULTS: Examination with SPECT (CERETEC) during remission revealed hypoperfusion of the temporal lobes and fronto-temporal region in two of four cases. There were normal findings in two. Neuropsychological testing performed during remission showed reduction in the short-term memory capacity in all four cases. CONCLUSION: It is striking that all the cases investigated showed short-term memory dysfunction. One patient who had recovered from paroxysmal symptoms (hypersomnia attacks and bulimia) 6 years earlier showed progress in the short-term memory dysfunction. A pathologic condition in the temporal lobes may be suspected in Kleine-Levin syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

A case of Kleine-Levin syndrome examined with SPECT and neuropsychological testing.

A case of Kleine-Levin syndrome with typical periodic hypersomnia and bulimia was diagnosed. On examination with single photo emission tomography (SPECT) (CERETEC) during a relapse period and 2 weeks later there was marked cortical hypoperfusion of the frontal and temporal lobes, especially on the left side as well as in the right parietal lobe. Neuropsychological testing performed 1 week after a relapse showed a reduction in encoding to memory function of verbal learning indicating neocortical damage of the left fronto-temporal region. A follow-up 2 months later after the patient had spontaneously recovered showed only a slight left fronto-temporal disturbance. CT and MRI of the brain were normal although the MRI showed a large and asymmetric mamillary body. Neuropsychological testing 6 years after recovery showed pronounced reduction in short-time verbal and visual memory. Seven years after recovery SPECT demonstrated a normalized frontal perfusion but still a slight hypoperfusion in the left temporal lobe. Our results correlate to autopsy findings in two cases described previously.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A visual learning and memory test for preoperative evaluation of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

We used a modified version of the visual DCS (mDCS) test to study patterns of learning, free recall, and recognition capacity in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) (N = 24) and controls (N = 38). The patients were under consideration for epilepsy surgery. The mDCS differentiated left from right TLE patients in all aspects of visuospatial learning and delayed recall. The mDCS revealed lower performance for TLE patients as compared with controls. The present results indicate that the mDCS may be a preoperative tool to differentiate left from right TLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Are deficits in the equilibrium system relevant to the clinical investigation of solvent-induced neurotoxicity?

OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of solvent-induced chronic toxic encephalopathy is commonly based on case histories of exposure to solvents, symptoms, and deficits on psychometric tests. It has previously been demonstrated that long-term solvent-exposed workers have disturbances of the equilibrium system. The correlation between these disturbances and the diagnosis of chronic toxic encephalopathy has been analyzed in the present study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty men, consecutively admitted due to the suspicion of this syndrome, were investigated and classified into 3 groups--solvent-induced chronic toxic encephalopathy, incipient chronic toxic encephalopathy and nonchronic toxic encephalopathy. They were all examined using an otoneurological test battery, including analysis of saccades, smooth pursuit, visual suppression of the vestibular ocular reflex, and dynamic posturography. RESULTS: Compared with healthy referents several of the subjects, even in the nonchronic toxic encephalopathy group, showed a reduced visual suppression ability, a prolonged latency of saccades, and pathological posturographic results. Some otoneurological tests correlated with the duration of exposure and the results of psychometric tests representing memory and perceptual skills. Nevertheless, there was no significant group correlation between the otoneurological findings and the diagnosis of chronic toxic encephalopathy. CONCLUSION: Disturbances revealed by an otoneurological investigation have so far not been considered in the diagnosis of chronic toxic encephalopathy. Our results indicate that an otoneurological test battery adds worthwhile information about lesions within the brainstem-cerebellar complex not revealed by a psychometric investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

MR imaging in solvent-induced chronic toxic encephalopathy.

PURPOSE: To use MR to examine patients with CNS symptoms indicating +chronic intoxication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two subjects exposed to industrial solvents for 5 to 28 years and 40 age-matched, healthy controls were examined. RESULTS: All patients showed decreased signal in the basal ganglia on T2-weighted images. In 11 of the patients the white matter showed diffuse hyperintensity with loss of the grey-white matter discrimination and with distinct periventricular hyperintensities in 5 of the patients. The controls had no pathological changes in the brain. CONCLUSION: Although the relatively small number of patients may obscure the significance, findings observed on T2-weighted images were patchy periventricular hyperintensities and hypointensities in the basal ganglia. Fast spin-echo is a good technique with fast acquisition of images with true spin-echo contrast features.

Adult↗