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Biomedical subjects

N Vijayan

Publications and source records attributed to N Vijayan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Symptomatic chronic paroxysmal hemicrania.

A patient with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH) associated with a gangliocytoma growing from within the sella turcica is reported. This tumor displaced the floor of the third ventricle and surrounded the internal carotid artery on the same side as the headache. Partial removal of the tumor followed by radiation resulted in amelioration of headache. The anatomical location of the tumor and its possible relationship to the pathogenesis of CPH is discussed.

Adult

Cluster headache and vertigo.

The term "cluster vertigo" was originally used by Gilbert to describe episodes of vertigo in patients with Ménière's syndrome. Since these patients also had co-existing cluster headache, he suggested that both disorders could have had a common pathophysiology. There is no evidence in the literature for an increased incidence of Ménière's syndrome in cluster headache patients, so the argument that cluster headache and Ménière's syndrome may have a common pathogenesis cannot be supported. Subsequent authors have used the term "cluster vertigo" to denote a variant form of cluster headache and have confused the matter further. This was not the intention of the original author. The terminology is misleading and should not be used to describe a sub-type of cluster headache. A case of cluster headache with accompanying vertigo is described as a contrast to the patients described by Gilbert in whom headache and episodes of vertigo occurred independently.

Adult

Visual field loss in migraine.

Ocular symptoms are a common, though transient, initial component of migraine. Although permanent visual loss has been reported in a limited number of patients, detailed evaluations of the visual field using current techniques have not been conducted. This study examined the prevalence of visual field loss in patients with migraine, using an automated static perimeter. All patients had at least a 2-year history of migraine (as diagnosed by a neurologist) and no ocular problems (by history or as determined by a visual screening examination consisting of acuity, intraocular pressure [IOP], and evaluation of the disc). The authors' results for 60 migraine patients showed that 21 (35%) had some form of visual field abnormality (P less than 0.05). The prevalence of visual field loss was greater with increasing age and duration of disease. These results suggest that visual field loss from migraine may be more common than previously considered. This information also may be useful in elucidating the relationship between migraine and certain vascular conditions of the eye.

Adolescent

Site of injury headache.

Wolff described three types of post-traumatic headaches (PTH). In type II PTH, the pain is located at the site of injury. Local soft tissue trauma and direct damage or entrapment of sensory nerves in the scar tissue are thought to be responsible for this type of headache. It is often difficult to study the neurological and autonomic changes in the scalp in these patients. We report here 8 patients with PTH in whom the site of injury was on the face thereby allowing us to evaluate the local neurological changes with greater accuracy. The results of this study corroborate Wolff's view of the pathogenesis of type II or "site of injury" PTH.

Adult

Episodic paroxysmal hemicrania?

Cyclic remissions in chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH) have been considered to be transitory phenomena inevitably leading to the chronic stage. This conclusion has precluded the possibility of paroxysmal hemicrania having an episodic counterpart. Six case histories presented here establish the persistence of cyclic patterns for a mean of 23 years of illness, thus suggesting that the "pre-CPH" nomenclature may be presumptive, and, further, provide evidence for another classification: episodic paroxysmal hemicrania.

Adult

Acetylcholinesterase activity and menstrual remissions in myasthenia gravis.

Menstrually related temporary remissions of myasthenic symptoms are reported to occur in 25 to 50% of female patients. Even though this has been attributed to hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle the underlying mechanism of this hormonal influence has remained elusive. The present study demonstrated a cyclical variation in the activity of red cell acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) enzyme (AChE) with a marked reduction at the time of menstrual remission of symptoms of myasthenia. These cyclical changes were abolished by thymectomy. It appears, therefore, that menstrual remission in myasthenia is at least partly due to hormone-induced changes in AChE activity. This process seems to be under the control of the thymus gland.

Acetylcholinesterase

Saccadic visual suppression and down-beat nystagmus: a case of Arnold-Chiari malformation.

A case is reported in which visual disturbances associated with the sole physical finding of downbeat nystagmus led to investigation of a patient for a foramen magnum lesion. The Arnold-Chiari malformation was suggested by air study and confirmed at surgery. It is suggested that the phenomenon of saccadic suppression was responsible for the patient's visual disability. This was unaccompanied by any of the other neurological manifestations of the Arnold-Chiari malformation. Cases presenting in this manner, with only visual disturbances, may run the risk of being unrecognized for some time as a result.

Arnold-Chiari Malformation

Posttraumatic dysautonomic cephalalgia. Clinical observations and treatment.

Five patients developed posttraumatic vascular headaches associated with autonomic dysfunction. The precipitating injury affected the anterior triangle of the neck, presumably involving the region of the carotid artery sheath. Disturbance of sympathetic function, characterized by excessive sweating and pupillary dilation associated with headache, was noted. Appropriate pharmacologic studies revealed evidence of partial sympathetic devervation. While headache was resistant to ergotamine preparations, prompt relief was obtained with propranolol hydrochloride, and adrenergic beta-receptor blocking agent.

Adult