PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R D'Alessandro

Publications and source records attributed to R D'Alessandro.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Recurrent familial brachial plexus palsies as the only clinical expression of 'tomaculous' neuropathy.

Two familial cases of recurrent brachial plexus are described and similar episodes were noticed in other members of the family. Electrophysiological investigations found impaired motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity in affected and nonaffected members. Tomaculous neuropathy was found at biopsy of peripheral nerve in more than 40% of dissected fibers. In addition, two affected members showed a reduced interpupillary distance, i.e. the most common dysmorphic feature found in the hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy (HNA). A literature review showed only two other instances of recurrent familial brachial plexus palsies as the only manifestation of tomaculous neuropathy (hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy, HNPP). The dysmorphic feature found in our cases in addition to the clinical, electrophysiological and anatomical data support the hypothesis that these cases of HNPP and the HNA may represent the same disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Slowly progressive ischemic stroke as first manifestation of essential thrombocythemia.

We report a case of essential thrombocythemia, the only clinical manifestation of which consisted of neurologic symptoms, including anomic aphasia, tactile and painful hypesthesia in the right hand, headache, and Gerstmann syndrome, with a relatively benign and slowly progressive clinical course. Neuroradiologic examination disclosed a large ischemic area in the left temporoparietal region. Cerebral angiography revealed an occlusion of the cortical branches of the left middle cerebral artery with total sparing of the carotid vessel. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible pathogenetic mechanisms of the vascular occlusion due to abnormal platelet function in essential thrombocythemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Computed tomographic scans in posttraumatic epilepsy.

The occurrence of posttraumatic epilepsy was studied in 219 patients who had had a computed tomographic (CT) scan within three days after a civilian head trauma. Posttraumatic epilepsy was observed in 13 patients. All of them had focal brain damage shown by CT scan. The predicting power of both clinical risk factors and CT scans was analyzed by multiple logistic regression. Only an intracerebral hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage plus satellite extracerebral hematoma proved significantly associated with posttraumatic epilepsy. This result has important implications in the design of posttraumatic prophylaxis trials.

Brain↗
PubMed1988

Prevalence of mental retardation related to fragile X syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities in the Republic of San Marino.

The prevalence of mental retardation related to chromosomal abnormalities, including fragile X syndrome, was studied among 2735 males aged between five and 20 years living in the Republic of San Marino. Five cases of chromosomal abnormalities were found, including one case with fragile X syndrome, with partial epilepsy and a CT scan showing a large arachnoid cyst in the posterior fossa. The prevalence of mental retardation due to chromosomal abnormality was 1.83 per 1000, and that due to fragile X syndrome was 0.37 per 1000. Although these findings relate to only a small population, they are the first from a Mediterranean area.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Epidemiology of headache in the Republic of San Marino.

An epidemiological survey on headache was performed in the Republic of San Marino, which is the smallest independent State in the world, located near the Adriatic Coast, within Italy. Among a random sample of 1500 inhabitants over 7 years of age the frequency of headache, severe headache and migraine in the previous year was 35.3%, 12.2%, 9.3% respectively for men, and 46.2%, 20.6%, 18% for women. The most common factors reported to provoke headache were emotional stress, physical strain, lack of sleep, particular foods or drinks and for women menstruation. Migraine patients differed from people without headache in that they had a higher consumption of coffee, more frequently reported bad sleep, allergic disease and previous appendectomy. Furthermore, migraine patients and severe headache sufferers had a higher diastolic blood pressure than non headache subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Dementia in subjects over 65 years of age in the Republic of San Marino.

A study on neurological conditions was performed in the Republic of San Marino, which is the smallest independent state in the world (60 km2, 21,792 people). We personally examined or collected information on all people born in 1898, 1903, 1908, 1913 and 1918 and living in the Republic of San Marino on 31 July 1985. We found 29 people out of 488 with mild to severe dementia. Frequency of dementia increased progressively with age, from 1.8% among 67-year-olds to 25% among 87-year-olds. In women the increase was due mainly to primary degenerative dementia, whereas in men other types of dementia were involved. Our study shows a female/male ratio of more than 2:1 for primary degenerative dementia even considering mild dementia, and this form of dementia represents about 50% of all types of dementia. We found an association between severe auditory loss and primary degenerative dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Prevalence of Parkinson's disease in the Republic of San Marino.

A prevalence survey on Parkinson's disease (PD) was performed in the Republic of San Marino, which is the smallest independent state in the world, and is located near the Adriatic coast, within Italy. On April 30, 1986, it had a population of 22,322. We found 34 cases of PD (17 men, 17 women). Crude prevalence ratio per 100,000 population was 152 (154 for men, 150 for women) with an age-adjusted ratio of 185 (both sexes). This study shows that the prevalence of PD in the Mediterranean area of South Europe is similar to that in North Europe and the United States.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Segregation analysis of migraine in 128 families.

To test the existence of inherited liability to migraine, formal segregation analysis of family data collected from 128 patients has been performed. Patients were subdivided into three groups in accordance with the presence or absence of migraine in their parents. The results obtained in each group were then compared with those expected on the basis of two different modes of simple Mendelian inheritance, namely autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive transmission. Our data show that neither of the two hypotheses can be accepted, thus suggesting the existence of a possible genetic heterogeneity of liability to migraine.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1986

Cluster headache in the Republic of San Marino.

The prevalence of cluster headache (CH) in the Republic of San Marino (21,792 inhabitants; 10,893 men and 10,899 women) was studied, reviewing the past 15 years' medical records of neurological, ophthalmological, and otorhinolaryngological services. Further cases were searched for by means of a letter sent to each inhabitant. Control of the case collection method was performed on a random sample of 1314 inhabitants over 7 years, interviewed for possible past or present cluster headache. We found 15 cases of CH (14 men, 1 woman), for an estimated prevalence ratio of 69 cases per 100,000 population. No previous reports have been published on the prevalence of CH in the general population.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Prognostic and electroclinical features of grand mal epilepsies.

We studied the electroclinical features and prognosis of 103 patients with tonic-clonic seizures alone. Patients were classified into three groups according to seizure semiology and interictal EEG: primary grand mal, focal grand mal and indeterminate grand mal. Discriminant analysis showed that a number of other electroclinical features had no significant classificatory power. Patients have been followed for 2-10 years. At the last observation 40% of patients were free from tonic-clonic seizures and 23% had fewer than 1 seizure a year, without differences among the three groups. The appearance of 'minor' (absence or partial) seizures during follow-up occurred in 12 patients and did not change the prognosis of tonic-clonic seizures. At the end of follow-up, 96% of patients had a normal social adjustment. Grand mal epilepsies therefore appear to have a good prognosis.

Electroencephalography↗
PubMed1986

The prevalence of lingual-facial-buccal dyskinesias in the elderly.

We examined an unselected sample of 398 subjects aged 67 to 87 years. Only six (1.5%) subjects presented lingual-facial-buccal dyskinesias (LFBD). LFBD, therefore, are rare neurologic manifestations. They are more frequent in women than in men and in more elderly subjects. Furthermore, in three of six cases, they were associated with senile dementia. Previous studies performed on hospital-based populations probably overestimated the prevalence of LFBD.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Propranolol plasma levels and relief of migraine. Relationship between plasma propranolol and 4-hydroxypropranolol concentrations and clinical effects.

The relationship between propranolol and 4-hydroxypropranolol plasma concentrations and relief of migraine was assessed in 17 patients during treatment with oral racemic propranolol hydrochloride in doses of 40 to 240 mg/day. Propranolol decreased the migraine index more than 70% in 13 patients: five patients at a dosage of 40 mg/day, five patients at a dosage of 120 mg/day, and three patients at a dosage of 240 mg/day. Three patients did not achieve a good improvement of migraine at any of the doses used. The relief of migraine was not directly related to the propranolol and 4-hydroxypropranolol plasma concentrations.

Adult↗