PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “NEUROLOGIC EXAMINATION”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Impaired early neurologic outcome in newborn piglets reoxygenated with 100% oxygen compared with room air after pneumothorax-induced asphyxia.

Birth asphyxia is a serious problem worldwide, resulting in 1 million deaths and an equal number of neurologic sequelae annually. It is therefore important to develop new and better ways to treat asphyxia. In the present study we tested the effects of reoxygenation with room air or with 100% oxygen (O2) after experimental pneumothorax-induced asphyxia on the blood oxidative stress indicators, early neurologic outcome, and cerebral histopathology of newborn piglets. Twenty-six animals were studied in three experimental groups: 1) sham-operated animals (SHAM, n = 6), 2) animals reoxygenated with room air after pneumothorax (R21, n = 10), and 3) animals reoxygenated with 100% O2 after pneumothorax (R100, n = 10). In groups R21 and R100, asphyxia was induced under anesthesia with bilateral intrapleural room air insufflation. Gasping, bradyarrhythmia, arterial hypotension, hypoxemia, hypercarbia, and combined acidosis occurred 62 +/- 6 min (R21) or 65 +/- 7 min (R100; mean +/- SD) after the start of the experiments; then pneumothorax was relieved, and a 10-min reoxygenation period was started with mechanical ventilation with room air (R21) or with 100% O2 (R100). The newborn piglets then breathed room air spontaneously during the next 3 h. Blood oxidative stress indicators (oxidized and reduced glutathione, plasma Hb, and malondialdehyde concentrations) were measured at different stages of the experiments. Early neurologic outcome examinations (neurologic score of 20 indicates normal, 5 indicates brain-dead) were performed at the end of the study. The brains were next fixed, and various regions were stained for cerebral histopathology. In the SHAM group, the blood gas and acid-base status differed significantly from those measured in groups R21 and R100. In group R100, arterial PO2 was significantly higher after 5 (13.8 +/- 5.6 kPa) and 10 min (13.2 +/- 6.3 kPa) of reoxygenation than in group R21 (8.7 +/- 2.8 kPa and 9.2 +/- 3.1 kPa). The levels of all oxidative stress indicators remained unchanged in the study groups (SHAM, R21, and R100). The neurologic examination score in the SHAM group was 18 +/- 0, in group R21 it was 13.5 +/- 3.1, and in group R100 it was 9.5 +/- 4.1 (significant differences between SHAM and R21 or R100, and between R21 and R100). Cerebral histopathology revealed marked damage of similar severity in both asphyxiated groups. We conclude that the blood oxidative stress indicators and cerebral histopathology did not differ significantly after a 10-min period of reoxygenation with room air or with 100% O2 after pneumothorax-induced asphyxia, but reoxygenation with 100% O2 might impair the early neurologic outcome of newborn piglets.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed2003

HandiStroke: a handheld tool for the emergent evaluation of acute stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: The management of acute stroke is time-sensitive. Clinical decision making requires data not only from laboratory testing and neuroimaging, but also from a detailed history and neurologic examination. The neurologic examination provides baseline information and assists in differentiating acute stroke from its mimickers. There is a need for tools to facilitate the evaluation and decision making in the acute stroke patient to make the correct diagnosis and, when indicated, to properly administer intravenous thrombolytic therapy. OBJECTIVES: The goals of this project were to create a standardized, handheld software program to aid physicians in their evaluation of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute ischemic stroke, and to create an educational tool with which residents and other health care professionals can gain a level of proficiency in treating these patients. RESULTS: A comprehensive handheld tool was created that incorporates a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) calculator, inclusion criteria, absolute contraindications, and relative warnings for thrombolytic use (i.e., recombinant tissue plasminogen activator), and a weight-based dosing calculator that flows in a logical and clinically relevant format. Additionally, the program includes reference materials and guidelines for clinical management to further assist the clinician. CONCLUSIONS: Applications of this program include reformatting for use as a data-gathering tool in future clinical studies investigating the treatment of stroke patients, increasing the use and documentation of the NIHSS within the ED in acute ischemic stroke patients, and improving protocol adherence for rt-PA use.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗
PubMed2004

CNS involvement in Fabry disease: clinical and imaging studies before and after 12 months of enzyme replacement therapy.

We report the clinical and radiological central nervous system (CNS) findings of 8 Fabry disease patients, before (8/8) and after (7/8) 12 months of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase-alpha. Eight biochemically proven Fabry disease patients (from four families) were included. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at regular intervals during 12 months of ERT. Evaluations included a thorough, standardized neurological examination, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography (MRA). Brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was also performed in 5/8 patients. The presence and location of grey- and white-matter lesions, the presence of vascular occlusion or ectasia on MRA and the metabolite ratios on MRS were determined, as well as their relation to age, symptoms and neurological examination. Neurological examination showed few abnormalities in these patients: scores varied (on a 0-100 scale) from zero to 5, at baseline and in the 12th month of ERT. The most consistent findings on MRI were asymmetric, widespread patterns of deep white-matter (WM) lesions, hyperintense on T2 and FLAIR-weighted images, found in 4/8 patients at baseline, predominantly in frontal and parietal lobes. These lesions did not correlate with other clinical variables, although there was a trend towards an association of the lesions with age and hearing loss. The youngest patient with MRI lesions was 24 years old. After 12 months of ERT, MRI was normal in 3/7, showed the same WM lesions in 2/7, and showed worsening of WM lesions in 2/7 patients (from the same family). Abnormal MRS metabolite ratios were detected at baseline in 4/5 patients. While neurological examination remained almost normal during the 12 months of ERT, new small-vessel CNS involvement still appeared in 2/7 patients. We do not know why ERT was not able to prevent this in these two related male patients. This could be due either to their older ages (46 and 36 years), or to a more pathogenic mutation. We conclude that MRI was more sensitive than neurological examination in detecting CNS involvement and progression in Fabry disease in the time interval studied.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Practical examinations for neurology. The Tuebingen model].

Practically orientated examinations represent an important innovation in medical education. In the subject area of neurology, the "Objective Structured Clinical Examination" (OSCE) proved to be a viable form of examination for the subject of neurological anamnesis and a medical examination course at the University of Tuebingen in Germany. A total of 577 students in their sixth semester of study were examined in, to date, four OSCEs and achieved an average of 17.5 of possible 25 points in the subject of neurology. Improvement in point average was observable over the course of time, while the average performance of students across the total OSCE remained constant. Student evaluations regarding form and content of the neurological examinations yielded an average grade of B (in the German system 2.1). Simulation patients were rated with an average grade of A- (German system 1.7). Examination methods are presented together with experience concerning preparation, implementation, and developmental enhancement of neurological OSCE examinations. Implications of this novel form of examination for faculty development and regulating students' learning and study behaviour are discussed.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1975

Quantitative examination of neurological function: reliability and learning effects.

During the last five years, a battery of tests measuring neurological function called the Quantitative Examination of Neurological Function (QENF) has been greatly expanded. To evaluate more effectively the efficacy of clinical trials, the results of a study on reliability of test measures and on long- and short-term effects of learning are reported. Of the 113 test measures that were evaluated using 18 young adult normal subjects, only the fatigue and error measures, the vibration sense and two simulated activities of daily living tests were found unreliable. With respect to learning, the largest improvements in performance were found for arm-shoulder pursuit tracking, followed by many of the tests of coordination, particularly those requiring manual and/or finger dexterity. Only slight changes were found for tests of vision, strength, and speed of hand and foot. There were no important differences between short- and long-term learning. Considering this and other studies, patients are not likely to improve their performance appreciably by learning in a clinical trial.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Epidural hematomas in children.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe the presentation, management, and outcome of children with traumatic epidural hematoma. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-three children diagnosed with traumatic epidural hematoma on computed tomography scan who were treated at Children's Hospital in Boston between 1980 and 1990. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-four of 53 children developed an epidural hematoma after a fall of less than 5 ft. At the time of diagnosis, 51 of 53 children had one or more symptoms of vomiting, headache, or lethargy. Twenty-six patients were alert, 21 were responsive to verbal or painful stimuli, and five were unresponsive or posturing. Twenty-one (40%) had acute neurologic deterioration before surgery; however, 20 (38%) were alert with normal vital signs and neurologic examinations at diagnosis. All patients survived, and at the time of discharge 45 had normal examinations and eight had neurologic abnormalities; at follow-up only four of these eight had persistent (although mild) abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Although often dramatic in presentation, epidural hematoma may occur after relatively minor head trauma and in alert children with nonfocal neurologic examinations. In our study, incidence of neurologic sequelae increased if abnormal neurologic examination or depressed mental status was present at diagnosis. The outcome of children in this study is improved from that of previous studies, perhaps due to increased use of computed tomography and higher incidence of low- or moderate-impact trauma in this series.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Symptomatic blunt head injury in children--a prospective, single-investigator study.

The goal of this study was to describe a single emergency physician's experience with symptomatic blunt head injury in children and prospectively assess the sensitivity and predictive value of the neurologic examination. The author utilized a prospective patient series comparing neurologic examination with computed tomography (CT) of the head. Nine of 42 patients had intracranial injury for a prevalence of 21%; two patients (5%) had intracranial injury with only subtle neurologic examination findings. Twenty-six patients had a negative neurologic examination, and all had normal-appearing CT scans. Sixteen patients had a positive neurologic examination, of whom nine had a positive CT scan. The properties of the neurologic examination as a diagnostic test, with CT as the gold standard, were as follows: sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 78%, positive predictive value = 56%, negative predictive value = 100%. Normal findings from neurologic examination can be used in some children with symptomatic blunt head injury to delay or eliminate the need for CT of the head.

Child↗
PubMed1977

Computer interpreted fetal monitoring data. Discriminant analysis or perinatal data as a model for prediction of neurologic status at one year of age.

Intrapartum fetal monitoring may be useful in discriminating short-term and long-term infant outcomes. In order to develop a model for the classification of infants for measures of outcome and to evaluate the discriminatory value of selected perinatal data, 61 data files, which included computer interpreted fetal electroencephalogram and fetal heart rate, one and five minute Apoar scores, results of neonatal neurologic examination, and results of neurologic examination at one year of age, were submitted to computerized discriminant function analysis. For the classification of infants for neurologic status at one year, using FEEG patterns alone, 64% of the 42 normal infnats and 63% of the 19 abnormal infants were correctly classified. Using intrapartum FEEG and FHR patterns simultaneously, 69% of the 42 normal infants and 63% of the 19 abnormal infants were correctly classified. Combining intrapartum data with postpartum data, including one minute and five minute Apgar scores and neonatal neurologic examinations, 81% of the 42 normal infants and 79% of the 19 abnormal infants could be correctly classified. These results suggest that brain damage may already be present before birth, during labor, and that the risk of abnormal neurologic outcome at one year can be detected for a large percentage of infants using computer interpreted monitoring data during labor.

Apgar Score↗
PubMed1989

[Evolutive neurologic evaluation and cortical functions in a sample of children from the 1st grade of an elementary school].

The authors observed 24 children that are studying for the first time in the first grade of the elementary school. They were observed through the classical neurological examination, the evolutive neurological examination and through tests for evaluation of cortical functions. It is analyzed the school performance in report to the evolutive neurological performance and to the tests for cortical functions. Results obtained are compared and discussed. The authors conclude that the usage of these two evaluation instruments is able to discriminate the good from the bad school performance.

Achievement↗
PubMed1984

[Neurological pathology in the newborn infant].

The purpose of this work was to review the literature about the newborn neurological pathology and to compare it with our results starting from the observation of 650 children who born at the Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre from September 1979 to June 1980. Out of these, 100 presented with neonatal neurological pathology. These newborn were studied as to the age of the mother at the birth time, Apgar rate, weight and cephalic perimeter at the birth time, probable etiologies, and clinical picture and evolution. These newborn were compared to control groups and the results were discussed on the grounds of literature. Out of 100 newborn with neurological pathology, 65% presented with pathological neurological examination and 35% with normal neurological examination. The 65 newborn with pathological neurological examination had hypotonia, decreased deep tendon reflexes, decreased or absence of superficial reflexes in 40 cases. Hyperactivity, hypertonia and tremors were observed in 25 cases. Coma was present in 6 of these newborn with apathy and hypotonia. Seizures were present in 41 cases. EEG was performed in 29 of these 41 cases in the first five days of life. The EEG was normal in 15 (51.7%) newborn and it was pathologic in 14 (48.3%) newborn. The 100 newborn had the following diagnosis: 37 birth anoxia, 13 hemorrhages, 24 meningitis, 14 metabolic seizures, 4 sepsis, 1 kernicterus, 2 chromosomopathies, 3 malformation, 1 cerebral palsy, and 1 congenital rubeola. Out of the 37 newborn with birth anoxia, 20 (54.1%) had a good evolution, 7 (18.9%) had sequela and 10 (27.0%) died. Out of 13 newborn with hemorrhages 2 (15.4%) had a good evolution, 5 (38.5%) had sequela, and 6 (46.1%) died. Out of 24 newborn with meningitis, 18 (75.0%) had a good evolution, 5 (20.8%) had sequela, and 1 (4.2%) died. Out of 58 newborn with a good evolution, 30 had normal newborn neurological exam, and 28 had transient alterations. Out of 23 newborn who presented with sequela later on, only 5 had normal newborn neurological exam. All the 19 who died, had pathological newborn neurological exam.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The serial use of two provocative tests in the clinical diagnosis of carpal tunel syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To examine the diagnostic value of the newly proposed manual carpal compression test (mCCT). 2) To evaluate the test efficacy of a serial use of mCCT and Phalen's test (PT) in the clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in comparison with standard nerve conduction studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, controlled study of 47 patients with 63 symptomatic CTS hands according to clinical as well as electrophysiological criteria. In the control group, 39 hands of 20 healthy volunteers were examined. Clinical neurological examination including mCCT and PT and standard nerve conduction studies were always performed: sensory nerve conduction velocity third and fifth digit to wrist, median distal motor latency. Calculation of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for the mCCT, PT and mCCT+PT, i.e. at least one of both tests positive after sequential application. RESULTS: Sensitivity 83% for mCCT, 79% for PT and 92% for mCCT+PT. Specificity 92% for all three conditions. Excellent positive predictive value of 95% and good negative predictive value of 88% for mCCT+PT. CONCLUSION: The serial application of mCCT and PT is very useful in the clinical diagnosis of CTS. This finding facilitates the clinical diagnosis by the primary physician, it helps to improve referral decisions to electrophysiological departments and other ancillary examinations and may reduce costs.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Radioisotope scans in the evaluation of metastatic bronchogenic carcinoma.

In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of radioisotope scans in detecting metastatic lesions in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. To be included in the study, the patient had to have undergone liver, brain, and/or bone scanning within 10 weeks of autopsy. Other means of evaluating these organs for metastatic involvement were used as well. The liver was checked by palpation and by determination of enzyme levels. A history, physical examination, and neurologic examination were used to establish the possibility of brain metastases. For studying bones, a history, physical examination, and conventional x-ray films were employed. Results of the scans and other tests were compared with findings at autopsy, and accuracy rates for each method of study were determined.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗