Headaches are one of the most common ailments in modern society, leading to severe diminishing of general activities and they result in significant impact on the patient's quality of life. Blink ...reflex is an objective neurophysiological method for determining the status of the trigeminal system, facial nerve and the lateral part of medulla oblongata. The aim of this study was to examine the connection between trigeminal nerve dysfunction and various types of headaches using functional electrophysiological assessment of blink reflex tests in patients and controls. The sample comprised 60 subjects with headache attacks, 44 females, and 16 males). The control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects (19 females, and 11 males) who did not suffer from headaches. The age of subjects ranged from 20 years to 76 years with the mean of 42.81 years. Trigeminal nerve function was assessed by using blink reflex tests in patients suffering from headaches and in controls, applying the standard procedure described by Kimura et al. Pathological findings of blink reflex were observed in 58.3 % of patients suffering from headaches and in only 20 % of cases in the control group. The application of Yates’ χ2 test showed a significant correlation between pathological blink reflex and headache occurrence (χ2 = 10.354; P = 0.001). Normal blink reflex was found in 41.7 % of patients suffering from headaches and in 80 % of control group subjects. Females with pathological blink reflex have 4 times higher risk for headaches than controls (OR = 4.107; 95% CI = 1.036 - 17.565). Males with pathological blink reflex have a considerably higher risk for headaches, and it was 13 times higher than in controls (OR = 13.500; 95% CI = 1.555 - 153.646). There is a strong correlation between pathological blink reflex and the occurrence of headaches in both genders, indicating significant association of trigeminal nerve dysfunction with the occurrence of headaches. The use of blink reflex testing could be of help to detect patients with an increased risk for headaches.
Headaches are one of the most common ailments in modern society, leading to severe diminishing of general activities and they result in significant impact on the patient's quality of life. Blink ...reflex is an objective neurophysiological method for determining the status of the trigeminal system, facial nerve and the lateral part of medulla oblongata. The aim of this study was to examine the connection between trigeminal nerve dysfunction and various types of headaches using functional electrophysiological assessment of blink reflex tests in patients and controls. The sample comprised 60 subjects with headache attacks, 44 females, and 16 males). The control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects (19 females, and 11 males) who did not suffer from headaches. The age of subjects ranged from 20 years to 76 years with the mean of 42.81 years. Trigeminal nerve function was assessed by using blink reflex tests in patients suffering from headaches and in controls, applying the standard procedure described by Kimura et al. Pathological findings of blink reflex were observed in 58.3 % of patients suffering from headaches and in only 20 % of cases in the control group. The application of Yates’ χ2 test showed a significant correlation between pathological blink reflex and headache occurrence (χ2 = 10.354; P = 0.001). Normal blink reflex was found in 41.7 % of patients suffering from headaches and in 80 % of control group subjects. Females with pathological blink reflex have 4 times higher risk for headaches than controls (OR = 4.107; 95% CI = 1.036 - 17.565). Males with pathological blink reflex have a considerably higher risk for headaches, and it was 13 times higher than in controls (OR = 13.500; 95% CI = 1.555 - 153.646). There is a strong correlation between pathological blink reflex and the occurrence of headaches in both genders, indicating significant association of trigeminal nerve dysfunction with the occurrence of headaches. The use of blink reflex testing could be of help to detect patients with an increased risk for headaches.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system that typically strikes young adults. It is often associated with a wide range of functional deficits and ...progressive disability. Common symptoms of multiple sclerosis include vision problems, spasticity, weakness, ataxia, bladder and bowel dysfunctions, fatigue, pain syndromes, tremors, vertigo, cognitive impairment, and mood disorders. Multiple sclerosis has a major negative impact on patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional construct composed of functional, physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being. Researches have reported that individuals with multiple sclerosis have lower QoL than non-diseased and diseased populations. The inclusion of HRQoL questionnaires in the patient follow-up is a relevant issue to optimize treatment, facilitate treatment decisions and improve adherence, as well as to reduce the inconveniences derived from medication such as side effects.
Peripheral facial weakness is a facial nerve damage that results in muscle weakness on one side of the face. It may be idiopathic (Bell's palsy) or may have a detectable cause. Almost 80% of ...peripheral facial weakness cases are primary and the rest of them are secondary. The most frequent causes of secondary peripheral facial weakness are systemic viral infections, trauma, surgery, diabetes, local infections, tumor, immune disorders, drugs, degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, etc. The diagnosis relies upon the presence of typical signs and symptoms, blood chemistry tests, cerebrospinal fluid investigations, nerve conduction studies and neuroimaging methods (cerebral MRI, x-ray of the skull and mastoid). Treatment of secondary peripheral facial weakness is based on therapy for the underlying disorder, unlike the treatment of Bell's palsy that is controversial due to the lack of large, randomized, controlled, prospective studies. There are some indications that steroids or antiviral agents are beneficial but there are also studies that show no beneficial effect. Additional treatments include eye protection, physiotherapy, acupuncture, botulinum toxin, or surgery. Bell's palsy has a benign prognosis with complete recovery in about 80% of patients, 15% experience some mode of permanent nerve damage and severe consequences remain in 5% of patients.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine defines complementary and alternative medicine as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that are ...not generally considered part of conventional medicine. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disabling disease of the central nervous system that affects people during early adulthood. In spite of many approved medications, the treatment options in MS are limited. Many people with MS explore complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments to help control their MS and treat their symptoms. Surveys suggest that up to 70% of people with MS have tried one or more CAM treatment for their MS. People with MS using CAM generally report deriving some benefit from therapies. The CAM therapies most frequently used include diet, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. The therapies with highest potential among CAM therapies that warrant further investigation are low-fat diet, omega-3 fatty acids, lipoic acid, and vitamin D supplementation as potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agents in both relapsing and progressive forms of MS. There are very limited researches evaluating the safety and efficacy of CAM in MS. However, in recent years, the USA National Institutes of Health and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society have been actively supporting the researches in this very important area.
Periferna lezija facijalnog živca označava oštećenje VII. moždanog živca koje rezultira mišićnom slabošću jedne strane lica. Može biti idiopatska (Bellova paraliza) ili može imati jasan uzrok. Gotovo ...80% perifernih lezija facijalnog živca su primarne, a ostale su sekundarne. Među najčešće uzroke sekundarne periferne lezije facijalnog živca ubrajaju se sistemske virusne infekcije, trauma, operacijski zahvati, šećerna bolest, lokalne infekcije, tumori, imuni poremećaji, droge, degenerativne bolesti središnjega živčanog sustava itd. Dijagnoza se zasniva na tipičnoj kliničkoj slici, pretragama krvi, likvora, provodljivosti živaca i neuroslikovnim metodama (MRI mozga, rtg lubanje i mastoida). Liječenje sekundarne periferne lezije facijalnog živca zasniva se na liječenju primarnog uzroka, za razliku od liječenja idiopatske periferne pareze facijalnog živca koje je još uvijek predmet nedoumica. Pojedine studije ukazuju na mogući pozitivan učinak steroida i antivirusnih lijekova, dok druge studije ne ukazuju na pozitivan učinak ovog liječenja. Dodatno liječenje uključuje zaštitu oka, fizioterapiju, akupunkturu, injiciranje botulinum toksina ili operacijski zahvat. Bellova paraliza ima uglavnom dobru prognozu s čak 80% potpunih oporavaka; u 15% slučajeva zaostane blaže oštećenje živca, dok u 5% bolesnika ostaju teže trajne posljedice.
Venska cirkulacija obuhvaća plućne vene, sistemske vene i venske sinuse prisutne isključivo u lubanji. Cerebralni venski sustav dijeli se u dva glavna dijela, površinski i dubinski cerebralni venski ...sustav. Glavna zadaća venske cirkulacije je uklanjanje deoksigenirane krvi i štetnih tvari iz tkiva te njihovo odvođenje prema srcu. Vene u usporedbi s arterijama imaju tanju stijenku i veći lumen. U svakom trenu oko 60%-70% ukupnog krvnog volumena u tijelu nalazi se u venama. Glavni čimbenici koji utječu na funkciju venskog sustava su respiracijski ciklus, tonus vena, funkcija desne strane srca, gravitacija te funkcija mišićne pumpe. Venska cirkulacija se, općenito, može prikazati invazivnom metodom selektivne venografije i neinvazivnim metodama dopler sonografije, CT venografijom i MR venografijom. Cerebralni venski sustav prikazuje se selektivnom venografijom, moždanom CT venografijom, moždanom MR venografijom i specijaliziranom intrakranijskom i ekstrakranijskom dopler sonografijom. Cilj ovoga rada je opisati mogućnosti prikazivanja venske cirkulacije glave i vrata pomoću metoda ultrazvučnog prikaza, naročito kronične venske insuficijencije kao jednog od najčešćih patofizioloških entiteta koji se povezuju s nastankom neurodegenerativnih bolesti.
Multipla skleroza je kronična, imuno posredovana bolest središnjega živčanog sustava, koja obično pogađa odrasle ljude mlađe životne dobi. Često je povezana sa širokim rasponom funkcionalnog deficita ...i progresivne nesposobnosti. Uobičajeni simptomi multiple skleroze su smetnje vida, spastičnost, slabost, ataksija, smetnje kontrole mokrenja i stolice, umor, bolni sindromi, tremor, vrtoglavica, pogoršanje kognitivnih funkcija i poremećaji raspoloženja. Multipla skleroza ima značajan negativan utjecaj na kvalitetu života oboljelih od ove bolesti. Kvaliteta života je multidimenzionalna formulacija sastavljena od funkcionalnih, fizičkih, emocionalnih, socijalnih i duhovnih čimbenika zdravlja. Istraživanja su pokazala da oboljeli od multiple skleroze imaju nižu kvalitetu života od zdrave populacije i oboljelih od nekih drugih kroničnih bolesti. Uključivanje upitnika o kvaliteti života u praćenju bolesnika je važno u optimiziranju liječenja, određivanju i odlučivanju o vrsti liječenja i poboljšanju suradljivosti, kao i u smanjenju neugodnosti koje proizlaze iz liječenja, kao što je primjerice pojava nuspojava primijenjenih lijekova.
Venous system can be classified as pulmonary veins, systemic veins and venous sinuses that are present only within the skull. Cerebral venous system is divided into two main parts, the superficial ...and the deep system. The main assignment of veins is to carry away deoxygenated blood and other maleficient materials from the tissues towards the heart. Veins have thinner walls and larger lumina than arteries. Between 60% and 70% of the total blood volume is found in veins. The major factors that influence venous function are the respiratory cycle, venous tone, the function of the right heart, gravity, and the muscle pump. Venous system, in general, can be presented by selective venography, Doppler sonography, computed tomography (CT) venography and magnetic resonance (MR) venography, and cerebral venous system can be displayed by selective venography, cerebral CT venography, cerebral MR venography, and specialized extracranial and transcranial Doppler sonography. The aim of this paper is to show the possibilities of intracranial and extracranial ultrasound evaluation of the head and neck venous circulation and chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency as one of the most common pathologies evaluated as part of neurodegenerative processes in the central nervous system.
Incidence of epilepsy in multiple sclerosis patients Zavoreo, Iris; Jurašić, Miljenka Jelena; Zadro Matovina, Lucija ...
Rad Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti (1991). Medicinske znanosti,
2021, Volume:
54-55
Journal Article
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