Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 

About: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica is an academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Epilepsy & Population. It has an ISSN identifier of 0001-6314. Over the lifetime, 9210 publications have been published receiving 264556 citations. The journal is also known as: Acta Neurol Scand.

Models for studying long-term recovery following forebrain ischemia in the rat. 2. A 2-vessel occlusion model

Abstract: A model is described in which transient ischemia is induced in rats anaesthetized with N2O:O2 (70:30) by bilateral carotid artery clamping combined with a lowering of mean arterial blood pressure to 50 mm Hg, the latter being achieved by bleeding, or by bleeding supplemented with administration of trimetaphan or phentolamine. By the use of intubation, muscle paralysis with suxamethonium chloride, and insertion of tail arterial and venous catheters, it was possible to induce reversible ischemia for long-term recovery studies. Autoradiographic measurements of local CBF showed that the procedure reduced CBF in neocortical areas, hippocampus, and caudoputamen to near-zero values, flow rates in a number of subcortical areas being variable. Administration of trimethaphane or phentolamine did not affect ischemic and postischemic flow rates, nor did they alter recovery of EEG and sensory-evoked responses, but trimetaphan blunted the changes in plasma concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline. Recovery experiments showed that 10 min of ischemia gave rise to clear signs of permanent brain damage, with a small number of animals developing postischemic seizures that led to the death of the animals in status epilepticus. After 15 min of ischemia, such alterations were more pronounced, and the majority of animals died. It is concluded that the short revival times noted are explained by the fact that the model induces near-complete ischemia, and that recovery following forebrain ischemia is critically dependent on residual flow rates during the period of ischemia.

Evolution of the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract: Our knowledge of the etiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is limited. The most conspicuous changes seen in the brain are deposits of insoluble proteins in both extracellular and intraneuronal locations. The extracellular deposits consist primarily of a specific A4 amyloid protein. The significance of these deposits remains to be determined, as they are often found in the cerebral cortex of non-demented elderly persons. More telling is the gradual accumulation of insoluble fibrous material within some neurons that consists mainly of abnormally phosphorylated tau protein. Six stages of increasingly severe cortical destruction can be distinguished. Stages I and II are characterized by neurofibrillary changes that are largely confined to the transentorhinal region, whereas stages III and IV are marked by severe involvement of both the entorhinal and transentorhinal regions. Isocortical destruction occurs during stages V and VI. This progression in cortical pathology correlates with the gradual worsening of clinical symptoms.

Multiple choice vocabulary test MWT as a valid and short test to estimate premorbid intelligence

Abstract: The discrepancy between current and premorbid ability is a relevant indicator of acquired mental impairment, which itself is closely related to general cerebral dysfunction. The use of tests sensitive to cerebral dysfunction, raises relatively few problems compared with tests being resistant that are used to estimate premorbid mental ability. For premorbid ability, verbal tests assessing knowledge, especially vocabulary, have been shown to be valid. A test, possibly more insensitive to brain dysfunction than the ones usually administered, is the multiple choice vocabulary test (MWT = Mehrfachwahl-Wortschatz-Test). At present only German versions are available. They are presented in some detail because of their advantages. Construction of the MWT is simple, and it can be easily administered in about five minutes. The results correlate fairly well with global IQ in healthy adults (median of r = 0.72 in 22 samples) and are more insensitive to current disturbances than such tests as the WAIS vocabulary test. The limitations of premorbid tests with respect to diagnostic validity are discussed. It is concluded, that studies which do not control premorbid intelligence have to be considered as a "malpractice" and should not be accepted by scientists.

The psychiatric comorbidity of epilepsy

Abstract: Several studies have assessed the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in epilepsy. They are characterized by considerable heterogeneity, because of differences in the population setting and type of study. A non-systematic review of the literature allows us to draw some useful, although not definite, conclusions. Six per cent of people with epilepsy in the general population appear to suffer from a psychiatric disorder, while this rises to 10-20% in populations with temporal lobe and/or refractory epilepsy. Mood disorders are the most common culprit (24-74%), particularly depression (30%), followed by anxiety disorders (10-25%), psychoses (2-7%) and personality disorders (1-2%). This comorbidity appears to be related to endogenous and exogenous (including iatrogenic) factors and to the severity and chronicity of epilepsy. Conditions such as schizophrenia-like psychosis of epilepsy and interictal dysphoric disorder are represented only in epilepsy. Adequate recognition and treatment of psychiatric conditions in epilepsy is essential for patient management because of their considerable burden in morbidity and quality of life.