1/63. association between brain size and abstinence from alcohol.Brain shrinkage with chronic alcoholism is well acknowledged. We have shown, with quantitative analysis of serial scans, an increase in hippocampal, cerebral, and cerebellar volume after abstinence from alcohol.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/63. Adverse effects of paclitaxel in patients with alcohol abuse histories.paclitaxel is a taxane antineoplastic agent formulated in polyoxyethylated castor oil (Cremophor El) and dehydrated alcohol. This case report describes the development of central nervous system toxicity and threatened sobriety related to the alcohol content in a paclitaxel infusion. nurses need to be aware of the alcohol contained in paclitaxel and other drugs used in oncology practice and document previous and current alcohol use prior to beginning therapy. Alternative chemotherapy regimens may need to be offered to patients with alcohol abuse histories.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.12002179030029keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/63. Pancreatic injury following acute methanol poisoning.BACKGROUND: methanol ingestion is a cause of potentially life-threatening poisoning with numerous systemic manifestations. Clinicians may overlook the possibility of acute pancreatitis in this setting. The objective of this paper is to document the incidence of this complication in a series of 22 patients and to discuss the respective role of methanol and ethanol in its pathogenesis. CASE REPORT: A 54-year-old woman developed acute necrotizing pancreatitis following acute methanol poisoning. She was treated by hemodialysis, ethanol infusion, and folinic acid, but, despite maximal supportive therapy, she died from multiple organ failure 54 hours after the ingestion. CASE SERIES: In a series of 22 consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute methanol poisoning, we found evidence of pancreatic damage in 11 patients. The abnormalities were present from admission and before ethanol therapy in 7 cases and developed after ethanol therapy in 4 cases. Seven patients had a history of chronic ethanol abuse, but no patient had previously suffered from acute or chronic pancreatitis. Three patients presented moderate-to-severe acute pancreatitis according to clinical and radiological criteria and required aggressive supportive therapy including peritoneal dialysis. One patient died from the direct consequences of acute necrotizing pancreatitis and 2 fully recovered from this event. Three patients evolved to brain death; autopsy revealed hemorrhagic lesions in the pancreas in only 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical, biological, and radiographic signs of acute pancreatic injury may be more common than previously realized. Acute methanol poisoning appears to produce pancreatic injury, although antidotal treatment with ethanol or prior chronic ethanol abuse may be contributing factors. Because ethanol treatment may complicate the pancreatic injury, fomepizole (4-methylpyrazole) may be the preferable antidote in acute methanol poisoning.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/63. Rapid spontaneous resolution and redistribution of acute subdural hematoma in a patient with chronic alcoholism: a case report.We report a case of a 54-year-old man who had documented traumatic acute subdural hematoma. He suffered from a transient episode of confusion and a follow-up CT scan of brain 6 h after the initial scan showed resolution and redistribution of the subdural hematoma. In this case report, we review the literature for the underlying pathophysiology of this uncommon phenomenon.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/63. diffusion-weighted MR in reversible wernicke encephalopathy.diffusion-weighted images (DWI) of a patient with wernicke encephalopathy were obtained during routine MR examination. Mammillary bodies were hyperintense on T2-weighted and enhanced on T1-weighted images; on DWI, a mild hyperintensity was noticed. Calculation of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) demonstrated an increased diffusion on the affected regions; the hyperintensity on DWI was probably due to a "T2-shine-through" effect. These findings are consistent with the presence of extracellular oedema, without significant neuronal damage. The patient recovered promptly after thiamine administration, and MR alterations disappeared. The favourable evolution indicates that no relevant neuronal death occurred. This is consistent with DWI findings. DWI are more sensitive than ordinary T1- and T2-weighted images to neuronal irreversible damage, and may differentiate between neuronal necrosis and extracellular oedema in various brain pathologies. The demonstration of a limited neuronal damage may represent a favourable prognostic factor in patients with WE.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/63. Changes in P300 latency during the early withdrawal period in chronic alcohol-dependent patients: two case reports.AIMS: The present study focused on changes in P300 of the event-related potential (ERP) in two patients with alcohol dependence recorded throughout their alcohol withdrawal period. RESULTS: As a result of this investigation, the peak latency of P300 in each patient was significantly shorter 2 or 3 days after abstinence from alcohol, when marked neurological manifestations appeared, compared to that of the control obtained from 8 to 10 days after cessation of drinking. CONCLUSIONS: It seems reasonable to conclude that the shortening of P300 latency reflects the enhancement of brain activity during the early withdrawal period and that an investigation of changes in P300 would be helpful to clarify the nature of neural activity in the brain associated with alcohol withdrawal.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/63. marchiafava-bignami disease: a case report.marchiafava-bignami disease (MBD) is a rare, severe and usually fatal neurological disorder associated with chronic alcoholism. Previously, the definite diagnosis was confirmed at the autopsy. After the era of modern imaging technology, diagnosis was based on clinical profiles, history of alcoholism and specific location of pathology in corpus the callosum demonstrated by MRI. The authors reported a case of MBD in a 41 year-old alcoholic Thai male who presented with acute confusion and ataxia. MRI of the brain demonstrated demyelination, edema and necrosis of the corpus callosum with extensive symmetrical subcortical white matter lesions. He had a dramatic recovery after treatment with intravenous thiamine. Follow-up MRI revealed atrophic and cystic changes of the corpus callosum and almost complete resolution of the subcortical lesions. Recently, 15 cases of MBD with specific corpus callosal lesion, demonstrated by MRI, were published in the English literature. All had a favorable outcome after treatment with thiamine. Only one case had extensive extracallosal lesions and this case also had a good recovery after treatment. Now, MBD is not a fatal disease and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/63. Central pontine myelinolysis. A case report.The first case of central pontine myelinolysis in scandinavia is presented. A premortem diagnosis was established on the basis of the history of chronic alcoholism, the picture of severe electrolyte disturbance and the development of the neurological syndrome. The postmortem findings verified the clinical diagnosis. A possible aetiological mechanism is postulated. The cause is believed to be a damage to the energy dependent electrolyte transport across the cell membrane, resulting in a cytotoxic oedema and death of the oligodendroglial cells of the brainstem which are particularly vulnerable.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/63. disulfiram-induced encephalopathy.Two patients with disulfiram-(Antabuse-)induced encephalopathy exhibited paranoid ideas, disorientation, impaired memory, ataxia, dysarthria, snout and grasp reflexes, and abnormal electroencephalograms. The first patient developed symptoms on two occasions, each time after disulfiram administration. The second patient experienced a generalized seizure followed by fulminant psychosis three weeks after starting disulfiram therapy. Spinal fluid examination in the latter patient revealed a low homovanillic acid (HVA) level. Since disulfiram inhibits dopamine oxidation, disulfiram-induced encephalopathy may be related to excess dopaminergic activity in the central nervous system.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.12002179030029keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/63. Subacute encephalopathy with seizures in alcoholism.Generalised seizures are a common manifestation of acute alcohol intoxication. Alcohol is known to precipitate generalised seizures in patients with focal brain pathology. A rare case of secondarily generalised seizures precipitated by alcohol in a patient without an underlying focal brain lesion is reported. Electroencephalopgraphy (EEG) showed periodic lateralised epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) on the side contralateral to the focal motor fits.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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