A 44-year-old, alcoholic, woman developed a prolonged folate deficiency with a chronic predominan... more A 44-year-old, alcoholic, woman developed a prolonged folate deficiency with a chronic predominantly axonal sensory polyneuropathy. The cerebral CT and MRI revealed a diffuse, clinically asymptomatic, leukoencephalopathy. A partial improvement of the neurological symptoms was observed after two months of oral administration of folate. Neurological complications of folate deficiency are rare and similar to those observed in cobalamin deficiency. Both cobalamin and folate deficiencies may interfere with the synthesis of the central myelin. This case report illustrates the possibility to observe a leukoencephalopathy due to folate deficiency, in association with the classical polyneuropathies and/or subacute combined degenerations of the spinal cord.
Chemosensory (olfaction-taste) dysfunctions are considered as reliable biomarkers in many neurolo... more Chemosensory (olfaction-taste) dysfunctions are considered as reliable biomarkers in many neurological and psychiatric states. However, experimental measures of chemosensory abilities are lacking in alcohol-dependence (AD) and Korsakoff Syndrome (KS, a neurological complication of AD), despite the role played by alcohol-related odors and taste in the emergence and maintenance of AD. This study thus investigated chemosensory impairments in AD and KS. Olfactory-gustatory measures were taken among 20 KS, 20 AD, and 20 control participants. Olfaction (odor detection-discrimination-identification) was assessed using the "Sniffin Sticks" battery and taste was measured using the "Taste Strips" task. Impairments were found for highlevel olfaction in AD (odor discrimination) and KS (odor discrimination-identification), even after controlling for psychopathological comorbidities. Gustatory deficits were also observed in both groups, indexing a global deficit for chemosensory perception. Finally, the gradient of impairment between the successive disease stages for odor identification suggests that the hypothesis of a continuum between AD and KS regarding cognitive deficits can be generalized to chemosensory perception. AD and KS are thus characterized by deficits in chemosensory abilities, which could constitute a marker of the AD-KS transition. In view of its deleterious influence on everyday life, chemosensory dysfunction should also be taken into account in clinical settings.
Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by motor and cognitive impairments including memor... more Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by motor and cognitive impairments including memory, executive, and attentional functions. However, because earlier studies relied on multidetermined attentional tasks, uncertainty still abounds regarding the differential deficit across attentional subcomponents. Likewise, the evolution of these deficits during the successive stages of HD remains unclear. The present study simultaneously explored 3 distinct networks of attention (alerting, orienting, executive conflict) in preclinical and clinical HD. Thirty-eight HD patients (18 preclinical) and 38 matched healthy controls completed the attention network test, an integrated and theoretically grounded task assessing the integrity of 3 attentional networks. Preclinical HD was not characterized by any attentional deficit compared to controls. Conversely, clinical HD was associated with a differential deficit across the 3 attentional networks under investigation, showing preserved performa...
Chemosensory (olfaction-taste) dysfunctions are considered as reliable biomarkers in many neurolo... more Chemosensory (olfaction-taste) dysfunctions are considered as reliable biomarkers in many neurological and psychiatric states. However, experimental measures of chemosensory abilities are lacking in alcohol-dependence (AD) and Korsakoff Syndrome (KS, a neurological complication of AD), despite the role played by alcohol-related odors and taste in the emergence and maintenance of AD. This study thus investigated chemosensory impairments in AD and KS. Olfactory-gustatory measures were taken among 20 KS, 20 AD, and 20 control participants. Olfaction (odor detection-discrimination-identification) was assessed using the "Sniffin Sticks" battery and taste was measured using the "Taste Strips" task. Impairments were found for highlevel olfaction in AD (odor discrimination) and KS (odor discrimination-identification), even after controlling for psychopathological comorbidities. Gustatory deficits were also observed in both groups, indexing a global deficit for chemosensory perception. Finally, the gradient of impairment between the successive disease stages for odor identification suggests that the hypothesis of a continuum between AD and KS regarding cognitive deficits can be generalized to chemosensory perception. AD and KS are thus characterized by deficits in chemosensory abilities, which could constitute a marker of the AD-KS transition. In view of its deleterious influence on everyday life, chemosensory dysfunction should also be taken into account in clinical settings.
A 68 year-old man developed progressive hemidystonia and chorea 8 months after a contralateral th... more A 68 year-old man developed progressive hemidystonia and chorea 8 months after a contralateral thalamic stroke. The neurological examination also showed a right pyramidal syndrome without hemiparesis, a right horizontal sectoranopia, and a right hemihypesthesia for all sensory modalities. The MRI revealed infarctions in the left medial temporo-occipital lobes and left posterolateral thalamus, corresponding to the vascular territories of both the thalamo-geniculate and posterolateral choroidal arterial pedicles. The thalamic lesion involved the pulvinar, the lateral geniculate body, and the ventro-postero-lateral, dorso-lateral, posterolateral, and dorso-medial nuclei, but apparently did not extent to the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus, and the subthalamic and midbrain regions. Thalamic and striatopallidal dystonia have not a common pathophysiological mechanism. The involvement of the pulvinar nucleus and of the strategic crossing of proprioceptive, cerebellar, pyramidal, and subthal...
We report a patient in whom chronic intramuscular piritramide led to a focal fibrotic myopathy. S... more We report a patient in whom chronic intramuscular piritramide led to a focal fibrotic myopathy. Since piritramide myotoxicity has never been reported, we have studied its effect on rat skeletal muscle. Chronic intramuscular piritramide led to fibrous connective tissue replacement of rat skeletal muscle, similar to that found in the patient's muscle. Although the pathogenetic mechanism of piritramide myopathy is unclear, we caution against prolonged intramuscular use of piritramide to prevent this potentially debilitating adverse effect.
Background. Dysfunctions in chemosensory perception (i.e. olfaction and taste) have been recently... more Background. Dysfunctions in chemosensory perception (i.e. olfaction and taste) have been recently documented in a wide range of neurological and psychopathological states, these deficits strongly influencing patients' quality of life and being considered as a potential biomarker of these disorders. Although odors are strongly involved in the development and maintenance of alcohol-related problems, olfactory and gustatory abilities have been far less explored in alcohol-dependence (AD) and Korsakoff …
A 44-year-old, alcoholic, woman developed a prolonged folate deficiency with a chronic predominan... more A 44-year-old, alcoholic, woman developed a prolonged folate deficiency with a chronic predominantly axonal sensory polyneuropathy. The cerebral CT and MRI revealed a diffuse, clinically asymptomatic, leukoencephalopathy. A partial improvement of the neurological symptoms was observed after two months of oral administration of folate. Neurological complications of folate deficiency are rare and similar to those observed in cobalamin deficiency. Both cobalamin and folate deficiencies may interfere with the synthesis of the central myelin. This case report illustrates the possibility to observe a leukoencephalopathy due to folate deficiency, in association with the classical polyneuropathies and/or subacute combined degenerations of the spinal cord.
Chemosensory (olfaction-taste) dysfunctions are considered as reliable biomarkers in many neurolo... more Chemosensory (olfaction-taste) dysfunctions are considered as reliable biomarkers in many neurological and psychiatric states. However, experimental measures of chemosensory abilities are lacking in alcohol-dependence (AD) and Korsakoff Syndrome (KS, a neurological complication of AD), despite the role played by alcohol-related odors and taste in the emergence and maintenance of AD. This study thus investigated chemosensory impairments in AD and KS. Olfactory-gustatory measures were taken among 20 KS, 20 AD, and 20 control participants. Olfaction (odor detection-discrimination-identification) was assessed using the "Sniffin Sticks" battery and taste was measured using the "Taste Strips" task. Impairments were found for highlevel olfaction in AD (odor discrimination) and KS (odor discrimination-identification), even after controlling for psychopathological comorbidities. Gustatory deficits were also observed in both groups, indexing a global deficit for chemosensory perception. Finally, the gradient of impairment between the successive disease stages for odor identification suggests that the hypothesis of a continuum between AD and KS regarding cognitive deficits can be generalized to chemosensory perception. AD and KS are thus characterized by deficits in chemosensory abilities, which could constitute a marker of the AD-KS transition. In view of its deleterious influence on everyday life, chemosensory dysfunction should also be taken into account in clinical settings.
Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by motor and cognitive impairments including memor... more Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by motor and cognitive impairments including memory, executive, and attentional functions. However, because earlier studies relied on multidetermined attentional tasks, uncertainty still abounds regarding the differential deficit across attentional subcomponents. Likewise, the evolution of these deficits during the successive stages of HD remains unclear. The present study simultaneously explored 3 distinct networks of attention (alerting, orienting, executive conflict) in preclinical and clinical HD. Thirty-eight HD patients (18 preclinical) and 38 matched healthy controls completed the attention network test, an integrated and theoretically grounded task assessing the integrity of 3 attentional networks. Preclinical HD was not characterized by any attentional deficit compared to controls. Conversely, clinical HD was associated with a differential deficit across the 3 attentional networks under investigation, showing preserved performa...
Chemosensory (olfaction-taste) dysfunctions are considered as reliable biomarkers in many neurolo... more Chemosensory (olfaction-taste) dysfunctions are considered as reliable biomarkers in many neurological and psychiatric states. However, experimental measures of chemosensory abilities are lacking in alcohol-dependence (AD) and Korsakoff Syndrome (KS, a neurological complication of AD), despite the role played by alcohol-related odors and taste in the emergence and maintenance of AD. This study thus investigated chemosensory impairments in AD and KS. Olfactory-gustatory measures were taken among 20 KS, 20 AD, and 20 control participants. Olfaction (odor detection-discrimination-identification) was assessed using the "Sniffin Sticks" battery and taste was measured using the "Taste Strips" task. Impairments were found for highlevel olfaction in AD (odor discrimination) and KS (odor discrimination-identification), even after controlling for psychopathological comorbidities. Gustatory deficits were also observed in both groups, indexing a global deficit for chemosensory perception. Finally, the gradient of impairment between the successive disease stages for odor identification suggests that the hypothesis of a continuum between AD and KS regarding cognitive deficits can be generalized to chemosensory perception. AD and KS are thus characterized by deficits in chemosensory abilities, which could constitute a marker of the AD-KS transition. In view of its deleterious influence on everyday life, chemosensory dysfunction should also be taken into account in clinical settings.
A 68 year-old man developed progressive hemidystonia and chorea 8 months after a contralateral th... more A 68 year-old man developed progressive hemidystonia and chorea 8 months after a contralateral thalamic stroke. The neurological examination also showed a right pyramidal syndrome without hemiparesis, a right horizontal sectoranopia, and a right hemihypesthesia for all sensory modalities. The MRI revealed infarctions in the left medial temporo-occipital lobes and left posterolateral thalamus, corresponding to the vascular territories of both the thalamo-geniculate and posterolateral choroidal arterial pedicles. The thalamic lesion involved the pulvinar, the lateral geniculate body, and the ventro-postero-lateral, dorso-lateral, posterolateral, and dorso-medial nuclei, but apparently did not extent to the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus, and the subthalamic and midbrain regions. Thalamic and striatopallidal dystonia have not a common pathophysiological mechanism. The involvement of the pulvinar nucleus and of the strategic crossing of proprioceptive, cerebellar, pyramidal, and subthal...
We report a patient in whom chronic intramuscular piritramide led to a focal fibrotic myopathy. S... more We report a patient in whom chronic intramuscular piritramide led to a focal fibrotic myopathy. Since piritramide myotoxicity has never been reported, we have studied its effect on rat skeletal muscle. Chronic intramuscular piritramide led to fibrous connective tissue replacement of rat skeletal muscle, similar to that found in the patient's muscle. Although the pathogenetic mechanism of piritramide myopathy is unclear, we caution against prolonged intramuscular use of piritramide to prevent this potentially debilitating adverse effect.
Background. Dysfunctions in chemosensory perception (i.e. olfaction and taste) have been recently... more Background. Dysfunctions in chemosensory perception (i.e. olfaction and taste) have been recently documented in a wide range of neurological and psychopathological states, these deficits strongly influencing patients' quality of life and being considered as a potential biomarker of these disorders. Although odors are strongly involved in the development and maintenance of alcohol-related problems, olfactory and gustatory abilities have been far less explored in alcohol-dependence (AD) and Korsakoff …
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