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Neurological Disease
everything neuro
43
Medical
Graduate
10/14/2009

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Cards

Term
DEscribe the pathogenesis of MND.
Definition
Degeneration of:
- UMN's at anterior horn of SC
- motor nuclei in motor cortex
Term
Describe the progression and outlook of MND
Definition
Rapid, relentless progression
Death in 5 yrs
Increased in bulbar palsy as Inc aspiration pneumonia
Term
Describe the epidemiology of MND
Definition
icreasing incidence with age
peak onset 60-70yrs
Males > Females
Term
What are the three patterns of MND?
Definition
1. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
2. Progressive muscular atrophy
3. Progressive bulbar/pseudobulbar palsy
Term
Describe the features of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis MND.
Definition
- lateral corticospinal tract disease
- mix of UMN and LMN signs
-Bulbar features
Term
Describe the features of progressive muscular atrophy MND
Definition
- LMN signs: wasting / fasiculation / weakness
Term
Describe the features of progressive bulbar/psudobulbar palsy MND.
Definition
dysarthria / dysphagia and tongue fasiculation
Term
Describe the features of progressive bulbar/psudobulbar palsy MND.
Definition
dysarthria / dysphagia and tongue fasiculation
Term
What is the "treatment" for MND?
Definition
SUPPORTIVE
-physio and walking aids
- speech and language therapy
-liquidised food/PEG tube (Later)

DRUGS
-Riluzole = glutamate antagonist
-IGF-1 on trial
slow progression by couple of months
Term
What is mysthenia gravis?
Definition
Autoimmune condition characterised by weakness and fatigueability of proximal limbs / occular muscles / bulbar muscles
Term
Describe the pathogenesis of myasthenia
Definition
- auto antibodies to post-synaptic Ach receptor = receptor loss
Term
what are the clinical features of myasthenia?
Definition
Ftigability on repetetive tasks
- diplopia
- ptosis
- downward drift of outstreched arms
Term
How would you investigat myasthenia?
Definition
1. Check acetycholine receptor antibodies
2. EMG/nerve stimulation
3. Endrophonium test (=anticholinesterase) should see improvement of weakness
Term
How do you treat myasthenia gravis?
Definition
1. anticholinesterase: neostigimine
2. immunosuppressives
Term
What the aetiological factors of MS?
Definition
1. Genetics: HLA A3
2. Defect in cytokine response: increaseIgG seen in CSF
3. Diet high in animal fat?
4. Increased risk if before puberty in high risk area
5. Viral infection: CSF features of measles rubella varicella infection during teens
Term
Describe the pathology of MS.
Definition
1. Plaques of demyelination in optic nerve, SC, periventricular white matter and corticospinal and dorsal columns

Monocyte infiltration: NO release = damage
Term
Is functional recovery possible in MS? If so - why?
Definition
Yes: no remylination but increased Na+ channels = increased conduction
Term
What occular features are seen in MS?
Definition
1. blurring/dec vision/central scotoma
2. Optic neuritis: sudden bluring/loss of vision
3.RAPD
4.INO
5. Utoff's phenomenon
Term
What is optic neuritis?
Definition
Inflammation of optic nerve.
Papillitis: at nerve head
Retrobulbar neuritis: further back
Seen in MS/herpes zoster / vascultis / chloramphenicol/SLE
Term
What is a RAFP?
Definition
= Relative afferent pupilliary defect

Failure of swinging light test: eyes dilate when move to affected side.
Term
What is UTOFF's sign?
Definition
Worsening of optic neuritis from hot weather / fever / exercise
Term
What brainstem signs are seen in MS?
Definition
Diplopia: II/III/IV/VI
Charcot's triad: nystagmus / intention tremor / scanning speech
Facial weakness
Ataxia
Dysarthria/Dysphagia
Term
What spinal cord signs are seen in MS?
Definition
1. difficulty walking
2. Incontinence
3. Spastic paralysis
4. sensory disturance in both dorsal and spinothalamic tracts
5. Lhermitte's sign
Term
What is Lhermitte's Sign?
Definition
Flex neck = elctrical shock sensation down spine
Indicates disease of dorsal column
Seen in MS and others such as cervical spondylosis/disc herniation/radiation myelopathy
Term
How do you treat acute relapses of MS?
Definition
High dose corticosteroids - 3 days
Methylprednisolone
Term
How do you prevent relapses in MS?
Definition
B-interferon and azathioprine = immunosupressives

Glatiramer Acetate: Myelin basic protein
Term
What other treatment is required in MS?
Definition
Treat symptoms:
Fatigue: amantadine
Spasticity: Baclofen
Int tremor: Anti-Ach
Incontinence: Anti Ach/catheterise
Pain: simple analgesics NSAIDs
Physio/OT/home help
Term
Describe the pathology of Parkinsons disease.
Definition
Idiopathic accelerated degeneration of dopamine recoptors in basal ganglia. (degeneratiojn of pars compacta and substantia nigra) loss of dopamine = depigmentation
Lewy bodies (eosinophilic) seen in basal ganglia
Term
Why do you get a tremor in Parkinsons disease?
Definition
Dopamine normally unhibits Acetylcholine. When less dopamine = more acetylcholine = tremor
Term
In what situations might u get parkinsonism?
Definition
Head injury - boxing
MPTP - heroin
Pesticide exposure
Neuroleptic medication
lacunar infarct of basal ganglia
Term
What are the clinical features of parknisons disease?
Definition
Tremor (resting- pill-rolling)
Rigidity (lead pipe and cog-wheel)
Bradykinesia (diff initiating movement)
Postural instability (simian stoop + festinant gait. Narrow base so falls common)

Mask like facies = facial imobility
Micrographia
Stare: decreased spontaneous blinking
monotone speech / slurring
dysphagia: drippling
constipation and urinary problems
increased sweating/greasy face
muscle pain
dementia depression
Term
WHat is the difference between Parkinsons Disease and Parkinsonism?
Definition
PD: idiopathic neurodegenerative disorder that is responsive to L-dopa
Parkinsonism: secondary to another cause not responsive to L dopa
Term
What are the SENSORY Symptoms of parkinsons disease?
Definition
- anosomia: no smell
- ageusia: no taste
- Pain: partic shoulder /back
- Paraesthesia
Term
Where is dopamine produced and what inhibits it?
Definition
Produced in substantia nigra and adrenal medulla

Broken down by COMT and MAO (enzymes)
Term
Describe the 3 dopaminergic pathways in the brain
Definition
1. Tuberofundibular System = DA released into hypophyseal vessels - inhibits prolactin

2. Nigrostriatal pathway = DA from SN to striatum. Controls movement. Direct pathway = promotes movement. Indirect pathway = inhibits movement

3. Mesocortical / Mesolimbic system: from mid brain to frontal cortex and limbic system. For memory, personality, attention.
Term
What do akinetic-rigid syndromes cause? Give examples?
Definition
Causes parkinsonism.

Parkinson's disease
Lewy Body Dementia
Drugs: neuroleptics/haloperidol/metoclopromide
Multisystem Atrophy
Progresive Supranuclear Palsy (steele-richardson-olszewski syndrome)
Toxins: MPTP/manganese/mercury
Wilson's disease
CJD
Term
In what condition is L-dopa contraindicated?
Definition
Closed Angle Glaucoma
Term
What condition are COMT inhibitors contraindicated in?
Definition
Phaeochromocytoma
Term
What 2 main trypes of drugs are used in parkinsons disease?
Definition
1. Drugs that increase dopamine
2. Anticholinergics
Term
What does the Fasiculus Gracilis carry? What tract is it part of?
Definition
Fibrs from the dorsal column - that synapse in medulla and decussate to form medial lemiscus
Term
What is the pyramidal tract otherwise known as?
Definition
Corticospinal tract
Term
What tract decussates in the medullary pyramids?
Definition
Lateral corticospinal (pyramidal) tract
Term
What tract carries neurones that respond to pain and temperature and deep touch?
Definition
Spinothamalamic tract
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