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Case Reports 2005; 26(3): 213-218 PubMed PMID: 15990724 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Basal Ganglia:pathology, Calcinosis:genetics, Child, Child, Preschool, Czech Republic, Diagnosis, Differential, Dyskinesias:genetics, Family Health, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mutation, Pantothenate Kinase-Associa.   

: Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) was and is known as a rare disorder primarily characterized by progressive extrapyramidal dysfunction and dementia alongside optic nerve atrophy or retinal degeneration and pyramidal signs. The rate of occurence of HSD is thus far unknown. Progress in DNA diagnostics stirred up a nomenclature and from HSD, or, perhaps better put, the Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome, crystallized the pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) as a clearly defined entity on the level of DNA. In this paper, we present our first results and experience in the diagnosis of PKAN in the Czech Republic and discuss questions related to differential diagnosis....

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Case Reports 2005; 26(1): 67-68 PubMed PMID: 15726023 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anti-Inflammatory Agents:therapeutic use, Brain:pathology, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Methylprednisolone:therapeutic use, Multiple Sclerosis:complications, Thyroiditis, Autoimmune:complications,.   

: Our patient developed Riedel's thyroiditis soon after having an exacerbation of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS has been associated with other autoimmune diseases, including thyroiditis, and both Hashimoto's thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis have been described in connection with MS. Yet, we are not aware of any other patient reported to have concomitant MS and Riedel's thyroiditis. The association between MS and Riedel's thyroiditis remains obscure but may reflect an autoimmune disorder common to both diseases....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(1): 19-24 PubMed PMID: 15726014 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Age of Onset, Body Height:drug effects, Child, Craniopharyngioma:surgery, Female, Growth Hormone:therapeutic use, Human Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:abnormalities, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Pituitary Dis.   

AIMS: The aim of the study was an evaluation of final height and growth hormone (GH) secretion after completion of GH therapy (retesting) in patients with GH deficiency (GHD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The analysis comprised 53 patients (43 boys, 10 girls) with childhood-onset GHD, who completed GH therapy and reached final height. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), performed in all the patients, led to the following groups: pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS), pituitary hypoplasia (HP), craniopharyngioma (CP) -- patients after tumour excision, patients with normal hypothalamic-pituitary region (NP).

RESULTS: In 51 patients, final height was normal. The height gain was significantly (p<0.05) greater in PSIS than in that other groups. In retesting, GH secretion was significantly (p<0.005) lower in PSIS and CP than in HP and in NP and also (p<0.05) in HP than in NP. Permanent severe GHD was confirmed in all the patients with PSIS and CP and in some patients with HP (37.5%), while it was excluded in all the patients with normal pituitary in MRI.

CONCLUSIONS: It seems that in patients with PSIS and CP, the confirmation of persistent character of GHD needs no retesting, while in patients with normal MRI results, GHD diagnosis should be established with special attention....

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Case Reports 2004; 25(4): 307-309 PubMed PMID: 15361823 Citation  Keywords:  Acromegaly:blood, Empty Sella Syndrome:blood, Female, Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Middle Aged, Octreotide:therapeutic use, Treatment Outcome,.   

: The normal functions of the pituitary gland may be suppressed when the gland is compressed onto the sella floor by arachnoid tissue extending through an impaired sella diaphragm. Interestingly, pituitary hormone hypo- and hypersecretion, including acromegaly, have been observed in patients with an 'empty sella'(1-4). This 'empty sella syndrome' has been classified into a primary form, in which no inciting factor (pituitary irradiation or surgery for a pituitary tumor) is present, and a secondary form, in which the empty sella occurs after pituitary procedures. In this report we describe a patient who presented with clinical and biochemical features of acromegaly and who had an empty sella on pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(Suppl 4): 92-97 PubMed PMID: 12496739 Citation  Keywords:  Brain Mapping, Courtship:psychology, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Marriage:psychology, Nervous System Physiological Phenomena,.   

: Scientists have described many physical and behavioral traits in avian and mammalian species that evolved to attract mates. But the brain mechanisms by which conspecifics become attracted to these traits is unknown. This paper maintains that two aspects of mate choice evolved in tandem: 1) traits that evolved in the "display producer" to attract mates and, 2) corresponding neural mechanisms in the "display chooser" that enable them to become attracted to these display traits. Then it discusses our (in-progress) fMRI brain scanning project on human romantic attraction, what we believe is a developed form of "courtship attraction" common to avian and mammalian species as well as the primary neural mechanism underlying avian and mammalian mate choice. The paper hypothesizes that courtship attraction is associated with elevated levels of central dopamine and norepinephrine and decreased levels of central serotonin in reward pathways of the brain. It also proposes that courtship attraction is part of a triune brain system for mating, reproduction and parenting. 1)The sex drive evolved to motivate birds and mammals to court any conspecifics. 2) The attraction system evolved to enable individuals to discriminate among potential mating partners and focus courtship activities on particular individuals, thereby conserving mating time and energy. 3) The neural circuitry for attachment evolved to enable individuals to complete species-specific parental duties....

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