Nervous System

Cerebral edema is a life-threatening condition where there is an increase in fluid in the brain tissue. Swelling or edema is part of inflammation. It is a natural response of the body to injury and can happen anywhere. But when it happens in the brain, it poses a unique situation. Being enclosed in the skull, […]

Vagus nerve stimulation is a medical procedure that delivers electrical impulses to the vagus nerve. Currently, it is used for some types of intractable epilepsy and depression that does not respond to the treatment. Some countries also allow its use for the treatment of chronic pain. The vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve and […]

Periodic paralysis or rather paralyses is a heterogeneous group of muscle diseases known as is characterized by recurrent episodes of flaccid muscle. Most of these conditions are hereditary. [amazon_link asins=’B00BSZBEAG’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’bas0ba-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=”] Types of Periodic Paralysis Periodic paralysis  can be divided conveniently into primary and secondary disorders. Primary Periodic Paralysis Primary periodic paralysis […]

Central pontine myelinolysis is a concentrated, frequently symmetric, noninflammatory demyelination within the central Basilar part of pons. In at least 10% of patients with central pontine myelinolysis, demyelination also occurs in extrapontine regions, including the mid brain, thalamus, basal nuclei, and cerebellum. The exact mechanism that strips the myelin sheath is unknown though the proposed […]

The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion is defined by the hyponatremia, hypo-osmolality of plasma and increases osmolality of urine that results from inappropriate, continued secretion and/or action of antidiuretic hormone despite normal or increased plasma volume. Hyponatremia is defined as plasma Na+ concentration of less than 135 mEq/L. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion […]

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is the  pain in the distribution of glossopharyngeal nerve distribution  and causes repeated episodes of severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear, and tonsils, which can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. It us also called cranial mononeuropathy IX or  Weisenberg syndrome. The ninth cranial nerve arising from brain stem leaves […]

Postherpetic neuralgia is a pain syndrome that occurs after resolution of Herpes zoster. Herpes zoster (HZ) is a viral infection that usually presents as a childhood infection of varicella (ie, chicken pox). Following the acute phase, the virus enters the sensory nervous system, where it is harbored in the geniculate, trigeminal, or dorsal root ganglia […]

 Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux, is a common pain syndrome that leads to by unilateral facial pain in the sensory distribution of fifth cranial nerve  or trigeminal nerve and often accompanied by a brief facial spasm or tic. Mandibular and maxillary branches are more commonly involved than ophthalmic. Anatomy and Pathophysiology The trigeminal […]

Dystonia is a condition in which there are repetitive jerking twisting movements, or abnormal postures due to stained muscle contraction. The muscles muscles contract uncontrollably causing  the affected body part to twist involuntarily, resulting in repetitive movements or abnormal postures. It can affect one muscle, a muscle group, or the entire body. the condition affects about 1% […]

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a central nervous system infection of oligodendrocytes by a human papovavirus resulting in large lesions and demyelination. The virus has been named as JC virus after John Cunningham, from whom it was first isolated. Causes of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is almost exclusive in immunosuppressed persons with Acquired […]