The most frequent cause of recurrent nerve palsy is bronchopulmonary carcinoma. The fact that it is not accessible to endoscopic vision does not mean that it is not there.

55-year-old man who consults for dysphonia. In the anamnesis he refers to a month of asthenia and unquantified weight loss. Chest X-ray shows increased density in the left upper lobe and occupation of the aortopulmonary window. Bronchoscopy shows paralysis of the left vocal cord, without endoscopic image suggestive of neoplasia. What is the most likely diagnosis?

[Two cases of tuberculous uveitis].

Uveitis has many etiologies, but tuberculous uveitis is rare. We herein report 2 cases of uveitis due to tuberculosis infection. The first case was a 28-year-old man who was showed abnormal shadows in the chest radiographic examination performed in search of the etiology of uveitis. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, small nodules, and consolidation, with a small cavity in the right upper lobe. An ulcerated nodule in the truncus intermedius and stenosis of the right middle lobe bronchus were found on bronchoscopy. The biopsy of the nodule in the truncus intermedius showed a small granuloma containing giant cells, consistent with mycobacterial infection. The culture of bronchial washings from the right upper lobe grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculous lymphadenitis, bronchial tuberculosis, and tuberculous uveitis was made. The patient was treated with antituberculosis drugs and his disease, including uveitis, improved. The second case was a 36-year-old man who presented with right hemiparesis, dysarthria, and visual loss of the left eye. He was diagnosed with neuro-Sweet disease causing optic neuritis and visual loss. His chest CT showed a nodule with centrilobular opacities in the left lower lobe that suggested mycobacterial infection. PCR of the bronchial washing from the left lower lobe was positive for M.tuberculosis and the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was established. Treatment with antituberculosis drugs and corticosteroids was initiated and his pulmonary lesion improved. However, bilateral tuberculous uveitis developed 15 days after initiation of the treatment. The uveitis gradually deteriorated thereafter despite continuation of antituberculosis therapy. Photocoagulation finally halted the disease progression. In both patients with uveitis presented here, chest radiographs and CT scans were important in determining the etiology of the uveitis. It is difficult to find the etiology of uveitis, and general examinations including the lungs are helpful to pinpoint tuberculosis as the etiology of uveitis. As tuberculous uveitis is sometimes asymptomatic and resistant to treatment, ophthalmological examination is recommended for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

[A case of laryngeal and tracheobronchial tuberculosis].

The patient was 38-year-old male. His chief complaint was persistent cough. He had been diagnosed at an another clinic as tuberculosis by positive sputum culture. Laboratory findings at the first examination were as follows: ESR was 10 mm/1 hr and CRP was 0.920 mg/dl and other data were within normal limits. Chest X-ray showed infiltrative shadow in the left lower lobe. Bronchoscopic findings before treatment were as follows: there were ulcers on bilateral vocal cords, small white nodules with reddness in trachea and red nodules and white coated ulcers in left main bronchus. He was treated with combination chemotherapy (INH, RFP, EB) and the steroid inhalation was added 1 month later after the initiation of chemotherapy. Bronchoscopic findings at 2 months after starting chemotherapy were as follows: lesions of vocal cords and trachea were improved and lesion of left main bronchus was scarred without stenosis. Bronchial stenosis as sequelae of endobronchial tuberculosis deteriorates the patients' quality of life. Therefore it is important to diagnose endobronchial tuberculosis early and to start treat with chemotherapy as soon as possible, and the follow up by bronchoscopy should be done during treatment.

Squamous Pulmonary Neoplasia Grafted on Lesions of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Sequelae.

Clinical symptoms of hemoptysis, chest pain, dyspnea, night sweats and weight loss seen in a patient known for 14 years with pulmonary tuberculosis with sequelae lesions, will always guide the diagnose to a reactivated pulmonary tuberculosis. Yet, in this case, the latest pulmonary radiography revealed newly emerging bilateral lesions with the appearance of a macronodular opacity of medium intensity, discreetly non-homogeneous, located apical-sub-clavicular on the right side, but also with an apical-sub-clavicular cavity lesion on the left side, well defined, with uniform opaque content, and clear-cut outline. Complementary examinations, computed tomography and biopsy bronchoscopy, confirmed the diagnosis of upper right lobe pulmonary tumor with suspicion of aspergilloma in the upper left lobe.

Laryngeal tuberculosis without pulmonary involvement.

Tuberculosis of the larynx is a rare form of tuberculosis. Patients usually present with hoarseness or dysphagia and other nonspecific constitutional symptoms like fever or localized pain. In this study, we present a case of primary vocal cord lesion with tuberculosis. A 72 year old man presented with hoarseness of voice, low grade fever, and night sweating with in three month duration. Laryncoscopic study showed unilateral thickening of vocal cord and biopsy of the lesion showed granuloma with caseous necrosis. Chest x-ray was normal. The patient was treated with standard regimen of tuberculosis and was cured after 6 months of therapy. Laryngeal tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with hoarseness without pulmonary involvement in endemic regions of tuberculosis.

Maynard v West Midlands Regional HA

Maynard v. West Midlands Regional Health Authority [1985] 1 All ER 635 is an English tort law case concerning the Bolam test for professional negligence. The patient presented with symptoms of tuberculosis but both the consultant physician and the consultant surgeon took the view that Hodgkin's disease, carcinoma, and sarcoidosis were also possibilities, the first of which if present would have required remedial steps to be taken in its early stages. Instead of waiting for the results of the sputum tests, the consultants carried out a mediastinoscopy to get a biopsy. The inherent risk of damage was to the left laryngeal recurrent nerve, even if the operation was properly done. In the event, only tuberculosis was confirmed. Unfortunately, the risk became a reality and the patient suffered a paralysis of the left vocal cord. The decision of the physician and the surgeon to proceed was said by their expert peers to be reasonable in all the circumstances. See also Negligence Notes

Anatomy_Gray

A review of the patient’s history suggested a serious and chronic illness and the patient was admitted to hospital. After admission a bronchoscopy was carried out and sputum was aspirated from the left upper lobe bronchus. This was cultured in the laboratory and also viewed under the microscope and tuberculous bacilli (TB) were identified. A 68-year-old man came to his family physician complaining of discomfort when swallowing (dysphagia). The physician examined the patient and noted since his last visit he had lost approximately 18 lb over 6 months. Routine blood tests revealed the patient was anemic and he was referred to the gastroenterology unit. A diagnosis of esophageal cancer was made and the patient underwent a resection, which involved a chest and abdominal incision. After 4 years the patient remains well though still subject to follow-up.

Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee

Maynard v West Midlands Regional Health Authority [1985] 1 All ER 635. The patient presented with symptoms of tuberculosis but both the consultant physician and the consultant surgeon took the view that Hodgkin's disease, carcinoma, and sarcoidosis were also possibilities, the first of which if present would have required remedial steps to be taken in its early stages. Instead of waiting for the results of the sputum tests, the consultants carried out a mediastinoscopy to get a biopsy. The inherent risk of damage was to the left laryngeal recurrent nerve, even if the operation was properly done. In the event, only tuberculosis was confirmed. Unfortunately, the risk became a reality and the patient suffered a paralysis of the left vocal cord. The decision of the physician and the surgeon to proceed was said by their expert peers to be reasonable in all the circumstances.

Laryngeal tuberculosis presenting as laryngeal carcinoma.

Tuberculosis (TB) accounts for the highest number of mortalities among infectious diseases worldwide. Laryngeal TB is an extremely rare presentation of TB. It has many similarities to laryngeal carcinoma, one of the three most common cancers among males in the city, with an age standardized rate of 8.6. The associated risk factors of laryngeal carcinoma i.e. smoking, paan, betel nut usage and alcohol use also tend to be concentrated in the same demographic background as that of TB, creating a diagnostic dilemma. We present a case of granulomatous laryngeal TB, in a 40 year old male, with characteristic presenting features of laryngeal carcinoma i.e. persistent hoarseness and weight loss. He had no associated symptoms of fever, night sweats, cough or dysphagia, nor did he have any history of tobacco or irritant use. There was no history of tuberculosis (TB) contact. He was initially worked up for laryngeal carcinoma; however laryngoscopic biopsy revealed laryngeal TB. We present this case to emphasize the point that although primary laryngeal tuberculosis is a rarity, it must not be overlooked as a possibility when evaluating dysphonia and/or considering laryngeal carcinoma.

[Synchronous multiple primary lung cancers in a 65-year old heavy smoker. Case report].

Here we present a 65-year old ex-smoker with history of recent surgery for vocal cord tumor (histology: moderate grade intraepithelial neoplasia), who reported to the pulmonary outpatient clinic for the nodular lesions in the left lung seen on chest X-ray. Subsequent chest CT scan revealed focal lesion of 18 mm in diameter with spicular margins located in the right upper lobe, another irregular cyst with septa, 62 × 58 mm in the right lower lobe, and calcified nodule in the left lung, no enlarged lymph nodes or pleural effusion was seen. He underwent upper right lobe resection and wedge resection of the lower right lobe. Histological examination revealed adenocarcinoma in the right upper lobe with lymph node metastasis (pT2aN2M0). Examination of the right lower lobe showed squamous cell carcinoma (pT2bN0M0). He was subsequently treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. During 20 months of the follow-up, he remained in good health with no signs of the disease progression. Patients with synchronous multiple primary lung cancers have significantly less favorable outcome than those with single primary lung malignancies, although it can be considerably improved with radical surgical treatment. Basing on the above case report, we discussed diagnostic and therapeutical scheme in patients with the primary multiple lung cancers, and have analyzed epidemiological data and some aspects of MPM etiology.

A Case of Laryngeal Tuberculosis, Endobronchial Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Tuberculosis Coexistent in an Immunocompetent Host.

Historically associated with poor prognosis seen in advanced disease, laryngeal tuberculosis (LTB) now represents only 1% of all cases of tuberculosis (TB). The incidence of LTB has decreased drastically with the introduction of anti-tubercular drugs. LTB can be primary or secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis. LTB can mimic laryngeal cancer. We present a case of primary laryngeal TB with descending tracheobronchial spread in an immunocompetent 71-year-old female who developed progressive dysphonia over several months with unintentional weight loss and non-productive cough. Non-contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed clustering of subcentimeter stellate nodules in the right upper lung field with an enlarging ground-glass opacity in the right lower lung but did not show structural abnormalities within the neck. Positron emission tomography (PET) showed pathologic fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake within the larynx and trachea with extension into the left mainstream bronchus as well as the proximal left upper and lower lobe bronchi. Diffuse standardized uptake value (SUV) was greatest in the larynx (20.5). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on bronchoscope sputum specimen confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Findings were consistent with primary laryngeal TB with endobronchial extension. She was started on a four-drug regimen comprising of isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide with a good response. Her close contacts were treated as well. This case highlights the unusual spread of primary laryngeal TB in an immunocompetent host. Early diagnosis can limit adverse complications and unnecessary exposure to healthcare workers. To our knowledge, this is the first case of primary LTB with proximal spread to the tracheobronchial and pulmonary tuberculosis.

[Tuberculosis or sarcoidosis].

Tuberculosis and sarcoidosis are two different diseases with different etiology, clinical features and treatment. Both are granulomatous disease, but tuberculosis has a caseating necrosis granuloma as opposed to sarcoidosis witch present noncaseating epithelioid cell granuloma. If chest radiography shows hilar lymphadenopathy and hystopatological features reveal no caseating necrosis granuloma the differential diagnosis might be difficult. This is a case of abdominal adenopathy in a 39-years-old male, with a past medical history significant for pulmonary tuberculosis. The patient was admitted to the hospital for mild epigastric pain and weight loss (14 kg for the last year). The abdominal ultrasound and CT scan revealed retroperitoneal lymph node enlargement. Chest X-ray revealed bilateral hilar adenopathy and mediastinal adenopathy. After various differential diagnoses were considered, a diagnostic laparoscopy and a lymph node biopsy were performed. The pathology report showed chronic necrotizing granuloma. The case was interpreted as lymph node sarcoidosis and treated with corticosteroids (Prednisone). After one month of treatment the patient complained of dry cough, night sweats, fatigability, decreased appetite and weight loss. Pathological findings of chest radiography and CT scan with iv contrast (left upper lobe infiltrate, right lower lobe ill-defined mass, multiple small nodular opacities scattered throughout both lung fields, bilateral hilar and mediastinal adenopathy, lymph nodes near celiac trunk were enlarged) and positive acid-fast bacilli of sputum smears point to the real diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and abdominal lymph nodes tuberculosis. The patient was started on a daily treatment with Isoniazid, Pyrasinamide, Ethambutol, Streptomycine, Cyprofloxacine, Cicloserine and Protionamide (he was allergic to Rifampin). Five months later the clinical and radiological findings were almost normal and the sputum smear for acid-fast bacili was negative.

Vocal fold paralysis as a sign of chest diseases: a 15-year retrospective study.

Vocal fold paralysis (VFP) is sometimes the only sign of chest diseases. However, some patients with VFP due to chest diseases are not diagnosed correctly at the first examination, which may leave the patients untreated for a long time. Depending on the situation, chest x-ray is not enough for detecting the primary lesion. The objective of this study was to discuss the diagnostic procedure for VFP based on the retrospective analysis of the cases. A total of 42 patients (29 males and 13 females) with VFP due to chest disease examined at the Department of Otolaryngology of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine between 1988 and 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Of the primary chest diseases, lung cancer (15 cases) was the most common, followed by thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) (9 cases), metastatic tumor from other regions (6 cases), pulmonary and mediastinal tuberculosis (TB) (5 cases), and esophageal cancer (4 cases). While the primary lesions were easily detected with chest x-ray in most of the cases, some lesions in the aortopulmonary window were difficult to detect. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was useful to detect any mass in this region. In the diagnosis of VFP due to chest diseases, chest x-ray was useful but not always enough for detecting the primary lesion. Necessity of further examinations including contrast-enhanced chest CT must be kept in mind for the cases with negative chest radiographs.

Tuberculosis radiology

Radiology (X-rays) is used in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Abnormalities on chest radiographs may be suggestive of, but are never diagnostic of TB, but can be used to rule out pulmonary TB. Chest X-ray A posterior-anterior (PA) chest X-ray is the standard view used; other views (lateral or lordotic) or CT scans may be necessary. In active pulmonary TB, infiltrates or consolidations and/or cavities are often seen in the upper lungs with or without mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy. However, lesions may appear anywhere in the lungs. In HIV and other immunosuppressed persons, any abnormality may indicate TB or the chest X-ray may even appear entirely normal. Old healed tuberculosis usually presents as pulmonary nodules in the hilar area or upper lobes, with or without fibrotic scars and volume loss. Bronchiectasis and pleural scarring may be present.

Pulmonary sarcoidosis presenting as hoarseness and mass lesion.

A 46-year male, ex-smoker presented with cough and hoarseness for 2-3 months. The CECT chest revealed a left upper lobe mass. BAL was negative for AFB, GeneXpert, and malignant cells. The bronchial biopsy showed granuloma with no caseation and infiltration of lymphoid cells. The ultrasound abdomen was normal. The patient was started on prednisolone 0.5 mg/kg. He improved clinic-radiologically. Ex-smoker, middle-aged man with hoarseness and mass lesion on CECT chest is highly suspicious of lung malignancy. Pulmonary sarcoidosis should be kept in the differential diagnosis of unexplained hoarseness and mass lesion as the disease has diverse presentations.

[A case of sarcoidosis with primary acute pulmonary cavitation].

A 23-year-old man was admitted to our hospital on June 24, 1991, because of worsening chest X-ray findings of sarcoidosis. In August 1990, he was referred to our outpatient office, because of BHL and nodular lesions on chest X-ray film performed at his company 4 months earlier. At that time, serum ACE was elevated to 34.0 IU/l, and Ga scintigraphy showed abnormal uptake in bilateral lacrimal and salivary glands, mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes, and in the lung fields. TBLB specimen showed noncaseating epithelioid granuloma with giant cells and negative stains for acid-fast bacilli. Although it was planned to follow this patient without medication, he did not return to our outpatient department. In June 1991, because of worsening of lesions in the lung at annual checkup at his company, he was referred and admitted for steroid therapy. Chest X-ray film on admission showed BHL, multiple nodular lesions in both lung fields, and bullous change in the left upper lobe. Chest CT on admission showed three cavitating lesions within preexisting nodules. PPD skin test was negative, and sputum smears and cultures were repeatedly negative for pyogenic bacteria and acid-fast bacilli. Therapy was initiated with prednisolone 30 mg daily. Four months later, there was marked resolution of BHL and nodular lesions, and the cavitating lesions were no longer visible on chest X-ray film. From the clinical and radiological observations, it is concluded that the cavitating lesions in the present case were primary acute pulmonary cavitation in sarcoidosis, distinct from infection, bullae, or cystic bronchiectasis which are seen in the chronic and fibrotic stages of sarcoidosis.

Laryngeal tuberculosis in the United States of America: a forgotten disease.

Laryngeal tuberculosis (TB) was a common manifestation of TB in the early twentieth century, but now represents only 1% of all cases. Most modern case series of laryngeal TB originate outside the USA. We report a case of laryngeal TB from our institution and review other US cases published between 1970 and 2012. One hundred twenty-seven cases were identified. The mean patient age was 49 y and 28% were female. The mean duration of symptoms was 19 weeks. Dysphonia and weight loss were the most common manifestations, seen in 96% and 47% of cases, respectively. These symptoms were usually attributed to malignancy initially. Most cases involved the vocal cords. Eighty-six percent of cases had underlying pulmonary involvement. Mortality was 3%. In the USA, laryngeal TB is rarely suspected and often confused with malignancy. This infection should be considered in patients with unexplained dysphonia and weight loss.

Bronchiectasis and hoarseness of voice in takayasu arteritis: a rare presentation.

Takayasu arteritis is a large vessel vasculitis occurring in young females. We report a rare presentation of Takayasu arteritis in a Sri Lankan woman. She presented with bronchiectasis and left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy prior to the onset of vascular symptoms. This case illustrates an atypical presentation of this disease and the diagnostic dilemma that the physician may be faced with. A 39-year-old woman presented with chronic cough, haemoptysis and hoarseness of voice. She had left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and high inflammatory markers on investigation. CT thorax revealed aortic wall thickening and traction bronchiectasis. 2 D echocardiogram revealed grade 1 aortic regurgitation compatible with aortitis. She did not have weak peripheral pulses or a blood pressure discrepancy and did not meet American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis at this stage. Tuberculosis, syphilis and sarcoidosis was excluded. While awaiting angiography, she developed left arm claudication and a pericardial effusion. Angiography revealed evidence of Takayasu arteritis and absence of flow in the left subclavian artery. Takayasu arteritis was diagnosed at this stage after a period of eight months from the onset of initial symptoms. She is currently on prednisolone, azathioprine and aspirin. Bronchiectasis and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy is a rare presentation of Takayasu arteritis. Atypical presentations can occur in Takayasu arteritis prior to the onset of vascular symptoms. Elevation of inflammatory markers are an early finding. A high degree of suspicion is needed to identify these patients in the early course of the disease.

[A case report of endobronchial lipoma].

Endobronchial lipomas are rare benign tumors of the lung. Nineteen cases have been reported in Japan. We present a case of endobronchial lipoma obstructing the left B4b and chronic saccular bronchiectasis throughout the left upper lobe. A 42-year-old man, 174 cm tall and weighing 47 kg, was referred for investigation of an abnormal chest X-ray film. He had a history of pneumonia and pyothorax in infancy. The chest X-ray film showed linear densities and ill-defined, irregular opacities in the upper-middle lung field. CT scan and tomographic studies showed multiple cystic spaces in the left upper lobe in which the volume was diminished. An angiogram of the left bronchial artery showed peripheral hypervascularity in the left upper lobe and systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed a smooth, pink mass obstructing B4b. Biopsy specimens were insufficient for histological diagnosis. Preoperatively, an inflammatory polyp in association with chronic saccular bronchiectasis was suspected. Left upper lobectomy was performed on January 13, 1989. Gross examination of the resected specimen showed a pedunculated polypoid mass, 1.5 X 1.2 X 0.6 cm, attached to the bronchial mucosa of B4bii and saccular ectatic changes of bronchi not only in the lingular division but also in upper division. Microscopically, the endobronchial tumor consisted of mature adipose tissue covered with columnar bronchial epithelium. The fat was fairly well localized in the submucosa, but was not encapsulated and did not enclose glands or smooth muscle fibers. The endobronchial lipoma was thought to originate in the bronchus of chronic saccular bronchiectasis.

[Is annual X-ray examination of the chest still justified in industrial medicine?].

Between 1975 and 1979, 137.526 annual X-ray examinations of the chest were performed among the employees of a large Paris administration. Fifty-four cases of tuberculosis, 28 cases of sarcoidosis, 10 cases of bronchial carcinoma and 26 miscellaneous chest diseases were detected. This study confirms the inadequacy of radiological examination for detecting chronic obstructive bronchopulmonary conditions. The small proportion of tuberculosis (0.39 p.1000) and bronchial carcinoma (0.07 p.1000) revealed by this method suggests that it should be reserved to high risk patients.

Lung cavity

Diagnosis of a lung cavity is made with a chest X-ray or CT scan of the chest, which helps to exclude mimics like lung cysts, emphysema, bullae, and cystic bronchiectasis. Once an imaging diagnosis has been made, a person’s symptoms can be used to further narrow the differential diagnosis. For example, recent onset of fever and productive cough suggest an infection, while a chronic cough, fatigue, and unintentional weight loss suggest cancer or tuberculosis. Symptoms of a lung cavity due to infection can include fever, chills, and cough. Knowing how long someone has had symptoms for or how long a cavity has been present on imaging can also help to narrow down the diagnosis. If symptoms or imaging findings have been present for less than three months, the cause is most likely an acute infection; if they have been present for more than three months, the cause is most likely a chronic infection, cancer, or an autoimmune disease.

[A CASE OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS WITH PANCREATIC LESION].

A 52-year-old woman was referred to our hospital presenting with epigastric pain and weight loss. A contrast- enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a low-density mass in the body of the pancreas, indicative of a malignancy. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of the pancreatic mass was performed three times and showed no specific findings. A distal pancreatectomy was performed, and a pathological examination revealed epitheli- oid cell granulomas and necrosis. Ziehl-Neelsen staining did not reveal acid-fast bacilli in the pancreatic mass. A diagnosis of tuberculosis or sarcoidosis of the pancreas was con- sidered; however, the patient chose to undergo a follow-up examination without therapeutic intervention because the pancreatic mass had been removed completely and she had recovered well. Four months after the operation, the patient was readmitted to our hospital for insulin therapy for pancreatic diabetes. She presented with a fever and a productive cough, and a chest CT scan showed multiple nodules in both upper lobes. A bronchoscopy was performed and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were positive. The patient received antitubercular quadri-therapy and showed symptomatic and radiologic improvement. At the initial examination, we had been unable to establish the correct diagnosis; however, the detection of pulmonary lesions led to the time-delayed diagnosis of pancreatic tuber- culosis. Owing to its rarity, it is difficult to diagnose pancreatic tuberculosis using clinical symptoms and radiological imaging modalities; thus, pathologic and bacteriologic confirmation is essential. To avoid performing an unnecessary laparotomy in patients with pancreatic tuberculosis, increased vigilance and an accurate diagnostic approach are required.

Factors Associated with Clinical and Topographical Features of Laryngeal Tuberculosis.

Laryngeal tuberculosis (LTB) is the most frequent granulomatous disease of the larynx and represents less than 2% of extrapulmonary TB cases. There are no pathognomonic clinical and endoscopic features of this disease and studies on LTB that can assist in its diagnostic characterization are lacking. To identify factors associated with clinical and topographical features of LTB. a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from the medical records of 36 patients with confirmed LTB diagnosis. Dysphonia and cough were the main symptoms presented by patients and the true vocal folds the most frequently affected site. The average of the duration of the disease evolution was significantly higher in patients with dysphonia than in patients without this symptom. We observed association between dysphonia and true vocal fold lesions and between odynophagia and lesions in the epiglottis, arytenoids and aryepiglottic folds. Odynophagia was more frequent in individuals with lesions in four or more laryngeal sites. Weight loss equal or above 10% of the body weight was more frequent in patients with odynophagia as first symptom and in patients with ulcerated lesion. Dyspnea on exertion was more frequent in individuals with more extensive laryngeal lesions. The percentage of smokers with lesions in four or more laryngeal sites was greater than that found in non-smokers. Laryngeal tissue fragment bacilloscopy and culture examinations were less positive than sputum ones. Smoking appears to be associated with the development of more extensive LTB lesions, and LTB with dyspnea on exertion and odynophagia with consequent impairment of nutritional status. We emphasize the need for histopathologic confirmation, once positive sputum bacteriological examinations seem not to necessarily reflect laryngeal involvement.

[Radiological evidence of involvement of dust exposure in pathogenesis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis].

A 52-year-old man was admitted because of increasing dyspnea on exersion and presence of pulmonary infiltrates. The patient had pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of 31, which resulted in volume loss and calcified foci in the upper lobe of his left lung. As a construction worker for more than 20 years, he had been exposed to inorganic dusts. Chest radiographs showed a symmetrical consolidation of infiltrates in both lungs with the exception of the left upper lobe, where no apparent infiltrates were shown. A computed tomographic scan of the chest revealed widely panlobular consolidation with the exception of the left upper lobe. A diagnosis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) was established by analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Although the patient underwent segmental bronchoalveolar lavage four times under general anesthesia, he suffered frequent pulmonary infection and died two years after the onset his symptoms. Interestingly, the patient had a markedly narrowed orifice in the left upper lobe, as demonstrated by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Chest radiographs of this lung field revealed no infiltrative shadows. These results suggest that some inhalative agent was involved in the pathogenesis of PAP in this case. In addition, significantly increased levels of KL-6 detected in both serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were attributable to overproduction of KL-6 by Type II pneumocytes that had been stimulated or damaged by PAP.

[Isolated laryngeal tuberculosis as an uncommon manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in adults: a case report].

Isolated laryngeal tuberculosis is rare and sometimes difficult to diagnose. It is the most common cause of laryngeal granuloma. We here report the case of a 58-year-old man, with no particular past medical history, hospitalized due to paroxysmal laryngeal dyspnea, dysphagia to solid foods and dysphonia evolving for 6 months without other associated signs. Laryngoscopic examination showed polyploid formation masking the glottic floor. Histological examination revealed epithelioid and gigantocellular granuloma, without caseous necrosis. Direct microscopic examination and culture were negative. The diagnosis of isolated laryngeal tuberculosis was made based on the endemicity in our country and the absence of other arguments in favor of another type of granulomatosis. Anti-tuberculosis therapy, combined with oral corticosteroids, was indicated based on the presence of severe upper airway edema and symptoms were resolved after 40 days of treatment.

Silicotuberculosis and silicosis as occupational diseases: report of two cases.

Silicosis, the most prevalent of the pneumoconioses, is caused by inhalation of crystalline silica particles. Silica-exposed workers are at increased risk for tuberculosis and other mycobacterium-related diseases. The risk of a patient with silicosis developing tuberculosis is higher (2.8 to 39 fold higher, depending on the severity of silicosis) than that found in healthy controls. The first patient was a 52-year-old male who was admitted in 2002 for the second time with dyspnoea, wheezing and fatigue over the last 11 years. He had worked in an iron smelting factory and was exposed to silica dust for 20 years. First hospitalization chest radiography showed bilateral pleural adhesions, diffuse lung fibrosis with signs of a specific lung process. Second hospitalization chest radiography showed bilateral massive irregular, non-homogenous calcified changes in the upper and middle parts of lungs. The patient died due to respiratory failure and chronic pulmonary heart in 2007. The main causes of his death were silicotuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The second patient was a 50-year-old male who was admitted in 2005 for the second time with chest tightness, dyspnoea, wheezing and fatigue over the last 10 years. He had worked in an iron smelting factory and was exposed to silica dust for 30 years. First hospitalization chest radiography showed diffuse lung fibrosis and small nodular opacities. The patient was diagnosed with silicosis, small opacities sized level p/q, and profusion level 2/3. Second hospitalization chest radiography and CT showed diffuse lung fibrosis and small nodular opacities predominantly in the upper lobes. The patient was recognized as having an occupational disease, and received early retirement due to disability. In low-income countries, new cases of silicosis and associated lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and tuberculosis are likely to be seen for decades because necessary reduction of silica use will take time to be achieved.

[Laryngeal tuberculosis in the patients of otholaryngology department--case reports].

Tubercular infection is still one of the most serious health and social problems. It's been estimated that one-third of the population is infected with Koch's bacillus. More than 90% of overall morbidity of tuberculosis in Poland pose pulmonary tuberculosis, in the worldwide level the percentage reaches 80. The most popular causes that spread the disease are famine, malnutrition, homelessness, limited availability to medical care, alcohol abuse, drug addiction, ageing of the society and more intensive migration. Among the cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis the most common were certified as tuberculous empyema. Head and neck tuberculosis is diagnosed rarely nowadays. Its symptoms aren't pathognomonic and natural history of the disease is different from those described in medical books. It is essential to enclose laryngeal carcinosis in differential diagnosis. In 2002 two cases of laryngeal tuberculosis were diagnosed in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of Medical University of Wroclaw. Both patients had sustained hoarseness. Biopsy confirmed the diagnose of tuberculosis. Both patients underwent the tuberculostatic treatment. Videolaryngoscopic examination showed complete withdrawal of the infiltration in the larynx.

Concomitant occurrence of advanced fibrocavitary pulmonary sarcoidosis and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.

An African American man in his 30s presented with haemoptysis associated with chronic productive cough, exertional dyspnoea, weight loss and skin lesions. Physical examination was notable for multiple cutaneous plaques over upper extremities and face. CT chest showed bilateral upper lobes cavitations and left upper lobe mass like consolidation. Further workup revealed positive serum aspergillus IgG, respiratory culture grew <iAspergillus fumigatus</i, skin biopsy showed non-caseating granuloma. A final diagnosis of concomitant chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and advanced fibrocavitary pulmonary sarcoidosis with cutaneous involvement was made. The patient was initiated on antifungal therapy without steroids due to the concern of worsening the fungal infection. However, he presented later with worsening haemoptysis requiring bronchial artery embolisation. Surgical intervention was recommended but the patient eventually declined. The patient continued to be followed up closely in the clinic and repeated chest imaging showed stable findings 3 months after initial presentation.

Endobronchial Tuberculosis Simulating Carcinoid Tumor.

Diagnosing endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) can be difficult due to the lack of specific signs and symptoms that differentiate it from other respiratory diseases, such as lung tumors. We hereby report a case of a very rare presentation of tuberculosis (TB) in a patient who presented with a dry cough and significant weight loss for 3 months. Chest X-ray and CT scan of the chest showed partial atelectasis and a segmental collapse of the right upper lobe and tumor-like arising from its bronchus along with a large right para-tracheal mediastinal lymphadenopathy, mimicking a metastatic (N2) disease. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy revealed a fleshy, highly vascularized mass occluding the right upper lobe bronchus, and thus the initial diagnosis of carcinoid tumor was made. Mediastinoscopy and biopsy of these mediastinal lymph nodes showed caseating chronic granulomatous inflammation consistent with TB, which changed the diagnosis to EBTB. The patient was treated with first-line anti-tuberculous drugs that led to a full resolution in terms of symptoms, radiological findings and complete disappearance of the endobronchial mass by bronchoscopy. To the best of authors' knowledge, there are no other similar cases in presentation and management in the literature.

Disseminated sporotrichosis mimicking sarcoidosis.

A 40-year-old Caucasian man presented to the dermatology clinic at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, in February 2003, for the evaluation of three nonhealing ulcers. The patient's past medical history was significant for hypothyroidism and pulmonary sarcoidosis, the diagnosis of which was made in June 2000. In March 2000, the patient had complained of cough and shortness of breath. A purified protein derivative (PPD) (Mantoux text) was negative. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest revealed diffuse hilar and mediastinal adenopathy and bilateral interstitial and alveolar infiltrates. Although consistent with sarcoidosis, these findings were insufficient to exclude other etiologies, including disseminated fungal infection. Cultures and stains of subsequent bronchoscopy specimens failed to reveal any organisms, and histopathologic evaluation of the specimens was nondiagnostic. Based on the imaging studies and the negative cultures, a diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made, and the patient was started on therapy with prednisone. Before coming to our clinic, the patient had been on several courses of prednisone. In May 2002, the patient had presented to a private dermatologist with a 1-year history of a nonhealing 2.4 cm x 2.0 cm ulcer on the left medial forearm. Two biopsies were reported as nondiagnostic. The patient's presentation was interpreted as most consistent with Mycobacterium marinum infection, and so he was empirically treated with minocycline. This treatment was continued for almost 3 months without improvement in the ulcer. A few months after the minocycline had been discontinued, the patient was treated empirically for 2 months with ciprofloxacin. This treatment was also unsuccessful in ameliorating the ulcer. In between the two courses of antibiotics, specimens from the lesion were sent for bacterial and fungal cultures, which revealed normal skin flora. In January 2003, the patient returned to his private dermatologist with three ulcerations. In addition to the nonhealing ulcer on his left forearm, which he had acquired several months earlier, he had also developed a 3.0 cm ulcer on his right arm and a 3.0 cm ulcer on his central back. The patient refused biopsies at this visit. Given the patient's previous diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis, it was thought that the skin lesions might represent ulcerative cutaneous sarcoidosis. Pyoderma gangrenosum was also considered to be a likely diagnosis. Therefore, the patient was started on a course of oral prednisone, an effective therapy for both sarcoidosis and pyoderma gangrenosum. Despite 1 month of treatment with 60 mg/day of prednisone, the ulcers increased, and the patient was subsequently referred to our clinic. Physical examination at the time of presentation revealed steroid acne on the trunk and upper extremities and three non-tender ulcers with erythematous, undermined borders (Figs 1-3). On the left arm, there was an adjacent nodule which the patient attributed to a scar from a previously healed ulcer. Histologic examination of biopsy specimens from all three sites showed similar findings. The lesion contained diffuse, suppurative, granulomatous, inflammatory infiltrates with extensive central necrosis. The infiltrates were composed of histiocytes, multinucleated foreign-body-type giant cells, plasma cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and neutrophil fragments. No organisms were seen in the initial, routinely stained sections. However, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining demonstrated small fungal spores (Fig. 4) morphologically consistent with sporotrichosis, within the cytoplasm of multinucleated histiocytic giant cells (Fig. 5). Additional stains for bacteria and acid-fast organisms were negative. Cultures of the biopsy specimens from all three sites grew Sporothrix schenckii. Further questioning of the patient failed to reveal an obvious source of the infection. The patient denied any history of traumatic skin inoculation and did not engage in gardening or other outdoor activities that are classically associated with sporotrichosis. The patient did admit to blackberry picking on detailed retrospective questioning. Once the diagnosis of sporotrichosis was made, the patient was given 200 mg/day of itraconazole. After 2 months, the patient's ulcers were almost completely healed. The patient's pulmonary complaints were also much improved.

[Pulmonary and laryngeal tuberculosis. Study of 26 patients].

A description is reported of tuberculosis cases (TBC) with symptomatic laryngeal involvement diagnosed and treated from 1982 to 1994. Twenty-six out of 2,800 (0.9%) patients diagnosed with TBC had laryngeal symptoms. Twelve patients underwent laryngeal biopsy and the disease was diagnosed in 11; the remaining 15 patients were diagnosed on the basis of the typical lesions at laryngoscopy and resolution with specific therapy; in all of them there was a pulmonary TBC associated. The mean time of clinical laryngeal symptoms was five months and the most common symptom was dysphonia. There were factors which increased the risk for TBC in 16 patients (61.5%), alcoholism being the most common symptom in 10 (38%) patients. X-Ray examination revealed bilateral infiltrates or cavitation in 81% of patients. Sputum examination for acid-fast bacilli was positive in 15 (58%) and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was positive in all of them. All patients adhered correctly to the therapeutic regimen and the clinical course was towards healing: no patient had laryngeal carcinoma after one year of follow-up. The incidence of symptomatic laryngeal TBC in our environment is low and usually presents in patients with risk factors, particularly alcoholism, with a long evolution of the disease and associated with extensive pulmonary TBC. The coexistence with laryngeal carcinoma is exceptional; therefore, when the association of laryngeal symptoms and active pulmonary TBC is present it is reasonable to reserve the laryngeal biopsy for those patients with lymph node enlargement, risk factors, or when symptoms persist after a correct therapeutic regime has been instituted.

Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy

Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy is a bilateral enlargement of the lymph nodes of pulmonary hila. It is a radiographic term for the enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes and is most commonly identified by a chest x-ray. Causes The following are causes of BHL: Sarcoidosis Infection Tuberculosis Fungal infection Mycoplasma Intestinal Lipodystrophy (Whipple's disease) Malignancy Lymphoma Carcinoma Mediastinal tumors Inorganic dust disease Silicosis Berylliosis Extrinsic allergic alveolitis Such as bird fancier's lung Less common causes also exist: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis Human immunodeficiency virus Extrinsic allergic alveolitis Adult-onset Still's disease References Medical signs

Tetraparesia: an unusual presentation of disseminated tuberculosis.

A 48-year-old man with a 4 months history of asthenia, anorexia, 10 kg weight loss and 1 month of hematuria and dysuria was admitted to another hospital for sudden muscular weakness. He was found to have areflexic tetraparesis and was referred to our hospital.On admission, he was bradycardic, tachypneic, with flaccid tetraplegia. Laboratory results showed metabolic acidemia, severe hyperkalemia and hyponatremia, acute renal dysfunction and sterile pyuria. After hyperkalemia correction, the neurological symptoms resolved.On the second day, he became febrile and chest radiograph and CT images showed a pulmonary bilateral reticulomicronodular pattern, left hydronephrosis and diffuse bladder wall thickening. Disseminated tuberculosis was considered as diagnosis by the coexistence of this imagiologic alterations and sterile pyuria. Acid-fast test for <iMycobacteriumtuberculosis</i was negative, but the urine culture became positive after 2 weeks.Antituberculosis treatment was started. One year later, he was asymptomatic and the structural urinary lesions had disappeared.


As it is described as an apraxic phenomenon followed by an asymmetric rigid-akinetic parkinsonism and with superimposed myoclonias, it is typical of corticobasal degeneration. Parkinson's disease cannot be because they do not present apraxia as initial feature, Alzheimer's disease does not present an asymmetric parkinsonism and the typical Huntinton's disease is not of so old people and when it debuts with advanced age it behaves like a chorea.

A 65-year-old female patient debuted two years earlier with an apraxia of speech and has developed rigid-akinetic parkinsonism predominantly in the right hemibody with superimposed myoclonias and alien hand or foreign limb phenomenon.What diagnosis do you consider most likely?

[Cortico-basal degeneration].

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is not rare disease, because in our clinic 13 patients were observed for the past 8 years, with ratio to those with Parkinson's disease being 1:18. Our clinical criteria of this disease consist of the combination of 1) limb-kinetic apraxia as cortical sign, 2) akinetic-rigid sign as extrapyramidal sign, 3) their marked asymmetry, and as additional findings, 4) the presence of grasp reflex, alien hand sign, reflex myoclonus, limb dystonia, and others, and 5) neuroimagings (MRI, SPECT) suggestive of asymmetric cortical lesions. There are reports indicating that clinical CBD was diagnosed as Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and Alzheimer's disease, pathologically. Therefore, more basic investigations, especially from molecular biology are necessary to discriminate these corticobasal complex disorders.

Foreign accent syndrome

The perception of a foreign accent is likely to be a case of pareidolia on the part of the listener. Nick Miller, Professor of Motor Speech Disorders at Newcastle University has explained: "The notion that sufferers speak in a foreign language is something that is in the ear of the listener, rather than the mouth of the speaker. It is simply that the rhythm and pronunciation of speech has changed." Causes and diagnosis Foreign accent syndrome is more commonly pronounced in females than it is in males. In a meta-analysis of 112 patients with FAS, 97% were adults, and 67% were female. The typical age range for this disease is around 25–49 years of age. In cases where handedness was recorded, the majority of patients were right-handed. Only in 12.5% of the cases did the patients have previous exposure to the accent that they later seemed to developed due to FAS.

Corticobasal degeneration.

Among the atypical parkinsonian syndromes, corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is probably the most challenging disorder to diagnose antemortem. It can present with multiple phenotypes, none of them specific enough to lead to an unequivocal diagnosis. Alternatively, multiple other neurodegenerative disorders with a different underlying pathology, such as Alzheimer disease (AD), can mimic its clinical course. The ultimate etiology of CBD is unknown; however, current neuropathological and genetic evidence support a role for microtubule-associated protein tau. The classic clinical presentation is corticobasal syndrome, which typically presents as an asymmetric parkinsonism with a variable combination of ideomotor apraxia, rigidity, myoclonus, and dystonia, often associated with the presence of an alien limb phenomenon. Recently, a new set of diagnostic criteria has been developed, but still definite diagnosis requires autopsy confirmation. At the present time, no disease modifying therapies are available, but extensive research is being conducted.

[Clinical features of corticobasal degeneration].

Corticobasal degeneration was described in 1968 by Rebeiz, Kolodny and Richardson, who characterized the disease as a syndrome of asymmetric akinesis and rigidity, dystonia of the upper limb, apraxia, myoclonus and dementia. Atrophy of the frontal and parietal lobe, neuronal loss, gliosis and achromatic neurones (and nowadays astrocytic plaques) are the characteristic pathological features of the disease. Corticobasal degeneration is a rare or a rarely recognized disease and it is frequently misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease. According to the Lang's criteria, corticobasal degeneration can be diagnosed in the presence of rigidity and one cortical symptom (apraxia, cortical sensory loss, alien hand) or in a patient with rigidity, dystonia and focal reflex myoclonus. Exclusion criteria are early dementia (as in primary degenerative dementias), early vertical gaze problems (as in progressive supranuclear palsy), resting tremor and good, sustained therapeutic response to levodopa (as in Parkinson's disease), severe autonomic problems (as in multiple system atrophy) and any pathology on imaging studies which might explain the clinical symptoms. It should be mentioned, that recently early dementia is recognized as an initial symptom of corticobasal degeneration. The authors present a case and review the literature to call attention to this disorder.

Ideomotor apraxia

of lesions are more common in nonapraxic patients. The lesions most associated with ideomotor apraxia are to the left parietal and premotor areas. Patients with lesions to the supplementary motor area have also presented with ideomotor apraxia. Lesions to the corpus callosum can also induce apraxic-like symptoms, with varying effects on the two hands, although this has not been thoroughly studied. In addition to ischemic lesions to the brain, ideomotor apraxia has also been seen in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, corticobasal degeneration, and progressive supranuclear palsy.

Bias against left-handed people

In Finnish, the word oikea means both "right" (okay, correct) and "right" (the opposite of left). In Swedish, att göra något med vänsterhanden (literally "to do something with your left hand") means "to do something badly". In Swedish, vänster means "left". The term vänsterprassel means "infidelity", "adultery" and "cheating". From this term the verb vänstra is derived. In Norwegian, the word "keivhendt" can be used as a way of saying "left-handed", but the word literally translated means "wrong-handed". In Hungarian, the word for right is jobb, which also means "better". The word for left is bal, which also means "bad". In Estonian, the word pahem stands for both "left" and "worse" and the word parem stands for both "right" and "better". In Turkish, the word for right is sağ, which means "alive". The word for left is sol, which means "discolor", "die", "ill".

Corticobasal degeneration

The presence of parkinsonism as a clinical symptom of CBD is largely responsible for complications in developing unique diagnostic criteria for the disease. Other such diseases in which parkinsonism forms an integral diagnostic characteristic are Parkinson's disease (PD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Parkinsonism in CBD is largely present in an extremity such as the arm, and is always asymmetric. It has been suggested that non-dominant arm is involved more often. Common associated movement dysfunctions that comprise parkinsonism are rigidity, bradykinesia, and gait disorder, with limb rigidity forming the most typical manifestation of parkinsonism in CBD. Despite being relatively indistinct, this rigidity can lead to disturbances in gait and correlated movements. Bradykinesia in CBD occurs when there is notable slowing in the completion of certain movements in the limbs. In an associated study, it was determined that, three years following first diagnosis, 71% of

Transitivity (grammar)

Languages that express transitivity through morphology The following languages of the below language families (or hypothetical language families) have this feature: In the Uralic language family: Mordvinic languages The three Ugric languages Northern Samoyedic languages In Indo-European (Indo-Aryan) language familyː Hindi-Urdu (Hindustani) Punjabi Gujarati In the Paleosiberian hypothetical language family: Languages of both branches of the Eskimo–Aleut family; for details from the Eskimo branch, see e.g. Sireniki, Kalaallisut Chukotko-Kamchatkan languages Yukaghir The Ket language has a very sophisticated verbal inclination system, referring to the object in many ways (see also polypersonal agreement). All varieties of Melanesian Pidgin use -im or -em as a transitivity marker: laik means 'want', while laikim means 'like (him/her/it)' in Tok Pisin. All varieties of Salish. Form–function mappings

Alien hand syndrome.

In Stanley Kubrick's movie Dr Strangelove, the main character is described as "erratic" and displays a bizarre movement disorder. His right hand seems to be driven by a will of its own, at times clutching his own throat and at other times raising into a Nazi salute. Dr Strangelove must try to restrain this wayward limb with his left hand. Bizarre as this fictional character is, a similar movement disorder can occur in neurologic disease. The complex phenomenon associated with this disorder falls under the rubric of alien hand syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by a limb that seems to perform meaningful acts without being guided by the intention of the patient. Patients find themselves unable to stop the alien limb from reaching and grabbing objects, and they may be unable to release these grasped objects without using their other hand to pry open their fingers. These patients frequently express astonishment and frustration at the errant limb. They experience it as being controlled by an external agent and often refer to it in the third person. This article outlines the origins of the terminology used in describing this syndrome, early observations, and studies regarding its functional neuroanatomy.

Apraxia

Causes Apraxia is most often due to a lesion located in the dominant (usually left) hemisphere of the brain, typically in the frontal and parietal lobes. Lesions may be due to stroke, acquired brain injuries, or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, Parkinson's disease, or Huntington's disease. It is also possible for apraxia to be caused by lesions in other areas of the brain. Ideomotor apraxia is typically due to a decrease in blood flow to the dominant hemisphere of the brain and particularly the parietal and premotor areas. It is frequently seen in patients with corticobasal degeneration.

History of Belgian Limburg

Whether or not any of the Belgian Germani, or indeed the Aduatuci, spoke a Germanic language is uncertain. The names of their leaders and their tribes for the most part appear to have Celtic origins, which is in fact also true of the neighbouring tribes across the Rhine in "Germania" at that time, such the Tencteri and Usipetes. On the other hand, it has been argued by Maurits Gysseling and others that placename analysis shows that a Germanic language was being spoken in this region by the 2nd century BCE, and there are also signs of an older substrate language in the Belgic region. (See Nordwestblock.) So Celtic, while influential culturally, may never have been the main language of the area.

Natural history and survival of 14 patients with corticobasal degeneration confirmed at postmortem examination.

To analyse the natural history and survival of corticobasal degeneration by investigating the clinical features of 14 cases confirmed by postmortem examination. Patients with definite corticobasal degeneration were selected from the research and clinical files of seven tertiary medical centres in Austria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Clinical features were analysed in detail. The sample consisted of eight female and six male patients; mean age at symptom onset was 63 (SD 7.7) years, and mean disease duration was 7.9 (SD 2.6) years. The most commonly reported symptom at onset included asymmetric limb clumsiness with or without rigidity (50%) or tremor (21%). At the first neurological visit, on average 3.0 (SD 1.9) years after symptom onset, the most often encountered extrapyramidal features included unilateral limb rigidity (79%) or bradykinesia (71%), postural imbalance (45%), and unilateral limb dystonia (43%). Ideomotor apraxia (64%), and to a lesser extent cortical dementia (36%), were the most common cortical signs present at the first visit. During the course of the disease, virtually all patients developed asymmetric or unilateral akinetic rigid parkinsonism and a gait disorder. No patient had a dramatic response to levodopa therapy. Median survival time after onset of symptoms was 7.9 (SD 0.7) (range, 2.5-12.5) years, and, after the first clinic visit, 4.9 (SD 0.7) (range, 0.8-10) years. Early bilateral bradykinesia, frontal syndrome, or two out of tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia, predicted a shorter survival. The results confirm that unilateral parkinsonism unresponsive to levodopa and limb ideomotor apraxia are the clinical hallmarks of corticobasal degeneration, and only a minority of patients with corticobasal degeneration present with dementia. The study also suggests that a focal cognitive and extrapyramidal motor syndrome is indicative of corticobasal degeneration. Survival in corticobasal degeneration was shortened by the early presence of (more) widespread parkinsonian features or frontal lobe syndrome.

The alien hand and related signs.

Alien limb sign includes failure to recognise ownership of one's limb when visual cues are removed, a feeling that one body part is foreign, personification of the affected body part, and autonomous activity which is perceived as outside voluntary control. Although the hand is most frequently affected, any limb or combination of limbs may fulfil the alien limb criteria. Alien hand sign should be reserved for cases in which the hand feels foreign together with observable involuntary motor activity. To characterise this phenomenon, seven patients with alien hand sign and other motor or behavioural manifestations are described. Aetiologies included multiple infarcts and cortobasal ganglionic degeneration (CBD). In this study, all patients had apraxia in response to verbal commands and problems with bimanual coordination. Most displayed non-goal directed involuntary motor activities, and two had self destructive motor behaviours. Grasp reflex occurred with alien hand due to either aetiology. Cortical reflex myoclonus was frequently seen in CBD patients. The phenomenological spectrum is reviewed, a diagnostic protocol proposed, and possible anatomical bases of alien hand discussed.

Progressive apraxic agraphia with micrographia presenting as corticobasal syndrome showing extensive Pittsburgh compound B uptake.

A 65-year-old woman developed progressive apraxic agraphia, characterized by poorly formed graphemes, a kanji (Japanese morphograms) recall impairment, relatively preserved oral spelling of kanji characters, and incorrect stroke sequences on writing accompanied by micrographia over a 3-year period. She also showed minor degrees of rigidity, limb-kinetic apraxia, and ideomotor apraxia of the left hand. Although asymmetric rigidity and limb-kinetic apraxia strongly suggested corticobasal degeneration, (11)C-Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography (PiB-PET) showed the predominantly right-sided accumulation of amyloid β in the cortices and striatum. (18)F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose PET and single photon emission computed tomography with a (99m)Tc-ethylcysteinate dimer (ECD-SPECT) also revealed predominantly right-sided hypometabolism and hypoperfusion in the primary sensorimotor cortex, posterior cingulate gyrus, temporoparietal cortices, frontal cortices, thalamus, and basal ganglia, a pattern characteristic of both corticobasal degeneration and Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that progressive apraxic agraphia with micrographia presenting as corticobasal syndrome can show an Alzheimer's disease pathology. It is also suggested that ideomotor apraxia of the left hand can occur without a callosal lesion, and is caused by hypometabolism or hypoperfusion in the right frontal and parietal cortices, as revealed by PET and SPECT.

Finally Found You

Lyrically, "Finally Found You" sees Iglesias finding the love of his life at a club and declaring to never her let go, asking his "object of affection to ignore the advice of her friends and to stick with him till the end". In the chorus, Enrique sings, "In this crazy world the choice is ours, only got a few / either you’re coming with me or I’m coming with you / ’cause I finally found, I finally found you," with "heavily processed vocals", according to "Idolator"'s Robbie Daw. Later, Sammy Adams comes in and lets us know that he's "got his hands full" from grabbing girls, and informs us that he's "drunk as fuck."

[Corticobasal degeneration. The significance of clinical criteria for establishing the diagnosis].

Neuropathological studies show that about 20% of all patients suffering from an acinetic-rigid syndrome can not be given the diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Among these non-idiopathic Parkinson-syndromes the corticobasal degeneration (CBD) can be regarded as a separate disease entity. The pathological findings of moderate predominantly frontal and parietal cerebral atrophy, cortical Pick-cells and specific corticobasal inclusion bodies are considered valuable features which support the diagnosis. The clinical Characteristics of CBD are demonstrated in 3 patients including an acinetic-rigid syndrome, limb apraxia and "alien limb"-syndrome, as well as reflex myoclonus. Eye movement disorders, dementia and other rare symptoms may also be present. Electrophysiological reflex-testing helps to corroborate diagnosis. These findings and a summary which includes the previously published cases of CBD show that CBD in most cases can be diagnosed intra vitam.

Sign of the horns

Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath can be seen "raising the horns" in a photograph taken in 1969. The photograph is included in the CD booklet of the Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978 compilation album. This would indicate that there had been some association between the "horns" and heavy metal before Dio's popularization of it. When asked if he was the one who introduced the hand gesture to metal subculture, Dio said in a 2001 interview:

Corticobasal degeneration.

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized clinically by a combination of cortical and basal ganglia signs. Pathologically, it is classified as a tauopathy. The most distinctive clinical feature is its unilateral or markedly asymmetric presentation; among parkinsonian syndromes, with rare exceptions, only Parkinson's disease presents with such asymmetry. The most common presenting cortical features include apraxia (patients often complain of a "useless" limb), aphasia (usually nonfluent), parietal lobe sensory signs (agraphesthesia, extinction, astereognosis), frontal dementia, or myoclonus. Basal ganglia signs include rigidity, akinesia, limb dystonia, and postural instability. The diagnosis is often challenging for three reasons: 1) The full complement of findings are rarely seen at presentation; 2) If CBD is not suspected, subtle but relevant findings (eg, extinction, language impairment, myoclonus, or apraxia) may not be searched for or appreciated; 3) The clinical picture of CBD has substantial overlap with a variety of other parkinsonian and dementing illnesses. The differential diagnosis includes Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia, and Alzheimer's disease. The clinical diagnosis is not confirmed pathologically in up to half of cases, so the term corticobasal syndrome is often preferred during life, reserving the term corticobasal degeneration for pathologically verified cases. Treatment of CBD is primarily supportive, and most patients die within 10 years of onset. Parkinsonian signs may improve to a modest degree with levodopa, clonazepam can suppress myoclonus, and botulinum toxin can relieve dystonia. Early speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, as well as assist devices such as a rolling walker may improve functioning and reduce complications such as aspiration pneumonia and falls. With time, however, most patients lose their independence and mobility. Throughout the course of the illness (particularly when it is advanced), caring for the caregiver is as important as caring for the patient.

The Fourth Kind

After hearing the similarities in their stories, Abbey suspects these patients may have been victims of an alien abduction. There is evidence that she herself may have been abducted, when an assistant gives her a tape recorder which plays the sound of something entering her home and attacking her. The attacker speaks an unknown language, and Abbey has no memory of the incident. Abel Campos (Elias Koteas), a colleague from Anchorage, is suspicious of the claims. Later, Abbey calls upon Dr. Awolowa Odusami (Hakeem Kae-Kazim), a specialist in ancient languages who was a contact of her late husband, to identify the mysterious language on the tape. Odusami identifies it as Sumerian.

Corticobasal degeneration

Motor and associated cortical dysfunctions Some of the most prevalent symptom types in people exhibiting CBD pertain to identifiable movement disorders and problems with cortical processing. These symptoms are initial indicators of the presence of the disease. Each of the associated movement complications typically appears asymmetrically and the symptoms are not observed uniformly throughout the body. For example, a person exhibiting an alien hand syndrome (explained later) in one hand, will not correspondingly display the same symptom in the other hand. Predominant movement disorders and cortical dysfunctions associated with CBD include: Parkinsonism Alien hand syndrome Apraxia (ideomotor apraxia and limb-kinetic apraxia) Aphasia

Alexander Potebnja

Potebnja viewed the history of a language as the history of its dialects and used the concept of phonetic law, although he often tried to find a psychological basis for the concept. He recognized the existence of a proto-Rus’ language, but located the beginning of its disintegration into dialects back in prehistoric times. He made many discoveries in Ukrainian historical phonetics, such as the primordial dž < dj alteration, the so-called second pleophony, and the conditions for the alternation e:o. He was the first to propose the theory that diphthongs were a transitional stage between Old Ruthenian o, e, and Little Russian (i.e. Modern Ukrainian) language.

[Corticobasal degeneration].

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) was first reported by Rebeiz et al as corticodentatonigral degeneration with neuronal achromasia in 1967. After Gibb et al described 7 cases including 4 cases from the literature under the term of corticobasal degeneration, CBD has become widely recognized. The disease starts mainly in one's fifties and sixties with the duration of 6 to 7 years. The clinical features include asymmetric parkinsonism, cerebral cortical signs, and others. Typically, patients present with unilateral clumsiness with akinetic-rigid syndrome and limb-kinetic apraxia. Postural instability, gait disturbance and involuntary movements such as dystonia are not uncommon. The parkinsonism is DOPA-resistant. BEsides apraxia, alien limb syndrome, cortical sensory disturbances, frontal lobe-release signs, and dementia are representative cortical signs. Other clinical features include dysarthria, pyramidal tract signs and supranuclear gaze palsy. MRI, SPECT or PET reveals asymmetric atrophy, decrease in blood flow or reduction in metabolism of the frontal parietal region around the central sulcus. Electrophysiological and magnetic stimulation studies demonstrated increase in excitability of the cerebral cortex. Myoclonus in CBD is cortical in origin but without any preceding potential or giant somatosensory evoked potential. Neuropathologically CBD is characterized by involvement of the particular cortices and substantia nigra. Other structures such as the putamen, pallidum, thalamus, subthalamus, cerebellar dentate nucleus and brainstem are affected to various extents. Histological features include achromatic, ballooned neurons as well as tau and Gallyas positive neuronal and glial intracytoplasmic inclusions. Astrocytic plaque is considered to be a form of glial inclusions specific to CBD. Diagnosis of typical cases of CBD appears easy but atypical cases were reported with showed dementia or aphasia as a main feature, or were devoid of the asymmetry of signs and symptoms. CBD, progressive supranuclear palsy and Pick's disease share both clinical and neuropathological features to some extent while they are clearly distinct among typical cases. The etiology and pathomechanism of CBD remain to be elucidated.

Gothic language

Another such clitic is -uh "and", appearing as -h after a vowel: ga-h-mēlida "and he wrote" from gamēlida "he wrote", urreis nim-uh "arise and take!" from the imperative form nim "take". After iþ or any indefinite besides sums "some" and anþar "another", -uh cannot be placed; in the latter category, this is only because indefinite determiner phrases cannot move to the front of a clause. Unlike, for example, Latin -que, -uh can only join two or more main clauses. In all other cases, the word jah "and" is used, which can also join main clauses. More than one such clitics can occur in one word: diz-uh-þan-sat ijōs "and then he seized them ()" from dissat "he seized" (notice again the voicing of diz-), ga-u-ƕa-sēƕi "whether he saw anything" from gasēƕi "he saw".

Putamen

Parkinson's disease is the slow and steady loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta. In Parkinson's disease the putamen plays a key role because its inputs and outputs are interconnected to the substantia nigra and the globus pallidus. In Parkinson's disease the activity in direct pathways to interior globus pallidus decreases and activity in indirect pathways to external globus pallidus increases. It has also been noted that Parkinson's patients have a difficult time with motor planning. Other diseases and disorders The following diseases and disorders are linked with the putamen: Cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease Huntington's disease Wilson's disease Dementia with Lewy bodies Corticobasal degeneration Tourette syndrome Schizophrenia Depression Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Chorea Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Kernicterus Other anxiety disorders

Ideomotor apraxia

hand in the plane of his face. This gesture has no meaning attached to it. In contrast, a meaningful gesture is something like saluting or waving goodbye. An important distinction here is that all of the above refer to actions that are consciously and voluntarily initiated. That is to say that a person is specifically asked to either imitate what someone else is doing or is given verbal instructions, such as "wave goodbye." People suffering from ideomotor apraxia will know what they are supposed to do, e.g. they will know to wave goodbye and what their arm and hand should do to accomplish it, but will be unable to execute the motion correctly. This voluntary type of action is distinct from spontaneous actions. Ideomotor apraxia patients may still retain the ability to perform spontaneous motions; if someone they know leaves the room, for instance, they may be able to wave goodbye to that person, despite being unable to do so at request. The ability to perform this sort of spontaneous

[Corticobasal degeneration: symptomatological, brain-imaging and electrophysiological studies].

Eight cases of clinically diagnosed corticobasal degeneration (CBD) were studied with reference to their symptomatology, brain-imagings and electrophysiological findings. The diagnosis was based on the combination of limb-kinetic apraxia (cortical sign), akinetic-rigid sign (extrapyramidal) and their unilateral predominance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 123I-IMP or 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT findings were used to reinforce the diagnosis. The age at onset of 8 cases (4 males, 4 females) was 61 to 80 years (mean 66). Other common symptoms on admission consisted of dysequilibrium (8 cases), dysarthria (8), grasp reflex (6), supranuclear gaze palsy (6), tremor (6), limb dystonia (6) and alien limbs (5). MRI revealed parietal (3 cases) or frontoparietal (3) atrophy. SPECT showed decrease in cerebral blood flow in frontoparietal (3 cases) or frontoparietotemporal lobes (5). SPECT surpassed MRI to detect unilateral predominance of the lesions. With magnetic stimulation of the head and neck central motor conduction time (CMCT) was normal, while motor inhibitory periods (IPs) were significantly shorter in CBD patients compared with those in normal controls and the patients with Parkinson's disease. In 3 patients with reflex myoclonus, giant SEPs were not evoked, though with positive C-reflex, suggesting an elevated excitability of cerebral cortex unrelated to the production of giant SEPs.

List of common false etymologies of English words

Fuck: The word "fuck" did not originate as an acronym of "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge", either as a sign posted above adulterers in the stocks, or as a criminal charge against members of the British Armed Forces; nor did it originate during the 15th-century Battle of Agincourt as a corruption of "pluck yew" (an idiom falsely attributed to the English for drawing a longbow). The word did not originate in Christianized Anglo-Saxon England as an acronym of "Fornication Under Consent of King"; Modern English was not spoken until the 16th century, and words such as "fornication" and "consent" did not exist in any form in English until the influence of Anglo-Norman in the late 12th century. The earliest recorded use of "fuck" in English comes from 1475, in the poem Flen flyys, where it is spelled fuccant (conjugated as if a Latin verb meaning "they fuck"). The word derived from Proto-Germanic roots, and has cognates in many other Germanic languages.

[An 81-year-old woman with progressive motor disturbance, extrapyramidal features, dementia, and oculomotor palsy].

We report an 81-year-old woman who presented with motor disturbance in her right hand which was followed by parkinsonism, dementia, and supranuclear gaze palsy. She was well until her age of 73 (1989) when she had an onset of difficulty in using her right hand; she did not have weakness. She also developed small step gait. These symptoms had progressively become worse. She was admitted to our hospital in July of 1992 when she was 75 years old. On admission, she was alert and oriented, but she showed some difficulty in recent memory. She did not have aphasia or ideomotor apraxia, but she showed limb-kinetic apraxia in her right hand, ideational apraxia, dressing apraxia, constructional apraxia, tactile agnosia, and left-right disorientation. Alien-hand syndrome was observed in her right hand. Ocular movement was within normal limit for her age. She had oro-lingual dyskinesia. Otherwise, cranial nerves were intact. She walked in small-steps. She had rigidity and fine myoclonic movements in her right upper extremity. Deep reflexes were within normal limits and symmetric. Superficial and deep sensations were intact. Laboratory findings were unremarkable. She was discharged on August 15, 1992 for outpatient follow-up. Her motor and mental symptoms were progressive. By October of 1992, she developed supranuclear vertical gaze palsy, marked rigidity in the neck, and astereognosis. By June 1993, she became unable to walk without support. MRI taken in May of 1994 revealed atrophy of insular cortices, temporal lobe tips and parietal lobes more on the left side; the third ventricle was slightly dilated. She was admitted to another hospital on June 30, 1994. She had become a bed-ridden state with marked dementia and dysphagia. She developed fever on November 5, 1996 and expired on December 16 of the same year. She was discussed in a neurological CPC and the chief discussant arrived at the conclusion that the patient had corticobasal degeneration. Other diagnoses entertained included progressive supranuclear palsy, pallidonigroluysian atrophy, diffuse Lewy body disease, and Pick's disease. But the most of the participants agreed with the chief discussant's diagnosis. Post-mortem examination revealed aspiration pneumonia in the lungs and liver fibrosis apparently due to viral hepatitis. In the central nervous system, frontal and parietal lobes were atrophic more on the left side. Atrophy was accentuated in the superior frontal gyri, precentral and postcentral gyri, and superior and inferior parietal lobuli. Neuronal loss and astrocytosis were seen in these regions with scattered ballooned neurons. The substantia nigra showed marked neuronal loss and gliosis; neuronal loss was also seen in the pars reticulata. The outer and inner segments of globus pallidus and the periacqueductal gray matter showed gliosis, however, no apparent neuronal loss was seen. Putamen, subthalamic nucleus, and the dentate nucleus were preserved. Pathologic changes were consistent with the diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration. It was interesting to note that anti-tau immunostaining and Gallyas staining revealed neuropil threads and astrocytic plaques in the cortical areas, and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the cortical neurons; these inclusions were not stained by Bodian stain. Tuft-shaped astrocytes which may be seen in progressive supranuclear palsy were not observed in this patient. Although corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy share some neurological features in common, this patient showed typical pathologic changes of corticobasal degeneration.

Alien hand syndrome

The alien limb in the posterior variant of the syndrome may be seen to "levitate" upward into the air withdrawing away from contact surfaces through the activation of anti-gravity musculature. Alien hand movement in the posterior variant may show a typical posture, sometimes referred to as a "parietal hand" or the "instinctive avoidance reaction" (a term introduced by neurologist Derek Denny-Brown as an inverse form of the "magnetic apraxia" seen in the frontal variant, as noted above), in which the digits move into a highly extended position with active extension of the interphalangeal joints of the digits and hyper-extension of the metacarpophalangeal joints, and the palmar surface of the hand is actively pulled back away from approaching objects or up and away from supporting surfaces. The "alien" movements, however, remain purposeful and goal-directed, a point which clearly differentiates these movements from other disorganized non-purposeful forms of involuntary limb movement

Frontal Assessment Battery

The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), is a short screening test to evaluate executive function (EF). Format FAB is a battery of tests, consisting of six subtests, that takes about 10 minutes and is designed as a short bedside assessment of executive function. Applications FAB is useful in the differential diagnosis of neurological diseases including Parkinson's disease, corticobasal degeneration, frontotemporal dementias, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and dementia with Lewy bodies. Development FAB was developed by Dubois et al. in 2000 and became a widely used tool. References Mental disorders diagnostic procedures Neuropsychological tests Medical scoring system Parkinson's disease Cognitive disorders Dementia

Ukrainian Sign Language

Fingerspelling Ukrainian Sign Language uses a one-handed manual alphabet, or fingerspelling, based on the alphabet used in Old French Sign Language, but adapted to spell out words from the Ukrainian language. Known as the Ukrainian manual alphabet, it consists of 33 signs which make use of the 23 handshapes of USL. Some of these signs thus share handshapes; for example, the signs for Г & Ґ use the same handshape but in one the thumb is still, while in the other it moves up and down. In USL as in other sign languages, fingerspelling serves as a type of borrowing from Ukrainian. It is used for proper nouns, for technical terms with no native USL equivalent, abbreviations of longer Ukrainian words, and some colloquial Ukrainian words. Fingerspelling may also be used instead of a synonymous sign for emphasis. A common misconception is that USL consists only of fingerspelling. Although communication using only fingerspelling has been used, it is not USL.

Evidence of delayed nigrostriatal dysfunction in corticobasal syndrome: a SPECT follow-up study.

To demonstrate that degeneration of substantia nigra neurons may occur at later stages of disease in some patients with corticobasal syndrome (CBS) who evidenced preserved nigrostriatal pathway at a baseline FP-CIT SPECT study. Current pathological criteria for the definite diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration consider substantia nigra cell loss as a mandatory finding. However, dopamine transporter SPECT imaging performed in a large cohort of CBS patients showed about 10% of normal scans. We describe 4 patients with clinical diagnosis of CBS and normal FP-CIT SPECT at baseline whose tracer uptake resulted pathological at 1-year follow-up scan. Clinical assessment has been performed at the time of SPECT scan. A semi-quantitative approach was performed for striatal FP-CIT binding values. Baseline SPECT scans have been performed after 2.3 ± 1.5 years from onset. All CBS patients presented asymmetric rigid-akinetic parkinsonism (mean Hoehn-Yahr stage 2.5; UPDRS motor score 18) with poor levodopa response and ideo-motor limb apraxia. At follow-up, neurological examination revealed some additional features, including limb dystonia, language impairment, postural instability, ocular gaze impairment, alien limb. All patients showed pathological FP-CIT uptake at the SPECT performed 10-15 months apart from the baseline scan. Our longitudinal FP-CIT SPECT findings support in vivo the hypothesis that substantia nigra neuronal loss may occur at later stages in some patients with CBS, despite early extrapyramidal symptoms.