Jaime Toro

Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in Bogotá, Colombia

Among Latin American countries, Colombia is considered a low-risk area for multiple sclerosis (MS) and no studies on MS prevalence have been conducted in any of the country’s large urban settings. To fill this gap and assess the prevalence of MS in Bogotá as of December 31, 2002, this study reviewed the clinical records of patients diagnosed with MS in most Bogotá hospitals. This review produced a sample of 296 patients with an MS diagnosis whose reliability was verified by a neurologist with expertise in MS. The total prevalence rate identified for December 2002 was 4.41/100,000 inhabitants (95% CI 3.9–4.9), including a rate of 5.98/100,000 (95% CI 5.2–6.8) for women and 2.71/100,000 (95% CI 2.2–3.3) for men (differences measured at p < 0.001). The prevalence estimates for Bogotá, confirm the city’s status as a low-risk area for MS.

Evidence of Autoimmunity in Movement and Psychiatric Disorders

Recent reports show that a significant subgroup of encephalitis cases with unclear etiology have an autoimmune origin. Basal ganglia encephalitis with movement and psychiatric disorders is part of a spectrum of autoimmune basal ganglia disorder. Autoantibodies have been detected in Sydenham chorea and Tourette syndrome. In this study, researchers aimed to identify …

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Nocturnal Wandering

Parasomnias are conditions that disrupt sleep and include arousals with abnormal motor, behavioral, or sensory phenomena. Sonambulism (sleep walking) arises mainly out of slow-wave sleep and usually occurs in the first third of the night, when more slow-wave sleep is seen. Other sleep disorders such as nocturnal epilepsy, confusional …

Best Treatment for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain

No therapy for neck pain is known to be optimally effective. Options include medications, manipulation, massage, electrotherapy, and acupuncture. In

Clinical Spectrum and Serologic Findings in Morvan Syndrome

Morvan syndrome (MoS) is an unusual disease that includes neuromyotonia, autonomic disturbance, insomnia, and encephalopathy. To describe the clinical

Simulation-Based Learning for Lumbar Puncture

Medical professionals and educators recognize that simulation-based medical initiatives have increased in recent years and contribute considerably to

MRI Before Epidural Steroid Injections

Low back pain is very common, and many patients receive routine spinal imaging (lumbar radiography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging

Intraoperative Spinal Monitoring: An Evidence-Based Guideline

Intraoperative neuromonitoring is a relatively recent development that offers continuous assessment of the function of nervous structures. By enabling

Is Herpes Simplex Encephalitis in Immunocompromised Patients Different

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a very serious disease with an incidence of 1 in 250,000 to 1 in 500,000. With the introduction of new and more

Is Memantine Effective for Dementia in Patients with Down Syndrome

Down syndrome affects more than 5.8 million people worldwide and is one of the most frequent inherited causes of learning difficulties. Alzheimer disease pathology develops in all individuals with Down syndrome who are older than 40, although occurrence of …