A comparison is made between the results of standard intracarotid speech amytal testing and a new methodology, echoplanar blood-oxygen-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI), in patients undergoing presurgical evaluation for intractable epilepsy. Of the 15 patients entered in the study, all had fMRIs while performing a verbal fluency task. Twelve of these patients also underwent standard intracarotid sodium amytal testing for speech and memory. Results of the fMRIs as compared to the intracarotid speech amytal testing are discussed, including agreement and disagreement between studies. Potential reasons for poor concordance are discussed, including complexity of the verbal fluency task, and motion and technical issues in MRI scan acquisition and data analysis.

The coincidence of X-linked hypophosphatemia and ossification of ligamenta flava has been reported only in two or three cases in the literature. Removal of the offending ossifying lesion is known to result in resolution of the clinical deficits but similar lesions at other spinal levels are suspected of producing recurrences. The return of function and of the corresponding electrophysiologic correlates indicate a neurono-apractic nature of the neurologic symptoms.

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Jellyfish are aquatic organisms, whose number increases under certain conditions of water temperature. They can sting humans, which can be fatal. The liberation of structures known as nematocysts induces the extrusion of the poison, to attack their victims. The poison produces characteristic local and systemic reactions. Since an increased number of these organisms has been detected in our coastline, we review the epidemiology, symptoms and diagnosis of the syndrome produced by the bite, to improve its management.

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A case of plasmacytoma of the clivus is presented. The patient was asymptomatic until a coincidental traumatic lesion produced manifestations of vagus nerve dysfunction. Conduction was blocked in some fibers of the vagus nerve while, at the same time, episodes of activity were triggered in fibers of the same nerve trunk, resulting in an unusual combination of symptoms. The symptomatology of the case is discussed.