To investigate the effect of diabetes on stroke after myocardial infarction (MI), we studied consecutive MI patients admitted to the coronary-care unit prospectively, and compared diabetics with non-diabetics. Seven per cent (11/148) of diabetics and 3% (8/297) of non-diabetics had a stroke within 1 month after MI (P = 0.020). Previous stroke and hypertension were significant risk factors for stroke after MI in diabetics, but there were no significant risk factors in non-diabetics. Hypertension was more frequent in diabetics with (12/14; 86%) than in diabetics without (63/134; 47%) a previous stroke (P less than 0.025). Severe hypotension was more frequent in diabetics (9/11) than in non-diabetics with stroke after MI (0/8) (P = 0.002). We conclude that hypertension is a risk factor for stroke after MI in diabetics, and that may be at risk for hypotensive stroke after MI. Stroke after MI may be more frequent in diabetics than in non-diabetics.

An MRI-guided and MRI-verified approach to DBS was successfully implemented through cross border collaboration with achievement of expected clinical results. This healthcare collaboration developed out of necessity and opportunity, taking advantage of a UK-based neurosurgeon from Malta. The UK healthcare system benefits from numerous immigrants at Consultant level. Such a mutually beneficial arrangement could enable such individuals to offer their expertise to citizens in the UK as well as their country of origin.

Opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a rare, neurological condition affecting 1 in 10 000 000 people annually. Opsoclonus, defined as involuntary rapid, multivectorial oscillations of the eyes, together with ataxia and myoclonus are usually present. OMS may be paraneoplastic: often associated with occult neuroblastoma in childhood and with breast carcinoma or small cell lung carcinoma in adults. Other aetiologies include viral or toxic agents. The pathogenesis is thought to be immune mediated. A 37-year-old woman with previous inflammatory cranial mononeuropathies was admitted for elective dilatation and curettage (D&C). Immediately after she complained of left-sided paraesthesia and later became disoriented, with incoherent speech, inability to obey commands, opsoclonus of the eyes and myoclonic jerks. Investigations including onconeuronal antibodies, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and imaging were normal. She was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone with rapid improvement. Previous surgeries with anaesthesia were uncomplicated. The anaesthetic agents used for the D&C were fentanyl and propofol.

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In a population known to have a high prevalence of diabetes (DM), we undertook a prospective study of the effect of risk factors for atherothrombotic stroke on stroke following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In a multivariate linear logistic regression analysis, age and prior stroke (PCVA) contributed significantly to the risk of stroke after AMI. Patients with both hypertension (HTN) and DM (HTN+DM) were more likely to develop stroke than patients with one or none of these factors (p = 0.045). Age, PCVA and HTN+DM are risk factors for stroke after AMI. There appears to be a synergistic effect between HTN and DM on the incidence of stroke after AMI.