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Background: It was the aim of this study to investigate the pattern of evolution of hyperventilation-induced nystagmus (HIN) in vestibular neuritis (VN) and to determine whether HIN influences the dizziness outcome at the last follow-up visit. Methods: Fifty-three consecutive patients with VN underwent a quantitative vestibular function test including hyperventilation and the Korean version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory during the acute period and the follow-up visit. Results: The incidence of HIN was higher in the acute (62%, 33/53) than in the chronic (17%, 9/53) stages of VN. Approximately 70% (6/9) of patients who continued to have persistent HIN at the last follow-up reported dizziness compared to only 27% (12/44) of patients who had no HIN. Patients who complained of persistent dizziness were significantly more likely to have persistent HIN and high Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores at the last follow-up compared with patients who did not suffer from dizziness. In terms of the degree of recovery of dizziness, patients with HIN initially beating toward the contralesional side exhibited significantly more improvement than patients with HIN initially beating toward the ipsilesional side. Conclusions: The presence of either HIN beating toward the ipsilesional side at the acute stage of VN or persistent HIN at the follow-up visit is associated with persistent dizziness. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype in response to pharmacological treatments in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a matter of controversy. This analysis investigated the effect of the APOE genotype on the clinical response to rivastigmine transdermal patch monotherapy or memantine plus rivastigmine patch in patients with mild to moderate AD. Methods: Two hundred and six (n = 206) patients with probable AD and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores of 10-20 were randomized to rivastigmine patch monotherapy or memantine plus rivastigmine patch for 24 weeks. Of the 206 patients with probable AD, 146 patients who consented to genetic testing for APOE were included and assessed for this subgroup study. Results: There were no significant differences on MMSE, NPI, ADAS-cog, ADCS-ADL, CDR-SB, NPI and FAB between rivastigmine patch monotherapy and memantine plus rivastigmine patch according to the APOE genotype. However, patients with moderately severe AD (MMSE ≤15) who were APOE ε4 carriers showed higher responder rates on ADCS-ADL with memantine plus rivastigmine patch compared to rivastigmine patch monotherapy. Conclusion: Moderately severe AD patients with the APOE ε4 allele may respond more favorably to memantine plus rivastigmine patch than ε4 noncarriers. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]