A Bakers cyst, also known as a popliteal cyst, is a type of fluid collection behind the knee. Often there are no symptoms. If symptoms do occur these may include swelling and pain behind the knee, or knee stiffness. If the cyst breaks open, pain may significantly increase with swelling of the calf. Rarely complications such as deep vein thrombosis, peripheral neuropathy, ischemia, or compartment syndrome may occur.Risk factors include other knee problems such as osteoarthritis, meniscal tears, or rheumatoid arthritis. The underlying mechanism involves the flow of synovial fluid from the knee joint to the gastrocnemio-semimembranosus bursa, resulting in its expansion. The diagnosis may be confirmed with ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Treatment is initially with supportive care. If this is not effective aspiration and steroid injection or surgical removal may be carried out. Around 20% of people have a Bakers cyst. They occur most commonly in those 35 to 70 years old. It is named after the surgeon who first described it, William Morrant Baker (1838–1896). Signs and symptoms
Symptoms may include swelling behind the knee, stiffness, and pain. If the cyst breaks open, pain may increase, and there may be swelling of the calf. Rupture of a Bakers cyst may also cause bruising below the medial malleolus of the ankle (Crescent sign). Cause
In adults, Bakers cysts usually arise from almost any form of knee arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) or cartilage (particularly a meniscus) tear. Bakers cysts in children do not point to underlying joint disease.
Paroxysms of laughter have no relation to the EEG, ruling out this feature as a gelastic phenomenon.EEG anomalies may be used as a quantitative biomarkers to "chart progression of AS and as clinical outcome measures". Slow delta activity (~3 Hz) is greatly increased in AS relative to typically developing children, yet more pronounced in children with partial 15q deletions as opposed to those with etiologies principally affecting UBE3A. Theta activity (~5 Hz) is much greater in children with partial 15q deletions. Thus, delta activity appears to be chiefly reflective of UBE3A dysfunction with some modulation from other 15q genes, whereas theta activity may be an electrophysiological readout of genes beyond UBE3A such as GABRA5, GABRB3, and GABRG3. Future clinical trials in AS might exploit the foregoing by using EEG as a readout of drug target engagement.It appears that the neurons of people with Angelman syndrome are formed correctly, but they cannot function properly. Diagnosis
The diagnosis of Angelman syndrome is based on:
A history of delayed motor milestones and then later a delay in general development, especially of speech
Unusual movements including fine tremors, jerky limb movements, hand flapping and a wide-based, stiff-legged gait. Characteristic facial appearance (but not in all cases). A history of epilepsy and an abnormal EEG tracing.