Nerve ultrasound helps to distinguish CIDP patients with diabetes from patients with diabetic polyneuropathy.

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) shares overlapping clinical and electrodiagnostic features with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), which complicates the differential diagnosis of CIDP in diabetic patients. 32 patients with diabetes mellitus and CIDP, 68 patients with CIDP without diabetes, 83 patients with DPN, and 28 diabetic patients without polyneuropathy were examined using clinical scores (Overall Neuropathy Limitation Scale (ONLS), Neuropathy Symptom Score, Neuropathy Deficit Score), nerve conduction studies, and nerve ultrasound (Ultrasound Pattern Sum Score (UPSS)). The ONLS was significantly higher in the CIDP patients with diabetes than in DPN (median [interquartile range]: 4.

Myositis -specific and -associated antibodies in neurological disorders - A retrospective study of 727 patients.

Objective: Myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs) and myositis-associated antibodies (MAAs) are assessed in clinical neurology, serving as a non-invasive tool for the differential diagnosis of autoimmune myopathies. However, the presence of MSAs and MAAs in neurological disorders remains uncertain.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on 878 serum samples from the neurological laboratory of the University Hospital Tübingen, Germany.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and lifelong mental activities in cerebral amyloid angiopathy - a cross-sectional study.

Background: While several studies in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) focus on cognitive function, data on neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and lifelong mental activities in these patients are scarce. Since NPS are associated with functional impairment, faster cognitive decline and faster progression to death, replication studies in more diverse settings and samples are warranted.

Methods: We prospectively recruited n = 69 CAA patients and n = 18 cognitively normal controls (NC).

Anti-sulfatide antibodies in neurological disorders: should we test?

Objective: Neurological autoimmune peripheral and central nervous system disorders can be associated with anti-sulfatide antibodies. These antibodies are considered potential diagnostic biomarkers, although their additional diagnostic value in neurological fields has been increasingly questioned. Given the little evidence of anti-sulfatide antibodies' frequency and diagnostic value in neurology, we aimed to fill this knowledge gap by investigating 10 years of data.

Risk factors for nonidiopathic and idiopathic facial nerve palsies: findings of a retrospective study.

Background: Idiopathic (IF) and nonidiopathic facial (NIF) nerve palsies are the most common forms of peripheral facial nerve palsies. Various risk factors for IF palsies, such as weather, have been explored, but such associations are sparse for NIF palsies, and it remains unclear whether certain diagnostic procedures, such as contrast agent-enhanced cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), are helpful in the differential diagnosis of NIF vs. IF.

Inverse Vulcanization of Activated Norbornenyl Esters-A Versatile Platform for Functional Sulfur Polymers.

Elemental sulfur has shown to be a promising alternative feedstock for development of novel polymeric materials with high sulfur content. However, the utilization of inverse vulcanized polymers is restricted by the limitation of functional comonomers suitable for an inverse vulcanization. Control over properties and structure of inverse vulcanized polymers still poses a challenge to current research due to the dynamic nature of sulfur-sulfur bonds and high temperature of inverse vulcanization reactions.

Uncovering sarcopenia and frailty in older adults by using muscle ultrasound-A narrative review.

Muscle ultrasound is a valuable non-invasive and cost-effective method in assessing muscle mass and structure, both of which are significant indicators for the development of sarcopenia and frailty in elderly individuals. Sarcopenia refers to the loss of muscle mass and strength that occurs with age, whereas frailty is a complex geriatric syndrome characterized by reduced physical function and an increased susceptibility to negative health outcomes. Both conditions are prevalent in older adults and are associated with higher risks of falls, disability, and mortality.

Inferior Frontal Sulcal Hyperintensities on Brain MRI Are Associated with Amyloid Positivity beyond Age-Results from the Multicentre Observational DELCODE Study.

Inferior frontal sulcal hyperintensities (IFSHs) on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences have been proposed to be indicative of glymphatic dysfunction. Replication studies in large and diverse samples are nonetheless needed to confirm them as an imaging biomarker. We investigated whether IFSHs were tied to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and cognitive performance.

Antiganglioside antibody frequency in routine clinical care settings.

Background And Purpose: Antiganglioside antibodies (AGAs) might be involved in the etiopathogenesis of many neurological diseases, such as Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Available comprehensive reference data regarding AGA positivity rates and cross-responsiveness among AGAs (where one line immunoblot is positive for ≥1 AGA) during routine clinical care are scant.

Methods: In this 10-year monocentric retrospective study, 3560 immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM line blots (GA Generic Assays' Anti-Ganglioside Dot kit) obtained using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from 1342 patients were analyzed for AGA positivity in terms of 14 diagnosis categories and AGA cross-responsiveness.

Effect of a digital patient motivation and support tool on CPAP/APAP adherence and daytime sleepiness: a randomized controlled trial.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a digital patient support (DPS) tool, complementary to standard care on continuous or automatic positive airway pressure (auto)CPAP adherence and daytime sleepiness after 12 weeks in patients diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). All patients with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 30 per hour were prospectively included and randomized to receive standard care (SC) or standard care with personalized DPS via a mobile app prototype version (SC + DPS). Patients in the SC + DPS arm received additionally automated feedback on their therapy, motivational messages and therapy recommendations.

Neuropathy in ARSACS is demyelinating but without typical nerve enlargement in nerve ultrasound.

Background: To specify peripheral nerve affection in autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) by correlating high-resolution nerve ultrasound and nerve conduction studies.

Methods: We assessed a cohort of 11 ARSACS patients with standardized nerve conduction studies and high-resolution ultrasound of peripheral nerves and compared nerve ultrasound findings to a healthy control group matched for age, sex, size and weight.

Results: Mean age of patients was 39.

Breath-Hold-Triggered BOLD fMRI in Drug-Resistant Nonlesional Focal Epilepsy-A Pilot Study.

Purpose: Individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy may benefit from epilepsy surgery. In nonlesional cases, where no epileptogenic lesion can be detected on structural magnetic resonance imaging, multimodal neuroimaging studies are required. Breath-hold-triggered BOLD fMRI (bh-fMRI) was developed to measure cerebrovascular reactivity in stroke or angiopathy and highlights regional network dysfunction by visualizing focal impaired flow increase after vasodilatory stimulus.

[Interdisciplinary networks in diseases of peripheral nerves-Exemplified by the Tübingen nerve team].

Background: Nerve damage can be autoimmune inflammatory, metabolic or traumatic, among others, and can be difficult to differentiate.

Objective: What are the advantages of interdisciplinary networks and how do they work?

Material And Method: Field report with case presentation from the University Hospital Tübingen in cooperation with the BG Accident Clinic Tübingen.

Conclusion: Interdisciplinary networks improve the care of our patients and also serve as regular multidisciplinary continuing education.

[Choosing the right imaging for the diagnostics and assessment of the course of peripheral nerve injuries].

Background: Nerve injuries are a frequent problem in routine clinical practice and require intensive interdisciplinary care.

Objective: The current status of imaging to confirm the diagnosis of nerve injuries is described. The role of high-resolution ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnostics and follow-up of peripheral nerve injuries is elaborated.

Nerve Ultrasound of Peripheral Nerves in Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have enriched tumor therapy, improving overall survival. Immunotherapy adverse events (irAEs) occur in up to 50% of patients and also affect the peripheral nervous system. The exact pathomechanism is unclear; however, an autoimmune process is implicated.

Evaluating Diagnostic Ultrasound of the Vagus Nerve as a Surrogate Marker for Autonomic Neuropathy in Diabetic Patients.

: Diagnostic ultrasound of the vagus nerve has been used to examine different polyneuropathies, and it has been suggested to be useful as a marker of autonomic dysfunction in diabetic patients. : We analyzed the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the right vagus nerve of 111 patients with type 2 diabetes in comparison to 104 healthy adults and 41 patients with CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy). In the diabetes group, sympathetic skin response (SSR) was measured as an indicator for autonomic neuropathy.

[Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis: A multifaceted disease].

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv, amyloidosis transthyretin variant) encompasses a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, with polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy being the most common organ manifestations. In addition, other organ systems such as kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, eyes and brain may be affected. If left untreated, the disease progresses rapidly, leading to significantly reduced quality of life and increased mortality.

Shear Wave Elastography in Bruxism-Not Yet Ready for Clinical Routine.

Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) is an emerging modality for the estimation of stiffness, but it has not been studied in relation to common disorders with altered stiffness, such as bruxism, which affects almost one-third of adults. Because this condition could lead to an increased stiffness of masticatory muscles, we investigated SWE in bruxism according to a proof-of-principle and feasibility study with 10 patients with known bruxism and an age- and gender-matched control group. SWE of the left and right masseter muscles was estimated under three conditions: relaxed jaw, 50% of the subjective maximal bite force, and maximal jaw opening.

Ultrasound of the Biceps Muscle in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease with Deep Brain Stimulation: Rigidity Can Be Quantified by Shear Wave Elastography.

Rigidity in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is assessed by clinical scales, mostly the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale of the Movement Disorders Society (MDS-UPDRS). While the MDS-UPDRS-III ranges on an integer from 0 to 4, we investigated whether muscle ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) offers a refined assessment. Ten PD patients (five treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) and levodopa, five with levodopa only) and ten healthy controls were included.

Optically pumped magnetometers detect altered maximal muscle activity in neuromuscular disease.

Optically pumped magnetometers (OPM) are quantum sensors that enable the contactless, non-invasive measurement of biomagnetic muscle signals, i.e., magnetomyography (MMG).