Neurohospitalist Core Competencies.

The Neurohospitalist Core Competencies comprise a set of competency-based learning objectives that encapsulate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of neurohospitalitists who specialize in the care of hospitalized patients with neurologic conditions. These competencies serve to characterize the rapidly expanding field of neurohospitalist medicine. The 27 chapters are divided into 3 sections entitled: neurological conditions, clinical interventions and interpretation of ancillary studies, and neurohospitalist role in the healthcare system.

Magnetic Characterization by Scanning Microscopy of Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.

This study aimed to systematically understand the magnetic properties of magnetite (FeO) nanoparticles functionalized with different Pluronic F-127 surfactant concentrations (FeO@Pluronic F-127) obtained by using an improved magnetic characterization method based on three-dimensional magnetic maps generated by scanning magnetic microscopy. Additionally, these FeO and FeO@Pluronic F-127 nanoparticles, as promising systems for biomedical applications, were prepared by a wet chemical reaction. The magnetization curve was obtained through these three-dimensional maps, confirming that both FeO and FeO@Pluronic F-127 nanoparticles have a superparamagnetic behavior.

A Case Report of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Acute Neuropathic Pain in Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a peripheral demyelinating neuromuscular disorder occasionally associated with pharmacologically refractory neuropathic pain. We present a case of acute neuropathic pain in a 22-year-old man with GBS managed with percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). Following implantation of leads in the bilateral sciatic, femoral, and brachial plexus nerve distribution, the patient experienced significant pain reduction in both the upper and lower extremities.

Use of artificial intelligence as an innovative donor-recipient matching model for liver transplantation: results from a multicenter Spanish study.

Background & Aims: There is an increasing discrepancy between the number of potential liver graft recipients and the number of organs available. Organ allocation should follow the concept of benefit of survival, avoiding human-innate subjectivity. The aim of this study is to use artificial-neural-networks (ANNs) for donor-recipient (D-R) matching in liver transplantation (LT) and to compare its accuracy with validated scores (MELD, D-MELD, DRI, P-SOFT, SOFT, and BAR) of graft survival.

Inclusion body myositis: diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment options.

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is the most common acquired myopathy in people older than 50 years. IBM typically presents with distal upper extremity weakness accompanied by proximal lower extremity muscle weakness. Associated clinical findings include asymmetric weakness, foot drop, and dysphagia.

BNP as marker of heart dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Backgrounds: Patients with liver cirrhosis suffer various degrees of cardiac dysfunction which may be crucial in determining the outcome of surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the role of natriuretic peptides on the assessment of cardiac dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Prospective longitudinal study of 30 patients with hepatic cirrhosis.

Model for end-stage liver disease score-based allocation of donors for liver transplantation: a spanish multicenter experience.

Background: Prioritizing the liver transplant waiting list (WL) is subject to great variability. We present the experience of four transplant centers in Andalusia (Southern Spain) with a new consensus model of WL management based on the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score.

Methods: The initial criteria for local prioritizing were: a) cirrhosis with MELD score > or =24, and b) all hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) admitted to the WL.

Assignment of steatotic livers by the Mayo model for end-stage liver disease.

Prognosis after liver transplantation depends on a combination of recipient and donor variables. The purpose of this study is to define an allocation system of steatotic donor livers relative to recipient model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. We reviewed 500 consecutive OLT, computing the MELD score for each recipient.

Precipitate crystal structure determination in melt spun Mg-1.5wt%Ca-6wt%Zn alloy.

A melt-spun Mg-1.5%wtCa-6wt%Zn alloy was analyzed by means of transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The as-solidified alloy exhibited both spherical matrix precipitates and elongated precipitates at the grain boundaries (grain-boundary films).

Influence of marginal donors on liver preservation injury.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the accumulated effects of marginal donor quality factors on liver preservation injury (LPI).

Methods: The most recent 400 consecutive liver transplantations at our institution were reviewed. Marginal liver donor criteria included the following: older than 60 years, an intensive care unit stay under ventilatory support for more than 4 days, a cold ischemia time more than 14 hr, high inotropic drug use, prolonged hypotensive episodes for more than 1 hr and less than 60 mm Hg, a peak serum sodium more than 155 mEq/L, and high levels of bilirubin, alanine transferase, or amino transferase.

Effect of internal biliary drainage on plasma levels of endotoxin, cytokines, and C-reactive protein in patients with obstructive jaundice.

Preoperative biliary drainage may improve the cytokine and acute-phase response derangements observed in patients with obstructive jaundice. We conducted a prospective longitudinal, before-after trial in our 600-bed teaching hospital. Twenty-four patients with obstructive jaundice were investigated, 11 with benign obstruction and 13 with malignant disease.