Citicoline Treatment in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized, Single-Blind TMS Study.

Background: Recent research on animal models of ischemic stroke supports the idea that pharmacological treatment potentially enhancing intrinsic brain plasticity could modulate acute brain damage, with improved functional recovery. One of these new drugs is citicoline, which could provide neurovascular protection and repair effects.

Objectives: The objective of this randomized, single-blind experimental study was to evaluate whether the treatment with Rischiaril Forte was able to restore intracortical excitability measures, evaluated through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocols, in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Arterial tortuosity syndrome causing recurrent transient ischemic attacks in young adult: a case report.

Background: Arterial Tortuosity Syndrome (ATS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by elongated and tortuous arteries. Although ATS showed a significant clinical and pathophysiological overlap with other syndromes involving connective tissues, only few cases of cerebrovascular events related to this syndrome have been described so far.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 33-years-old male diagnosed with ATS since childhood, that experienced three sudden episodes of expressive aphasia and right hemiparesis with spontaneous resolution.

Cortical Inhibitory Imbalance in Functional Paralysis.

Background: Functional neurological disorders are characterized by neurological symptoms that have no identifiable pathology and little is known about their underlying pathophysiology.

Objectives: To analyze motor cortex excitability and intracortical inhibitory and excitatory circuits' imbalance in patients with flaccid functional weakness.

Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients with acute onset of flaccid functional weakness were recruited.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of inpatients with neurologic disease and COVID-19 in Brescia, Lombardy, Italy.

Objective: To report clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment, and clinical outcomes of patients admitted for neurologic diseases with and without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: In this retrospective, single-center cohort study, we included all adult inpatients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to a neuro-COVID unit beginning February 21, 2020, who had been discharged or died by April 5, 2020. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data were extracted from medical records and compared (false discovery rate corrected) to those of neurologic patients without COVID-19 admitted in the same period.

Intravenous fibrinolysis plus endovascular thrombectomy versus direct endovascular thrombectomy for anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke: clinical and infarct volume results.

Background: endovascular therapy (ET) is the standard of care for anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO). The role of adjunctive intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in these patients remains unclear. The present study aims to investigate whether IVT followed by ET (CoT, combined therapy) provides additional benefits over direct ET for anterior circulation AIS with LVO.

Leukoaraiosis is a predictor of futile recanalization in acute ischemic stroke.

Futile recanalization occurs when successful recanalization fails to improve clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients. Predictors of futile recanalization are still debated and may help in selecting patients for reperfusion strategies. We aim to determine whether leukoaraiosis may be useful in predicting futile recanalization in acute ischemic stroke patients treated by endovascular mechanical thrombectomy.

Infective Endocarditis Presenting with Intracranial Bleeding.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) can be complicated by intracranial bleeding (ICB) caused by different pathologic mechanisms. The occurrence of ICB in patients with IE significantly influences therapeutic decisions and has a negative impact on outcome.

Case Report: We describe the clinical courses of 3 patients with aortic prosthetic valve IE presenting with ICB.

Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy in basilar artery occlusion: variables affecting recanalization and outcome.

Ischemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is frequently associated with a poor prognosis. To date the most effective therapeutic approach has not been established and little is known about the predictors of clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to describe safety and efficacy of intra-arterial mechanical thrombectomy (IAMT) through latest generation devices in patients with BAO, focusing on those variables that may affect recanalization and clinical outcome.

The importance of Alzheimer disease assessment scale-cognitive part in predicting progress for amnestic mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer disease.

The aim of this study was to verify the usefulness of Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), in screening participants at risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) among populations with amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI). 98 outpatients with aMCI were recruited. Participants were revaluated after 1 year: 44 (44.

Mild parkinsonian signs and psycho-behavioral symptoms in subjects with mild cognitive impairment.

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may be accompanied by extra pyramidal signs (EPS), which are related to the severity and type of cognitive impairment. We aimed to elucidate further the relationship between MCI and EPS, analyzing the correlation between the severity of EPS and cognitive functions, and the presence of EPS and neuro-psychiatric features.

Methods: Data were obtained from a longitudinal study of 150 MCI outpatients.

Conversion of amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment to dementia of Alzheimer type is independent to memory deterioration.

Background: Mild Cognitive Impairment defines a transitional stage between normal ageing and dementia, and reflects the clinical situation where a person has memory complaints and objective evidence of cognitive impairment but no evidence of dementia. To plan the care of patients with MCI, it is important to predict as accurately as possible potential risk factors modulating the conversion to AD.

Aim: To investigate the risk factors associated of conversion to dementia of Alzheimer type (AD) for subjects with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI).

Cognitive and psychopathologic response to rivastigmine in dementia with Lewy bodies compared to Alzheimer's disease: a case control study.

Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are effective in improving cognition and behavior in patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as by Lewy bodies dementia (DLB). The authors compared the effect of rivastigmine in the treatment of cognitive impairment and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in 30 AD and in 30 DLB patients. At baseline, DLB compared to AD patients showed a greater number of extrapyramidal symptoms (P < .