Real-world evidence of treatment patterns and survival of metastatic gastric cancer patients in Germany.

Background: Patients with metastatic gastric cancer (mGC) have poor prognosis. This real-world study aimed to describe treatment regimens and survival of mGC patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using anonymized German claims data (AOK PLUS) covering a period from 2010 to 2021.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mortality rates in Latin America and the Caribbean: a meta-analysis.

: Recent studies have described a low occurrence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in Latin America. Significant differences in ALS risk have been reported among ethnic populations in the region. We conducted a meta-analysis using population-based data to describe ALS mortality rates in Latin America.

Clinical management and disease-modifying treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in African hospital centers: the TROPALS study.

To assess the availability of health workers and medications for clinical management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in African hospital centers. Availability and affordability analyses of disease-modifying treatments were performed. : A multicenter observational study involving African hospitals was conducted.

Toxoplasma gondii and multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Purpose: According to the hygiene hypothesis, infections by agents such as parasites have a protective role against the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Among parasites, Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite, showed evidence of a protective effect. This study was undertaken to summarize the available evidence on the association between T.

Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Experience of a Standardized Questionnaire over the Past Two Decades.

Introduction: Epilepsy affects >50 million people worldwide, with 80% of them living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Studies with a standardized methodology are required to obtain comparable data on epilepsy and implement health policies in order to reduce the treatment gap and improve the diagnosis and management of epilepsy. In 2000, following the guidelines of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), the "questionnaire for investigation of epilepsy in tropical countries" (IENT questionnaire) was developed to promote epidemiological surveys on epilepsy using a standard methodology.

Epidemiological and genetic features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review.

: Heterogeneity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been suggested in terms of epidemiology, phenotypes and genetics between geographic areas and populations. However, there is limited information in Latin America. We conducted a systematic review that aimed to describe the epidemiology, frequency of genetic mutations, clinical characteristics and survival of ALS patients in this region.

Comparison of the ability of the King's and MiToS staging systems to predict disease progression and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Assessing clinical progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains a challenge. We evaluated the validity and predictive capabilities of the King's and Milano-Torino Staging (MiToS) systems in a cohort of patients with ALS to demonstrate their benefit in clinical practice. A cohort study was performed by including ALS incident cases in a referral center from 2007 to 2016.

Time-trend evolution and determinants of sex ratio in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a dose-response meta-analysis.

Background: A noticeable change of the male-to-female sex ratio (SR) has been observed in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) leading to an apparent regression of SR with time (SR close to 1:1).

Objective: To provide a global SR estimate and investigate its relation with respect to population age.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted including only population-based studies with a high-quality methodology in European ancestral origin population.

Prevalence of idiopathic REM behavior disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Study Objectives: To provide an overall estimate of the prevalence of idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (iRBD).

Methods: Two investigators have independently searched the PubMed and Scopus databases for population-based studies assessing the prevalence of iRBD. Data about type of diagnosis (polysomnographic diagnosis, defined iRBD [dRBD]; clinical diagnosis, probable RBD [pRBD]), continent, age range of the screened population, quality of the studies, sample size, screening questionnaires, and strategies have been gathered.

A Standard Framework for Population-Based Neuroepidemiological Studies in Tropical Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Methodologies of population-based studies on neurological diseases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have not been standardized. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the numerous challenges occurring in this context and propose a standard framework for population-based studies in LMICs. We relied on our expertise on few diseases, epilepsy and neurodegenerative disorders.

Screening Questionnaires to Detect Neurological Disorders in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Neurological disorders are an important cause of disability and death worldwide. The distribution of these disorders differs significantly in developing countries. Screening questionnaires have been used as an important tool to detect neurological illnesses.

Residential exposure to ultra high frequency electromagnetic fields emitted by Global System for Mobile (GSM) antennas and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis incidence: A geo-epidemiological population-based study.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology. Mobile communication antennas have increased over the last few decades. Consequently, there has been a steady increase in environmental exposure to ultra high frequency electromagnetic fields (UHF-EMFs) emitted by Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication antennas, which raises concerns about possible health risks in the general population.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mortality rates among ethnic groups in a predominant admixed population in Latin America: a population-based study in Ecuador.

Current evidence suggests heterogeneity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) among geographic areas and populations. Lower mortality rates have been reported in admixed populations compared to European origin populations. We aimed to describe and compare ALS mortality rates among ethnic groups using a population-based approach in a multiethnic country.

Sociocultural representations of epilepsy in the Central African Republic: A door-to-door survey.

Purpose: To describe sociocultural representations of epilepsy in a sub-Saharan Africa rural community using a population-based approach.

Method: A cross-sectional door-to-door survey was underway on a rural community of the Central African Republic in 2015. A two-stage stratified sampling was performed.

Updated evidence of the association between toxocariasis and epilepsy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To gain further insight on the association between human toxocariasis and epilepsy in light of the new evidence in the last years.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted without date and language restriction in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), Ingenta Connect, Science Direct (Elsevier), RefDoc, Scopus, HighWire, Scielo and the database of the Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology of the Limoges University (IENT). Two investigators independently conducted the search up to November 2017.

Epilepsy-associated levels of perceived stigma, their associations with treatment, and related factors: A cross-sectional study in urban and rural areas in Ecuador.

Background: Epilepsy is felt to be a stigmatizing condition. Stigma has been considered one of the major factors contributing to the burden of epilepsy and to the treatment gap. Stigma has a negative effect on the management of people with epilepsy (PWE).