Cerebral venous thrombosis after vaccination against COVID-19 in the UK: a multicentre cohort study.

Background: A new syndrome of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) has emerged as a rare side-effect of vaccination against COVID-19. Cerebral venous thrombosis is the most common manifestation of this syndrome but, to our knowledge, has not previously been described in detail. We aimed to document the features of post-vaccination cerebral venous thrombosis with and without VITT and to assess whether VITT is associated with poorer outcomes.

An Unusual Cause of Cranial Dural Thickening.

We describe an unusual cause of cranial dural thickening in an elderly female with a chronic meningeal inflammatory process. A 70-year-old ethnically Chinese, Singaporean female presented with a history of chronic daily headache with no other meningeal signs. Serial MRI brains showed progressive pachymeningeal and leptomeningeal enhancement in the left frontal region with underlying vasogenic oedema, similar appearances in the right frontal region to a lesser extent, and persistent inflammatory changes in her bilateral paranasal sinuses.

MOG-antibody-associated hypertrophic pachymeningitis.

Background: The clinical spectrum of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-antibody-associated disease is expanding.

Objective: To describe an unusual case of MOG-antibody-associated hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP).

Methods: Case study.

Case report: meningitis as a presenting feature of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Background: Meningitis is a very rare atypical presenting feature of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. In our case report, we describe an unusual clinical presentation of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis with a biphasic pattern of meningitis followed by encephalitis and discuss potential mechanisms underlying this presentation. We aim to widen the differential diagnosis to be considered in a patient presenting with clinical meningitis and pyrexia.

Seeing again: treatment of functional visual loss.

There is very little published literature on treatment strategies for functional visual loss. We present two people with long duration of functional visual loss who achieved complete recovery with a novel combination of therapeutic approaches. These included: (1) the clinician being transparent regarding positive signs such as optokinetic nystagmus, in order to persuade family members of the diagnosis, (2) regularly positively acknowledging everyday events that indicated visual ability, (3) using occipital transcranial magnetic stimulation to induce phosphenes as an artificial temporary visual experience and (4) using hypnotherapy to promote visual recovery.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of retinal nerve fiber layer change in dementia, using optical coherence tomography.

Introduction: Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning, assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT), has recently been reported in various dementias.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the diagnostic utility of RNFL thickness measurement using OCT in dementia (including Alzheimer's disease [AD] and mild cognitive impairment [MCI]) compared with healthy controls (HC).

Results: Seventeen studies comparing AD with HC (702 AD eyes and 790 HC eyes) were included, demonstrating a significant reduction in mean RNFL thickness in AD (weighted mean difference [WMD] 12.

Antimicrobial stewardship: Improving antibiotic prescribing practice in a respiratory ward.

International efforts have mandated guidelines on antibiotic use and prescribing, therefore the focus is now on encouraging positive behavioral changes in antibiotic prescribing practice. Documentation of indication and intended duration of antibiotic use in drug charts is an evidence-based method of reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. It is also a standard detailed in our local antimicrobial guidelines.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of (18)F-labeled amyloid imaging in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Amyloid imaging using fluorine 18-labeled tracers florbetapir, florbetaben, and flutemetamol has recently been reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for relevant studies published from January 1980 to March 2014. Studies comparing imaging findings in AD and normal controls (NCs) were pooled in a meta-analysis, calculating pooled weighted sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (OR) using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model.

Systematic review of the diagnostic utility of SPECT imaging in dementia.

Single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT) may potentially contribute to the diagnostic work up of patients with neurodegenerative dementia. This systematic review aims to establish the diagnostic utility of 99mTc-hexamethylpropyleneamine (99mTc-HMPAO) and 99mTc-ethylcysteine dimer SPECT in distinguishing between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), AD and vascular dementia (VD), AD and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and AD and normal controls (NC). We searched MEDLINE and Embase databases via OVID for articles from January 1985 to May 2012 and identified additional studies from reviews and references.

The diagnostic utility of cerebrospinal fluid alpha-synuclein analysis in dementia with Lewy bodies - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) can be difficult to distinguish clinically from other dementias.

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic utility of CSF alpha-synuclein in differentiating between DLB and other dementias.

Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched for studies investigating reproducible alpha synuclein quantification methods.