Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome in neurosurgery: literature review and illustrative case example.

Introduction: The dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS) is a complication in those undergoing dialysis for chronic kidney disease (CKD) or acute kidney injury (AKI), characterized by nonspecific symptoms that may progress to coma and death secondary to cerebral edema. This syndrome is associated with rapid change in electrolytes during dialysis with changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) and may have a higher incidence in the elderly neurosurgical patient population.

Methods: Literature review and illustrative case example.

Contemporary Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Therapies for Secondary Stroke Prevention: A Narrative Review of Current Literature and Guidelines.

Purpose Of Review: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The annual incidence of new or recurrent stroke is approximately 795,000 cases per year in the United States, of which 87% are ischemic in nature. In addition to the management of modifiable high-risk factors to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke, antithrombotic agents (antiplatelets and anticoagulants) play an important role in secondary stroke prevention.

Recent advances in the management of transient ischemic attacks.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) constitutes an important clinical condition, indicating the presence of considerable risk for a subsequent ischemic stroke. Its prompt diagnosis and management have the potential for reducing the risk of neurologic disability, highlighting the critical need to prioritize the care of patients with TIA. The risk of ischemic stroke following a TIA is directly related to its etiopathogenesis, and recognizable causes are commonly categorized within one of three domains: cerebrovascular pathology, cardiac dysfunction, and hematologic disorders.

Etiologic mechanisms in an adapted family-based preventive intervention for underage alcohol use in Mexico: Results of an exploratory pilot study.

Alcohol use represents a global health problem, especially for Latin American youth. As part of the Global Smart Drinking Goals campaign, a family-based preventive intervention was adapted and piloted in Mexico based on an existing evidence-based program, Guiding Good Choices. In this study, we explored the malleability and session-specific mean-level changes in protective and risk factors targeted by the adapted family intervention as related to the prevention of underage alcohol use and abuse.

Global Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Disrupted Lipid and Amino Acid Metabolism Between the Acute and Chronic Stages of Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Stroke is a major cause of serious disability in the United States. Previous studies found multiple associations of serum metabolites with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) compared to controls, but few of them evaluated metabolome in a longitudinal fashion. Therefore, we compared the metabolome of the acute and chronic stages of ischemic stroke.

Development and Implementation of Businesses That Care in Zacatecas, Mexico.

As part of the Global Smart Drinking Goals campaign launched in 2018 in 6 "City Pilots" around the world, the Businesses That Care (BTC; Empresas Que se Cuidan in Spanish) prevention system was developed and implemented in Zacatecas, Mexico. BTC is a private business sector adaptation of the Communities That Care prevention system. BTC is designed to address underage alcohol use through a combination of a company-led prevention system, an adapted family-based prevention program with parents employed at participating companies, and environmental prevention strategies for company employees.

Predictors of Engagement and Attendance of a Family-Based Prevention Program for Underage Drinking in Mexico.

Underage drinking represents a major global health problem. Given the crisis that underage drinking represents, Tomando Buenas Decisiones, a family-based prevention program, was adapted and piloted in Mexico based on the existing Guiding Good Choices program. Although family-based interventions in the USA are promising for preventing underage drinking, little is known about how adapted versions of these interventions may work in low-middle income countries, such as in Latin America.

Dietary Insights in Neurological Diseases.

Purpose Of Review: Dietary interventions may play a role in the pathophysiology of common neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. This article describes the most common and impactful dietary regimens for commonly encountered neurological disorders.

Recent Findings: Plant-based, low-fat, high-fiber diets, rich in antioxidants and other lifestyle interventions may reduce the burden and disability of common neurological disorders.

Safer Stroke-Dx Instrument: Identifying Stroke Misdiagnosis in the Emergency Department.

Background: Missed or delayed diagnosis of acute stroke, or false-negative stroke (FNS), at initial emergency department (ED) presentation occurs in ≈9% of confirmed stroke patients. Failure to rapidly diagnose stroke can preclude time-sensitive treatments, resulting in higher risks of severe sequelae and disability. In this study, we developed and tested a modified version of a structured medical record review tool, the Safer Dx Instrument, to identify FNS in a subgroup of hospitalized patients with stroke to gain insight into sources of ED stroke misdiagnosis.

Management dilemmas in acute ischemic stroke and concomitant acute pulmonary embolism: Case series and literature review.

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are common disorders with high morbidity and mortality, rarely presenting simultaneously. There is a paucity of data regarding the management of this uncommon presentation. The treatment of these two entities is complex in the acute phase due to the concomitant need for thrombolysis in AIS and anticoagulation for PE.

Neurologic complications of implantable devices.

Technologies for repairing cardiac structures or sustaining cardiac function with implantable devices have helped patients with an ever-expanding array of cardiac conditions. Patients are surviving and thriving with cardiac conditions that would formerly have been disabling or fatal. With the implantation of devices in the heart, however, comes the inevitable risk of neurological complications.

Immune-Mediated Disorders Affecting the Spinal Cord and the Spine.

Purpose Of Review: To review the most recent advances and provide a description of the most common autoimmune diseases causing myelitis and selective spine disorders. The ultimate goal of this article is to facilitate the prompt recognition of these diseases.

Recent Findings: The recent discovery of biomarkers such as aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies has changed our understanding of autoimmune diseases affecting the spinal cord as well as their treatment and outcomes.