Factors associated with adherence to noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Introduction: This cohort study aimed to investigate the factors associated with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation adherence and assess the long-term effects of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation adherence in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: The medical records of patients with ALS admitted to a tertiary hospital for noninvasive positive pressure ventilation initiation were retrospectively reviewed. Pulmonary function parameters, variables of blood gas analysis, the site of symptom onset, the time from onset and diagnosis to noninvasive positive pressure ventilation application, ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised, neurophysiological index, and the length of hospital stay were evaluated.

Intraoperative Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials and Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Microvascular Decompression.

Background: We performed this study to investigate the effect of intraoperative brainstem auditory evoked potential (IBAEP) changes on the development of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after microvascular decompression (MVD) for neurovascular cross compression.

Methods: A total of 373 consecutive cases were treated with MVD. The use of rescue antiemetics after surgery was used as an objective indicator of PONV.

Advancing Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring With Human Reflexes.

Human reflexes are simple motor responses that are automatically elicited by various sensory inputs. These reflexes can provide valuable insights into the functioning of the nervous system, particularly the brainstem and spinal cord. Reflexes involving the brainstem, such as the blink reflex, laryngeal adductor reflex, trigeminal hypoglossal reflex, and masseter H reflex, offer immediate information about the cranial-nerve functionality and the overall state of the brainstem.

Prognostic factors of first-onset optic neuritis based on diagnostic criteria and antibody status: a multicentre analysis of 427 eyes.

Background: Optic neuritis (ON) prognosis is influenced by various factors including attack severity, underlying aetiologies, treatments and consequences of previous episodes. This study, conducted on a large cohort of first ON episodes, aimed to identify unique prognostic factors for each ON subtype, while excluding any potential influence from pre-existing sequelae.

Methods: Patients experiencing their first ON episodes, with complete aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody testing, and clinical data for applying multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnostic criteria, were enrolled.

Prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients after tracheostomy invasive ventilation in Korea.

: Tracheostomy invasive ventilation (TIV) is applied to a subset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients; however, its frequency and impact on prognosis vary across countries. : We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using Korean National Health Insurance claims data. All patients diagnosed with sporadic ALS from 2012 to 2017 were included, with the observation period until 2020.

Different cutoff value of motor evoked potentials for the postoperative outcome in the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament surgery in the cervical and thoracic spine.

Background Context: Transcranial muscle motor evoked potentials (Tc-mMEPs), a key component of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM), effectively reflect the changes in corticospinal tract integrity and are closely related to the occurrence of the postoperative motor deficit (PMD). Most institutions have applied a specified (fixed) alarm criterion for the heterogeneous groups in terms of etiologies or lesion location. However, given the high risk of PMD in ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) surgery, it is essential to determine a tailored cutoff value for IONM.

Membrane Protein Bcest Is Involved in Hyphal Growth, Virulence and Stress Tolerance of .

is a necrotrophic model fungal plant pathogen that causes grey mould, a devastating disease responsible for large losses in the agriculture sector. As important targets of fungicides, membrane proteins are hot spots in the research and development of fungicide products. We previously found that membrane protein Bcest may be closely related to the pathogenicity of .

Early rituximab treatment reduces long-term disability in aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) causes relapsing inflammatory attacks in the central nervous system, leading to disability. As rituximab, a B-lymphocyte-depleting monoclonal antibody, is an effective in preventing NMOSD relapses, we hypothesised that earlier initiation of rituximab can also reduce long-term disability of patients with NMOSD.

Methods: This multicentre retrospective study involving 19 South Korean referral centres included patients with NMOSD with aquaporin-4 antibodies receiving rituximab treatment.

Intraoperative bulbocavernosus reflex monitoring in posterior lumbar fusion surgery.

Objective: To assess the utility of intraoperative bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) monitoring in posterior lumbar fusion surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 153 patients undergoing posterior lumbar fusion with intraoperative BCR monitoring. Voiding function was assessed at discharge and two follow-ups.

Features of non-traumatic spinal cord infarction on MRI: Changes over time.

Background And Purpose: Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is difficult to diagnosis using MRI findings. We aimed to suggest the optimal timing of MRI studies for diagnosing SCI.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was approved by our institutional review board.

Advances in Intraoperative Neurophysiology During Microvascular Decompression Surgery for Hemifacial Spasm.

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a widely used surgical intervention to relieve the abnormal compression of a facial nerve caused by an artery or vein that results in hemifacial spasm (HFS). Various intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (ION) and mapping methodologies have been used since the 1980s, including brainstem auditory evoked potentials, lateral-spread responses, Z-L responses, facial corticobulbar motor evoked potentials, and blink reflexes. These methods have been applied to detect neuronal damage, to optimize the successful decompression of a facial nerve, to predict clinical outcomes, and to identify changes in the excitability of a facial nerve and its nucleus during MVD.

The utility of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in surgical treatment for spinal arteriovenous malformations: A historical control study.

Objective: This study sought to investigate the utility of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) in the surgical treatment for spinal arteriovenous malformations (SAVMs).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 39 patients who underwent surgical treatment for SAVMs. Twenty-eight patients who received multimodal IONM (transcranial electrical motor-evoked potentials [MEPs], somatosensory-evoked potentials, continuous electromyography, and bulbocavernosus reflex [BCR]) between 2011 and 2020 were compared to 11 historical controls between 2003 and 2011.

Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein-Immunoglobulin G in the CSF: Clinical Implication of Testing and Association With Disability.

Background And Objective: To investigate the clinical relevance of CSF myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-immunoglobulin G (MOG-IgG) testing in a large multicenter cohort.

Methods: In this multicenter cohort study, paired serum-CSF samples from 474 patients with suspected inflammatory demyelinating disease (IDD) from 11 referral hospitals were included. After serum screening, patients were grouped into seropositive myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody associated disease (MOGAD, 31), aquaporin-4-IgG-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-IgG + NMOSD, 60), other IDDs (217), multiple sclerosis (MS, 45), and non-IDDs (121).

The novel prognostic value of postoperative follow-up lateral spread response after microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm.

Objective: The lateral spread response (LSR) is an aberrant electrophysiological response in which a stimulus on one branch of the facial nerve spills over to other branches of the nerve, which can be captured by electrodes near each branch. The authors performed this study to evaluate the prognostic value of the follow-up LSR with a sufficient time interval from intraoperative LSR (IO-LSR) after microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS), excluding the interference of various intraoperative situations.

Methods: A total of 247 patients treated with MVD for HFS between June 2011 and March 2019 were enrolled in this study.

Actinomycosis of the nasal cavity.

Introduction: Actinomycosis of the nasal cavity is very rare.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features, treatment methods, and treatment results of actinomycosis of the nasal cavity in our hospital.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 11 patients with histopathologically identified actinomycosis of the nasal cavity from January 2010 to May 2020.

Efficacy of intraoperative bulbocavernosus reflex monitoring for the prediction of postoperative voiding function in adult patients with lumbosacral spinal tumor.

Lumbosacral spinal tumor surgery is associated with a relatively high risk of postoperative voiding dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between intraoperative bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) changes and postoperative voiding function in adult patients with lumbosacral spinal tumors. We retrospectively reviewed 63 patients who underwent intradural conus and cauda equina tumor surgeries with intraoperative BCR monitoring.

Neurophysiological monitoring during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the value of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) in anterior cervical spine discectomy with fusion (ACDF) for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Methods: Patients who underwent multimodal IONM (transcranial electrical motor-evoked potentials [tcMEP], somatosensory-evoked potentials, and continuous electromyography) for ACDF from 2009 to 2019 were compared to historical controls from 2003 to 2009. The rates of postoperative neurological deficits, neurophysiological warnings, and their characteristics were analyzed.

Predictive value of intraoperative blink reflex monitoring for surgical outcome during microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic and predictive value of intraoperative blink reflex (BR) monitoring during microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 41 patients with HFS undergoing MVD with intraoperative BR and lateral spread response (LSR) monitoring. Facial spasm was evaluated for six months postoperatively.

Bone health in neuromyelitis optica: Bone mineral density and fractures.

Background: The bone health in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G antibodies (NMOSD-AQP4) have not been fully evaluated. To evaluate the prevalence of fractures and bone loss in patients with NMOSD-AQP4 compared to healthy controls and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to identify the risk factors associated with fractures and low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with NMOSD-AQP4.

Methods: Seventy-one patients with NMOSD-AQP4 were included.

Characteristics of forearm mixed nerve conduction study in carpal tunnel syndrome: Comparison with ultrasound assessments.

This study aimed to characterize forearm mixed nerve conduction study (NCS) findings in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Eighty-two patients with CTS and 48 healthy controls were enrolled. We directly compared the forearm mixed NCS and ultrasonography results from CTS patients with those from the controls.

[Various MRI Findings of Myelitis].

Purpose: To describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in 10 cases of myelitis and to analyze these findings to aid in the diagnosis of this condition.

Materials And Methods: From June 2015 to March 2018, we retrospectively analyzed the electronic medical records and MR images of patients who were diagnosed with myelitis. The analysis of the MR images was based on a discussion between an experienced spinal radiologist and a radiology resident.