Microglial Modulation of Synaptic Maturation, Activity, and Plasticity.

Microglia, which are the resident immune cells of the CNS, also have important functions in physiological conditions. In this chapter, we review the experimental evidence that microglia modulate neuronal and synaptic activity during normal development and in adults. We show that microglia can regulate the maturation and function of both inhibitory and excitatory synapses that can be stimulated or repressed.

Microglial TNFα controls daily changes in synaptic GABAARs and sleep slow waves.

Microglia sense the changes in their environment. How microglia actively translate these changes into suitable cues to adapt brain physiology is unknown. We reveal an activity-dependent regulation of cortical inhibitory synapses by microglia, driven by purinergic signaling acting on P2RX7 and mediated by microglia-derived TNFα.

Efficacy of acupuncture on cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pain associated with cancer is one of the greatest causes of reduced quality of life in patients. Acupuncture is one of the treatments used to address this issue, with the great advantage of having little or no side effects, especially when compared with pharmacological pain-killers.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the current evidence regarding the efficacy of acupuncture for cancer pain.

IL-4 shapes microglia-dependent pruning of the cerebellum during postnatal development.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a type 2 cytokine with pleiotropic functions in adaptive immunity, allergies, and cognitive processes. Here, we show that low levels of IL-4 in the early postnatal stage delineate a critical period in which microglia extensively prune cerebellar neurons. Elevating the levels of this cytokine via peripheral injection, or using a mouse model of allergic asthma, leads to defective pruning, permanent increase in cerebellar granule cells, and circuit alterations.

Ultrasonographic Vasospasm and Outcome of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy and Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndromes.

Purpose: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) are often complicated by vasospasm and ischemia. Monitoring with transcranial color-coded Doppler (TCCD) could be useful, but its role is not established. We studied the incidence of ultrasonographic vasospasm (uVSP) in PRES/RCVS and its relationship with ischemic lesions and clinical outcome.

[Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension].

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a syndrome characterized by disabling orthostatic headache, due to reduced cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume probably caused by a CSF fistula. It affects mostly women of working-age, although it is probably underdiagnosed. The aim of this article is to present a practical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of SIH.

Critically ill patient mortality by age: long-term follow-up (CIMbA-LT).

Background: The past years have witnessed dramatic changes in the population admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Older and sicker patients are now commonly treated in this setting due to the newly available sophisticated life support. However, the short- and long-term benefit of this strategy is scarcely studied.

Microglial TNFα orchestrates protein phosphorylation in the cortex during the sleep period and controls homeostatic sleep.

Sleep intensity is adjusted by the length of previous awake time, and under tight homeostatic control by protein phosphorylation. Here, we establish microglia as a new cellular component of the sleep homeostasis circuit. Using quantitative phosphoproteomics of the mouse frontal cortex, we demonstrate that microglia-specific deletion of TNFα perturbs thousands of phosphorylation sites during the sleep period.

Muscle MRI as a Diagnostic Challenge in Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy.

 Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy (EDMD) is an early-onset, slowly-progressive group of myopathies, presenting with joint contractures, muscle weakness and cardiac abnormalities. Variants in the EMD gene cause an X-linked recessive form (EDMD1). The scarce EDMD1 muscle MRI accounts in the literature describe fatty replacement of posterior thigh and leg muscles.

Common variable immunodeficiency and its inflammatory neurological manifestations: A case report and literature review.

Background: Common variable immunodeficiency disorders (CVID) are a group of primary immunodeficiencies characterized by impaired immunoglobulin production and dysregulated immune response. Neurological manifestations have been described in a few patients, and little is known about its clinic and therapeutic approach. Thus, this work aimed to review the literature on it and to help differentiate CVID from its mimics, especially sarcoidosis.

Congenital myopathies in adults: A diagnosis not to overlook.

Background: Congenital myopathies (CM) were traditionally classified according to the muscle histopathological features, but in recent years, molecular diagnosis has become increasingly important. CM may present a wide phenotype variability, and while adult-onset CM have been increasingly recognized, substantial diagnostic delays are still reported.

Objectives: To describe a cohort of adult CM patients, including clinical, genetic, and histopathological features, and further characterize the subgroup of adult-diagnosed patients.

Genomic variation in baboons from central Mozambique unveils complex evolutionary relationships with other Papio species.

Background: Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique hosts a large population of baboons, numbering over 200 troops. Gorongosa baboons have been tentatively identified as part of Papio ursinus on the basis of previous limited morphological analysis and a handful of mitochondrial DNA sequences. However, a recent morphological and morphometric analysis of Gorongosa baboons pinpointed the occurrence of several traits intermediate between P.

Machine Learning Approach for Fatigue Estimation in Sit-to-Stand Exercise.

Physical exercise (PE) has become an essential tool for different rehabilitation programs. High-intensity exercises (HIEs) have been demonstrated to provide better results in general health conditions, compared with low and moderate-intensity exercises. In this context, monitoring of a patients' condition is essential to avoid extreme fatigue conditions, which may cause physical and physiological complications.

Headache teleconsultation in the era of COVID-19: Patients' evaluation and future directions.

Background And Purpose: Literature regarding headache teleconsultation and patient satisfaction is scarce. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to the restructuring of traditional clinical activity by adopting telemedicine. Our objectives were to evaluate patients' satisfaction with headache teleconsultation by telephone during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and assess patients' preferred model of appointment (face-to-face, teleconsultation by telephone, or both).

Inflammatory Biomarkers Correlate with Time Evolution in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

Objectives: We aimed to analyse the relationship between specific inflammatory biomarkers' levels and the temporal pattern of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) symptoms.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective study of adult CVT patients admitted between Jan 01 2006 and Dec 31 2019. We excluded patients with infection at admission, autoimmune, inflammatory or haematological disorders.

Idiopathic Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia.

Idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is a rare disease of unknown cause characterized by eosinophilic alveolar and interstitial infiltration. The authors describe the case of a 46-year-old black man, presenting with insidious onset and progressive course of dyspnea on minimum exertion, cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss for one year and worsening in the last three months. The main findings were serum eosinophilia.

Inter and intra-generational phenotypic variability in a Portuguese family with DYT-GCH1.

DYT-GCH1 is the most common form of Dopa-responsive dystonia. We analysed a three-generation Portuguese family with the same variant of DYT-GCH1. Dystonia and parkinsonism were found, along with non-motor symptoms.

The Ubiquitinated Axon: Local Control of Axon Development and Function by Ubiquitin.

Ubiquitin tagging sets protein fate. With a wide range of possible patterns and reversibility, ubiquitination can assume many shapes to meet specific demands of a particular cell across time and space. In neurons, unique cells with functionally distinct axons and dendrites harboring dynamic synapses, the ubiquitin code is exploited at the height of its power.

Botulinum toxin as a novel therapeutic approach for auriculotemporal neuralgia.

Objectives/background: Auriculotemporal neuralgia is a rare headache disorder. Anesthetic nerve blockade seems to be effective in most cases; however, literature is scarce about the management of refractory cases.

Methods: Case report.

Peripheral facial paralysis as presenting symptom of COVID-19 in a pregnant woman.

Acute facial nerve disease leading to peripheral facial paralysis is commonly associated with viral infections. COVID-19 may be a potential cause of peripheral facial paralysis and neurological symptoms could be the first and only manifestation of the disease. We report a case of a term pregnancy diagnosed with COVID-19 after presenting with isolated peripheral facial palsy.

Imaging Evidence of Nigrostriatal Degeneration in DYT-PRKRA.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/23301619/homepage/mdc312941-sup-v001.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in Hematological Malignancy: Balancing the Risks.

Background And Aim: The coexistence of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) and hematological neoplasms is rare. Currently available therapeutic options raise problems concerning the balance of thrombotic and hemorrhagic risks. Our purpose is to characterize a series of cases of CVT and concomitant hematological malignancy, focusing on predisposing factors and treatment strategies.

Whipple's Disease as the First Manifestation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia.

Unlabelled: Whipple's disease is a rare multisystemic infectious disease that can mimic lymphoproliferative disorders and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of febrile syndromes. The authors describe the case of a 55-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department with dyspnoea and abdominal pain. He had a 2-month history of fever, night sweats, asthenia and unintentional weight loss.