The incremental benefit of EUS for the identification of malignancy in indeterminate extrahepatic biliary strictures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review aims to assess the literature to determine the impact of EUS for diagnosing malignancy among indeterminate extrahepatic biliary strictures. A systematic review was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and conference proceedings from inception to July 2016. Pooled results were calculated using random-effects model, and heterogeneity was explored using stratified meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Specific functional asymmetries of the human visual cortex revealed by functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Based on multiple invasive reports and neuroimaging studies, it is well established that the cytoarchitecture of the visual cortex is related to its functional organization, namely, its retinotopy. The present study aimed to further investigate retinotopic mapping as well as specific vertical and horizontal functional asymmetries within the human visual cortex using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Black and white wedge checkerboard stimuli were randomly presented to the four visual field (VF) quadrants of eight healthy adults in order to quantify and compare the localization and the amplitude of hemodynamic cortical responses to each VF quadrant.

Cumulative effects of concussions in athletes revealed by electrophysiological abnormalities on visual working memory.

Event-related potentials (ERPs) have been useful to detect subtle, pervasive alterations of cognition-related waveforms in athletes with multiple concussions. This study used the sustained posterior contralateral negativity (SPCN) waveform component recorded while participants performed a visual short-term memory task to investigate how working memory (WM) storage capacity was affected among athletes who differed according to their history of sports concussions. Fifty-five university-level football players were assigned to three groups: 1-2 concussion athletes; 3+ concussion athletes; non-concussed athletes.

Electrophysiological abnormalities in well functioning multiple concussed athletes.

Objective: The present study was aimed at characterizing the short- and long-term effects of multiple concussions using an electrophysiological approach.

Method: Participants for this study were recruited from college football teams. They included athletes who never sustained concussions compared to two groups of asymptomatic multiple concussed athletes, one that sustained their last concussion within the year and the other more than 2 years prior to testing.

Near-infrared spectroscopy as an alternative to the Wada test for language mapping in children, adults and special populations.

The intracarotid amobarbital test (IAT) is the most widely used procedure for pre-surgical evaluation of language lateralization in epileptic patients. However, apart from being invasive, this technique is not applicable in young children or patients who present mental retardation and/or language deficits. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is increasingly employed as a non-invasive alternative.

Neuropsychology: traditional and new methods of investigation.

The neuropsychological assessment is an integral part of the clinical investigation of patients suffering from epilepsy. The aim of the evaluation is to determine disease-related and treatment-related effects on cognition and behavior in order to orient therapeutic interventions, by taking into account the compensatory mechanisms that are available to the patient. Examples of the tests best illustrating the classical neuropsychological protocol are presented.

Neurophysiological anomalies in symptomatic and asymptomatic concussed athletes.

Objective: Concussion in sports is a problem of such magnitude that improvements in diagnosis and management are desirable. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of concussion on event-related potentials, in symptomatic as well as in asymptomatic athletes.

Methods: Twenty symptomatic and asymptomatic athletes who sustained a concussion were compared with 10 control athletes in a modified auditory Oddball task.