Motivation in veterans with an acute/subacute ischemic stroke did not improve cognition and functional motor recovery but reduced deaths.

Background: The role of motivation per se in the presence or absence of depression in stroke-related cognitive and functional motor recovery has not been studied.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the role of motivation on cognition and functional motor recovery in patients after an acute and subacute ischemic stroke.

Design: Prospective, observational, single-center study.

Analysis of Mortality Causes and Locations in Veterans with ALS: A Decade Review.

BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease that leads to rapid degeneration of nerves in the brain and spinal cord, with eventual loss of voluntary movements, including breathing. This retrospective study of medical record data from 105 US veterans diagnosed with ALS at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center between 2010 and 2021 aimed to identify patient demographics, and the causes and places of death for these veterans. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data from 105 US veterans diagnosed with ALS by the El Escorial criteria and supported by neurophysiology testing was reviewed.

Multiple sclerosis relapse presenting as trigeminal neuralgia.

I present here a case of trigeminal neuralgia (TGN), which is a highly disabling disorder characterized by brief and recurrent shock-like episodes of facial pain. TGN occurs in 2% of people with MS. A 54-year-old woman diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2008 and who was in remission stopped taking her disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in 2018 due to a lack of relapses presented to our facility with excruciating right facial pain.

Predictors of Mortality in Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Respiratory Status and Speech Disorder at Presentation.

BACKGROUND There is a lack of accurate models to predict amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease course and outcomes. As a result, risk assessment and counseling, the timing of interventions, and their stratification in clinical trials are difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the association between symptoms at presentation and mortality.

Corrigendum to "Fever in a paraplegia patient with a pressure ulcer" [Radiology Case Reports 16 (2021) 2434-2436].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.

Patient with basilar artery occlusion related to metastatic melanoma.

Posterior circulation stroke accounts for approximately 20% of all ischemic strokes. The basilar artery, which is the main vessel of the posterior circulation, supplies most of the brainstem, occipital lobes and part of the cerebellum and thalami. We present a case of a 73-year-old man with known metastatic melanoma while undergoing immunotherapy presented to the emergency department with a history of progressive shortness of breath, generalize weakness, and dysphagia.

Impact of Adherence with Disease-Modifying Therapies on All-Cause Mortality Rates Among Veterans with Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND Adherence to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) is essential for reducing multiple sclerosis (MS)-related relapses and disability. However, no known data exist regarding rates of adherence to DMTs and their impact on mortality. The present study aimed to determine the effect of adherence to DMTs on all-cause mortality in patients with MS in a real-world setting.

The Impact of Adherence to Disease-Modifying Therapies on Functional Outcomes in Veterans with Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Patients who adhere to their DMTs have lower rate of MS-related relapses and disability.

Objective: We sought to determine the adherence rate to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and its impact on functional outcome(s) in veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Method: We reviewed the electronic records of 279 veterans with MS who were periodically followed in our MS clinic.

Fever in a paraplegia patient with a pressure ulcer.

The incidence rates of pressure ulcers (PUs) in patients with SCI in the United States varies by clinical setting, ranging from 0.4%-38% in acute care, 2.2%-23.

Impact of adherence to disease-modifying therapies on employment among veterans with multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: Patients who adhere to their disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have a lower rate of MS-related relapses and disability. We sought to determine the adherence rate to DMTs and the association between adherence to DMTs and employment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Method: One hundred and forty-two patients with MS who were periodically followed in our clinic between January 2000 and January 2020.

Psoas muscle hematoma presenting as painful monoplegia.

I present here a case of psoas (retroperitoneal) hematoma; which is a rare, but potentially life-threatening acute condition, with a 30-day mortality of 10% from bleeding in the retroperitoneal space without associated trauma or iatrogenic intervention. A 59-year-old man who was on long-term anticoagulation for his atrial fibrillation presented to our facility with worsening pain in the left groin and being unable to move the left leg and walk. Computed tomography showed a large left psoas hematoma.

Progressive lip numbness due to numb chin and cheek syndrome in a patient with prostate cancer.

Numb chin syndrome (NCS) is characterized by numbness in an area of the chin and lower lip along the distribution of the mental or inferior alveolar nerves, a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. Most cases of NCS are due to diffuse metastatic disease, especially associated with underlying lymphoproliferative and breast cancer. Other less like causes are dental, traumatic, toxic, drug-induced, or infectious.

Predictors of Mortality in Veterans with Multiple Sclerosis in an Outpatient Clinic Setting.

Background: Examining factors that increase risk of death in veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) may help reduce MS-related mortality. We sought to determine predictors of mortality in veterans with MS attending an outpatient clinic.

Methods: Review of electronic medical records of 226 veterans with MS regularly followed up from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2014.

Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Severely Affected Arm-Hand Motor Function in Patients After an Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial.

Objective: The aim of this article was to determine whether cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (c-tDCS) to unaffected primary motor cortex (PMC) plus conventional occupational therapy (OT) improves functional motor recovery of the affected arm hand in patients after an acute ischemic stroke compared with sham transcranial direct current stimulation plus conventional OT.

Design: In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial of 16 severe, acute ischemic stroke patients with severe arm-hand weakness were randomly assigned to either experimental (c-tDCS plus OT; n = 8) or control (sham transcranial direct current stimulation plus OT; n = 8) groups. All patients received a standard 3-hr in-patient rehabilitation therapy, plus an additional ten 30-min sessions of tDCS.

Effect of Chronic Medical Conditions in Veterans with Multiple Sclerosis on Long-Term Disability.

BACKGROUND The goal of this observational study was to examine the effect of common chronic medical conditions (CMCs) on long-term disability (activity limitation) in veterans already diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the electronic charts of 124 veterans with MS who have been regularly followed in our MS clinic for 10 or more years. General linear model analysis examined whether MS-related severity as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the presence of CMCs affected long-term disability as measured by the total score on the Functional Independence Measure (TFIM).

Compare serum creatinine versus Renal Tc-DTPA scan determined glomerular filtration rates in veterans with traumatic spinal cord injury and meurogenic bladder.

Objective: This observational study: (a) compared serum creatinine (estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR)) to renal isotope Tc-DTPA (GFR) determined glomerular filtration rate, and evaluated whether either method (b) better determined the state of renal function, and (c) predict urinary tract infection (UTI), renal and urological structural lesions or mortality in veterans with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurogenic bladder (NGB).

Design: Observational study.

Setting: VA Medical Center affiliated with Oklahoma University.

Evaluate the impact of neurogenic bladder in veterans with traumatic spinal cord injury.

Objective: This observational study aimed to determine the prevalence of neurogenic bladder (NGB), and its impact (frequency of urinary tract infection [UTI], autonomic dysreflexia (AD) pressure ulcers, spasticity, and hospitalization rates) on veterans with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Background: NGB (detrusor muscle and urethral sphincter dysfunction with loss of bladder sensation to void), secondary to SCI, is commonly encountered in daily practice; however, its impact on veterans' overall health has been less well studied.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic charts of veterans with SCI enrolled in our program and regularly followed in our SCI clinic.

Factors predictive of type of powered mobility received by veterans with disability.

Background: The goal of this observational study was to determine factors predictive of the type of powered mobility prescribed to veterans with disability.

Material/methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for all veterans (n=170) who received powered mobility from a designated power mobility clinic. Logistic regression analysis was used to determined factors predictive of the type of powered mobility provided.