Publications by authors named "Ralf Andreas Linker"

Mobile brain perfusion ultrasound (BPU) is a novel non-imaging technique creating only hemispheric perfusion curves following ultrasound contrast injection and has been specifically designed for early prehospital large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke identification. We report on the first patient investigated with the SONAS system, a portable point-of-care ultrasound system for BPU. This patient was admitted into our stroke unit about 12 h following onset of a fluctuating motor aphasia, dysarthria and facial weakness resulting in an NIHSS of 3 to 8.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (CPL) lead to a significant decrease in emergency admissions worldwide. We performed a timely analysis of ischemic stroke (IS) and related consultations using the telestroke TEMPiS "working diagnosis" database prior (PL), within (WL), and after easing (EL) of CPL.

Methods: Twelve hospitals were selected and data analyzed regarding IS (including intravenous thrombolysis [intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen; IV rtPA] and endovascular thrombectomy [EVT]) and related events from February 1 to June 15 during 2017-2020.

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Objective: To analyse predictors for relapses and number of attacks under different immunotherapies in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Design: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted in neurology departments at 21 regional and university hospitals in Germany. Eligible participants were patients with aquaporin-4-antibody-positive or aquaporin-4-antibody-negative NMOSD.

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Introduction: Optic neuritis leads to degeneration of retinal ganglion cells whose axons form the optic nerve. The standard treatment is a methylprednisolone pulse therapy. This treatment slightly shortens the time of recovery but does not prevent neurodegeneration and persistent visual impairment.

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Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. To date, optimal therapeutic approaches for neuromyelitis optica have yet to be defined. Natalizumab is highly effective in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and might be considered as an option.

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In March 2013, BG-12 was approved by the US FDA and EMA for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) after meeting the primary and most secondary end points in two global phase III trials (CONFIM and DEFINE). From these data, the optimal BG-12 dosage for the treatment of RRMS is 240 mg twice daily. In the DEFINE and CONFIRM trials, the relative reduction of annual relapse rates were 53 and 44% in the approval-relevant dosages, respectively.

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