Electroencephalography as a Biomarker of Prognosis in Acute Brain Injury.

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a noninvasive tool that allows the monitoring of cerebral brain function in critically ill patients, aiding with diagnosis, management, and prognostication. Specific EEG features have shown utility in the prediction of outcomes in critically ill patients with status epilepticus, acute brain injury (ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury), anoxic brain injury, and toxic-metabolic encephalopathy. Studies have also found an association between particular EEG patterns and long-term functional and cognitive outcomes as well as prediction of recovery of consciousness following acute brain injury.

Anti-MOG associated disorder-Clinical and radiological characteristics compared to AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD-A single-center experience.

Background: The discovery of two immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against aquaporin 4 (anti-AQP4) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (anti-MOG) has led to the distinction of the disorders anti-AQP4 immunoglobulin G positive neuromyelitis spectrum disorder (AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD) and anti-MOG associated disorder (MOGAD). Different clinical and radiological features have been proposed to distinguish these two demyelinating CNS diseases.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective review at the University of Florida (UF) including all patients with the diagnostic code ICD G36 ("other acute disseminated demyelination") from October 2015 to January 2020 (n=141) and all charts included in the clinical NMOSD database of the UF Division of Neuroimmunology (n=36).

STN Versus GPi Deep Brain Stimulation for Action and Rest Tremor in Parkinson's Disease.

Objective: To investigate the effects of subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus internus (GPi), deep brain stimulation (DBS) on individual action tremor/postural tremor (AT) and rest tremor (RT) in Parkinson's disease (PD). Randomized DBS studies have reported marked benefit in tremor with both GPi and STN and DBS, however, there is a paucity of information available on AT vs RT when separated by the surgical target.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the 1-year clinical outcome of PD patients treated with STN and GPi DBS at the University of Florida.

Corticosteroids lead to short-term improvement in cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation.

Background: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy - related inflammation (CAA-ri) is an uncommon manifestation of CAA.

Methods: Single-center, retrospective review of all charts with ICD-code I68.0 (CAA) from 2/2/2016-1/1/2020.

Acute Cerebral Ischemia Temporally Associated with Marijuana Use.

The cerebrovascular effects of marijuana use are not well described. With increasing legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use in North America, identification of potential risks of the drug is necessary. We present the case of a 31-year-old man who had two ischemic infarctions in different vascular distributions, without other identifiable etiology, which were temporally associated with marijuana use.

Management of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury.

Purpose Of Review: This review provides an updated summary of blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) to guide clinicians in its early diagnosis and prevention and treatment of stroke associated with such injury.

Recent Findings: Untreated BCVI causes stroke in 10-40% of patients, but more than half will not present with stroke symptoms initially. Risk of stroke is highest in the first 7 days, with a peak in the first 24 h.

Nanoparticles and stem cells - has targeted therapy for aneurysms finally arrived?

Until recently, endovascular management of intracranial aneurysms has focused on mechanical and hemodynamic aspects: characterizing aneurysm morphology by angiogram, mechanical obstruction by detachable coils, and flow diversion with endovascular stents. Although now common practice, these interventions only ward off aneurysm rupture. The source of the problem, disease of the vessel wall itself, remains.