Switch from eculizumab to satralizumab in aquaporin 4 immunoglobulin G-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a case series report.

Objectives: This case series describes adults with aquaporin 4 immunoglobulin G-seropositive (AQP4-IgG+) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who switched treatment from eculizumab to satralizumab.

Methods: Case information for patients with AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD who received satralizumab for ≥6 months was obtained from US healthcare providers from April 2022 to January 2024. Patient characteristics, examination findings, diagnostic test results, treatment response, and adverse events were recorded.

Effect of Esketamine on Cognitive Recovery After Propofol Sedation for Outpatient Colonoscopy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: While esketamine shows promise as an adjunct in procedural sedation, its impact on postoperative cognitive recovery remains incompletely characterized. This study investigated the effects of esketamine on multiple dimensions of recovery, particularly cognition, in patients undergoing colonoscopy with propofol-based sedation.

Patients And Methods: We conducted this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial from January 6, 2023, to May 20, 2024, at two hospitals in China.

Association of a multiplex immune marker panel with incident cognitive impairment and dementia: The Northern Manhattan Study.

Objective: To determine whether a panel of immune markers adds significant information to known correlates of risk of dementia and cognitive impairment.

Background: The impact of immune mechanisms on dementia risk is incompletely characterized.

Design/methods: A subsample of the Northern Manhattan Study, a prospective cohort study in the racially/ethnically diverse population of New York City, underwent comprehensive neuropsychological testing up to three times, at approximately 5-year intervals.

Correlation of Burnout Syndrome with Emotional Intelligence among Clinicians at Workplace.

Objective: To determine the correlation of burnout syndrome with emotional intelligence at workplace.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in six public sector hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between June and November, 2022. Male and female clinicians from Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics / Gynaecology, Paediatrics Medicine, Paediatric Surgery, Gastroenterology, Anesthesiology, Psychiatry, Radiology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Nephrology, Urology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Cardiology were included in the study.

Addressing the Underrepresentation of African American Mental Health Professionals: A Call to Action.

The mental health workforce in the United States faces a significant challenge: a stark underrepresentation of African American practitioners. This disparity reflects broader issues of racial inequality in healthcare and has far-reaching implications for mental health care delivery, particularly within Black communities. This perspective examines the contributing factors to this underrepresentation, explores its consequences on patient care and research, and proposes strategies to increase diversity in the field.

Engaging Patients with Headache in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA): ACTIvated Veterans Engagement Group (ACTIVE) to Improve Delivery of Patient-Centered Headache Services.

In 2018, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) established the original 19 Headache Centers of Excellence (HCoE) program, and an evaluation center. This study utilized a Veteran engagement group method to elicit input from Veteran patients living with chronic headache on daily needs, social determinants of health, and preferences and suggestions for headache programs, services, and research priorities. Four engagement groups were conducted between July 13 and August 22 of 2022 with Veterans who experience headache and received care at a VHA HCoE.

Improving auditory attention decoding by classifying intracranial responses to glimpsed and masked acoustic events.

Listeners with hearing loss have trouble following a conversation in multitalker environments. While modern hearing aids can generally amplify speech, these devices are unable to tune into a target speaker without first knowing to which speaker a user aims to attend. Brain-controlled hearing aids have been proposed using auditory attention decoding (AAD) methods, but current methods use the same model to compare the speech stimulus and neural response, regardless of the dynamic overlap between talkers which is known to influence neural encoding.

Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Modulating Upper Extremity Sympathetic Skin Response in Alleviating Cancer Survivors With Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Objective:  Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect of chemotherapy and it is currently intractable We compared the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) against non-TEAS groups and investigated the variables that predict effective relief of upper extremity pain in cancer survivors with CIPN.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data of cancer survivors who developed CIPN between May 2017 to March 2022. All eligible CIPN patients were divided into TEAS group (received TEAS) and non-TEAS group (did not receive TEAS) in our department.

Ocular Telangiectasia and Cerebellar Atrophy in Ataxia-Telangiectasia (Louis-Bar Syndrome).

Background: Ataxia-telangiectasia (Louis-Bar syndrome) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by progressive ataxia, ocular telangiectasias, immunodeficiency and increased cancer risk due to impaired DNA repair.

Phenomenology Shown: Thorough clinical and subsequently radiological examination in a 19-year-old woman with a history of previously undiagnosed, progressive gait ataxia since early childhood, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and severe combined immunodeficiency revealed the eponymous features of the disease, ocular telangiectasias and cerebellar atrophy, enabling targeted genetic testing.

Educational Value: Ocular telangiectasias represent an important clue for a diagnosis of ataxia-telangiectasia in young patients with progressive ataxia, implicating awareness of increased malignancy risk and treatment of immunodeficiency.

Predictors for recurrence of drug use among males on probation for methamphetamine use in Japan: a one-year follow-up study.

Background: Methamphetamine use is related to severe health, social, and criminal challenges. However, there is limited evidence regarding the factors associated with the recurrence of drug use among individuals who have used methamphetamine, particularly within populations involved in the criminal justice system. This study aimed to identify predictors of illicit drug use at a one-year follow-up among males in Japan who have used methamphetamine and are involved in the criminal justice system.

A novel muscle network approach for objective assessment and profiling of bulbar involvement in ALS.

Introduction: As a hallmark feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), bulbar involvement significantly impacts psychosocial, emotional, and physical health. A validated objective marker is however lacking to characterize and phenotype bulbar involvement, positing a major barrier to early detection, progress monitoring, and tailored care. This study aimed to bridge this gap by constructing a multiplex functional mandibular muscle network to provide a novel objective measurement tool of bulbar involvement.

Effect of Lamotrigine on Refractory Epilepsy: Clinical Outcomes and EEG Changes.

Background: Refractory epilepsy poses significant challenges in clinical management due to its resistance to standard antiepileptic therapies, necessitating the exploration of more effective treatment regimens. Lamotrigine, with its proven efficacy and tolerability, offers potential benefits when combined with traditional medications like valproate, though its comprehensive impact on clinical outcomes and neurological markers requires further study.

Objective: To analyze the improvement effect of combined application of lamotrigine on refractory epilepsy patients and its impact on patients' EEG and neurological function.

Rapid Neurological Decline due to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is an exceedingly rare condition with an incidence of one case per million people worldwide. It is diagnosed with symptoms of rapid neurological decline, positive CSF biomarkers, and diagnostic findings on MRI and EEG. There is no known effective therapy for CJD and prompt diagnosis is required to prepare for the expected disease prognosis and goals of care discussions.

Portable six-channel laser speckle system for simultaneous measurement of cerebral blood flow and volume with potential applications in characterization of brain injury.

Significance: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) are key metrics for regional cerebrovascular monitoring. Simultaneous, non-invasive measurement of CBF and CBV at different brain locations would advance cerebrovascular monitoring and pave the way for brain injury detection as current brain injury diagnostic methods are often constrained by high costs, limited sensitivity, and reliance on subjective symptom reporting.

Aim: We aim to develop a multi-channel non-invasive optical system for measuring CBF and CBV at different regions of the brain simultaneously with a cost-effective, reliable, and scalable system capable of detecting potential differences in CBF and CBV across different regions of the brain.

Multidisciplinary Approaches and Molecular Diagnostics in New-Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus and Nontuberculous Mycobacterial CNS Infections in the ICU: A Case Report.

The diagnosis and management of complex neurological conditions such as New-Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE) and central nervous system (CNS) infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pose substantial difficulties in intensive care units (ICUs). This article combines a case report and a literature review that explores the diagnostic dilemmas and therapeutic strategies for these critical conditions. We report the case of an 83-year-old female with chronic granulomatous meningitis secondary to NTM, presenting a challenging diagnostic and complex management complexity typical of such a rare disease through a period time of five years.

Varied Clinical Features and Outcomes of Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Retrospective Case Series.

Introduction: This study discusses the various clinical profiles, investigatory findings, treatment responses, and prognosticating factors in seven cases of autoimmune encephalitis (AE).

Methods: The clinical records of seven AE patients admitted to the Neurology Department, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Chennai, from July 2022 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 35, and all experienced seizures.

Mechanical Thrombectomy in Africa: A Challenging Future.

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has revolutionized the management of proximal large vessel occlusions (LVOs) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), improving long-term outcomes compared to standard treatments. However, despite its success in high-income countries, the widespread implementation of MT in Africa remains limited. With Africa experiencing one of the highest stroke burdens globally, this study examines the barriers impeding the adoption of MT in the region.

A mind-body resilience intervention for emotional distress in cardiac arrest survivors and their informal caregivers - Recovering together after cardiac arrest: Protocol for an open pilot trial.

Background: Chronic emotional distress among cardiac arrest (CA) survivors and their caregivers is prevalent and worsens quality of life and recovery. Interventions to prevent chronic distress post-CA are needed. We developed (RT-CA), an intervention to increase resiliency in CA survivor-caregiver dyads (pairs).

The role of Neurofilament light (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in MS and AQP4-NMOSD: Advancing clinical applications.

Fluid biomarkers such as Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and Neurofilament Light (NfL) play important roles in the diagnosis, monitoring, and evaluation of therapeutic responses in conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Aquaporin-4 Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (AQP4-NMOSD). These biomarkers offer key insights into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of these diseases, enabling effective follow-up and personalized treatment approaches, which are essential for improving patient outcomes. Herein, we synthesize the structural attributes, functional roles, and clinical significance of GFAP and NfL in the context of MS and AQP4-NMOSD.

Randomized clinical trial (RCT): An overview.

•Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for human experimental studies.•RCTs demand equipoise and freedom from treatment preference among investigators.•Neurologic RCTs are costly, time-intensive, and have high participant exclusion rates.

RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF VITAMIN D STATUS IN NEUROLOGICAL PATIENTS.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of insufficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in a sample of neurological patients and to compare it to the estimate in the general Croatian population. The secondary aim was to test for the possible significant differences in vitamin D2 insufficiency between the groups of patients according to gender, season, region, vitamin D3 supplementation, and diagnosis of autoimmune disease. This retrospective study involved 371 neurological patients in one-year period.

INCREASED SEVERE COVID-19-RELATED FATALITY IN HOSPITALIZED MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS.

The aim of this study was to assess the case fatality ratio (CFR) in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) hospitalized due to severe COVID-19, and to investigate the role of risk factors for fatal outcome in this well-defined cohort. This case series study included all PwMS (N=32) with severe COVID-19, who were hospitalized in the COVID-19 referral center in Belgrade from January 2021 to January 2022. Eight out of these 32 patients died from COVID-19 (CFR 25%).

Oral supplementation with propionate is reflected in the serum of healthy individuals.

Background: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including propionic acid (PA), are key in immunological research. Supplementing PA has shown benefits for autoimmune diseases. A comprehensive understanding of the PA pharmacokinetics is essential for the optimal design and execution of studies utilizing orally administered PA.

Vaccination coverage and its determinants in patients with multiple sclerosis-a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: Complete vaccination coverage is recommended by multiple sclerosis (MS) societies for patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) to mitigate infection risks associated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).

Objectives: To analyze vaccination coverage and its determinants in pwMS compared to healthy controls, considering vaccination hesitancy, MS-specific vaccination beliefs, trust in information sources, and the role of general practitioners (GPs).

Methods: This cross-sectional multicenter observational study was conducted in six German MS centers.

Association between the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (TG/HDL) ratio and incidence of gout: A nationwide cohort study.

Introduction: The global burden of gout, a severe and painful arthralgia, is of note and is expected to increase in the future. We aimed to investigate the association between the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (TG/HDL) ratio, a simple and validated biomarker for insulin resistance, and the incidence of gout in a longitudinal setting in the general population.

Methods: Our study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort database of Republic of Korea (2002-2019).