Persistence of Basal Ganglia Oscillatory Activity During Tremor Attenuation by Movement in Parkinson's Disease Patients.

Background: One of the characteristics of parkinsonian tremor is that its amplitude decreases with movement. Current models suggest an interaction between basal ganglia (BG) and cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuits in parkinsonian tremor pathophysiology.

Objective: We aimed to correlate central oscillation in the BG with electromyographic activity during re-emergent tremor in order to detect changes in BG oscillatory activity when tremor is attenuated by movement.

Life events and the onset of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Whether there may be any relationship between stressful or traumatic life events (LE) and the subsequent motor symptoms onset in Parkinson's disease (PD) is still controversial.

Objectives: To explore whether a subjectively perceived as stressful or traumatic LE were more frequently present in a group of recent motor onset parkinsonian patients (Recent Onset Parkinsonism - ROP) compared with healthy controls (HC) and a group of patients already diagnosed as PD.

Methods: A consecutive series of 139 ROP patients, 138 matched PD patients and 138 HC were pooled through a validated LE exposure questionnaire evaluating the number of patients affected by LE and the amount of LE per group occurred in the last year, segregating by subjective severity in total and severe LE.

Alteration of Fatty Acid Profile in Fragile X Syndrome.

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most prevalent monogenic cause of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Despite a common genetic etiology, the affected individuals display heterogenous metabolic abnormalities including hypocholesterolemia. Although changes in the metabolism of fatty acids (FAs) have been reported in various neuropsychiatric disorders, it has not been explored in humans with FXS.

Cutaneous amyloid is a biomarker in early ATTRv neuropathy and progresses across disease stages.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of cutaneous amyloid deposition in relation to patient-reported measures in the earliest disease stage of hereditary ATTR amyloidosis (ATTRv).

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we analyzed 88 individuals with TTR mutations, 47 of whom were in the earliest disease stage and without clinically evident neuropathy, 12 healthy controls, and 13 disease controls with diabetes. All participants' neuropathy symptoms and signs were assessed using validated patient and clinician-reported measures and 3-mm skin punch biopsies were immunostained using protein gene product 9.

Bilateral facial palsy with paresthesias, variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome following COVID-19 vaccine: A case series of 9 patients.

Several cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) associated with COVID-19 vaccination have been reported, including the rare subtype known as Bilateral Facial Palsy with paresthesias (BFP). To date, it is not known whether a causal relationship may exist between the two. We report 9 cases of BFP in patients vaccinated against COVID-19 in the previous month.

Nomenclature of Genetic Movement Disorders: Recommendations of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Task Force - An Update.

In 2016, the Movement Disorder Society Task Force for the Nomenclature of Genetic Movement Disorders presented a new system for naming genetically determined movement disorders and provided a criterion-based list of confirmed monogenic movement disorders. Since then, a substantial number of novel disease-causing genes have been described, which warrant classification using this system. In addition, with this update, we further refined the system and propose dissolving the imaging-based categories of Primary Familial Brain Calcification and Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation and reclassifying these genetic conditions according to their predominant phenotype.

Towards imaging criteria that best differentiate MS from NMOSD and MOGAD: Large multi-ethnic population and different clinical scenarios.

Background: The "1/3″ brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) criteria including 1) a lesion adjacent to the lateral ventricle and in the inferior temporal lobe, or 2) a juxtacortical lesion, or 3) a Dawson finger-type lesion were shown to distinguish multiple sclerosis (MS) from antibody-mediated conditions. In this large multicentre study, we aimed to assess how the criteria perform 1) in different onset phenotypes, 2) distinct ethnic groups, 3) when the absence of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-Ab)-associated disease (MOGAD)-typical fluffy infratentorial (FIT) lesions and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) lesions are added as features ("2/4″ and 3/5″ criteria, respectively).

Methods: 577 patients with MS (n = 332), aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) (n = 196) and MOGAD (n = 49) were recruited from 6 international centres (Buenos Aires, Sao Paolo, Maracaibo, Goyang, Oxford and Milan).

Treatment-related fluctuations in Guillain-Barré syndrome​: clinical features and predictors of recurrence.

Background: A treatment-related fluctuation (TRF) in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is defined as clinical deterioration within two months of symptom onset following previous stabilization or improvements with treatment.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and factors that could increase the risk of relapse of GBS in patients with and without TRFs.

Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of patients (>18 years) with GBS evaluated between January/2006 and July/2019.

Information theory approaches to improve glioma diagnostic workflows in surgical neuropathology.

Aims: Resource-strained healthcare ecosystems often struggle with the adoption of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for the classification of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The generation of robust clinical diagnostic aids and the advancement of simple solutions to inform investment strategies in surgical neuropathology would improve patient care in these settings.

Methods: We used simple information theory calculations on a brain cancer simulation model and real-world data sets to compare contributions of clinical, histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular information.

The Immune Response in Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). MS is characterized by immune dysregulation, which results in the infiltration of the CNS by immune cells, triggering demyelination, axonal damage, and neurodegeneration. Although the exact causes of MS are not fully understood, genetic and environmental factors are thought to control MS onset and progression.

Interleukin-35 is a critical regulator of immunity during helminth infections associated with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is currently thought to arise by interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Infections in general trigger autoimmune responses causing clinical manifestations of disease. However, as a result of regulatory T (Treg)- and regulatory B (Breg)-cell induction, helminth infections tend to dampen disease activity.

Real-world effectiveness of natalizumab treatment in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis in Argentina and Chile.

Background: The real-world effectiveness of natalizumab in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (PwRMS) in Argentina and Chile has not been reported.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of natalizumab treatment in PwRMS in Argentina and Chile, in clinical practice.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective and observational study.

Radiologically isolated syndrome: from biological bases to practical management.

Background: Technological advances and greater availability of magnetic resonance imaging have prompted an increment on incidental and unexpected findings within the central nervous system. The concept of radiologically isolated syndrome characterizes a group of subjects with images suggestive of demyelinating disease in the absence of a clinical episode compatible with multiple sclerosis. Since the description of this entity, many questions have arisen; some have received responses but others remain unanswered.

Coping with Antarctic demands: Psychological implications of isolation and confinement.

Working in extreme environments requires a wide range of cognitive, psychological and social competences. Antarctica represents one of the most challenging habitats to work in due to its aridity, extremely cold weather, and isolated conditions. This study aimed to assess mood variations and coping strategies, as well as their possible modulation by group dynamics in a crew at the Belgrano II Argentine Antarctic Station throughout 1 year of confinement.

Assessment of Ataxia Rating Scales and Cerebellar Functional Tests: Critique and Recommendations.

Background: We assessed the clinimetric properties of ataxia rating scales and functional tests, and made recommendations regarding their use.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify the instruments used to rate ataxia symptoms. The identified rating scales and functional ability tests were reviewed and ranked by the panel as "recommended," "suggested," or "listed" for the assessment of patients with discrete cerebellar disorders, using previously established criteria.

Consensus recommendations for family planning and pregnancy in multiple sclerosis in argentina.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic immune-mediated neurological disorder in young adults, more frequently found in women than in men. Therefore, pregnancy-related issues have become an object of concern for MS professionals and patients. The aim of this work was to review the existing data to develop the first Argentine consensus for family planning and pregnancy in MS patients.