Clinical and radiological characteristics of calcified cerebral embolism: a large case series including 242 calcified cerebral embolism.

Introduction: Radiological calcified cerebral embolism (CCE) characteristics have been reported in small case series. Our aim was to describe clinical and radiological CCE characteristics in a large number of CCE and to compare characteristics between different patient groups.

Methods: Characteristics of 79 stroke patients with CCE were analyzed retrospectively.

Identification, Clinical Values, and Prospective Pathway Signaling of Lipid Metabolism Genes in Epilepsy and AED Treatment.

The dysregulation of lipid metabolism has been associated with the etiology and progression of the neurological pathology. However, the roles of lipid metabolism and the molecular mechanism in epilepsy and the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are relatively understudied. Gene expression profiles of GSE143272 from blood samples were included for differential analysis, and the lipid metabolism-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Post-Traumatic Headache: A Systematic Review.

Purpose Of Review: To evaluate existing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies on post-traumatic headache (PTH) following traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Recent Findings: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed and Embase databases from inception to February 1, 2024. Eligible fMRI studies were required to include adult participants diagnosed with acute or persistent PTH post-TBI in accordance with any edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

Analysis of the incidence of death, hemorrhage, and neurological deficit in the treatment of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs): surgery versus other treatments - a systematic review.

To evaluate the incidence of mortality, hemorrhage, and neurological deficits in treating intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in patients over 18 through a comparative analysis of surgical approaches and other therapeutic modalities. A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and LILACS databases in November 2023. Inclusion criteria included clinical trials, cohorts studies, case-controls studies, and case series comparing patients over 18 undergoing surgery or microsurgery versus other treatments (radiosurgery, isolated embolization, and conservative treatment).

The value of magnetic resonance imaging of the optic nerve for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in patients with optic neuritis.

Background: Although optic neuritis (ON) is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), lesions of the optic nerve are not included as an anatomical substrate for dissemination in space and time (DIS and DIT).

Objective: To assess the increase in sensitivity of including MRI lesions of the optic nerve for the diagnosis of MS in patients with ON.

Methods: We included patients consecutively referred with first time, monosymptomatic ON, with no known cause of the ON, who underwent orbital MRI including fat suppressed T2 and T1-sequences with and without gadolinium contrast.

Closing the Gap: Digital Innovations to Address Hypertension Disparities.

Purpose Of Review: Significant inequities persist in hypertension detection and control, with minoritized populations disproportionately experiencing organ damage and premature death due to uncontrolled hypertension. Remote blood pressure monitoring combined with telehealth visits (RBPM) is proving to be an effective strategy for controlling hypertension. Yet there are challenges related to technology adoption, patient engagement and social determinants of health (SDoH), contributing to disparities in patient outcomes.

Explaining cognitive function in multiple sclerosis through networks of grey and white matter features: a joint independent component analysis.

Cognitive impairment (CI) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is only partially explained by whole-brain volume measures, but independent component analysis (ICA) can extract regional patterns of damage in grey matter (GM) or white matter (WM) that have proven more closely associated with CI. Pathology in GM and WM occurs in parallel, and so patterns can span both. This study assessed whether joint-ICA of GM and WM features better explained cognitive function compared to single-tissue ICA.

Longitudinal qualitative assessment of meaningful symptoms and relevance of WATCH-PD digital measures for people with early Parkinson's.

Background: Longitudinal qualitative data on what matters to people with Parkinson's disease are lacking and needed to guide patient-centered clinical care and development of outcome measures.

Objective: To evaluate change over time in symptoms, impacts, and relevance of digital measures to monitor disease progression in early Parkinson's.

Methods: In-depth, online symptom mapping interviews were conducted with 33 people with early Parkinson's at baseline and 1 year later to evaluate (A) symptoms, (B) impacts, and (C) relevance of digital measures to monitor personally relevant symptoms.

Anatomy-driven segmentation of parafoveal optical coherence tomography (OCT) measures may improve associations with clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Previous investigations on optical coherence tomography (OCT) in multiple sclerosis (MS) focused on generalizable macular and peri-papillary regions without considering the anatomic variations of the retinal layer thickness.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the utility of parafoveal retinal layer thickness measured by OCT, underscoring its relationships with clinical outcomes in MS.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 214 people with MS (pwMS) and 57 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled.

Audiovisual analysis of the diagnostic video polysomnography in patients with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder.

Background: The diagnosis of isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (IRBD) requires video polysomnography (V-PSG) showing increased muscle activity and abnormal behaviors in REM sleep.

Objective: To describe in IRBD the behavioral manifestations occurring during REM sleep in the diagnostic V-PSG.

Methods: This is a systematic audiovisual V-PSG analysis of consecutive IRBD patients.

Longitudinal visual outcomes in idiopathic intracranial hypertension: the role of early prognostic indicators and risk stratification in disease management.

Background: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is increasingly prevalent, yet longitudinal outcome data are scarce. This study aimed to characterise demographic and longitudinal clinical changes in a cohort of patients with IIH.

Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis on adult patients diagnosed with IIH (Friedman criteria) enrolled in the neuro-ophthalmology database (NODE) across two tertiary centres.

Endothelial dysfunction in acute ischemic stroke: a review.

Background And Purpose: Endothelial dysfunction is considered an emerging therapeutic target to prevent complications during acute stroke and to prevent recurrent stroke. This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge on endothelial dysfunction, outline the diagnostic methods used to measure it and highlight the drugs currently being investigated for the treatment of endothelial dysfunction in acute ischemic stroke.

Methods:  The PubMed® and ClinicalTrials.

Parallel EEG-fNIRS assessments of covert cognition in behaviorally non-responsive ICU patients: A multi-task feasibility study in a case of acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy.

Background: Repeat neurological assessment is standard in cases of severe acute brain injury. However, conventional measures rely on overt behavior. Unfortunately, behavioral responses may be difficult or impossible for some patients.

Temporal lobe epilepsy with isolated amygdala enlargement: anatomo-electro-clinical features and long-term outcome.

Background: Temporal lobe epilepsy with isolated amygdala enlargement (TLE-AE) still lacks a definite characterization and controversies exist.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study identifying brain MRI scans with isolated AE between 2015 and 2021. We collected clinical and paraclinical data of patients with TLE-AE and evaluated the outcome.

Diagnosis of hereditary ataxias: a real-world single center experience.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate our experience in the diagnosis of hereditary ataxias (HAs), to analyze data from a real-world scenario.

Study Design: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted at a single Italian adult neurogenetic outpatient clinic, in 147 patients affected by ataxia with a suspicion of hereditary forms, recruited from November 1999 to February 2024. A stepwise approach for molecular diagnostics was applied: targeted gene panel (TP) next-generation sequencing (NGS) and/or clinical exome sequencing (CES) were performed in the case of inconclusive first-line genetic testing, such as short tandem repeat expansions (TREs) testing for most common spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA1-3, 6-8,12,17, DRPLA), other forms [Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) and mitochondrial DNA-related ataxia, RFC1-related ataxia/CANVAS] or inconclusive phenotype-guided specific single gene sequencing.

Clinical and imaging spectrum of non-congenital dominant ACTN2 myopathy.

Background: Alpha-actinin-2, a protein with high expression in cardiac and skeletal muscle, is located in the Z-disc and plays a key role in sarcomere stability. Mutations in ACTN2 have been associated with both hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy and, more recently, with skeletal myopathy.

Methods: Genetic, clinical, and muscle imaging data were collected from 37 patients with an autosomal dominant ACTN2 myopathy belonging to 11 families from Spain and Belgium.

Evaluating duloxetine for pruritus and psychiatric comorbidities in lichen simplex chronicus.

The use of antidepressant medications in the treatment of lichen simplex chronicus (LSC) also known as neurodermatitis, is not well-documented in the literature. The primary aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of duloxetine 30 mg on the quality of life in patients with LSC, focusing on both pruritus and psychopathological aspects. The secondary aim is to investigate the relationship between LSC and anxiety and depression.

Impulse control and correlation to dopamine agonist serum concentrations in people with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Impaired impulse control is often seen in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients using dopamine agonists.

Methods: We performed a therapeutic drug monitoring study of 100 PD patients using ropinirole or pramipexole extended release. Three blood samples were collected on the same day.

Predicting ALS informant distress from cognitive and behavioural change in people with ALS.

Background: The cognitive and behavioural changes that occur in around 50% of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may significantly affect people around them, contributing to heightened burden, anxiety, and depression. Despite existing evidence linking behavioural impairment to caregiver distress, the role of cognitive impairment remains less clear, with mixed findings on its impact.

Methods: This study assessed the influence of cognitive and behavioural impairments in people with ALS on the distress of their nominated informants.

Patterns of Tau pathology in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease visualized by Florzolotau (18F) PET.

Background: Anti-IgLON5 disease is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder with prominent Tau protein deposits in the brainstem and hypothalamus. The aim of this study was to visualize the in vivo distribution patterns of Tau protein in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease using the second-generation Tau PET tracer, Florzolotau (18F) PET imaging.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with anti-IgLON5 disease were enrolled consecutively.

Cognitive changes and brain structural abnormalities in female carriers of DMD pathogenic variants.

Background: Skeletal and cardiac muscle damage have been increasingly recognized in female carriers of DMD pathogenic variants (DMDc). Little is known about cognitive impairment in these women or whether they have structural brain damage.

Objective: To characterize the cognitive profile in a Brazilian cohort of DMDc and determine whether they have structural brain abnormalities using multimodal MRI.

Balance recovery and its link to vestibular agnosia in traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal behavioural and neuro-imaging study.

Background: Vestibular dysfunction causing imbalance affects c. 80% of acute hospitalized traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases. Poor balance recovery is linked to worse return-to-work rates and reduced longevity.

Marriage is associated with decreased lesion volumes and less brain atrophy in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Married or long-term partnered patients with chronic diseases generally have better outcomes than unmarried patients, likely due to the potential for multifaceted support. However, the impact of marital status on multiple sclerosis (MS) radiographic disease burden is currently unknown.

Objective: To compare total white matter hyperintensity lesion volumes, periventricular lesion volumes, and whole brain and grey matter volumes in married and unmarried people with MS (PwMS).