NEURO

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) disproportionally affects women. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore sex differences in aSAH risk factors. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/2HCzFEN

The relationship between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and prognosis after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains controversial. The aim of this cohort study and systematic review was to ascertain the association of admission NLR with major clinical poor outcomes after AIS. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/32smkqT

ALS is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder, with the recommendation that symptom management and palliative care start immediately or soon after diagnosis. However, little is known about healthcare utilization at the end of life in this patient group. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/2Hz2Ubt

To determine whether the susceptibility value in the deep gray matter obtained by quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) provides additive value to the morphometric index for differentiating Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) from Parkinson's disease (PD). from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/32smsqn

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a popular cognitive screening tool used in stroke, but lacks sensitivity for detecting impairment in stroke-relevant domains of processing speed, non-verbal memory and executive functions. Our aim was to assess whether the test accuracy of the MoCA can be improved with additional tailored screening items targeting these three domains. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/2HCqGDP

Smokers exposed to individual cigarettes with public health warnings written on them felt the products were offputting and depressing. When surveyed, those who smoke said printing messages on cigarettes would prolong the health message and had the potential to discourage smoking in young people. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2LaYSIF

Phantoms in the Brain Authors: V. S. Ramachandran and Sandra Blakeslee Synopsis The author of this book, one the leading figures in neuroscience, unapologetically declared that his intention was to write ‘a popular book on the brain’. To accomplish this goal, he recounts seemingly endless ‘true-life stories‘ of fascinating neurological disorders (page xiii). Like a […] via Phantoms in the Brain — The Doctors Bookshelf from The Neurology Lounge https://ift.tt/2ZE66gu

A newly developed peptide hydrogel could help repair some of the damage caused by a traumatic brain injury. In rat models, the hydrogel improved the survival of brain cells, resulting in twice as many neurons at the injury site than in the control rats with TBI. Researchers reported new blood vessels also grew. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/30PiHKU

Older people who have never participated in resistance exercise programs have a similar ability to build mass muscles as those who frequently exercise and are of similar age. Researchers say that it doesn't matter whether or not you have exercised throughout your life, starting late can still have excellent health benefits. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2PpTzcA

Microscopic alterations in white matter may affect how patients with neurological conditions respond to non-invasive electrical brain stimulation. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/30QbWIU

Longer career length and playing specific positions put NFL players at greater risk of developing cognitive problems and mental health issues. Playing for 10 or more seasons increased the risks for depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment twice as much than those who played for a single season. For every five seasons of play, the risks increase 20% for cognitive impairment. Those most at risk are running backs, linebackers and those who played special teams positions. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2HzEAqf

The primary role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in routine diagnostic work-up of motor neuron disease patients is currently still largely limited to exclusion of relevant non-degenerative pathologies. We here present an illustrative case of a 63-year-old woman with early stage Frontotemporal-Dementia-Amyotrophic-Lateral-Sclerosis (FTD-ALS) spectrum disorder showing a striking hypointense signal of the cortical band along the precentral gyrus, termed “Motor Band Sign” (MBS). Based on this finding, we analysed the frequency of the MBS in clinical routine MRIs in a large consecutive series of ALS patients (MRIs available from 157 patients). from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/2Hx9pvy

Microglia may play a significant role in disrupting neurogenesis in those with Alzheimer's disease. When mice were given drugs which caused microglial cells to die, neurogenesis returned to normal. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2UfBJb4

Living in a linguistically diverse environment helps promote more effective learning of new languages for monolingual people. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2NHtTG0

Scientists generated statistical instances of the micro-connectome, containing over 10 million neurons. The model spans five orders of magnitude and contains 88 billion synaptic connections. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/30LYINt

Researchers report up to 25% of same-sex behaviors are associated with genetic variants. The study identified five new genes associated with sexual behavior. They report there is no one single gene linked to same-sex sexual behavior or orientation, but numerous genes, as well as other factors which contribute. Researchers emphasize the markers may be unreliable in predicting same-sex behavior but may influence the likelihood for specific relationship choices. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2L9KH6A

About this study: If you or your loved one has early stage Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), you may be eligible for this study. This study is evaluating an investigational drug called BPN14770 as a possible treatment for patients with early stage AD. You or your loved one may already be taking a cholinesterase inhibitor such as Aricept® (donepezil), but there is a need to find drugs that may work in other ways. Pharmaceutical companies use clinical studies like this one to learn more about investigational drugs before they are available to the public. Study volunteers can help us in this important research. Thank you for considering participation in this trial. What is the purpose of this study? The purpose of this research study is to test an investigational drug called BPN14770. An investigational drug is one that is not yet approved for sale by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This study will: Test the safety and effectiveness of the study drug BPN14770. Test ...

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In 1993, the first disease modifying-therapy (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS), interferon beta-1b, was approved, and an untreatable disease that had disabled humans for hundreds of years became treatable. Since then, multiple drugs with varying mechanisms of action have been approved, and neurologists now have a palette of therapies that allows for individualizing therapy and effectively controlling relapsing MS in most patients. Regrettably, this achievement has come at a steep price. Interferon beta-1b entered the market with an annual price of approximately $10 920 ($19 313, inflation adjusted). While this price stunned many physicians at the time, the price for the first DMT for MS is now looked back at with nostalgia. The prices for DMTs for MS have risen dramatically over the last 15 years, far outpacing inflation, and now have a mean price of more than $86 000 per year (Figure). from journals https://ift.tt/2LcRdrZ

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Purpose of review Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) is a common and distressing side-effect of many chemotherapy regimens. Currently, aside from symptomatic treatments for neuropathic pain, there are no treatments to prevent CIPN or treat established CIPN. We discuss recent articles addressing clinimetric issues and treatment of CIPN. Recent findings There are important clinimetric issues that need to be addressed so that robust clinical trials in CIPN can be performed. There are new compounds in early development that may treat CIPN, but larger studies are needed. Summary A multidisciplinary, international approach is needed to unravel CIPN; the Toxic Neuropathy Consortium (TNC) of the Peripheral Nerve Society may be the home for such efforts. from Current Opinion in Neurology - Current Issue https://ift.tt/2L1TqYD

Purpose of review Single-organ vasculitis of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is often designated nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN). Several variants or subtypes have been distinguished, including migratory sensory neuropathy, postsurgical inflammatory neuropathy, diabetic radiculoplexus neuropathies, skin-nerve vasculitides, and, arguably, neuralgic amyotrophy. NSVN often presents as nondiabetic lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy (LRPN). This review updates classification, clinical features, epidemiology, and imaging of these disorders. Recent findings A recent study showed the annual incidence of LRPN in Olmstead County, Minnesota to be 4.16/100 000:2.79/100 000 diabetic and 1.27/100 000 nondiabetic. This study was the first to determine the incidence or prevalence of any vasculitic neuropathy. In NSVN, ultrasonography shows multifocal enlargement of proximal and distal nerves. In neuralgic amyotrophy, MRI and ultrasound reveal multifocal enlargements and focal constrict...

Purpose of review Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a group of heterogeneous inherited disorders caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins whose function is essential for the integrity of neuromuscular transmission. This review updates the reader on the expanding phenotypic spectrum and suggested improved treatment strategies. Recent findings As next-generation sequencing is taken into the clinic, its use is both continuing to unearth new causative genes in which mutations underlie CMS and also broadening the phenotypic spectrum for known CMS genes. The number of genes in which mutations may cause neuromuscular transmission defects has now passed 30. The defective transmission may be part of an overall more complex phenotype in which there may be muscle, central nervous system or other involvement. Notably, mutations in series of genes encoding proteins located in the presynatic motor bouton have been identified. Rare cases of mutations in basal laminar proteins of the syn...

Purpose of review Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are rare diseases with heterogenous clinicopathological features. In recent years, new classification systems considering various combinations of clinical, serological, and pathological information have been proposed. This review summarizes recent clinicoseropathological development in major subgroups of IIM. Recent findings Considering clinicoseropathological features, IIM are suggestively classified into four major subgroups: dermatomyositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), antisynthetase syndrome (ASS), and inclusion body myositis (IBM). Many historically diagnosed polymyositis have been mainly reclassified as IBM, IMNM, and ASS. Different types of myositis-specific antibodies (MSA) suggest distinct clinicopathological subsets of IIM. Excluding IBM, at least one-third of the IIMs have no known associated MSA. Summary MSA are crucial for IIM classification but can be negative. Thus, IIM should be universally clas...

Purpose of review Although mitochondrial diseases impose a significant functional limitation in the lives of patients, treatment of these conditions has been limited to dietary supplements, exercise, and physical therapy. In the past few years, however, translational medicine has identified potential therapies for these patients. Recent findings For patients with primary mitochondrial myopathies, preliminary phase I and II multicenter clinical trials of elamipretide indicate safety and suggest improvement in 6-min walk test (6MWT) performance and fatigue scales. In addition, for thymidine kinase 2-deficient (TK2d) myopathy, compassionate-use oral administration of pyrimidine deoxynucleosides have shown preliminary evidence of safety and efficacy in survival of early onset patients and motor functions relative to historical TK2d controls. Summary The prospects of effective therapies that improve the quality of life for patients with mitochondrial myopathy underscore the necessity for de...