Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Brain scans to diagnose bipolar disorder

Brain scans to diagnose bipolar disorder
Neurology News & Neuroscience News from Medical News Today

Scientists say new brain imaging methods that measure blood flow could help diagnose bipolar disorder in its early stages, as well as differentiate it from depression, according to a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh analyzed 44 females for the study...

Original Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265188.php

Blurry as tremor

Blurry as tremor
Neurology recent issues

The late renaissance Dutch painter Frans Hals (1582–1666) was a master of revealing his subjects' peculiarities. However, in the Regentesses (figure), he shows a neurologic condition—the blurred shoulder margin of the woman in the middle suggests trembling in a standing figure.1

Original Article: http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/short/81/9/853?rss=1

Spinal cord injury patients to benefit from biphasic electrical stimulation

Spinal cord injury patients to benefit from biphasic electrical stimulation
Neurology News & Neuroscience News from Medical News Today

Researchers at the Beihang University School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, led by Dr. Yubo Fan, have discovered that Biphasic Electrical stimulation (BES), a non-chemical procedure, may be used as a strategy for preventing cell apoptosis in stem cell-based transplantation therapy...

Original Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/265217.php

Stenting as Monotherapy for Uncoilable Intracranial Aneurysms

Stenting as Monotherapy for Uncoilable Intracranial Aneurysms
Neurosurgery - Most Popular Articles

imageBACKGROUND:Small, blister-like aneurysms (BLAs), by virtue of their unique morphology, are difficult to treat with conventional modalities. The use of oversized self-expanding stents as monotherapy for BLAs is a relatively new and promising concept that warrants further investigation. OBJECTIVE:To clarify the role of oversized self-expanding stents as monotherapy for BLAs. METHODS:Five consecutive patients were treated for BLAs with oversized self-expanding stents alone by the senior author (K.R.B.). We report on their clinical and radiographic outcomes. RESULTS:All 5 patients in our series were discharged in good clinical condition. Complete aneurysm occlusion was observed in all patients at the time of most recent radiographic follow-up. Mean follow-up time was 13.6 months (range, 1 month to 4.5 years). CONCLUSION:The use of oversized self-expanding stents to redirect flow away from aneurysms is an effective option for patients with BLAs. This approach represents an alternative to the use of flow diverters. ABBREVIATIONS:BLA, blister-like aneurysmCTA, computed tomography angiogramICA, internal carotid arterySAH, subarachnoid hemorrhage

Original Article: http://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/Fulltext/2013/09001/Stenting_as_Monotherapy_for_Uncoilable.13.aspx

Contact-sport brain trauma may affect personality and cognition

Contact-sport brain trauma may affect personality and cognition
Neurology News & Neuroscience News from Medical News Today

Scientists have discovered that repeated brain trauma, which commonly occurs in athletes, may affect behavior, mood and thinking abilities, according to a study published in the journal Neurology. Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine examined the brains of 36 deceased male athletes aged between 17 and 98 years...

Original Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265158.php

Outcomes Mixed for Brain Surgery in Epilepsy (CME/CE)

Outcomes Mixed for Brain Surgery in Epilepsy (CME/CE)
MedPage Today Neurology

(MedPage Today) -- Long-term follow-up in children undergoing hemispherectomy for refractory epilepsy showed that most were seizure-free and able to walk independently, but deficits in many areas of daily function were common.

Original Article: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/Seizures/41166

Eating disorder anorexia may be linked to brain size

Eating disorder anorexia may be linked to brain size
Neurology News & Neuroscience News from Medical News Today

Scientists have discovered that the size of our brains may indicate the risk of developing an eating disorder, according to a study published in The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry...

Original Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265196.php

iPhone, iPad and Android apps for Neurosurgery

iPhone, iPad and Android apps for Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery Blog

The Neurosurgery Blog group is developing a series of apps dedicated to medicine and more specifically neuroscience.

This is a space created to divulge our apps. You can found more information about than by clicking in the apps logos.

Let us know about your opinion, critics, suggestions or ideas in the "Contact us" space. With your help we may improve the apps you adquired and create new ones!

We hope you enjoy!

More apps are coming soon!

Now we have more than 30,000 downloads in more than 128 countries !

 

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Neurosurgery Blog iOS (click here)

Neurosurgery Blog app  Android (Click Here)

 

 

Captura-de-Tela-2012-10-12-às-04.47.51

Traumatic Brain Injury (Click here)iPad and iPhone

Traumatismo Cranio-encefalico (Click here) iPad and iPhone

Traumatic Brain Injury (Click here) Android

Traumatismo Cranio-encefalico (Click here) Android

 

Captura-de-Tela-2013-01-13-às-20.10.20

Hedache apps (Click here) iPad and iPhone

Dor de cabeça ( Click here) iPad and iPhone

Hedache apps (Click here) Android 

Dor de cabeça ( Click here) Android


Captura-de-Tela-2012-10-13-às-21.03.30

Neuroexame (click here) Portuguese Only iPad and iPhone

Neuro Exam App Android ( Portuguese, English and Spanish)

 

 

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Neuro Exam App iOS ( Only English and Spanish)

Neuro Exam App Android ( Portuguese, English and Spanish)

 

 

 

 

Captura-de-Tela-2012-10-12-às-04.59.55

Neurointensive Care (APPSTORE CLICK HERE English/Portuguese)

Neurointensive Care (English and Portuguese ANDROID) CLICK HERE

 

epilepsiaapp1

 Epilepsia App (portuguese and English) CLICK HERE iOS


neuroinfect1    Captura de Tela 2013-02-13 às 21.45.02

 

Neuroinfect App ( Portuguese and English) Click here Android
Neuroinfect App ( Portuguese and English) Click here iOS

 

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Craniotomy (Portuguese and English) CLICK HERE Android

Craniotomy (Portuguese and English) CLICK HERE  iOS

 

 

Captura-de-Tela-2012-10-12-às-05.12.04

Anamnesis (English) Click Here iPad and iPhone

Anamnese (Portuguese) Click Here iPad and iPhone

 

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Sus para concursos (click here) Portuguese Only iPad and iPhone 

Sus para concursos (click here) Portuguese Only  Android

The post iPhone, iPad and Android apps for Neurosurgery appeared first on NEUROSURGERY BLOG.

Original Article: http://neurocirurgiabr.com/iphone-ipad-and-android-apps-for-neurosurgery/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=iphone-ipad-and-android-apps-for-neurosurgery

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Functional MRI Helps Nonresponsive Patients 'Talk'

Functional MRI Helps Nonresponsive Patients 'Talk'
Medscape Today- Medscape

A patient thought to be in a vegetative state uses functional MRI to follow commands and communicate in a proof-of-principle study.
Medscape Medical News

Original Article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/809666?src=rss

Sniffing Out New Strategies in the Fight against Alzheimer s Disease

Sniffing Out New Strategies in the Fight against Alzheimer s Disease
Scientific American: Mind and Brain

The newest chemical under investigation for managing Alzheimer's disease (AD) is actually not new at all. Insulin, the therapeutic hormone all-too familiar to individuals with diabetes, has...

-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com


Original Article: http://rss.sciam.com/~r/ScientificAmerican-Global/~3/zWjZ0-6ZqO4/article.cfm

Deep Arteriovenous Malformations in the Basal Ganglia, Thalamus, and Insula: Microsurgical Management, Techniques, and Results

Deep Arteriovenous Malformations in the Basal Ganglia, Thalamus, and Insula: Microsurgical Management, Techniques, and Results
Neurosurgery - Current Issue

imageBACKGROUND:Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the basal ganglia, thalamus, and insula are considered inoperable given their depth, eloquence, and limited surgical exposure. Although many neurosurgeons opt for radiosurgery or observation, others have challenged the belief that deep AVMs are inoperable. Further discussion of patient selection, technique, and multimodality management is needed. OBJECTIVE:To describe and discuss the technical considerations of microsurgical resection for deep-seated AVMs. METHODS:Patients with deep AVMs who underwent surgery during a 14-year period were reviewed through the use of a prospective AVM registry. RESULTS:Microsurgery was performed in 48 patients with AVMs in the basal ganglia (n = 10), thalamus (n = 13), or insula (n = 25). The most common Spetzler-Martin grade was III− (68%). Surgical approaches included transsylvian (67%), transcallosal (19%), and transcortical (15%). Complete resection was achieved in 34 patients (71%), and patients with incomplete resection were treated with radiosurgery. Forty-five patients (94%) were improved or unchanged (mean follow-up, 1.6 years). CONCLUSION:This experience advances the notion that select deep AVMs may be operable lesions. Patients were highly selected for small size, hemorrhagic presentation, young age, and compactness—factors embodied in the Spetzler-Martin and Supplementary grading systems. Overall, 10 different approaches were used, exploiting direct, transcortical corridors created by hemorrhage or maximizing anatomic corridors through subarachnoid spaces and ventricles that minimize brain transgression. The same cautious attitude exercised in selecting patients for surgery was also exercised in deciding extent of resection, opting for incomplete resection and radiosurgery more than with other AVMs to prioritize neurological outcomes. ABBREVIATIONS:AVM, arteriovenous malformationMCA, middle cerebral arteryRS, Rankin Scale

Original Article: http://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/Fulltext/2013/09000/Deep_Arteriovenous_Malformations_in_the_Basal.6.aspx

Reconstructive Treatment of Ruptured Blood Blister-like Aneurysms With Stent and Coil

Reconstructive Treatment of Ruptured Blood Blister-like Aneurysms With Stent and Coil
Neurosurgery - Current Issue

imageBACKGROUND:Controversy remains about the optimal treatment for blood blister--like aneurysms (BBAs). OBJECTIVE:To evaluate clinical and angiographic outcomes after reconstructive treatment for BBA with stent and coil. METHODS:Thirty-four patients (6 men, 28 women; mean age, 47.3 years) with ruptured BBAs underwent reconstructive treatment with stent and coil. Posttreatment courses and outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS:Initial treatments were ≥ 2 overlapping stents with or without coiling (n = 28) and single stent with coiling (n = 6). Three BBAs rebled on days 9, 11, and 15 after treatment, resulting in 1 death. Except for 3 patients who died early, 31 patients were followed up for 7 to 80 months (median, 32 months). One patient recovered completely but died of complications of systemic lupus erythematosus at 25 months. Of the remaining 30 patients, 25 had favorable outcomes (modified Rankin scale, 0-2) and 5 had unfavorable outcomes. Angiographic follow-up was available in the 32 BBAs. Eight (25.0%) recurred, all within 5 weeks. In the multiple stents group (n = 26), 22 BBAs showed improvement or complete healing, but 4 (15.4%, 2 rebleedings) had recurrence. In the single stent with coiling group (n = 6), 2 BBAs were stable but 4 (66.7%, 1 rebleeding) had recurrence. Single stent with coiling and Hunt and Hess grade ≥ 4 were 2 independent risk factors for recurrence (P < .05). CONCLUSION:Reconstructive treatment with stent and coil appears a viable option for BBAs. Single stent with coiling and Hunt and Hess grade ≥ 4 were 2 independent risk factors for recurrence. Follow-up angiography should be considered mandatory soon after treatment. ABBREVIATIONS:BBA, blood blister--like aneurysmICA, internal carotid arterymRS, modified Rankin ScaleSAH, subarachnoid hemorrhage

Original Article: http://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/Fulltext/2013/09000/Reconstructive_Treatment_of_Ruptured_Blood.13.aspx

Intracranial Aneurysms Occur More Frequently at Bifurcation Sites That Typically Experience Higher Hemodynamic Stresses

Intracranial Aneurysms Occur More Frequently at Bifurcation Sites That Typically Experience Higher Hemodynamic Stresses
Neurosurgery - Current Issue

imageBACKGROUND:Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) occur more frequently at certain bifurcations than at others. Hemodynamic stress, which promotes aneurysm formation in animal models, also differs among bifurcations, depending on flow and vessel geometry. OBJECTIVE:To determine whether locations that are more likely to develop IAs experience different hemodynamic stresses that might contribute to higher IA susceptibility. METHODS:We characterized the hemodynamic microenvironment at 10 sites in or around the circle of Willis where IAs commonly occur and examined statistical relationships between hemodynamic factors and the tendency for a site to form IAs. The tendency for each site to develop IAs was quantified on the basis of the site distribution from systematic literature analysis of 19 reports including 26 418 aneurysms. Hemodynamic parameters for these sites were derived from image-based computational fluid dynamics of 114 cerebral bifurcations from 31 individuals. Wall shear stress and its spatial gradient were calculated in the impact zone surrounding the bifurcation apex. Linear and exponential regression analyses evaluated correlations between the tendency for IA formation and the typical hemodynamics of a site. RESULTS:IA susceptibility significantly correlated with the magnitudes of wall shear stress and positive wall shear stress gradient within the hemodynamic impact zone calculated for each site. CONCLUSION:IAs occur more frequently at cerebral bifurcations that typically experience higher hemodynamic shear stress and stronger flow acceleration, conditions previously shown to promote aneurysm initiation in animals. ABBREVIATIONS:CFD, computational fluid dynamicsIA, intracranial aneurysmMCA, middle cerebral arteryWSS, wall shear stressWSSG, wall shear stress gradient

Original Article: http://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/Fulltext/2013/09000/Intracranial_Aneurysms_Occur_More_Frequently_at.15.aspx

Brain Imaging in Chronic Epilepsy Patients After Depth Electrode (Stereoelectroencephalography) Implantation: Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Computed Tomography?

Brain Imaging in Chronic Epilepsy Patients After Depth Electrode (Stereoelectroencephalography) Implantation: Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Computed Tomography?
Neurosurgery - Current Issue

imageBACKGROUND:The accurate localization of depth electrodes in epilepsy surgery is important for correct interpretation of stereoelectroencephalography recordings and neurosurgical resection. Unfortunately, image quality in postimplantation magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is degraded by metal artifacts. The registration of postimplantation computed tomography (CT) or MRI to preimplantation (artifact-free) MRI facilitates electrode imaging and optimal visualization of brain anatomy. However, registration errors negatively affect electrode localization accuracy. OBJECTIVE:To compare the relative registration deviation between postimplantation CT and MRI with preimplantation MRI. METHODS:Retrospectively, 14 pharmacoresistant epilepsy patients were included who underwent stereotactic insertion of multiple depth electrodes and preimplantation and postimplantation MRI and postimplantation CT. Postimplantation MRI and CT image sets were registered to preimplantation MRI. The registration error between the registered postimplantation MRI and CT was quantified by measuring the geometrical distance between the electrodes of the registered postimplantation CT and the postimplantation MRI. RESULTS:The registration error of postimplantation imaging to preimplantation MRI was dependent on the algorithm used. After optimization, the smallest registration error was 1.22 ± 0.29 mm (mean ± SD) at the tip and 2.25 ± 1.18 mm at the base of the electrode. CONCLUSION:The good correspondence between the CT/MRI and the MRI/MRI registration suggests that either postimplantation MRI or CT is sufficient for accurate electrode localization. In case of postoperative morphological brain deformations, postimplantation MRI is still recommended. ABBREVIATIONS:MI, mutual informationNMI, normalized mutual information

Original Article: http://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/Fulltext/2013/09000/Brain_Imaging_in_Chronic_Epilepsy_Patients_After.20.aspx

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Diagnostic Yield of Cerebral Angiography in Patients With Computed Tomography-Negative, Lumbar Puncture-Positive Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Diagnostic Yield of Cerebral Angiography in Patients With Computed Tomography-Negative, Lumbar Puncture-Positive Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Neurosurgery - Most Popular Articles

imageBACKGROUND:Cerebral angiography is generally recommended in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) by positive lumbar puncture (LP) but negative findings on computed tomography (CT). Existing data on the yield of angiography in these patients are very limited. OBJECTIVE:To retrospectively assess the diagnostic yield of cerebral angiography in patients with CT−/LP+ SAH and to determine the clinical and laboratory predictors of a vascular abnormality on angiography. METHODS:A total of 35 patients with CT−/LP+ SAH underwent cerebral angiography at our institution between 2008 and 2011. Patient clinical characteristics and LP findings were entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of vascular abnormalities. RESULTS:Twenty-five patients (71.4%) were female and 10 (28.6%) were male, with a mean age of 53 years. Twenty-six patients (74.3%) had cerebrospinal fluid xanthochromia. Sixteen patients (45.7%) were found to have an aneurysm on cerebral angiography. The median CSF red blood cell count of both the first (7790/mm3 vs 4700/mm3), and last collection tubes (6800/mm3 vs 3219/mm3) were higher in patients with cerebral aneurysms vs those without aneurysms (P = .3). On multivariate analysis, there were no clinical or laboratory parameters that predicted the presence of aneurysm on cerebral angiography. CONCLUSION:The diagnostic yield of cerebral angiography is high (45.7%) in patients with CT−/LP+ SAH. Higher red blood cell counts were noted in patients with cerebral aneurysms but no clinical or laboratory parameter can reliably predict the presence of a vascular anomaly. Thus, it is reasonable to perform cerebral angiography in all patients with CT−/LP+ SAH. ABBREVIATIONS:CTA, computed tomography angiographyDSA, digital subtraction angiographyLP, lumbar punctureMRA, magnetic resonance angiographyRBC, red blood cellSAH, subarachnoid hemorrhageWBC, white blood cell

Original Article: http://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/Fulltext/2013/08000/Diagnostic_Yield_of_Cerebral_Angiography_in.21.aspx

Braintone has a therapeutic effect on ischemic brain damage

Braintone has a therapeutic effect on ischemic brain damage
Neurology News & Neuroscience News from Medical News Today

Recently, the importance of the neurovascular unit, which is comprised of neurons, endothelial cells and astrocytes, has received great attention in the field of stroke, because stroke affects not only neurons, but also astrocytes and microvessels. Within the neurovascular unit, endothelial cells are critical for maintaining normal hemodynamic and metabolic homeostasis...

Original Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/264922.php

Clinicopathologic differences among patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia

Clinicopathologic differences among patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia
Neurology recent issues

Mendez et al.1 found that distinguishing between pathologically confirmed bvFTD and AD can be determined by personality changes, problem-solving, and episodic memory deficits. This could have implications on future bvFTD diagnostic criteria. The higher incidence of episodic memory problems in AD raises the controversial issue: is a memory deficit a reliable diagnostic criterion in distinguishing between the pathologies? There is increasing evidence that an episodic memory deficit is a poor diagnostic predictor for bvFTD and AD, even in pathologically proven cases.2–5 Closer inspection of the authors' findings reveals that their neuropsychological memory measures confirm these findings by showing no episodic memory difference between bvFTD and AD. The authors based their recommendation on the binary informant-based decision of episodic memory deficits presence, which does not converge with their more objective neuropsychological findings. This discrepancy is concerning. The recommendation to discriminate between bvFTD and AD on the basis of memory deficits may not be warranted by their data. The authors should have mentioned this caveat in their publication.

Original Article: http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/short/81/8/775?rss=1

Falsification, Fabrication, and Plagiarism: The Unholy Trinity of Scientific Writing

Falsification, Fabrication, and Plagiarism: The Unholy Trinity of Scientific Writing
International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics

One of the greatest, and sadly all too common, challenges facing a contemporary medical journal editor is the adjudication of ethical integrity issues. I had originally presumed that this would be just an occasional role, but it transpires that these problems are quite widespread, ranging from unconscious and unwitting naiveté to the conscious and willful betrayal of scientific trust.

Original Article: http://www.redjournal.org/article/PIIS0360301613028137/abstract?rss=yes

Dementia risk score for people with diabetes

Dementia risk score for people with diabetes
Neurology News & Neuroscience News from Medical News Today

Scientists have created a simple scoring system that will allow clinicians to predict whether older people with type 2 diabetes are at risk of developing dementia, according to a study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology...

Original Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265000.php

The brain reward circuitry in mood disorders

The brain reward circuitry in mood disorders
Nature Reviews Neuroscience - Issue - nature.com science feeds

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 609 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrn3381

Authors: Scott J. Russo & Eric J. Nestler

Mood disorders are common and debilitating conditions characterized in part by profound deficits in reward-related behavioural domains. A recent literature has identified important structural and functional alterations within the brain's reward circuitry — particularly in the ventral tegmental area–nucleus accumbens pathway — that are associated

Original Article: http://feeds.nature.com/~r/nrn/rss/current/~3/VIOt4Tjj7LI/nrn3381

The brain reward circuitry in mood disorders

The brain reward circuitry in mood disorders
Nature Reviews Neuroscience - Issue - nature.com science feeds

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 609 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrn3381

Authors: Scott J. Russo & Eric J. Nestler

Mood disorders are common and debilitating conditions characterized in part by profound deficits in reward-related behavioural domains. A recent literature has identified important structural and functional alterations within the brain's reward circuitry — particularly in the ventral tegmental area–nucleus accumbens pathway — that are associated

Original Article: http://feeds.nature.com/~r/nrn/rss/current/~3/VIOt4Tjj7LI/nrn3381

The brain reward circuitry in mood disorders

The brain reward circuitry in mood disorders
Nature Reviews Neuroscience - Issue - nature.com science feeds

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 609 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrn3381

Authors: Scott J. Russo & Eric J. Nestler

Mood disorders are common and debilitating conditions characterized in part by profound deficits in reward-related behavioural domains. A recent literature has identified important structural and functional alterations within the brain's reward circuitry — particularly in the ventral tegmental area–nucleus accumbens pathway — that are associated

Original Article: http://feeds.nature.com/~r/nrn/rss/current/~3/VIOt4Tjj7LI/nrn3381

Neuroscience thinks big (and collaboratively)

Neuroscience thinks big (and collaboratively)
Nature Reviews Neuroscience - Issue - nature.com science feeds

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 659 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrn3578

Authors: Eric R. Kandel, Henry Markram, Paul M. Matthews, Rafael Yuste & Christof Koch

Despite cash-strapped times for research, several ambitious collaborative neuroscience projects have attracted large amounts of funding and media attention. In Europe, the Human Brain Project aims to develop a large-scale computer simulation of the brain, whereas in the United States, the Brain Activity Map is

Original Article: http://feeds.nature.com/~r/nrn/rss/current/~3/7StCxviOM2c/nrn3578

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Hedache App (android and iPhone)

Headache App

Check out this application on the App Store:

Cover Art

Headache App

Soda Virtual

Category: Medical

Updated: 13 Apr 2013

11 Ratings



iOS Applications
Please note that you have not been added to any email lists.
Copyright © 2013 Apple Inc. All rights reserved

5 Risks of Being an Employed Doctor

5 Risks of Being an Employed Doctor
Medscape NeurologyHeadlines

More doctors are considering leaving private practice to become employed, but there are some important risks to be aware of. Here's what to consider.
Medscape Business of Medicine

Original Article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/808899?src=rss

Depression Speeds Cognitive Decline (CME/CE)

Depression Speeds Cognitive Decline (CME/CE)
MedPage Today Neurology

(MedPage Today) -- Depression in patients with type 2 diabetes is a significant risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline, researchers found.

Original Article: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Diabetes/41002

Should American Journal of Neuroradiology Commentary be Evidence-Based?

Should American Journal of Neuroradiology Commentary be Evidence-Based?
AJNR Blog

Published online before print July 11, 2013, doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A3671
AJNR 2013

A.C. Mamourian
Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology

B.A. Pukenas
Department of Radiology, Neurointervention
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

S.R. Satti
Department of Neurointerventional Surgery
Christiana Care Heath System
Wilmington, Delaware

After the editorial alarmingly entitled "Death by Nondiagno­sis: Why Emergent CT Angiography Should Not Be Done for Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage"1 in the American Jour­nal of Neuroradiology (AJNR) in 2007, we were looking forward to an update in Dr Jayaraman's recent commentary, "Cerebral An­giography: Not Yet Ready to Join the Dinosaurs,"2 after 6 years of progress with CTA technology. On the basis of the title of the piece, we expected to read a commonsense plea for neuroradiolo­gists to maintain their competence with catheters now that CTA has effectively become the first imaging test at many hospitals for patients presenting with nontraumatic subarachnoid hemor­rhage. Therefore, we were surprised to read about his suggestion to bypass CTA altogether and go directly to DSA whenever possi­ble, a point of view reminiscent of that 2007 editorial.

His commentary was in response to a scientific article in which Delgado Almandoz et al3 reported that 10%–20% of patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage but negative CTA or MRA had positive findings on DSA. This is of interest but not surprising and less so when one considers that only approximately 11 cases a year (18%) had negative CTA findings over the course of 5 years at their institution. In only approximately 3% (15% of 18%) of all the patients presenting to their hospital with subarachnoid hem­orrhage, angiography was required to find the source of the hem­orrhage. If we choose to look at the glass half full, in 97% of their patients CTA alone provided the correct diagnosis. That is better than most other diagnostic tests used routinely. Nevertheless, DSA was necessary to find that 3% in 18% of their patients, so let us say that CTA alone provided the correct diagnosis in approxi­mately 80%.

He then cited another article that reported that even when the CTA findings are positive, the DSA examination changed the treatment plan in 20%–30% of patients.4 While that certainly would support his argument, some of the "changes" listed in that article would be insignificant in the setting of a patient with an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. For example, a 4-mm anterior communicating artery aneurysm noted on CTA was 1 example of "change" when it was found to be to a 5-mm aneurysm on DSA. Acute subarachnoid hemorrhage was not required for inclusion in the study and, in both articles, MRA was lumped together with CTA in the pre-DSA group. That explains the title of the Delgado Almandoz3 article, "Diagnostic Yield of Catheter Angiography in Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Negative Noninva­sive Examinations" (italics ours). Therefore, while neither article directly addresses the question of CTA versus DSA in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, let us accept that there is some­thing to what they say and call CTA diagnostic in only 70% of cases.

With these facts in hand, Dr Jayaraman goes on to remind the readers of their obligation as physicians to eliminate unnecessary costs to the health system and concludes: "As part of this cost containment, if we can eliminate a 'good' test (CTA) to go directly to the 'best' test (DSA), I believe that we should take this oppor­tunity…. Doing so may decrease the cost and will also decrease patient radiation dose."2

"May" indeed. One might then ask on what basis? The com­mentary does not offer any numbers to support the advice to skip CTA. At our institution, the charge for DSA is approximately 5 times that of CTA. The difference may be even larger at other institutions, and that differential makes perfect sense considering that DSA is an invasive test (one that requires an hour or more to perform, catheters and the like, and with physicians in atten­dance) and should cost considerably more than CTA to perform. With regard to radiation dose, we rely on the report by Manninen et al,5 in which they used real measurements to show that CTA of the intracranial vessels has only one-fifth the effective dose of a DSA examination.

For keeping score, let us assign to CTA a relative cost value of 1 and the same for its dose. Using their relative values for a single brain DSA, we will assign a value of 5 for cost and 5 as well for dose. If we were to then choose to examine the next 100 patients who arrive at the emergency department with a subarachnoid hemorrhage with a DSA study as their only examination instead of a CTA, doing the "best" test first, as suggested in the commen­tary, the total cost in terms of our relative values would be 500 (5 x 100) for cost and 500 (5 x 100) for dose—that is, of course, assuming that there were no complications from the DSA, be­cause they would certainly increase both the cost and dose of this approach. Now let us reset the counter and offer each patient a CTA at the time of presentation. The total cost for the CTA part of their work-up would then be 100, and their total dose, 100. Now then if we assume that 30% of the 100 had normal or less-than­definitive CTA findings followed by DSA, if we used our relative-value scale, that would require an additional cost of 150 (30 x 5) and dose of 150 (30 x 5). The total then for the approach of using CTA followed by DSA in our group of 100 in total would add up to 250 for cost and 250 for dose compared with 500 and 500, respec­tively, for the DSA-only model. In short, using the DSA-first ap­proach suggested by Dr Jayaraman would incur twice the cost and dose. While there may be flaws with this simple calculation, we believe, in broad strokes, that it is sound, and at least we offer an analysis to support the CTA-first approach.

What should be acknowledged at the outset is that in clinical practice, DSA is usually performed as part of the patient's endo­vascular procedure and not as a stand-alone diagnostic test. That is why this question of cost and dose is really quite complex. At most centers, CTA is used as a decision point on the way to sur­gical or, more frequently, endovascular treatment of an aneu­rysm. The benefit of endovascular treatment in this circumstance was recently reaffirmed by the Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial from the Barrow Institute.6 Using CTA as the first examination is helpful in many ways: For example, it can determine whether the patient requires emergent surgery, it allows the family to under­stand the magnitude of the risks before any treatment, and it allows the interventionalist to limit the diagnostic portion of the endovascular procedure and decide how to best address the spe­cifics of the aneurysm configuration before the procedure. Be­cause diagnostic angiography is commonly performed without anesthesia but interventional procedures are not, one would have to consider the implications, in terms of cost, of performing a diagnostic DSA examination without anesthesia and then bring­ing in anesthesia, compared with the cost of doing all DSA exam­inations with anesthesia in anticipation of some going on to in­tervention. It is for these reasons that the impact of bypassing CTA goes well beyond any simple measure of sensitivity, because even a negative CTA finding in the middle of the night has a significant impact on patient care regardless of the results of the DSA that follows the next day.

We can all agree that CTA alone cannot address all the diag­nostic questions for these patients with subarachnoid hemor­rhage. Moreover, for those patients who need DSA for diagnosis, we wholeheartedly agree with Dr Jayaraman that neuroradiolo­gists need to be well-trained and prepared to offer optimal DSA imaging with minimal risk whenever necessary. However, until real evidence is provided to the contrary, we believe that CTA remains the logical first examination for patients presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

References

  1. Kallmes DF, Layton K, Marx WF, et al. Death by nondiagnosis: why emergent CT angiography should not be done for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2007;28:1837–38
  2. Jayaraman MV. Cerebral angiography: not yet ready to join the di¬nosaurs. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2013;34:840
  3. Delgado Almandoz JE, Crandall BM, Fease JL, et al. Diagnostic yield ofcatheter angiographyinpatientswith subarachnoidhemorrhage and negative initial noninvasive neurovascular examinations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2013;34:833–39
  4. Tomycz L, Bansal NK, Hawley CR, et al. Real-world comparison of non-invasive imaging to conventional catheter angiography in the diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms. Surg Neurol Int 2011;2:134–40
  5. Manninen AL, Isokangas JM, Karttunen A, et al. A comparison of radiation exposure between diagnostic CTA and DSA examina¬tions of cerebral and cervicocerebral vessels. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2012;33:2038–42
  6. McDougall CG, Spetzler RF, Zabramski JM, et al. The Barrow Rup¬tured Aneurysm Trial. J Neurosurg 2012;116:135–44

Reply

Published online before print July 11, 2013, doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A3703
AJNR 2013

M.V. Jayaraman
Departments of Diagnostic Imaging and Neurosurgery
Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island

I would like to thank Drs Mamourian, Pukenas, and Satti for their letter, "Should American Journal of Neuroradiology Com­mentary Be Evidence-Based?" I agree that commentary should indeed be evidence-based. However, with many studies, there can be more than one way to interpret the data.

I stated in my original letter that "we as radiologists should do our part to optimize patient care by eliminating redundant test­ing…."1 Recently, McDonald et al2 published an analysis of the relative use of CTA and DSA in patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms. They showed that in a retrospective analysis of 4972 patients (3950 of whom were treated with endovascular coiling) spanning 2006–2011, the use of CTA increased from 20% in 2006 to 44% in 2011. Meanwhile, during the same time, the use of angiography remained unchanged at 94%–96%. This evidence seems to support the assertion that in patients with ruptured an­eurysms, increasing use of CTA did not decrease the use of DSA. Certainly, this retrospective study has limitations, the most signif­icant of which is that patients with nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage were not included.

Mamourian et al also suggest that pretreatment CTA "is very helpful to determine whether the patient requires emergent sur­gery, it allows the family to understand the magnitude of the risks before any treatment, and it allows the interventionalist to limit the diagnostic portion of the endovascular procedure and plan before the procedure how to best address the specifics of the an­eurysm configuration." However, there is no evidence that they can reference to support that claim. Where is the evidence show­ing that pretreatment CTA improves outcomes or patient safety among those who subsequently undergo endovascular therapy? Where is the evidence that a pretreatment CTA reduces proce­dural time or radiation exposure during diagnostic angiography?

Because they also state that CTA "remains the logical first ex­amination for patients presenting with subarachnoid hemor­rhage," I would suggest that they provide the evidence that sup­ports this claim. Perhaps they should randomize all patients with SAH to either CTA first or DSA first. Then, when they can show that the CTA-first group had better outcomes and lower costs, they can support their logic. It may also have been logical to be­lieve that endovascular therapy is better than the best medical therapy for intracranial atherosclerotic disease3 or that logically, endovascular therapy improves outcomes over IV thrombolysis alone in patients with acute ischemic stroke.4

I certainly believe that CTA has an important role in the emer­gent setting. Patients who are too unstable to undergo angiogra­phy or need emergent resection of an intracranial hematoma are excellent candidates for a CTA. In addition, those with low suspi­cion for aneurysmal hemorrhage can also often be managed with CTA alone. Indeed, the original article that started this discussion showed that in patients with isolated perimesencephalic hemor­rhage, negative findings on noninvasive imaging would have been adequate.5 However, at the present time, there is inadequate evi­dence to imply that CTA as a first imaging technique on all pa­tients with subarachnoid hemorrhage should be the standard of care.

References

  1. Jayaraman MV. Cerebral angiography: not yet ready to join the di­nosaurs.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2013;34:840
  2. McDonald JS, Kallmes DF, Lanzino G, et al. Use of CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography in patients with ruptured ce­rebral aneurysm: evaluation of a large multihospital data base. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2013 Apr 11. [Epub ahead of print]
  3. Chimowitz MI, Lynn MJ, Derdeyn CP, et al., for the SAMMPRIS Trial Investigators. Stenting versus aggressive medical therapy for intra­cranial arterial stenosis. N Engl J Med 2011;365:993–1003
  4. Broderick JP, Palesch YY, Demchuk AM, et al. Endovascular therapy after intravenous t-PA versus t-PA alone for stroke. N Engl J Med 2013;368:893–903
  5. Delgado Almandoz JE, Crandall BM, Fease JL, et al. Diagnostic yield of catheter angiography in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and negative initial noninvasive neurovascular examinations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2013;34:833–39

The post Should American Journal of Neuroradiology Commentary be Evidence-Based? appeared first on AJNR Blog.

Original Article: http://www.ajnrblog.org/2013/08/15/should-american-journal-of-neuroradiology-commentary-be-evidence-based/

Facial Nerve Paralysis in Children: Is It as Benign as Supposed?

Facial Nerve Paralysis in Children: Is It as Benign as Supposed?
Pediatric Neurology

Abstract: Background: Facial nerve paralysis is a common disease in children. Most of the patients show complete recovery. This single-center cohort study exclusively included pediatric patients to investigate the outcome of all patients with facial nerve palsy.Methods: Hospital records of all the patients admitted to the Children's Hospital in Linz between January 2005 and December 2010 with facial nerve paralysis were reviewed. Patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy were invited for clinical reevaluation between July 2011 and October 2011. The House-Brackmann score was used for reassessment.Results: Fifty-six patients agreed to return for an additional clinical reevaluation. Study participants were divided in two groups according to their House-Brackmann scores: group 1 (n = 44), with a score <2were considered good outcomes, and group 2 (n = 12), with a score ≥2 showed persistent mild to moderate dysfunction of the facial nerve and were considered moderate outcomes. The most important finding was the difference of the reported time to remission (P = 0.003) between the groups.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that facial paralysis in children is not as benign as supposed. It is suggested that patients and their guardians be informed that a slight face asymmetry may persist, but functional recovery in general is excellent.

Original Article: http://www.pedneur.com/article/PIIS0887899413001975/abstract?rss=yes

Unusual Trigeminal Autonomic Pain Heralding Hemichorea due to Zoster Sine Herpete Vasculopathy

Unusual Trigeminal Autonomic Pain Heralding Hemichorea due to Zoster Sine Herpete Vasculopathy
Pediatric Neurology

Abstract: Background: Varicella zoster virus primary infection is responsible for chickenpox, whereas secondary infection or reactivation can lead to a variety of clinical scenarios. If latent infection is established in trigeminal ganglion, the reactivation can determine viral migration to cerebral arteries, which causes a cerebral vasculopathy and subsequently an ischemic stroke. Patients: Here we report on a child experiencing recurrent episodes of headache mimicking a trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia, in the absence of any skin rash, which were followed by the occurrence of an ipsilateral hemiparesis associated with a choreic movement disorder a month later.Results: Magnetic resonance angiography showed evidence of a right-sided infarction of basal ganglia and anterior limb of the internal capsule, corresponding to the vascular territory of the recurrent artery of Heubner, as a consequence of a focal varicella zoster virus arteriopathy.Conclusions: We suggest that the recognition of this prodromal manifestation, which can be interpreted as a zoster sine herpete, could provide clinicians an extremely useful time window to start promptly with a prophylactic treatment.

Original Article: http://www.pedneur.com/article/PIIS0887899413002142/abstract?rss=yes

Newly discovered safety risks related to anti-epileptic drugs not passed to neurologists

Newly discovered safety risks related to anti-epileptic drugs not passed to neurologists
Neurology News & Neuroscience News from Medical News Today

A study by Johns Hopkins researchers shows that a fifth of U.S. neurologists appear unaware of serious drug safety risks associated with various anti-epilepsy drugs, potentially jeopardizing the health of patients who could be just as effectively treated with safer alternative medications. The findings suggest that the U.S...

Original Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/264882.php