Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

CVIR Endovasc 2021 Jun 11;4(1):50. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Department of Vascular Surgery, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, 2305, Australia.

Background: Endoleaks after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) occur frequently with type 2 being the most common. Treatment of type 2 endoleaks is indicated if the aneurysmal sac increases in size.

Case Report: In this case report, we will discuss a patient who presented with aneurysmal sac size increase 11 years after undergoing EVAR for an asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm which extended into the iliac arteries. Read More

Cureus 2021 May 7;13(5):e14886. Epub 2021 May 7.

Primary Care, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York, USA.

Nearly 700,000 adults in the US have normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), but it is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. In fact, a small percentage of people with the disease are properly diagnosed. NPH presents classically with a triad of symptoms: ataxic gait, dementia, and urinary incontinence. Read More

Praxis (Bern 1994) 2021 Jun;110(8):469-470

Klinik für Neurologie, Universitätsspital Zürich und Universität Zürich.

CME/Answers: New-Onset Headache in Adults: Evidence-Based Assessment in the Primary Care Setting Many people suffer from headaches. Primary (idiopathic) headaches such as migraine and tension type headaches are most common. They may significantly affect occupational and social aspects of daily life, but are usually not dangerous. Read More

Curr Med Imaging 2021 Jun 8. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, China.

Introduction: At present, the mechanism of telangiectasia is unknown, but some evidence suggests that it may be related to genetic abnormalities. Telangiectasia may lead to bleeding of multiple sites. CT-negative subarachnoid hemorrhage is rare, which is mostly related to hemorrhage with a little amount of bleeding. Read More

Pain Manag 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Department of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.

Epidural blood patches are considered definitive treatment for postdural puncture headache in adult patients. However, they are infrequently used in children or in patients with altered spine anatomy. In patients who have undergone recent spine surgery, the lumbar epidural space can be approached safely via the caudal canal. Read More

Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi 2021 Jun;59(6):458-463

Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.

To evaluate the clinical effect of percutaneous curved kyphoplasty (PCK) for osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures (OVCF). This is a prospective study.Patients with OVCF who underwent PCK at the Department of Orthopedics,Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2018 to June 2019 were included. Read More

J Feline Med Surg 2021 Jun 7:1098612X211021292. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Department of Comparative, Diagnostic and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of dural puncture, indicated by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow, in cats receiving neuraxial anesthesia through a lumbosacral injection guided by a pop sensation method.

Methods: This was an observational, retrospective study. Cats that were scheduled for lumbosacral neuraxial anesthesia were included. Read More

J Orthop Translat 2021 Jul 15;29:19-29. Epub 2021 May 15.

Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.

Background: Krüppel like factor 10 (KLF10), which is also known as TGF-β Inducible Early Gene-1 (TIEG1), plays a crucial role in regulating cell proliferation, cell apoptosis and inflammatory reaction in human carcinoma cells. Moreover, KLF10 knockout in mice leads to severe defects associated with muscle, skeleton and heart etc. However, the function of KLF10 in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) has not been reported yet. Read More

Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol (Engl Ed) 2021 Jun 30;96(6):326-331. Epub 2020 Aug 30.

Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia.

Optic nerve drusen are acellular concretions of calcium located in the parenchyma of the optical nerve head described as the most common cause of pseudo-papilloedema, which makes it difficult to differentiate from a true optical disc oedema. Despite it being rare, the drusen of the optic nerve and the papilloedema secondary to idiopathic intracranial hypertension can coexist in the same patient. The case is presented of a 34 year-old woman referred to the Ophthalmology Department with visual discomfort, headaches, and pulsatile tinnitus of two months onset. Read More

Neurology 2021 Jun 4. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that enterovirus meningitis (EM) is a frequent and self-limiting condition, the epidemiology of enterovirus meningitis (EM) in adults was examined.

Methods: Using a prospective, nationwide, population-based database, all adults with EM confirmed by PCR of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 2015-2019 were included. Unfavorable outcome was defined as Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores of 1-4 at discharge. Read More

Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021 Jun 4. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

From the Division of Critical Care and Hospitalist Neurology, Department of Neurology (Waldrop, Radmard, Thakur), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.

Context.—: The FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) panel is the first US Food and Drug Administration-cleared multiplex polymerase chain reaction panel for the detection of central nervous system infections. While the assay's performance characteristics have been described, the real-world significance of positive results has not been fully characterized. Read More

Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med 2021 Jun 19;8(2):112-116. Epub 2020 Nov 19.

College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Lumbar puncture (LP) remains an essential diagnostic procedure for neurological and infectious diseases. However, it remains a source of anxiety to patients and families. This research aimed to assess the impact of a newly developed educational simplified video about LP, in the parents' native language, that is tailored to their social background and beliefs and to assess whether it can facilitate their consent for the procedure. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2021 3;12:205. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrassse, Switzerland.

Background: A spinal dural defect caused by needle placement for spinal level localization is an uncommon complication of cerebrospinal fluid leak with the potential for the development of intracranial hypertension.

Case Description: Our 48-year-old patient underwent unilateral fenestration and sequestrectomy for intractable L5 radiculopathy due to disc herniation at the level L4-5 on the right side. The spinal level was identified with fluoroscopy after placement of a 24-gauge Sprotte spinal needle on the right side. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2021 3;12:199. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Neurosurgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Tumefactive demyelinating lesions (TDLs) share similar clinical features and MRI characteristics with high-grade glioma (HGG). This study develops an approach to navigating this diagnostic dilemma, with significant treatment implications as the management of both entities is drastically different.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 41 TDLs and 91 HGG with respect to demographics, presentation, and classical MRI characteristics was performed. Read More

BMC Med 2021 Jun 4;19(1):122. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Clinical Research Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 230 80108, Kilifi, Kenya.

Background: Diagnosing bacterial meningitis is essential to optimise the type and duration of antimicrobial therapy to limit mortality and sequelae. In sub-Saharan Africa, many public hospitals lack laboratory capacity, relying on clinical features to empirically treat or not treat meningitis. We investigated whether clinical features of bacterial meningitis identified prior to the introduction of conjugate vaccines still discriminate meningitis in children aged ≥60 days. Read More

J Neurooncol 2021 Jun 2. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 0431, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Introduction: Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is a rare set of neurological disorders arising from tumor-associated autoimmunity against antigens within the cerebellum. Anti-Purkinje cell cytoplasmic antibody 1 (PCA-1), or anti-Yo, is the most commonly linked antibody and is classically associated with breast and ovarian cancers.

Methods: Medical records of patients at our institution who developed PCA-1 associated PCD were reviewed. Read More

J Chin Med Assoc 2021 Jun 1. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

Department of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Division of Translational Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

Background: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is the most common complication of lumbar puncture. Patients received lumbar puncture were previously suggested to remain in bed for a certain time to prevent PDPH; however, this concept was challenged by recent studies. We aimed to investigate whether ambulation instead of resting supine following lumbar puncture could increase the risk of PDPH. Read More

Life (Basel) 2021 May 24;11(6). Epub 2021 May 24.

Metabolic Neurology, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, UK.

The pseudotumor cerebri syndrome embraces disorders characterised by raised intracranial pressure, where the commonest symptom is headache (90%). Idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilloedema (IIHWOP) is increasingly recognised as a source of refractory headache symptoms and resultant neurological disability. Although the majority of patients with IIHWOP are phenotypically similar to those with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), it remains uncertain as to whether IIHWOP is nosologically distinct from IIH. Read More

Life (Basel) 2021 May 27;11(6). Epub 2021 May 27.

Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

The purpose of this study is to identify salient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of pediatric IIH, to determine the relevance of these findings with regard to disease pathogenesis, and to relate these findings to the clinical presentation towards identification of risk factors of disease. A retrospective, a case-control study of 38 pediatric patients with and 24 pediatric patients without IIH from the ophthalmology department at a tertiary care center was performed. Clinical data, including ophthalmic findings and lumbar puncture results, were recorded. Read More

Diagnostics (Basel) 2021 May 8;11(5). Epub 2021 May 8.

Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.

Early diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis in children are essential, due to the high mortality and morbidity rates. However, lumbar puncture is often difficult, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture takes time. This meta-analysis aims to determine the diagnostic accuracy of blood procalcitonin for detecting bacterial meningitis in children. Read More

Diagnostics (Basel) 2021 May 12;11(5). Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy.

Despite the substantial changes resulting from the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remains substantial. Blood-brain barrier impairment (BBBi) is a frequent feature in people living with HIV (PLWH) and it may persist despite effective antiretroviral treatment. A cross-sectional study was performed in PLWH who underwent lumbar puncture for clinical reasons or research protocols and several cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers were studied. Read More

J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2021 May 15. Epub 2021 May 15.

Department of Neonatology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Background: To investigate antibiotic resistance of pathogens responsible for neonatal invasive bacterial infections (IBIs) in China.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of neonates with IBI evaluated in nine hospitals in China (January 2012-August 2019). Antibiotic resistance patterns of pathogens responsible for neonatal IBIs were analyzed. Read More

Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2021 Jun;103(6):e181-e183

Queen's Hospital Burton, Burton on Trent, UK.

A 63-year-old man presented to the emergency department with low back pain, perineal and genital numbness, together with bilateral lower limb paraesthesia and urinary retention. He was admitted under the orthopaedic service for investigation of suspected cauda equina syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging of his spine did not reveal any evidence of cauda equina compression. Read More

Alzheimers Dement 2021 May 31. Epub 2021 May 31.

Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.

Introduction: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for neurofibrillary tau allows investigation of the in vivo spatiotemporal progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. We evaluated the suitability of F-MK-6240 in a clinical sample and determined the relationships among F-MK-6240 binding, age, cognition, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-based AD biomarkers.

Methods: Participants (n = 101, 72 ± 9 years, 52% women) underwent amyloid PET, tau PET, structural T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and neuropsychological evaluation. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2021 11;2021:6631562. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a degenerative and chronic spinal disorder often associated with the older population. Oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor of aging that results in the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Quercetin (QUE), a naturally occurring flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has been studied in research on degenerative diseases. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2021 May 31;15(1):295. Epub 2021 May 31.

Region Skåne, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Regional Inpatient Care, Emergency Unit, Malmö, Sweden.

Introduction: Autoimmune disorders have become increasingly acknowledged as having a more causative role in encephalitis than previously assumed. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis seems to be the most prevalent disorder. Symptoms of the neuropsychiatric phase in children and adolescents include abnormal behavior, seizures, and neurologic symptoms. Read More

Neurochirurgie 2021 May 26. Epub 2021 May 26.

Institute of Neuroscience and Neurosurgery, El Bosque University, Bogotá, Colombia; MEDITECH Foundation, Cali Valle, Colombia.

Background: The Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF) published evidence-based guidelines with a detailed approach to the management of intracranial hypertension (ICH) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. However, management with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage in TBI patients remains a controversial topic and is a recent addition to the 4 Edition of the BTF guidelines. External lumbar drainage (ELD) has been proposed for the management of patients with refractory ICH despite aggressive measures. Read More

NMR Biomed 2021 May 29:e4568. Epub 2021 May 29.

Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of cognitive impairment and dementia in elderly individuals. According to the current biomarker framework for "unbiased descriptive classification", biomarkers of neurodegeneration, "N", constitute a critical component in the tri-category "A/T/N" system. Current biomarkers of neurodegeneration suffer from potential drawbacks such as requiring invasive lumbar puncture, involving ionizing radiation, or representing a late, irreversible marker. Read More

J Anesth 2021 May 29. Epub 2021 May 29.

Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Purpose: Recently, a new handheld ultrasound-based device, called Accuro, has been commercialized with a real-time automated interpretation of lumbar ultrasound images. We hypothesized that the handheld ultrasound device would improve the efficacy and safety of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) for cesarean delivery in obese parturients.

Methods: Eighty parturients with a body mass index > 30 kg∙m scheduled for elective cesarean delivery were randomly allocated equally (palpation group and ultrasound group). Read More

Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2021 06;27(3):746-766

Purpose Of Review: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is a disorder caused by spinal CSF leakage. This article reviews the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Recent Findings: The hallmark symptom of spontaneous intracranial hypotension is acute orthostatic headache; however, clinical presentations can be heterogeneous. Read More