Assessment of Cognitive Symptoms in Brain Bank-Registered Control Subjects: Feasibility and Utility of a Telephone-Based Screening

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Gerard Mayà ◽  
Jordi Sarto ◽  
Yaroslau Compta ◽  
Mircea Balasa ◽  
Teresa Ximelis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Bank ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Cognitive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
Asymptomatic Subjects

Background: For neuroscience research, the study of brain tissue of neurologically unimpaired subjects is crucial to interpret findings in neurodegenerative diseases. Sub-optimal neurological follow-up and the presence of neuropathological lesions in supposedly asymptomatic subjects casts doubt as to whether these subjects present an undetected underlying neurodegenerative disease or are resilient to neurodegeneration. Objective: We aimed to assess whether the control donors registered in the Neurological Tissue Bank-Hospital Clínic-IDIBAPS (NTB-HCI) are still free of cognitive symptoms at follow-up and to evaluate the feasibility and utility of a telephone-based screening. Methods: All control subjects older than 65 years registered at the NTB-HCI database were selected for the study. After a structured telephone interview, those subjects already diagnosed with a neurological disease were excluded. Then, a cognitive screening was performed, including the telephone version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (t-MMSE) and the eight-item interview (AD-8) to the subject and to one informant. Results: In total, 73.8% of the registered donors collaborated in the study. Only 21.4% had at least one of the three cognitive screening tools impaired, and 2.7% had a profile highly suggestive of cognitive impairment. AD-8i correlated moderately with t-MMSE. Conclusion: Telephone-based neurologic screening in control donors is feasible and was within the normal range in most of the subjects in our cohort. Albeit, the involvement of neurologists and periodic neurological screenings are desirable in a control subjects brain donor program, AD8-i could be used to screen the control’s neurological status in the absence of accurate clinical data at the time of the death.

Cognitive Screening Tools for Late Career Physicians: A Critical Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 089198872092471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Davis Garrett ◽  
William Perry ◽  
Betsy Williams ◽  
Lauri Korinek ◽  
David E. J. Bazzo
Keyword(s):  
Work Performance ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Fitness For Duty ◽  
Rehabilitation Professionals ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
The Us

Screening measures are widely used in medicine to assess the increased probability that members of a defined population have a particular condition and therefore require more extensive assessment. The rationale for prospective screening of late career physicians (LCPs) is drawn from the following circumstances: Senior physicians—prone to the vicissitudes of aging—comprise nearly a third of the US physician workforce, physicians are poor at self-evaluation, data suggest many have clinically relevant cognitive decline, and screening is an evidence-based, method to detect individuals at risk and determine whether a comprehensive evaluation is necessary. A handful of professional organizations (eg, surgeons, obstetricians, and a growing number of medical staff credentialing committees) have developed policies in this arena. This focused review compares cognitive screening methods used or recommended for LCPs, with particular attention to the psychometric properties, ease of operational implementation, and appropriate application to physicians—a population selected for high cognitive reserve and skills. Further, we identify gaps in knowledge and practice, including the need for more career-span normative data on physicians’ cognitive and work performance. Stakeholders can improve rehabilitation and other supports to LCPs in transition, calling upon the unique expertise of those neuropsychologists who are trained on conducting fitness for duty evaluations, as well as rehabilitation professionals who can assist in developing modifications to practice when indicated or facilitate graceful transitions to retirement when necessary.

Long-term stability of fusiform dilatation of the internal carotid artery following surgery adjacent to the circle of Willis: report of 2 cases

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Madeline B. Karsten ◽  
R. Michael Scott
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Arachnoid Cyst ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Imaging Finding ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Suprasellar Region

Fusiform dilatation of the internal carotid artery (FDCA) is a known postoperative imaging finding after craniopharyngioma resection. FDCA has also been reported following surgery for other lesions in the suprasellar region in pediatric patients and is thought to be due to trauma to the internal carotid artery (ICA) wall during tumor dissection. Here, the authors report 2 cases of pediatric patients with FDCA. Case 1 is a patient in whom FDCA was visualized on follow-up scans after total resection of a craniopharyngioma; this patient’s subsequent scans and neurological status remained stable throughout a 20-year follow-up period. In case 2, FDCA appeared after resection and fenestration of a giant arachnoid cyst in a 3-year-old child, with 6 years of stable subsequent follow-up, an imaging finding that to the authors’ knowledge has not previously been reported following surgery for arachnoid cyst fenestration. These cases demonstrate that surgery involving dissection adjacent to the carotid artery wall in pediatric patients may lead to the development of FDCA. On very long-term follow-up, this imaging finding rarely changes and virtually all patients remain asymptomatic. Neurointerventional treatment of FDCA in the absence of symptoms or significant late enlargement of the arterial ectasia does not appear to be indicated.

scholarly journals A machine learning approach for predicting suicidal thoughts and behaviours among college students

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Macalli ◽  
Marie Navarro ◽  
Massimiliano Orri ◽  
Marie Tournier ◽  
Rodolphe Thiébaut ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Receiver Operating Curve ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
One Year

AbstractSuicidal thoughts and behaviours are prevalent among college students. Yet little is known about screening tools to identify students at higher risk. We aimed to develop a risk algorithm to identify the main predictors of suicidal thoughts and behaviours among college students within one-year of baseline assessment. We used data collected in 2013–2019 from the French i-Share cohort, a longitudinal population-based study including 5066 volunteer students. To predict suicidal thoughts and behaviours at follow-up, we used random forests models with 70 potential predictors measured at baseline, including sociodemographic and familial characteristics, mental health and substance use. Model performance was measured using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC), sensitivity, and positive predictive value. At follow-up, 17.4% of girls and 16.8% of boys reported suicidal thoughts and behaviours. The models achieved good predictive performance: AUC, 0.8; sensitivity, 79% for girls, 81% for boys; and positive predictive value, 40% for girls and 36% for boys. Among the 70 potential predictors, four showed the highest predictive power: 12-month suicidal thoughts, trait anxiety, depression symptoms, and self-esteem. We identified a parsimonious set of mental health indicators that accurately predicted one-year suicidal thoughts and behaviours in a community sample of college students.

scholarly journals Can We Extrapolate SINS Score to Evaluate Instability in Spinal Tuberculosis?

2021 ◽  
pp. 219256822110308
Author(s):  
Yogesh Kishorkant Pithwa ◽  
Vikrant Sinha Roy
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Surgical Intervention ◽  
Spinal Tuberculosis ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Structural Instability ◽  
Stable Group ◽  
Surgical Decision ◽  
Helpful Tool ◽  
Surgical Decision Making

Study Design: Prospective Observational Study. Objectives: To assess the feasibility of utilizing SINS score, originally suggested for neoplastic conditions, to assess structural instability in spinal tuberculosis. Methods: Patients with an established diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis were included in the study. Based on SINS scoring, patients classified as those with “indeterminate stability” were managed with or without surgery based on other parameters including neurological status, severity of pain, medical comorbidities, etc. Results: Eighty [39 males, 41 females] patients prospectively evaluated with mean age 46.74 ± 17.3 years. Classification done into stable [n = 7], indeterminate [n = 45] and unstable [n = 28] groups based on SINS scoring. All the patients in unstable group were treated with surgical stabilization whereas none in the stable group required surgical stabilization. In the indeterminate group, 26 patients underwent surgical stabilization, while 19 treated non-operatively. Major determinants predisposing to surgical intervention in “indeterminate group” were pain [14 of 26 patients] and neurological status [11 of 26 patients]. Mean follow-up 38.5 ± 22.61 months with minimum follow-up being 24 months. Preoperative VAS score for pain improved from median of 9/10 to 1/10 following surgery [ P < .0001]. In the non-operative group, the improvement was from median score of 6/10 to 1/10 [ P < .0001]. Preoperative ODI improved in non-operative and operative group from median of 42% and 70%, respectively to 10% and 12%, respectively in the postoperative period [ P < .0001 for both groups]. Conclusions: SINS scoring can be a helpful tool in surgical decision-making even in spinal tuberculosis. Further refinement of the score can be done with a larger, multicenter study.

scholarly journals Routes to Research for Novice Undergraduate Neuroscientists

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle J. Frantz ◽  
Robert L. DeHaan ◽  
Melissa K. Demetrikopoulos ◽  
Laura L. Carruth
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Attitudes Toward Science ◽  
Laboratory Research ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Apprenticeship Model ◽  
Design Experiments

Undergraduate students may be attracted to science and retained in science by engaging in laboratory research. Experience as an apprentice in a scientist's laboratory can be effective in this regard, but the pool of willing scientists is sometimes limited and sustained contact between students and faculty is sometimes minimal. We report outcomes from two different models of a summer neuroscience research program: an Apprenticeship Model (AM) in which individual students joined established research laboratories, and a Collaborative Learning Model (CLM) in which teams of students worked through a guided curriculum and then conducted independent experimentation. Assessed outcomes included attitudes toward science, attitudes toward neuroscience, confidence with neuroscience concepts, and confidence with science skills, measured via pre-, mid-, and postprogram surveys. Both models elevated attitudes toward neuroscience, confidence with neuroscience concepts, and confidence with science skills, but neither model altered attitudes toward science. Consistent with the CLM design emphasizing independent experimentation, only CLM participants reported elevated ability to design experiments. The present data comprise the first of five yearly analyses on this cohort of participants; long-term follow-up will determine whether the two program models are equally effective routes to research or other science-related careers for novice undergraduate neuroscientists.

scholarly journals Creating an Age-Friendly Community in Affordable Housing Using a Resident Health Risk Assessment Focused on the 4Ms

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 49-49
Author(s):  
Jennifer DeGennaro ◽  
Sherry Pomerantz ◽  
Margaret Avallone ◽  
Melonie Handberry ◽  
Elyse Perweiler
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Risk Function ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Care Plans

Abstract The NJGWEP team in partnership with Fair Share Housing/Northgate II (NGII), an affordable housing complex in Camden, NJ, employed an iterative quality improvement process to collaboratively develop a Resident Health Risk Assessment (RHRA) to meet the needs of the housing facility and incorporate the essential elements of the 4Ms framework (Mentation, Medication, Mobility, and What Matters). Using the RHRA, NG II social services staff and Rutgers School of Nursing (RSoN) students were trained to collect health information and administer several evidence-based screening tools (i.e., MiniCog, TUG, PHQ-2). A final element of the RHRA still in development is the documentation process of referral and follow-up based on personalized care plans. Since July 2019, 43 RHRAs have been completed (60% female, mean age 66, age range=43 to 88). Almost all residents (94%) have at least 1 chronic condition (HTN, DM, COPD, CHF), although only 26% have an advance care plan. Most (81%) were screened for future fall risk; function (ADLs/IADLs) was assessed for all (100%). Every resident who was able or did not refuse (88%) was screened for cognitive impairment. Just 7% were taking a high-risk medication (i.e., an opioid or benzodiazepine). The NJGWEP team has initiated an age-friendly community at NGII by providing education on geriatric-focused topics and implementing the 4Ms-focused RHRA to detect issues impacting the resident’s well-being. Establishing a follow-up process to track referrals to available resources will enable NGII to allow residents to age in place with appropriate supports.

The Effects of Methylphenidate on the Soft Neurological Signs of Hyperactive Children

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-525
Author(s):  
Robert J. Lerer ◽  
M. Pamela Lerer
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Teacher Rating ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Neurological Assessment ◽  
Subjective Test ◽  
Test Information ◽  
Neurological Signs ◽  
Teacher Rating Scale ◽  
Hyperactive Children

The neurological examination of many hyperactive children reveals the presence of abnormal neurological signs. Of 40 hyperactive children who had three or more neurological abnormalities on an initial neurological evaluation, 29 (72.5%) showed marked improvement or complete resolution of the neurological signs following treatment with methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin) for 60 days. The administration of placebo did not change appreciably the neurological status of 20 hyperactive children. Improvement in behavior, which was ascertained by the use of Conners' Abbreviated Teacher Rating Scale, did not always correspond with resolution of the abnormal neurological signs. This finding suggests that methylphenidate affects behavioral and motoric functions separately and independently. Repeat neurological assessment, looking for resolution of abnormal neurological signs, should be included as part of the follow-up medical examination in treated hyperactive children. Coupled with other objective and subjective test information, improvement of the neurological status provides supportive evidence of overall improvement in the hyperactive child who is receiving drug therapy.

Developmental and Neurologic Sequelae of Neonatal Hyperviscosity Syndrome

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 426-431
Author(s):  
Virginia D. Black ◽  
Lula O. Lubchenco ◽  
Dennis W. Luckey ◽  
Beverly L. Koops ◽  
Gail A. McGuinness ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Apgar Scores ◽  
Hyperviscosity Syndrome ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Poor Outcome ◽  
Follow Up Studies ◽  
Neurologic Sequelae

One hundred eleven consecutive infants with neonatal hyperviscosity were identified by screening all newborns for polycythemia in an 18-month period. These polycythemic infants were matched with nonpolycythemic newborns for birth weight, gestational age, Apgar scores, and sex. Maternal, intrapartum, and neonatal data were analyzed for associated morbidity. Maternal preeclampsia was more common among the hyperviscous patients than among control subjects. Hypoglycemia was also significantly increased among the hyperviscous patients. Follow-up studies at 1 to 3 years of age revealed a significantly higher incidence (38% vs 11%) of motor and neurologic abnormalities in the infants with neonatal hyperviscosity. The data suggested that concurrent hypoglycemia increased the risk of a poor outcome in hyperviscous infants inasmuch as 55% of infants with both characteristics were abnormal at follow-up. This, however, was not significantly different from the outcome of infants with hyperviscosity alone (P &gt; .05 but &lt; .1). Further studies will be needed to confirm or deny this relationship.

Follow-up of intra-arterial delivery of bevacizumab for treatment of butterfly glioblastoma in patient with first-in-human, real-time MRI-guided intra-arterial neurointervention

2021 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-017900
Author(s):  
Michal Zawadzki ◽  
Jerzy Walecki ◽  
Boguslaw Kostkiewicz ◽  
Kacper Kostyra ◽  
Piotr Walczak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Tumor Recurrence ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Arterial Infusion ◽  
Second Procedure ◽  
Discharge From Hospital ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Positive Effect

This case report shows that real-time MRI may aid in the precision of intra-arterial delivery of bevacizumab to butterfly glioblastoma. Fast clinical improvement, decrease of contrast enhancing status, and no serious adverse effects were observed at discharge from hospital. The patient regained pre-recurrent neurological status for 2 months with a subsequent fast clinical decline and an increase in tumor volume. The patient underwent a second procedure of intra-arterial delivery of bevacizumab to the brain, with substantial clinical and radiological improvement, but not the level of improvement observed after the first procedure. Another clinical decline occurred with an increase in tumor size and the patient was treated 2 months later with a third intra-arterial infusion of bevacizumab. While another positive effect was achieved, it was less pronounced than before, and the patient died 1.5 months later. There were no technical, ischemic or other complications during the procedures. The patient survived 218 days from the first symptoms of tumor recurrence, 190 days from the first MRI, and 175 days from the first intra-arterial treatment of bevacizumab.

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