PROGNOSTIC MEANING OF SERUM NSE AS THE FACTOR OF BAD OUTCOME IN SECONDARY BRAIN DAMAGE

This research is dedicated to the study of brain neuronspecific markers and indicators of brain damage outcome. Purpose of the study: To examine the prognostic role of serum NSE as the predictor of unfavorable outcome in traumatic and vascular brain damages. Methods: Prospective cohort study with 219 patients. Blood serum neuronspecific markers (NSE,S100B),acid-base state, blood gas were derived during the period of observation: upon enrolment, on the 3-rd, 5-th and 7-th days spent in the hospital in the intensive care unit. Results: The most significant risk factor of unfavorable outcome is the marker NSE with the cut point 12,5 ng|ml. The results of the analysis indicate the presence of a statistically significant direct relationship between NSE> 12.5 ng / ml and LDH, compared to other variables, 3.7 times more often; with an increase in blood lactate more than 4,1 mmol/l almost 3,8 times; with GCS 13 points below by 1,7 times; S100≥0,2 by 2,8 times; with an increase of PCO2 <38,5 it was documented more than 3 times often. The measure of certainty the resulting model by the pseudo R2 Nagelkerke criterion-250.6; logLikelihood - 154.04 which corresponds to the excellent predictive ability of the mathematical model. The best predictive value of the model is a cut-off point of 88.89%, AuROC-0.809; Se-51.59%; Sp-95.06%; NPV-55.80%; PPV-94.20%. This model can be used to predict the outcome in patients with acute cerebral pathology. Keywords: strokes, brain traumatic damages, neuronspecific markers, diagnostic and prognostic criterias, stroke outcomes.

Involvement of cortico-efferent tracts in flail arm syndrome: a tract-of-interest-based DTI study

Background Flail arm syndrome is a restricted phenotype of motor neuron disease that is characterized by progressive, predominantly proximal weakness and atrophy of the upper limbs. Objective The study was designed to investigate specific white matter alterations in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from flail arm syndrome patients using a hypothesis-guided tract-of-interest-based approach to identify in vivo microstructural changes according to a neuropathologically defined amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-related pathology of the cortico-efferent tracts. Methods DTI-based white matter mapping was performed both by an unbiased voxel-wise statistical comparison and by a hypothesis-guided tract-wise analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA) maps according to the neuropathological ALS-propagation pattern for 43 flail arm syndrome patients vs 43 ‘classical’ ALS patients vs 40 matched controls. Results The analysis of white matter integrity demonstrated regional FA reductions for the flail arm syndrome group predominantly along the CST. In the tract-specific analysis according to the proposed sequential cerebral pathology pattern of ALS, the flail arm syndrome patients showed significant alterations of the specific tract systems that were identical to ‘classical’ ALS if compared to controls. Conclusions The DTI study including the tract-of-interest-based analysis showed a microstructural involvement pattern in the brains of flail arm syndrome patients, supporting the hypothesis that flail arm syndrome is a phenotypical variant of ALS.

Spasticity syndrome in cerebral pathology: evaluation and clinical models

Knowing the frequency of spasticity patterns in different muscles allows correcting the botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) administration schemes and creating spasticity models that could predict the drug consumption and treatment cost.Objective: to develop clinical spasticity models based on the frequencies of the spastic syndrome in the muscles of the extremities in post-stroke patients to optimize BoNT administration.Patients and methods. We examined 129 patients of both sexes aged 61.2±8.0 years with post-stroke spasticity (mean time after the stroke – 4.6±2.2). Twenty-seven muscles were tested for spasticity: shoulder girdle (n=3), upper (n=9) and lower (n=15) extremities. We used the original manual testing methods (MTM) of spasticity and the Tardieu scale (TS).Results and discussion. We observed the following frequencies of spasticity in the arm muscles: pectoralis major, brachioradialis, pronator teres, fl. carpi radialis, fl. digitorum profundus et superfacialis, fl. pollicis long. – over 70%, subscapularis – 61%, brachialis – 56.6%, biceps brachii – 35.8%. Frequencies of spasticity in the leg muscles were: semitendinosus, semimembranosus, fl. digitorum long. – 37.5%, gracilis – 21.4%, cap. med. gastrocnemius – 48%, tibialis post. – 39.2%, soleus – 19.6%, fl. halluces long. – 23%. There was no spasticity in the hip adductors; low spasticity incidence was seen in fl. digitorum brev. et fl. halluces brev. (<10%), tibialis ant., rectus femoris (<5%); biceps femoris, teres major, fl. carpi ulnaris, and cap. lat. gastrocnemius (<2%). Based on the frequency of identified spastic patterns, we created four models of patients with arm spasticity and five models – with leg spasticity with the calculation of the necessary doses of BoNT.Conclusion. We propose several spasticity models, which allow calculating the treatment costs, considering the frequency of involvement of specific muscles in spasticity evaluation, and tracking the rehabilitation follow-up of the patient's transition from one clinical model to another.

The Visuospatial and Sensorimotor Functions of Posterior Parietal Cortex in Drawing Tasks: A Review

Drawing is a comprehensive skill that primarily involves visuospatial processing, eye-hand coordination, and other higher-order cognitive functions. Various drawing tasks are widely used to assess brain function. The neuropsychological basis of drawing is extremely sophisticated. Previous work has addressed the critical role of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in drawing, but the specific functions of the PPC in drawing remain unclear. Functional magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological studies found that drawing activates the PPC. Lesion-symptom mapping studies have shown an association between PPC injury and drawing deficits in patients with global and focal cerebral pathology. These findings depicted a core framework of the fronto-parietal network in drawing tasks. Here, we review neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies applying drawing paradigms and discuss the specific functions of the PPC in visuospatial and sensorimotor aspects. Ultimately, we proposed a hypothetical model based on the dorsal stream. It demonstrates the organization of a PPC-centered network for drawing and provides systematic insights into drawing for future neuropsychological research.

New onset headache caused by histiocytic sarcoma of the spinal cord and leptomeninges: a case report

BackgroundHeadache due to raised intracranial pressure is rarely caused by spinal lesions. We describe a patient with primary histiocytic sarcoma who presented with a new onset headache with features of raised intracranial pressure and subtle signs of cauda equina syndrome due to predominant lower spinal cord infiltration and minimal intracranial involvement.CaseA previously well 54-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of new onset headache with features of raised intracranial pressure. Progression of lower limb weakness was delayed and mild with diagnostic delay resulting from the primary presentation with headache leading to an initial focus on cerebral pathology. Subsequent investigations revealed a previously unreported presentation of primary histiocytic sarcoma infiltrating the cauda equina causing raised intracranial pressure headache.ConclusionThis case highlights the importance of a broad search in the investigation of new onset raised intracranial pressure headache, including imaging of the lower spinal cord. Primary histiocytic sarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of this rare syndrome.

Comparison between Rocuronium and Atracurium Effect on Blood Pressure during General Anaesthesia in Baghdad Hospital

This study was aimed to assess the blood pressure influence of rocuronium drug under general anesthesia and compares it with atracurium drug. The study recruited 50 adult patients, divided in to two groups the rocuronium drug groups which included 25 patients and atracurium drug group which included 25 patients, age ranged from (18-60 years) of both sexes who were (ASAI and ASAII) patients undergoing (elective surgeries) in Baghdad education hospital during the period from (October 2019 to March 2020). Anesthesia was induced with using I.V. propofol drug (1.5-2.5 mg/kg), ketamine drug (0.5 mg/kg) or (2-3 mg/kg) propofol drug. For the endotreacheal tube, and facility of intubation injection muscle relaxation the rocuronium drug (0.6 mg/kg) or atracurium drug (0.5 mg/kg), for maintenance rocuronium drug (0.1-0.2 mg/kg). 60 sec. was used after administration of the relaxant, attempt of intubation. Next intubation, lungs were mechanically ventilated, monitored, blood pressure recorded and MAP after five minutes and every five minute for 15 minutes. The resulting P-value of MAP in Rocuronium drug groups and Atracuruim drug group at pre-operative was 0.811 which was non-significant (P> 0.05). While at induction it was 0.309 which was also non-significant (P> 0.05). After 1min it was 0.574 which was non-significant (P> 0.05). After 5min it was 0.321 which was non-significant. After 10 min it was 0.954 which was non-significant (P> 0.05). The blood pressure effected from rocuronium drug and atracurium drug are different under general anesthesia. The Atracurium drugs has less marked change in MAP. In healthy patients it maybe not be of importance, nevertheless it could be nonessential in patients with preexisting cerebral, cardiac diseases, hypertension or the elderly, but Rocuronium drug has a marked change in MAP. This could be cautiously in the patients with preexisting cardiac or cerebral pathology or elderly or hypertension. In conclusions the MAP was increased at induction of rocuronium drug and was decreased at induction of atracurium drug in this study.

Structural Network Efficiency Predicts Resilience to Cognitive Decline in Elderly at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction: Functional imaging studies have demonstrated the recruitment of additional neural resources as a possible mechanism to compensate for age and Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related cerebral pathology, the efficacy of which is potentially modulated by underlying structural network connectivity. Additionally, structural network efficiency (SNE) is associated with intelligence across the lifespan, which is a known factor for resilience to cognitive decline. We hypothesized that SNE may be a surrogate of the physiological basis of resilience to cognitive decline in elderly persons without dementia and with age- and AD-related cerebral pathology.Methods: We included 85 cognitively normal elderly subjects or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients submitted to baseline diffusion imaging, liquor specimens, amyloid-PET and longitudinal cognitive assessments. SNE was calculated from baseline MRI scans using fiber tractography and graph theory. Mixed linear effects models were estimated to investigate the association of higher resilience to cognitive decline with higher SNE and the modulation of this association by increased cerebral amyloid, liquor tau or WMHV. Results: For the majority of cognitive outcome measures, higher SNE was associated with higher resilience to cognitive decline (p-values: 0.011–0.039). Additionally, subjects with higher SNE showed more resilience to cognitive decline at higher cerebral amyloid burden (p-values: &lt;0.001–0.036) and lower tau levels (p-values: 0.002–0.015).Conclusion: These results suggest that SNE to some extent may quantify the physiological basis of resilience to cognitive decline most effective at the earliest stages of AD, namely at increased amyloid burden and before increased tauopathy.

Retinal involvement in Alzheimer's disease (AD): evidence and current progress on the non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of AD-related pathology using the eye

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common form of age-related dementia that mostly affects the aging population. Clinically, it is a disease characterized by impaired memory and progressive cognitive decline. Although the pathological hallmarks of AD have been traditionally described with a general confinement in the brain, recent studies have shown similar pathological changes in the retina, which is a developmental outgrowth of the forebrain. These AD-related neurodegenerative changes in the retina have been implicated to cause early visual problems in AD even before cognitive impairment becomes apparent. With recent advances in research, the commonly held view that AD-related cerebral pathology causes visual dysfunction through disruption of central visual pathways has been re-examined. Currently, several studies have already explored how AD manifests in the retina and the possibility of using the same retina as a window to non-invasively examine AD-related pathology in the brain. Non-invasive screening of AD through the retina has the potential to improve on early detection and management of the disease since the majority of AD cases are usually diagnosed very late. The purpose of this review is to provide evidence on the involvement of the retina in AD and to suggest a possible direction for future research into the non-invasive screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of AD using the retina.