The longitudinal relationship between fatigue, depression, anxiety, disability, and adherence with cognitive status in patients with early multiple sclerosis treated with interferon beta-1a

Hanne van Ballegooijen, Karin van der Hiele, Christian Enzinger, Gert de Voer, ... Leo H. Visser

• Article 100409
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100409
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• Abstract

  Cognitive dysfunction is common in multiple sclerosis and may worsen with reduced treatment adherence. We examined longitudinal relationships between anxiety, depression, fatigue, disability and adherence with cognitive status in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with interferon beta-1a in four countries.

  The Confidence study is a prospective study in 165 people with MS with four visits (baseline/12/24/36 months). Physical and psychological symptoms were assessed using standardized questionnaires. Adherence was calculated as the number of injections divided by number of expected injections. Cognitive status was assessed by the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests and converted to a global Z-score.

Convulsive-like symptoms as initial indications of basilar artery occlusion: A case series study

Ryoma Inui, Satoru Fujiwara, Takehito Kuroda, Nobuyuki Ohara, ... Nobuyuki Sakai

• Article 100410
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100410
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• Abstract

  There is little evidence regarding relevant clinical findings for the early diagnosis of basilar artery occlusion (BAO) in the prehospital setting. We focused on "convulsive-like symptoms", including convulsive seizures and other convulsive-like movements, and examined the frequency and clinical characteristics of patients with BAO having these symptoms as an initial symptom.

  In this single-center case series from 2015 to 2020, we identified patients who underwent endovascular therapy (EVT) for BAO and presented with convulsive-like symptoms between the stroke onset and initiation of emergency medical care. The clinical course and neurological findings were evaluated by reviewing the run sheets of emergency medical services and medical records.

Prevalence and risk factors of stroke in Bangladesh: A nationwide population-based survey

Md Badrul Alam Mondal, A.T.M. Hasibul Hasan, Nusrat Khan, Quazi Deen Mohammad

• Article 100414
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100414
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• Abstract

  A paucity of high-quality epidemiological survey on stroke in Bangladesh emphasizes the need for a drastic effort at the national level to study the burden of stroke in Bangladesh. Therefore, this community survey was conducted with to estimate the prevalence of stroke and its associated common risk factors among Bangladeshi population

  This was a population-based cross-sectional study, carried out in 8 administrative divisions and 64 districts to estimate the prevalence of stroke throughout the country. The study adopted a two-stage cluster random sampling approach. The calculated sample size was 25,287. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to identify suspected stroke patients who were subsequently confirmed by consultant neurologists.

Warfarin versus factor Xa inhibitors in the long-term treatment of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis a single-center retrospective analysis

Alexei Christodoulides, Bradley N. Bohnstedt

• Article 100412
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100412
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• Abstract

  Long-term anticoagulation in the treatment of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) has revolved around the use of warfarin. The relatively recent introduction of Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs), such as Factor Xa inhibitors, in treating CVSTs promises to offer numerous patient benefits.

  We aimed to examine the efficacy of Factor Xa inhibitors in comparison to warfarin in the long-term treatment of CVSTs.

  A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted in which 49 eligible patients having presented with a first-time CVST were identified. Long-term anticoagulation was achieved with Warfarin (n = 23) or Factor Xa Inhibitors (n = 26; Apixaban or Rivaroxaban). Outcomes of interest were improvements in patient functional status, modified Ranking Scores (mRS), and radiographic improvement/resolution in sinus thromboses. Secondary comparisons included complication rates, particularly recurring venous thrombotic events. Patient mRS scores by 7-to-18-month follow-up all fell within the extremely favorable range of 0–1 regardless of the long-term anticoagulant (P-value = 0.3591). Proportion of patients with radiographic improvement/resolution of thrombosed sinuses trended towards being higher in the Factor Xa Inhibitor group at the <12-month period, 69.2%, compared to 33.3% with Warfarin (P-value = 0.0548). By the >12-month follow-up period, Warfarin and Factor Xa inhibitor groups had similar rates of radiographic sinus improvement – 76.9% versus 71.4%, respectively (P-value = 0.6298). No statistically significant differences were documented between groups regarding complications. Factor Xa inhibitors are equally as effective as Warfarin in the long-term treatment of CVSTs, whether it be restoring patient functional status, sinus thrombus burden reduction, or minimizing bleeding complications whilst preventing recurrent venous thrombosis.

Clinical features of patients who visited the outpatient clinic for long COVID in Japan

Masayuki Ohira, Terunori Sano, Masaki Takao

• Article 100418
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100418
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• Abstract

  The clinical course, comorbidity, and management of symptoms after the acute phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain controversial.

  This was a descriptive case series study, examining the characteristics of patients with longstanding symptoms related to COVID-19 who visited our outpatient clinic between 1 June and 31 December 2021. We analyzed patients' background, chief complaints, clinical course after COVID-19 onset, and clinical examination results.

  This study describes the basic characteristics of long COVID in Japan. It suggests that long COVID is complex because it results in a wide range of symptoms.

Neurological manifestations by sex and age group in COVID-19 inhospital patients

Daniella Nunes Pereira, Maria Aparecida Camargos Bicalho, Alzira de Oliveira Jorge, Angélica Gomides dos Reis Gomes, ... Milena Soriano Marcolino

• Article 100419
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100419
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• Abstract

  Neurological manifestations have been associated with a poorer prognosis in COVID-19. However, data regarding their incidence according to sex and age groups is still lacking.

  This retrospective multicentric cohort collected data from 39 Brazilian hospitals from 17 cities, from adult COVID-19 admitted from March 2020 to January 2022. Neurological manifestations presented at hospital admission were assessed according to incidence by sex and age group.

Abrupt bilateral blindness as a rare post-acute demyelinating consequence of COVID-19

Ali Motahharynia, Saba Naghavi, Vahid Shaygannejad, Iman Adibi

• Article 100411
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100411
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• Abstract

  Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could prompt various neurological complications. Abrupt visual disturbance was reported as a rare severe manifestation of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Autoimmune conditions were assumed to have an undeniable role in creation of such circumstances. This report presents a 69-year-old woman with sudden bilateral blindness three weeks after recovering from a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Demyelination due to COVID-19-related autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CRAD-C) was considered to be the etiology of her bilateral blindness. Due to her progressive demyelination, immunosuppressive treatments were administered, which resulted in stabilizing post-COVID-19 demyelinating lesions. Accordingly, in the case of COVID-19-related neurological deficits, especially the acute and progressive symptoms, there should be great consideration of autoimmune response to prevent serious complications; hence early diagnosis, treatment, and long-term assessment of patients are necessitated.

Early presentation of lower urinary tract and bowel dysfunction in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A case report

Masataka Nakamura, Kentaro Nakayama, Aya Murakami, Satoshi Morise, ... Yusuke Yakushiji

• Article 100413
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100413
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• Abstract

  An autopsy case of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with lower urinary tract (LUT) and bowel dysfunction is reported. The dysfunction occurred simultaneously with motor neuron symptoms in the early stages of the illness. A 75-year-old man developed exertional dyspnea and constipation following weight loss. Subsequently, he developed swallowing disturbance, fecal incontinence, and urinary retention. Neurological examination showed dysphagia, muscle weakness of the upper limbs, and prominent fasciculation affecting all four limbs and the tongue. All deep tendon reflexes were diminished, but the left plantar response was extensor. Orthostatic hypotension (OH) and the anal reflex were absent. Neuropathological findings did not show neuronal loss and gliosis in the thoracic and sacral intermediolateral nucleus (IML) and in Onuf's nucleus, whereas gliosis was observed in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and striatum. Therefore, urinary retention may have resulted from involvement of the PAG. Phosphorylated TAR DNA binding protein 43 kDa (p-TDP-43)-positive inclusions were present in the peripheral nerves within the thoracic sympathetic ganglia, as well as the IML of the thoracic spinal cord. However, considering the lack of OH, the IML and peripheral sympathetic nerves unlikely played major roles. Furthermore, neuronal loss or p-TDP-43-immunoreactive deposits were absent in the Auerbach and Meissner plexuses of the rectum, suggesting that the responsible anatomical sites for fecal incontinence could not be found. Although it is difficult to elucidate the precise neuropathological lesions corresponding to LUT and bowel dysfunction, physicians need to recognize that neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction can occur in patients with ALS.

Spinal extradural arachnoid cyst: A rare cause of thoracic myelopathy

Alexander J. Savage, Mina Asaid, Catriona McLean, Patrick Chan

• Article 100415
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100415
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• Abstract

  A spinal extradural arachnoid cyst (SEAC) is a rare condition which can lead to back pain, radiculopathy, and compressive myelopathy. It accounts for approximately 1% of spinal tumours. The exact aetiology of SEACs is not well understood; however, this study is supportive of a traumatic aetiology of this disease in addition to supporting a uni-directional valve as a mechanism of CSF accumulation. The purpose of this study is to review the presentation, work-up, treatment and postoperative course of a patient with SEAC. We present the case of a 40-year-old male with a history of trauma who developed a SEAC and was treated surgically at our unit. Although a rare disease, we highlight the importance of early diagnosis and surgical treatment as it is a surgically curable disease with a good postoperative prognosis.

Letters to the editor: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands as potential targets for managing neuropathic pain induced by diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Sarah Westlake, Matthew Jones, Krishna D. Sharma, Jennifer Yanhua Xie

• Article 100416
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100416
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• Abstract

  Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a medical condition that is progressively becoming more prevalent. The underlying cause of DPN is still unknown, although there have been several hypothesized mechanisms. There are current pharmaceutical treatments used to manage the pain, but their efficacy is largely unsatisfactory and are often associated with serious adverse effects. This review will explore the evidence of a new potential target for treating DPN, the ligands for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), specifically α4ꞵ2 agonists and α9α10 antagonists.