Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2018
Review Meta AnalysisStriatal molecular alterations in HD gene carriers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of PET studies.
Over the past years, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies have investigated striatal molecular changes in premanifest and manifest Huntington's disease (HD) gene expansion carriers (HDGECs), but they have yielded inconsistent results. ⋯ PET imaging has the potential to detect striatal molecular changes even at the early premanifest stage of HD, which are relevant to the neuropathological mechanisms underlying the development of the disease.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2018
Multicenter Study Observational StudyProspective, multicentre study of external ventricular drainage-related infections in the UK and Ireland.
External ventricular drain (EVD) insertion is a common neurosurgical procedure. EVD-related infection (ERI) is a major complication that can lead to morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish a national ERI rate in the UK and Ireland and determine key factors influencing the infection risk. ⋯ In the UK and Ireland, the ERI rate was 9.3% during the study period. The study demonstrated that EVDs left in situ for ≥8 days and those sampled more frequently were associated with a higher risk of infection. Importantly, the study showed no significant difference in ERI risk between different catheter types.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2018
ReviewAnti-inflammatory approaches to ischaemic stroke prevention.
Stroke is a major cause of neurological morbidity and mortality. Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to first and recurrent stroke. ⋯ In this review, we summarise the evidence linking inflammation to stroke risk and discuss clinical trials addressing the 'inflammation hypothesis' in coronary disease and stroke. Trial registration number CONVINCE trial ClinicalTrials.gov number; NCT 02898610; Pre-results.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2018
Monitoring disease progression with plasma creatinine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinical trials.
Plasma creatinine is a predictor of survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It remains, however, to be established whether it can monitor disease progression and serve as surrogate endpoint in clinical trials. ⋯ Plasma creatinine is an inexpensive and easily accessible biomarker that exhibits less variability between patients with ALS over time and is predictive for the patient's functional status, muscle strength and mortality risk. Plasma creatinine may, therefore, increase the power to detect treatment effects and could be incorporated in future ALS clinical trials as potential surrogate outcome.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2018
Analysis of known amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia genes reveals a substantial genetic burden in patients manifesting both diseases not carrying the C9orf72 expansion mutation.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are part of a clinical, pathological and genetic continuum.