Presse Med
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Assessments of consciousness are a critical part of prognostic algorithms for critically ill patients suffering from severe brain injuries. There have been significant advances in the field of coma science over the past two decades, providing clinicians with more advanced and precise tools for diagnosing and prognosticating disorders of consciousness (DoC). ⋯ In this chapter, we review several tools that are used to predict DoC, describing their strengths and limitations, from the neurological examination to advanced imaging and electrophysiologic techniques. We also describe multimodal assessment paradigms that can be used to identify covert consciousness and thus help recognize patients with the potential for future recovery and improve our prognostication practices.
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Vasoactive intestinal peptide secreting tumor (VIPoma) is a rare mostly malignant neuroendocrine tumor that is characterized by watery diarrhea, hypokalemia and achlorhydria due to the nonregulated increased secretion of VIP. VIPomas ar diagnosed by the presence of the most common symptoms, laboratory analysis of blood and stool, radiological imaging and immunohistochemical findings. Primary treatment includes fluid replacement, electrolyte balance correction, pharmacological treatment with somatostatin analogs, surgical resection and chemotherapy. This review aims to provide an insight into the latest research on VIPoma epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics and treatment.
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Recent work in the field of consciousness science has predominantly focused on the search for neural correlates of consciousness (NCC). However, despite significant technological advances in recent decades, defining NCC remains an ambitious goal in consciousness research. ⋯ This approach suffers from the Problem of coordination and its consequences. However, an alternative, more reliable approach could be considered, namely, the global or "state-based" approach, which is grounded in clinical research on consciousness disorders.
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The 'mesocircuit hypothesis' proposes mechanisms underlying the recovery of consciousness following severe brain injuries. The model builds up from a single premise that multifocal brain injuries resulting in coma and subsequent disorders of consciousness produce widespread neuronal death and dysfunction. Considering the general properties of cortical, thalamic, and striatal neurons, a lawful and specific circuit-level mechanism is constructed based on these known anatomical and physiological specializations of neuronal subtypes. ⋯ Many studies have examined predictions of the mesocircuit model; here we first present the model and review the accumulated evidence for several predictions of model across multiple stages of recovery function in human subjects. Recent studies linking the mesocircuit model, the ABCD model, and interactions with the frontoparietal network are reviewed. Finally, theoretical implications of the mesocircuit model at the neuronal level are considered to interpret recent studies of deep brain stimulation in the central lateral thalamus in patients recovering from coma and in new experimental models in the context of emerging understanding of neuronal and local circuit mechanisms underlying conscious brain states.
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Neuropronostication for consciousness disorders can be very complex and prone to high uncertainty. Despite notable advancements in the development of dedicated scales and physiological markers using innovative paradigms, these technical progressions are often overshadowed by factors intrinsic to the medical environment. ⋯ After a brief review of the main theoretical frameworks, this paper explores the influence of clinicians' cognitive biases on clinical reasoning and decision-making in the challenging context of neuroprognostication for consciousness disorders. The discussion further revolves around developing and implementing various strategies designed to mitigate these biases and their impact, aiming to enhance the quality of care and the patient safety.