Frontiers in neurology
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2020
Does the "Weekend Effect" Extend to Friday Admissions? An Analysis of Ischemic Stroke Hospitalizations in South Carolina.
Background: Weekend admission has been found to be associated with higher hospital mortality and longer hospital stay among patients with acute cardiovascular conditions. Whether those admitted on Fridays face similar risk as those admitted on Sundays and Saturdays remain uncertain. Methods: This study used 2012-2013 data from hospital records for nonfatal patients with ischemic stroke in the state of South Carolina. ⋯ Conclusions: Some hospitalization outcomes admitted on Fridays seemed to have the "weekend effects" too. Further studies are warranted to investigate underlying mechanism for such a difference in outcomes between Friday and other weekdays. Interventions to close the weekend-weekday gap of patient outcomes need to consider the elevated risk on Friday admission.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2020
Study on the Clinical Features of Parkinson's Disease With Probable Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder.
Objective: To investigate the clinical features and factors associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with probable rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (PD-pRBD). Methods: A total of 2,440 patients with clinically established or clinically probable PD were divided into two groups: PD-pRBD and PD without pRBD (PD-NRBD), according to the RBD questionnaire-Hong Kong. Data collection included demographic data, basic clinical history, and motor and non-motor symptoms. ⋯ Conclusions: Compared with the PD-NRBD group, the PD-pRBD group may have more severe motor symptoms, motor complications, and non-motor symptoms as well as a substandard quality of life. Further, late-onset PD, long disease duration, high UPDRS-I score, high NMSS-4 score, low PDSS score, constipation, and hyposmia can be risk factors for RBD in PD. Differences also occurred between the PD-prRBD and PD-poRBD groups.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2020
Improvement in the Quality of Early Postoperative Course After Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery: Description of Surgical Technique and Outcome.
Objective: The endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery has gained popularity and has shown excellent results with a more comfortable postoperative course. However, the quality of the early postoperative course is not well-established in endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. We hypothesized that the quality of the early postoperative course would be improved when an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol and minimally invasive endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is implemented. ⋯ There was no difference in the early postoperative diabetes insipidus and 30-day readmission for epistaxis, hyponatremia, or other complications between the two groups. Conclusion: The quality of the early postoperative course was improved when a neurosurgical ERAS protocol and minimally invasive endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery with partially nasal packing were implemented. Endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary day surgery could be recommended in some classes of patients though further evaluation in large case studies is warranted.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2020
Impact of Puberty in Girls on Prevalence of Primary Headache Disorder Among Female Schoolchildren in Kuwait.
Background: The prevalence of primary headaches in the pediatric population is shaped by many factors, of which pubertal status may possibly play a substantial role. Epidemiological studies in the pediatric population in the gulf region remain scarce. Aims and objectives: To examine the impact of puberty on the prevalence of primary headache disorders among female schoolchildren in Kuwait. ⋯ Conclusion: Migraine headache is commonly reported among Kuwaiti schoolgirls. Postpubertal females are at higher risk of developing primary headaches compared to prepubertal females. Pubertal transition and female sex hormones may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of headaches, migraines in particular, and further research is therefore needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2020
The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on People With Multiple Sclerosis.
Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has radically changed the world in a few weeks. Italy has been one of the first and most affected countries with more than 30,000 deaths up to now. Public health measures as quarantine or national lockdown are necessary to limit the spread of infectious diseases, but it is unsurprising that depriving people of their liberty has negative psychological effects. ⋯ Compared with the general population, PwMS presented a higher burden of depressive symptoms, a worse sleep quality and perceived an increase in fatigue level, one of the most disabling symptoms of MS. The COVID-19 epidemic poses a challenge to psychological resilience. More studies are warranted to better understand the long-term consequences of the pandemic on mental health of vulnerable people during the disease outbreaks.