Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2023
Meta AnalysisVagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for motor function, mental health and activities of daily living after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) plus rehabilitation (Rehab) has shown a potential effect on recovery with a stroke. We systematically synthesised studies examining VNS+Rehab for improving motor function, mental health and activities of daily living (ADL) postintervention and at the end of follow-up in patients with a stroke. ⋯ The results suggest VNS+Rehab showed better motor function outcomes in patients after stroke, while no better than Rehab on mental health or ADL. Combinations of phase of stroke, specific parameters of VNS and VNS intervention frequency are key modulators of VNS effects.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2023
Modified Erasmus GBS Respiratory Insufficiency Score: a simplified clinical tool to predict the risk of mechanical ventilation in Guillain-Barré syndrome.
This study aimed to determine the clinical and diagnostic factors associated with mechanical ventilation (MV) in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and to simplify the existing Erasmus GBS Respiratory Insufficiency Score (EGRIS) for predicting the risk of MV. ⋯ The mEGRIS is a simple and accurate tool for predicting the risk of MV in GBS. Compared with the original model, the mEGRIS requires less information for predictions with equal accuracy, can be used to predict MV at multiple time points and is also applicable in less severely affected patients and GBS variants. Model performance was consistent across different regions.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2023
Longitudinal characterisation of B and T-cell immune responses after the booster dose of COVID-19 mRNA-vaccine in people with multiple sclerosis using different disease-modifying therapies.
The decline of humoral response to COVID-19 vaccine led to authorise a booster dose. Here, we characterised the kinetics of B-cell and T-cell immune responses in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) after the booster dose. ⋯ COVID-19 vaccine booster strengthens humoral and Th1-cell responses and increases TEM cells in PwMS.
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The term 'brain fog' is increasingly used colloquially to describe difficulties in the cognitive realm. But what is brain fog? What sort of experiences do people talk about when they talk about brain fog? And, in turn, what might this tell us about potential underlying pathophysiological mechanisms? This study examined first-person descriptions in order to better understand the phenomenology of brain fog. ⋯ 'Brain fog' is used on Reddit to describe heterogeneous experiences, including of dissociation, fatigue, forgetfulness and excessive cognitive effort, and in association with a range of illnesses, drugs and behaviours. Encouraging detailed description of these experiences will help us better understand pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive symptoms in health and disease.