European journal of neurology : the official journal of the European Federation of Neurological Societies
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Intravenous thrombolysis for large vessel or distal occlusions presenting with mild stroke severity.
We investigated the effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients with large vessel or distal occlusions and mild neurological deficits, defined as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores < 6 points. ⋯ Intravenous thrombolysis is independently associated with higher odds of improved discharge and 3-month functional outcomes in AIS patients with large vessel or distal occlusions and mild stroke severity. IVT appears not to increase the risk of systemic or symptomatic intracranial bleeding.
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The identification of reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD) is urgently needed. Here, we explored the potential use of α-synuclein (α-syn) in plasma neuronal exosomes as a biomarker for early PD diagnosis and disease progression. ⋯ Our results suggested that α-syn in plasma neuronal exosomes may serve as a biomarker to aid early diagnosis of PD and also as a prognostic marker for PD progression.
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This study quantified the total brain and periventricular white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burdens in patients with early Parkinson's disease (PD) and explored their associations with cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive performance. ⋯ Periventricular WMHs are a useful imaging biomarker for cognitive impairment in early PD. Cardiovascular risk factors, although associated with periventricular WMHs, were unable to fully explain the association between periventricular WMHs and cognitive impairment in early PD.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Prevention of post-dural puncture headache: a randomized controlled trial.
We investigated 952 subjects undergoing diagnostic lumbar puncture (LP) to study the effects of needle size, needle design and stylet reinsertion on the risk of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). ⋯ These data suggest that a 25G atraumatic needle is superior to a larger atraumatic needle, and to a same-sized cutting needle, in preventing PDPH after diagnostic LP. In contrast to one earlier report, this study did not find that stylet reinsertion was effective in preventing PDPH. This study provides class I evidence that a small atraumatic needle decreases the risk of PDPH and that stylet reinsertion does not influence PDPH risk.
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Practice Guideline
European Academy of Neurology guideline on the diagnosis of coma and other disorders of consciousness.
Patients with acquired brain injury and acute or prolonged disorders of consciousness (DoC) are challenging. Evidence to support diagnostic decisions on coma and other DoC is limited but accumulating. This guideline provides the state-of-the-art evidence regarding the diagnosis of DoC, summarizing data from bedside examination techniques, functional neuroimaging and electroencephalography (EEG). ⋯ Standardized clinical evaluation, EEG-based techniques and functional neuroimaging should be integrated for multimodal evaluation of patients with DoC. The state of consciousness should be classified according to the highest level revealed by any of these three approaches.