Rio Saputra , Moh Ramdhan Arif Kaluku , Hartoto , Edi Setiawan , Faisal
{"title":"Language and neurological assessment in stroke: Rethinking the role of linguistic proficiency in clinical outcomes","authors":"Rio Saputra , Moh Ramdhan Arif Kaluku , Hartoto , Edi Setiawan , Faisal","doi":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111336","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111336","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This correspondence underscores the potential impact of language proficiency on clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), especially those experiencing large-vessel occlusion (LVO). Citing recent findings that non-English-speaking patients often present with more severe symptoms and poorer discharge outcomes despite receiving comparable treatment, this commentary examines how linguistic barriers may confound clinical assessments such as the NIHSS. From a psycholinguistic perspective, language functions not merely as a medium of communication but as a cognitive instrument that actively shapes the expression of symptoms. We advocate for the incorporation of linguistic competence into stroke assessment protocols to promote equity and diagnostic precision in neurology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15487,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 111336"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Anti-Amyloid Agents: A Self-Fulfilling prophecy","authors":"Alexandros Giannakis, Spiridon Konitsiotis","doi":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The introduction of anti-amyloid antibodies has ushered in a new era in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), coinciding with the revision of its diagnostic criteria, which now focus on the biological definition of AD, with amyloid beta at its core. However, despite being fully aligned with these criteria—and therefore with how we define the disease—amyloid-targeting therapies have not yielded the expected results. How can a treatment targeting the very core of the disease be ineffective? Perhaps because AD, as we have defined it, is not actually the disease that afflicts millions of patients worldwide. Patients with conditions related to AD, such as apolipoprotein ε4 allele (APOE4) homozygotes, patients receiving anticoagulant therapy for atrial fibrillation, and those with microhemorrhages, are excluded from treatment. Several other pathogenetic mechanisms continue to arise, including neuroinflammation, cerebrovascular disease, and metal ion dysregulation. At the same time, Alzheimer’s pathology frequently coexists with other brain pathologies in AD patients, the roles and interactions of which remain largely unknown. Thus, AD should be redefined as a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder, in which various processes contribute to amyloid accumulation or independently drive neurodegeneration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15487,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 111338"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Disproportionality analysis of progestogens and estrogens demonstrates increased meningioma risk","authors":"Connor Frey , Mahyar Etminan","doi":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111328","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111328","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to clarify the relationship between the use of various progestogens and estrogens and the risk of developing meningiomas, given the widespread prescription of hormonal contraceptives and their potential implications in tumour proliferation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) was analyzed using disproportionality analysis to assess the association between specific progestogens and estrogens and meningioma risk. Reporting odds ratios (RORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to quantify these associations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among progestogens, promegestone showed the highest risk with an ROR of 2620.651 (95% CI: 982.032, 6993.474), followed by medrogestone with an ROR of 871.475 (95% CI: 256.382, 2962.253) and dydrogesterone with moderate risk (ROR 113.802; 95% CI: 60.676, 213.444). For estrogens, estradiol exhibited the highest risk (ROR 17.786; 95% CI: 14.875, 21.266), followed by ethinyl estradiol (ROR 7.441; 95% CI: 6.099, 9.080), while conjugated estrogens showed a lower risk (ROR 1.736; 95% CI: 1.043, 2.889). No cases were reported for estriol, estrone, or mestranol, indicating a potentially lower risk profile for these estrogens.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study reveals significant variations in meningioma risk associated with different hormonal therapies. Certain progestogens and estrogens present notably higher risks, emphasizing the need for personalized risk assessments in hormonal therapy prescriptions. These findings advocate for further research to better understand meningioma risk linked to hormone-based contraceptives, supporting safer clinical decision-making.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15487,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 111328"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144069729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stanley Hughwa Hung , Sharon F Kramer , Emilio Werden , Jonathan Hall , Gagan Sharma , Hamed Asadi , Vincent Thijs , Bruce CV Campbell , Amy Brodtmann
{"title":"The association between pre-stroke physical activity and cerebral collateral circulation in acute ischaemic stroke","authors":"Stanley Hughwa Hung , Sharon F Kramer , Emilio Werden , Jonathan Hall , Gagan Sharma , Hamed Asadi , Vincent Thijs , Bruce CV Campbell , Amy Brodtmann","doi":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111314","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To investigate the association between pre-stroke physical activity and cerebral collateral circulation in acute ischaemic stroke survivors.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using a cross-sectional design, we recruited ischaemic stroke survivors from two hospital acute stroke units and included participants with ICA and MCA M1/M2 segment occlusions. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) was used to measure physical activity levels during the 7 days prior to stroke onset. Clinically acquired computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging was used to assess cerebral collateral circulation using the hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR) and visual grading with dynamic computed tomography angiography reconstructed from CTP images. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the association between the PASE Total Score and HIR. Independent sample <em>t</em>-test was used to estimate the difference in HIR between those who reported engaging in pre-stroke leisure walking and those who did not.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We included 29 participants (mean ± SD = 71.5 ± 12.5 years; 38 % female). No association was observed between the PASE Total Score and HIR. Participants who engaged in leisure walking (mean ± SD = 0.30 ± 0.21) had lower HIR compared to participants who did not (mean ± SD = 0.46 ± 0.14) (estimated mean difference = 0.16, 95 %CI = 0.01 to 0.31, p = 0.04).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study provides preliminary evidence to suggest that pre-stroke leisure walking may an important activity type associated with cerebral collateral circulation. Larger studies are required to further investigate the relationship between pre-stroke physical activity and collateral circulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15487,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 111314"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144069720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Omar Amin EL Serafy , Nirmeen Adel Kishk , Amani M Nawito , Eman EL Far , Reham Mohamed Shamloul , Marwa EL Sayed EL Kotb , Aya Alsayyad , Ahmed Elsaid Elsayed , Enas Alsayyad
{"title":"Predictors of drug-resistant epilepsy among adult patients with epilepsy in tertiary referral hospital in Egypt","authors":"Omar Amin EL Serafy , Nirmeen Adel Kishk , Amani M Nawito , Eman EL Far , Reham Mohamed Shamloul , Marwa EL Sayed EL Kotb , Aya Alsayyad , Ahmed Elsaid Elsayed , Enas Alsayyad","doi":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>About one-third of patients with epilepsy present with uncontrolled seizures. As a result, there is an increased risk of injury, psychological complications, and early death. Uncontrolled epilepsy most often stems from truly intractable seizures, or pseudo intractable seizures. Identifying true intractability is crucial for optimizing drug therapy.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To identify the percentage of uncontrolled epilepsy in Kasr El-Ainy tertiary referral hospitals. Additionally, we aim to investigate the characteristics and predictors of true and pseudo intractability among the samples studied in tertiary referral hospitals.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>A hospital-based cross-sectional study performed over two stages. The primary stage identified the prevalence of uncontrolled seizures. The second stage compared a sample of patients with uncontrolled seizures, to those with good seizure control in terms of the clinical, neurophysiological, and radiological aspects.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The point prevalence of uncontrolled epilepsy was 58.3 %. Among them, 24.2 % were truly intractable. In uncontrolled patients, a significantly higher percentage of patients with true drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) showed positive consanguinity (p = 0.002), abnormal neurological examination (p = 0.027), interictal epileptic discharges (p = 0.03) and underlying structural lesions (p = 0.011) when compared to controls. The identified predictors for true DRE included younger age of onset (OR: 0.563), presence of neurological deficit (OR5.291) and use of three or more anti-seizure medication (ASM) (OR: 1.945).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The percentage of uncontrolled epilepsy in our tertiary care hospital is comparable to previous reports, with non-adherence being the major cause. Many variables may function as predictors for true DRE, which when considered, will aid in improving the management of patients with epilepsy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15487,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 111312"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144069730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sang Youp Han , Sang Hyub Lee , Jae-Won Jang , Dong-Geun Lee , Yong Eun Cho , Choon-Keun Park , Il Sup Kim
{"title":"Comparison of complications of biportal endoscopic discectomy: ipsilateral versus contralateral approach","authors":"Sang Youp Han , Sang Hyub Lee , Jae-Won Jang , Dong-Geun Lee , Yong Eun Cho , Choon-Keun Park , Il Sup Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111282","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Biportal endoscopic discectomy using the contralateral approach is effective for highly down- or upward-migrated disc removal and upper lumbar disc herniation. Despite its benefits, there are potential complications that have yet to be fully explored, including possible transient neurological deficits, excessive nerve pull, and incomplete discectomy. Thus, in this study, we aimed to understand these complications by comparing the contralateral and ipsilateral approaches for biportal endoscopic discectomy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study included 326 patients who underwent biportal endoscopic discectomy, with 168 and 158 patients undergoing endoscopic discectomy via the contralateral and ipsilateral approaches, respectively, between March 2020 and July 2023. Patient demographic characteristics, operation level, length of hospital stay, blood loss, and operation time were reviewed. Complications included early recurrence, neurological deficits, postoperative pain, and long-term recurrence. Only single-level patients were included. Patients with infections, stenosis, instability, tumors, revision surgery, multilevel pathology, or ambiguous symptoms were excluded.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Operation time, length of hospital stay, and blood loss were similar between groups. L3–4 and L4–5 were the most common contralateral and ipsilateral approach discectomies, respectively. The frequency of dural tear occurrence showed no difference between groups. Early recurrence occurred more in the ipsilateral than in the contralateral approach group. Neurological deficits occurred more in the contralateral than in the ipsilateral approach group. Postoperative pain and long-term recurrence rates were not significantly different between groups. However, the rate of revision surgery due to long-term recurrence was higher in the contralateral than in the ipsilateral approach group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>No significant differences were observed in duration, postoperative pain, or long-term recurrence between the ipsilateral and contralateral approaches. However, early recurrence, neurological deficit, and revision surgery rates differed between the ipsilateral and contralateral approaches. The appropriate approach should be carefully determined according to the case before surgery. Contralateral discectomy may be an excellent surgical option.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15487,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 111282"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143935463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carlin Chuck , Mazen Taman , Joseph Oldam , Joshua Feler , Dylan Wolman , Mahesh Jayaraman , Karen Furie , Krisztina Moldovan , Radmehr Torabi , Ali Mahta
{"title":"Platelet transfusion and antiplatelet timing not associated with decreased rates of ventriculostomy hemorrhage in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage","authors":"Carlin Chuck , Mazen Taman , Joseph Oldam , Joshua Feler , Dylan Wolman , Mahesh Jayaraman , Karen Furie , Krisztina Moldovan , Radmehr Torabi , Ali Mahta","doi":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111326","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The increasing use of single (SAPT) and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in endovascular treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) raises concerns about ventriculostomy-related hemorrhage (VRH). This study evaluates the impact of platelet transfusion, timing of ventriculostomy placement relative to antiplatelet therapy (APT), and APT type (DAPT vs. SAPT) on VRH risk and clinical outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective study of a prospectively collected cohort of aSAH presenting to a single academic center from 2016 to 2023 was conducted. Patients who underwent ventriculostomy placement and APT were included, while those on anticoagulation were excluded. The cohort was then split into three groups: 1) patients on APT at the time of ventriculostomy placement and who were not given platelet transfusion, 2) patients on APT at the time of ventriculostomy placement and who were given platelet transfusion, and 3) patients who were initiated on APT after ventriculostomy placement as part of their endovascular therapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed examining rates of tract hemorrhage, symptomatic tract hemorrhage, and poor neurologic outcomes at three-months, defined as modified Rankin scale (mRS) > 3.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 404 cases identified, 129 patients were on APT during or after ventriculostomy placement. Mean age was 59.5 ± 13.9 years, 38.8 % male, and 74.4 % were White. When comparing those who were on APT and did not receive platelet transfusion (n = 24) with those who received platelet transfusion (n = 34), there were no differences in rates of VRH or symptomatic VRH on univariate (37.5 % vs. 29.4 %, p = 0.52 and 4.2 % vs. 5.9 %, p = 0.77, respectively) or multivariate analysis (OR 0.79, 95 %CI [0.24, 2.61], p = 0.7 and OR 0.28, 95 %CI [0.01, 7.99], p = 0.4. Comparing those already on APT versus those with APT initiation after ventriculostomy, there were no statistically significant differences in rates of VRH or symptomatic VRH on univariate (37.5 % vs. 25.4 %, p = 0.26 and 4.2 % vs. 1.4 %, p = 0.42, respectively) or multivariate analysis (OR 0.74, 95 %CI [0.42, 1.31], p = 0.3 and OR 0.28, 95 %CI [0.01, 7.99], p = 0.4). Furthermore, there were no differences in functional neurologic outcomes at 3-month follow-up on multivariate analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our study did not identify benefits conferred from platelet transfusion with regard to VRH or outcomes after ventriculostomy placement in aSAH on APT. We also found no differences in VRH in patients who had ventriculostomy placement before or after APT initiation. With the increasing use of endovascular therapies, ventriculostomy placement under APT is increasingly common, necessitating further research to mitigate the risk of significant VRH.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15487,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 111326"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143941610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuting Yang , Li Peng , Ying Li , Miaoxia Wang , Wensheng Zhou , Zhiwen Zhou
{"title":"The use of EEG in predicting the prognosis of patients undergoing endovascular treatment for acute anterior circulation infarction","authors":"Yuting Yang , Li Peng , Ying Li , Miaoxia Wang , Wensheng Zhou , Zhiwen Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111252","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111252","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to investigate the application of electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring in evaluating the prognosis for patients undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute anterior circulation stroke.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This is a retrospective study that includes patients with acute large-vessel occlusion (LVO) of the anterior circulation who were identified as having surgical indications after rigorous imaging evaluations and have treated within 24 h since onset. All enrolled patients went through endovascular treatment (EVT) under local anesthesia, and all achieved a mTICI (the modified Treatment In Cerebral Ischemia) score of 3 promptly after the procedure. The recorded data includes like the gender, age, time from onset to reperfusion, TOAST classification, location of vessel occlusion, preoperative NIHSS scores, EEG readings at day 1, 3 and 7 after the procedure, and mRS scores at 3 months.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>1. The patients’ prognoses differed based on diverse findings on the EEG taken at 24 h, 3 days, and 7 days after the procedure, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). While the 24 h EEG was capable to make an accurate prediction about the prognosis in patients undergoing endovascular treatment for acute anterior circulation stroke (AUC = 0.811), the one taken at 7 days presented the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.955). The EEG results collected at 3 days and 7 days shows the highest sensitivity in predicting the prognosis, both with a sensitivity of 100 %.</div><div>2. There was a correlation between the time to vessel reperfusion and the EEG improvement rate from 24 h to 3 days after treatment, and the difference statistically makes sense. (P < 0.05).</div><div>3. There was a link between the preoperative NIHSS scores and the rate of EEG improvement from 24 h to 3 days after the procedure, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).</div><div>4. No obvious correlation was detected between TOAST classification and EEG changes within one week (P > 0.05).</div><div>5. The prognosis in patients experiencing an endovascular therapy for acute anterior circulation stroke was related to the preoperative NIHSS scores and time from onset to vessel reperfusion, the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.05), but not with patient gender, age, occlusion site, or TOAST classification (P > 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>EEG provides a new way to evaluate the prognosis of patients with acute anterior circulation infarction after endovascular treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15487,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 111252"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143941732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}