Gashirai K Mbizvo, Anna Visca, Saif Huda, Andrew J Larner
{"title":"Thinking beyond papilloedema: importance of cells in the vitreous.","authors":"Gashirai K Mbizvo, Anna Visca, Saif Huda, Andrew J Larner","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004453","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004453","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143626404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sofia Mônaco Gama, Guilherme Antonio Silva Ribeiro, Adilson Monteiro Dos Santos Filho, Sandro Luiz de Andrade Matas, Carolina Candeias da Silva, Enedina Maria Lobato De Oliveira, Henrique Ballalai Ferraz
{"title":"Spinal myxopapillary ependymoma presenting with intracranial hypertension.","authors":"Sofia Mônaco Gama, Guilherme Antonio Silva Ribeiro, Adilson Monteiro Dos Santos Filho, Sandro Luiz de Andrade Matas, Carolina Candeias da Silva, Enedina Maria Lobato De Oliveira, Henrique Ballalai Ferraz","doi":"10.1136/pn-2025-004549","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2025-004549","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143626308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Roderick P P W M Maas, Huiberdina L Koek, Frederick J A Meijer, Bastiaan R Bloem
{"title":"Reconsidering brain MRI in apparently classical Parkinson's disease: one-time structural imaging for every patient?","authors":"Roderick P P W M Maas, Huiberdina L Koek, Frederick J A Meijer, Bastiaan R Bloem","doi":"10.1136/pn-2025-004529","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2025-004529","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Expert opinion, based on a careful medical history and detailed neurological examination, remains the gold standard to diagnose Parkinson's disease (PD). Neuroimaging is deemed unnecessary in those presenting with a characteristic phenotype. We encountered two patients in whom our expert clinical opinion, namely not to scan, was 'overruled' because structural brain imaging had been performed elsewhere. The MR scans unexpectedly showed an underlying cause for the parkinsonian symptoms, with unequivocal therapeutic implications. Neither patient had any unambiguous non-motor symptoms. Stimulated by these two cases, we present a nuanced view on the possible indications for brain MRI in people with apparently classical motor PD. We propose to count the absence of any unambiguous non-motor symptoms as a double (rather than single) red flag, thus requiring this to be countered by two supportive signs, and suggest lowering the threshold for brain scanning in such patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143626307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
José Lapeña-Motilva, Álvaro Sánchez-Ferro, Antonio Méndez-Guerrero, Pablo Rábano-Suárez, Julián Benito-León
{"title":"Essential tremor: tips and tricks.","authors":"José Lapeña-Motilva, Álvaro Sánchez-Ferro, Antonio Méndez-Guerrero, Pablo Rábano-Suárez, Julián Benito-León","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tremors are a common reason for neurology consultations and can sometimes be a diagnostic challenge. One of the most common causes is essential tremor, which needs to be distinguished from other types of tremors, such as those found in Parkinson's disease, cerebellar disease or dystonic tremor. This categorisation is important as their treatment and prognosis differ. This review focuses on two main characteristics of tremor to help with its differential diagnosis: 'The When', or conditions that enhance the tremor, which include action, postural, intentional components and resting tremor; and 'The Where' or the body location, which includes tremor in the upper limbs, head or voice.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143626389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anna B Dehghanizai, Christopher J Stewart, Rhys H Thomas
{"title":"The microbiome: what a neurologist needs to know.","authors":"Anna B Dehghanizai, Christopher J Stewart, Rhys H Thomas","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004400","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by trillions of micro-organisms that form the gut microbiome, which serves various functions that can influence neurological pathways. It can release metabolites that could affect the nervous system. The bidirectional communication between the intestine and the central nervous system is known as the gut-brain axis. This communication can be impacted by the microbiota in various direct and indirect ways. There has been a suggested connection between the microbiome and many neurological disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. This has been explored in human and animal studies. While no microbial biomarkers have been identified yet, alterations in several taxa have been suggested to be associated with disease states. The potential of the microbiome to modulate neurological function has sparked multiple clinical trials using gut-altering treatments, some with positive preliminary results.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143626348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Granulomatous polyangiitis with pachymeningitis: a case report.","authors":"Whei Chuern Yeoh, Cristina Estrach, Jagdish Nair","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004463","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004463","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 33-year-old man had 1 month of right-sided headache with multiple right-sided cranial neuropathies. He had a history of recurrent sinusitis, elevated inflammatory markers and positive cytoplasmic anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antigens (c-ANCA) anti-proteinase 3 (anti-PR3). MR scans of the brain and cervical spine identified an inflammatory mass at the skull base with hypertrophic pachymeningitis and a sigmoid sinus thrombosis. Cerebrospinal fluid examination excluded infection and a meningeal biopsy confirmed vasculitis. CT scan of the chest showed multiple lung nodules with cavitation. We gave intravenous cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids as induction therapy for granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Unfortunately, during the induction phase, he developed diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and progressive mononeuritis multiplex. We subsequently gave intravenous rituximab and C5a receptor antagonist, avacopan. He recovered well and remains in remission.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143568260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Late-onset Pompe disease mimicking oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.","authors":"Moiz Mikail, Matthew Gladman","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004506","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004506","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pompe disease is a genetic condition that results in glycogen accumulation in tissues, presenting from early infancy to late adulthood with various neurological and non-neurological features. We describe a woman in her late 70s with a slowly progressive onset (over years) of ptosis, oropharyngeal dysphagia and dysarthria, who was found to have late-onset Pompe disease. This case illustrates an atypical phenotype of late-onset Pompe disease that closely mimicked oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Pompe disease is relatively easily identified using dried blood spot testing as a screening test. Enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe disease has increased the importance of its timely diagnosis, and recognising the variability in its presentation.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143543835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Classification of the epilepsies: evolving with time, science and knowledge.","authors":"Arjune Sen, Sameer M Zuberi","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004486","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004486","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143484314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Health anxiety in a neurological setting.","authors":"Huw Green, Jon Stone","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004293","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004293","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Health anxiety is a common issue in neurology clinics. However, it needs to be separated from normal health concerns as well as from the category of functional symptoms and disorders. Reassurance in health anxiety, which the patient often seeks, is ineffective and can worsen the problem. There are effective and brief psychological treatments; however, for patients to engage with treatment, they need to receive accurate early diagnosis and education. This article explains the nature of health anxiety and introduces the rationale of its treatment. We make several practical suggestions to help neurologists to maximise the chances of successfully referring their patients for psychological therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143469527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Azza Mahmoud, Divyanshu Dubey, Ajith Goonetilleke, Gina Lee, Suzi Elhabet, Iftikhar Ahmad, Mohammad Dogar, Anu Jacob
{"title":"Paraneoplastic KLHL11 encephalitis presenting with progressive tinnitus, hearing loss and ataxia.","authors":"Azza Mahmoud, Divyanshu Dubey, Ajith Goonetilleke, Gina Lee, Suzi Elhabet, Iftikhar Ahmad, Mohammad Dogar, Anu Jacob","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004498","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004498","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Limbic encephalitis is associated with various tumours and antibodies. We describe a 33-year-old man with progressive cochleovestibular symptoms, cerebellar ataxia, myoclonus and antibodies against Kelch-like protein 11 (KLHL11). MR scan of the brain showed hippocampal T2 hyperintensities. FDG PET scan was normal. Biopsy of his enlarged left testes showed fibrosis without neoplasia. Immunotherapy so far has not helped significantly.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143469531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}