Neuroinflammation drives anxiety and depression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Conclusions:
Mood alterations are induced by intrathecal inflammation, even though not clinically apparent, and are able to predict inflammatory reactivations in RRMS. Inflammation is therefore a biological event, not less important than the traditional psychosocial factors, involved in mood disorders. (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Rossi, S., Studer, V., Motta, C., Polidoro, S., Perugini, J., Macchiarulo, G., Giovannetti, A. M., Pareja-Gutierrez, L., Calo, A., Colonna, I., Furlan, R., Martino, G., Centonze, D. Tags: All Psychiatric disorders, Depression, Multiple sclerosis ARTICLE Source Type: research
Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and multiple sclerosis susceptibility: A multiethnic study
Conclusions:
The consistency of EBNA-1 seropositivity with MS across racial/ethnic groups and between studies points to a strong biological link between EBV infection and MS risk. The association between past CMV infection and MS risk supports the broader hygiene hypothesis, but the inconsistency of this association across racial/ethnic groups implies noncausal associations. (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Langer-Gould, A., Wu, J., Lucas, R., Smith, J., Gonzales, E., Amezcua, L., Haraszti, S., Chen, L. H., Quach, H., James, J. A., Barcellos, L. F., Xiang, A. H. Tags: Multiple sclerosis, Case control studies, Risk factors in epidemiology ARTICLE Source Type: research
No association between dietary sodium intake and the risk of multiple sclerosis
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that higher dietary sodium intake does not increase the risk of developing MS. (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Cortese, M., Yuan, C., Chitnis, T., Ascherio, A., Munger, K. L. Tags: Multiple sclerosis, All epidemiology, Cohort studies, Risk factors in epidemiology ARTICLE Source Type: research
Aneurysm rupture: Another reason to abstain from smoking
Smoking independently increases risk for aneurysm rupture and aneurysm formation.1,2 It may weaken the wall of intracranial aneurysms due to inflammation, making them more vulnerable to trigger factors and therefore to rupture.3 Previous studies have assessed the effect of current smoking. In this issue of Neurology®, Can et al.4 assess the effect of both smoking intensity and duration on intracranial aneurysm rupture. (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Buis, D. R., Batjer, H. H. Tags: EDITORIALS Source Type: research
Stem cell transplantation in Krabbe disease: New truths discovered and opinions change
...Institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.
—Thomas Jefferson, July 12, 1816 (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Graf, W. D. Tags: Metabolic disease (inherited), Leukodystrophies, All Demyelinating disease (CNS), All Genetics EDITORIALS Source Type: research
X-linked myotubular myopathy: Living longer and awaiting treatment
The congenital myopathies (CMs) are a cluster of genetic disorders affecting myofiber structure and function. The salient clinical features are hypotonia, weakness, and motor impairment. The presentation varies from the most severe impairment in the newborn to a range of phenotypes in infancy ("floppy baby"), childhood, or occasionally adulthood. The prevalence of CMs is 1:26,000 children (birth to 17 years).1 The CMs were named on the basis of distinctive morphologic abnormalities seen on muscle biopsy: nemaline myopathy, with rods due to protein accumulation; core myopathy, with cores or multiminicores devoid of oxidativ...
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Finkel, R. S., Darras, B. T. Tags: EDITORIALS Source Type: research
Dietary sodium intake: An etiologic dead end in multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of complex etiology with many unknown, hidden elements. Apart from strong genetic influence working at population and individual levels, environmental factors are important as they are essential to understanding and explaining the true increase in incidence observed in many places since the middle of the 20th century.1,2 In recent decades, environmental factors, some of them associated with lifestyle, have been elaborated, e.g., cigarette smoking, obesity, and vitamin D shortage3 and other dietary factors.4 Among possible factors attracting recent attention is dietary sodium intake. Sod...
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Koch-Henriksen, N., Lauer, K. Tags: EDITORIALS Source Type: research
Spotlight on the September 26 issue
(Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Gross, R. A. Tags: IN FOCUS Source Type: research
Multiple sclerosis, inflammation in the brain, and mood
In their study, "Neuroinflammation drives anxiety and depression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis," Dr. Rossi et al.1 investigated the relationship between mood and inflammation. They did this by looking at a group of people who have multiple sclerosis (MS). It has long been observed that inflammation occurs in the brains and spinal cords of people with a specific kind of MS called relapsing-remitting MS. (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Karceski, S. Tags: PATIENT PAGES Source Type: research
Teaching Video NeuroImages: Olivary enlargement and pharyngeal nystagmus
A 77-year-old woman diagnosed with a pontine cavernoma developed progressive difficulty swallowing. A videofluoroscopic swallowing study showed low-frequency rhythmic contractions of the soft palate and upper larynx (video at Neurology.org). Brain MRI revealed hypertrophy in the right inferior olivary nucleus (figure). (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Finlay, J. B., Yacovino, D. A. Tags: MRI, Clinical neurology examination, Nystagmus RESIDENT AND FELLOW SECTION Source Type: research
Teaching NeuroImages: Wallerian degeneration in evolving pediatric stroke
An 8-year-old girl presented with acute hemiparesis and facial palsy. MRI demonstrated right middle cerebral artery territory infarction (figure, A and B), secondary to traumatic dissection. Following discharge, multiple visits for nonspecific neurologic symptoms prompted repeat short-term imaging, initially concerning for right midbrain infarction (figure, C–H). (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Jimenez-Gomez, A., Stowe, R. C. Tags: Childhood stroke, MRI, DWI, Other Education RESIDENT AND FELLOW SECTION Source Type: research
Mystery Case: Diagnostic challenges in a young patient with hypereosinophilia
A 48-year-old woman with recent diagnosis of nonischemic cardiomyopathy and longstanding history of asthma and allergic rhinitis without additional vascular risk factors had intermittent chest pain and dyspnea for 6 weeks, treated with antibiotics and oral steroids without benefit. Subsequently, she developed bilateral leg edema, orthopnea, and chest pain, and was hospitalized twice at another institution. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) demonstrated an ejection fraction (EF) of 30%. Cardiac catheterization was normal. CT of the chest showed a large pericardial effusion (~300 mL) and bilateral pleural effusions. She had...
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Ortiz, J. G., Douglas, P. W., Gill, C. E., Mehrotra, S., Biller, J. Tags: Stroke in young adults, Infarction RESIDENT AND FELLOW SECTION Source Type: research
Clinical Reasoning: A case of altered mental status, not otherwise specified
A 33-year-old right-handed woman presented with a 1-week history of rapid cognitive decline. The behavioral changes emerged gradually, with the first sign marked by erratic driving resulting in arrest. The patient was nonchalant about the detainment, which was out of character. In the preceding week, she had a precipitous decline in cognitive abilities, including a loss of interest in grooming, emotional outbursts, fecal and urinary incontinence, difficulty performing household chores, and jerky movements of her arms and legs impairing her ability to walk. (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Swor, D. E., Sharp, F. R., Jickling, G. C. Tags: MRI, All Clinical Neurology, Clinical neurology examination, All Neuropsychology/Behavior, All Toxicology RESIDENT AND FELLOW SECTION Source Type: research
Doctors without weapons: "You people are pathetic"
"How can you come to a war and not bring a weapon? Every soldier must have a weapon. That's the rule!" My boss was emphatic. "You people are pathetic." (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 25, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Riggs, J. E. Tags: All Clinical Neurology, All Trauma, All Ethics in Neurology/Legal issues REFLECTIONS: NEUROLOGY AND THE HUMANITIES Source Type: research
Does compensatory hyperparathyroidism predispose to ischemic stroke? Decreased bone mass and increased bone turnover with valproate therapy in adults with epilepsy; An alternative to vitamin D supplementation to prevent fractures in patients with MS; High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and reduced bone mass in Parkinson's disease
Because of known issues leading to several retractions of papers by Y. Sato et al., the editors of Neurology® have, as a matter of due diligence, researched other papers that this group published in Neurology. To ensure that the scientific literature is correct, the Editor chooses to publish an Expression of Concern regarding 3 observational studies and a Letter to the Editor published in Neurology prior to the retracted clinical trials.1–4 (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - September 18, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: EXPRESSION OF CONCERN Source Type: research
