Psychiatry Bring up to date 2021 Planting season Summary Summation
Objective Imaging follow-up for acute intracranial hemorrhage has followed the same protocols despite differences in clinical progression and outcome associated with bleed in different compartments. We evaluated isolated, small parafalcine and paratentorial subdural hemorrhages to determine the necessity of routine imaging follow up. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of all patients presenting to the Emergency Department who were found to have an isolated parafalcine and/or paratentorial subdural hemorrhage, and obtained follow up imaging over the course of 3 years. Subsequent imaging was reviewed to assess for changes in hemorrhage size and the average number of studies performed; clinical data was reviewed for changes in patient status and any intervention if performed. Results 95 patients were identified with isolated parafalcine and/or paratentorial hemorrhage that were evaluated with multiple follow-up imaging studies. The average initial subdural hemorrhage thickness was 3.5 mm, with all smaller than 1 cm. The average number of subsequent imaging studies performed was 2.7. All patients received follow up imaging despite remaining neurologically stable. 96 % of the patients had stable to decreased size off hemorrhage on follow up exams. The remaining 4% had a slight increase on the second imaging study but, stabilized without any intervention. Anticoagulation use had no correlation with increase on subsequent imaging. Conclusion Small isolated parafalcine and/or paratentorial hemorrhage in a neurologically stable patient and absence of anticoagulation does not require scheduled routine follow-up imaging.Objective Moderate to severe spasticity is commonly reported in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and its management is still a challenge. Cannabinoids were recently suggested as add-on therapy for the treatment of spasticity and chronic pain in MS but there is no conclusive scientific evidence on their safety, especially on cognition and over long periods. The aim of this prospective pilot study was to assess the long-term effects of a tetrahydrocannabinol-cannabidiol (THC/CBD) oromucosal spray (Sativex®) on cognition, mood and anxiety. Patients and methods An extensive and specific battery of neuropsychological tests (Symbol Digit Modalities Test-SDMT, California Verbal Learning Test-CVLT, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-BVMT; PASAT-3 and 2; Free and Cued Selective Remind Test-FCSRT, Index of Sensitivity of Cueing-ISC) was applied to longitudinally investigate different domains of cognition in 20 consecutive MS patients receiving Sativex for spasticity. The primary endpoint was to assess any variation in cognitive performance. Secondary outcomes regarding mood and anxiety were investigated by means of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Any change in patients' spasticity was evaluated using the 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Results Twenty per protocol patients were followed up and evaluated at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Domains involving processing speed and auditory verbal memory significantly improved within the first 6 months of therapy (SDMT p less then 0.001; CVLT p = 0.0001). Mood and anxiety did not show any significant variation. Additionally, the NRS score significantly improved since the beginning (p less then 0.0001). Conclusions These results are encouraging in supporting possible long-term benefits of Sativex on cognition and a wider role than symptom alleviator. Further studies on larger groups of patients would be necessary in order to test this intriguing possibility.The use of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) has been proposed to prevent new neurological deficit during aneurysm clipping. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate if IOM can prevent neurological injury during clipping of intracranial aneurysm. LY2109761 cost Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analysis, we reviewed clinical comparative studies who evaluate the rate of new neurological deficit in patients who had a surgical clipping with and without IOM. Of the 268 citations screened, four studies (including 873 patients) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Patients who received surgery with IOM had less new neurological deficit than those who underwent surgery without it (p = 0,04). This finding was more significant in the subgroup analysis of two studies focused on middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm (p = 0,02). However, a specific analysis of the three studies reporting the results of IOM to prevent permanent deficit revealed that there is only a trend for less neurological events in monitored patients without statistically significance (p = 0,05). The use of IOM during clipping of intracranial aneurysm was associated with less new neurological deficit with the obtained evidence of the included studies. However, at long-term follow-up the use of IOM did not correlate with a significant improvement in neurological outcome.Background & aims Disordered metabolism, steatosis, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis contribute to the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) catalyzes the first committed step in de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and modulates mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Increased hepatic DNL flux and reduced fatty acid oxidation are hypothesized to contribute to steatosis. Some proinflammatory cells also show increased dependency on DNL, suggesting that ACC may regulate aspects of the inflammatory response in NASH. PF-05221304 is an orally bioavailable, liver-directed ACC1/2 inhibitor. The present studies sought to evaluate the effects of PF-05221304 on NASH pathogenic factors in experimental model systems. Methods The effects of PF-05221304 on lipid metabolism, steatosis, inflammation, and fibrogenesis were investigated in both primary human-derived in vitro systems and in vivo rodent models. Results PF-05221304 inhibited DNL, stimulated fatty acid oxidation, and reduced triglyceride accumulation in primary human hepatocytes, and reduced DNL and steatosis in Western diet-fed rats in vivo, showing the potential to reduce hepatic lipid accumulation and potentially lipotoxicity. PF-05221304 blocked polarization of human T cells to proinflammatory but not anti-inflammatory T cells, and suppressed activation of primary human stellate cells to myofibroblasts in vitro, showing direct effects on inflammation and fibrogenesis. Consistent with these observations, PF-05221304 also reduced markers of inflammation and fibrosis in the diethylnitrosamine chemical-induced liver injury model and the choline-deficient, high-fat-fed rat model. Conclusions The liver-directed dual ACC1/ACC2 inhibitor directly improved multiple nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/NASH pathogenic factors including steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in both human-derived in vitro systems and rat models.