Evolution of brain MRI lesions in paediatric myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) and its relevance to disease course.

BACKGROUND: Lesion resolution is often observed in children with myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), and asymptomatic lesions are less commonly reported in MOGAD than in multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate brain MRI changes over time in paediatric MOGAD. METHODS: Retrospective study in eight UK paediatric neuroscience centres. Acute brain MRI and available follow-up MRIs were reviewed. Predictors for lesion dynamic were evaluated using multivariable regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to predict risk of relapse, disability and MOG-Ab status. RESULTS: 200 children were included (MOGAD 97; MS 103). At first MRI post attack, new symptomatic and asymptomatic lesions were seen more often in MS versus MOGAD (52/103 vs 28/97; p=0.002 and 37/103 vs 11/97; p<0.001); 83% of patients with MOGAD showed at least one lesion's resolution at first follow-up scan, and 23% had normal MRI. Only 1 patient with MS had single lesion resolution; none had normal MRI. Disappearing lesions in MOGAD were seen in 40% after the second attack, 21% after third attack and none after the fourth attack.New lesions at first follow-up scan were associated with increased likelihood of relapse (p=0.02) and persistent MOG-Ab serostatus (p=0.0016) compared with those with no new lesions. Plasma exchange was associated with increased likelihood of lesion resolution (p=0.01). Longer time from symptom onset to steroids was associated with increased likelihood of new lesions; 50% increase at 20 days (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These striking differences in lesion dynamics between MOGAD and MS suggest greater potential to repair. Early treatment with steroids and plasma exchange is associated with reduced likelihood of new lesions.

An Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Tic Disorders.

Tic disorders (TDs) are a group of common neuropsychiatric disorders of childhood and adolescence. TDs may impact the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the affected person. In this review, we present an update on the clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of TDs. We searched the PubMed database for articles on tics and Tourette syndrome. More than 400 articles were reviewed, of which 141 are included in this review. TDs are more prevalent in children than in adults and in males than in females. It may result from a complex interaction between various genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. Dysregulation in the cortico-striato-pallido-thalamo-cortical network is the most plausible pathophysiology resulting in tics. TD is a clinical diagnosis based on clinical features and findings on neurological examination, especially the identification of tic phenomenology. In addition to tics, TD patients may have sensory features, including premonitory urge; enhanced and persistent sensitivity to non-noxious external or internal stimuli; and behavioral manifestations, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. Clinical findings of hyperkinetic movements that usually mimic tics have been compared and contrasted with those of TD. Patients with TD may not require specific treatment if tics are not distressing. Psychoeducation and supportive therapy can help reduce tics when combined with medication. Dispelling myths and promoting acceptance are important to improve patient outcomes. Using European, Canadian, and American guidelines, the treatment of TD, including behavioral therapy, medical therapy, and emerging/experimental therapy, has been discussed.

Tenecteplase and Alteplase for Thrombolysis of Acute Ischemic Stroke within 4.5 Hours: An Efficacy and Safety Study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of thrombolysis using Tenecteplase (TNK) versus alteplase in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients within 4.5-hour window period. Methods: This retrospective study involved the collection of data from consecutive AIS patients who underwent thrombolysis in the Department of Neurology at a tertiary care university hospital, between May 2018 to January 2021. Data including clinical history, neurological assessment using modified Rankin score (mRS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), brain neuroimaging, treatment, and outcome details were collected. The primary efficacy outcome was the proportion of patients with good functional recovery (mRS of 0-2) at 90 days of follow-up. Results: Total of 42 patients with AIS underwent thrombolysis, of which 19 received alteplase and 23 got TNK. The median (range) onset to door time [120 (20-210) versus 120 (30-210) minutes; P = 0.823] and median (range) onset to needle time [150 (60-255) versus 160 (50-240) minutes; P = 0.779] were comparable in both alteplase and TNK groups, respectively. The primary outcome of good functional recovery (mRS ≤2) at 3 months was observed in more than half the patients in each group and was comparable (P = 0.701). Post-thrombolysis complications including cerebral haemorrhage (symptomatic or asymptomatic) were comparable between the two groups (31.6% vs 30.4%; P = 0.936), except a significantly higher proportion of patients on TNK required mechanical ventilation (10.5% v/s 43.5%; P = 0.019). Conclusions: This study showed a comparable efficacy and safety profile of alteplase and TNK in thrombolysis of AIS throughout the 4.5 hours window period. Moreover, the ease of administration and better pharmacodynamic properties favors tenecteplase.

Sleep Disorders in Patients with Parkinson's Disease during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: To assess the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on sleep disorders among Parkinson's disease (PD) patients using validated questionnaires. Materials and Methods: This prospective study involved 50 PD patients and 50 age, gender, and body mass index-matched controls. All participants underwent assessment of cognition using Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale, sleep quality using Parkinson's disease sleep scale-2 (PDSS-2; for PD patients) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; for PD patients and healthy controls), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) using Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), insomnia symptoms and severity using insomnia severity index (ISI), restless legs syndrome (RLS) using International RLS Study Group criteria, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) using RBD Single-Question Screen (RBD1Q), and depression using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale. Results: Eighty-eight percent of PD patients reported one or more sleep disorders, compared to 28% controls. While 72% of PD patients reported poor sleep quality (PDSS-2 ≥15, PSQI >5), 60% had insomnia, 58% reported RBD, 50% had EDS, and 36% reported RLS. Depressive symptoms were reported by 70% patients. PD patients with and without poor sleep quality were comparable with regards to demographic and clinical variables, except for depressive symptoms (P < 0.001). Depressive symptoms showed a significant association with EDS (P = 0.008), RBD (P < 0.001), and insomnia (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Prevalence of sleep disorders increased in PD patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prevalence of EDS, RBD, and RLS in PD patients was higher compared to that reported in studies during the pre-COVID-19 times. Presence of depressive symptoms was a significant correlate of presence of sleep disorders in PD patients.

Successful thrombolysis in essential thrombocythemia-related acute ischaemic stroke.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET)-related acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) may account for approximately 0.25%-0.5% of all ischaemic strokes. If left undiagnosed and untreated, patients with ET carry an increased risk of recurrent thrombosis involving major organs including the brain. We report an interesting case of a 67-year-old man, who was successfully thrombolysed for AIS resulting from ET. He presented with sudden onset of left-sided hemiparesis with a left-ventricular clot. His subsequent investigations including positive JAK2 V617F mutation confirmed the diagnosis of ET. He made a significant recovery with thrombolysis, anticoagulation, antiplatelet and hydroxyurea. A fear of post-thrombolytic haemorrhagic complications appears the major reason for the lack of reports of thrombolysis in ET-related AIS. Although the diagnosis of ET was confirmed on subsequent investigations, successful thrombolysis in our case provides preliminary evidence that ET-related AIS cases can undergo successful thrombolysis using tenecteplase. To date, ours is only the second case of ET-related AIS being thrombolysed.

Neurological manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019: exploring past to understand present.

SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulting in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has significantly affected the entire world. It was labelled a pandemic by World Health Organization. Although it commonly produces respiratory symptoms, neurological features have been described. Neurological manifestations may vary from non-specific symptoms such as headache, dizziness, myalgia and/or fatigue, olfactory or taste dysfunction to specific syndromes including meningitis, stroke, acute transverse myelitis and Guillain-Barre syndrome. This review describes potential pathogenetic mechanisms and neurological manifestations of COVID-19 along with its management. Considering structural and pathogenetic similarity of SARS-CoV-2 with SARS-CoV and MERS viruses, we compared their neurological manifestations and mentioned few features expected in COVID-19 in future. Interestingly, many COVID-19 cases may present with pure neurological manifestations at onset with non-neurological features manifesting few days later and we propose the term "Neuro-COVID syndrome" for such cases. Awareness of neurological manifestations may facilitate its management and improve outcome in such patients.

Evaluation of Fetal First and Second Cervical Vertebrae: Normal or Abnormal?

OBJECTIVES: To use 3-dimensional sonographic volumes to evaluate the variable appearance of the normal fetal cervical spine and craniocervical junction, which if unrecognized may lead to misdiagnosis of malalignment at the first and second cervical vertebrae (C1 and C2). METHODS: Three-dimensional sonographic volumes of the fetal cervical spine were obtained from 24 fetuses at gestational ages between 12 weeks 6 days and 35 weeks 1 day. The volumes were reviewed on 4-dimensional software, and the vertebral level was determined by labeling the first rib-bearing vertebra as the first thoracic vertebra. The ossification centers of the cervical spine and occipital condyles were then labeled accordingly and evaluated for alignment and structure by rotating the volumes in oblique planes. The appearance on multiplanar images was assessed for possible perceived anomalies, including malalignment, particularly at the C1 and C2 levels. Evidence of head rotation was correlated with the presence of possible malalignment at C1-C2. Head rotation was identified in the axial plane by measuring the angle of the anteroposterior axis of C1 to the anteroposterior axis of C2. RESULTS: Of the 24 fetuses, 16 had adequate quality to assess the entire cervical spine and craniocervical junction. All 16 cases showed an osseous component of C1 that did not align directly with C2 on some of the multiplanar images when the volumes were rotated, which could lead to suspected diagnosis of spinal malalignment or a segmental abnormality, as occurred in 2 clinical cases in our practice. All 16 cases showed at least some degree of head rotation, ranging from 2° to 36°, which may possibly explain the apparent malalignment. The lateral offset from C1 to C2 ranged from 0.0 to 3.3 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The normal C1 and C2 ossification centers may appear to be malaligned due to normal offsetting (lateral displacement) of C1 on C2. An understanding of the normal development of the cervical spine is important in assessing spinal anatomy.