Posterior Cingulate Epilepsy: A Systematic Review.

SUMMARY: In this review, authors discuss epilepsy originating from posterior cingulate regions, a challenging entity to diagnose and most likely underrecognized. A systematic review of posterior middle and posterior cingulate epilepsy cases was conducted to present a summary of current knowledge about this localization-based type of epilepsy. The literature search identified 32 articles, for a total of 69 patients (34 with posterior middle cingulate epilepsy [pMCE] and 35 with posterior cingulate epilepsy [PCE]). Most patients were children and young adults with drug-resistant lesional epilepsy with high seizure burden. In both groups, most patients reported auras, mainly sensory, but various types were reported, including autonomic, behavioral, and cognitive manifestations. Most pMCE and PCE showed motor manifestations (mainly respectively asymmetric tonic posturing and automotor features). Impaired awareness during seizures was more frequently reported in PCE than in pMCE. As for ictal scalp EEG, epileptogenic abnormalities were poorly lateralized and did not localize the seizure onset zone. An ictal temporal involvement was only observed in PCE. Interictal EEG findings were nonspecific. As for other presurgical noninvasive investigations, data are limited, and no studies have adequately assessed their value. Partly explained by our inclusion criteria, most patients underwent a surgical procedure (either lesionectomy or resection of epileptogenic zone as defined by intracranial EEG study results), which overall yielded good outcomes.

Evaluation of Intensive vs Standard Blood Pressure Reduction and Association With Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Optimal blood pressure (BP) targets for the prevention of cognitive impairment remain uncertain. Objective: To explore the association of intensive (ie, lower than usual) BP reduction vs standard BP management with the incidence of cognitive decline and dementia in adults with hypertension. Data Sources and Study Selection: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials that evaluated the association of intensive systolic BP lowering on cognitive outcomes by searching MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov from database inception to October 27, 2020. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data screening and extraction were performed independently by 2 reviewers based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool. Random-effects models with the inverse variance method were used for pooled analyses. The presence of potential heterogeneity was evaluated with the I2 index. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was cognitive decline. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), cerebrovascular events, serious adverse events, and all-cause mortality. Results: From 7755 citations, we identified 16 publications from 5 trials with 17 396 participants (mean age, 65.7 years [range, 63.0-80.5 years]; 10 562 [60.5%] men) and 2 additional ongoing trials. All 5 concluded trials included in quantitative analyses were considered at unclear to high risk of bias. The mean follow-up duration was 3.3 years (range, 2.0 to 4.7 years). Intensive BP reduction was not significantly associated with global cognitive performance (standardized mean difference, 0.01; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.06; I2 = 0%; 4 trials; 5246 patients), incidence of dementia (risk ratio [RR], 1.09; 95% CI, 0.32 to 3.67; I2 = 27%; 2 trials; 9444 patients) or incidence of MCI (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.14; I2 = 74%; 2 trials; 10 774 patients) when compared with standard treatment. However, a reduction of cerebrovascular events in the intensive group was found (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.93; I2 = 0%; 5 trials; 17 396 patients) without an increased risk of serious adverse events or mortality. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, there was no significant association between BP reduction and lower risk of cognitive decline, dementia, or MCI. The certainty of this evidence was rated low because of the limited sample size, the risk of bias of included trials, and the observed statistical heterogeneity. Therefore, current available evidence does not justify the use of lower BP targets for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.

Development and reliability of a measure evaluating dynamic proprioception during walking with a robotized ankle-foot orthosis, and its relation to dynamic postural control.

BACKGROUND: Proprioception is important for proper motor control. As the central nervous system modulates how sensory information is processed during movement (sensory gating), proprioceptive tests performed at rest do not correlate well with performance during dynamic tasks such as walking. Proprioception therefore needs to be assessed during movement execution. OBJECTIVES: 1) To develop a test evaluating the ability to detect movement errors during walking, and its test-retest reliability; 2) to quantify the relationship between proprioceptive threshold (obtained with this new test) and performance in a standardized dynamic balance task. METHOD: Thirty healthy subjects walked on a treadmill while wearing a robotized ankle-foot orthosis (rAFO) for 2 bouts of 6min on 2 evaluation sessions (test-retest reliability). Force perturbations resisting ankle dorsiflexion during swing were applied to the ankle via the rAFO (150ms duration, variable amplitude). Participants pushed a button when they detected the perturbations. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) was used to evaluate dynamic balance. ANALYSIS: Angular differences between perturbed and non-perturbed gait cycles were used to quantify movement error. Detection threshold was defined as the minimal movement error at which 50% of the perturbations were perceived. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) estimated test-retest reliability, and Pearson coefficients were used to determine the correlation between detection threshold and SEBT. RESULTS: Detection threshold was 5.31±2.12°. Good reliability (ICC=0.70) and a moderate to strong correlation to SEBT (r=-0.57 to -0.76) were found. CONCLUSION: Force perturbations produced by the robotized AFO provides a reliable way of evaluating proprioception during walking.