Early detection of stroke at the sudden sensorineural hearing loss stage.

Background and purpose: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) can be a prodromal symptom of ischemic stroke, especially posterior circulation strokes in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) area. Early diagnosis and optimal treatment for vascular SSNHL provide an opportunity to prevent more extensive area infarction. The objective of our research was to find clues that suggest stroke at the stage of isolated sudden hearing loss. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients who received an initial diagnosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss upon admission from January 2017 to December 2022 at Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Tiantan Hospital. Among these patients, 30 individuals who developed acute ischemic stroke during their hospital stay were enrolled as the case group. To create a control group, we matched individuals from the nonstroke idiopathic SSNHL patients to the case group in terms of age (±3 years old) at a ratio of 1:4. We collected the clinical characteristics, pure tone hearing threshold test results, and imaging information for all patients included in the study. Results: Three models were constructed to simulate different clinical situations and to identify vascular sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). The results revealed that patients with SSNHL who had three or more stroke risk factors, bilateral hearing loss, moderately severe to total hearing loss, and any intracranial large artery stenosis and occlusion (≥50%) were at a higher risk of developing ischemic stroke during hospitalization. Consistent with previous studies, the presence of vertigo at onset also played a significant role in the early detection of upcoming stroke. Conclusion: Clinicians should be alert to SSNHL patients with bilateral hearing loss, moderately severe to total hearing loss and other aforementioned features. Early pure tone audiometric hearing assessment and vascular assessment are necessary for high-risk patients with SSNHL.

Neural network mapping of gelastic behavior in children with hypothalamus hamartoma.

BACKGROUND: Hypothalamus hamartomas (HHs) are rare, congenital, tumor-like, and nonprogressive malformations resulting in drug-resistant epilepsy, mainly affecting children. Gelastic seizures (GS) are an early hallmark of epilepsy with HH. The aim of this study was to explore the disease progression and the underlying physiopathological mechanisms of pathological laughter in HH. METHODS: We obtained clinical information and metabolic images of 56 HH patients and utilized ictal semiology evaluation to stratify the specimens into GS-only, GS-plus, and no-GS subgroups and then applied contrasted trajectories inference (cTI) to calculate the pseudotime value and evaluate GS progression. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to identify neuroimaging-clinical predictors of GS, and then voxelwise lesion network-symptom mapping (LNSM) was applied to explore GS-associated brain regions. RESULTS: cTI inferred the specific metabolism trajectories of GS progression and revealed increased complexity from GS to other seizure types. This was further validated via actual disease duration (Pearson R = 0.532, P = 0.028). Male sex [odds ratio (OR) = 2.611, P = 0.013], low age at seizure onset (OR = 0.361, P = 0.005), high normalized HH metabolism (OR = - 1.971, P = 0.037) and severe seizure burden (OR = - 0.006, P = 0.032) were significant neuroimaging clinical predictors. LNSM revealed that the dysfunctional cortico-subcortico-cerebellar network of GS and the somatosensory cortex (S1) represented a negative correlation. CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on the clinical characteristics and progression of GS in children with HH. We identified distinct subtypes of GS and demonstrated the involvement of specific brain regions at the cortical-subcortical-cerebellar level. These valuable results contribute to our understanding of the neural correlates of GS.

Associated factors with stimulation induced seizures and the relevance with surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the associated factors with stimulation-induced seizures (SIS) and the relevant factors in predicting surgical outcomes. METHODS: We analyzed 80 consecutive epilepsy patients explored by stereo-electroencephalography with routine electrical stimulation mapping (ESM). If seizures induced by ESM, patients were classified as SIS-positive (SIS-P); otherwise, SIS-negative (SIS-N). Patients received radical surgery were further classified as favorable (Engel I) and unfavorable (Engel II-IV) groups. RESULTS: Of the 80 patients included, we identified 44 (55.0%) and 36(45.0%) patients in the SIS-P and SIS-N groups, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the seizure onset pattern (SOP) of preceding repetitive epileptiform discharges following LVFA (PRED→LVFA) (OR 3.319, 95% CI 1.200-9.183, P = 0.021) and pathology of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II (OR 3.943, 95% CI 1.093-14.226, P = 0.036) were independent factors influencing whether the electrical stimulation can induce a seizure. Among the patients received radical surgery, there were 55 and 15 patients in the favorable and unfavorable groups separately. Multivariate analysis revealed that the SOP of PRED→LVFA induced seizures by stimulation (OR 11.409, 95% CI 1.182-110.161, P = 0.035) and bilateral implantation (OR 0.048, 95% CI 0.005-0.497, P = 0.011) were independent factors affecting surgical outcomes. The previous epilepsy surgery had a trend to be a negative factor with SIS (OR 0.156, 95% CI 0.028-0.880, P = 0.035) and surgical outcomes (OR 0.253, 95% CI 0.053-1.219, P = 0.087). CONCLUSION: ESM is a highly valuable method for localizing the seizure onset zone. The SOP of PRED→LVFA and FCD type II were associated with elicitation of SIS by ESM, whereas a previous epilepsy surgery showed a negative association. Furthermore, the SOP of PRED→LVFA together with SIS in the same patient predicted favorable surgical outcomes, whereas bilateral electrode implantation predicted unfavorable outcomes.

Voxel-Based Morphometric MRI Postprocessing-Assisted Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Focal Cortical Dysplasia-Suspected Lesions: Technique and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) is a novel treatment modality for focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). However, identifying the location and extent of subtle FCD by visual analysis during MRgLITT remains challenging. OBJECTIVE: To introduce voxel-based morphometric MRI postprocessing into the procedure of MRgLITT for FCD-suspected lesions and assess the complementary value of the MRI postprocessing technique for the trajectory design and thermal parameter setting of MRgLITT. METHODS: Junction and normalized fluid-attenuated inversion recovery signal intensity images were used to detect the gray-white matter junction blurring and cortical fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensity, respectively. According to the 2 postprocessing images, the region of interest (ROI) for ablation was drawn. The main principle of presurgical planning is that the trajectory of the laser fiber was designed as far as possible along the long axis of the ROI while the extent of planned ablation covered the entire ROI. The subsequent intraoperative procedure was performed under the guidance of the presurgical plan. RESULTS: Nine patients with epilepsy with FCD-suspected lesions underwent MRgLITT with the assistance of MRI postprocessing images. Among them, 4 patients were junction positive, 2 patients were normalized fluid-attenuated inversion recovery signal intensity positive, and the remaining 3 patients were positive for both. Postsurgical MRI demonstrated that the ROIs were ablated entirely in 7 patients. Engel Ia, Ib, and IV scores were obtained at 1-year follow-up for 6, 1, and 2 patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: MRI postprocessing provides complementary information for designing the laser fiber trajectory and subsequent ablation for FCDs.

Neural networks underlying hyperkinetic seizures: A quantitative PET and SEEG study.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperkinetic seizures (HKS) are characterized by complex movements that commonly occur during seizures arising from diverse cortical structures. A common semiology network may exist and analyzing the anatomo-electrical mechanisms would facilitate presurgical evaluation. Here, quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) and stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) analysis was used to explore the underlying mechanism of HKS. METHODS: We retrospectively collected patients with epilepsy with HKS between 2014 and 2019. The interictal PET data of patients with epilepsy with HKS were compared with those of 25 healthy subjects using statistical parametric mapping to identify regions with significant hypometabolism. Then, regions of interest (ROI) for SEEG analysis were identified based on the results of PET analysis. Patients in which the ROIs were covered by intracerebral electrodes were selected for further analysis. Stereoelectroencephalography -clinical correlations with latency measurements were analyzed, and we also performed coherence analysis among ROIs both before and during HKS. RESULTS: Based on the inclusion criteria, 27 patients were analyzed. In the PET analysis, significant hypometabolism was observed in the ipsilateral dorsoanterior insular lobe, bilateral mesial frontal lobes (supplementary motor area/middle cingulate cortex, SMA/MCC), and the bilateral heads of the caudate nuclei in patients with HKS compared with the control group (p < 0.001). We selected dorsoanterior insula and SMA/MCC as ROIs for SEEG analysis. Eight patients with 23 HKS events were selected for further analysis. There was a linear correlation between the ictal involvement of both the dorsoanterior insula and SMA/MCC with the onset of HKS. Stereoelectroencephalography analysis indicated alpha range activity seemed more often associated with dorsoanterior insula and SMA/MCC involvement during HKS. CONCLUSIONS: The dorsoanterior insular lobe, mesial frontal lobes (SMA/MCC), and the bilateral heads of the caudate nuclei were probably involved in the generation of HKS. The SEEG analysis further indicated that the occurrence of HKS might be partly associated with synchronized rhythmical alpha activity between dorsoanterior insula and SMA/MCC.

Network of ictal head version in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: Ictal head version is a common clinical manifestation of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Nevertheless, the location of the symptomatogenic zone and the network involved in head version remains unclear. We attempt to explain these problems by analyzing interictal 18 FDG-PET imaging and ictal stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) recordings in MTLE patients. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with MTLE were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into version (+) and (-) groups according to the occurrence of versive head movements. The interictal PET data were compared among 18 healthy controls and the (+) and (-) groups. Furthermore, epileptogenicity index (EI) values and correlations with the onset time of head version were analyzed with SEEG. RESULTS: Intergroup comparisons showed that PET differences were observed in the middle temporal neocortex (MTN), posterior temporal neocortex (PTN), supramarginal gyrus (SMG), and inferior parietal lobe (IPL). The EI values in the SMG, MTN, and PTN were significantly higher in the version (+) group than in the version (-) group. A linear relationship was observed between head version onset and ipsilateral onset time in the SMG, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), MTN, and PTN. A linear relationship was observed between EI, the difference between version onset and temporal neocortex onset, and the y-axis of the MNI coordinate. CONCLUSION: The generation of ictal head version contributes to the propagation of ictal discharges to the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) area. The network of version originates from a mesial temporal lobe structure, passes through the MTN, PTN, and SMG, and likely ends at the IPS.

Symptomatogenic zone and network of oroalimentary automatisms in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: Oroalimentary automatisms (OAAs) are common clinical manifestations of medial temporal lobe epilepsy. Nevertheless, the location of the symptomatogenic zone of OAAs remains unclear. The generation mechanism of OAAs also has not been clarified. We attempt to explain these problems by analyzing interictal [18 F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18 FDG-PET) imaging and ictal stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) recordings in patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy were analyzed retrospectively. All underwent anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) and were seizure-free. The patients were divided into OAA (+) and OAA (-) groups according to the occurrence of consistent stereotyped OAAs. The interictal PET data were compared with those of 18 healthy controls and were then compared between groups using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Functional connectivity using linear regression analysis was performed between the target brain regions. To clarify the network of OAAs, ictal epileptogenicity index (EI) values, and the nonlinear correlation method h2 were performed with SEEG on patients. RESULTS: Compared to OAAs (-), the rolandic operculum was the only area with significant differences. Hippocampus and rolandic operculum showed significant correlations in the OAA (+) group (y = 0.758x+0.470, R2  = 0.456, P = 0.000). No correlation was found in the OAA (-) group (P = 0.486). The EI values of the OAA (+) group (median 0.20) were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than those of the OAA (-) group (median 0). The h2 in the OAA (+) group (h2  = 0.23 ± 0.13) showed stronger functional connectivity (t = 6.166, P < 0.0001) than that of the OAA (-) group (h2  = 0.08 ± 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: The rolandic operculum is most likely to be the symptomatogenic zone of OAAs. In medial temporal lobe epilepsy, unilateral functional connection from the hippocampus to the rolandic operculum during seizure onset is the basis for the generation of OAAs.

Motor cortex stimulation: a systematic literature-based analysis of effectiveness and case series experience.

BACKGROUND: Aim to quantitatively analyze the clinical effectiveness for motor cortex stimulation (MCS) to refractory pain. METHODS: The literatures were systematically searched in database of Cocharane library, Embase and PubMed, using relevant strategies. Data were extracted from eligible articles and pooled as mean with standard deviation (SD). Comparative analysis was measured by non-parametric t test and linear regression model. RESULTS: The pooled effect estimate from 12 trials (n = 198) elucidated that MCS shown the positive effect on refractory pain, and the total percentage improvement was 35.2% in post-stroke pain and 46.5% in trigeminal neuropathic pain. There is no statistical differences between stroke involved thalamus or non-thalamus. The improvement of plexus avulsion (29.8%) and phantom pain (34.1%) was similar. The highest improvement rate was seen in post-radicular plexopathy (65.1%) and MCS may aggravate the pain induced by spinal cord injury, confirmed by small sample size. Concurrently, Both the duration of disease (r = 0.233, p = 0.019*) and the time of follow-up (r = 0.196, p = 0.016*) had small predicative value, while age (p = 0.125) had no correlation to post-operative pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: MCS is conducive to the patients with refractory pain. The duration of disease and the time of follow-up can be regarded as predictive factor. Meanwhile, further studies are needed to reveal the mechanism of MCS and to reevaluate the cost-benefit aspect with better-designed clinical trials.

Value of stereo-electroencephalogram in reoperation of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy: a single center, retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To systematically elucidate the value of stereo-electroencephalogram (SEEG) in the reoperation of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy. METHODS: Epilepsy patients who had previously undergone a failed operation and agreed to a reoperation were included in this study. The single center retrospective study evaluated the value of SEEG in epileptogenic zones (EZ) lateralization and localization as well as the complications related to the implantation. RESULTS: In total, fourteen patients met the inclusion criteria and received reoperation after implantation of SEEG. The average number of electrodes in each patient is 7.9. At the last available follow-up, nine (64.3%) patients were completely seizure-free according to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) criteria. No significant complications were found in the cohort, two patients' electrodes were loosened and removed because of the seizure. No significant predictors of seizure-free status were identified in the present study, including the result of presurgical MRI, pathology and surgical strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the comprehensive presurgical assessment data and careful discussion of multidisciplinary team, failed epileptic surgery deserves a second chance. Moreover, SEEG is an effective and safe methodology to determine the location of the EZ with the goal of performing reoperation.

Stapled side-to-side anastomosis might be benefit in intestinal resection for Crohn's disease: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Intestinal anastomosis is an essential step in the intestinal resection in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Anastomotic configuration such as handsewn end-to-end anastomosis (HEEA), stapled side-to-side anastomosis (SSSA) and so on may be a predictor of prognosis for postoperative CD patients. However, the association between anastomotic types and surgical outcomes are controversial. The aim of this review is to identify the optimal anastomosis for intestinal resection in patients with CD. METHODS: Clinical trials comparing anastomosis after intestinal resection in patients with CD were searched in the database of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Outcomes such as postoperative hospital stay, complications, mortality, recurrence, and reoperation were evaluated. Pairwise treatment effects were estimated through a random-effects network meta-analysis based on the frequency framework by using the STATA software and reported as the estimated summary effect for each comparison between the 2 treatments in the network with a 95% credible interval. RESULTS: A total of 1113 patients in 11 trials were included. In pair-wise comparisons between groups, for overall postoperative complications, SSSA showed a more probability of superiority to HEEA; for complications other than anastomotic leak, anastomotic leak, wound infection, postoperative hospital stay and mortality, there were no significant difference between groups; for clinical recurrence, SSSA showed a more probability of superiority to HEEA; for reoperation, SSSA showed a more probability of superiority to HEEA. The number of eligible randomized controlled trails (RCTs) was small, and more than half of the included trials were retrospective studies; selection bias may lead to a less power in this assessment; follow-up time between different groups was different, which may possibly have affected the interpretation of the analysis of long-term outcome. CONCLUSION: By comprehensive analyzing all the postoperative outcomes, SSSA appeared to be the optimal anastomotic strategy after intestinal resection for patients with CD.

Clinical Value of Machine Learning in the Automated Detection of Focal Cortical Dysplasia Using Quantitative Multimodal Surface-Based Features.

Objective: To automatically detect focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) lesion by combining quantitative multimodal surface-based features with machine learning and to assess its clinical value. Methods: Neuroimaging data and clinical information for 74 participants (40 with histologically proven FCD type II) was retrospectively included. The morphology, intensity and function-based features characterizing FCD lesions were calculated vertex-wise on each cortical surface and fed to an artificial neural network. The classifier performance was quantitatively and qualitatively assessed by performing statistical analysis and conventional visual analysis. Results: The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity of the neural network classifier based on multimodal surface-based features were 70.5%, 70.0%, and 69.9%, respectively, which outperformed the unimodal classifier. There was no significant difference in the detection rate of FCD subtypes (Pearson's Chi-Square = 0.001, p = 0.970). Cohen's kappa score between automated detection outcomes and post-surgical resection region was 0.385 (considered as fair). Conclusion: Automated machine learning with multimodal surface features can provide objective and intelligent detection of FCD lesion in pre-surgical evaluation and can assist the surgical strategy. Furthermore, the optimal parameters, appropriate surface features and efficient algorithm are worth exploring.

The effectiveness of creatine treatment for Parkinson's disease: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of creatine in treating Parkinson's disease (PD) has not been conclusively determined. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to address this issue. METHODS: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PUBMED, EMBASE, and other databases were searched, and outcomes measured by the Total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the Schwab & England Scale were analyzed. RESULTS: Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected, and 1339 participants were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences between the control and treatment groups in the total, mental, activities of daily living (ADL), or motor UPDRS scores, but an improvement in Schwab & England Scale scores was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Creatine has no observed benefit in PD patients, although more correlated studies are still needed.

Efficacy and safety of anti-amyloid-ß immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

To review the optimality and safety of different anti-Amyloid-ß(Aß) immunotherapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Published randomized controlled trials were comprehensively reviewed from electronic databases (Cochrane library, Embase, Pubmed, and Google scholar). Pooled outcomes as mean difference or odds ratio values with 95% confidence interval were reported. The network estimates with confidence and predictive intervals for all pairwise relative effects was evaluated. Optimal intervention was ranked by benefit-risk ratio based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve. Eleven eligible RCTs from 9 literatures, including 5141 patients and 5 interventions were included. The quality of evidence was rated low in comparisons. For efficacy, in terms of Mini-Mental State Examination, aducanumab and solanezumab are significantly effective than placebo. For safety, in terms of Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA), bapineuzumab and aducanumab are significantly worse than placebo. There were no significant differences in outcomes of Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale, Disability Assessment for Dementia, Adverse Events, and mortality. Given the clinical therapeutic effects of anti-Aß immunotherapies for AD, aducanumab and solanezumab improve the cognitive function, while aducanumab and bapineuzumab may increase the risks of ARIA.