Prevalence of hospital-acquired infection among patients with acute neurological conditions in the ICU.

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. HAIs become crucial in patients with neurological illnesses, as they need invasive procedures and extended care, prolonging the hospital stay in most cases. In this study, we report the type, microbial etiology, and outcome of patients with HAIs in a Neurology Intensive Care Unit setting.

Prevalence of Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia in Middle-Aged Subjects with Low Back Pain.

 The genesis of both osteoporosis and sarcopenia is multifactorial, complicated, and interrelated. The present study has been undertaken to analyze the prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) and the pattern of imaging markers of sarcopenia (paraspinal skeletal muscle area [SMA] and skeletal muscle index [SMI] with respect to clinicodemographic profile in middle-aged patients (30-45 years) undergoing evaluation for low back pain (LBP).  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbosacral spine and/or sacroiliac joints was done on 3T MRI.

A Comparative Study of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Asymmetry Index in Stroke Patients with or without Poststroke Depression Using Tc-ECD Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography.

 Stroke is a major cause of death and disability around the globe. The development of depression following a stroke further increases the disability and impairs functional recovery. In recent decades, despite the advancement in structural and nuclear medicine imaging, the pathophysiologic basis of poststroke depression (PSD) is not well understood.

Autonomic Function Tests, Heart Rate Variability, and Electrophysiological Evaluation in Patients With a Primary Episodic Headache: An Observational Study.

Purpose: Cranial autonomic symptoms are typically associated with the trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias and also present in substantial cases of migraine. Autonomic nervous system dysfunctions are also been reported in headache disorders and postulated to promote headache attacks. This study was aimed to evaluate the parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic functions tests in patients with a episodic primary headache and to investigate, if any, electrophysiological abnormalities in the blink reflex test and sympathetic skin response test in these patients.

High resolution ultrasonography of peripheral nerves in diabetic patients to evaluate nerve cross sectional area with clinical profile.

Objectives: The aim of this observational study was ultrasound evaluation of peripheral nerves cross-sectional area (CSA) in subjects with probable diabetic peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy (DPN). CSA was analyzed with reference to clinical and nerve conduction study's (NCS) parameters for early diagnosis and pattern of involvement.

Methods: A total of 50 patients with probable DPN due to Type 2 diabetes and 50 age-matched healthy controls underwent sonographic examinations of ulnar nerve at the lower arm, median nerve proximal to carpal tunnel, the common peroneal nerve proximal to fibular head, tibial nerve proximal to the tarsal tunnel, and sural nerve at lower third leg.

Classification and comparative analysis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) semiology based on video-electroencephalography (VEEG).

Background: Multiple classification systems for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) based on semiological features have been described. We sought to compare the efficiency of four PNES classification systems.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed medical and video-electroencephalography (VEEG) records of patients with PNES with at least one typical event recorded on VEEG.

Clinical value of perilesional perfusion deficit measured by Technetium-99m-ECD single-photon emission computed tomography in hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.

Pathological and experimental studies indicate the existence of a "penumbra" of progressive tissue damage and edema in regions immediately surrounding a hematoma in patients of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This zone of oligemia surrounding ICH has a potential for perfusion recovery. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of perilesional blood flow changes and brain injury after ICH may result in improved treatment strategies.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in acute stroke and its clinical implications.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a very important role in repairing intact and injured brain, also known as neuroplasticity. Risk factors may affect neuroplasticity.

Objectives: In this study, our aim was to delineate the levels of BDNF in acute stroke with different etiology and impact of risk factors on its levels.

Depression impedes neuroplasticity and quality of life after stroke.

Background And Purpose: Depression following a stroke/poststroke depression (PSD) has been newly recognized as one of the most common complications after stroke. PSD may affect neuroplasticity and quality of life. The purpose of present study was to find out effects of depression on functional recovery, quality of life and neuroplasticity in patients with acute stroke.

Post-stroke BDNF concentration changes following proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercises.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in repairing normal as well as in the injured brain. Physical exercise may have a positive impact on the release of BDNF.

Objective: PNF is a neurophysiological approach that facilitates the stimulation of central and peripheral nervous systems.

De novo nose-pinching stereotypy with somnolence: Clues to autoimmune encephalitis.

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is being increasingly recognized as a cause of new-onset movement disorders. Movement disorders in AE are diverse and range from hyperkinetic conditions such as oromandibular dyskinesias, tremors and chorea to hypokinetic ones such as bradykinesia and parkinsonism. Stereotypies have been described in association with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 impedes functional recovery, neuroplasticity and quality of life after stroke.

Objectives: The recovery after stroke depends on the resolution of brain edema and neuroplasticity. The comorbidities associated with stroke such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may increase the chances of unfavorable outcome and delay the recovery from stroke and needs further investigation.

Subjects And Methods: The study dealt with 208 patients.

Mandating nerve biopsy: A step towards personalizing therapy in pure neuritic leprosy.

Pure neuritic leprosy (PNL) accounts for 5% to 10% of leprosy patients who usually present with asymmetrical neuropathy in the absence of lepra bacilli on slit-skin smears. However, nerve biopsies in PNL lack appropriate categorization in current immunologic terms. We aimed to classify nerve biopsies according to the immune spectrum of leprosy and assess the role of histologic classification of nerve biopsies in treating PNL.

Chalcone Based Homodimeric PET Agent, C-(Chal)DEA-Me, for Beta Amyloid Imaging: Synthesis and Bioevaluation.

Homodimeric chalcone based C-PET radiotracer, C-(Chal)DEA-Me, was synthesized, and binding affinity toward beta amyloid (Aβ) was evaluated. The computational studies revealed multiple binding of the tracer at the recognition sites of Aβ fibrils. The bivalent ligand C-(Chal)DEA-Me displayed higher binding affinity compared to the corresponding monomer, C-Chal-Me, and classical Aβ agents.

Analysis of Clinical and Metabolic Profile of Acute Neuromuscular Weakness Related to Hypokalemia.

Objective: Acute neuromuscular weakness related to hypokalemia is a readily treatable disorder associated with diverse aetiologies. In this study we aim to report clinical pattern and biochemical features to identify the different aetiologies of the hypokalemic neuromuscular weakness.

Methods: Retrospective reviews of the medical record were analysed.

Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction in nerve biopsy specimens of patients with Hansen's disease.

Background: Pure neuritic variety of leprosy (PNL) presents as peripheral neuropathy with absent skin lesions and negative skin smears. Diagnosing PNL is an uphill task as most of these patients have nonspecific changes on nerve biopsy. In such circumstances, additional molecular diagnostic tools like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has proven to be useful in diagnosing leprosy.

Proton NMR metabolic profiling of CSF reveals distinct differentiation of meningitis from negative controls.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an essential bio-fluid of the central nervous system (CNS), playing a vital role in the protection of CNS and performing neuronal function regulation. The chemical composition of CSF varies during onset of meningitis, neurodegenerative disorders (positive controls) and in traumatic cases (negative controls).

Methods: The study design was broadly categorized into meningitis cases, negative controls and positive controls.

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis in a Child with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-Infection.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a fatal infectious disease of childhood caused by persistence of the measles virus in the brain. The effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection on subacute sclerosing panencephalitis remains elusive and rare. We report a child who developed subacute sclerosing panencephalitis following a short latency period and a rapidly progressive course with HIV co-infection.

Visual pathway abnormalities in tuberculous meningitis.

Ophthalmological complications are common and disabling in patients with tuberculous meningitis. We aimed to study the visual pathway abnormalities in patients with tuberculous meningitis. Forty-three patients with tuberculous meningitis were subjected to visual evoked responses (VER) and neuroophthalmologic assessment.

Chronic Migraine Responding to Intravenous Thiamine: A Report of Two Cases.

Background: Migraine is a risk factor for thiamine deficiency and Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE). WE is a highly underdiagnosed condition. The misdiagnosis is associated more with early or mild WE.

Nerve biopsy in Indian patients with mononeuropathy multiplex of undetermined etiology.

Introduction: A diagnosis of mononeuropathy multiplex (MM) requires detailed evaluation to determine etiology. We performed nerve biopsy on patients with MM in whom the etiology could not be established via other investigations.

Methods: Sixty-eight patients with MM seen between January 2013 and June 2014 underwent detailed diagnostic evaluation.

Bivalent Approach for Homodimeric Estradiol Based Ligand: Synthesis and Evaluation for Targeted Theranosis of ER(+) Breast Carcinomas.

The synthesis of estradiol based bivalent ligand [(EST)2DT] is reported and its potential for targeted imaging and therapy of ER(+) tumors has been evaluated. For the purpose, ethinylestradiol was functionalized with an azidoethylamine moiety via click chemistry. The resultant derivative was reacted in a bivalent mode with DTPA-dianhydride to form the multicoordinate chelating agent, (EST)2DT which displayed capability to bind (99m)Tc.