A Novel Diagnostic Prediction Model for Distinguishing Between Tuberculous and Cryptococcal Meningitis.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and cryptococcal meningitis (CM) are easily misdiagnosed due to atypical clinical symptoms. It is difficult for physcians to achieve a rapid and accurate differential diagnosis of TBM in the early stages of disease onset. The aim of this study was to construct a diagnostic prediction model for TBM and CM.

Tuberculous longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis: 2 cases and literature review.

Context: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics, diagnosis, and management of tuberculous longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (TB-LETM), a rare manifestation of tuberculosis.

Findings: We analyzed two rare cases of TB-LETM and discussed their clinical manifestations and imaging findings in the context of the relevant literature. Patient 1, a 23-year-old female, presented with quadriplegia and dysuria, and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed lesions extending from C1 to T3.

Edaravone administration and its potential association with a new clinical syndrome in cerebral infarction patients: Three case reports.

Background: Edaravone is a widely used treatment for patients with cerebral infarction and, in most cases, edaravone-induced side effects are mild. However, edaravone-related adverse reactions have been receiving increasing attention.

Case Summary: We treated three patients with acute cerebral infarction who died following treatment with edaravone.

Analysis of urgent inpatient neurologic consultations in a large tertiary hospital center: Follow-up on the effect of standardized training of residents.

Background: Clinical neurology is difficult for young residents. To familiarize with neurological emergencies as soon as possible for young doctors, the urgent inpatient neurologic consultations were analyzed.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the urgent inpatient neurologic consultations in a large tertiary hospital for 4 consecutive years.

The Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Thrombolysis in Older Chinese Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

To study the efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis for the older acute ischemic stroke patients, clinical data were prospectively analyzed from 168 patients with acute ischemic stroke including 42 older adult patients (ET group), 66 younger patients (NET group) treated with rt-PA, and 60 older adult patients treated without rt-PA (ENT group). Stroke severity was assessed with an NIHSS score at baseline, 1-day and 14-day after treatment. Functional outcomes were evaluated by the modified Rankin scale and a Barthel index.

The effect and optimal parameters of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor recovery in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on limb movement recovery post-stroke and cortex excitability, to explore the optimal parameters of rTMS and suitable stroke population. Second, adverse events were also included.

Data Sources: The databases of PubMed, EBSCO, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBM Reviews-Cochrane Database, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Chinese Science and Technology Journals Database were searched for randomized controlled trials exploring the effects of rTMS on limb motor function recovery post-stroke before December 2018.

Clinical features, long-term clinical outcomes, and prognostic factors of tuberculous meningitis in West China: a multivariate analysis of 154 adults.

Background: Tuberculosis is prevalent in China, which is the second greatest contributor to the global tuberculosis burden. Tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) is the most severe disease form but few reports describe long-term clinical outcomes and prognostic factors. Thus, we studied these features in Chinese TBM patients.

Neurofibromin Regulates Seizure Attacks in the Rat Pilocarpine-Induced Model of Epilepsy.

Studies have shown that neurofibromin (NF1) restricts GABA release at inhibitory synapses and regulates dendritic spine formation, which may play an important role in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). NF1 expression was detected by double-label immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and western blot analysis in the brains of pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model rats at 6 h, 24 h, 72 h, 7 days, 14 days, 30 days, and 60 days after kindling. NF1 was localized primarily in the nucleus and cytoplasm of neurons.

Systemic Family Therapy of Comorbidity of Anxiety and Depression with Epilepsy in Adolescents.

Objective: The aim of this study was to find if systemic family therapy (SFT) does work in anxiety and depression with epilepsy in adolescents (ADAE).

Methods: 104 adolescents with epilepsy, aged 13-20 years old, were included from December 2009 to December 2010, the enrolled patients were with anxiety [Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score ≥14 points] or depression [Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score ≥20 points]. The patients were randomly divided into the control group (n=52) treated with antiepileptic drugs (AED) and the intervention group (n=52) undergone Systemic Family Therapy (SFT) as well as AED.

The Brain Activity in Brodmann Area 17: A Potential Bio-Marker to Predict Patient Responses to Antiepileptic Drugs.

In this study, we aimed to predict newly diagnosed patient responses to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging tools to explore changes in spontaneous brain activity. We recruited 21 newly diagnosed epileptic patients, 8 drug-resistant (DR) patients, 11 well-healed (WH) patients, and 13 healthy controls. After a 12-month follow-up, 11 newly diagnosed epileptic patients who showed a poor response to AEDs were placed into the seizures uncontrolled (SUC) group, while 10 patients were enrolled in the seizure-controlled (SC) group.

QPEEG analysis of the effects of sodium valproate on adult Chinese patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Objectives EEG effects of the sustained-release form of sodium valproate (SR-VPA) are unknown, although it is widely used in Chinese patients with generalized tonicclonic seizures (GTCS). Methods Fourteen newly diagnosed, untreated GTCS patients were recruited and treated with SR-VPA. Waking EEG was recorded and analyzed by way of quantitative pharmaco-electroencephalogram (QPEEG) analysis during the three-month follow-up.

Generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adult patients following intravenous administration of desmopressin.

Desmopressin is a synthetic replacement for vasopressin, which is used to reduce perioperative blood loss. However, seizure attacks were observed in patients after administration of desmopressin. Here, we reported two cases of adult Chinese patients experienced generalized tonic-clonic seizures associated with severe hyponatremia caused by intravenously administered desmopressin after surgery.

Outcomes of sustained-release formulation of valproate and topiramate monotherapy in patients with epilepsy: a multi-centre, cohort study.

Background: New-generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) tend to replace traditional AEDs as the first-line choice for epilepsy. However, whether this change results in better outcome, especially in China, remains unknown.

Methodology/principal Findings: Two broad spectrum AEDs, the traditional drug of sustained-release formulation of valproate (SRVPA) and the new-generation drug of topiramate, were compared in patients with epilepsy as monotherapy in this multi-centre, observational cohort study from 2000 to 2011.

Altered expression of CX3CL1 in patients with epilepsy and in a rat model.

Chemokine C-X3-C motif ligand 1 (CX3CL1, alias fractalkine), is highly expressed in the central nervous system and participates in inflammatory responses. Recent studies indicated that inflammatory processes within the brain constitute a common and crucial mechanism in the pathophysiological characteristics of epilepsy. This study investigated the expression pattern of CX3CL1 in epilepsy and its relationship with neuronal loss.

Down-regulation of CRMP-1 in patients with epilepsy and a rat model.

The Collapsin Response Mediator Protein-1 (CRMP-1) is a brain specific protein identified as a signaling molecule of Semaphorin-3A and act as axon repellent guidance factor in nervous system. Recent studies indicated that axon guidance molecules may play a role in synaptic reorganization in the adult brain and thereby promote epileptogenesis. This study aimed to investigate expression pattern of CRMP-1 in epileptogenesis.

Increased placental growth factor in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with epilepsy.

Recent studies suggest that angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are involved in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. However, relatively little data are available linking placenta growth factor (PIGF) with epilepsy. In this study, we assessed concentrations of PIGF in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 60 epileptic patients and 24 non-seizure subjects using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Adverse effects of carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproate and lamotrigine monotherapy in epileptic adult Chinese patients.

Objective: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been widely used in patients with epilepsy but the adverse effects in adult Chinese patients have not been investigated. This study evaluated the adverse effects of four commonly prescribed AED monotherapies with carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (PHT), valproate (VPA), and lamotrigine (LTG) in adult Chinese patients with epilepsy.

Methods: The prospective open-label clinical trial was conducted at the Chongqing Epilepsy Center.