PET/MR Imaging in Head and Neck Cancer.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) can either be examined with hybrid PET/MR imaging systems or sequentially, using PET/CT and MR imaging. Regardless of the acquisition technique, the superiority of MR imaging compared to CT lies in its potential to interrogate tumor and surrounding tissues with different sequences, including perfusion and diffusion. For this reason, PET/MR imaging is preferable for the detection and assessment of locoregional residual/recurrent HNSCC after therapy.

Effect of Cumulative Exposure to Ocrelizumab on Memory B-Cell Repopulation Dynamics in Multiple Sclerosis.

Objective: Extended interval dosing protocols of B-cell-depleting therapies in multiple sclerosis (MS) are being developed, but intervals between infusions are often arbitrary. We describe total and memory B-cell repopulation dynamics in MS patients on a memory B-cell-guided extended interval dosing ocrelizumab (OCR) protocol.

Methods: OCR was administered on peripheral CD19+ CD27+ memory B-cell repopulation (≥1 cell/μL), monitored using fluorescence-activated cell sorting.

Confirmed Worsening of Health-Related Quality of Life to Monitor Long-Term MS Disease Progression: A Longitudinal Analysis From the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry.

Background: Monitoring multiple sclerosis (MS) progression traditionally relies on clinical measures, which may overlook symptoms affecting quality of life. Incorporating patient-reported outcomes could improve the understanding of disease worsening.

Objective: To evaluate an EQ-5D-based algorithm for detecting disease worsening and compare it with EDSS worsening.

Multidimensional outcome after endovascular or microsurgical occlusion of ruptured intracranial aneurysms - Comparative analysis of a prospective Swiss multicenter study.

Introduction: Despite advances in cerebral aneurysm treatment, information on detailed outcomes remains limited. We compared complications and multidimensional outcomes in alert aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients (GCS ≥13) who received clipping or coiling after individualized decisions were made through multidisciplinary board discussions.

Research Question: Are there significant differences in multidimensional outcomes between clipping and coiling treatments for alert aSAH patients when treatment selection is individualized?

Material And Methods: Within the prospective MoCA-DCI study (ClinicalTrials.

Impact of acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal SAH on longitudinal cognitive outcome- post-hoc analysis of the MoCA-DCI study.

Hydrocephalus is a common complication following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While its immediate negative impact on cognitive function is well-known, the longitudinal effects, especially in lower-grade aSAH patients, remain unclear. This study aimed to assess these effects.

Real-world data on the effect of long-term treatment with nusinersen over > 4 years in a cohort of Swiss patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

Introduction: Current disease-modifying treatments for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have been shown to significantly improve the course of the disease, but data on long-term real-world outcomes remain scarce.

Methods: This prospective multicentre, observational study investigated 28 patients treated with nusinersen for 4.1-6.

Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Rituximab in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: A 5-Year Observational Study.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a severely disabling autoimmune disease that predominantly impacts the optic nerves and spinal cord. It is often linked to immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies targeting the aquaporin-4 water channel (AQP4-IgG). Rituximab, which depletes CD20-positive B cells, is effective in reducing the frequency of NMOSD relapses.

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Importance: Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) represents the third most common stroke type with unique etiologies, risk factors, diagnostics, and treatments. Nevertheless, epidemiological studies often cluster SAH with other stroke types leaving its distinct burden estimates obscure.

Objective: To estimate the worldwide burden of SAH.

Understanding barriers and optimizing socio-cognitive assessment in the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders.

Harmonized neuropsychological assessment for neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) is an urgent priority in clinics. Neuropsychology assessments in NCDs seldom include tests exploring social cognitive skills. In 2022, we launched the SIGNATURE initiative to optimize socio-cognitive assessment in NCDs.

Microvascular Cortical Dynamics in Minimal Invasive Deep-Seated Brain Tumour Surgery.

Background: The tubular retractor-assisted minimally invasive parafascicular approach (trMIPS) is a transsulcal approach to deep-seated brain tumours. It is a safe surgical approach but its impact on the microvascular dynamics of the retracted cortex and its clinical implications are unknown.

Methods: This was a single-centre prospective study including patients with deep-seated brain tumours operated on with a trMIPS (BrainPath Nico System).

Safety and tolerability of intravenous liposomal GM1 in patients with Parkinson disease: A single-center open-label clinical phase I trial (NEON trial).

Background: Parkinson disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder leading to motor and non-motor impairment, often resulting in severe loss of quality of life. There are symptomatic treatments without effect on the progression of PD. A disease-modifying treatment that could ideally stop the neurodegenerative process is direly needed.

Education and participation in children and adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Switzerland.

Quality of life in Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been reported to be negatively affected by the lack of qualifying education and the lack of opportunities for participation in leisure activities. Two thirds of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have cognitive and/or psychiatric problems. Thus, we conducted a survey study on mobility, school problems, executive functions, social participation and quality of life in young patients in Switzerland.

Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolisation for chronic subdural haematomas: rationale and design for the STOp Recurrence of MMA Bleeding (STORMM) randomised control trial-a study protocol.

Introduction: Chronic subdural haematomas (cSDH) are common and can result in neurological impairment and reduced consciousness. Surgery is typically performed once neurological symptoms develop. Recent studies suggest that arteries nourished by the middle meningeal artery (MMA) may be responsible for haematoma progression and that MMA embolisation is clinically useful.

Deep learning-based triple-tracer brain PET scanning in a single session: A simulation study using clinical data.

Objectives: Multiplexed Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging allows simultaneous acquisition of multiple radiotracer signals, thus enhancing diagnostic capabilities, reducing scan times, and improving patient comfort. Traditional methods often require significant delays between tracer injections, leading to physiological changes and noise interference. Recent advancements, including multi-tracer compartment modeling and machine learning, provide promising solutions.

Swiss Quality of Life and Health Care Impact Assessment in a Real-World Erenumab-Treated Migraine Population: Results over 2 years.

Objectives/background: This prospective, multicenter, noninterventional cohort study evaluated the impact of erenumab on the quality of life and migraine-related impairment of adult patients with migraine, as well as the drug's tolerability in a real-world setting over 2 years. Erenumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor, was licensed in Switzerland for prophylactic treatment of adult patients with migraine in July 2018.

Methods: Adult patients with chronic or episodic migraine who received erenumab treatment as per Swiss label were enrolled from 19 sites across Switzerland between February 2019 and November 2022.

Personalized treatment decision algorithms for the clinical application of serum neurofilament light chain in multiple sclerosis: A modified Delphi Study.

Background: Serum neurofilament light (sNfL) chain levels, a sensitive measure of disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS), are increasingly considered for individual therapy optimization yet without consensus on their use for clinical application.

Objective: We here propose treatment decision algorithms incorporating sNfL levels to adapt disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).

Methods: We conducted a modified Delphi study to reach consensus on algorithms using sNfL within typical clinical scenarios.

Role of NT-proBNP for Atrial Fibrillation Detection After Ischemic Stroke: A Time-Dependent Relationship.

Background: Atrial fibrillation detected after stroke (AFDAS) affects secondary stroke prevention, yet identification can be challenging. Easily accessible cardiac blood biomarkers such as NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) could guide diagnostic workup, but optimal cutoff values and the time-dependent relationship between NT-proBNP and AFDAS are unclear. We aimed (1) to externally validate earlier presented NT-proBNP cutoffs for atrial fibrillation prediction and (2) to assess the time-dependent relationship of NT-proBNP and early in-hospital AFDAS versus AFDAS after discharge.

Dynamics of serum testosterone and biological aging in men: insights from Chinese, American, and British populations.

Background: Biological age (BA) is considered a better predictor of aging than chronological age (CA). BA acceleration was defined as the disparity between BA and CA. However, there has been inconclusive evidence on whether BA acceleration might be reversed by increased total testosterone (TT).

Novel digital markers of sleep dynamics: causal inference approach revealing age and gender phenotypes in obstructive sleep apnea.

Despite evidence that sleep-disorders alter sleep-stage dynamics, only a limited amount of these parameters are included and interpreted in clinical practice, mainly due to unintuitive methodologies or lacking normative values. Leveraging the matrix of sleep-stage transition proportions, we propose (i) a general framework to quantify sleep-dynamics, (ii) several novel markers of their alterations, and (iii) demonstrate our approach using obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), one of the most prevalent sleep-disorder and a significant risk factor. Using causal inference techniques, we address confounding in an observational clinical database and estimate markers personalized by age, gender, and OSA-severity.

Tau biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases: Current state and perspectives.

Neurodegenerative diseases, particularly tauopathies, pose significant global health challenges, especially in aging populations. Tauopathies are characterized by progressive neuronal damage and intracellular deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau. Early and accurate diagnosis is hindered by overlapping clinical features and reliance on post-mortem analyses, emphasizing the need for reliable in vivo biomarkers to improve early diagnosis and management.

Direct epidural ethanol injection in aggressive vertebral hemangiomas to decompress the central canal: a multistep percutaneous treatment strategy.

Background: Vertebral hemangiomas are incidental and typically, asymptomatic lesions of the spine, present in 10-12% of the population. However, aggressive vertebral hemangiomas (AVHs) can compromise the spinal canal, leading to spinal cord or nerve root compression, and require timely treatment to prevent permanent neurological deficits. Surgical management is challenging owing to the high vascularity of AVHs, and carries a significant risk of perioperative blood loss.

The Clinical Role of miRNAs in the Development and Treatment of Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common brain tumor and one of the most aggressive, with a median overall survival (OS) of only 15-18 months. These characteristics make it necessary to identify new targets for the improvement of prognosis and better prediction of response to therapies currently available for GBM patients. One possible candidate target could be the evaluation of miRNAs.

European experience of cladribine tablets in elderly patients with multiple sclerosis: Could it be the last treatment?

Background: Recent studies support the need for early and intensive disease-modifying treatment (DMT) for patients with multiple sclerosis (PWMS). Abrupt DMT withdrawal may risk disease reactivation. Recent studies showed that MS disease activity was not rare after DMT withdrawal for PWMS aged >45/55 y.

Potential of Radiomics, Dosiomics, and Dose Volume Histograms for Tumor Response Prediction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma following Y-SIRT.

Purpose: We evaluate the role of radiomics, dosiomics, and dose-volume constraints (DVCs) in predicting the response of hepatocellular carcinoma to selective internal radiation therapy with Y with glass microspheres.

Methods: Tc-macroagregated albumin (Tc-MAA) and Y SPECT/CT images of 17 patients were included. Tumor responses at three months were evaluated using modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors criteria and patients were categorized as responders or non-responders.