Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) in pediatric neurosurgery: Single center retrospective analysis of 41 consecutive procedures.

Introduction: Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy under MRI control has emerged as a safe and efficient alternative to microsurgery in epilepsy and neurooncology procedures. Yet it has been used only recently in seldom European centers. Here, we report our 4 years' experience with LITT in children (complications, epileptic and oncologic outcomes).

The interplay between sleep and neural respiratory drive in COPD: contribution of semi-automated analysis of long duration recordings.

Background: Neural respiratory drive (NRD) is a clinically relevant biomarker in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, its analysis is challenging due to several technical considerations, including the need to obtain a stable recording over a short time period. However, a short recording duration may be inadequate to comprehensively record clinically relevant information, particularly during sleep, because NRD varies across sleep stages and over time.

Cortical and Corticomuscular Beta-Gamma Phase-Amplitude Coupling During Different Locomotion States and the Effects of Levodopa in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) in the beta-gamma range has emerged as a promising electrophysiological biomarker of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective: This study aims to investigate how levodopa and locomotion modulate cortical (central electroencephalogram [cEEG]) and corticomuscular (cEEG-gEMG [gastrocnemius electromyography]) beta-gamma PAC in patients with PD.

Methods: Thirty patients with PD underwent simultaneous cEEG and gEMG recordings during sitting, standing, and free walking in both off and on dopaminergic states.

Prognostic Value of A/T/N Biomarkers: Comparing Plasma and Imaging Modalities in Alzheimer Disease.

Background: Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-β plaques (A), tau tangles (T), and neurodegeneration (N), collectively defining the ATN framework. While imaging biomarkers are well-established, the prognostic value of plasma biomarkers in predicting cognitive decline remains underexplored. This study compares plasma and imaging A/T/N biomarkers in predicting cognitive decline and evaluate the impact of combining biomarkers across modalities.

Abnormal Connectivity of the Head Neural Integrator in Cervical Dystonia.

Background: Cervical dystonia is characterized by abnormal neck and head movements, possibly related to a dysfunction of the interstitial nucleus of Cajal (INC) and the head neural integrator, a system responsible for the control of head and eye movements. However, neuroanatomical evidence of alterations in the head neural integrator in cervical dystonia is sparse.

Objectives: We investigated structural and functional integrity of the INC and its connections in cervical dystonia.

Visual Prostheses in the Era of Artificial Intelligence Technology.

Background: Over the past few decades, technological advancements have transformed invasive visual prostheses from theoretical concepts into real-world applications. However, functional outcomes remain limited, especially in visual acuity. This review aims to summarize current developments in retinal and cortical prostheses (RCPs) and critically assess the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing these systems.

Association between FDG- and TSPO-PET signals across human and animal studies investigating neurodegenerative conditions: a systematic review.

Background: Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET hypometabolism is considered a biomarker of neurodegeneration. However, recent evidence revealed that glial cells contribute to the FDG-PET signal. In this context, microglial changes have been evaluated with 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO)-PET radiopharmaceuticals.

Deep Learning Modeling to Differentiate Multiple Sclerosis From MOG Antibody-Associated Disease.

Background And Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is common in adults while myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is rare. Our previous machine-learning algorithm, using clinical variables, ≤6 brain lesions, and no Dawson fingers, achieved 79% accuracy, 78% sensitivity, and 80% specificity in distinguishing MOGAD from MS but lacked validation. The aim of this study was to (1) evaluate the clinical/MRI algorithm for distinguishing MS from MOGAD, (2) develop a deep learning (DL) model, (3) assess the benefit of combining both, and (4) identify key differentiators using probability attention maps (PAMs).

Cerebrovascular Reactivity at Rest and Its Association With Cognitive Function in People With Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia.

Background And Objectives: Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is an indicator of cerebrovascular health, and its signature in familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD) remains unknown. The primary aim was to investigate CVR in genetic FTD using an fMRI index of vascular contractility termed resting-state fluctuation amplitudes (RSFAs) and to assess whether RSFA differences are moderated by age. A secondary aim was to study the relationship between RSFA and cognition.

A large cohort study of prenatal exome sequencing redefines diagnosis in fetal corpus callosum anomalies.

Anomalies of the corpus callosum (AnCC) are congenital malformations associated with highly variable neurodevelopmental outcomes. We performed prenatal Exome Sequencing (pES) on a cohort of 352 fetuses diagnosed with AnCC, analyzing the diagnostic yield, the implicated genes based on the type of anomaly (partial or complete agenesis, short corpus callosum, or callosal dysgenesis) and assessing the impact on pregnancy outcomes. The overall diagnostic yield of pES was 23%, with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants identified in 49 different genes, most of which linked to intellectual developmental disorders.

Incidence, mortality, and management of status epilepticus from 2012 to 2022: An 11-year nationwide study.

Objective: Recent data on status epilepticus (SE) incidence and mortality remain limited, despite the 2015 revision of its definition by the International League Against Epilepsy. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic also remains unclear. We assessed trends in SE incidence, mortality, and management from 2012 to 2022 and examined the pandemic's impact.

Personalized models of disorders of consciousness reveal complementary roles of connectivity and local parameters in diagnosis and prognosis.

The study of disorders of consciousness (DoC) is very complex because patients suffer from a wide variety of lesions, affected brain mechanisms, different severity of symptoms, and are unable to communicate. Combining neuroimaging data and mathematical modeling can help us quantify and better describe some of these alterations. The goal of this study is to provide a new analysis and modeling pipeline for fMRI data leading to new diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers at the individual patient level.

Isotope-encoded spatial biology identifies plaque-age-dependent maturation and synaptic loss in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model.

Understanding how amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques develop and lead to neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease remains a major challenge, particularly given the temporal delay and weak correlation between plaque deposition and cognitive decline. This study investigates how the evolving pathology of plaques affects the surrounding tissue, using a knock-in Aβ mouse model (App). We combined mass spectrometry imaging with stable isotope labeling to timestamp Aβ plaques from the moment of their initial deposition, enabling us to track their aging spatially.

Temporal transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial morphology primes activity-dependent circuit connectivity.

Synaptic connectivity during development is known to require rapid local regulation of axonal organelles. Whether this fundamental and conserved aspect of neuronal cell biology is orchestrated by a dedicated developmental program is unknown. We hypothesized that developmental transcription factors regulate critical parameters of organelle structure and function which contribute to circuit wiring.

Method comparison of plasma and CSF GFAP immunoassays across multiple platforms.

Objectives: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a biomarker of astrocytic activation associated with neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinflammatory disorders, and traumatic brain injury. However, the lack of standardized methods for quantifying GFAP across different immunoassay platforms poses challenges for its clinical implementation. This study aimed to compare the analytical performance of multiple commercially available and in-house immunoassays for GFAP quantification in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to assess their agreement and potential interchangeability.

Spontaneous pathology in PS19 tauopathy mice progresses via brain networks.

Tauopathies are progressive neurodegenerative diseases characterized by cellular accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Evidence suggests tau is a prion, propagating pathology across brain networks via unique transmissible assemblies which mediate distinct neuropathologies in model systems. Neuroimaging has identified network alterations reflecting distinct patterns of brain atrophy in tauopathy patients.

Alzheimer's disease traits in Parkinson's disease without α-synuclein seeding.

Introduction: The α-synuclein (αSyn) seed amplification assay (αSyn-SAA) is an accurate tool to detect αSyn seeds in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, a minority of clinically diagnosed PD patients are negative for αSyn.

Methods: The αSyn-SAA was performed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of individuals with PD (n = 93), multiple system atrophy (MSA, n = 26), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP, n = 18), corticobasal syndrome (n = 3), and healthy controls (n = 29).

ALS/FTD-linked TBK1 deficiency in microglia induces an aged-like microglial signature and drives social recognition deficits in mice.

TANK-Binding Kinase 1 (TBK1) is involved in autophagy and immune signaling. Dominant loss-of-function mutations in TBK1 have been linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), and ALS/FTD. However, pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear, particularly the cell-type specific disease contributions of TBK1 mutations.

Longitudinal association of shorter leukocyte telomere length with CSF biomarker dynamics across early Alzheimer's disease stages in at-risk individuals.

Background: Short telomere length (TL), a hallmark of biological ageing, has been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its pathophysiological role remains unclear. This study explored the relationship between blood leukocyte TL (LTL), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers changes, and brain structure across early stages of the AD continuum.

Methods: We included 346 cognitively unimpaired participants (aged 49-71) from the ALFA cohort, enriched for AD risk (53.

Functional and Structural Characterization of LRRK2 p.V1447L in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Gain-of-kinase-function variants in LRRK2 are a leading cause of monogenic Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objectives: We tested the functional impact of a novel LRRK2 variant p.V1447L identified in a young-onset PD patient in vivo in peripheral blood, as well as in a robust cellular assay, alongside other variants in close proximity to V1447.

Characterization of eclosion hormone receptor function reveals differential hormonal control of ecdysis during Drosophila development.

Neuromodulators and peptide hormones play important roles in regulating animal behavior. A well-studied example is ecdysis, which is used by insects to shed their exoskeleton at the end of each molt. Ecdysis is initiated by Ecdysis Triggering Hormone (ETH) and Eclosion Hormone (EH), which interact via positive feedback to coordinate the sequence of behavioral and physiological changes that cause exoskeleton shedding.

Impact of Facial Palsy and Reanimation Surgery on Emotion Recognition: A Magnetoencephalography Study of Early Face Processing: The M170 Component.

Facial palsy (FP) can impair nonverbal communication, and patients often report difficulty recognizing emotional expressions in others. To compare early cortical processing of emotional facial expressions in healthy controls, FP patients, and patients who had undergone facial reanimation surgery using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and analyzing the M170 component, a face-sensitive neuromagnetic response. Neuromagnetic responses were recorded with a whole-head 306-sensors MEG system.