Cerebellar Volume and Disease Staging in Parkinson's Disease: An ENIGMA-PD Study.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence points to a pathophysiological role for the cerebellum in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, regional cerebellar changes associated with motor and non-motor functioning remain to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: To quantify cross-sectional regional cerebellar lobule volumes using three dimensional T1-weighted anatomical brain magnetic resonance imaging from the global ENIGMA-PD working group. METHODS: Cerebellar parcellation was performed using a deep learning-based approach from 2487 people with PD and 1212 age and sex-matched controls across 22 sites. Linear mixed effects models compared total and regional cerebellar volume in people with PD at each Hoehn and Yahr (HY) disease stage, to an age- and sex- matched control group. Associations with motor symptom severity and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores were investigated. RESULTS: Overall, people with PD had a regionally smaller posterior lobe (dmax = -0.15). HY stage-specific analyses revealed a larger anterior lobule V bilaterally (dmax = 0.28) in people with PD in HY stage 1 compared to controls. In contrast, smaller bilateral lobule VII volume in the posterior lobe was observed in HY stages 3, 4, and 5 (dmax = -0.76), which was incrementally lower with higher disease stage. Within PD, cognitively impaired individuals had lower total cerebellar volume compared to cognitively normal individuals (d = -0.17). CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence of a dissociation between anterior "motor" lobe and posterior "non-motor" lobe cerebellar regions in PD. Whereas less severe stages of the disease are associated with larger motor lobe regions, more severe stages of the disease are marked by smaller non-motor regions. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Association between the Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cephalometric Parameters in Teenagers.

BACKGROUND: OSA is a common problem in children and adolescents. Angle class II malocclusion, a tendency toward the vertical type of growth, causes a decrease in the volume of the oral air space, increasing the risk of OSAS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cephalometric and OSA parameters, to develop collaborative approaches between orthodontists and somnologists in the treatment of adolescents with OSA. METHODS: We analyzed data from 41 adolescents with OSA. Their mean age was 15.8 ± 1.08 years. Orthodontic and polysomnographic examinations of patients were conducted. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS 19.0.0. RESULTS: Most often in patients with distal occlusion, a violation of the harmony in the development of the dental system was observed. The sagittal incisive fissure, characteristic of a distal occlusion, was absent due to the palatal inclination of the upper incisors in 25 (60.98%) patients. The SNB was 79.4 ± 3.1°, indicating a distal position of the mandible relative to the anterior cranial base. The SNA exceeded the normal value, which is one of the prerequisites for mandibular retrognathia. The ANB angle was 4.3 ± 1.9°. Tonsillar hypertrophy affected 6 patients, 21 had adenoid hypertrophy, and 3 had both of them. Movements of the masticatory muscles during sleep were recorded in 22.0% of patients. CONCLUSION: To improve the quality of diagnosis and treatment of OSA, a multidisciplinary approach is needed that will correct the processes of child growth and development.

A global survey on the attitudes of neurologists and psychiatrists about functional/psychogenic/dissociative/nonepileptic-seizures/attacks, in the search of its name.

PURPOSE: We conducted an observational study to investigate the opinions of neurologists and psychiatrists all around the world who are taking care of patients with seizures [epilepsy and functional seizures (FS)]. METHODS: Practicing neurologists and psychiatrists from around the world were invited to participate in an online survey. On 29th September 2022, an e-mail including a questionnaire was sent to the members of the International Research in Epilepsy (IR-Epil) Consortium. The study was closed on 1st March 2023. The survey, conducted in English, included questions about physicians' opinions about FS and anonymously collected data. RESULTS: In total, 1003 physicians from different regions of the world participated in the study. Both neurologists and psychiatrists identified "seizures" as their preferred term. Overall, the most preferred modifiers for "seizures" were "psychogenic" followed by "functional" by both groups. Most participants (57.9%) considered FS more difficult to treat compared to epilepsy. Both psychological and biological problems were considered as the underlying cause of FS by 61% of the respondents. Psychotherapy was considered the first treatment option for patients with FS (79.9%). CONCLUSION: Our study represents the first large-scale attempt of investigating physicians attitudes and opinions about a condition that is both frequent and clinically important. It shows that there is a broad spectrum of terms used by physicians to refer to FS. It also suggests that the biopsychosocial model has gained its status as a widely used framework to interpret and inform clinical practice on the management of patients.

Stroke care in Armenia: Recent developments.

Introduction: Armenia is an upper-middle-income country with a population of nearly 3 million. Stroke is one of its major public health problems and ranks as the sixth leading cause of death, with a mortality of 75.5 per 100,000. Methods and results: Until recently, modern stroke care was not available in Armenia. During the past 8 years substantial advances have been made in building medical infrastructure and delivering acute stroke care. This manuscript describes contributors to this progress, including extensive and long-term collaboration with international stroke experts, the development of hospital-based stroke teams, and a funding commitment for stroke care by the government. Conclusion: The results of acute stroke revascularization procedures during the past 3 years are reviewed and found to meet international standards. Future directions are discussed including the immediate need to expand acute stroke care to underserved parts of the country by adding primary and comprehensive stroke centers. An active educational program for nurses and physicians and the TeleStroke system development will help support this expansion.

Physicians' beliefs about brain surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy: A global survey.

PURPOSE: To investigate the opinions of physicians about brain surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy worldwide. METHODS: Practicing neurologists, psychiatrists, and neurosurgeons from around the world were invited to participate in an online survey. The survey anonymously collected data about demographics, years in clinical practice, discipline, nation, work setting, and answers to the questions about beliefs and attitudes about brain surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy. RESULTS: In total, 1410 physicians from 20 countries and different world regions participated. The propensity to discuss brain surgery with patients, who have drug-resistant seizures, was higher among men (versus women) [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.67, 95% CI 1.20-2.31; p = 0.002]. In comparison to neurologists, psychiatrists were less likely (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.17-0.47; p < 0.001) and neurosurgeons were more likely (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.08-3.72; p = 0.028) to discuss about it. Survey participants working in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics showed a lower propensity to discuss epilepsy surgery with patients. CONCLUSION: This study showed that on an international level, there is still a knowledge gap concerning epilepsy surgery and much needs to be done to identify and overcome barriers to epilepsy surgery for patients with drug-resistant seizures worldwide.

Restless legs syndrome: Over 50 years of European contribution.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor neurological disorder characterised by an urge to move the limbs with a circadian pattern (occurring in the evening/at night), more prominent at rest, and relieved with movements. RLS is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders, occurring in 5%-10% of the European population. Thomas Willis first described RLS clinical cases already in the 17th century, and Karl-Axel Ekbom described the disease as a modern clinical entity in the 20th century. Despite variable severity, RLS can markedly affect sleep (partly through the presence of periodic leg movements) and quality of life, with a relevant socio-economic impact. Thus, its recognition and treatment are essential. However, screening methods present limitations and should be improved. Moreover, available RLS treatment options albeit providing sustained relief to many patients are limited in number. Additionally, the development of augmentation with dopamine agonists represents a major treatment problem. A better understanding of RLS pathomechanisms can bring to light novel treatment possibilities. With emerging new avenues of research in pharmacology, imaging, genetics, and animal models of RLS, this is an interesting and constantly growing field of research. This review will update the reader on the current state of RLS clinical practice and research, with a special focus on the contribution of European researchers.

Counseling about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP): A global survey of neurologists' opinions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the opinions and attitudes of neurologists on the counseling about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) worldwide. METHODS: Practicing neurologists from around the world were invited to participate in an online survey. On February 18th, 2021, we emailed an invitation including a questionnaire (using Google-forms) to the lead neurologists from 50 countries. The survey anonymously collected the demographic data of the participants and answers to the questions about their opinions and attitudes toward counseling about SUDEP. RESULTS: In total, 1123 neurologists from 27 countries participated; 41.5% of the respondents reported they discuss the risk of SUDEP with patients and their care-givers only rarely. Specific subgroups of patients who should especially be told about this condition were considered to be those with poor antiseizure medication (ASM) adherence, frequent tonic-clonic seizures, or with drug-resistant epilepsy. The propensity to tell all patients with epilepsy (PWE) about SUDEP was higher among those with epilepsy fellowship. Having an epilepsy fellowship and working in an academic setting were factors associated with a comfortable discussion about SUDEP. There were significant differences between the world regions. CONCLUSION: Neurologists often do not discuss SUDEP with patients and their care-givers. While the results of this study may not be representative of practitioners in each country, it seems that there is a severe dissociation between the clinical significance of SUDEP and the amount of attention that is devoted to this matter in daily practice by many neurologists around the world.

Insomnia Burden and Future Perspectives.

Insomnia is an important but widely ignored health problem in modern society. Despite unequivocal evidence on its large prevalence, health and social impacts, comorbidities, and various pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic (behavioral and device-based) approaches, its effective management is still difficult and often incomplete. This article discusses the role of insomnia in modern societies, newer complicating factors, and its overall social and public health burden. Acute insomnia and sleep difficulties during pandemic and confinement are reviewed. The article also focuses on newer developments accumulating in the field of insomnia and possible future trends.

Kleine-Levin syndrome related to pregnancy: a case report.

Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS) is a rare disorder of recurrent hypersomnolence. The pathophysiology continues to be poorly understood. Autoimmunity, genetic polymorphisms, dysfunction of the hypothalamic axis, and abnormalities in functional imaging have been proposed. Several triggers have been described, including infection, toxins, head trauma, sleep deprivation, lactation, and menses. We present the first case report in the medical literature of KLS triggered by pregnancy and the first case of KLS from Armenia. Our patient has a pattern of mostly pregnancy-related episodes of several day sleepiness occurring monthly. This case adds to the published literature as we present a new association and explore the pathophysiology of KLS. CITATION: Khachatryan SG, Lastra AC, Vardanyan LV, Khachatryan LG, Attarian HP. Kleine-Levin syndrome related to pregnancy: a case report. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(11):2325-2327.

Possible description of Kleine-Levin syndrome in "The Daredevils of Sassoun" Armenian medieval epic poem.

"The Daredevils of Sassoun" is an Armenian national epic poem originating from the eighth century CE. In its "David of Sassoun" branch we found an intriguing description of a strange sleep pattern of Msrah Melik - David's enemy. In one of the main episodes he was described as being in deep sleep for three days while David was attacking his men. Melik's guards tell David that he still needs to complete his 7-day-long sleep. The pattern duration, periodic occurrence and some additional signs described in the poem's text clearly resemble Kleine-Levin syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this could be the first description of Kleine-Levin syndrome.

Sleep-related movement disorders in a population of patients with epilepsy: prevalence and impact of restless legs syndrome and sleep bruxism.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep disorders are frequent co-occurrences in patients with epilepsy (PWE), but sleep-disordered breathing and insomnia are better studied than others. Our aim was to study sleep-related movement disorders in epilepsy. METHODS: We interviewed 175 PWE (age range 18-71 years, mean 35.4 years, 47.4% female) and 130 controls (age range 18-72 years, mean 33.6 years, 47.7% females). Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and sleep bruxism (SB) were diagnosed by International RLS Study Group's diagnostic criteria and International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Third Edition criteria respectively. We also used Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Berlin Questionnaire (BQ). RESULTS: Our findings suggest that RLS and SB are encountered more frequently in PWE than controls: 20.6% versus 6.1% for RLS, and 23.7% versus 5.4% for SB (P < .05). Insomnia was more prevalent in epilepsy (46.2% versus 24.6%, P < .05) while poor sleep hygiene occurred more frequently in controls (28.3% versus 53.8%), (P < .05). PWE had poorer sleep by PSQI 61.7% versus 41.5% (P < .05). Sleepiness (38.7% versus 39.2%) and snoring (42.8% versus 40.8%) were equally distributed in both groups, also ESS and BQ not showing significant differences (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that sleep disorders comprise important part of epilepsy comorbidity. We demonstrated that unselected PWE had higher prevalence of RLS. For the first time we show higher prevalence of sleep bruxism in epilepsy population. Also complaints of insomnia are seen more in PWE, while snoring and poor sleep hygiene not.