Effects of anti-seizure therapies on sleep in patients with epilepsy: A literature review.

Sleep disorder is common in epilepsy. With a recent rapid development in sleep medicine, it has been increasingly recognized that anti-seizure therapies, either anti-seizure medications (ASMs) or non-pharmaceutical approaches, can take direct or indirect influence on sleep in patients with epilepsy. Here, we systematically review the effect of anti-seizure treatments on sleep. ASMs targeting at different sites exerted various effects on both sleep structure and sleep quality. Non-pharmaceutical treatments including resective surgery, ketogenic diet, and transcranial magnetic stimulation appear to have a positive effect on sleep, while vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and brain-responsive neurostimulation are likely to interrupt sleep and exacerbate sleep-disordered breathing. The potential mechanisms underlying how non-pharmacological approaches affect sleep are also discussed. The limitation of most studies is that they were largely based on small cohorts by short-term observations. Further well-designed and large-scale investigations in this field are warranted. Understanding the effect of anti-seizure therapies on sleep can guide clinicians to optimize epilepsy treatment in the future.

Neurological and psychiatric presentations associated with COVID-19.

The objective is to investigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated neurological and psychiatric effects and explore possible pathogenic mechanisms. This study included 77 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. Neurological manifestations were evaluated by well-trained neurologists, psychologists, psychiatric presentations and biochemical changes were evaluated using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and electronic medical records. Eighteen (23.4%) patients presented with neurological symptoms. Patients with neurological presentations had higher urea nitrogen, cystatin C, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels and lower basophil counts. Among them, patients with muscle involvement had higher urea nitrogen and cystatin C levels but lower basophil counts. In addition, patients with psychiatric presentations were older and had higher interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 levels and higher alkaline phosphatase, R-glutamate transferase, and urea nitrogen levels. Moreover, patients with anxiety had higher IL-6 and IL-10 levels than those without, and patients with moderate depression had higher CD8 + T cell counts and lower CD4 + /CD8 + ratios than other patients. This study indicates that the central nervous system may be influenced in patients with COVID-19, and the pathological mechanisms may be related to direct virus invasion of the central nervous system, infection-mediated overreaction of the immune system, and aberrant serum pro-inflammatory factors. In addition, basophils and cystatin C may also play important roles during these pathological processes. Our findings suggest that neurological and psychiatric presentations should be evaluated and managed in patients with COVID-19. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Augmentation in patients with restless legs syndrome receiving pramipexole therapy: a retrospective study in a single center from China.

PURPOSE: Augmentation is a major complication of long-term pramipexole treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS). However, there have been no studies on augmentation in Chinese patients with RLS. We therefore investigated the clinical characteristics of augmentation in RLS patients treated with pramipexole in a real-world Chinese setting. METHODS: This study was an observational, retrospective assessment of 103 patients with RLS, who had been continuously treated with pramipexole for at least one month between January 2016 and December 2018 in a tertiary hospital in East China. Demographic data and disease and drug treatment information were collected from electronic medical records and telephone interviews to analyze the rate and clinical features of augmentation. Augmentation was confirmed by Max Planck Institute criteria. Comparisons were made between patients with and without augmentation. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (15%) were classified as having augmentation. Compared to RLS patients without augmentation, more patients with augmentation switched from other dopaminergic drugs (P<0.05) and had a longer duration of RLS symptoms before pramipexole treatment (P<0.05). In addition, patients with augmentation had a longer duration (P<0.05) and higher dosage (P<0.05) of pramipexole than those without augmentation. Augmentation was possibly associated with pramipexole tolerance (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The augmentation rate of the Chinese RLS patients in our study was 15%. Augmentation may be associated with switching from other dopaminergic drugs, long disease duration before pramipexole use, the dose and duration of pramipexole, and tolerance to pramipexole.

[Advances in treatment of narcolepsy].

Narcolepsy is the most common cause of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) following obstructive sleep apnea. Its treatment aims to reduce EDS and cataplexy, improve nighttime sleep disturbance, sleep paralysis and sleep-related hallucinations. Pitolisant (a histamine H3 receptor antagonist) and solriamfetol (a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) have recently been approved effective for narcolepsy in the United States and the European Union. Pitolisant has proved to be effective for both EDS and cataplexy. Besides being effective on EDS, solriamfetol seems to have advantages in abuse potential and withdrawal syndrome. As potential treatments for EDS and cataplexy associated with narcolepsy, several new drugs are being developed and tested. These new drugs include new hydroxybutyrate preparations (controlled release sodium hydroxybutyrate FT218, low sodium hydroxybutyrate JZP-258), selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (AXS-12), and modafinil combined with astroglial junction protein inhibitor (THN102). This paper reviews the recently approved drugs and potential treatments for narcolepsy.

[Advances in sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy].

Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE), formerly known as nocturnal frontal epilepsy, is characterized by asymmetrical tonic or complex hypermotor seizures during sleep, with transient, frequent and clustering attack. The accurate incidence is not known but somehow low, which is estimated about 1.8/100 000. The differential diagnosis between SHE and parasomnias may be challenging due to possible similarities between the two sleep-related manifestations. In a majority of patients, the etiology is unknown. Identified etiologies are heterogeneous and structural abnormalities,which are involved in the severity and prognosis of SHE. In terms of treatment, it mainly includes pharmacological therapy and surgery. Carbamazepine seems to be the drug of choice in SHE patients, and epilepsy surgery provides excellent results in selected drug-resistant SHE cases. This review will focus on diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment and prognosis of SHE, aiming to promote its early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

[Abnormal eye movements in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of eye movements in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD). METHODS: Twenty two patients with iRBD and 20 controls were enrolled between January 2017 and May 2019 from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Clinical data including polysomnogram (PSG) results were collected. Videonystagmography (VNG) including spontaneous nystagmus, gaze, saccade, tracking and optokinetic test were performed. The difference of VNG results between iRBD patients and controls were analyzed. The factors related to the abnormal VNG results were analyzed by using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the iRBD and control groups in the spontaneous nystagmus, gaze nystagmus, square wave jerk, involuntary eye movement, saccade and optokinetic nystagmus (all P>0.05). In smooth pursuit of 0.4-0.5 Hz and 0.6-0.7 Hz, iRBD patients had more type Ⅲ-Ⅳ curve than controls (χ2=5.177 and 5.301, both P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that less sleep time of N3 stage was related to the abnormal results in smooth pursuit of 0.4-0.5 Hz (OR=0.963, P<0.05). iRBD patients with Ⅲ-Ⅳ type curve in smooth pursuit of 0.4-0.5 Hz had less N3 sleep time than iRBD patients with Ⅰ-Ⅱ type curve (52±28 min vs. 76±23 min, t=2.197, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal smooth pursuit was found in iRBD patients, which might be related to the pathological mechanism of iRBD.

[Relationship between sleep architecture and severity of obstructive sleep apnea].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on different sleep stages, and the relationship between N3 stage of non-rapid eye movement sleep and respiratory abnormal events. METHODS: A total of 188 adult patients who underwent overnight polysomnography(PSG)monitoring in Sir Run Run shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University from June 24th to December 26th 2019 were enrolled in the study. OSA patients were classified into 3 groups (mild, moderate and severe) according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). PSG data, AHI and the lowest SPO2 in each stage of sleep were compared among three groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in total sleep time and sleep efficiency among patients with different severity of OSA (all P>0.05). The proportion of N3 stage in moderate and severe OSA groups were significantly smaller than that in mild OSA group (all P<0.05). The proportion of N3 stage in severe OSA group was also smaller than that in moderate OSA group (P<0.05). In addition, severe OSA group had a longer latency of N3 stage than mild and moderate OSA groups (all P<0.05). The latency of N3 stage in moderate OSA group was longer than that in mild OSA group (P<0.05). The AHI in N3 stage was markedly lower than that in other sleep stages (all P<0.01), regardless of the severity of OSA. Supine AHI in N3 stage in mild and moderate groups was significantly lower than that in N1, N2 and rapid eye movement (REM) stages (all P<0.01). Supine AHI in N3 stage in severe group was also lower than that in N2 and REM stages (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The lowest SPO2 in N3 stage was significantly higher than that in N1, N2 and REM stages (P<0.05 or P<0.01), regardless of the severity of OSA. CONCLUSIONS: s The proportion of N3 stage is lower in OSA patients, and N3 stage has less sleep respiratory events than non-N3 stages. The results suggest that the increased N3 stage proportion may indicate less severity of OSA.

[Correlation between suicidal ideation and polysomnography parameters in late-life depression patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between sleep parameters and suicidal ideation in patients with late-life depression (LLD). METHODS: Seventy-seven LLD patients over 60 years old from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University during July 2017 and July 2018 were included in the study. All patients were assessed with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and polysomnography (PSG) overnight. The suicidal score of item 3 in HAMD (HAM-D3)was used to define whether there was a suicidal ideation. Participants were subsequently grouped according to endorsement of presence (HAM-D3 score ≥1, n=46) versus absence (HAM-D3 score=0, n=31) of suicidal ideation symptoms. The sleep efficiency, total sleep time, wakefulness after sleep onset, rapid eye movement percent/latency, and non-rapid eye movement sleep stages 1-3 (N1-N3) were assessed. ANOVA analyses were conducted to explore the correlation of sleep parameters with suicidal ideation between the groups with and without suicidal ideation. In model 1, the HAM-D3 constituted the independent variable in separate ANOVA tests; in model 2 the impact of depressive symptoms were assessed as a covariate with sleep parameters. RESULTS: There was less stage N3 [(55±41)min, t=-4.731, P<0.05] and the reduced percentage of N3 [(15±11)%, t=-4.194, P<0.05] in LLD patients with suicidal ideation, compared with the LLD patients without suicidal ideation [(104±49) min, (26±11)%]. Correlation analyses revealed that there was a significant correlation between the suicidal ideation and the percentage of stage N3 and sleep time of stage N3 (both P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal ideation is associated with less N3 sleep in LLD patients.

Application of Neck Circumference in Four-Variable Screening Tool for Early Prediction of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to validate and pilot the use of the four-variable screening tool (4V) and modified 4V tools to identify acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: Two modified scales, 4V-1 (ie, using neck circumference instead body mass index, regardless of gender) and 4V-2 (ie, as above but scored differently according to gender) were designed. These tools were used in a consecutive cohort of 124 acute ischemic stroke/TIA patients, together with the 4V-1, 4V-2, 4V, as well as the STOP-BANG, the Berlin questionnaire, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Objective level 2 or level 3 polysomnography was used to confirm OSA and its severity. Both questionnaires and polysomnography were completed within 1 week from symptom onset. RESULTS: Area under the curve (AUC) of 4V was 0.807 (P< .0001) while AUC of STOP-BANG, Berlin Questionnaire and ESS were .701 (P< .0001), .704 (P< .0001) and .576 (P = .1556), respectively. AUC of 4V was greater than of STOP-BANG (z = 2.200, P = .0220), Berlin (z = 2.024, P = .0430) and ESS (z = 3.363, P = .0003). AUC of modified 4V-1 and modified 4V-2 were .824 (P< .001) and .835 (P< .001), respectively. Performance of modified 4V-2 was higher versus modified 4V-1 (z = 2.111, P = .0348) and higher but not significantly so to regular 4V (z = 1.784, P = .0744). CONCLUSIONS: Neck circumference scored by gender is a useful substitution to body mass index in the 4V when screening OSA at early stages of ischemic stroke/TIA patients.

[Restless legs syndrome in ischemic stroke patients: clinical features and significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and implication of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: A total of 199 ischemic stroke patients were enrolled and assessed by polysomnography (PSG). RLS was identified according to criteria of International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate the sleep quality, cognitive function and post-stroke depression, respectively. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to evaluate the neurological function 3 months after stroke onset. Gender-and age-matched non-ischemic stroke patients with RLS (primary PLS) were selected as controls. RESULTS: Twenty-two cases of RLS were identified among 199 ischemic stroke patients (11.1%). Generalized linear model and logistic regression showed that low serum ferritin level (ß=-133.3 mg/L, 95%CI:-200.4--0.1, P<0.01), subcortical infarction (OR=4.05, 95%CI:1.15-14.18, P<0.05) and female (OR=2.54, 95%CI:1.04-6.23, P<0.05) were identified as the risk factors of RLS in ischemic stroke patients. Compared with ischemic stroke patients without RLS, ESS increased by 4.37 (95%CI:2.33-6.41, P<0.01), PHQ-9 increased by 2.17 (95%CI:0.39--3.94, P<0.05), and reduced NIHSS from the baseline deceased by 0.97 (95%CI:-1.79--0.15, P<0.05) in ischemic stroke patients with RLS. In addition, the incidence of moderate-severe depression increased (OR=4.27, 95%CI:1.40-13.10, P<0.05) in ischemic stroke patients with RLS. The index of periodic leg movements of sleep (PLMS) with arousal in ischemic stroke patients with RLS was significantly higher than that in patients with primary RLS (ß=12.85, 95%CI:2.04-23.67, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RLS is common in ischemic stroke patients and has adverse influences on patients.

A Chinese CARASIL Patient Caused by Novel Compound Heterozygous Mutations in HTRA1.

Our objective is to reported a Chinese CARASIL patient caused by novel compound heterozygous mutations in HTRA1. Detailed clinical and neuroimaging examination were conducted in proband and her available family members. Sanger sequencing of NOTCH3 and HTRA1 was used to investigate causative mutations. The patient was born in an outbred family. She experienced recurrent transient ischemic attacks, hair loss, and low back pain. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple lacunar infarctions, diffuse leukoencephalopathy, and multiple microbleeds of white matter. A compound heterozygous mutation, c.958G > A (p.D320N) and c.1021G > A (p.G341J), were identified in the proband. This report highlights that screening of HTRA1 should be considered in young SVD patient despite from outbred families.

[Screening efficiencies of obstructive sleep apnea screening scales in patients with acute ischemic stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of various obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening scales in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: One hundred and two patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled continuously during July 2016 and March 2017 from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. All patients were assessed by the same physician with various OSA screening scales, including Epworth scale, Berlin questionnaire, STOP-Bang questionnaire, SOS scale, four-variable scale and its modified version. Polysomnography was performed in Sleeping Disorder Center on each patient. According to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) acquired from polysomnography, patients were divided into moderate-severe OSA group (AHI ≥ 15, n=58) and normal-mild OSA group (AHI<15, n=44). The efficiencies of the scales in identification of patients with moderate or severe OSA were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The ROC curves showed that the four-variable scale and its modified version had higher area under curve (0.806 and 0.807, both P<0.01) for diagnosis of moderate-severe OSA, and the cut-off values for Epworth scale, Berlin questionnaire, STOP-Bang questionnaire, SOS scale, four-variable scale and its modified version were 9, 2, 4, 15, 11, 10, respectively. The sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values of four-variable scale and its modified version in diagnosis of moderate-severe OSA were higher than those of other scales. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with Epworth scale, Berlin questionnaire, STOP-Bang questionnaire and SOS scale, the four-variable scale and its modified version are more effective in screening of OSA for patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Video Head Impulse Test for Early Diagnosis of Vestibular Neuritis Among Acute Vertigo.

BACKGROUND: This study assesses the value of the video head impulse test (vHIT) for early diagnosis of vestibular neuritis (VN) among acute vertigo. METHODS: Thirty-three cases of vestibular neuritis (VN), 96 patients with other acute vertigo (AV), and 50 cases of normal controls used vHIT to quantitatively test a pair of horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflection (VOR) gains, two pairs of vertical VOR gains, and the corresponding three pairs of VOR gain asymmetry. The peculiarity of VOR gains in VN and the differences between VN and other AV, normal controls by vHIT, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the three pairs of VOR gains asymmetry between VN and other AV, and normal controls (P<0.01). The sensitivity was 87.9% and specificity was 94.3% in differentiating VN from normal and other acute vertigo by vHIT. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows vHIT has advantages in the diagnosis of VN in acute vertigo with good sensitivity and specificity and indicates a widespread clinical application.

[Mechanisms of histamine ameliorating memory impairment induced by pentylenetetrazole-kindling epilepsy in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of neuronal histamine on spatial memory acquisition impairment in rats with pentylenetetrazole-kindling epilepsy, and to explore its mechanisms. Methods: A subconvulsive dose of pentylenetetrazole (35 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected in rats every 48 h to induce chemical kindling until fully kindled. Morris water maze was used to measure the spatial memory acquisition of the rats one week after fully pentylenetetrazole-kindled, and the histamine contents in different brain areas were measured spectrofluorometrically. Different dosages of hitidine (the precursor of histamine), pyrilamine (H1 receptor antagonist), and zolantidine (H2 receptor antagonist) were intraperitoneally injected, and their effects on spatial memory acquisition of the rats were observed. Results: Compared with control group, escape latencies were significantly prolonged on Morris water maze training day 2 and day 3 in pentylenetetrazole-kindling epilepsy rats (all P<0.05); and the histamine contents in hippocampus, thalamus and hypothalamus were decreased significantly (all P<0.05). Escape latencies were markedly shortened on day 3 by intraperitoneally injected with histidine 500 mg/kg, and on day 2 and day 3 by intraperitoneally injected with histidine 1000 mg/kg in pentylenetetrazole-kindling epilepsy rats (all P<0.05). The protection of histidine was reversed by zolantidine (10 and 20 mg/kg), but not by pyrilamine. Conclusion: Neuronal histamine can improve the spatial memory acquisition impairment in rats with pentylenetetrazole-kindling epilepsy, and the activation of H2 receptors is possibly involved in the protective effects of histamine.

[Video head impulse test for evaluation of vestibular function in patients with vestibular neuritis and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo].

Objective: To assess the clinical application of video head impulse test (vHIT) for vestibular function in vestibular neuritis (VN) and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) patients. Methods: Thirty-three patients with VN and 43 patients with BPPV were enrolled from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and Ningbo Second Hospital from March 15 to September 10, 2015; and 50 healthy controls were also enrolled in the study. vHIT was used to quantitatively test the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gains of a pair of horizontal semicircular canals. VOR gains two pairs of vertical semicircular canals, and the corresponding asymmetrical value of three VOR gains. The saccades information was also recorded. Results: Compared with the healthy control group and BPPV patients, the affected horizontal and vertical VOR gains were declined and the corresponding asymmetries were increased in VN patients (all P<0.01). BPPV group also showed higher vertical VOR gain asymmetries compared with the healthy control group (all P<0.01), but no significant difference was observed in VOR gains and horizontal VOR gain asymmetry (all P>0.05). The sensibility of vHIT in diagnosis of VN was 87.9%. Among 33 VN patients, 22 were diagnosed with superior vestibular nerve dysfunction, 7 were found with inferior vestibular nerve dysfunction and 3 were with both dysfunction; and 1 case was not distinguished. Conclusion: Video head impulse test can quantitatively evaluate the vestibular dysfunction of VN and can help early diagnosis of VN, which may be widely used in clinic.

Pre-stroke Metformin Treatment is Neuroprotective Involving AMPK Reduction.

Long-term metformin treatment reduces the risk of stroke. However, the effective administration pattern and indications of metformin on acute cerebral ischemia are unclear. To investigate the neuroprotective treatment duration and dosage of metformin on focal ischemia mice and the association of neuroprotection with 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulations, male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to permanent or transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and metformin of 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected 1, 3 or 7 days prior to MCAO, or at the onset, or 1, 3 or 6 h after reperfusion, respectively. Infarct volumes, neurological deficit score, cell apoptosis, both total and phosphorylated AMPK expressions were assessed. Results showed that prolonged pretreatment to 7 days of metformin (10 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated brain infarct, neurological scores and cell apoptosis in permanent MCAO mice. Shorter (3 days or 1 day) or without pretreatment of metformin was not effective, suggesting a pretreatment time window. In transient MCAO mice, metformin showed no neuroprotection even with pretreatment. The expressions of total and phosphorylated AMPK were sharply decreased with effective metformin pretreatments in ischemic brains. Our data provided the first evidence that in acute ischemic injury, a 7-days pretreatment duration of 10 mg/kg metformin is necessary for its neuroprotection, and metformin may not be beneficial in the cases of blood reperfusion.

[Nutritional status in acute stage ischemic stroke and its relation to disease severity and prognosis of patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the nutritional status in acute stage ischemic stroke and its relation to disease severity and prognosis of patients. METHODS: Fifty patients with ischemic stroke were admitted in hospital within 48 h after onset. National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) was used to assess the severity of stroke. Physical index and laboratory index were measured on d1, d7 and d14 after admission. Physical index included body weight, body mass index, triceps skin folds, upper arm circumference and arm muscle circumference. Laboratory index included prealbumin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), complement C3 and cortisol. The severity of metabolic disturbance was expressed as the difference of biochemical indexes between the d7 and d1. All cases were followed up for 6 months. The prognosis of stroke was evaluated with modified Rankin (mRankin) scores. RESULTS: No significant changes of physical indexes were found between d7 and d1. The levels of prealbumin and complement C3 on d7 after admission were significantly decreased compared to d1 (198.8 mg/L±20.3 mg/L vs 286.7 mg/L±23.8 mg/L and 0.6 g/L±0.1 g/L vs 1.0 g/L±0.1 g/L, respectively, both P<0.05). The levels of hs-CRP and cortisol at d7 were significantly increased compared to d1 (495.2 nmol/L±39.5 nmol/L vs 24.1 mg/L±5.2 mg/L and 396.4 nmol/L±41.3 nmol/L vs 5.1 mg/L±1.2 mg/L, respectively, both P<0.05). On d14 after admission hs-CRP (13.2 mg/L±4.5 mg/L) and cortisol levels (463.4 nmol/L±32.1 nmol/L) were still significantly higher than d1 (both P<0.05). However, there were no difference in prealbumin (259.2 mg/L±22.8 mg/L) and complement C3 (0.8 g/L±0.2 g/L) levels between d1 and d14 after admission. Correlation analysis revealed that the NIHSS scores and mRankin scores were correlated with nutrition metabolism disturbances (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Nutrition metabolism disturbances in patients with acute ischemic stroke are related to the disease duration, the severity and prognosis of stroke.

Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome Due to HIV Treatment as a Potential Trigger: A Case Report with Late-Onset Narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a unique central sleepiness disorder that affects individuals with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations. The etiology and pathogenesis of NT1 remains unclear, although some viral infections are thought to be related to NT1. This paper reports an unusual case of late-onset NT1 with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral therapy for five years. The relationship between HIV infection, immune, Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and NT1 should be further investigated, as excessive daytime sleepiness is more common in HIV-infected patients than in the general population.

DTP-Net: Learning to Reconstruct EEG Signals in Time-Frequency Domain by Multi-Scale Feature Reuse.

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals are prone to contamination by noise, such as ocular and muscle artifacts. Minimizing these artifacts is crucial for EEG-based downstream applications like disease diagnosis and brain-computer interface (BCI). This paper presents a new EEG denoising model, DTP-Net. It is a fully convolutional neural network comprising Densely-connected Temporal Pyramids (DTPs) placed between two learnable time-frequency transformations. In the time-frequency domain, DTPs facilitate efficient propagation of multi-scale features extracted from EEG signals of any length, leading to effective noise reduction. Comprehensive experiments on two public semi-simulated datasets demonstrate that the proposed DTP-Net consistently outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods on metrics including relative root mean square error (RRMSE) and signal-to-noise ratio improvement ( ∆SNR). Moreover, the proposed DTP-Net is applied to a BCI classification task, yielding an improvement of up to 5.55% in accuracy. This confirms the potential of DTP-Net for applications in the fields of EEG-based neuroscience and neuro-engineering. An in-depth analysis further illustrates the representation learning behavior of each module in DTP-Net, demonstrating its robustness and reliability.

The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and osteoarthritis: evidence from an observational and Mendelian randomization study.

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are common comorbidities that significantly impact individuals' quality of life. However, the relationship between OSA and OA remains unclear. This study aims to explore the connection between OSA and OA and evaluate causality using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: A total of 12,454 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009-2012) were included. OSA participants were identified based on self-reported interviews. The association between OA and OSA was assessed through multivariable logistic regression analysis. A two-sample MR was employed to investigate the relationship between OSA and OA, specifically hip OA and knee OA, utilizing the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) approach. Results: Based on the observational study, individuals with OSA exhibited a higher risk of OA (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.40-1.98). IVW demonstrated that the risk of OA (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05-1.21, p = 0.001), hip OA (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04-1.18, p = 0.002), and knee OA (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.14, p = 0.005) was significantly associated with OSA. Reverse MR analyses indicated no effect of OA on OSA. Additionally, body mass index (BMI) was found to mediate 36.9% (95% CI, 4.64-73.2%, p = 0.026) of the OSA effects on OA risk. Conclusion: The cross-sectional observational analysis unveiled noteworthy associations between OSA and OA. Meanwhile, findings from the MR study provide support for a causal role.