Cerebrospinal Creatine Kinase BB Isoenzyme: A Biomarker for Predicting Outcome After Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid creatine kinase BB isoenzyme (CSF CK-BB) after cardiac arrest (CA) has been shown to have a high positive predictive value for poor neurological outcome, but it has not been evaluated in the setting of targeted temperature management (TTM) and modern CA care. We aimed to evaluate CSF CK-BB as a prognostic biomarker after CA. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with CA admitted between 2010 and 2020 to a three-hospital health system who remained comatose and had CSF CK-BB assayed between 36 and 84 h after CA. We examined the proportion of patients at hospital discharge who achieved favorable or intermediate neurological outcome, defined as Cerebral Performance Category score of 1-3, compared with those with poor outcome (Cerebral Performance Category score 4-5) for various CSF CK-BB thresholds. We also evaluated additive value of bilateral absence of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs). RESULTS: Among 214 eligible patients, the mean age was 54.7 ± 4.8 years, 72% of patients were male, 33% were nonwhite, 17% had shockable rhythm, 90% were out-of-hospital CA, and 83% received TTM. A total of 19 (9%) awakened. CSF CK-BB ≥ 230 U/L predicted a poor outcome at hospital discharge, with a specificity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] 82-100%) and sensitivity of 69% (95% CI 62-76%). When combined with bilaterally absent N20 response on SSEP, specificity remained 100% while sensitivity increased to 80% (95% CI 73-85%). Discordant CK-BB and SSEP findings were seen in 13 (9%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebrospinal fluid creatine kinase BB isoenzyme levels accurately predicted poor neurological outcome among CA survivors treated with TTM. The CSF CK-BB cutoff of 230 U/L optimizes sensitivity to 69% while maintaining a specificity of 100%. CSF CK-BB could be a useful addition to multimodal neurological prognostication after CA.

Factors Associated with Early Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatments After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Subanalysis of a Randomized Trial of Prehospital Therapeutic Hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to describe incidence and factors associated with early withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies based on presumed poor neurologic prognosis (WLST-N) and practices around multimodal prognostication after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS: We performed a subanalysis of a randomized controlled trial assessing prehospital therapeutic hypothermia in adult patients admitted to nine hospitals in King County with nontraumatic OHCA between 2007 and 2012. Patients who underwent tracheal intubation and were unconscious following return of spontaneous circulation were included. Our outcomes were (1) incidence of early WLST-N (WLST-N within < 72 h from return of spontaneous circulation), (2) factors associated with early WLST-N compared with patients who remained comatose at 72 h without WLST-N, (3) institutional variation in early WLST-N, (4) use of multimodal prognostication, and (5) use of sedative medications in patients with early WLST-N. Analysis included descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: We included 1,040 patients (mean age was 65 years, 37% were female, 41% were White, and 44% presented with arrest due to ventricular fibrillation) admitted to nine hospitals. Early WLST-N accounted for 24% (n = 154) of patient deaths and occurred in half (51%) of patients with WLST-N. Factors associated with early WLST-N in multivariate regressions were older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.03), preexisting do-not-attempt-resuscitation orders (OR 4.67, 95% CI: 1.55-14.01), bilateral absent pupillary reflexes (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.42-4.10), and lack of neurological consultation (OR 2.60, 95% CI: 1.52-4.46). The proportion of patients with early WLST-N among all OHCA admissions ranged from 19-60% between institutions. A head computed tomography scan was obtained in 54% (n = 84) of patients with early WLST-N; 22% (n = 34) and 5% (n = 8) underwent ≥ 1 and ≥ 2 additional prognostic tests, respectively. Prognostic tests were more frequently performed when neurological consultation occurred. Most patients received sedating medications (90%) within 24 h before early WLST-N; the median time from last sedation to early WLST-N was 4.2 h (interquartile range 0.4-15). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one quarter of deaths after OHCA were due to early WLST-N. The presence of concerning neurological examination findings appeared to impact early WLST-N decisions, even though these are not fully reliable in this time frame. Lack of neurological consultation was associated with early WLST-N and resulted in underuse of guideline-concordant multimodal prognostication. Sedating medications were often coadministered prior to early WLST-N and may have further confounded the neurological examination. Standardizing prognostication, restricting early WLST-N, and a multidisciplinary approach including neurological consultation might improve outcomes after OHCA.

Is the association of weight disorders with perceived health status and life satisfaction independent of physical activity in children and adolescents? The CASPIAN-IV Study.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) and weight status have been suggested as predictors of life satisfaction (LS) and perceived health status (PHS). Therefore the present study aims to investigate and compare the impacts of body mass index (BMI) and PA on LS and PHS in a population of Iranian children and adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted in 2011-12 as a nationwide population-based study among 14 880 students of age 6-18 years. Students were selected via a multistage cluster sampling method from 30 provinces of Iran. Information on demographics, PA, PHS and LS was obtained using the World Health Organization Global School-based Student Health Survey (WHO-GSHS) questionnaire. PA values were considered as low (<2 /week), moderate (2-4 h/week) and high (>2 h/week). RESULTS: The current study has a participation rate of 90.6% (50.8% boys). PA was significantly associated with both LS and PHS [odds ratio (OR), 1.37 in both), while in BMI, this association was significant for only PHS (in underweight: OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.57-0.75; in excess weight: OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73-0.93). In the combined group of BMI-PA, the influence of PA prevailed over the impact of BMI on PHS and LS, and therefore, PA was found to be the stronger factor. CONCLUSION: Although BMI and PA could both significantly impact LS and PHS, the stronger influence of PA on LS and PHS suggests that upgrading the 'activity level' of children and adolescents should be underscored and included on the agenda, rather than merely focusing on their BMI and weight status.

Cortical thickness alterations linked to somatoform and psychological dissociation in functional neurological disorders.

BACKGROUND: Links between dissociation and functional neurological disorder (FND)/conversion disorder are well-established, yet the pathophysiology of dissociation remains poorly understood. This MRI study investigated structural alterations associated with somatoform and psychological dissociation in FND. We hypothesized that multimodal, paralimbic cingulo-insular regions would relate to the severity of somatoform dissociation in patients with FND. METHODS: FreeSurfer cortical thickness and subcortical volumetric analyses were performed in 26 patients with motor FND and 27 matched healthy controls. Patients with high dissociation as measured by the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-20 (SDQ) or Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) were compared to controls in stratified analyses. Within-group analyses were also performed with SDQ and DES scores in patients with FND. All cortical thickness analyses were whole-brain corrected at the cluster-wise level. RESULTS: Patients with FND and high somatoform dissociation (SDQ > 35) showed reduced left caudal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) cortical thickness compared to controls. In within-group analyses, SDQ scores inversely correlated with left caudal ACC cortical thickness in patients with FND. Depersonalization/derealization scores positively correlated with right lateral occipital cortical thickness. Both within-group findings remained statistically significant controlling for trait anxiety/depression, borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, adverse life events, and motor FND subtypes in post-hoc analyses. CONCLUSION: Using complementary between-group and within-group analyses, an inverse association between somatoform dissociation and left caudal ACC cortical thickness was observed in patients with FND. A positive relationship was also appreciated between depersonalization/derealization severity and cortical thickness in visual association areas. These findings advance our neuropathobiological understanding of dissociation in FND. Hum Brain Mapp 39:428-439, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Neuropsychiatric Factors Linked to Adherence and Short-Term Outcome in a U.S. Functional Neurological Disorders Clinic: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Despite advancements in the assessment and management of functional neurological disorder (FND), the feasibility of implementing a new standard of care remains unclear. Chart reviews were performed for 100 patients with motor FND to investigate factors related to treatment adherence and clinical improvement over an average follow-up of 7 months. Of 81 patients who returned for follow-up, a history of chronic pain disorder inversely correlated with improvement. Of the 50 individuals newly referred for treatment, adherence correlated with improvement, while having abnormal neuroimaging inversely correlated with improvement. This study supports the feasibility of applying a new standard of care for FND.

Corticolimbic structural alterations linked to health status and trait anxiety in functional neurological disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Affective symptoms influence health status (health-related quality of life) in functional neurological disorder (FND), and the salience network is implicated in the pathophysiology of FND and mood/anxiety disorders. We hypothesised that self-reported health status and affective symptoms would map onto salience network regions and that patients with FND would show decreased insular volumes compared with controls. METHODS: This voxel-based morphometry study investigated volumetric differences in 26 patients with FND (21 women, 5 men; mean age=40.3±11.5) compared with 27 healthy controls (22 women, 5 men; mean age=40.5±10.8). Post hoc analyses stratified patients with FND by mental and physical health scores (Short Form Health Survey-36). Within-group analyses investigated associations with mental health, physical health, trait anxiety and depression in patients with FND. RESULTS: There were no volumetric differences between the complete FND cohort and controls. In stratified analyses, however, patients with FND reporting the most severe physical health impairments showed reduced left anterior insular volume compared with controls. In within-group analyses, impaired mental health and elevated trait anxiety were associated with increased right amygdalar volumes in patients with FND. The relationship between amygdalar volume and mental health, driven by emotional well-being deficits and role limitations due to emotional problems, was independent of sensorimotor functional neurological symptom severity and motor FND subtype. In secondary within-group analyses, increased periaqueductal grey volume was associated with role limitations due to emotional problems. Impaired physical functioning correlated with decreased left anterior insular volumes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support roles for several regions of the salience network in the pathophysiology of FND.

Cingulo-insular structural alterations associated with psychogenic symptoms, childhood abuse and PTSD in functional neurological disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Adverse early-life events are predisposing factors for functional neurological disorder (FND) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cingulo-insular regions are implicated in the biology of both conditions and are sites of stress-mediated neuroplasticity. We hypothesised that functional neurological symptoms and the magnitude of childhood abuse would be associated with overlapping anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and insular volumetric reductions, and that FND and PTSD symptoms would map onto distinct cingulo-insular areas. METHODS: This within-group voxel-based morphometry study probes volumetric associations with self-report measures of functional neurological symptoms, adverse life events and PTSD symptoms in 23 mixed-gender FND patients. Separate secondary analyses were also performed in the subset of 18 women with FND to account for gender-specific effects. RESULTS: Across the entire cohort, there were no statistically significant volumetric associations with self-report measures of functional neurological symptom severity or childhood abuse. In women with FND, however, parallel inverse associations were observed between left anterior insular volume and functional neurological symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 and the Screening for Somatoform Symptoms Conversion Disorder subscale. Similar inverse relationships were also appreciated between childhood abuse burden and left anterior insular volume. Across all subjects, PTSD symptom severity was inversely associated with dorsal ACC volume, and the magnitude of lifetime adverse events was inversely associated with left hippocampal volume. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals distinct cingulo-insular alterations for FND and PTSD symptoms and may advance our understanding of FND. Potential biological convergence between stress-related neuroplasticity, functional neurological symptoms and reduced insular volume was identified.

Neuropsychiatric Associations With Gender, Illness Duration, Work Disability, and Motor Subtype in a U.S. Functional Neurological Disorders Clinic Population.

The assessment of functional neurological disorders (FND) requires an interdisciplinary approach. The authors retrospectively reviewed charts for 100 outpatients with FND and used univariate and regression analyses to investigate neuropsychiatric associations with gender, illness duration, and work disability; secondary analyses evaluated for differences across motor FND subtypes. Men reported higher rates of cognitive complaints and functional weakness, whereas women endorsed increased past physical/sexual trauma. Number of self-reported medication allergies/sensitivities positively correlated with illness duration. Individuals with functional weakness compared with other motor FND subtypes exhibited lower rates of past psychiatric hospitalization and head trauma. This study supports the feasibility of integrating FND research.

Clinical performance of seven prescreening tools for osteoporosis in Iranian postmenopausal women.

This study was designed to evaluate seven prescreening osteoporosis models in postmenopausal Iranian women. This study was performed on 8644 postmenopausal women who have been referred for bone mineral densitometry (BMD) in BMD center of Shariati hospital in Tehran between 2001 and 2011. Diagnostic properties of seven prescreening instruments were evaluated. With regard to area under curve (AUC), these models have low accuracy (AUC ≤ 0.65). Considering only femoral neck or total femur area, these models had low accuracy but were more sensitive. Except for three models with sensitivities of ≤65 % in both osteoporosis and fracture threshold, other models were around 70 % sensitive. However, these models were not considered clinically useful regarding their positive predictive values (PPV) especially in BMDs ≤02.5. With regard to different measures of diagnostic property, none of these models were good screening tools for osteoporosis or fracture threshold. Although some of them are sensitive, considering other measures such as PPV indicates that they are not completely useful for clinical use. Attempts should be made for developing newer prescreening methods and calibration of the existing models with regard to the studied population.

Fixed, Dilated, and Cannulated - Medical Management of Elevated Intracranial Pressures due to a Large Intracranial Hemorrhage in a Patient on Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Case Report.

A 40-year-old woman presented with mediastinitis, necrotizing pancreatitis, and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with refractory acidemia (pH 7.14) and hypercapnia (PaCO2 115 mmHg), requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Eight hours after cannulation, and rapid correction of PaCO2 to 44 mmHg, she was found to have bilaterally fixed and dilated pupils. Imaging showed a 60 mL left-sided temporoparietal intracranial hemorrhage with surrounding edema, 8 mm midline shift, intraventricular hemorrhage, and impending herniation. Decompressive hemicraniectomy was not offered due to concern for medical instability. After receiving a dose of mannitol, her pupillary and motor exam improved. An intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor was placed to guide hyperosmolar therapy administration, hemodynamic targets, and sweep gas titration. On hospital day (HD) 5, her ICP monitor was removed. Follow-up imaging revealed resolution of mass effect and no brainstem injury. She was subsequently extubated (HD 9) and discharged home (HD 40). One year after hospitalization, she is living at home with minimal residual deficits. This case highlights the utility of targeted, medical ICP management and importance of assessing response to conservative therapies when considering prognosis in patients on ECMO with severe acute brain injury.

Benchmarking Hospital Practices and Policies on Intrahospital Neurocritical Care Transport: The Safe-Neuro-Transport Study.

An electronic survey was administered to multidisciplinary neurocritical care providers at 365 hospitals in 32 countries to describe intrahospital transport (IHT) practices of neurocritically ill patients at their institutions. The reported IHT practices were stratified by World Bank country income level. Variability between high-income (HIC) and low/middle-income (LMIC) groups, as well as variability between hospitals within countries, were expressed as counts/percentages and intracluster correlation coefficients (ICCs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 246 hospitals (67% response rate; n = 103, 42% HIC and n = 143, 58% LMIC) participated. LMIC hospitals were less likely to report a portable CT scanner (RR 0.39, 95% CI [0.23; 0.67]), more likely to report a pre-IHT checklist (RR 2.18, 95% CI [1.53; 3.11]), and more likely to report that intensive care unit (ICU) physicians routinely participated in IHTs (RR 1.33, 95% CI [1.02; 1.72]). Between- and across-country variation were highest for pre-IHT external ventricular drain clamp tolerance (reported by 40% of the hospitals, ICC 0.22, 95% CI 0.00-0.46) and end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring during IHT (reported by 29% of the hospitals, ICC 0.46, 95% CI 0.07-0.71). Brain tissue oxygenation monitoring during IHT was reported by only 9% of the participating hospitals. An IHT standard operating procedure (SOP)/hospital policy (HP) was reported by 37% (n = 90); HIC: 43% (n= 44) vs. LMIC: 32% (n = 46), p = 0.56. Amongst the IHT SOP/HPs reviewed (n = 13), 90% did not address the continuation of hemodynamic and neurophysiological monitoring during IHT. In conclusion, the development of a neurocritical-care-specific IHT SOP/HP as well as the alignment of practices related to the IHT of neurocritically ill patients are urgent unmet needs. Inconsistent standards related to neurophysiological monitoring during IHT warrant in-depth scrutiny across hospitals and suggest a need for international guidelines for neurocritical care IHT.

Brain-Lung Crosstalk: Management of Concomitant Severe Acute Brain Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Purpose of Review: To summarize pathophysiology, key conflicts, and therapeutic approaches in managing concomitant severe acute brain injury (SABI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Recent Findings: ARDS is common in SABI and independently associated with worse outcomes in all SABI subtypes. Most landmark ARDS trials excluded patients with SABI, and evidence to guide decisions is limited in this population. Potential areas of conflict in the management of patients with both SABI and ARDS are (1) risk of intracranial pressure (ICP) elevation with high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), permissive hypercapnia due to lung protective ventilation (LPV), or prone ventilation; (2) balancing a conservative fluid management strategy with ensuring adequate cerebral perfusion, particularly in patients with symptomatic vasospasm or impaired cerebrovascular blood flow; and (3) uncertainty about the benefit and harm of corticosteroids in this population, with a mortality benefit in ARDS, increased mortality shown in TBI, and conflicting data in other SABI subtypes. Also, the widely adapted partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) target of > 55 mmHg for ARDS may exacerbate secondary brain injury, and recent guidelines recommend higher goals of 80-120 mmHg in SABI. Distinct pathophysiology and trajectories among different SABI subtypes need to be considered. Summary: The management of SABI with ARDS is highly complex, and conventional ARDS management strategies may result in increased ICP and decreased cerebral perfusion. A crucial aspect of concurrent management is to recognize the risk of secondary brain injury in the individual patient, monitor with vigilance, and adjust management during critical time windows. The care of these patients requires meticulous attention to oxygenation and ventilation, hemodynamics, temperature management, and the neurological exam. LPV and prone ventilation should be utilized, and supplemented with invasive ICP monitoring if there is concern for cerebral edema and increased ICP. PEEP titration should be deliberate, involving measures of hemodynamic, pulmonary, and brain physiology. Serial volume status assessments should be performed in SABI and ARDS, and fluid management should be individualized based on measures of brain perfusion, the neurological exam, and cardiopulmonary status. More research is needed to define risks and benefits in corticosteroids in this population.

Olfactory gyrus intracerebral hemorrhage in a patient with COVID-19 infection.

Since the outbreak with novel corona virus in December 2019, a myriad of different neurological manifestations in patients with COVID-19 infection have been reported. We present a case of non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in the olfactory gyrus in a patient who tested positive for SARS-COV-2. The area of hemorrhage is not a common location for spontaneous hemorrhage. Given that loss of smell is considered a relatively common symptom of this pandemic, it is an intriguing association of COVID-19 and olfactory gyrus ICH for neurotropism of SARS-CoV2 for olfactory bulb and glia cells through nasal mucosa. Future studies will need to elucidate the exact mechanism of anosmia from COVID-19 and potential mechanisms leading to ICH.

Radiographic appearance of leptomeningeal disease in patients with EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung carcinoma treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors: a case series.

EGFR is frequently mutated in non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). Clinically available tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are effective in treating EGFR-mutant NSCLC. In this case series, we present five patients with TKI-treated EGFR-mutated NSCLC who developed leptomeningeal disease (LMD) lacking characteristic imaging findings. All five patients received TKIs prior to development of cytology-confirmed LMD. Clinical signs of LMD preceded radiographic evidence by 2-12 months. T790M, the most common resistance mutation to first-generation EGFR inhibitors, was identified in four cases. These cases illustrate that in patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC, TKIs may effectively control LMD, creating a lag between onset of symptoms and observation of radiographic findings.

Individual differences in corticolimbic structural profiles linked to insecure attachment and coping styles in motor functional neurological disorders.

BACKGROUND: Insecure attachment and maladaptive coping are important predisposing vulnerabilities for Functional Neurological Disorders (FND)/Conversion Disorder, yet no prior structural neuroimaging studies have investigated biomarkers associated with these risk factors in FND populations. This magnetic resonance imaging study examined cortical thickness and subcortical volumes associated with self-reported attachment and coping styles in patients with FND. We hypothesized that insecure attachment and maladaptive coping would relate to limbic-paralimbic structural alterations. METHODS: FreeSurfer cortical thickness and subcortical volumetric analyses were performed in 26 patients with motor FND (21 women; 5 men) and 27 healthy controls (22 women; 5 men). For between-group comparisons, patients with FND were stratified by Relationship Scales Questionnaire, Ways of Coping Scale-Revised, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale scores. Within-group analyses were also performed in patients with FND. All analyses were performed in the complete cohort and separately in women only to evaluate for gender-specific effects. Cortical thickness analyses were whole-brain corrected at the cluster-wise level; subcortical analyses were Bonferroni corrected. RESULTS: In women with FND, dismissing attachment correlated with reduced left parahippocampal cortical thickness. Confrontive coping was associated with reduced right hippocampal volume, while accepting responsibility positively correlated with right precentral gyrus cortical thickness. These findings held adjusting for anti-depressant use. All FND-related findings were within the normal range when compared to healthy women. CONCLUSION: These observations connect individual-differences in limbic-paralimbic and premotor structures to attachment and coping styles in FND. The relationship between parahippocampal thickness and dismissing attachment may indicate aberrant social-emotional and contextual appraisal in women with FND.

Biological Drugs in Guillain-Barré Syndrome: An Update.

BACKGROUND: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is currently considered the most common global cause of acute flaccid paralysis. Currently, standard therapy for Guillain-Barré Syndrome includes intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange. Despite medical advances regarding these treatments, many treated patients do not reach full recovery. Therefore several biological agents have attracted the attentions from researchers during the last decades, and various studies have investigated their role in Guillain-Barré Syndrome. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to address emerging biological approaches to GBS while considering their efficiency and safety in treating the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An extensive electronic literature search was conducted by two researchers from April 2016 to July 2016. Original articles, clinical trials, systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis) and case reports were selected. Titles and abstracts of papers were screened by reviewers to determine whether they met the eligibility criteria, and full texts of the selected articles were retrieved. RESULTS: Herein authors focused on the literature data concerning emerging biological therapeutic agents, namely anti-C5 monoclonal antibody (Eculizumab), anti-C1q monoclonal antibody, anti-T cell monoclonal antibody, anti-CD2 monoclonal antibody, anti L-selectin monoclonal antibody, anti- CD20 monoclonal antibody (Rituximab), anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody (Alemtuzumab) and cytokine targets. By far, none of these agents have been approved for the treatment of GBS by FDA. CONCLUSION: Literature findings represented in current review herald promising results for using these biological targets. Current review represents a summary of what is already in regards and what progress is required to improve the immunotherapeutic approach of treating GBS via future studies.

Levetiracetam in Neonatal Seizures as First-line Treatment: A Prospective Study.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam (LEV) as first-line treatment of neonatal seizures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in patients of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Santo Bambino Hospital, University of Catania, Italy, from January to August 2016. A total of 16 neonates with convulsions not associated with major syndromes, which required anticonvulsant therapy, were included and underwent IV LEV at standard doses. RESULTS: All patients responded to treatment, with a variety range of seizure resolution period (from 24 h to 15 days; mean hours: 96 ± 110.95). No patient required a second anticonvulsant therapy. Regarding safety of LEV, no major side-effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, it is one of the few studies confirming the efficiency of LEV as first-line treatment in seizures of this age group. LEV was effective in resolving seizures and was safely administered in the current study.

Therapeutic approaches to pediatric pseudotumor cerebri: New insights from literature data.

The pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS), also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), is characterized by signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as headache and cranial nerve palsies, in the absence of any space-occupying mass. This condition commonly affects overweight women of childbearing age, even if it is also frequent in men and children. Children with PTCS may present with atypical signs and symptoms, with a different prognosis compared to adults. However, the treatment is the same for both children and adults, even if there are no strict treatment guidelines in regards. All treatment strategies in children are based on retrospective studies and none has been evaluated in prospective or randomized controlled trial studies. This review focuses on literature data on PTCS treatment in children.

Joint association of screen time and physical activity on self-rated health and life satisfaction in children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-IV study.

BACKGROUND: Self-rated health and life satisfaction are two subjective measures for assessing overall health status. This study aims to investigate the association of self-rated health and life satisfaction with physical activity and screen time. METHODS: As part of the fourth survey of a national surveillance program in Iran (CASPIAN-IV study), 14 880 students aged 6 to 18 years were selected via multi-stage cluster sampling from 30 provinces. Data were obtained from the WHO Global School-Based Student Health Survey questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 13 486 students with mean age of 12.47 (SD 3.36) completed the study. In crude model both prolonged screen time and physical activity were associated with favorable life satisfaction and self-rated health. However, in multivariate analysis only high physical activity was associated with good self-rated health (OR 1.37) and life satisfaction (OR 1.39), while prolonged screen time was not associated with good self-rated health (OR 1.02) and life satisfaction (OR 0.94). For combined screen time-physical activity variable, low screen time-high physical activity combination had the highest OR for both good self-rated health (OR 1.37) and life satisfaction (OR 1.43) in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that increasing physical activity is more crucial than emphasizing reducing screen time in improving the well-being of children and adolescents.