Statins and the risk of polyneuropathy: A systematic review and two meta-analyses.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Previous studies have shown inconsistent data on the relationship between statin use and polyneuropathy (PN). The current systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted to comprehensively investigate the risk of incident PN among statin-users compared with non-users by identifying all available studies and summarizing their results. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted from MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from inception to October 31, 2020. We included cohort and case-control studies that compared the risk of incident PN between statin-users and non-users. Point estimates and standard errors from eligible studies were pooled together using the generic inverse variance method. RESULTS: Of 4968 retrieved articles, 6 studies in non-diabetic populations and 2 studies in diabetic populations fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Two meta-analyses were performed. The pooled analyses did not find a statistically significant association between the use of statins and risk of incident PN with the pooled odds ratio of 1.24 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-1.76; I2 74%) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.56-1.21; I2 80%) in non-diabetic and diabetic groups respectively. DISCUSSION: No significant association between the use of statins and the risk of PN was observed in this systematic review and these two meta-analyses. However, there was a high degree of heterogeneity of the meta-analyses.

Unilateral cortical autoimmune encephalitis: A case series and comparison to late-onset Rasmussen's encephalitis.

OBJECTIVE: To report a novel anatomical pattern of autoimmune encephalitis characterized by strictly unilateral cortical inflammation and a clinical picture overlapping with late-onset Rasmussen's encephalitis. METHODS: We retrospectively gathered data of patients identified at two tertiary referral academic centers who met inclusion criteria. RESULTS: We identified twelve cases (average age 65, +/- 19.8 years, 58% female). All patients had unilateral cortical inflammation manifesting with focal seizures, cognitive decline, hemicortical deficits, and unilateral MRI and/or EEG changes. Six cases were idiopathic, two paraneoplastic, two iatrogenic (in the setting of immune checkpoint inhibitors), and two post-COVID-19. Serologically, ten patients were seronegative, one had high titer anti-GAD65, and one had anti-NMDAR. Five patients met Rasmussen's encephalitis criteria, and six did not fully meet the criteria but had symptoms significantly overlapping with the condition. Most patients had significant improvement with immunotherapy. DISCUSSION: Unilateral cortical AE seems to be more prevalent in the elderly and more frequently idiopathic and seronegative. Patients with this anatomical variant of autoimmune encephalitis have overlapping features with late-onset Rasmussen's encephalitis but are more responsive to immunotherapy. In cases refractory to immunotherapy, interventions used in refractory Rasmussen's encephalitis may be considered, such as functional hemispherectomy.

Association between diabetic peripheral neuropathy and sarcopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: The present study comprehensively investigated the relationship between diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and sarcopenia by identifying all eligible studies and summarizing their results. METHODS: Records were identified through MEDLINE and EMBASE database searching from inception to March 9, 2022. We included all cross-sectional studies investigating the association between DPN and sarcopenia among patients with diabetes. Data from eligible studies, including point estimates and standard errors, were pooled together using the generic inverse variance method. RESULTS: Of 2989 retrieved articles, five studies met the inclusion criteria and were allowed for meta-analysis. The pooled analysis found a significant association between DPN and sarcopenia with the pooled odds ratio of 1.62 (95% confidence interval: 1.30-2.02; I2 0%). The funnel plot was relatively symmetric and was not suggestive of the presence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: The current study discovered a significant association between DPN and sarcopenia in patients with diabetes. However, given summarized data from cross-sectional studies, the temporality between DPN and sarcopenia could not be established. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 785-789.

Neurosarcoidosis: an update on diagnosis and therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Clinically overt granulomatous involvement of the nervous system (i.e. neurosarcoidosis) can be seen in up to 10% of patients with sarcoidosis. Establishing a diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis is often challenging due to the heterogeneity of clinical presentations that are sometimes nonspecific, and inaccessibility of tissue confirmation. Recommended treatments are based on expert opinions that are derived from clinical experience and limited data from retrospective studies, as data from randomized controlled studies are limited. AREA COVERED: In this article, we comprehensively review all available literature on epidemiology, clinical presentations, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of neurosarcoidosis. We also offer our opinions on diagnostic approach and treatment strategy. EXPERT OPINION: Given the invasive nature and the limited sensitivity of biopsy of the nervous system, diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis is usually made when ancillary tests (such as magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis) are compatible, and alternative diagnoses are reasonably excluded in patients with established extraneural sarcoidosis. Several factors must be taken into consideration to formulate the initial treatment strategy, including the extent of the disease, severity, functional impairment, comorbidities, and patient's preference. In addition, treatment regimen of neurosarcoidosis should be formulated with an emphasis on long-term strategy.

Imaging Guidance for Therapeutic Delivery: The Dawn of Neuroenergetics.

Modern neurocritical care relies on ancillary diagnostic testing in the form of multimodal monitoring to address acute changes in the neurological homeostasis. Much of our armamentarium rests upon physiological and biochemical surrogates of organ or regional level metabolic activity, of which a great deal is invested at the metabolic-hemodynamic-hydrodynamic interface to rectify the traditional intermediaries of glucose consumption. Despite best efforts to detect cellular neuroenergetics, current modalities cannot appreciate the intricate coupling between astrocytes and neurons. Invasive monitoring is not without surgical complication, and noninvasive strategies do not provide an adequate spatial or temporal resolution. Without knowledge of the brain's versatile behavior in specific metabolic states (glycolytic vs oxidative), clinical practice would lag behind laboratory empiricism. Noninvasive metabolic imaging represents a new hope in delineating cellular, nigh molecular level energy exchange to guide targeted management in a diverse array of neuropathology.