Post-COVID-19 Syndrome in Neurology Patients: A Single Center Experience.

Our aim was to determine the frequency and characteristics of neurological post-COVID-19 syndrome and the diagnostic and therapeutic measures that were used for the treatment of these patients. Data were collected for 243 patients examined during the period of 11 May 2021 to 22 June 2022. The inclusion criteria were COVID-19 illness and neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19. The exclusion criteria were non-neurological symptoms, patients who did not suffer from COVID-19, and symptoms that occurred after vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Data for 227 patients with neurological post-COVID-19 symptoms were analyzed. Most patients presented with multiple symptoms, most often headache, cognitive impairment, loss of smell, paresthesia, fatigue, dizziness, and insomnia. Patients were most often referred for consultative examinations, neuroradiological imaging, and EEG. The therapy was mostly symptomatic. Most patients had no change in their symptoms on follow-up visits (53.21%), while positive outcome was found in 44.95% of patients. This study found that neurological post-COVID-19 syndrome appears to be more common in women, and generally, the most common symptoms are headache and cognitive impairment. The gender distribution of symptoms was clearly visible and should be further investigated. There is a need for longitudinal follow-up studies to better understand the disease dynamic.

Nonfatal Systemic Air Embolism: A Grave Complication of Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Transthoracic Needle Biopsy.

Transthoracic computed tomography-guided core needle biopsy (TTNB) is a well-established method for diagnosing focal pulmonary lesions. However, the dangers associated with this method as well as the significant number of complications caused by it cannot be ignored. Systemic air embolism is a rare but potentially fatal complication that can accompany transthoracic needle biopsies of pulmonary lesions. In this study, we report nonfatal systemic air embolism as a complication of a transthoracic needle core biopsy of a subpleural nodule in the right upper pulmonary lobe of a patient with hemoptysis. Although extremely rare, the complication may result in a transient myocardial ischemia, which is presented with a transient depression of the ST segment.

Values of vanillylmandelic acid and homovanillic acid in the urine as potential prognostic biomarkers in ischaemic stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Suitable biomarkers that have prognostic values are one of the key points of interest in ischaemic stroke. Increased sympathetic nervous system activity in ischaemic stroke causes multiple local and systemic effects that can be detrimental to the outcome. The mechanism of action is increased secretion and activity of catecholamines, whose end metabolic products are vanillylmandelic acid and homovanilic acid. Aim of our study was to determine whether these compounds can be used as potential prognostic biomarkers in ischaemic stroke, as a unique insight into the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. METHODS: Urine samples of 96 patients with ischaemic stroke and transitory ischaemic attacks were analysed. Values of vanillylmandelic and homovanillic acids in urine were tested using liquid chromatography on the first and third day post-stroke. Severity of stroke was determined using the NIHSS scale, while functional outcome was determined using the Modified Rankin Scale. RESULTS: Values of vanillylmandelic and homovanillic acids positively correlated with functional outcome of ischaemic stroke. Favorable outcomes correlated with decreased values, on contrary to increased values, which were associated with unfavourable outcomes. CONCLUSION: Determining the values of these compounds in the urine is an easily available prognostic tool for the ischaemic stroke outcome, while also influencing potential therapeutic changes.

Locked-in syndrome in a patient with acute obstructive hydrocephalus, caused by large unruptured aneurysm of the basilar artery (BA).

We describe a case of acute obstructive hydrocephalus as a consequence of compression of the brainstem by a large aneurysm of the basilar artery (BA) in a 62-year-old male. After the insertion of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS), we encountered the "locked-in syndrome" clinical condition. "Locked-in syndrome" is a clinical state characterized by quadriplegia and anarthria with preserved consciousness, most commonly caused by ischemia in the ventral part of pons.

[AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA].

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a syndrome that occurs in patients with high spinal cord lesion. It is caused by activation of sympathetic nervous system by a noxious stimulus below the level of injury, usually consisting of distention and/or irritation of the bladder or constipation. Sympathetic system activation leads to blood pressure elevation because compensatory mechanisms cannot properly regulate blood pressure due to the spinal cord lesions. The most important manifestation of AD is arterial hypertension because of the possible cerebrovascular and cardiovascular complications, including death. Initial treatment consists of recognition of the symptoms and resolution of the cause. In patients with high blood pressure antihypertensive therapy is initiated (with nifedipine, captopril and nitroglycerin). Prevention is also a very important task, with the goal of influencing all possible triggers of this condition, specially micturition and colon disorders. One of the most important tasks is educating patients, their caregivers and health professionals about AD.

Monocytes and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) as early predictors of disease outcome in patients with cerebral ischemic stroke.

In this study to identify prognostic biomarkers for ischemic stroke (IS) outcome, we monitored monocyte number and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) concentration in peripheral blood of 44 patients with IS during the week following IS. According to the severity of IS, patients were allocated to three groups: patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA), patients with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≤ 12, and patients with NIHSS > 12. In patients with NIHSS > 12 statistically significant increased number of monocytes was observed on day 7. MCP-1 plasma concentration initially increased, decreased at day 3 in patients with NIHSS > 12 and increased and restored on day 7. A negative correlation between the number of monocytes and MCP-1 concentration was observed on day 3 after IS. Higher day-7 MCP-1 level was associated with higher modified Rankin Scale (mRS) value (indicating worse outcome) at 90 days post-IS in patients with NIHSS > 12. Our findings suggest that number of monocytes and plasma MCP-1 level could be clinical prognostic biomarkers as early predictors of disease outcome in patients with IS.

Pathological and non-pathological irregularities of nystagmus.

Irregularities of nystagmus can be found almost in every electronystagmographic record, but only a few are pathological. In this investigation, the authors try to define the border line between pathological and nonpathological irregularities of nystagmus and according to this measure the diagnostic use of findings of irregularities of nystagmus.

Voice rehabilitation of Broca's aphasia following total laryngectomy.

Total laryngectomy, as a consequence of carcinoma of the larynx, results in loss of speech function. Cerebrovascular stroke is the leading cause of reduced speech production ability, and thereby communication difficulties. The case is presented of a 60-year-old male patient who suffered stroke five years after a total laryngectomy. Speech rehabilitation was hampered due to the depressive state of the patient. Although contraindicated, the secondary voice prosthesis was implanted. Only at that moment the patient showed willingness and motivation for speech rehabilitation. The aim of this presentation is to demonstrate that not all neurological disorders are contraindicated for implantation of voice prostheses.

CSF liver pseudocyst as a complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

We have a 30-year-old female patient suffering from secondary hydrocephalus. She has had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) implanted following a rupture and a successful clipping of the aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery (ACoA). Three weeks after implanting of the VPS, respiratory and abdominal difficulties with febrility appeared. We diagnosed cerebrospinal fluid liver pseudocyst using ultrasound (US) and computer tomography scan (CT). Given that we found bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), we converted VPS into an external ventricular drain (EVD). After that, we conducted a US-guided punction and drainage of the CSF liver pseudocyst. The subsequent CT of abdomen showed a regression of the cystic form. The patient died following the septic condition with multiple organ failures (MOF) a month after the cerebrospinal fluid liver pseudocyst diagnosis.The perforation of parenhimatose abdominal organs with distal part of VPS is a rare complication which is most likely a consequence of a shunt infection and of an immunological reaction that took place during the process of localizing an infection.

Focused high risk--population screening for carotid stenosis and retinal microangiopathia after radiotherapy for laryngeal carcinoma.

Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is one of the major complications of external irradiation (radiotherapy, RT) for laryngeal carcinoma. Considering amaurosis fugax is often one of the first signs of significant CAS our focus was to determine weather patients with post-irradiation CAS also develop ocular microangiopathy as a result of insufficient ophthalmic circulation. In our study Carotid Duplex ultrasound scans revealed that 33.33% of patients had significant radiation-induced CAS. The majority (over 85.71%) of radiation-induced CAS had more than one atherosclerotic plaque including any degree of stenosis in the RT group, and had significantly more than that of the control group. Microangiopathic changes were documented only with the patients that have had an increased cerebrovascular risk (diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension).

Recurrent transient global amnesia at high altitude.

We report the case of a 57-year-old man who experienced recurrent episodes of memory loss that resemble transient global amnesia (TGA). The first episode lasted 20 minutes, and the second was 8 hours long.

Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma with intracellular accumulation of SPARC - a hypothesis (SPARC in nasopharyngeal angiofibroma).

Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a histologically benign tumor composed of stroma and vessels. The vascular component of the lesion is prone to bleeding and responsible for its clinical "malignancy". Some nasopharyngeal angiofibromas are resistant to surgical therapy because of extensive growth and occasionally bone destruction. It has been shown that molecular factors supporting residual tissue after incomplete surgery might be targeted with pharmacotherapy as a cell based therapy. Because the cell of origin of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is not recognized yet, it would be of interest to discuss molecule(s) relevant to all the cell components of the growth. Such molecule(s) may also regulate bone homing of the tumor. We propose that in nasopharyngeal angiofibroma the molecule responding to the cues mentioned above is SPARC (secreted protein acidic rich in cystein). We discuss SPARC-enabling formation of molecular complexes important for the angiogenic events and present nasopharyngeal angiofibroma as a hyperplastic angiogenic machinery or a "soil" without "seed". Therapeutic targeting of SPARC in nasopharyngeal angiofibroma would be targeting of a molecule at the roots of cooperation between stromatogenesis and angiogenesis, coexpressed with Ki67 in the vascular compartment. Considering the intracellular accumulation of SPARC, the benefit of (anti) SPARC therapy in nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is yet to be proved.

Prolonged esophageal pH monitoring in the evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux in children with chronic tubotympanal disorders.

BACKGROUND: Children with ear, nose and throat disorders are believed to have a high incidence of pathologic gastroesophageal reflux (GER). This study was designed to establish the frequency and ratio of pathologic GER in the development of chronic tubotympanal disorders. METHODS: Twenty-seven children with chronic tubotympanal disorders (mean age, 2 to 13 years; average age, 6.8 years) underwent 24-hour continuous pH monitoring. Fourteen of the examined patients had secretory otitis, whereas 13 patients had recurrent otitis. From each 24-hour pH monitoring, 12-hour daytime and nighttime periods were selected. Eleven patients were tested using simultaneous dual pH monitoring (distal and proximal pH monitoring). RESULTS: Fifteen (55.6%) of 27 patients had pathologic GER. The authors did not find a relation between pathologic GER and different types of ear disorders. Daytime pH monitoring yielded significantly more episodes of reflux than did nighttime monitoring. The reflux index was substantially higher during the day. In the current study, distal pH monitoring showed that 6 of 11 patients had pathologic GER, whereas proximal pH monitoring showed that only only 3 of 11 patients had pathologic GER. CONCLUSIONS: The authors recommend that a pH study be performed in children with chronic tubotympanal disorders when standard treatment is ineffective. The method of choice for the diagnosis of pathologic GER in patients with chronic tubotympanal disorders should be pH monitoring of the esophagus and throat.