Factores asociados con el tiempo de progresión de la discapacidad en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple / Factors associated with time to disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis

Objetivos. Determinar los factores sociodemográficos, clínicos y radiológicos asociados al tiempo de progresión de discapacidad en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple (EM). Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal analítico, basado en registros de la historia clínica de pacientes del Instituto Neurológico de Colombia, entre el 2013 y 2021. La progresión a discapacidad de los pacientes con EM se definió como el tiempo hasta un aumento de por lo menos 0,5 puntos en el valor de la EDSS (del inglés Expanded Disability Status Scale), sostenido por al menos seis meses. Se usó un modelo de regresión de Cox para estimar la función de supervivencia y los hazard ratios (HR) con sus intervalos de confianza de 95% (IC 95%). Resultados. Se incluyeron 216 pacientes, de los cuales el 25% progresó a discapacidad, la mediana de supervivencia fue de 78 meses (RIC 95%: 70−83), las lesiones activas (HR = 1,94; IC 95%: 1,10−3,44), el sexo masculino (HR = 2,5; IC 95%: 1,32−4,73), y las enfermedades neurológicas (HR = 2,18; IC95%: 1,03−4,61) se asociaron en el modelo multivariado. Conclusiones. La mediana de tiempo de progresión hacia la discapacidad fue de 72 meses. Las lesiones activas captadas en resonancia magnética y el sexo masculino se asociaron con mayor progresión de la discapacidad, con resultados estadísticamente significativos en el modelo multivariado.

Objectives. To determine the sociodemographic, clinical and radiological factors associated with time to disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Materials and methods. Cross-sectional descriptive study with an analytical component, based on clinical records of patients at the Neurological Institute of Colombia, between 2013 and 2021. Progression to disability in MS patients was defined as the time to an increase of at least 0.5 points in the EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale) score, sustained for at least six months. A Cox regression model was used to estimate the survival function and Hazard Ratios (HR) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results. We included 216 patients, of whom 25% progressed to disability, median survival was 78 months (95% CI: 70-83), active lesions (HR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.10-3.44), cerebellar complications (HR = 2.03; 95% CI: 0. 99-4.16), being male (HR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.32-4.73), and having neurological diseases (HR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.03-4.61) were associated as risk factors. While relapsing remitting MS (HR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.31-1.26) and age at diagnosis less than 40 years (HR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.53-1.76) were associated as protective factors. Conclusions. Progression is affected by many factors, and there is no single independent factor.

Neurodegeneration and convergent factors contributing to the deterioration of the cytoskeleton in Alzheimer's disease, cerebral ischemia and multiple sclerosis (Review).

The cytoskeleton is the main intracellular structure that determines the morphology of neurons and maintains their integrity. Therefore, disruption of its structure and function may underlie several neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the current literature on the tau protein, microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and neurofilaments as common denominators in pathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), cerebral ischemia, and multiple sclerosis (MS). Insights obtained from experimental models using biochemical and immunocytochemical techniques highlight that changes in these proteins may be potentially used as protein targets in clinical settings, which provides novel opportunities for the detection, monitoring and treatment of patients with these neurodegenerative diseases.

Factors involved in time reduction between seizure relapses in patients with epilepsy attending emergency rooms in Medellín, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Seizure relapses are the leading cause of admission to emergency rooms (ER) in people with epilepsy. OBJECTIVE: To analyze administrative and clinical factors associated with the duration between seizure relapses in people with epilepsy admitted to the Neurological Institute of Colombia (Medellin) between July 2018 and July 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective follow-up study of 156 patients over 18 years old, diagnosed with epilepsy, and treated for over a year. The outcome variable was the time between seizure relapses, identified through the record of ER attendances. In addition, difficulties in the prescription filling process (delay, omission, or brand change) and clinical characteristics were analyzed as potential associated influence factors. The statistical analysis was performed using the Prentice, Williams & Peterson-Gap Time survival model for recurrent events. Finally, Adjusted Hazard Ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) are also presented. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-six patients were analyzed. Their average age of diagnosis was 15.5 years (SD = 22.5), the median number of monthly seizures was 3 (SD = 9.3), and 50.6% were women. Moreover, difficulties in the prescription filling process were associated with a time reduction between seizure relapses (aHR = 2.61; 95%CI 1.49-4.57), showing a similar impact as having a history of three or four types of events (aHR = 2.96; 95%CI 1.23-7.12) and neuropsychiatric comorbidity (aHR = 1.89; 95%CI 1.04-3.54). CONCLUSION: Neuropsychiatric comorbidity, history of several types of events, and experiencing difficulties with prescription filling are associated with lower benefit from treatment to control seizure relapses.

Factors associated with time to disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis. / Factores asociados con el tiempo de progresión de la discapacidad en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple.

OBJECTIVES.: Motivation for the study: multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease that requires management by different disciplines. Data on Latin American patients is scarce, therefore, the usually used theoretical references are from other population groups. Main findings: sociodemographic (male), clinical (concomitant neurological diseases) and radiological (active lesions in magnetic resonance imaging) factors were found to be associated with disease progression. Implications: taking the above into account when approaching patients in daily clinical practice, it is possible to identify when their condition has greater possibilities of progression and thus eventually prevent complications. To determine the sociodemographic, clinical and radiological factors associated with time to disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS.: Cross-sectional descriptive study with an analytical component, based on clinical records of patients at the Neurological Institute of Colombia, between 2013 and 2021. Progression to disability in MS patients was defined as the time to an increase of at least 0.5 points in the EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale) score, sustained for at least six months. A Cox regression model was used to estimate the survival function and Hazard Ratios (HR) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS.: We included 216 patients, of whom 25% progressed to disability, median survival was 78 months (95% CI: 70-83), active lesions (HR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.10-3.44), cerebellar complications (HR = 2.03; 95% CI: 0. 99-4.16), being male (HR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.32-4.73), and having neurological diseases (HR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.03-4.61) were associated as risk factors. While relapsing remitting MS (HR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.31-1.26) and age at diagnosis less than 40 years (HR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.53-1.76) were associated as protective factors. CONCLUSIONS.: Progression is affected by many factors, and there is no single independent factor.

OBJETIVOS.: Motivación para realizar el estudio: la esclerosis múltiple (EM) es una enfermedad compleja que requiere manejo por diferentes disciplinas, en la literatura científica existen pocos datos de pacientes latinoamericanos, por ende, los referentes teóricos son de otros grupos poblacionales. Principales hallazgos: se encontró que factores sociodemográficos (sexo masculino), clínicos (enfermedades neurológicas concomitantes) y radiológicos (lesiones activas captadas en resonancia magnética) se asociaron con la progresión de la enfermedad. Implicancias: teniendo en cuenta lo anterior al momento de abordar los pacientes en la práctica clínica diaria, se puede clasificar su condición con mayores posibilidades de progresión y así eventualmente prevenir complicaciones. Determinar los factores sociodemográficos, clínicos y radiológicos asociados al tiempo de progresión de discapacidad en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple (EM). MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS.: Estudio transversal analítico, basado en registros de la historia clínica de pacientes del Instituto Neurológico de Colombia, entre el 2013 y 2021. La progresión a discapacidad de los pacientes con EM se definió como el tiempo hasta un aumento de por lo menos 0,5 puntos en el valor de la EDSS (del inglés Expanded Disability Status Scale), sostenido por al menos seis meses. Se usó un modelo de regresión de Cox para estimar la función de supervivencia y los hazard ratios (HR) con sus intervalos de confianza de 95% (IC 95%). RESULTADOS.: Se incluyeron 216 pacientes, de los cuales el 25% progresó a discapacidad, la mediana de supervivencia fue de 78 meses (RIC 95%: 70−83), las lesiones activas (HR = 1,94; IC 95%: 1,10−3,44), el sexo masculino (HR = 2,5; IC 95%: 1,32−4,73), y las enfermedades neurológicas (HR = 2,18; IC95%: 1,03−4,61) se asociaron en el modelo multivariado. CONCLUSIONES.: La mediana de tiempo de progresión hacia la discapacidad fue de 72 meses. Las lesiones activas captadas en resonancia magnética y el sexo masculino se asociaron con mayor progresión de la discapacidad, con resultados estadísticamente significativos en el modelo multivariado.

Memoria episódica posterior a cirugía de epilepsia del lóbulo temporal / Episodic memory after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery

RESUMEN INTRODUCCIÓN: La cirugía resectiva del lóbulo temporal anterior con amigdalo-hipocampectomía es un tratamiento efectivo para la epilepsia farmacorresistente del lóbulo temporal con esclerosis hipocampal. Sin embargo, este procedimiento conlleva riesgo de deterioro de la memoria episódica verbal y no verbal postoperatoria, dependiendo de la dominancia hemisférica para la memoria y el lenguaje. OBJETIVO: Explorar el desenlace de la memoria episódica posterior a la cirugía resectiva mediante lobectomía temporal anterior con amigdalo-hipocampectomía. MÉTODOS: Se analizó retrospectivamente la memoria episódica verbal y no verbal mediante pruebas neurop-sicológicas de 51 pacientes consecutivos sometidos a lobectomía temporal anterior con amigdalo-hipocampectomía del lado izquierdo y derecho. Todos los pacientes fueron sometidos a resonancia magnética cerebral preoperatoria, video-electroencefalografía y evaluaciones neuropsicológicas. A 12 pacientes (24 %) no se les realizó el test de Wada. RESULTADOS: Hubo disminución en la memoria episódica verbal postoperatoria con diferencias respecto a la preoperatoria, en la subprueba de textos II recuerdo de la escala de memoria de Wechsler III (p = 0,035). El resultado en la memoria episódica visual se mantuvo igual, no hubo diferencias en el grupo de lobectomía temporal estándar. CONCLUSIÓN: La lobectomía temporal anterior más amigdalo-hipocampectomía izquierda afecta levemente el desempeño de la memoria episódica postoperatoria, que clínicamente no es significativo en pacientes con epilepsia del lóbulo temporal mesial farmacorresistente.

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: Resective surgery of the anterior temporal lobe with amygdalohippocampectomy is an effective treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy of the temporal lobe with hippocampal sclerosis. However, this procedure carries a risk of post-operative episodic verbal and nonverbal memory impairment depending on the hemispheric dominance for memory and language. OBJECTIVE: To explore the outcome of episodic memory after resective surgery by means of anterior temporal lobectomy with amygdalohippocampectomy. METHODS: Verbal and non-verbal episodic memory was retrospectively analyzed by neuropsychological tests of 51 consecutive patients undergoing anterior temporal lobectomy with amygadalohyppocampectomy on the left and right sides. All patients underwent preoperative brain MRI, video electroencephalography, and neuropsychological evaluations. 12 patients (24%) did not undergo the Wada test. RESULTS: There was a decrease in postoperative verbal episodic memory with differences compared to preoperative, in the text II subtest recall of the Wechsler III memory scale (p = 0.035). The result in visual episodic memory remained the same, there were no differences in the standard temporal lobectomy group. CONCLUSION: Anterior temporal lobectomy plus left amygadalohyppocampectomy slightly affects the performance of postoperative episodic memory, which is clinically not significant in patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

The Influence of EEG References on the Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Interrelation Patterns.

The characterization of the functional network of the brain dynamics has become a prominent tool to illuminate novel aspects of brain functioning. Due to its excellent time resolution, such research is oftentimes based on electroencephalographic recordings (EEG). However, a particular EEG-reference might cause crucial distortions of the spatiotemporal interrelation pattern and may induce spurious correlations as well as diminish genuine interrelations originally present in the dataset. Here we investigate in which manner correlation patterns are affected by a chosen EEG reference. To this end we evaluate the influence of 7 popular reference schemes on artificial recordings derived from well controlled numerical test frameworks. In this respect we are not only interested in the deformation of spatial interrelations, but we test additionally in which way the time evolution of the functional network, estimated via some bi-variate interrelation measures, gets distorted. It turns out that the median reference as well as the global average show the best performance in most situations considered in the present study. However, if a collective brain dynamics is present, where most of the signals get correlated, these schemes may also cause crucial deformations of the functional network, such that the parallel use of different reference schemes seems advisable.