Semaglutide Effects on Metabolic Outcomes in Diabetes Mellitus Patients - Real World Study.

Purpose: Diabetes is a public health problem that requires strategies to impact glycemic control and reduce the risk of long-term medical complications. Pharmacological management is a necessary treatment for this disease. Therefore, semaglutide is an essential tool to achieve the treatment targets. The present study aimed to evaluate the semaglutide effects on a cohort with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Colombia. Materials and Methods: The cohort included 49 patients with T2DM that have been treated in a specialized care center. Their glycemic outcomes, weight, renal function, and adverse events were evaluated through a 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. Results: Significant differences were observed in the outcome evaluation: reduction of glycated hemoglobin levels (MD -2.74 CI -1.95 to -3.52 in 6 months), fasting plasma glucose levels, body weight (MD -7.11 CI -5.97 to -8.24), and the albumin-to-creatinine ratio. The results were maintained throughout the treatment period. The adverse event rate was 16.3%, predominating gastrointestinal events. Conclusion: This real-world evidence shows the efficacy of semaglutide in achieving treatment goals in patients with T2DM.

Effectiveness and Safety of Non-Invasive Neuromodulation for Vision Restoration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness and safety of non-invasive electrical stimulation (NES) for vision restoration. We systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NES with sham stimulation, for vision restoration between 2000 and 2022 in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS. The main outcomes were as follows: visual acuity (VA); detection accuracy; foveal threshold; mean sensitivity as the parameter for the visual field; reading performance; contrast sensitivity (CS); electroencephalogram; quality of life (QoL), and safety. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias 2.0 tool. The certainty in the evidence was determined using the GRADE framework. Protocol registration: CRD42022329342. Thirteen RCTs involving 441 patients with vision impairment indicate that NES may improve VA in the immediate post-intervention period (mean difference [MD] = -0.02 logMAR, 95% confidence intervals [CI] -0.08 to 0.04; low certainty), and probably increases QoL and detection accuracy (MD = 0.08, 95% CI -0.25 to 0.42 and standardised MD [SMD] = 0.09, 95% CI -0.58 to 0.77, respectively; both moderate certainty). NES likely results in little or no difference in mean sensitivity (SMD = -0.03, 95% CI -0.53 to 0.48). Compared with sham stimulation, NES increases the risk of minor adverse effects (risk ratio = 1.24, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.54; moderate certainty). The effect of NES on CS, reading performance, and electroencephalogram was uncertain. Our study suggests that although NES may slightly improve VA, detection accuracy, and QoL, the clinical relevance of these findings remains uncertain. Future research should focus on improving the available evidence's precision and consistency.

Taquicardia ventricular monomorfa sostenida secundaria a lipoma intramiocárdica / Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia secondary to intramyocardial lipoma

[RESUMEN]. Introducción: A pesar de ser extremadamente raros, los tumores cardíacos conforman un importante desafío diagnóstico de la práctica cardiooncológica. Los lipomas son la segunda neoplasia primaria benigna en orden de frecuencia, representan entre un 8 a 12% de los tumores cardíacos primarios benignos en adultos. Materiales, métodos: Presentamos un caso clínico de una paciente estudiada y diagnosticada en nuestra institución. Descripción: Se presenta a una paciente de 21 años, de género femenino, sin factores de riesgo cardiovasculares, que fue referida a nuestra institución con diagnóstico de lipoma cardíaco. Su presentación inicial incluyó taquicardia ventricular sostenida con descompensación hemodinámica, que respondió favorablemente a la cardioversión eléctrica. Tras su ingreso, se llevaron a cabo estudios diagnósticos adicionales para obtener una caracterización más precisa de la masa y facilitar la toma de decisiones terapéuticas. El ecocardiograma transtorácico reveló la presencia de una masa en el septum interventricular basal, con extensión a la pared inferior de ambos ventrículos. La resonancia cardíaca posterior confirmó la naturaleza lipídica de la masa, que se presentaba de manera homogénea, con lí- mites definidos, sin realce en ninguna fase del contraste endovenoso y encapsulada, sin afectar estructuras adyacentes. La ausencia de realce precoz y tardío permitió descartar la vascularización y la presencia de tejido fibroso, respectivamente, consolidando así el diagnóstico de lipoma. Después de una evaluación exhaustiva por el equipo cardiovascular de nuestro hospital, se decidió de manera conjunta no proceder con una intervención quirúrgica debido a la ubicación anatómica del tumor y al elevado riesgo de morbimortalidad asociado. La alternativa consensuada fue la implantación de un cardiodesfibrilador, considerando el historial de arritmia severa y el riesgo de recurrencia en esta paciente. Conclusión: Se presenta un caso infrecuente de tumor cardíaco, que genera grandes desafíos diagnósticos y terapéuticos. Se optó por un tratamiento conservador con el propósito de prevenir la recurrencia de eventos arrítmicos.

[ABSTRACT]. Introduction: Despite being extremely rare, cardiac tumors pose a significant diagnostic challenge in cardio-oncology practice. Lipomas rank as the second most common primary benign neoplasm, accounting for 8 to 12% of primary benign cardiac tumors in adults. Materials and Methods: We present a clinical case of a patient studied and diagnosed at our institution. Description: A 21-year-old female patient, without cardiovascular risk factors, was referred to our institution with a diagnosis of cardiac lipoma. Her initial presentation included sustained ventricular tachycardia with hemodynamic decompensation, successfully managed with electrical cardioversion. Following admission, additional diagnostic studies were conducted to achieve a more precise characterization of the mass and guide therapeutic decision-making. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a mass in the basal interventricular septum, extending to the inferior wall of both ventricles. Subsequent cardiac resonance confirmed the lipid nature of the mass, presenting homogeneously with well-defined borders, no enhancement in any phase of intravenous contrast, encapsulated, and without involvement of adjacent structures. The absence of early and late enhancement ruled out tumor vascularization and fibrous tissue, respectively, confirming the diagnosis of a lipoma. Following a comprehensive evaluation by our hospital's cardiovascular team, a joint decision was made to refrain from surgical intervention due to the anatomical location of the tumor and the associated high risk of morbidity and mortality. The consensus alternative was the implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator, considering the patient's history of severe arrhythmia and the risk of recurrence. Conclusion: An infrequent case of cardiac tumor, that is associated with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, is described. A conservative treatment was chosen aiming to prevent the recurrence of arrhythmic events.

Surgical corridors to foramen magnum meningiomas: a mini-review.

Gross-total resection of foramen magnum meningiomas remains the gold standard of treatment and should be performed whenever possible. The transcondylar approach (and its variations) represents the most used approach for meningiomas located in the lateral or anterior borders of the foramen magnum. Endoscopic transclivus approaches represent a useful option in selected cases of anterior midline foramen magnum meningiomas, to be performed in centers with advanced experience in endoscopic skull base surgery, with the caveats of increased risk of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak. Alternatively, radiosurgery remains an option for well-selected cases, especially for the management of asymptomatic patients with small enlarging tumors. Advances in molecular profiling, as well as genetic analysis, may guide adjuvant treatment.

Unilateral Campotomy of Forel for Acquired Hemidystonia: An Open-Label Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Hemidystonia (HD) is characterized by unilateral involuntary torsion movements and fixed postures of the limbs and face. It often develops after deleterious neuroplastic changes secondary to injuries to the brain. This condition usually responds poorly to medical treatment, and deep brain stimulation often yields unsatisfactory results. We propose this study based on encouraging results from case reports of patients with HD treated by ablative procedures in the subthalamic region. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of stereotactic-guided radiofrequency lesioning of the subthalamic area vs available medical treatment in patients suffering from acquired HD. METHODS: This is an open-label study in patients with secondary HD allocated according to their treatment choice, either surgical or medical treatment; both groups were followed for one year. Patients assigned in the surgical group underwent unilateral campotomy of Forel. The efficacy was assessed using the Unified Dystonia Rating Scale, Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Scale, Arm Dystonia Disability Scale, and SF-36 questionnaire scores. RESULTS: Patients in the surgical group experienced significant improvement in the Unified Dystonia Rating Scale, Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Scale, and Arm Dystonia Disability Scale (39%, 35%, and 15%, respectively) 1 year after the surgery, with positive reflex in quality-of-life measures, such as bodily pain and role-emotional process. Patients kept on medical treatment did not experience significant changes during the follow-up. No infections were recorded, and no neurological adverse events were associated with either intervention. CONCLUSION: The unilateral stereotaxy-guided ablation of Forel H1 and H2 fields significantly improved in patients with HD compared with optimized clinical treatment.

Safety and Feasibility of Nucleus Accumbens Surgery for Drug Addiction: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Substance addiction encompasses the incapacity to discontinue urgent drug use; many severely disabled patients might be considered appropriate candidates for surgery due to the high rates of relapse despite conservative treatment. A crucial finding in the brain of these patients is increased extracellular concentrations of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and safety of NAcc surgery for the treatment of substance dependence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic review to identify all original studies in which NAcc surgery was performed to treat relapsing drug addiction with a minimum follow-up of six months. From database inception to April 10, 2020, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and LILACS. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data. The main outcome was the relapse rate. The GRADE methods were applied to evaluate the quality of evidence. This study was registered with PROSPERO CRD42020177054. RESULTS: Fifteen studies involving 359 participants met inclusion criteria; eight (56%) included NAcc deep brain stimulation (DBS) in 13 patients with addiction for alcohol (N = 6, 46.1%), opioid (N = 4, 30.7%), and nicotine (N = 3, 15.3%); seven studies (N = 346, 44%) performed NAcc radiofrequency (RF) ablation for opioid (N = 334) and alcohol (N = 12) dependence. Relapse rates were 38.4% for DBS and 39% for RF ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite available studies reporting a benefit in the treatment of drug addictions with NAcc surgery, this systematic review stresses the need for carefully planned prospective studies in order to further address the efficacy and indications.

Effectiveness of Deep Brain Stimulation in Reducing Body Mass Index and Weight: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has become a major public health concern worldwide, with current behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical treatments offering varying rates of success and adverse effects. Neurosurgical approaches to treatment of refractory obesity include deep brain stimulation (DBS) on either specific hypothalamic or reward circuitry nuclei, which might contribute to weight reduction through different mechanisms. We aimed to determine the safety and clinical effect of DBS in medical refractory obesity. SUMMARY: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic review to identify all original studies - observational and experimental - in which DBS was performed to treat refractory obesity. From database inception to April 2021, we conducted our search in PubMed, Scopus, and LILACS databases using the following MeSH terms: "Obesity" OR "Prader-Willi Syndrome" AND "Deep Brain Stimulation." The main outcomes were safety and weight loss measured with the body mass index (BMI). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methods were applied to evaluate the quality of evidence. This study protocol was registered with PROSPERO ID: CRD42019132929. Seven studies involving 12 patients met the inclusion criteria; the DBS target was the nucleus accumbens in four (57.1%), the lateral hypothalamic area in two (29.6%), and the ventral hypothalamus in one (14.3%). Further, 33% of participants had obesity secondary to Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and 66.6% had primary obesity. The global BMI average at baseline was 46.7 (SD: 9.6, range: 32.2-59.1), and after DBS, 42.8 (SD: 8.8, range: 25-53.9), with a mean difference of 3.9; however, the delta in PWS patients was -2.3 and 10 in those with primary obesity. The incidence of moderate side effects was 33% and included manic symptoms (N = 2), electrode fracture (N = 1), and seizure (N = 1); mild complications (41.6%) included skin infection (N = 2), difficulties falling asleep (N = 1), nausea (N = 1), and anxiety (N = 1). KEY MESSAGES: Despite available small case series and case reports reporting a benefit in the treatment of refractory obesity with DBS, this study emphasizes the need for prospective studies with longer follow-ups in order to further address the efficacy and indications.

Directional deep brain stimulation of the posteromedial hypothalamus for refractory intermittent explosive disorder: a case series using a novel neurostimulation device and intraoperative microdialysis

Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent outbursts of aggressive behaviour. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the posteromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (pHyp) is an alternative therapy for extreme cases and shows promising results. Intraoperative microdialysis can help elucidate the neurobiological mechanism of pHyp-DBS. Objective To evaluate efficacy and safety of pHyp-DBS using eight-contact directional leads in patients with refractory IED (rIED) and the accompanying changes in neurotransmitters. Methods A prospective study in which patients with a diagnosis of rIED were treated with pHyp-DBS for symptom alleviation. Bilateral pHyp-DBS was performed with eight-contact directional electrodes. Follow-up was performed at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Results Four patients (3 men, mean age 27 ± 2.8 yr) were included. All patients were diagnosed with rIED and severe intellectual disability. Two patients had congenital rubella, one has co-diagnosis of infantile autism and the fourth presents with drug-resistant epilepsy. There was a marked increase in the levels of GABA and glycine during intraoperative stimulation. The average improvement in aggressive behaviour in the last follow-up was 6 points (Δ: 50%, p= 0.003) while also documenting an important improvement of the SF-36 in all domains except bodily pain. No adverse events associated with pHyp-DBS were observed. Conclusions This is the first study to show the safety and beneficial effect of directional lead pHyp-DBS in patients with refractory Intermittent Explosive Disorder and to demonstrate the corresponding mechanism of action through increases in GABA and glycine concentration in the pHyp.

Síndrome de persona rígida: presentación de caso clínico y abordaje terapéutico / Stiff man Syndrome Clinical case presentation and therapeutic approach

Introducción: El síndrome del hombre rígido representa una rara enfermedad neuromuscular caracterizada por rigidez muscular progresiva y espasmos musculares dolorosos que afecta a 1 persona por cada millón de habitantes por año en el mundo. En la mayoría de los pacientes se encuentran niveles elevados de anticuerpos descarboxilasa del ácido glutámico. En Colombia solo se han publicado alrededor de 3 casos, lo que motiva la presentación de un nuevo informe que aporte a la discusión actual en el campo de la neurología clínica. Caso clínico: Paciente de sexo femenino de 35 años con cuadro clínico progresivo de varios años, caracterizado por contracciones paroxísticas dolorosas, parestesias y pérdida de fuerza. Se documentó la presencia de anticuerpos anti-GAD compatibles con el síndrome del hombre rígido. Tras un tratamiento integral, que incluyó la infusión farmacológicamente intratecal con baclofeno, se obtuvo mejoría clínica en el índice de Barthel. Conclusiones: El síndrome del hombre rígido es una condición infradiagnosticada que se asocia a un deterioro de la calidad de vida de quienes lo padecen.

Introduction: Stiff man syndrome represents a rare neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle rigidity and painful muscle spasms that affects 1 person for every million habitants per year in the world. High levels of glutamic acid antibodies decarboxylase are found in most patients. In Colombia, only around 3 cases have been published, which motivates the presentation of a new report that contributes to the current discussion in the field of clinical neurology. Clinical Case: 35-year-old female patient with a progressive clinical picture of several years, characterized by painful paroxysmal contractions, paresthesias and loss of strength. The presence of anti-GAD antibodies was documented, compatible with Stiff man syndrome. After comprehensive treatment, which included pharmacologically intrathecal infusion with baclofen, clinical improvement was obtained in the Barthel index. Conclusions: Stiff man syndrome is an underdiagnosed condition which is associated with a deterioration in the quality of life for those who suffer from it.

Infección urinaria por Acinetobacter baumannii adquirida en la comunidad: caso clínico de una paciente embarazada / Urinary infection by Acinetobacter baumannii acquired in the community: clinical case of a pregnant patient

Resumen Antecedentes: Acinetobacter baumannii es un cocobacilo no fermentativo gramnegativo, con amplio espectro de resistencia a los antibióticos. Existe relación entre la colonización de la bacteria y el origen de complicaciones durante el embarazo, principalmente: vasculitis del cordón umbilical, alteraciones en la gelatina de Wharton, bajo peso al nacimiento y parto pretérmino. Caso clínico: Paciente de 21 semanas de embarazo, con fiebre no cuantificada, dolor abdominal en el hipogastrio asociado con disuria, tenesmo vesical y polaquiuria de un mes de evolución. Se realizó urocultivo mediante sonda vesical y se procesó en un equipo MicroScan AutoSCAN-4®, automatizado, que resultó positivo para Acinetobacter baumannii, con recuento superior de 100,000 UFC/mL. Debido al cuadro clínico se aisló a la paciente, con protocolo de control y tratamiento materno-fetal estrecho, con egreso institucional satisfactorio. Quince semanas después ingresó, nuevamente, al servicio médico por síntomas urinarios, patrón fetal grado III y bioquímica sanguínea alterada. Se practicó cesárea de urgencia; se obtuvo un recién nacido prematuro, vivo, que recibió tratamiento antimicrobiano. No se reportaron alteraciones adicionales. Cinco días después del posoperatorio ambos pacientes fueron dados de alta. Conclusiones: Las infecciones por Acinetobacter baumannii durante el embarazo son poco frecuentes, pero se asocian con elevada morbilidad y el retraso en el tratamiento con alta mortalidad materna y fetal.

Abstract Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is a non-fermentative gram-negative coccobacillus, with a broad spectrum of resistance to antibiotics. There is a relationship between the colonization of the bacteria and complications in the pregnancy, among which are: cord vasculitis, alterations in Wharton gelatin, low birth weight and preterm delivery. Clinical case: A pregnant woman of 21 weeks of gestation with unquantified fever, abdominal pain in hypogastrium associated with dysuria, bladder tenesmus and one-month-old urinary frequency; urine culture was performed by bladder catheter and processed in an automated MicroScan AutoSCAN-4®, which was positive for Acinetobacter baumannii, with colony counts greater than 100,000 CFU/mL. Due to the clinical picture, contact isolation, control and close maternal-fetal treatment were performed with satisfactory institutional discharge. The patient entered 15 weeks after the previous admission with urinary symptoms, grade III fetal pattern and altered blood biochemistry, whereby she underwent surgery, obtaining a premature birth which was treated with antimicrobial therapy. Conclusion: Acinetobacter baumannii infections during pregnancy are rare, however is associated with an increase in maternal-fetal morbidity, and delays in the administration are associated with increased maternal-fetal mortality.

Pain Relief in CRPS-II after Spinal Cord and Motor Cortex Simultaneous Dual Stimulation.

UNLABELLED: We describe a case of a 30-year-old woman who suffered a traumatic injury of the right brachial plexus, developing severe complex regional pain syndrome type II (CRPS-II). After clinical treatment failure, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was indicated with initial positive pain control. However, after 2 years her pain progressively returned to almost baseline intensity before SCS. Additional motor cortex electrode implant was then proposed as a rescue therapy and connected to the same pulse generator. This method allowed simultaneous stimulation of the motor cortex and SCS in cycling mode with independent stimulation parameters in each site. At 2 years follow-up, the patient reported sustained improvement in pain with dual stimulation, reduction of painful crises, and improvement in quality of life. The encouraging results in this case suggests that this can be an option as add-on therapy over SCS as a possible rescue therapy in the management of CRPS-II. However, comparative studies must be performed in order to determine the effectiveness of this therapy. KEY WORDS: Chronic neuropathic pain, Complex regional pain syndrome Type II, brachial plexus injury, motor cortex stimulation, spinal cord stimulation.

Optimizing microdialysis for deep brain stimulation.

Cerebral microdialysis is a chemical detection method capable of identifying and simultaneously sampling a wide range of substances in the micromilieu of the monitoring probe. The interstitial space of biological tissues and fluids is sampled through a thin fenestrated dialysis catheter inserted into the brain. The technique has been reported in patients with Parkinson's disease. However, the procedure is not widely used by neurosurgeons, possibly owing to unclear indications and poor effective benefits, mostly secondary to significant pitfalls. In spite of the feasibility of microdialysis in humans, many factors can affect the quality of the process. Possible pitfalls include improperly designed probe, probe insertion effects, ineffective perfusion rate, issues to optimize stabilization period, and insufficient volume sample. This article reviews those key technical features necessary for performing microdialysis in humans during deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's Disease.

Seizure frequency reduction after posteromedial hypothalamus deep brain stimulation in drug-resistant epilepsy associated with intractable aggressive behavior.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the posteromedial hypothalamus (pHyp) on seizure frequency in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) associated with intractable aggressive behavior (IAB). METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from nine patients, who received bilateral stereotactic pHyp-DBS for the treatment of medically intractable aggressive behavior, focusing on five patients who also had DRE. All patients were treated at the Colombian Center and Foundation of Epilepsy and Neurological Diseases-FIRE (Chapter of the International Bureau for Epilepsy), in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia from 2010 to 2014. Each case was evaluated previously by the institutional ethical committee, assessing the impact of aggressive behavior on the patient's family and social life, the humanitarian aspects of preserving the safety and physical integrity of caregivers, and the need to prevent self-harm. Epilepsy improvement was measured by a monthly seizure reduction percentage, comparing preoperative state and outcome. Additional response to epilepsy was defined by reduction of the antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Aggressive behavior response was measured using the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS). RESULTS: All the patients with DRE associated with IAB presented a significant decrease of the rate of epileptic seizures after up to 4 years follow-up, achieving a general 89.6% average seizure reduction from the state before the surgery. Aggressiveness was significantly controlled, with evident improvement in the OAS, enhancing the quality of life of patients and families. SIGNIFICANCE: In well-selected patients, DBS of the pHyp seems to be a safe and effective procedure for treatment of DRE associated with refractory aggressive behavior. Larger and prospective series are needed to define the pHyp as a target for DRE in different contexts.

Intrathecal morphine therapy in the management of status dystonicus in neurodegeneration brain iron accumulation type 1.

Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation type 1 (NBIA-1) is a rare disorder characterized by progressive extrapyramidal dysfunction and dementia. NBIA-1 encompasses typical iron brain accumulation, mostly in the globus pallidus with secondary dementia, spasticity, rigidity, dystonia, and choreoathetosis. Treatment remains mostly symptomatic and is challenging. We present the case of a 14-year-old boy diagnosed with NBIA-1, presenting intractable progressive generalized dystonia leading to unresponsive status dystonicus (SD). The patient received a SynchroMed II (model 8637) programmable system pump (Medtronic®, Inc.) implant with an Ascenda intrathecal catheter for intrathecal morphine therapy (IMT). The initial dose of morphine was 1.0 mg/day. Overall, we observed no complications with IMT treatment and important improvement of the patient's motor function with stabilization of his incapacitating dystonia and his quality of life. On the Global Dystonia Severity Rating Scale, he presented 52% improvement, 30% improvement on the Unified Dystonia Rating Scale, and 38% improvement on the Fahn-Marsden Rating Scale after 10 months, when the dose was 1.7 mg/day. IMT should be considered as a potential palliative treatment in the management of intractable dystonia and SD secondary to NBIA-1.

Correlation of (18)F-fluoroethyl tyrosine positron-emission tomography uptake values and histomorphological findings by stereotactic serial biopsy in newly diagnosed brain tumors using a refined software tool.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard neuroimaging method to diagnose neoplastic brain lesions, as well as to perform stereotactic biopsy surgical planning. MRI has the advantage of providing structural anatomical details with high sensitivity, though histological specificity is limited. Although combining MRI with other imaging modalities, such as positron-emission tomography (PET), has proven to increment specificity, exact correlation between PET threshold uptake ratios (URs) and histological diagnosis and grading has not yet been described. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to correlate exactly the histopathological criteria of the biopsy site to its PET uptake value with high spatial resolution (mm(3)), and to analyze the diagnostic value of PET using the amino acid O-(2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl)-l-tyrosine ((18)F-FET) PET in patients with newly diagnosed brain lesions in comparison to histological findings obtained from stereotactic serial biopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 23 adult patients with newly diagnosed brain tumors on MRI were enrolled in this study. Subsequently to diagnoses, all patients underwent a (18)F-FET PET-guided stereotactic biopsy, using an original newly developed software module, which is presented here. Conventional MRI, stereotactic computed tomography series, and (18)F-FET PET images were semiautomatically fused, and hot-spot detection was performed for target planning. UR was determined using the uptake value from the biopsy sites in relation to the contralateral frontal white matter. UR values ≥1.6 were considered positive for glioma. High-grade glioma (HGG) was suspected with URs ≥3.0, while low-grade glioma (LGG) was suspected with URs between 1.6 and 3.0. Stereotactic serial biopsies along the trajectory at multiple sites were performed in millimeter steps, and the FET URs for each site were correlated exactly with a panel of 27 different histopathological markers. Comparisons between FET URs along the biopsy trajectories and the histological diagnoses were made with Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. Analysis of variance was performed to test for significant differences in maximum UR between different tumor grades. RESULTS: A total of 363 biopsy specimens were taken from 23 patients by stereotactic serial biopsies. Histological examination revealed eight patients (35%) with an LGG: one with a World Health Organization (WHO)-I lesion and seven with a WHO-II lesion. Thirteen (57%) patients revealed an HGG (two with a WHO-III and three with a WHO-IV tumor), and two patients (9%) showed a process that was neither HGG nor LGG (group X or no-grade group). The correlation matrix between histological findings and the UR revealed five strong correlations. Low cell density in tissue samples was found to have a significant negative correlation with the measured cortical uptake rate (r=-0.43, P=0.02), as well as moderate cell density (r=-0.48, P=0.02). Pathological patterns of proliferation (r=0.37, P=0.04), GFAP (r=0.37, P=0.04), and Olig2 (r=0.36, P=0.05) showed a significant positive correlation with cortical URs. Analysis of variance tests showed a significant difference between the LGG and the HGG groups (F=8.27, P<0.002), but no significant differences when differentiating between the X group and the HGG (P=0.2)/LGG (P=0.8) groups, nor between the no-grade group and the WHO-I group. CONCLUSION: (18)F-FET PET is a valuable tool, as it allows the differentiation of HGGs from LGGs. Its use is not limited to preoperative evaluation; it may also refine biopsy targeting and improve tumor delimitation for radiotherapy. Histology is still necessary, and remains the gold standard for definitive diagnosis of brain lesions.

Listenmee and Listenmee smartphone application: synchronizing walking to rhythmic auditory cues to improve gait in Parkinson's disease.

Evidence supports the use of rhythmic external auditory signals to improve gait in PD patients (Arias & Cudeiro, 2008; Kenyon & Thaut, 2000; McIntosh, Rice & Thaut, 1994; McIntosh et al., 1997; Morris, Iansek, & Matyas, 1994; Thaut, McIntosh, & Rice, 1997; Suteerawattananon, Morris, Etnyre, Jankovic, & Protas , 2004; Willems, Nieuwboer, Chavert, & Desloovere, 2006). However, few prototypes are available for daily use, and to our knowledge, none utilize a smartphone application allowing individualized sounds and cadence. Therefore, we analyzed the effects on gait of Listenmee®, an intelligent glasses system with a portable auditory device, and present its smartphone application, the Listenmee app®, offering over 100 different sounds and an adjustable metronome to individualize the cueing rate as well as its smartwatch with accelerometer to detect magnitude and direction of the proper acceleration, track calorie count, sleep patterns, steps count and daily distances. The present study included patients with idiopathic PD presented gait disturbances including freezing. Auditory rhythmic cues were delivered through Listenmee®. Performance was analyzed in a motion and gait analysis laboratory. The results revealed significant improvements in gait performance over three major dependent variables: walking speed in 38.1%, cadence in 28.1% and stride length in 44.5%. Our findings suggest that auditory cueing through Listenmee® may significantly enhance gait performance. Further studies are needed to elucidate the potential role and maximize the benefits of these portable devices.