The impact of socioeconomic status on mental health and health-seeking behavior across race and ethnicity in a large multiple sclerosis cohort.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric symptoms are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may contribute to worse MS outcomes. Previous studies suggest the burden of symptoms may vary by race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). Our objective was to expand upon this previous work and explore the associations between SES, race, and ethnicity, as predictors of psychiatric symptoms, mental health attitudes, and health-seeking behavior in patients with MS. METHODS: Persons with MS answered a national web-based survey including demographic characteristics (including race, ethnicity and measures of SES), mental health attitudes, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale 5-item version (MFIS-5), and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). The survey also queried mental health availability and perceptions of care. We measured neighborhood-level SES (nSES) of each participant using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) index that was calculated from 5-digit postal codes. Other indicators of participant-level SES included education level and self-reported household income. We assessed the association between race, ethnicity, and neighborhood/participant-level SES indicators and affective symptom burden using generalized linear models that were adjusted for age, sex, and MS characteristics. RESULTS: 2095 participants answered the survey (mean AHRQ index 54.6 ± 5.4, age 51.3 ± 12.2 years, 7% Black/African American, 5.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 81.8% female). Those in the lowest quartile of nSES (most disadvantaged) were more likely to be either Black/African American or Hispanic/Latino as compared to those in highest quartile (least disadvantaged). Those in the lowest quartile of nSES had higher mean MFIS-5 (1.02 points; 95% CI: 0.39, 1.43), PHQ-9 (1.24 points; 95% CI: 0.49, 1.98), and GAD-7 (0.69 points; 95% CI: -0.01, 1.38) scores relative to those in the highest quartile. Of those who consumed alcohol (n = 1489), participants in the lowest AHRQ quartile had lower mean AUDIT scores (-0.73 points; 95% CI: -1.18, -0.29) as compared to those in higher quartiles. Race and ethnicity were not associated with self-reported psychiatric symptom burden in this cohort. SES was also associated with self-reported improvement of symptoms after receiving mental health care. A higher proportion of Black/African American (44.1% vs 30.2%, p = 0.003) and Hispanic/Latino (49.1% vs 30.6%, p<0.001) participants were more likely to report they would "definitely go" receive mental health care if services were co-located with their MS care as compared to white and Non-Hispanic/Latino participants, respectively. CONCLUSION: Higher SES was associated with a lower burden of psychiatric symptoms and with a higher likelihood of self-reported symptom recovery after receiving mental health treatment. Attitudes regarding mental health care delivery in MS varied according to racial and ethnic background. Future longitudinal studies in more diverse populations should assess whether co-location of mental health services with MS care helps to reduce the gap between access and need of mental health care in MS.

Sudden olfactory loss as an early marker of COVID-19: a nationwide Italian survey.

PURPOSE: The presence of many asymptomatic COVID-19 cases may increase the risks of disease dissemination, mainly for physicians. There are numerous reports on the frequent findings of sudden anosmia or hyposmia, before or at the same time of the typical COVID-19 symptoms onset. The aim of this study was to verify the association of olfactory impairment and COVID-19, providing a basis for subsequent research in the field of COVID-19 clinical heterogeneity. METHODS: We developed a 15-item online questionnaire on "Sudden Olfactory Loss (SOL) and COVID-19" that was administered during March 2020 to Italian general practitioners registered to a social media group. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty responses were received. SOL was identified as a significant sign of infection in COVID-19 patients, mainly aged between 30 and 40 years, even in the absence of other symptoms. SOL was present as an initial symptom in 46.7% of subjects, and in 16.7%, it was the only symptom. Among the COVID-19 confirmed cases, SOL occurred as the only symptom in 19.2% of patients. CONCLUSION: SOL could represent a possible early symptom in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19 subjects. Subjects affected by SOL should be considered as potential COVID-19 cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Neurosonology and noninvasive imaging of the carotid arteries.

In this chapter, we review imaging of the extracranial carotid arteries and the indications for noninvasive carotid artery evaluation, measuring the degree of arterial stenosis and plaque morphology. We also analyze the types of noninvasive imaging, including carotid duplex ultrasound, transcranial Doppler, magnetic resonance angiography, and computer tomography angiography. We look at each of these modalities, briefly discussing techniques, benefits, limitations, and sources of error. Furthermore, we discuss the apparent accuracy and the need for multimodality imaging. Finally, an imaging algorithm for the evaluation of the extracranial carotid arteries is proposed, which is in routine use at our hospital.

Spot sign on 90-second delayed computed tomography angiography improves sensitivity for hematoma expansion and mortality: prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The computed tomography angiography (CTA) spot sign is a validated biomarker for poor outcome and hematoma expansion in intracerebral hemorrhage. The spot sign has proven to be a dynamic entity, with multimodal imaging proving to be of additional value. We investigated whether the addition of a 90-second delayed CTA acquisition would capture additional intracerebral hemorrhage patients with the spot sign and increase the sensitivity of the spot sign. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled consecutive intracerebral hemorrhage patients undergoing first pass and 90-second delayed CTA for 18 months at a single academic center. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to assess clinical and neuroimaging covariates for relationship with hematoma expansion and mortality. RESULTS: Sensitivity of the spot sign for hematoma expansion on first pass CTA was 55%, which increased to 64% if the spot sign was present on either CTA acquisition. In multivariate analysis the spot sign presence was associated with significant hematoma expansion: odds ratio, 17.7 (95% confidence interval, 3.7-84.2; P=0.0004), 8.3 (95% confidence interval, 2.0-33.4; P=0.004), and 12.0 (95% confidence interval, 2.9-50.5; P=0.0008) if present on first pass, delayed, or either CTA acquisition, respectively. Spot sign presence on either acquisitions was also significant for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate improved sensitivity for predicting hematoma expansion and poor outcome by adding a 90-second delayed CTA, which may enhance selection of patients who may benefit from hemostatic therapy.

Imaging challenges of carotid artery in-stent restenosis.

Internal carotid artery stenosis is an established risk factor for stroke. Therefore, carotid artery revascularization has an important role in the prevention and treatment of stroke. For the treatment of carotid artery stenosis, carotid artery stenting (CAS) has currently gained acceptance as a safe alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA), particularly in patients at high surgical risk. Duplex ultrasonography (DUS) is a non-invasive technique with standardized criteria used for the diagnosis of carotid atheromatous disease as well as for the detection of restenosis after carotid revascularization. Restenosis rates vary widely in the literature. Different studies indicated that restenosis following CAS was higher than following CEA, although the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Versus Stenting Trial (CREST) reported similar restenosis frequency after 2 years of follow-up. Given these results, DUS may have a significant role in the follow-up of CAS patients. Conventional carotid artery DUS velocity criteria are thought to be less accurate in patients who have undergone CAS and many authors proposed different criteria for grading in-stent restenosis (ISR). This review presents the advantages of CAS, the current practice of carotid revascularization, CAS complications and risks, and DUS criteria for carotid artery ISR. After analyzing multiple relevant studies that proposed sonographic criteria for grading at least 70% ISR, we can conclude that a peak systolic velocity value of 300-350 cm/s could be used as a relatively good and sensitive predictor of high grade ISR.

Endovascular treatment for traumatic scalp arteriovenous fistulas: results with Onyx embolization.

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous fistulas of the scalp (S-AVFs) are rare lesions and may occur spontaneously or secondary to trauma. The use of Onyx for the treatment of S-AVFs is not well established at this time. We discuss three cases of traumatic S-AVFs treated successfully with Onyx embolization alone or in association with coils. METHODS: The database of patients treated at the Baptist Cardiac and Vascular Institute, Miami, Florida, was reviewed. All patients with traumatic S-AVFs treated with Onyx were included. RESULTS: Two men and one woman with progressive enlarging pulsatile mass with bruit or tinnitus had angiographic evidence of S-AVF and were treated. In two patients the S-AVFs were secondary to hair transplantation. They were treated with Onyx-18 embolization as the single treatment modality. One patient with S-AVF resulting from temporomandibular joint arthroscopy was treated with coils and subsequent Onyx-34 embolization. In one patient, transarterial microcatheterization and injection of Onyx-18 was performed. In another patient, the intra-arterial approach was prevented by arterial vessel tortuosity. Therefore, access to the fistula was obtained through direct puncture of a large frontal vein; contrast injection confirmed the positioning of the needle within the draining vein of the AVF and Onyx-18 was then injected while the outflow vein was compressed. In the third patient in this series, coils were deployed to allow safer and more controlled injection of Onyx-34. No procedure related complications were noted. Post-embolization angiography demonstrated successful and complete occlusion of the AVF immediately after treatment. Follow-up revealed complete resolution of the symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience in this small series indicates that endovascular treatment of S-AVFs with Onyx is rapid, safe, and highly effective.

Vasa vasorum enhancement on computerized tomographic angiography correlates with symptomatic patients with 50% to 70% carotid artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Significant stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is an established stroke risk factor. Recent evidence suggests that features within the atherosclerotic plaque also have prognostic value. The purpose of this study was to correlate the enhancement of the vasa vasorum (VV) overlying the carotid artery plaque with acute neurological symptoms in patients with 50% to 70% ICA stenosis. METHODS: We conducted a 4-year retrospective computerized tomographic angiographic review to identify patients with 50% to 70% stenosis of the ICA. Three types of plaques were identified: enhancing VV, calcified, and nonenhancing-noncalcified. Medical records were reviewed for cardiovascular risk factors and neurological status, and imaging was reviewed for signs of a recent stroke. RESULTS: We identified a total of 428 patients with 50% to 70% ICA stenosis: 103 (24.1%) had enhancing VV, 202 (47.2%) calcified, and 123 (28.7%) nonenhancing-noncalcified arteries; 97 were symptomatic and 331 asymptomatic. Thirty-three (34%) symptomatic subjects demonstrated enhancing VV, 42 (20%) had calcified arterial plaques, and 22 (17%) had nonenhancing-noncalcified arterial plaques. Fisher exact tests revealed that the proportion of symptomatic individuals with enhancing VV plaque was double that of the other groups combined (P=0.015; odds ratio, 1.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-3.16). Regression analyses confirmed this association as independent from other known cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with 50% to 70% ICA stenosis, VV enhancement recognized on computed tomographic angiography is strongly associated with acute neurological symptoms compared with calcified and nonenhancing-noncalcified arterial plaques. This finding may aid in the identification of patients at increased risk for ischemic stroke within populations with the same degree of stenosis.

Efficacy and tolerability of pregabalin as preventive treatment for migraine: a 3-month follow-up study.

Migraine is a common neurological disorder and epidemiological studies have documented its high social and economic impact. Unfortunately, preventive treatment is often insufficient to substantially reduce migraine frequency or it is not well tolerated. Antiepileptic drugs are increasingly used in migraine prevention. However, data on efficacy and tolerability of pregabalin in patients with migraine are still lacking. Our aim was to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of pregabalin in patients with migraine. We recruited 47 patients who started pregabalin at 75 mg/day, which was titrated to 300 mg/day as tolerated. A total of six patients (13%) reported one or more side effects during the intake of pregabalin; however, three of them discontinued pregabalin, because side effects were intolerable and persistent. Statistically significant reduction in migraine frequency compared to baseline (p < 0.001) was evident after 1 and 3 months of treatment. A greater frequency reduction was observed in those patients who increased the dosage within the first month of therapy. Our data suggest that pregabalin may be well tolerated and may represent an alternative preventive treatment in migraneurs. Limitations of the present study were a small sample size and an uncontrolled, open-label design; further randomized case-control studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Primary headache and multiple sclerosis: preliminary results of a prospective study.

The aim of this study was to explore the association between different types of headache (HA) and the clinical features of multiple sclerosis (MS). The relationship between HA and MS-specific therapies was also analysed. A total of 102 MS patients were recruited at the MS Centre of S. Andrea Hospital in Rome. According to International Headache Society criteria, the lifetime prevalence of primary HA was 61.8%. Migraine was observed more often in young relapsing-remitting MS patients, whilst tension-type HA was associated with older age, male gender and a secondary progressive course. Sixty-four patients had a history of ongoing or past interferon beta (IFNb) exposure. Of these, 17 subjects did not have a history of HA, while 24 complained of an increase in frequency of migraine attacks and 7 reported an IFNb-induced HA. Investigating and treating HA in MS patients starting IFNb therapy may improve MS-specific medication compliance.