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Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Cryptogenic Stroke

The ANTARCTICA study is a pooled meta-analysis from multiple prospective studies of patients with ischemic stroke of varying etiologies, where loop monitoring was performed for atrial fibrillation detection. The groups were divided into cryptogenic stroke/transient ischemic attack or non-cryptogenic stroke/non-stroke. Both groups demonstrated an unadjusted rate of atrial fibrillation of about 30%.

Neurofilament Light Chain: Differentiating bvFTD from Psychiatric Disorders

Behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) can be difficult to distinguish from a primary mood disorder at the early stages of disease. Biological markers, such as serum or cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light chain, can help to make a distinction between the disorders, but the test carries a high false-negative rate.

Oligoclonal Bands: What Utility Do They Have Beyond Multiple Sclerosis?

This retrospective study found that while oligoclonal bands (OCB) remain a highly sensitive and specific marker for multiple sclerosis (MS), they have limited diagnostic utility for other autoimmune central nervous system disorders. The findings underscore that OCB testing should be reserved for suspected MS and interpreted cautiously outside the MS context.

Proton Craniospinal Irradiation for Leptomeningeal Metastasis

Proton craniospinal irradiation (pCSI) demonstrated better overall survival and progression-free survival outcomes compared to involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT) for the treatment of leptomeningeal metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer.

Acupuncture to Treat Low Back Pain in Older Adults

A multisite, three-arm, parallel-group randomized clinical trial of older adults in the United States with chronic low back pain found improvement in both pain and disability with the addition of acupuncture treatment compared to usual medical care alone.

Plasma Exchange for Relapses in MOGAD

In this multicenter, international study of a cohort of patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), the authors examined the effectiveness of plasma exchange for acute relapses and reported favorable disability outcomes but found that advanced age and delayed initiation of the treatment reduced its benefit.

Potential Benefit of Glyburide in Moderate-Volume Acute Ischemic Stroke

An exploratory analysis of the CHARM trial suggests intravenous glyburide may improve outcomes in large hemispheric stroke patients with infarct volumes < 125 mL, particularly alongside thrombectomy, reducing edema, mortality, and the need for decompressive surgery, and highlighting a potential neuroprotective role.

Repeated Head Impacts Are Associated with Tau Astrogliopathy

This study demonstrates that both traumatic brain injury and participation in contact sports are independently associated with increased tau astrogliopathy, particularly thorn-shaped astrocytes, even when cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change are excluded.

Intracranial EEG Activity and Consciousness in Frontal Lobe Seizures

Frontal seizures were classified as focal preserved consciousness (FPC), focal impaired consciousness (FIC), or focal to bilateral tonic-clonic (FBTC). Intracranial electroencephalogram (icEEG) recording was analyzed in those seizures. FPC seizures showed significant icEEG power increases in the seizure-onset region across frequency ranges, with smaller increases in other regions. FIC seizures demonstrated a significant increase in icEEG power not only within the seizure-onset zone but also across distal cortical regions. Widespread power increases also were noted in FBTC seizures. In addition, the power increase in FBTC is much greater compared to FIC seizures.

Increased Treatment Opportunities for Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias

Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) include cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania, hemicrania continua, short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing, and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with cranial autonomic symptoms. They are female-predominant primary headache disorders that coexist with migraines and mood disorders. Indomethacin is underused in those TACs that are specifically indomethacin responsive. Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation for TACs is well-tolerated and more effective for prevention than as an acute treatment.