Neurology Commons^™

Insular And Amygdala Origin Seizures: Unmasked With Electrocorticography (Ecog), Younes Motii, Arichenaramanathan Manmatharayan, Parthasarathi Chamiraju, Mona Elsayed

Medical Student Research Symposium

Insular and Amygdala Origin Seizures: Unmasked with Electrocorticography (ECOG)

Introduction:

Insula and amygdala have a large network of connections to other cortical regions. Seizures originating from these structures may become evident only after propagation to other structures. High degree of attention must be paid to auras and seizure semiology in patients with medically intractable epilepsy.

Methodology:

We have described a series of three adult male patients with focal intractable epilepsy who did not have structural lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Patients underwent MRI, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, scalp electroencephalography (EEG), and stereo EEG implantation.

Results:

All three patients …

A Puzzling Case Of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase 65 (Gad65) Neurologic Syndrome, Areeb Masood, Nina Appareddy, Raul Tovar Castro, Zan Shareef, Laura Garcia

Research Colloquium

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a rare group of neurological disorders in which antibodies are directed against intracellular or surface antigens. The incidence of AE ranged from between 0.4-1.2 per 100,000 person-years between 1995 and 2015. A subset of these autoimmune encephalitides that target glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) are termed anti-GAD related neurological disorders. GAD is the rate-limiting enzyme involved in the synthesis of GABA from glutamate, and is expressed in neurons of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus. In addition, it is found in the B-islets of the pancreas, epithelial cells of the fallopian tube, and spermatocytes of the testes. …

A Case Of Osteogenesis Imperfecta In A Patient Diagnosed In Adulthood, Khalid Sheikh, M. Lastovica, N. S. Appareddy, R. Wagner, E. Luna

Research Symposium

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an extremely rare inherited connective tissue disorder, with an incidence of 1 in 20,000 births in the United States. Our aim is to assist other providers in diagnosing and managing patients with OI and concurrent medical morbidities.

Case Presentation: A 21 year old male with a BMI of 34 and a lifetime history of over 10 fractures presented to the Emergency department after a complex seizure at home. The seizure was witnessed by his mother and lasted less than one minute. He had another seizure two weeks prior to presentation. In the ED, the patient …

Journal Club: Glymphatic System In Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ronald G. Lott Iii, Xavier Zonna, Samuel Wlasowicz

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease impact a multitude of individuals worldwide. The neural Glymphatic system is a relatively newly discovered cellular transport pathway within the brain that has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. This article serves to provide a journal club review of current literature on the Glymphatic system to raise awareness of this system and its potential for future treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative conditions.

Feasibility Of And Experience Using A Portable Mri Scanner In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit., Maura Sien, Amie L. Robinson, Houchun H. Hu, Christopher R. Nitkin, Ara Hall, Marcie G. Files, Nathan S. Artz, John T. Pitts, Sherwin S. Chan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: A portable, low-field MRI system is now Food and Drug Administration cleared and has been shown to be safe and useful in adult intensive care unit settings. No neonatal studies have been performed. The objective is to assess our preliminary experience and assess feasibility of using the portable MRI system at the bedside in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a quaternary children's hospital.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a single-site prospective cohort study in neonates ≥2 kg conducted between October and December 2020. All parents provided informed consent. Neonates underwent portable MRI examination in the NICU with support …

Evaluation Of Non-Compressive Myelopathy In A Sample Of Egyptian Patients, Mohie-Eldin Tharwat Mohamed, Abdel-Ghaffar Ismail Fayed, Islam Shaaban Al-Emam

Al-Azhar International Medical Journal

Background; "Spinal cord malfunction in the lack of clinico-radiological evidence of spinal cord compression" is the definition of non-compressive myelopathy. In the absence of imaging modalities that show compression, it may be caused by demyelinating, viral, autoimmune, vascular, degenerative, and metabolic illnesses. Aim and objectives: The goal of this research was to assess the etiological factors of non-compressive myelopathy in a sample of Egyptian patients. Subjects and methods: Between January 1 and June 30, 2022, researchers at Cairo, Egypt's Al-Azhar University Hospitals (Al-Hussein and Sayed Galal) performed a prospective observational study on patients with non-compressive myelopathy. At three and six …

Education Research: Neurologic Education In Physician Assistant Programs, Carl Garubba

Physician Assistant Studies | Faculty Scholarship

Background and Objectives A growing number of advanced practice providers (APPs) are entering neurologic practice, and educational initiatives focused on postgraduate training in neurology for these providers are growing in turn. Neurologic education in APP degree programs is not well defined, which limits the ability to tailor these initiatives to the specific needs of APPs. We aim to describe neurologic education in physician assistant (PA) degree programs to better inform these efforts.

Methods The 2018 American Academy of Neurology clerkship director survey was adapted for directors of PA programs via an iterative approach. The survey was distributed to program directors …

The Use Of Virtual Tools In Narrowing The Impact Of Health Disparities In Neurology., Jean-Baptist Lepichon, Stephanie Horton, Omar Abdelmoity, Mark A. Hoffman, Emily Cramer, Nirmeen Kishk, Salah Hamada, Ahmed Abdelmoity

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The concept of Epilepsy Treatment Gap (ETG) refers to the proportion of people with epilepsy who are not being appropriately treated. The ETG in the USA approaches 10%, with historically underserved populations and rural populations disproportionately affected. The ETG in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) is reported to be 5-10 times higher than in high-income countries. The growing availability of reliable internet access offers a unique opportunity to provide better care to children and adults with epilepsy. In this paper we explore various telehealth (TH) initiatives that have leveraged the availability of easy and free access to an internet connection in …

Neurologic Complications Of Cancer, David Green

Conference Presentation Abstracts

No abstract provided.

The Modified Rankin Scale Can Accurately Be Derived From The Electronic Medical Record, Derek Isenberg, Nelson Prus, Frederick Ramsey, Nina T. Gentile

Transformative Medicine (T-Med)

Abstract

Introduction

The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is used to assess functional outcomes after a stroke and is the primary outcome in many stroke trials. For retrospective stroke research or stroke research in which patients are lost to study follow up, review of the electronic medical record (EMR) may be the sole way to estimate a patient’s functional outcome. The purpose of this study is to determine if a mRS can be accurately derived from the electronic medical record EMR.

Methods

This study used data from completed stroke studies in which in-person 90-day mRS were collected as part of the …

Barriers, Access And Management Of Paediatric Epilepsy With Telehealth., Kari Gali, Sucheta Joshi, Sarah Hueneke, Alexis Katzenbach, Linda Radecki, Trisha Calabrese, Linda Fletcher, Cristina Trandafir, Carey Wilson, Monisha Goyal, Courtney J. Wusthoff, Jean-Baptist Lepichon, Rhonda Corvalan, April Golson, Jessica Hardy, Michael Smith, Elizabeth Cook, Joshua L. Bonkowsky

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Access to paediatric neurology care is complex, resulting in significant wait times and negative patient outcomes. The goal of the American Academy of Pediatrics National Coordinating Center for Epilepsy's project, Access Improvement and Management of Epilepsy with Telehealth (AIM-ET), was to identify access and management challenges in the deployment of telehealth technology. AIM-ET organised four paediatric neurology teams to partner with primary-care providers (PCP) and their multidisciplinary teams. Telehealth visits were conducted for paediatric epilepsy patients. A post-visit survey assessed access and satisfaction with the telehealth visit compared to an in-person visit. Pre/post surveys completed by PCPs and neurologists captured …

Practical Needs And Considerations For Refugees And Other Forcibly Displaced Persons With Neurological Disorders: Recommendations Using A Modified Delphi Approach, Shawheen Rezaei, Foksouna Sakadi, Fu-Liong Hiew, Ildefonso Rodriguez-Leyva, Jera Kruja, Mohammad Wasay, Osheik Abuasha Seidi, Saad Abdel-Aziz, Shahriar Nafissi, Farrah Mateen

Section of Neurology

Background: There are >70 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, including refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers. While the health needs of forcibly displaced people have been characterized in the literature, more still needs to be done globally to translate this knowledge into effective policies and actions, particularly in neurology.
Methods: In 2020, a global network of published experts on neurological disease and refugees was convened. Nine physician experts from nine countries (2 low, 1 lower-middle income, 5 upper-middle, 1 high income) with experience treating displaced people originating from 18 countries participated in three survey and two discussion rounds in …

Gender Parity In Authorship Of Published Randomized Clinical Trials In Stroke Neurology From 2000 To 2021., Noor F Shaik, Ali A Saherwala, Diana L Tzeng

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Gender parity is a crucial goal in clinical medicine so that women have equal access and representation. Although approximately half (46%) of US neurology residents and fellows are female, proportions of female assistant, associate, and full professors are 49%, 41%, and 23%, respectively. This has far-reaching effects, from clinical publications to invited speakerships.Although a study noted increasing trends in female authorship in high-impact neurology journals the current literature lacks evidence on a more informative benchmark—first and last authorship in randomized clinical trials (RCTs), which is typically considered for career advancement. This study assessed annual proportions and trends of female first …

Adult-Onset Alexander Disease Uncovered In A Previously Healthy Patient Presenting With Acute Stroke-Like Symptoms, Usaamah M. Khan, Matthew Barrett, Alex Dworetz Do

Graduate Medical Education (GME) Resident and Fellow Research Day Posters

Alexander Disease is a rare, often fatal, leukoencephalopathy of early childhood associated with a heterozygous mutation of the glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) gene. Adult-Onset Alexander Disease (AOAD) is an exceptionally rare leukoencephalopathy that often presents with slowly progressive brainstem and cervical cord dysfunction features. Acute onset of AOAD has only ever been reported three times in the literature. We report a case of acute onset AOAD in a patient that presented with bulbar symptoms and left hemiplegia initially concerning for acute stroke.

Pediatric Partnership: Drs. Aaron & Metta Cardon Join Unm Child Neurology Faculty, Michael Haederle

HSC Newsroom

No abstract provided.

An Educational Workshop To Improve Neurology Resident Understanding Of Burnout, Substance Abuse, And Mood Disorders., Ryan Donaghy, Shiori Tomatsu, Patrick Kerns, Courtney White, Jeffrey Ratliff

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Introduction: Burnout, substance abuse, and mood disorders are prevalent among neurology residents. Increased recognition of concerning behaviors might encourage more access to mental health resources and reduce burnout.

Methods: We created an educational resource reviewing burnout, substance abuse, and mood disorders for neurology residents. This resource included an online module (control) and a role-play scenario offered only to one cohort (intervention). Online surveys assessed knowledge as well as confidence in the ability to recognize concerning behaviors. A practical assessment using a previously published "Stressed Resident" video was also conducted among resident cohorts.

Results: Of neurology residents, 18 participated in the …

Alteplase Administration For Acute Ischemic Stroke (Ais) In Er - A 5-Year Review, Ali A. Saherwala, Md, Diana Tzeng, Md, Robin Dharia, Md

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2020-)

• ER visits for AIS grown in last 10 years by 25%
• Ongoing effort by AHA/ASA to improve access to care with early stroke recognition and awareness
• Time is brain; rate of thrombolysis with alteplase (ALT) should increase with better EMS systems, awareness, and education

Addressing Health Disparities And Access In The Department Of Neurology Outpatient Setting In The Era Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Quality Improvement Initiative, V. Wang, M. Rehman, K. Burda, L. Liao, M. Braslavsky, T. Chuang, J. Diep, Md, E. Isaac, E. Wong

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2020-)

Neurology, a largely outpatient specialty, has joined many other fields in the endeavor of incorporating telemedicine.^4,6,7 We present the results of analysis of the Epic Electronic Medical Record (EMR) of all outpatient visits from the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Department of Neurology from 2019 to 2020 in order to identify areas of ethnic minority and geographic disparities with regards to usage of telemedicine. For our analyses, we have included Neurology patients across the General Neurology (JUP Neurology 909 Walnut NEU), Headache Center (HA), and Multiple Sclerosis Center (MS). Additionally, based on patient surveys from a subset of our outpatient …

Cooper Neurological Institute, Kayla Cupano

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Essential Tremor: A Review, Grant S. Taylor

Honors Projects

Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most prevalent movement disorders globally: approximately 1% of the population is affected (Haubenberger & Hallet, 2018). In the past, ET has been grossly oversimplified clinically and pathologically and only through recent study has the complexity of the disease process and presentation been made apparent. Despite the recent advances in research regarding ET, the general public is still largely unfamiliar with the various aspects of the disease (Cristal et al., 2018). Perhaps even more surprising is the similar lack of knowledge that ET patients have regarding their own disease (Cristal et al., 2018). Recent …

A Case Of Diastematomyelia Presenting With Minimal Neurologic Deficits In A Middle-Aged Patient, Gabriella Mamo, Rishu Batra, Jeffrey Steinig

Transitional Year

Diastematomyelia is a rare congenital deformity of the spine in which the spinal cord is split into two hemicords along the sagittal plane. This condition belongs to the group of spinal dysraphisms, is more common in females, and is usually diagnosed prenatally or during childhood; rarely is it diagnosed in adults. We report a male patient in his 50s in which diastematomyelia of the thoracic spine was incidentally encountered after receiving a CT scan of the chest for shortness of breath. Although most patients with this condition are symptomatic, the patient did not display any significant acute neurological complaints at …

Axonal Blockage With Microscopic Magnetic Stimulation, Hui Ye

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Numerous neurological dysfunctions are characterized by undesirable nerve activity. By providing reversible nerve blockage, electric stimulation with an implanted electrode holds promise in the treatment of these conditions. However, there are several limitations to its application, including poor bio-compatibility and decreased efficacy during chronic implantation. A magnetic coil of miniature size can mitigate some of these problems, by coating it with biocompatible material for chronic implantation. However, it is unknown if miniature coils could be effective in axonal blockage and, if so, what the underlying mechanisms are. Here we demonstrate that a submillimeter magnetic coil can reversibly block action potentials …

Telehealth Care And Its Role In Undergraduate Medical Education In The Covid-19 Era., Peter J. Gonzalez, Dustin J. Paul

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Background

On March 17, 2020, the American Association of Medical Colleges issued a statement which “strongly supports medical schools pausing all student clinical rotations, effective immediately, until at least March 31.” The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine immediately withdrew third- and fourth-year students from clinical rotation sites, and developed alternative, online-based clerkship curricula to complete for the remainder of the academic year. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many challenges to Undergraduate Medical Education, and has deprived upper-level students of foundational, in-person, clinical experiences. The UTRGV School of Medicine Department of Neurology is among the first …

Early Follow-Up Phone Calls To Reduce 30-Day Readmissions For Stroke Patients Discharged To Home, Olivia Gruder, Md, John Allred, Md, Frank Anzelmi, Md, Judy Diep, Md, Belle English, Md, Aniket Natekar, Md, Priyadarshee Patel, Md, Louis Porreca, Md, Sanskruti Patel, Md, Shaista Alam, Md, Rodney Bell, Md, Robin Dharia, Md, Elan Miller, Md, Diana Tzeng, Md, Fred Rincon, Md< Msc, Facp

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2020-)

Patients admitted to the acute stroke unit with minor neurologic deficits are frequently discharged directly to home rather than to a rehabilitation center. Data from our tertiary care comprehensive stroke center has shown that in a 7-month period, 37% of patients admitted to the stroke unit were discharged home versus discharged to rehab or other location. Our average 30-day readmission rate for home discharges is 5.14%. More than 30% of these readmitted patients had been discharged on a Thursday or Friday on their index admission. When discharged home, patients typically are tasked with several responsibilities including but not limited to …

Perceived Impact Of Non-Contact Boxing On Daily Life And Occupational Participation At Home Among Individuals With Parkinson's Disease, Kristen E. Bignal

Student Capstone Papers

The aim of this project was to determine whether individuals with Parkinson's disease perceive an impact on their daily life and occupational participation at home secondary to participation in non-contact boxing.

Semi-structured open-ended interview questions were conducted with 17 participants (3 female) who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease for(i.e., self-care, home and health maintenance, sleep, intimacy, social and leisure interests, etc.) in the home environment. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed utilizing thematic analysis.

Data analysis derived three overarching themes including psychological benefits, sense of community, and framework to develop routines. Subsequent research exploring how non-contact boxing directly impacts specific …

Toxic Leukoencephalopathy Presenting As Agitation And Social Withdrawal In A Patient With Substance Use Disorder: A Case Report, Andrew R. Beauchesne, Brian F. King

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Toxic leukoencephalopathy (TLE) is characterized by damage to myelin of cerebral white matter and is caused by a number of offending agents, including drugs of abuse. The clinical presentation of TLE is variable and not fully understood.

Clinical Findings: A 51-year-old male presented with pneumonia, parapneumonic effusion, and acute kidney injury. His medical course was complicated by neurobehavioral changes, including aggression and social withdrawal.

Diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes: The patient was diagnosed with acute toxic leukoencephalopathy based on diffuse subcortical T2-weighted-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2/FLAIR) on brain MRI, bilateral frontal arrhythmic delta waves on encephalogram, and a …

Simulation Of Status Epilepticus Is Effective Teaching For Junior Neurology Residents, Pankhuri Jha, Navya George, Jeffrey Ratliff

Phase 1

Purpose: Status Epilepticus (SE) represents a potentially fatal neurologic emergency. At Jefferson, acute management of SE falls to the inpatient neurologist, requiring early competency.

Methods: During a 2 week educational “bootcamp”, 9 PGY2 residents participated in a 2 hour simulation of acute SE with two clinical scenarios. Scenarios included a patient with SE requiring adequate benzodiazepine dosing and another with seizures requiring IV anticonvulsant therapy. Prior to and following the simulation, residents took a survey to gauge their knowledge and confidence in managing SE.

Results and Conclusions: There was an increase in the number of residents expressing confidence in their …

Simulating Status Epilepticus Management For Junior Neurology Trainees, Navya George, Pankhuri Jha, Frank Anzelmi, Md, Allyson Pickard, Md, Jeffrey Ratliff, Md

Phase 1

Purpose/Methods: Status Epilepticus (SE) represents a potentially fatal neurologic emergency. We aimed to create an educational simulation of SE for 9 PGY2 neurology residents. Scenarios included a patient with SE requiring adequate benzodiazepine dosing and another with seizures requiring IV anticonvulsant therapy. Subjects were dichotomized to groups who did and did not feel confident in clinical skills around SE. Knowledge was assessed with a multiple choice quiz. Confidence groups were analyzed with Fisher’s exact test. Quiz scores means were assessed with paired t-test.

Results: There was a trend towards significance in the proportion of residents expressing confidence in their ability …

An Educational Workshop To Improve Neurology Resident Knowledge And Understanding Of Burnout, Substance Abuse, And Mood Disorders, Shiori Tomatsu, Ryan Donaghy, Patrick Kerns, Md, Phd, Courtney White, Md

Phase 1

Problem: Many medical residents are at risk for burnout, mood disorders, and substance abuse. We created an educational activity composed of an online module (OM), an interactive role-playing session (AL), and a video practicum (VP) to inform neurology residents on the aforementioned risks and available support resources. This project evaluates the efficacy of these tools.

Methods: PGY2 and PGY3 neurology residents were given OM. In addition, the PGY2 residents participated in AL. Three surveys were given to assess their knowledge about burnout before completing the module (Sur1), after AL session (Sur2), and after watching VP(Sur3).

Outcomes: More PGY2 residents scored …

The Comparative Efficacy Of Amantadine Vs. Lcig Therapy For The Treatment Of Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia In Patients With Advanced Parkinson's Disease, Katelynn Timony

Capstone Showcase

Introduction: Though levodopa-carbidopa therapy remains the gold standard of Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment to this day, patients often experience increased dyskinetic activity as a result of long-term treatment; known as levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID); the mechanism of which is not completely understood. In this review, the efficacy of two adjunct treatments for LID are compared: 1) the concomitant administration of amantadine, an antiviral medication with antidyskinetic properties; and 2) a new form of levodopa administration in the form of an intestinal gel delivered straight via a device much like an insulin pump.

Methods: Two systematic literature searches of primary, peer-reviewed articles …