Neurology Commons^™

Immunomodulatory And Neuroprotective Mechanisms Of Huangqi Glycoprotein Treatment In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis., Yanxia Xing, Binyu Liu, Yijin Zhao, Lihong Zhang, Rodolfo Thome, Huiqing Xue, Peijun Zhang, Cungen Ma

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Previous studies have shown that Huangqi glycoprotein (HQGP) has an anti-inflammatory effect in vitro, and suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis; however, the mechanism underlying its effect is largely unknown. In this manuscript we investigated the mechanisms by which HQGP protect mice from EAE. HQGP was extracted from Astragalus membranaceus and purified by anion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. HQGP delayed disease onset, reduced disease severity and alleviated inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). Moreover, HQGP reduced the infiltration of pathogenic immune cells and increased the expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and …

An Integration-To-Bound Model Of Decision-Making That Accounts For The Spectral Properties Of Neural Data, Ramón Guevara Erra, Marco Arbotto, Aaron Schurger

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Integration-to-bound models are among the most widely used models of perceptual decision-making due to their simplicity and power in accounting for behavioral and neurophysiological data. They involve temporal integration over an input signal (“evidence”) plus Gaussian white noise. However, brain data shows that noise in the brain is long-term correlated, with a spectral density of the form 1/fα (with typically 1 < α < 2), also known as pink noise or ‘1/f’ noise. Surprisingly, the adequacy of the spectral properties of drift-diffusion models to electrophysiological data has received little attention in the literature. Here we propose a model of accumulation of evidence for decision-making that takes into consideration the spectral properties of brain signals. We develop a generalization of the leaky stochastic accumulator model using a Langevin equation whose non-linear noise term allows for varying levels of autocorrelation in the time course of the decision variable. We derive this equation directly from magnetoencephalographic data recorded while subjects performed a spontaneous movement initiation task. We then propose a nonlinear model of accumulation of evidence that accounts for the ‘1/f’ spectral properties of brain signals, and the observed variability in the power spectral properties of brain signals. Furthermore, our model outperforms the standard drift-diffusion model at approximating the empirical waiting time distribution.

Creation Of An Institutional Toolkit For Evaluation Of Multidisciplinary Handoffs, Richard F. Schmidt, Md, Courtney Devin, Md, Nicholas Tarangelo, Md, Andrew Mendelson, Md, Bracken Babula, Md, Rebecca Jaffe, Md

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2016-2019)

Objectives

1. Create a method for analyzing different handoffs in a variety of clinical settings and scenarios at TJUH.
2. Develop a set of standardized survey tools using existing validated language to quantify the perceptions, quality, and needs for different patient care transitions.
3. Use results from these tools to cater focused handoff improvement interventions for specific patient care settings.

Improving Ed Door To Puncture Times For Endovascular Thrombectomy In Acute Ischemic Stroke, Richard F. Schmidt, Md, Nabeel Herial, Md, Robin D'Ambrosio, Bsn, Erin Simko, Bsn, Fred Rincon, Md, Maria Aini, Md, Pascal Jabbour, Md, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Md, M. Reid Gooch, Md, Robert H. Rosenwasswer, Md, Robin Dharia, Md

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2016-2019)

Objectives

• Optimize the management of patients presenting to TJUH with AIS who are candidates for ET.
• Enable continued process improvement through improved data collection methods and identification of new process metrics.

Spinal Cord Injury Activation Alert: Revisiting And Revamping Protocols, Ritam Ghosh, Md, Ralph Marino, Md, Michael Wolf, Md, James S. Harrop, Md

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2016-2019)

Objective

Our objective was to look at the current protocol for spinal cord injury activation alerts and to highlight deficiencies in the system. Currently, any physician at Jefferson can call this alert, which often leads to a misuse of resources and wrongful identification of true spinal cord injury.

In order to refine the protocol, we believe that the Cord System should be used for the following guidelines:

1. Identify patients w Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
2. Identify patients for SCI research trials
3. Identify patients who require surgery

Lack Of Utility And Excess Cost Of Routine Perioperative Hematologic Testing In Patients Undergoing Elective Neurosurgical Procedures Of The Spine, Lucas Philipp, Md, Mph, Catriona Harrop, Md, David Wyler, Md, James Harrop, Md

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2016-2019)

Objective

To prospectively conduct a "mock trial" among 100% (minimum n=200) of elective neurosurgery spine patients to estimate the total projected cost, savings, risk, and feasibility of a redefined/restricted lab testing protocol over the next 12 months

Developing A Neurosurgical Spine Post-Operative Note Template On Epic For Improved Multi-Disciplinary Care, Omaditya Khanna, Md, Geoffrey P. Stricsek, Md, Giuliana Labella, Rn, James Harrop, Md, Jesse Edwards, Md

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2016-2019)

Introduction

The care of neurosurgical spine patients often involves a multi-disciplinary team, including neurosurgery residents, hospitalists, nursing staff, and physical/occupational therapists.

Oftentimes, post-op spine patients are on a non-neurosurgical service (hospitalist, MICU/SICU, medicine), who are provided with scant sign out on the procedure(s) performed.

The treatment team(s) that are helping manage patient care post-operatively are often unaware of the procedure performed, and what are the salient clinical signs/symptoms, radiographic findings, and laboratory values that need to be closely monitored

Neuroimaging Protocol In Patients Presenting With Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Kevin Hines, Md, Nikolaos Mouchtouris, Md, Karim Hafazalla, Jacob M. Mazza, Phillip Phan, Giuliana Labella, Muhammad Athar, Md, Adam Flanders, Md, Pascal Jabbour, Md

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2016-2019)

Introduction

While lacking evidence based recommendations, most institutions must evaluate spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages (sICH) for hematoma expansion (HE). If unrecognized, it can be a devastating complication. However, because of the lack of general recommendations for serial imaging, many hospitals, including Thomas Jefferson, have arbitrarily instituted 6 hour an 24 hour stability head CT’s to evaluate for HE.

In our project, we examine the impact of this imaging protocol on the safety and quality of patient care and provide revised recommendations for imaging in sICH at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience.

Improving Postoperative Handoffs In The Neuro-Intensive Care Unit, Richard F. Schmidt, Md, Andrew Mendelson, Md, Sonia Gill, Md, Nicole Hollup, Crnp, Matthew Vibbert, Md, Coleen Vernick, Md, Giuliana Labella, Msn, Marie Wilson, Msn, Caitlin Harley, Msn, Maryanne Mccarrin, Msn, Jack Jallo, Md, Rebecca Jaffe, Md

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2016-2019)

Introduction

• Transitions of care represent a major source of medical errors, patient morbidity/mortality, and increased healthcare waste.
• 2018 CLER report indicated largely unfavorable responses toward handoffs and care transitions for perioperative services and neurointensive care.
• Use of the IPASS handoff tool is associated with up to 30% reduction in adverse events and 23% reduction in medical errors.
• Implementation of IPASS for postoperative handoffs in the SICU resulted in improved organization, safety, and communication.

Generation Of Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells From Mouse Bone Marrow Cells., Yuan Zhang, Xin-Yu Lu, Giacomo Casella, Jing Tian, Ze-Qing Ye, Ting Yang, Juan-Juan Han, Ling-Yu Jia, A. M. Rostami, Xing Li

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are a subtype of glial cells responsible for myelin regeneration. Oligodendrocytes (OLGs) originate from OPCs and are the myelinating cells in the central nervous system (CNS). OLGs play an important role in the context of lesions in which myelin loss occurs. Even though many protocols for isolating OPCs have been published, their cellular yield remains a limit for clinical application. The protocol proposed here is novel and has practical value; in fact, OPCs can be generated from a source of autologous cells without gene manipulation. Our method represents a rapid, and high-efficiency differentiation protocol for generating …

Peripheral Synucleinopathy In A Dj1 Patient With Parkinson Disease, Cataracts, And Hearing Loss, Derek P. Narendra, Risa Isonaka, Diana Nguyen, Alice B. Schindler, Angela D. Kokkinis, Debra Ehrlich, Tanya M. Bardakjian, David S. Goldstein, Tsao-Wei Liang, Pedro Gonzalez-Alegre

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Brainstem Atrophy In Focal Epilepsy Destabilizes Brainstem-Brain Interactions: Preliminary Findings., Susanne G. Mueller, Lisa M. Bateman, Maromi Nei, Alica M. Goldman, Kenneth D. Laxer

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: MR Imaging has shown atrophy in brainstem regions that were linked to autonomic dysfunction in epilepsy patients. The brainstem projects to and modulates the activation state of several wide-spread cortical/subcortical regions. The goal was to investigate 1. Impact of brainstem atrophy on gray matter connectivity of cortical/subcortical structures and autonomic control. 2. Impact on the modulation of cortical/subcortical functional connectivity.

METHODS: 11 controls and 18 patients with non-lesional focal epilepsy (FE) underwent heart rate variability (HRV) measurements and a 3 T MRI (T1 in all subjects, task-free fMRI in 7 controls/ 12 FE). The brainstem was extracted, and atrophy …

Patent Foramen Ovale Closure In Young Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke: A Case Series And Follow Up From Saudi Population., Aishah Albakr, Noman Ishaque, Rizwana Shahid, Alaa Jamal Al Obaidli, Noora Waleed Alayyaf, Mohammed Almansoori, Sarah Ali Saleh Al Amri

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

One quarter of cerebral infarctions are cryptogenic and most of these patients are young. Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is found to be more prevalent in young persons with cryptogenic stroke and risk of stroke recurrence in such patients ranges from as low as 2% per annum to as high as 12% per annum. Since patients with PFO and cryptogenic stroke are young they need more effective ways to reduce risk of stroke recurrence hence percutaneous closure of PFO seems reasonable approach to deal with this etiology of stroke in such population. We report four cases of cryptogenic stroke in young …

Early Versus Delayed Flow Diversion For Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: A Meta-Analysis, Rimal Hanif Dossani, Devi P. Patra, Jennifer Kosty, Fareed Jumah, Okkes Kuybu, Nasser Mohammed, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Riaz, Hugo Cuellar

Section of Neurosurgery

Objective: The use and timing of flow diversion for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is controversial. The objective of this study is to perform a meta-analysis and systematic review to compare overall complication rate between early versus delayed flow diversion for ruptured aneurysms.
Methods: A literature search for all eligible articles was performed using PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases. The primary outcome was the overall complication rate (any complication in the perioperative period), and secondary outcomes were 1) hemorrhage and 2) stroke/death (all hemorrhagic/ischemic strokes and/or death).
Results: Thirteen articles including 142 patients met inclusion criteria. Eighty-nine (62.7%) patients underwent …

Serum Biomarkers For Glioblastoma Multiforme, Ayesha Quddusi, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim

Section of Neurosurgery

A number of different serum biomarkers are currently being evaluated for their potential use as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in Glioblastoma Multiforme. Amongst these, a vast number of different microRNAs have been studied, that are up-regulated or downregulated in relation to Glioblastoma Multiforme. Different studies have found numerous associations of these different microRNAs with recurrence, Karnofsky Performance Score, Progression Free Survival and Overall Survival. Other than microRNAs, serum Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein, cytokines and YLK-40, as well as a number of other candidate serum biomarkers are being studied.More studies, with larger sample sizes are required before these serum biomarkers can …

Avoiding The Esophageal Branches Of The Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve During Retractor Placement: Precluding Postoperative Dysphagia During Anterior Approaches To The Cervical Spine., Christian Fisahn, Emre Yilmaz, Joe Iwanaga, Cameron K Schmidt, Eric Benca, Jens R Chapman, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Study Design: Anatomical cadaver study.

Objectives: Postoperative dysphagia is a significant complication following anterior approaches to the cervical spine and the etiology of this complication is poorly understood. Herein, we studied the esophageal branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerves to improve understanding of their anatomy and potential involvement in dysphagia.

Methods: Ten fresh frozen cadaveric human specimens were dissected (20 sides). All specimens were adults with no evidence of prior surgery of the anterior neck. The recurrent laryngeal nerves were identified under a surgical microscope and observations and measurements of their esophageal branches made.

Results: For each recurrent laryngeal nerve, …

A Comprehensive Review Of The Sinuvertebral Nerve With Clinical Applications., Brian Shayota, T L Wong, Donald Fru, Glen David, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The anatomy and clinical significance of the sinuvertebral nerve is a topic of considerable interest among anatomists and clinicians, particularly its role in discogenic pain. It has required decades of research to appreciate its role, but not until recently could these studies be compiled to establish a more complete description of its clinical significance. The sinuvertebral nerve is a recurrent nerve that originates from the ventral ramus, re-entering the spinal canal via the intervertebral foramina to innervate multiple meningeal and non-meningeal structures. Its complex anatomy and relationship to discogenic pain have warranted great interest among clinical anatomists owing to its …

Grab Control! Choosing The Right Comparison Group In An Observational Study., Joseph R Dettori, Daniel C Norvell, Jens R Chapman

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

How Should We Deal With "Black Swan" Surgeons In Spine Surgery?, Jens R Chapman, Jeffrey C Wang, Karsten Wiechert

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Iatrogenic Bowel Injury Following Minimally Invasive Lateral Approach To The Lumbar Spine: A Retrospective Analysis Of 3 Cases., Tarush Rustagi, Emre Yilmaz, Fernando Alonso, Cameron K Schmidt, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs, Jens R Chapman, Sarah Hopkins, Thomas A Schildhauer, Christian Fisahn

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Anterior approaches are often used during lumbar interbody fusion procedures. Visceral injuries (bowel injuries) are rare but represent a primary risk during anterior approaches to the lumbar spine. Left untreated, these injuries can result in significant complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the presentation and management of bowel injury cases following anterior approaches to the lumbar spine to raise the surgeon's awareness of this rare complication.

Methods: All direct anterior, oblique anterior, and transpsoas lumbar interbody fusion surgeries performed at our institution between 2012 and 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Charts were …

Ossification Of The Mamillo-Accessory Ligament: A Review Of The Literature And Clinical Considerations., Graham Dupont, Emre Yilmaz, Joe Iwanaga, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Ossification of the mamillo-accessory ligament (MAL) is a misunderstood phenomenon; however, many have posited that it can result in nerve entrapment of the medial branch of the dorsal ramus causing zygapophyseal joint related low back pain. The MAL has been studied anatomically by few, yet the data indicate possible associations between ossification of this ligament and spondylosis. It has been proposed that mechanical stress upon the lumbar spine may also lead to progressive ossification of the MAL into a bony foramen.

Ossification Of The Roof Of The Porus Trigeminus With Duplicated Abducens Nerve., Graham Dupont, Juan J Altafulla, Joe Iwanaga, Koichi Watanabe, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Ossification of parts of the intracranial dura mater is common and is generally accepted as an age-related finding. Additionally, duplication of the abducens nerve along its course to the lateral rectus muscle is a known, although uncommon anatomical variant. During routine cadaveric dissection, an ossified portion of dura mater traveling over the trigeminal nerve's entrance (porus trigeminus) into the middle cranial fossa was observed unilaterally. Ipsilaterally, a duplicated abducens nerve was also observed, with a unique foramen superolateral to the entrance of Dorello's canal. To our knowledge, there has been no existing report of a simultaneous ossified roof of the …

Initial Management Of Meningiomas: Analysis Of The National Cancer Database, Catherine R. Garcia, Stacey A. Slone, Monica Chau, Janna H. Neltner, Thomas A. Pittman, John L. Villano

Neurology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas are the most common central nervous system tumor. We describe current trends in treatment and survival using the largest cancer dataset in the United States.

METHODS: We analyzed the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2014, for all patients with diagnosis of meningioma.

RESULTS: 201,765 cases were analyzed. Patients were most commonly White (81.9%) females (73.2%) with a median age of 64 years. Fifty percent of patients were diagnosed by imaging. Patients were reported as grade I (24.9%), grade II (5.0%), grade III (0.7%), or unknown WHO grade (69.4%). Patients diagnosed by imaging were older, received treatment in …

Recommendations For The Design Of Therapeutic Trials For Neonatal Seizures., Janet S. Soul, Ronit Pressler, Marilee Allen, Geraldine Boylan, Heike Rabe, Ron Portman, Pollyanna Hardy, Sarah Zohar, Klaus Romero, Brian Tseng, Varsha Bhatt-Mehta, Cecil Hahn, Scott Denne, Stephane Auvin, Alexander Vinks, John Lantos, Neil Marlow, Jonathan M. Davis, International Neonatal Consortium

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Although seizures have a higher incidence in neonates than any other age group and are associated with significant mortality and neurodevelopmental disability, treatment is largely guided by physician preference and tradition, due to a lack of data from well-designed clinical trials. There is increasing interest in conducting trials of novel drugs to treat neonatal seizures, but the unique characteristics of this disorder and patient population require special consideration with regard to trial design. The Critical Path Institute formed a global working group of experts and key stakeholders from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, neonatal nurse associations, and patient advocacy …

Vgkc Antibody (Anti Lg1) Associated Limbic Encephalitis In A Young Adult With Full Recovery., Farheen Niazi, Madeeha Iftikhar, Rizwan Ali, Tahir Aziz

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

A young boy with no premorbids was admitted with fever, fits and psychosis. His initial investigations including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) routine examination, electroencephalogram(EEG) and MRI brain with contrast were normal. His autoimmune encephalitis panel revealed positive voltage gated potassium channel(VGKC) antibodies, anti -leucine rich glioma inactivated 1 antibody (LG1) group and was give five doses of methylprednisolone and five sessions of plasmapheresis. Psychiatric symptoms took one month to respond. He had a complete recovery. Autoimmune limbic encephalitis should be diagnosed promptly in young patient with fit, psychosis and a high index of suspicion should be kept as initial work up …

Polyneuropathy Associated With Iga Paraproteinemia: A Case Report And Literature Review., Waleed Shahzad, Sumaira Nabi, Hafiza Faiza Mushtaq, Tehmina Inayat, Muhammad Hassan, Haris Majid Rajput, Zakir Jan, Mazhar Badshah

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Paraproteinemia is precipitated by an accumulation of monoclonal plasma cells or B lymphocytes. Idiopathic neuropathies that are associated with paraproteinemia account for only 10% of the neuropathies. Paraprotein acts like an antibody and is targeted against myelin and axons present in the peripheral nerves. Despite being of interest for quite a long time, the caudal relationship between paraproteinemias and peripheral neuropathies still remains a sorcery. We report a case of a middle aged male who presented with pain and parasthesias in both arms and legs. His workup revealed him to be having a paraproteinemic neuropathy consistent with IgA Lambda chains …

Is It Really Transverse Myelitis? Acute Flaccid Myelitis A Rare Entity., Hina Yusuf, Arsalan Ahmad, Ejaz Ahmed Khan

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Acute Flaccid Myelitis is a relatively new and rare disease entity which was recognized for the first time in United States in 20121. Usually children below 18 years of age present with sudden onset rapidly progressive flaccid paralysis sometimes following upper respiratory tract infection. To date no cases have been reported from Afghanistan and Pakistan. We are reporting case of a young girl who presented with sudden onset flaccid paralysis and respiratory distress. Her MRI Cervical spine showed longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. One year after the onset of disease flaccid paraparesis continued despite various treatments. It is important to report …

Spectrum Of Electroencephalogram Finding In Children With Newly Diagnosed Epilepsy –An Experience At A Tertiary Care Hospital., Sanam B. Rajper, Khairunnisa Mukhtiar, Fozia Baloch, Shahnaz H. Ibrahim, Abdul Rashid Memon

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorders that affect all age groups. It is characterized by at least two unprovoked seizures more than 24 hours apart. The most common investigation used for both diagnosis and management is an Electroencephalogram (EEG), which is relatively cheap and easy to perform. However, EEG requires technical expertise and is prone to misinterpretation. Objective: To determine the frequency of abnormal EEG findings in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy at tertiary care hospital.

Humanism And Mental Health Of Married Female Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus., Hafiza Muzammal Shafiq, Dr. Muhammad Rafiq, Dr. Zahid Mahmood

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Autoimmune diseases exert adverse impact on the psychological, social and physical well-being of the individuals who suffer from such diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus is one of chronic illnesses that disturb the all areas of life especially psychosocial perspective of life. In such conditions, belief and view of patients about their own self is necessary to prognosis of their health. Studies suggest that humanism is one of those protective factors that can lead risky health towards better life.

The Mhgap; Will It Bridge The Mental Health Treatment Gap In Pakistan?, Shireen Najam, Aisha Sanober Chachar, Ayesha Mian

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

In Pakistan, the treatment gap for mental disorders is significantly high. Pakistan faces a unique problem of sustainable delivery. In 2009, WHO launched a mental health gap action program (mhGap) to provide evidence-based services at the primary and secondary level for the prevention and management of psychiatric and neurological disorders. This article highlights the discrepancies of the systems and issues related to mental health services provision in Pakistan. By discussing two initiatives of mhGap implementation for the Pakistani health system, authors have surveyed core areas where the sustainability of such a model can be compromised. The structural challenges marked by …