MRI characteristics of MOG-Ab associated disease in adults: An update

Our knowledge of the radiological spectrum of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody associated disease (MOGAD) is growing rapidly. An update on the radiological features of the disease, and its evolution is thus necessary. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has an increasingly important role in the differential diagnosis of MOGAD particularly from aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Differentiating these conditions is of prime importance because the management is different between the three inflammatory diseases, and thus could prevent further attack-related disability. Therefore, identifying the MRI features suggestive of MOGAD has diagnostic and prognostic implications. We herein review optic nerve, spinal cord and the brain MRI findings from MOGAD adult patients, and compare them to AQP4-NMOSD and MS.     

The discrepancy between verbal and visuoperceptual IQ in children with a specific learning disorder: An analysis of 1624 cases

Children with a specific learning disorder (SLD) are often characterized by marked intellectual strengths and weaknesses. In the last few years, research has focused on a common discrepancy between low working memory and processing speed on the one hand, and high verbal and visuoperceptual intelligence on the other. SLD profiles featuring a specific discrepancy between verbal and visuoperceptual abilities have been only marginally considered, however, and their systematic comparison vis-à-vis typically-developing (TD) populations has yet to be conducted. The present study examined a dataset of 1624 WISC-IV profiles of children with a diagnosis of SLD. It emerged that the proportion of children with a Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) at least 1.5 SD (22 standardized points) lower than their scores on the Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) was larger than the proportion of SLD children with the opposite discrepant profile; it was also larger than the same proportion found among TD children. Comparing the two discrepant profiles revealed that the children also differed by type of learning difficulty, gender, and performance in the WISC-IV Symbol search task. Further examination suggested that children who were discrepant and also distinctly poor in visuoperceptual intelligence were particularly slow in general processing.     

Research Priorities in Pelvic Venous Disorders in Women: Recommendations from a Multidisciplinary Research Consensus Panel

Pelvic venous disorders (PeVDs) in women can present with chronic pelvic pain, lower-extremity and vulvar varicosities, lower-extremity swelling and pain, and left-flank pain and hematuria. Multiple evidence gaps exist related to PeVDs with the consequence that nonvascular specialists rarely consider the diagnosis. Recognizing this, the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation funded a Research Consensus Panel to prioritize a research agenda to address these gaps. This paper presents the proceedings and recommendations from that Panel.     

How is Anxiety Identified and Diagnosed in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability? A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder display a pattern of social communication deficits and restricted and repetitive behaviors that leave them particularly vulnerable to developing anxiety. The presence of a co-occurring Intellectual Disability further complicates the situation, compromising traditional diagnostic techniques and processes. The dual diagnosis of ASD and ID appears to result in specific behavioral patterns that affect the way anxiety is identified in this population.

Method: A scoping review was undertaken to explore what is currently known about the way anxiety is identified and diagnosed in individuals with ASD and ID.

Results: In the limited research available consistent themes of difficulties with the diagnostic process, inconsistencies among measurement tools and the need to consider behavioral symptomology were found.

Conclusion: Further research needs to be conducted to enhance our understanding of how anxiety is identified in those with ASD and ID. This research could more accurately inform reliable diagnostic processes and lead to better treatment and outcomes for this population.     

Profiles of caregiving behaviors among children and adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV

Although parenting behaviors are widely considered an important factor in the adjustment of children and adolescents with chronic physical health needs, few studies have addressed this topic as it pertains to youth with perinatally-acquired human immunodeficiency virus (PHIV). We examined profiles of child-centeredness, control through guilt, consistent discipline, and detachment, and whether these profiles differed in terms of parent- and youth-reported psychiatric disorder symptoms in a cohort of HIV infected youth (N?=?314). Latent profile analyses of caregiving behaviors were conducted separately for children (6–12 years) and adolescents (13–18 years). Two profiles were identified among children: (a) moderate caregiving (87%, n?=?130) and (b) high detachment caregiving (13%, n?=?19), and three profiles were identified among adolescents: (a) moderate caregiving (55%, n?=?88), (b) high detachment caregiving (19%, n?=?30), and (c) high control through guilt caregiving (26%, n?=?42). The high detachment and high control through guilt caregiving profiles displayed higher levels of parent-and youth-reported symptoms than the moderate caregiving profile. These findings suggest that caregiver behaviors of PHIV youth vary as a function of children’s developmental period and differ in terms of youth psychological symptoms.     

Exploring the effectiveness of a specialized therapy programme for burnout using subjective report and biomarkers of stress

The increasing prevalence of stress-related disorders such as burnout urges the need for specialized treatment approaches. Programmes combining psychotherapy and regenerative interventions emerge to be the most successful. However, evaluated therapy programmes are scarce and usually involve subjective symptom quantification without consideration of physiologic parameters. The aim of the present exploratory, single-group study was the multimodal investigation of the effectiveness of a specialized holistic therapy programme by assessing symptoms and biological markers of chronic stress. Seventy-one in-patients (39 men/32 women; age 46.8 ± 9.9 years) of a specialized burnout ward with the additional diagnosis of burnout (Z73.0) in conjunction with a main diagnosis of depressive disorder (F32 or F33) according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 were included in the study. In addition to symptomatology, the stress-responsive biomarkers heart rate variability (HRV) and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured in patients at admittance to and discharge from the burnout ward applying a 6-week specialized treatment programme. At discharge, patients showed a significant reduction of symptom burden and a significant increase in serum BDNF, while HRV remained unchanged. The findings implicate that the therapy programme may have beneficial effects on symptomatology and neuroplasticity of patients with burnout. As therapy was often supplemented by psychopharmacological treatment, a relevant influence of antidepressant medication especially on BDNF has to be considered.