Domain specific cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s patients with mild cognitive impairment

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects nearly 20–50% patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). It may be the prodromal stage of dementia and impacts quality of life of the patient and caregiver. Characterizing PD cognition at the stage of MCI may help in understanding of cognitive pathophysiology. This study assessed and compared cognition in patients with PD and mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI, n = 32, age = 61.09 ± 5.97 years), PD patients with normal cognition (PD-NC, n = 32, age = 58.81 ± 6.15 years) and healthy controls (HC, n = 38, age = 57.39 ± 7.14 years). Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MoCA) was used for categorization of subjects. Cognitive assessment of five domains: executive function, attention, visuospatial function, memory and language (using two tests in each domain) were performed. The effect of PD clinical scores on cognition and cognitive domain specificity in diagnosing PD-MCI were assessed by correlation and receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses, respectively. All the analyses followed removal of potential confounds (age, education and clinical scores). Attention, memory, executive and visuospatial functions were impaired in PD-MCI on comparison with HC and PD-NC groups. Performance in digit span forward and trail making tests for attention and memory (immediate recall) were comparable in both the PD groups. Both the PD groups revealed impairment in attention, memory and language with respect to HC, suggesting the fronto-striatal and posterior cortical syndrome in PD. Highly significant Visual-N-back correlation with UPDRS-III may implicate the shared motor-visuospatial neural pathways. Visual-N-back/PGI delayed recall domains are promising in characterizing PD-MCI stage.     

遗忘型轻度认知损害的神经影像与神经心理特点

目的 了解aMCI脑结构改变和相关认知损害特点,探讨准确诊断aMCI的神经影像和神经心理生物指标。方法 3-DMRI采集35例aMCI患者和35名健康对照者脑结构信息,LEAP软件计算左右侧和均侧海马、杏仁核和颞角体积,MoCA测评认知功能。结果两组被试年龄、性别差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,受教育年限差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。aMCI的左、右侧及均侧海马萎缩和右侧颞角扩大（P〈0．05）,MoCA总评分和注意力、重复句子、抽象能力、延迟回忆、定向力等亚项得分减低（P〈0．05）,MoCA与右、均侧海马及右侧杏仁核呈正相关（P〈0．05）。ROC分析显示Mo—cA总评分、左、右及均侧海马、左、右及均侧杏仁核等指标诊断aMCI准确性高（P〈0．01）。单独认知指标MoCA总评分和重复句子（wilks’Lambda=0．299,X^2=80．905,df=2,P〈0．01）区分aMCI和NC的准确性为88．6％,单独脑结构指标均侧海马和杏仁核（wilks’Lambda=0．515,X^244．509,df=2,P〈0．01）的准确性为81．4％,认知和脑结构综合指标MoCA总评分、均侧海马和左侧杏仁核（Wilks’Lambda=0．261,X^2=89．228,df=3,P〈0．01）的准确性为95．7％。结论 aMCI期已出现特异的海马、杏仁核萎缩和弥漫性认知损害,在AD非痴呆期联合应用认知测试和神经影像指标更有助于AD早期准确诊断。     

灯盏生脉胶囊联合奥拉西坦治疗轻中度血管性痴呆的疗效观察

目的 探讨灯盏生脉胶囊联合奥拉西坦注射液治疗轻中度血管性痴呆的疗效。方法 选取濮阳市人民医院2012年1月—2015年3月收治的轻中度血管性痴呆患者90例,采用随机数字表法分为治疗组(45例)和对照组(45例)。所有患者均给予常规降血脂、抗血小板聚集治疗,对照组给予静脉滴注奥拉西坦注射液4 g,加入到0.9%生理盐水500 mL,1次/d。治疗组在对照组基础上口服灯盏生脉胶囊,2粒/次,1次/d。两组均连续治疗12周。治疗前后采用简易智能精神状态量表(MMSE)和蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)评价患者认知功能;采用日常生活能力量表(ADL)评价患者日常生活自理能力;比较两组患者血管内中膜厚度(IMT)。结果 治疗后2、4、12周,两组MMSE、MoCA评分均显著上升(P< 0.05),且治疗组MMSE、MoCA评分显著高于对照组(P< 0.05);治疗后2、4、12周,两组ADL评分均显著升高(P< 0.05),且治疗组ADL评分显著高于对照组(P< 0.05)。治疗后两组IMT均显著降低(P< 0.05),且治疗组IMT显著低于对照组(P< 0.05)。结论 灯盏生脉胶囊联合奥拉西坦注射液治疗轻中度血管性痴呆疗效确切,可显著改善患者的认知功能和日常生活行为,具有一定的临床推广应用价值。     

Comparison of the montreal cognitive assessment and the mini-mental state examination as screening tests in hemodialysis patients without symptoms

Cognitive impairment in end-stage renal disease patients is associated with an increased risk of mortality. We examined the cognitive function in hemodialysis (HD) patients and compared the Korean versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (K-MoCA) and of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) to identify the better cognitive screening instrument in these patients. Thirty patients undergoing hemodialysis and 30 matched reference group of apparently healthy control were included. All subjects underwent the K-MoCA, K-MMSE and a neuropsychological test battery to measure attention, visuospatial function, language, memory and executive function. All cognitive data were converted to z-scores with appropriate age and education level prior to group comparisons. Cognitive performance 1.0 SD below the mean was defined as modest cognitve impairment while 1.5 below the mean was defined as severe cognitive impairment. Modest cognitive impairment in memory plus other cognitive domains was detected in 27 patients (90%) while severe cognitive impairment in memory plus other cognitive domains was detected in 23 (77%) patients. Total scores in the K-MoCA were significantly lower in HD patients than in the reference group. However, no significant group difference was found in the K-MMSE. The K-MMSE ROC AUC (95% confidence interval) was 0.72 (0.59–0.85) and K-MoCA ROC AUC was 0.77 (0.65–0.89). Cognitive impairment is common but under-diagnosed in this population. The K-MoCA seems to be more sensitive than the K-MMSE in HD patients.     

Cerebral Embolic Risk During Transcatheter Mitral Valve Interventions: An Unaddressed and Unmet Clinical Need?

As new transcatheter mitral valve (MV) interventions continuously evolve, potential procedure-related adverse events demand careful investigation. The risk of cerebral embolic damage is ubiquitous in any left-sided structural heart intervention (and potentially linked to long-term neurocognitive sequelae); therefore, efforts to evaluate these aspects in the field of catheter-based MV procedures are justified. Given the peculiarities of MV anatomy, MV disease, and MV procedures, the lessons learned from other transcatheter heart interventions (i.e., transcatheter aortic valve replacement) cannot be directly translated to MV applications. Through a systematic assessment of available evidence, the authors present and discuss procedure- and patient-related factors potentially associated with cerebral embolic risk during catheter-based MV interventions. Given the paucity of available data in this field, future large, dedicated studies are needed to understand whether cerebral embolic injury represents a real clinical issue during MV procedures.     

Screening for neurocognitive impairment in HIV-positive adults aged 50 years and older: Montreal Cognitive Assessment relates to self-reported and clinician-rated everyday functioning

As the HIV+ population ages, the risk for and need to screen for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) increases. The aim of this study is to determine the utility and ecological validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) among older HIV+ adults. A total of 100 HIV+ older adults aged 50 years or over completed a comprehensive neuromedical and neurocognitive battery, including the MoCA and several everyday functioning measures. The receiver operating characteristic curve indicates ≤26 as the optimal cut-off balancing sensitivity (84.2%) and specificity (55.8%) compared to “gold standard” impairment as measured on a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Higher MoCA total scores are significantly (p < .01) associated with better performance in all individual cognitive domains except motor abilities, with the strongest association with executive functions (r = ?0.49, p < .01). Higher MoCA total scores are also significantly (p <.01) associated with fewer instrumental activities of daily living declines (r = ?0.28), fewer everyday cognitive symptoms (r = ?0.25), and better clinician-rated functional status (i.e., Karnofsky scores; r = 0.28); these associations remain when controlling for depressive symptoms. HIV+ individuals who are neurocognitively normal demonstrate medium-to-large effect size differences in their MoCA performance compared to those with asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (d = 0.85) or syndromic HAND (mild neurocognitive disorder or HIV-associated dementia; d = 0.78), while the latter two categories do not differ. Although limited by less than optimal specificity, the MoCA demonstrates good sensitivity and ecological validity, which lends support to its psychometric integrity as a brief cognitive screening tool among older HIV+ adults.     

Identifying Unmet Rehabilitation Needs in Patients After Stroke With a Graphic Rehab-CompassTM

Background

Unmet rehabilitation needs are common among stroke survivors. We aimed to evaluate whether a comprehensive graphic “Rehab-Compass,” a novel combination of structured patient-reported outcome measures, was feasible and useful in facilitating a capture of patients' rehabilitation needs in clinical practice.

脑心通胶囊联合盐酸美金刚治疗血管性痴呆的临床研究

目的探究脑心通胶囊联合盐酸美金刚治疗血管性痴呆患者临床效果。方法选取天津中医药大学第一附属医院2016年4月—2018年1月收治的血管性痴呆患者94例,随机分成对照组和治疗组,每组各47例。对照组口服盐酸美金刚片,第1周剂量5 mg/d,然后每周递增5 mg至第4周达到维持剂量20 mg/d。治疗组在对照组基础上口服脑心通胶囊,3粒/次,3次/d。两组均连续治疗2个月。观察两组患者临床疗效,同时比较治疗前后两组患者认知障碍改善情况、脑血流动力学和血清炎性细胞因子水平。结果治疗后,对照组和治疗组临床总有效率分别为74.47%和91.49%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者日常生活能力量表(ADL)、简易智力状态检查量表(MMSE)和蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)评分显著升高(P0.05),且治疗组患者ADL、MMSE和MoCA评分明显高于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后,两组大脑前动脉(ACA)、大脑后动脉(PCA)、大脑中动脉(MCA)和左右椎动脉(VA)平均血流速度明显升高(P0.05),且治疗组患者ACA、PCA、MCA、VA平均血流速度明显高于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者血清C反应蛋白(CRP)、白细胞介素-18(IL-18)、IL-6、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平明显降低(P0.05),且治疗组CRP、IL-18、IL-6、TNF-α水平明显低于对照组(P0.05)。结论脑心通胶囊联合盐酸美金刚治疗血管性痴呆患者对认知障碍改善起积极作用,促使脑部血液循环改善,还可抑制炎症反应,具有较高用药安全性,疗效显著。     

清脑复神液联合尼莫地平治疗血管性认知障碍的临床研究

目的研究清脑复神液联合尼莫地平片治疗血管性认知障碍的临床疗效。方法选取2015年12月—2018年12月绵阳市中心医院收治的115例血管性认知障碍患者为研究对象,将所有患者随机分为对照组(57例)和治疗组(58例)。对照组患者口服尼莫地平,2片/次,4次/d;治疗组在对照组基础上口服清脑复神液,10 mL/次,2次/d。两组患者持续治疗8周。观察两组的临床疗效,比较两组的蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)评分、简易精神智能量表(MMSE)评分、血清因子水平。结果治疗后,对照组和治疗组的总有效率分别为85.96%、93.10%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者MoCA评分和MMSE评分均显著升高,同组治疗前后比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);并且治疗组患者MoCA评分和MMSE评分明显高于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)和血栓素B2(TXB2)水平均显著降低,同组治疗前后比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);并且治疗组患者血清因子水平明显低于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论清脑复神液联合尼莫地平片治疗血管性认知障碍具有较好的治疗效果,能改善患者认知功能,降低NSE和TXB2水平,具有一定的临床推广应用价值。