Informatics for Neurocritical Care: Challenges and Opportunities

Neurocritical care relies on the continuous, real-time measurement of numerous physiologic parameters. While our capability to obtain such measurements from patients has grown markedly with multimodal monitoring in many neurologic or neurosurgical intensive care units (ICUs), our ability to transform the raw data into actionable information is limited. One reason is that the proprietary nature of medical devices and software often prevents neuro-ICUs from capturing and centrally storing high-density data. Also, ICU alarm systems are often unreliable because the data that are captured are riddled with artifacts. Informatics is the process of acquiring, processing, and interpreting these complex arrays of data. The development of next-generation informatics tools allows for detection of complex physiologic events and brings about the possibility of decision support tools to improve neurocritical care. Although many different approaches to informatics are discussed and considered, here we focus on the Bayesian probabilistic paradigm. It quantifies the uncertainty inherent in neurocritical care instead of ignoring it, and formalizes the natural clinical thought process of updating prior beliefs using incoming patient data. We review this and other opportunities, as well as challenges, for the development and refinement of informatics tools in neurocritical care.     

卒中介入诊疗：新机遇和新挑战

正随着介入材料的不断创新和相关技术的不断发展,神经介入成为神经领域发展最为快速的学科。近年来,神经介入治疗在许多方面取得了可喜的突破和进展。2015年,五项随机对照试验(randomized controlled trial,RCT)研究的先后发表,显示支架动脉取栓治疗大血管闭塞的缺血性卒中患者明显优于药物治疗,成为新的指南推荐[1-5]。而另外两项大型RCT研究长期随访结果相继发表,进一步显示介入栓     

Cognitive Decline Following Stroke: A Comprehensive Study of Cognitive Decline Following Stroke*

General insight into the frequency and gravity of cognitive dysfunctions following stroke and its influencing factors is still lacking. With an extensive neuropsychological battery 229 patients who had suffered a stroke were assessed. More than 70% of the patients showed a marked slowness of information processing, whereas at least 40% of all patients had difficulty with memory, visuospatial and constructive tasks, language skills, and arithmetic. A significant effect was found for side and type of stroke, gender, and the presence of aphasia. No significant effect was found for cortical versus subcortical lesions, having one versus multiple strokes, having lowered consciousness on admission, the presence of risk factors, a paresis of the hand, or the interval between the stroke and the neuropsychological assessment.     

Cognitive Function Assessment and Prediction for Subjective Cognitive Decline and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Brain Imaging and Behavior - Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative dementia. Recent studies found that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may be the...     

Treating Older Adults With Schizophrenia: Challenges and Opportunities

Schizophrenia affects people of all age groups. Treatment plans for older adults with schizophrenia must consider the effects of age on the course of the illness as well as on the response to antipsychotics and to psychosocial interventions. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia tend to become less severe, substance abuse becomes less common, and mental health functioning often improves. Hospitalizations are more likely to be due to physical problems rather than psychotic relapses. Physical comorbidity is a rule, however, and older age is a risk factor for most side effects of antipsychotics, including metabolic syndrome and movement disorders. We recently reported high rates of adverse events and medication discontinuation along with limited effectiveness of commonly used atypical antipsychotics in older adults. Psychosocial interventions such as cognitive behavioral social skills training are efficacious in improving functioning in older adults with schizophrenia. In formulating treatment plans for this population, a balanced approach combining cautious antipsychotic medication use with psychosocial interventions is recommended. Antipsychotic medications should generally be used in lower doses in older adults. Close monitoring for side effects and effectiveness of the medications and a watchful eye on their risk:benefit ratio are critical. In a minority of patients it may be possible to discontinue medications. Sustained remission of schizophrenia after decades of illness is not rare, especially in persons who receive appropriate treatment and psychosocial support—there can be light at the end of a long tunnel.Key words: schizophrenia, aging, antipsychotics, psychosocial treatments, cognition, psychosis     

Creating Capable Communities for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Challenges and Opportunities

ABSTRACT

Introduction

People with learning disabilities in the United Kingdom are being incarcerated in hospital settings due to lack of suitable community care and support. Factors influencing discharge from institutional/hospital care to enable successful community living have not been explored systematically.