Correction to: Features of intracranial hemorrhage in cerebral venous thrombosis

Journal of Neurology - The original version of this article unfortunately contained mistakes. The correct information is given below.     

Prevalence and risk factors of silent brain infarcts in patients with AF detected by 3T-MRI

Journal of Neurology - Silent brain infarcts (SBI), a finding on neuroimaging, are associated with higher risk of future stroke. Atrial Fibrillation (AF) has been previously identified as a cause...     

Response rates for providing a blood specimen for HIV testing in a population-based survey of young adults in Zimbabwe

Background  

To determine differences among persons who provided blood specimens for HIV testing compared with those who did not among those interviewed for the population-based Zimbabwe Young Adult Survey (YAS).     

Effect of exogenous surfactant on total respiratory system compliance

We measured total respiratory system compliance (Crs) before and after instilling 25 mg artificial surfactant in 1 ml saline down the endotracheal tube of preterm babies requiring resuscitation at birth, and compared results with data from 6 similar babies receiving saline only. Surfactant did not produce a significant improvement in Crs.     

Lessons learned from HIV treatment interruption: safety, correlates of immune control, and drug sparing

Therapeutic approaches seeking to limit the exposure to antiretroviral drugs while retaining the benefits of continuous therapy have become an active area of investigation in HIV therapy research. Although early attempts to use interruptions of therapy as auto-vaccination strategies have shown little success, much has been discovered in regards to immunological correlates of viral control in acute and chronic infection, viral evolution, and the safety of single or multiple therapy interruptions in different patient sub-groups (acutely infected, chronically infected, and multi-drug resistant). Here we review safety data and candidate factors that may contribute to the striking differences observed between patients that undergo similar treatment interruption strategies but achieve different outcomes in controlling HIV replication. Differences between acute and chronic infection in the viral component (e.g. diversity of the viral pool) and the host immune system (e.g. low avidity CTL memory response), which may not be reversed by ART, may determine the potential for suppressive immune response upon therapy interruption. Consistent with goals of limiting toxicity and cost of antiretroviral drug regimens, safety outcomes to date indicate that intermittent therapy strategies may safely continue to be investigated in early and chronically infected patients. Based on ongoing research, we identify the topics to be targeted in future studies.     

Should the guidelines for monitoring serum cholesterol levels in the elderly be re-evaluated?

Elevated circulating cholesterol can have profound effects on the health of an individual. Such excess cholesterol can promote coronary artery disease, production and accumulation of β-amyloid in the brain, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In a clinical trial evaluating the benefit of a cholesterol-lowering drug in the treatment of AD, mean cholesterol levels at baseline among individuals participating in the trial were found to be relatively high. Based on this observation we suggest that cholesterol levels should be actively monitored in the elderly, as many individuals with AD are over 65 years of age and therefore excluded by currently accepted guidelines.     

Molecular signatures of brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of cellular death in the tissue surrounding an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are not defined. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of markers of excitotoxicity and inflammation to brain injury after ICH. METHODS: A total of 124 consecutive patients with spontaneous ICH admitted within 24 hours of stroke onset were prospectively investigated. The volumes of the initial ICH, peripheral edema on days 3 to 4, and the residual cavity at 3 months were measured on CT scan. Glutamate, cytokines, and adhesion molecules were measured in blood samples obtained on admission. Stroke severity and neurologic outcome were evaluated with the Canadian Stroke Scale. RESULTS: Poor neurologic outcome at 3 months (Canadian Stroke Scale < 7) was observed in 53 patients (43%). Stroke severity and glutamate concentrations (by each increment of 10 micromol/L, odds ratio 1.23; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.41), but not the initial volume of ICH, were independent predictors of poor outcome. In the multiple linear regression analyses, tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration was correlated (r = 0.83, p < 0.0001) with the volume of perihematoma edema, and glutamate concentrations were correlated (r = 0.78, p < 0.0001) with the volume of the residual cavity. These same results were observed when lobar (n = 58) and deep (n = 66) ICH were analyzed separately. CONCLUSIONS: High plasma levels of proinflammatory molecules within 24 hours of intracerebral hemorrhage onset are correlated with the magnitude of the subsequent perihematoma brain edema, whereas poor neurologic outcome and the volume of the residual cavity are related to increased plasma glutamate concentrations.     

Chronic subdural hematoma simulating a TIA. Implications for the management transient neurological deficit

Chronic subdural hematoma that generally happens after cranial trauma doesn't have clinical manifestations until days or weeks after the traumatism. Due to the lesions nature, symptoms are almost always progressive and presentation as transient ischemic attacks (TIA) is very uncommon. We describe 2 cases of chronic subdural hematoma that started simulating TIA and we discuss its implications in the management of those patients who had presented transient neurological deficit.