Prasat Neurological Institute

IntroductionAlpha-synucleinopathies (ASs), including Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies, are characterised by autonomic dysfunction that may predispose to cardiovascular events and sudden death. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive marker of autonomic regulation, yet its modulation across sleep stages in ASs remains unclear.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed 25 patients with ASs and 35 age-matched controls who underwent overnight polysomnography between 2020 and 2023. 5 min ECG segments from wakefulness, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep were used to compute time- and frequency-domain HRV indices. Statistical comparisons and multivariate models were adjusted for sex and REM sleep behaviour disorder.ResultsHRV indices, particularly percentage of successive RR intervals that differ by more than 50 milliseconds (pNN50) and root mean square of successive differences, were significantly reduced in ASs compared with controls. The most pronounced difference occurred during NREM sleep (pNN50, p=0.008), where controls exhibited normal parasympathetic elevation that was absent in ASs.ConclusionPatients with ASs demonstrate blunted nocturnal parasympathetic activity, most evident during NREM sleep. Sleep-stage-specific HRV analysis provides sensitive insights into cardiac autonomic dysfunction and may serve as a potential biomarker of disease severity and cardiovascular risk in synucleinopathies.

This essay won the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion essay contest for 2024.

ObjectivesEndovascular therapy (EVT) has proven to be clinically effective in treating large vessel occlusion acute ischaemic stroke (AIS), either alone or in combination with intravenous alteplase. Despite this, there is a limited evidence on the cost-effectiveness of EVT in Thailand and other low-income and middle-income countries. This study aims to assess whether EVT is a cost-effective therapy for AIS, and to estimate the fiscal burden to the Thai government through budget impact analysis.MethodsAn economic evaluation was performed to compare AIS therapy with and without EVT from a societal perspective. The primary outcome was incremental cost-effectiveness per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Clinical parameters were derived from both national and international literature, while cost and utility data were collected locally. The analysis applied a cost-effectiveness threshold of 160 000 Baht (~$5000) per QALY, as set by the Thai government.ResultsBoth EVT alone and EVT combined with intravenous alteplase, among patients who are ineligible and eligible for intravenous alteplase, respectively, improved health outcomes but incurred additional cost. The combination of EVT and intravenous alteplase was associated with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 146 800 THB per QALY gained compared with intravenous alteplase alone, and the ICER of EVT alone compared with supportive care among patients ineligible for intravenous alteplase was estimated at 115 000 THB per QALY gained. Sensitivity analysis showed that the price of EVT has the greatest impact on model outcomes. Over a time horizon of 5 years, the introduction of EVT into the Thai health benefit package would require an additional budget of 887 million THB, assuming 2000 new cases per year.ConclusionsEVT represents good value for money in the Thai context, both when provided to patients eligible for intravenous alteplase, and when provided alone to those who are ineligible for intravenous alteplase.

Restoration of hand function after C8-T1 spinal nerve injury is challenging. We report a case of a young patient who underwent single-stage transfer of extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) branch of radial nerve to flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) branch of median nerve and transfer of brachialis branch of musculocutaneous nerve to anterior interosseous nerve (AIN), aiming for restoration of all finger flexion in iatrogenic C8-T1 spinal nerve injury after the resection of a dumbbell-shaped C8 neurofibroma. At 18months after the operation, the fingers and thumb functions were successfully restored. The operation might be useful for restoration of hand function in selected patients with C8, T1 brachial plexus injury. From the literature review, this is the first case that the technique of double motor nerve transfer and the transfer of ECRB branch to FDS branch were used to restore finger flexion in a patient with brachial plexus injury.

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Patient: Male, 71-year-oldFinal Diagnosis: StrokeSymptoms: HemiplegiaMedication: —Clinical Procedure: —Specialty: RehabilitationObjective:Unusual or unexpected effect of treatmentBackground:The criterion standard treatments for ischemic stroke patients, starting from systemic thrombolysis and/or undergoing endovascular recanalization therapy to intensive rehabilitation, are the best options available nowadays, but still cannot achieve total recovery. Neuroprotective and neurotrophic agents seem to be promising therapeutic targets in stroke, even in ischemic and/or hemorrhagic stroke, either in the acute stage or to support neuro-recovery in subacute to chronic stages. Therefore, new therapies are needed as adjuvants in the rehabilitation phase for promoting the recovery and monitoring adverse effects of treatment.Case Report:We describe a patient with an acute occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery who was treated with recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rtPA), underwent mechanical thrombectomy, and was then enrolled in a 1-month rehabilitation program. After the post-stroke recovery plateau, the patient received 10 days of 30 mL intravenous Cerebrolysin® to support further neuro-recovery, together with long-term rehabilitation. We utilized clinical standard assessment tools, including National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin scale (mRS), modified Barthel Index (MBI), and function of ambulation, to evaluate the outcome of the patient, together with the adverse events monitoring. After Cerebrolysin® administration, the patient demonstrated improvement in all assessment scores at 1, 3, and 6 months.Conclusions:Postoperative treatment with Cerebrolysin® in our patient with subacute ischemic stroke, after plateau recovery in the rehabilitation phase, together with the standard acute stroke regimen, improved the patient’s recovery outcomes. No serious adverse effects were observed.

While monophasic and relapsing forms of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody associated disorders (MOGAD) are increasingly diagnosed world-wide, consensus on management is yet to be developed. To survey the current global clinical practice of clinicians treating MOGAD. Neurologists worldwide with expertise in treating MOGAD participated in an online survey (February-April 2019). Fifty-two responses were received (response rate 60.5%) from 86 invited experts, comprising adult (78.8%, 41/52) and paediatric (21.2%, 11/52) neurologists in 22 countries. All treat acute attacks with high dose corticosteroids. If recovery is incomplete, 71.2% (37/52) proceed next to plasma exchange (PE). 45.5% (5/11) of paediatric neurologists use IV immunoglobulin (IVIg) in preference to PE. Following an acute attack, 55.8% (29/52) of respondents typically continue corticosteroids for ≥ 3months; though less commonly when treating children. After an index event, 60% (31/51) usually start steroid-sparing maintenance therapy (MT); after ≥ 2 attacks 92.3% (48/52) would start MT. Repeat MOG antibody status is used by 52.9% (27/51) to help decide on MT initiation. Commonly used first line MTs in adults are azathioprine (30.8%, 16/52), mycophenolate mofetil (25.0%, 13/52) and rituximab (17.3%, 9/52). In children, IVIg is the preferred first line MT (54.5%; 6/11). Treatment response is monitored by MRI (53.8%; 28/52), optical coherence tomography (23.1%; 12/52) and MOG antibody titres (36.5%; 19/52). Regardless of monitoring results, 25.0% (13/52) would not stop MT. Current treatment of MOGAD is highly variable, indicating a need for consensus-based treatment guidelines, while awaiting definitive clinical trials.