Increased orexin A concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia

Orexins are hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate several physiological functions, such as appetite, arousal, cognition, stress, sleep and metabolism. Emerging pieces of evidence suggest an orexinergic dysfunction in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety and addiction. A syndromic overlap between behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and several psychiatric disorders was recently demonstrated. Therefore, we analysed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) orexin A concentrations of 40 bvFTD and 32 non-demented patients, correlating neuropeptide concentrations with several clinical characteristics. A significant increase of orexin A concentrations was found in bvFTD patients when compared to controls (p<0.001). CSF orexin A concentration showed a correlation with Mini-Mental State Examination scores, drug assumption, history of compulsive behaviour and extrapyramidal signs. Moreover, we found a relationship between CSF markers of neurodegeneration, total tau and Aβ(1–42) and CSF orexin A concentrations. Our study provides evidence of an orexinergic dysfunction in bvFTD, correlating with several clinical symptoms. Further larger studies are needed to confirm our data. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10072-021-05250-x

The effectiveness of metal on metal hip resurfacing: a systematic review of the available evidence published before 2002

BACKGROUND: Conventional total hip replacement (THR) may be felt to carry too high a risk of failure over a patient's lifetime, especially in young people. There is increasing interest in metal on metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty (MoM) as this offers a bone-conserving option for treating those patients who are not considered eligible for THR. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of MoM for treatment of hip disease, and compare it with alternative treatments for hip disease offered within the UK. METHODS: A systematic review was carried out to identify the relevant literature on MoM published before 2002. As watchful waiting and total hip replacement are alternative methods commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of degenerative joint disease of the hip, we compared MoM with these. RESULTS: The data on the effectiveness of MoM are scarce, as it is a relatively new technique and at present only short-term results are available. CONCLUSION: It is not possible to make any firm conclusions about the effectiveness of MoM based on these early results. While the short-term results are promising, it is unclear if such results would be replicated in more rigorous studies, and what the long-term performance might be. Further research is needed which ideally should involve long-term randomised comparisons of MoM with alternative approaches to the clinical management of hip disease

Computation of Gait Parameters in Post Stroke and Parkinson’s Disease: A Comparative Study Using RGB‐D Sensors and Optoelectronic Systems

The accurate and reliable assessment of gait parameters is assuming an important role, especially in the perspective of designing new therapeutic and rehabilitation strategies for the remote follow‐up of people affected by disabling neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and post‐stroke injuries, in particular considering how gait represents a fundamental motor activity for the autonomy, domestic or otherwise, and the health of neurological patients. To this end, the study presents an easy‐to‐use and non‐invasive solution, based on a single RGB‐D sensor, to estimate specific features of gait patterns on a reduced walking path compatible with the available spaces in domestic settings. Traditional spatio‐temporal parameters and features linked to dynamic instability during walking are estimated on a cohort of ten parkinsonian and eleven post‐stroke subjects using a custom‐written software that works on the result of a body‐tracking algorithm. Then, they are compared with the “gold standard” 3D instrumented gait analysis system. The statistical analysis confirms no statistical difference between the two systems. Data also indicate that the RGB‐D system is able to estimate features of gait patterns in pathological individuals and differences between them in line with other studies. Although they are preliminary, the results suggest that this solution could be clinically helpful in evolutionary disease monitoring, especially in domestic and unsupervised environments where traditional gait analysis is not usable

Medioevo latino. Bollettino bibliografico della cultura europea da Boezio a Erasmo (secoli VI - XV) - Volume 26

Fondato nel 1980 da Claudio Leonardi, R. Avesani, F. Bertini, G. Cremascoli, G. Orlandi e G. Scalia e pubblicato ogni anno, \ue8 diventato un punto di riferimento per gli studiosi di medievistica. Diviso in grandi sezioni (Autori e testi, Fortleben, argomenti, generi letterari, istituzioni, scienze della storia, opere di consultazione, congressi e miscellanee), \ue8 corredato di un ricco apparato di indici. Il frutto del lavoro nasce dalla collaborazione fra numerose redazioni, nazionali e internazionali. La redazione bolognese \ue8 composta da A. Albuzzi, R. Cristiani, V. Lunardini, R. Parmeggiani, coordinati da G. Cremascoli e impegnati in un intenso lavoro di spoglio e schedatura di riviste e volumi, per un paio di mesi all\u2019anno

Medioevo latino. Bollettino bibliografico della cultura europea da Boezio a Erasmo (secoli VI - XV) - Volume 27

Bibliografia ragionata sulla latinità medievale. Fondato nel 1980 da Claudio Leonardi, R. Avesani, F. Bertini, G. Cremascoli, G. Orlandi e G. Scalia e pubblicato ogni anno, Medioevo latino è diventato un punto di riferimento per gli studiosi di medievistica. Diviso in grandi sezioni (Autori e testi, Fortleben, argomenti, generi letterari, istituzioni, scienze della storia, opere di consultazione, congressi e miscellanee), è corredato di un ricco apparato di indici. Il frutto del lavoro nasce dalla collaborazione fra numerose redazioni, nazionali e internazionali. La redazione bolognese è composta da V. Lunardini e R. Parmeggiani, coordinati da G. Cremascoli e impegnati in un intenso lavoro di spoglio e schedatura di riviste e volumi, per un paio di mesi all’anno

Atypical postictal transient subcortical T2 hypointensity in a newly diagnosed diabetic patient with seizures

Common postictal MRI findings include transient cortical T2 hyperintensity, restricted diffusion, and gyral and/or adjacent leptomeningeal contrast enhancement. In certain uncommon pathological conditions, other signal abnormalities can be present, suggesting a different underlying pathogenic mechanism. We report the case of a 66-year-old man, recently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2, presenting with new-onset visual and auditory hallucinations, “absence” seizures, and repeated peaks of hyperglycaemia without hyperketonaemia or increased serum osmolarity. EEG confirmed epileptic discharges in the right temporal region and MRI showed vast subcortical T2 hypointensity in the right temporal lobe, without any cortical hyperintensity, restricted diffusion, or contrast enhancement. Subcortical signal abnormality and EEG discharges resolved after a month of follow-up, with a small juxtacortical gliotic focus as a sequela. Peaks in hyperglycaemia have been reported to be responsible for T2 hypointense subcortical abnormalities through a proconvulsant mechanism linked to increased ketone body concentrations. Hyperosmolarity and hyperketonaemia were not evident in this case, however, transient accumulation of free radicals that alter the intercellular space can be considered the presumable cause of this finding. In summary, it is important to consider any unusual findings on postictal MRI in order to avoid errors in interpretation