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Background: Scoliosis is a spinal deformity that usually manifests as a structural curve determining a variable deformity of the trunk. According to some published series, 4 to 26% of scoliosis initially classified as idiopathic show neurological alterations when studied with nuclear magnetic resonance, such as syringomyelia and Chiari malformation, among the most frequent. Chiari malformations are characterized by descending herniation of the cerebellar tonsils, brainstem, and IV ventricle into the spinal canal. Case report: We present the case of a patient whose first symptomatic manifestation was early-onset scoliosis. The overlapping of some physical examination signs, such as postural lateralization and scoliosis, reinforced the active suspicion of neuroaxis alterations. Conclusions: Early childhood-onset scoliosis should raise a high degree of suspicion for association with neuro-spinal diseases. Although the frequency of Chiari malformation is low, its early approach could reduce the progression of associated comorbidities. An early detection could change the prognosis of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, fundamental studies of common regularities and features of the course of various nosological forms of neurological pathology has led clinicians to a new understanding of frequent "female" and "male" diseases. This review presents a generalization of modern ideas on gender features of the prevalence and course of certain neurological diseases in male and female populations, with an emphasis on long-term studies on this issue conducted by the researchers of the Research Center of Neurology. It is shown that the greatest gender differences are related to vascular and demyelinating diseases of the nervous system, movement disorders, and some forms of hereditary neurological pathology. Modern concepts on a new field of neuroscience, gender neuromorphology, are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare suppurative infection that commonly presents with nonspecific symptoms along with the infrequent triad of fever, back pain, and neurological deficits. Risk factors include diabetes mellitus, intravenous drug use, degenerative disc disease, infection with human immunodeficiency virus, and recent trauma or surgery. Patients with SEA often experience poor outcomes such as permanent neurological deficits, residual motor weakness, and even death. Staphylococcus aureus is the most predominant organism known to cause SEA; however, gram-negative bacteria are isolated in a small percentage of cases. Here we report three cases of SEA caused by gram-negative organisms. Each patient had identifiable risk factors known to increase the risk for SEA, and upon presentation had symptoms of SEA. Upon work up, the patients had positive cultures for gram-negative organisms and MRI imaging confirmed the presence of SEA. One patient made a full recovery while the other two cases resulted in permanent paraplegia. These cases stress the importance of considering SEA even in the presence of gram-negative infections, despite them being a rare cause. Furthermore, these cases emphasize the importance of broad-spectrum antibiotics that cover gram-negative bacteria in patients found to have risk factors along with symptoms of SEA.

No es claro si los pacientes con algún grado de inmunosupresión tienen peores desenlaces en la infección por SARS-CoV-2, en comparación con la población sana. Realizar una revisión narrativa de la información disponible sobre infección por SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes inmunosuprimidos, especialmente pacientes con cáncer, trasplantados, con patologías neurológicas, inmunodeficiencias primarias y secundarias. Los pacientes con cáncer y tratamiento reciente del mismo (quimioterapia o cirugía) e infección por SARS-CoV-2 tienen mayor riesgo de peores desenlaces. En los pacientes trasplantados (renal, cardiaco y hepático), con patologías neurológicas (esclerosis múltiple [EM], neuromielitis óptica [NMODS], miastenia grave [MG]), inmunodeficiencias primarias e infección por virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) en asociación con uso de inmunosupresores, los estudios no han mostrado tendencia a peores desenlaces. Dada la poca evidencia con que contamos hasta el momento no es claro el comportamiento de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes con inmunosupresión, pero los estudios actuales no han mostrado peores desenlaces en este tipo de pacientes, a excepción de los pacientes con cáncer. It is not clear whether patients with some degree of immunosuppression have worse outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared to healthy people. To carry out a narrative review of the information available on infection by SARS-CoV-2 in immunosuppressed patients, especially patients with cancer, transplanted, neurological diseases, primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. Patients with cancer and recent cancer treatment (chemotherapy or surgery) and SARS-CoV-2 infection have a higher risk of worse outcomes. In transplant patients (renal, cardiac and hepatic), with neurological pathologies (multiple sclerosis [MS], neuromyelitis optica [NMODS], myasthenia gravis [MG]), primary immunodeficiencies and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in association with immunosuppressants, studies have shown no tendency for worse outcomes. Given the little evidence we have so far, the behaviour of SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunosuppressed patients is unclear, but current studies have not shown worse outcomes, except for patients with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes the literature data on the role of lithium compounds in modern pharmacotherapy of various diseases of the central nervous system. Attention is also paid to other therapeutic properties of lithium in atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hematopoietic disorders, inflammation, and diseases of the urinary system. Possible ways of delivering lithium into the body have been charted, in particular, when lithium salt is combined with a sorbent (solid porous carrier). Such compounds have additional therapeutic properties. Data on the significance of lithium compounds in studies on models of diseases of the nervous system in animals are analyzed. Among these models, models of neonatal ischemia/hypoxia of the brain in vivo, neurodegenerative diseases, psychopathological states (aggressiveness, depression) and craniocerebral injury are discussed. There are researches in which the results of the lithium preparations use in clinical practice are investigated. It emphasizes the influence of genetic factors on the lithium effects. Particular attention is paid to the possibility of preventing the toxicity of lithium compounds for the body. The currently known molecular mechanisms of lithium action are discussed: inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) and inositol monophosphatase 1 (IMPA1), which have key value for autophagy, oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial function, induction of neurotrophic factors, apoptosis. It was concluded that the study of the molecular pathways of the functioning of lithium compounds empowers understanding both the reasons for its effectiveness in the nervous system diseases and the mechanisms of action on other body systems.

In recent years, fundamental studies of common factors and specific features of various nosological forms of neurological disorders led clinicians to a new understanding of frequent " female" and "male" diseases. The present paper provides an overview of current opinions about gender specificities of the prevalence and the course of particular neurological diseases in male and female populations, with an accent to many-year studies of this problem conducted by researchers of the Research Center of Neurology. It has been shown that major gender differences are related to cerebrovascular and demyelinating diseases, movement disorders, and some forms of neuro-hereditary disorders. Modern concepts of a new field of neuroscience, gender neuromorphology, are analyzed.

The purpose of the study: the study of expert opinions of specialists from different regions of the Russian Federation on the organization of rehabilitation of children with diseases of the central and/or peripheral nervous system, including pediatric patients after the neuroinfections.Materials and methods: The scientific method of expert evaluation of the state and prospects of the development of children’s rehabilitation in the regions of the Russian Federation: the North-Western, Southern and Central Federal Districts was used.Results: physicians in different regions of the Russian Federation as a whole have professional work experience related to issues of providing rehabilitation assistance to children. However, only a little more than a third of medical workers working in the field of rehabilitation care for children received special training in the medical rehabilitation of children with diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. Existing system of organizing children’s rehabilitation in the North-West Federal District turned out to be more effective. Nevertheless, the problem of high technology development and the difficult situation with trained medical personnel in the rehabilitation system turned out to be relevant for the latter region. Among the proposals to improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation of children with diseases of the central and / or peripheral nervous system, specialists noted the need to introduce new (for certain institution) types and methods of rehabilitation, increase funding and logistics for medical organizations, resolve the issue with the training of rehabilitation specialists for work with this contingent of sick children, expand the network of medical rehabilitation centers and improve the accessibility of sanatoriums and resorts where treatment is performed on a budgetary basis.Conclusion: the study revealed the presence of organizational problems in providing rehabilitation care for children with diseases of the central and / or peripheral nervous system in different regions of Russia.

The aim of this paper is to statistically examine whether there are different patterns in daily numbers of deaths during the quiet periods of solar activity, in contrast to the periods of the strong solar storms. We considered three periods of solar storms (storm of 14 July 2000 Bastille Day Event, storm of 28 October 2003 Halloween Solar Storms, and storm of 17 March 2015 St. Patrick’s Day event) and three periods of continuous very low solar activity (13 September–24 October 1996, 21 July–20 August 2008, and 31 July–31 August 2009) during the Solar Cycles No. 23 and No. 24. In particular, we focus on diseases of the nervous system (group VI from ICD-10) and diseases of the circulatory system (group IX from ICD-10) separately for both sexes and two age groups (under 39 and 40+). We demonstrate that in the resulting graphical models there was a connection between the daily number of deaths and all indices of solar and geomagnetic activity in periods of low solar activity in contrast to periods of strong solar storms in some monitored groups according to age, sex, and group of diagnosis.

Bacterial spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare suppurative infection that commonly presents with nonspecific symptoms along with the infrequent triad of fever, back pain, and neurological deficits. Risk factors include diabetes mellitus, intravenous drug use, degenerative disc disease, infection with human immunodeficiency virus, and recent trauma or surgery. Patients with SEA often experience poor outcomes such as permanent neurological deficits, residual motor weakness, and even death. Staphylococcus aureus is the most predominant organism known to cause SEA; however, gram-negative bacteria are isolated in a small percentage of cases. Here we report three cases of SEA caused by gram-negative organisms. Each patient had identifiable risk factors known to increase the risk for SEA, and upon presentation had symptoms of SEA. Upon work up, the patients had positive cultures for gram-negative organisms and MRI imaging confirmed the presence of SEA. One patient made a full recovery while the other two cases resulted in permanent paraplegia. These cases stress the importance of considering SEA even in the presence of gram-negative infections, despite them being a rare cause. Furthermore, these cases emphasize the importance of broad-spectrum antibiotics that cover gram-negative bacteria in patients found to have risk factors along with symptoms of SEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diseases of the nervous system are widely considered to be caused by genetic mutations, and they have been shown to share pathogenic genes. Discovering the shared mechanisms of these diseases is useful for designing common treatments.Method: In this study, by reviewing 518 articles published after 2007 on 20 diseases of the nervous system, we compiled data on 1607 mutations occurring in 365 genes, totals that are 1.9 and 3.2 times larger than those collected in the Clinvar database, respectively. A combination with the Clinvar data gives 2434 pathogenic mutations and 424 genes. Using this information, we measured the genetic similarities between the diseases according to the number of genes causing two diseases simultaneously. Further detection was carried out on the similarity between diseases in terms of cell types. Disease-related cell types were defined as those with disease-related gene enrichment among the marker genes of cells, as ascertained by analyzing single-cell sequencing data. Enrichment profiles of the disease-related genes over 25 cell types were constructed. The disease similarity in terms of cell types was obtained by calculating the distances between the enrichment profiles of these genes. The same strategy was applied to measure the disease similarity in terms of brain regions by analyzing the gene expression data from 10 brain regions.Results: The disease similarity was first measured in terms of genes. The result indicated that the proportions of overlapped genes between diseases were significantly correlated to the DMN scores (phenotypic similarity), with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.40 and P-value = 6.0×10-3. The disease similarity analysis for cell types identified that the distances between enrichment profiles of the disease-related genes were negatively correlated to the DMN scores, with Spearman correlation coefficient = -0.26 (P-value = 1.5 × 10-2). However, the brain region enrichment profile distances of the disease-related genes were not significantly correlated with the DMN score. Besides the similarity of diseases, this study identified novel relationships between diseases and cell types.Conclusion: We manually constructed the most comprehensive dataset to date for genes with mutations related to 20 nervous system diseases. By using this dataset, the similarities between diseases in terms of genes and cell types were found to be significantly correlated to their phenotypic similarity. However, the disease similarities in terms of brain regions were not significantly correlated with the phenotypic similarities. Thus, the phenotypic similarity between the diseases is more likely to be caused by dysfunctions of the same genes or the same types of neurons rather than the same brain regions. The data are collected into the database NeurodisM, which is available at http://biomed-ai.org/neurodism.

A statistical analysis of the relation between exceptional solar events and daily numbers of deaths in the Czech Republic is presented. In particular, we concentrate on diseases of the nervous system (group VI from ICD-10—International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision) and diseases of the circulatory system (group IX from ICD-10). We demonstrate that the neurological diseases exhibit greater instability during the period of rising and falling solar activity. We study the daily numbers of deaths, separately for both sexes and two age groups (under 39 and 40+), during the Solar Cycles No. 23 and No. 24. We focus on exceptionally strong solar events in this period, such as the “Bastille Day event” on 14 July 2000, “Halloween solar storm” on 28 October 2003, and events on 7 January 1997, 2 April 2000, and on 7 September 2005. Special attention is paid to “St. Patrick’s Day storm” on 17 March 2015, the strongest geomagnetic storm of the Solar Cycle No. 24 that occurred following a coronal mass ejection (CME). We investigate the changes in the daily numbers of deaths during 1 month before and 1 month after these exceptional solar events. We take specific storm dynamics of their geophysical parameters into consideration. It has been verified that, for diseases of the nervous system, women are generally more sensitive than men. On the contrary, this differences between men and women have not been found for diseases of the circulatory system. Our findings suggest that the impact of the hazardous space weather conditions on human health depends on the specific dynamic and strength of the solar storm.

The health of children and youth is an integral indicator of the well-being of society and an indicator of social and environmental problems. The aim of the study is to study the prevalence of mental illnesses and disorders of the nervous system in children, adolescents and youth in anthropogenic pressure; аssessment of personal health of adolescents and young people based on the results of the questionnaire according to the WHOQOL-BREF standard. To implement the goals and objectives, bibliographic, comparative, and statistical methods were used. In children and adolescents, there is an increase in the prevalence of diseases of the nervous system and mental disorders by 7,5% and 4,5%, respectively. The incidence of mental disorders was highest in children under 6 years of age, and prevalence rates in school-age children. The maximum incidence of nerve diseases was also observed in children under 6 years of age. At school age, especially from 14 to 17-18 years, under the influence of external factors and "school risks", "psychoemotional instability" can arise. The indicator of "satisfaction" with the quality of life among young people is stable and high, which indicates the formation of a stable population of the population in the age range of 17-30 years, which is adapted to living and learning conditions.

In order to determine quality of life of people with disabilities according to age, gender and functional limitations using questionnaire SF-36 study was conducted. The study was conducted by examining questionnaire data and performed using the comparison of the data in the standard forms of primary documentation. It was revealed that in disabled caused by diseases of the nervous system a significant decrease of quality of life by the most scales of SF-36 questionnaire, was noted it is reliable, valid, and a highly convenient method of assessing physical and mental health of persons with disabilities and allows to control various components of life activity and has prognostic significance with respect to the effectiveness of rehabilitation, reintegration and resocialization.

The purpose of this study was to assess the nature of the sleep changes in children with various pathologies. The study included 103 children with diseases of the nervous system, ENT disorders and allergic diseases. Polysomnography was carried out to all children — the synchronous recording of various physiological parameters during sleep. The vast majority of patients in the studied groups had changed microstructure of sleep in comparison with the healthy children (control group). Disorders of breathing during sleep were manifested in the form of episodes of apnea/hypopnea. These changes were associated with the severity of somatic pathology.

Background: We studied recent trends in mortality from seven mental and neurological conditions and their determinants in 41 European countries. Methods: Age-standardized mortality rates were analysed using standard methods of descriptive epidemiology, and were related to cultural, economic and health care indicators using regression analysis. Results: Rising mortality from mental and neurological conditions is seen in most European countries, and is mainly due to rising mortality from dementias. Mortality from psychoactive substance use and Parkinson's disease has also risen in several countries. Mortality from dementias has risen particularly strongly in Finland, Iceland, Malta, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and is positively associated with self-expression values, average income, health care expenditure and life expectancy, but only the first has an independent effect. Conclusions: Although trends in mortality from dementias have probably been affected by changes in cause-of-death classification, the high level of mortality from these conditions in a number of vanguard countries suggests that it is now among the most frequent causes of death in high-income countries. Recognition of dementias as a cause of death, and/or refraining from life-saving treatment for patients with dementia, appear to be strongly dependent on cultural values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to statistically examine whether there are different patterns in daily numbers of deaths during the quiet periods of solar activity, in contrast to the periods of the strong solar storms. We considered three periods of solar storms (storm of 14 July 2000 Bastille Day Event, storm of 28 October 2003 Halloween Solar Storms, and storm of 17 March 2015 St. Patrick's Day event) and three periods of continuous very low solar activity (13 September–24 October 1996, 21 July–20 August 2008, and 31 July–31 August 2009) during the Solar Cycles No. 23 and No. 24. In particular, we focus on diseases of the nervous system (group VI from ICD-10) and diseases of the circulatory system (group IX from ICD-10) separately for both sexes and two age groups (under 39 and 40+). We demonstrate that in the resulting graphical models there was a connection between the daily number of deaths and all indices of solar and geomagnetic activity in periods of low solar activity in contrast to periods of strong solar storms in some monitored groups according to age, sex, and group of diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Once considered little more than the glue that holds neurons in place, astrocytes are now becoming appreciated for the key roles they play in central nervous system functions. They supply neurons and oligodendrocytes with substrates for energy metabolism, control extracellular water and electrolyte homeostasis, regulate neurotransmitter release, modulate immune responses, produce trophic factors, and control synapse formation. Astrocytes express receptors for many neurotransmitters, peptides, hormones and cytokines, and show excitability based on intracellular Ca2+ variations. Evidence is mounting that alterations in astrocyte functionality play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of disorders with diverse properties, including migraine, epilepsy, leukodystrophies, inflammatory demyelinating diseases, infections, brain edema and metabolic disorders, metal intoxications, neurodegenerative disorders, and schizophrenia. Targeting astrocyte dysfunction may lead to new therapeutic strategies for these disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Nobel Prizes for Physiology or Medicine have included a relatively large number of awards for work in the neurosciences, or for work construed to have made a contribution to neuroscience. These are recognized in this article by brief explanations of the particular contribution that warranted this magnificent (and munificent) award. The first prizes in neuroscience were awarded five years after the initiation of the Nobel Foundation's program. Up to 2005, 28 prizes have been awarded for achievements in neuroscience to 52 individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A statistical analysis of the relation between exceptional solar events and daily numbers of deaths in the Czech Republic is presented. In particular, we concentrate on diseases of the nervous system (group VI from ICD-10—International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision) and diseases of the circulatory system (group IX from ICD-10). We demonstrate that the neurological diseases exhibit greater instability during the period of rising and falling solar activity. We study the daily numbers of deaths, separately for both sexes and two age groups (under 39 and 40+), during the Solar Cycles No. 23 and No. 24. We focus on exceptionally strong solar events in this period, such as the "Bastille Day event" on 14 July 2000, "Halloween solar storm" on 28 October 2003, and events on 7 January 1997, 2 April 2000, and on 7 September 2005. Special attention is paid to "St. Patrick's Day storm" on 17 March 2015, the strongest geomagnetic storm of the Solar Cycle No. 24 that occurred following a coronal mass ejection (CME). We investigate the changes in the daily numbers of deaths during 1 month before and 1 month after these exceptional solar events. We take specific storm dynamics of their geophysical parameters into consideration. It has been verified that, for diseases of the nervous system, women are generally more sensitive than men. On the contrary, this differences between men and women have not been found for diseases of the circulatory system. Our findings suggest that the impact of the hazardous space weather conditions on human health depends on the specific dynamic and strength of the solar storm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]