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The article reports that Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein‑associated disorder (MOGAD) is an autoimmune oligodendrocytopathy, whereas neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune astrocytopathy. Topics include Cell‑based assay shows strong immunofluorescence to aquaporin and myelin oligodendrocyte protein in the serum tested on transfected cell lines; and enhancement in the medial temporal lobe following contrast administration Coronal FLuid Attenuated Inversion Recovery.

Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is performed in patients with minor strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) to prevent further strokes. However, most operators do not intervene in older adults. We had a 92-year patient with recurrent minor strokes with two possible proximate causes – cardioembolism and significant symptomatic left carotid stenosis. This patient continued to have recurrent ischemic events in the left carotid territory despite optimum management of the cardioembolic source with dual antiplatelets and anticoagulation and was successfully treated with left CAS. The role of carotid revascularization in older patients with high-grade symptomatic carotid stenosis and cardiac comorbidities is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemispheric disconnection represents a challenging and major epilepsy surgical procedure. This procedure in experienced hands offers excellent results in terms of seizure outcomes, especially for hemispheric pathologies such as Rasmussen's encephalitis, hemispheric dysplasias, hemimegalencephaly. The technique of hemispherotomy has witnessed various modifications over the years, beginning from anatomical hemispherectomy to the current era of minimally invasive functional hemispheric disconnections.Objective: This study aimed to describe the technique of performing endoscopic vertical hemispherotomy using interhemispheric corridor developed by the senior author.Materials and Methods: A 12-year-old girl with seizure onset at the age of 10 years presented with an aura of fear and nausea followed by tonic deviation of eyes to the right and blinking with speech arrest. There were tonic-clonic movements of the right-sided limbs along with ictal spitting and occasional deviation of the angle of mouth to the right. The patient had loss of awareness for the event along with postictal confusion lasting few minutes.Results: Video electroencephalography (VEEG) revealed left parietocentral and left temporal localization. Serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain over 3 years revealed progressive left hemispheric changes suggestive of Rasmussen's encephalitis. The patient underwent left-sided endoscopic hemispherotomy. At 2 years follow-up, the patient is seizure-free (ILAE [International League Against Epilepsy] Class 1).Conclusion: Endoscopic hemispherotomy using the interhemispheric approach is an elegant, minimally invasive, reproducible, safe, and efficacious technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Stroke is the most common cause of epilepsy in the adult population. Post-stroke seizures (PSSs) are classified into early-onset seizures (ES) and late-onset (LS). ES can significantly affect the clinical outcome and occurrence of LS. Methods: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of acute ischemic stroke patients between June 2018 and May 2020 in a neurology unit at a tertiary hospital. We screened all acute stroke patients and included consecutive patients older than 18 years of age, presenting with acute, first-ever neuroimaging-confirmed ischemic stroke. We excluded patients with a previous stroke, transient ischemic attacks, hemorrhagic stroke, cerebral venous thrombosis, prior history of seizures, or any other epileptogenic comorbidity. ES were classified as spontaneous seizures occurring within 1 week of the stroke. The main outcome assessed was the occurrence of ES. The secondary outcome was to determine predictors of ES and create an ES prediction score. Results: We screened 432 patients; of them, 291 were enrolled. ES occurred in 37 patients (12.7%). Cortical location (OR: 4.2), large artery disease subtype (OR: 2.9), mRS at presentation (OR: 1.4), use of anticoagulants (OR: 2.6), and hypertension (OR: 0.3) were significantly associated with the occurrence of ES. Patients with ES had a statistically significant worse clinical outcome at 3 months follow-up (P = 0.0072). Conclusion: We could formulate an ES prediction tool using the following components: (a) cortical location, (b) large vessel stroke, (c) mRS at admission, (d) anticoagulant use, and (e) presence of hypertension. This tool might help in treating patients at high risk for ES with prophylactic ASD, thereby preventing seizures and their complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an astrocytopathy with a predilection for the optic nerve, spinal cord, and brainstem. In this ambispective study, we evaluate clinical characteristics, responses to therapy, and disability outcomes in patients with NMOSD. Methods: Patients diagnosed as NMOSD and following up for at least 1 year at a tertiary care center in India were recruited. Patient data were collected ambispectively from January 2012 until December 2018. Results: A total of 106 patients (29M/77F) with NMOSD were evaluated. The mean age of onset was 29 (±11.6) years. About 77 patients (72.64%) were positive for the AQP4 antibody. Age of onset was higher for those presenting with an opticospinal syndrome (34.2 years) as compared to either isolated longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) (30 years) or optic neuritis (ON) (25.3 years). The most common syndrome at onset was LETM in 57 patients (53.77%) followed by ON in 31 patients (29.24%). Azathioprine was the most common immunotherapy (83.96%) prescribed followed by rituximab (7.54%) and mycophenolate mofetil (1.88%). There was a significant decrease in the number of relapses post-azathioprine (P < 0.001). Out of 67 patients with ON, 21 (31.34%) had complete recovery while 17 (25.37%) patients had a severe deficit at a 3-month follow-up. Out of 92 patients with a motor deficit, 49 (53.26%) patients had a partial motor deficit at a 6-month follow-up. The severe visual deficit at baseline and female gender predicted poor visual and motor recovery, respectively. Conclusion: This is the largest descriptive study on patients with NMOSD from India. Relapse rates were similar irrespective of the clinical presentation, age, gender, and disease course. Treatment with immunosuppressive treatment significantly affected the disease course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study of a 22‑year‑old woman who developed acute onset altered behavior in the post‑partum state and was initially misdiagnosed to have cortical vein thrombosis. Topics include Electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed periodic sharp wave complexes synchronized with the jerks; and Considering a possibility of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) she was pulsed with steroids and discharged.

Background: The management of hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) rests upon the type of presentation. These are rare congenital benign lesions presenting either with central precocious puberty (CPP), drug refractory epilepsy (DRE) or combination of both. We present here our experience in the management of these lesions from a neurosurgeon's perspective and review the pertinent literature.Objective: To present a series of HH presenting with CPP and DRE managed in the neurosurgery department at our center with an emphasis on the associated endocrine abnormalities.Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study over a period of five years included 16 patients of HH. All patients were evaluated with 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain, complete hormonal workup including gonadotrophins, testosterone (males) and estradiol (females), and video-electroencephalography (VEEG) as a part of epilepsy workup. All these patients were evaluated with postoperative hormonal workup and repeat MRI brain if repeat surgery was contemplated.Results: Among the 16 patients of HH, there were 11 male and 6 female children. All the patients presented with DRE with four of these had associated CPP. All the patients underwent robotic-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA), with 75% seizure freedom following 1st RFA surgery. Three of the four patients with CPP achieved both clinical and biochemical normalization. One patient had just a marginal reduction in the serum gonadotrophins. One patient was reoperated twice and three underwent RFA thrice.Conclusion: The management of HH should be individualized with DRE taking the precedence requiring early surgery. A multidisciplinary approach is therefore recommended for a successful outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurosurgical treatment may improve seizures in children and adolescents with drug-resistant epilepsy, but additional data are needed from randomized trials.Methods: In this single-center trial, we randomly assigned 116 patients who were 18 years of age or younger with drug-resistant epilepsy to undergo brain surgery appropriate to the underlying cause of epilepsy along with appropriate medical therapy (surgery group, 57 patients) or to receive medical therapy alone (medical-therapy group, 59 patients). The patients in the medical-therapy group were assigned to a waiting list for surgery. The primary outcome was freedom from seizures at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were the score on the Hague Seizure Severity scale, the Binet-Kamat intelligence quotient, the social quotient on the Vineland Social Maturity Scale, and scores on the Child Behavior Checklist and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory.Results: At 12 months, freedom from seizures occurred in 44 patients (77%) in the surgery group and in 4 (7%) in the medical-therapy group (P<0.001). Between-group differences in the change from baseline to 12 months significantly favored surgery with respect to the score on the Hague Seizure Severity scale (difference, 19.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 15.8 to 23.1; P<0.001), on the Child Behavior Checklist (difference, 13.1; 95% CI, 10.7 to 15.6; P<0.001), on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (difference, 21.9; 95% CI, 16.4 to 27.6; P<0.001), and on the Vineland Social Maturity Scale (difference, 4.7; 95% CI, 0.4 to 9.1; P=0.03), but not on the Binet-Kamat intelligence quotient (difference, 2.5; 95% CI, -0.1 to 5.1; P=0.06). Serious adverse events occurred in 19 patients (33%) in the surgery group, including hemiparesis in 15 (26%).Conclusions: In this single-center trial, children and adolescents with drug-resistant epilepsy who had undergone epilepsy surgery had a significantly higher rate of freedom from seizures and better scores with respect to behavior and quality of life than did those who continued medical therapy alone at 12 months. Surgery resulted in anticipated neurologic deficits related to the region of brain resection. (Funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research and others; Clinical Trial Registry-India number, CTRI/2010/091/000525 .). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]