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Background: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a reversible cause of dementia, typically treated with shunt surgery, although outcomes vary. Artificial intelligence (AI) advancements could improve predictions of shunt response (SR) by analyzing extensive datasets., Methods: We conducted a systematic review to assess AI's effectiveness in predicting SR in iNPH. Studies using AI or machine learning algorithms for SR prediction were identified through searches in MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science up to September 2023, adhering to Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis reporting guidelines., Results: Of 3541 studies identified, 33 were assessed for eligibility, and 8 involving 479 patients were included. Study sample sizes varied from 28 to 132 patients. Common data inputs included imaging/radiomics (62.5%) and demographics (37.5%), with Support Vector Machine being the most frequently used machine learning algorithm (87.5%). Two studies compared multiple algorithms. Only 4 studies reported the Area Under the Curve values, which ranged between 0.80 and 0.94. The results highlighted inconsistency in outcome measures, data heterogeneity, and potential biases in the models used., Conclusions: While AI shows promise for improving iNPH management, there is a need for standardized data and extensive validation of AI models to enhance their clinical utility. Future research should aim to develop robust and generalizable AI models for more effective diagnosis and management of iNPH., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The Chiari malformations present heterogeneous entities, raising many questions regarding their natural history, pathophysiology, treatment options, and prognosis. Bibliometric analyses have emerged as a method to assess the impact of articles in current clinical practice., Methods: The most cited articles were identified via Scopus Library by using the keywords "Chiari," "Arnold-Chiari," and "Chiari malformation." The 100 most cited articles were then assembled and analyzed in detail., Results: The top 100 articles yielded a mean of 155,28 citations per article, ranging from 87 to 896 citations, and from 1.63 to 38.96 per year. Years of publications ranged from 1950 to 2015. Oakes was the most cited author (n = 7), followed by Tubbs and Milhorat. The country with the highest cited articles was the United States (n = 63), followed by the United Kingdom (n = 6), Italy (n = 5), Spain (n = 5), Japan (n = 4), and Germany (n = 3). Neurosurgery is the journal with the most highly cited articles (n = 21), followed by Journal of Neurosurgery (n = 19). Most articles focused on Chiari malformation type I (n = 83). The topic discussed most often was imaging (n = 63), followed by the evaluation of treatment outcome (n = 58), clinical signs and symptoms (n = 57), and the role of surgery (n = 56)., Conclusions: The present bibliometric analysis provides a succinct appraisal of the most cited articles concerning Chiari malformation, allowing a deeper insight in this area and its main influential articles with their impact on current clinical practice and future research., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Evidence suggests that the intake of blueberry (poly)phenols is associated with improvements in vascular function and cognitive performance. Whether these cognitive effects are linked to increases in cerebral and vascular blood flow or changes in the gut microbiota is currently unknown., Methods: A double-blind, parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted in 61 healthy older individuals aged 65-80 y. Participants received either 26 g of freeze-dried wild blueberry (WBB) powder (302 mg anthocyanins) or a matched placebo (0 mg anthocyanins). Endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), cognitive function, arterial stiffness, blood pressure (BP), cerebral blood flow (CBF), gut microbiome, and blood parameters were measured at baseline and 12 wk following daily consumption. Plasma and urinary (poly)phenol metabolites were analyzed using microelution solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry., Results: A significant increase in FMD and reduction in 24 h ambulatory systolic BP were found in the WBB group compared with the placebo group (0.86%; 95% CI: 0.56, 1.17, P < 0.001; -3.59 mmHg; 95% CI: -6.95, -0.23, P = 0.037; respectively). Enhanced immediate recall on the auditory verbal learning task, alongside better accuracy on a task-switch task was also found following WBB treatment compared with placebo (P < 0.05). Total 24 h urinary (poly)phenol excretion increased significantly in the WBB group compared with placebo. No changes in the CBF or gut microbiota composition were found., Conclusions: Daily intake of WBB powder, equivalent to 178 g fresh weight, improves vascular and cognitive function and decreases 24 h ambulatory systolic BP in healthy older individuals. This suggests that WBB (poly)phenols may reduce future CVD risk in an older population and may improve episodic memory processes and executive functioning in older adults at risk for cognitive decline. Clinical Trial Registration number in clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04084457., (Copyright © 2023 American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Bibliometric analyses assess the impact and influence of articles in the academic community. There is no previous work that has used bibliometric analysis of microvascular decompression (MVD). This study aims to identify and characterize the 100 most cited articles on MVD., Methods: Highly cited articles were identified assessing the Scopus library by using the keywords "microvascular decompression," "MVD," "nerve decompression," "nerve root decompression," and "microvascular surgery." Data were further processed by sampling techniques with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The number of citations, country of origin, institutions of origin, year of publication, type of cranial nerve disorder, type of article, and the publishing journal were analyzed. Further, article categories and the type of studies were investigated., Results: The 100 most cited articles on MVD ranged from 951 to 76 total citations, and from 38.04 to 1.88 citations per year. Publication dates spanned a period from 1959 to 2015. The most frequently studied cranial nerve disorder was trigeminal neuralgia (n = 54). Articles were published in 29 journals, with Neurosurgery (n = 33) topping the list. The articles came from 14 different countries, with most contributions from the United States (n = 55). Authors of the highly cited articles who received most citations were Peter J. Jannetta (n = 26), followed by Aage Møller (n = 13), and Marc Sindou (n = 11)., Conclusions: This work provides a detailed evaluation of the 100 most cited articles on MVD, thus allowing recognition and selected reading of the most influential academic contributions related to this surgical technique in a variety of cranial nerve disorders., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to gather validity evidence for the Assessment of basic Vascular Ultrasound Expertise (AVAUSE) tool, and to establish a pass/fail score for each component, to support decisions for certification., Methods: A cross sectional validation study performed during the European Society for Vascular Surgery's annual meeting. Validity evidence was sought for the theoretical test and two practical tests based on Messick's framework. The participants were vascular surgeons, vascular surgical trainees, sonographers, and nurses with varying experience levels. Five vascular ultrasound experts developed the theoretical and two practical test components of the AVAUSE tool for each test component. Two stations were set up for carotid examinations and two for superficial venous incompetence (SVI) examinations. Eight raters were assigned in pairs to each station. Three methods were used to set pass/fail scores: contrasting groups' method; rater consensus; and extended Angoff., Results: Nineteen participants were enrolled. Acceptable internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha) for the AVAUSE theoretical (0.93), carotid (0.84), and SVI (0.65) practical test were shown. In the carotid examination, inter-rater reliability (IRR) for the two rater pairs was good: 0.68 and 0.78, respectively. The carotid scores correlated significantly with years of experience (Pearson's r = 0.56, p = .013) but not with number of examinations in the last five years. For SVI, IRR was excellent at 0.81 and 0.87. SVI performance scores did not correlate with years of experience and number of examinations. The pass/fail score set by the contrasting groups' method was 29 points out of 50. The rater set pass/fail scores were 3.0 points for both carotid and SVI examinations and were used to determine successful participants. Ten of 19 participants passed the tests and were certified., Conclusion: Validity evidence was sought and established for the AVAUSE comprehensive tool, including pass/fail standards. AVAUSE can be used to assess competences in basic vascular ultrasound, allowing operators to progress towards independent practice., (Copyright © 2020 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)