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Background: Determining the cause of acute ischemic stroke is crucial for patient management, particularly for preventing future stroke. In recent years, carotid web (CW), a non-atherosclerotic disorder of the carotid wall, has been found to be an underestimated source of cerebral emboli. Objective: The present study aimed to analyze the clinical, radiological, and pathological findings, along with the treatments performed in patients with CW and ipsilateral ischemic events. Methods: Patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack and ipsilateral CW were prospectively included from January 2019 to December 2021. Results: Nine patients were enrolled. The median age was 55 (43–62) years, with a female-to-male ratio of 3.5:1. Of the total, seven patients (78%) consulted for recurrent ipsilateral ischemic events. Despite medical treatment, 44% of the patients experienced new episodes. Computed tomographic angiography was suggestive of CW in all cases in which it was performed. The interval between the first ischemic event and diagnosis of CW was of 13 (6–68) months. After ruling out any other possible etiology, every patient underwent carotid revascularization, one underwent stenting and eight underwent carotidectomy. No severe or long-term complications were noted. Histological studies confirmed the diagnosis of CW. There were no recurrences after carotid revascularization during a follow-up of 24 (13–35) months. Conclusion: Knowledge of CW and differentiating it from atheroma plaques is essential, as medical management seems to be insufficient in many cases. Revascularization, which has been shown to be safe and effective, might be the best treatment modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebellar ataxia associated with glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD-ab) is a rare and usually slow progressive disease with moderate to severe gait and limb ataxia, dysarthria, and nystagmus. The treatment for this condition is still being discussed. We report the cases of three patients with GAD-ab cerebellar ataxia treated successively with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and rituximab. Symptoms improved in one case after rituximab therapy and were stabilized in another after a combined therapy of IVIg and rituximab. The third patient continued to worsen despite these treatments. We conclude that IVIg and rituximab therapy could improve or stabilize GAD-ab cerebellar ataxia. Early treatment, the lack of cerebellar atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging, and a subacute onset of the symptoms could be decisive prognostic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We made an anatomic study using a convenience sample of 20 patients, most of them referred to our institution for depicting internal auditory malformations that justify sensorineural deafness or for surgical planning of cochlear implants. All patients underwent a multislice temporal bone CT and oblique single slice reformation postprocessing in six proposed different planes corresponding to cochlear basal turn, apical basal turn, malleoincudal complex, stapes, and facial channel. Anatomic and pathologic characterization of some middle and inner ear structures, difficult to evaluate in standard axial and coronal planes, can be improved using this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object Relationships between clinical effects, anatomy, and electrophysiology are not fully understood in DBS of the subthalamic region in Parkinson’s disease. We proposed an anatomic study based on direct image-guided stereotactic surgery with a multiple source data analysis. Materials and Methods A manual anatomic mapping was realized on coronal 1.5-Tesla MRI of 15 patients. Biological data were collected under local anesthesia: the spontaneous neuron activities and the clinical efficiency and the appearance of adverse effects. They were related to relevant current values (mA), the benefit threshold (bt, minimal current leading an clear efficiency), the adverse effect threshold (at, minimal current leading an adverse effect) and the stimulation margin (sm = at − bt); they were matched with anatomy. Results We found consistent relationships between anatomy and biological data. The optimal stimulation parameters (low bt + high sm) were noted in the dorsolateral STN. The highest spontaneous neuron activity was found in the ventromedial STN. Dorsolateral (sensorimotor) STN seems the main DBS effector. The highest spontaneous neuron activity seems related to the anterior (rostral) ventromedial (limbic) STN. Conclusion 1.5 Tesla images provide sufficiently detailed subthalamic anatomy for image-guided stereotactic surgery and may aid in understanding DBS mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]