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Abstract Purpose Accurate prognostication may aid in the selection of patients who will benefit from surgery at recurrent WHO grade 4 glioma. This study aimed to evaluate the role of serial tumour volumetric measurements for prognostication at first tumour recurrence. Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients with histologically-diagnosed WHO grade 4 glioma at initial and at first tumour recurrence at a tertiary hospital between May 2000 and September 2018. We performed auto-segmentation using ITK-SNAP software, followed by manual adjustment to measure serial contrast-enhanced T1W (CE-T1W) and T2W lesional volume changes on all MRI images performed between initial resection and repeat surgery. Results Thirty patients met inclusion criteria; the median overall survival using Kaplan-Meier analysis from second surgery was 10.5 months. Seventeen (56.7%) patients received treatment post second surgery. Univariate cox regression analysis showed that greater rate of increase in lesional volume on CE-T1W (HR = 2.57; 95% CI [1.18, 5.57]; p = 0.02) in the last 2 MRI scans leading up to the second surgery was associated with a higher mortality likelihood. Patients with higher Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) (HR = 0.97; 95% CI [0.95, 0.99]; p = 0.01) and who received further treatment following second surgery (HR = 0.43; 95% CI [0.19, 0.98]; p = 0.04) were shown to have a better survival. Conclusion Higher rate of CE-T1W lesional growth on the last 2 MRI images prior to surgery at recurrence was associated with increase mortality risk. A larger prospective study is required to determine and validate the threshold to distinguish rapidly progressive tumour with poor prognosis.

Abstract Background In Singapore, research teams seek informed patient consent on an ad hoc basis for specific clinical studies and there is typically a role separation between operational and research staff. With the enactment of the Human Biomedical Research Act, there is increased emphasis on compliance with consent-taking processes and research documentation. To optimize resource use and facilitate long-term research sustainability at our institution, this study aimed to design and pilot an institution level informed consent workflow (the “intervention”) that is integrated with clinic operations. Methods We used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as the underpinning theoretical framework and conducted the study in three stages: Stage 1, CFIR constructs were used to systematically identify barriers and facilitators of intervention implementation, and a simple time-and-motion study of the patient journey was used to inform the design of the intervention; Stage 2, implementation strategies were selected and mapped to the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) taxonomy; Stage 3, we piloted and adapted the implementation process at two outpatient clinics and evaluated implementation effectiveness through patient participation rates. Results We identified 15 relevant CFIR constructs. Implementation strategies selected to address these constructs were targeted at three groups of stakeholders: institution leadership (develop relationships, involve executive boards, identify and prepare champions), clinic management team (develop relationships, identify and prepare champions, obtain support and commitment, educate stakeholders), and clinic operations staff (develop relationships, assess readiness, conduct training, cyclical tests of change, model and simulate change, capture and share local knowledge, obtain and use feedback). Time-and-motion study in clinics identified the pre-consultation timepoint as the most appropriate for the intervention. The implementation process was adapted according to clinic operations staff and service needs. At the conclusion of the pilot, 78.3% of eligible patients provided institution level informed consent via the integrated workflow implemented. Conclusions Our findings support the feasibility of implementing an institution level informed consent workflow that integrates with service operations at the outpatient setting to optimize healthcare resources for research. The CFIR provided a useful framework to identify barriers and facilitators in the design of the intervention and its implementation process.

A new off-axis optical design alternative to that of the GRACE Follow-on mission for future NGGM missions is considered. In place of the triple-mirror assembly of the GRACE Follow-on mission, a laser retro-reflector is instead generated by means of lens systems. The receiving (RX) beam and transmitting (TX) beam are enforced to be anti-parallel by a control loop with differential wavefront sensing (DWS) signals as readout, and a fast-steering mirror is employed to actuate the pointing of the local beam. The tilt-to-length (TTL) coupling noise of the new off-axis optical bench layout is carefully studied in the present work. Local TTL originated from piston noise as well as assembly and alignment errors of optical components are studied. Effort is also made to have an in depth understanding of global TTL due to relative attitude jitter between spacecraft. The margin of TTL noise in the position noise budget for laser ranging is examined. With an open loop control of the offset between the reference point of the optical bench and the centre of mass of a satellite, the TTL noise of the new off-axis optical bench design may be suppressed efficiently.

Background: While atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important risk factor for ischemic strokes and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Alzheimer's disease, the association between AF and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI), and the factors mediating this association, is unclear.Objective: To investigate the role of AF in PSCI, especially in relation to other markers of cerebrovascular disease.Methods: 445 subjects with mild ischemic stroke without pre-stroke cognitive decline were assessed 3-6 months post-stroke for cognitive deficits. MRIs were reviewed by trained raters for acute infarct characteristics, global cortical atrophy, white matter hyperintensities, cerebral microbleeds, and intracranial stenosis. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with PSCI. Subjects were also categorized according to paroxysmal (pAF) or persistent/chronic AF (p/cAF), and presence or absence of AF or large cortical infarcts (LCI) to study cognitive trends.Results: 80 (18.0%) subjects had AF. 76.3% of AF subjects and 42.7% of subjects without AF had PSCI. The odds ratio (OR) of AF in developing PSCI was 2.31 (95% CI: 1.12-4.75; p = 0.035), after correcting for other risk factors. pAF subjects and AF subjects with LCIs had higher ORs for PSCI. AF subjects performed worse in neuropsychological tasks associated with global cognition, episodic memory, and executive function.Conclusion: AF is a significant risk factor for PSCI, even after correcting for AF-related infarcts. Other mechanisms, such as hypoperfusion, microhemorrhages, and neuroinflammation, may be at play. All stroke patients with AF, regardless of the type of infarction, should be closely monitored for PSCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) is a relative contraindication to bevacizumab therapy, an antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma. However, in patients with symptomatic enhancing tumors and poor functional status, bevacizumab may be the only beneficial therapeutic option. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients with high-grade glioma who were treated between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2014 with bevacizumab despite prior IPH. Results Eighteen patients met our study criteria. There were 12 women and 6 men with a median age of 56 years. Tumor types were glioblastoma (n = 15), anaplastic astrocytoma (n = 2), and anaplastic oligodendroglioma (n = 1). Seventeen patients had prior spontaneous intratumoral bleed (13 grade 1-2; 4 grade 3-4); the 1 remaining patient had a grade 3 bleed due to cerebral venous thrombosis. Among them, identifiable risk factors for hemorrhage were anti-VEGF therapy, anticoagulation use, thrombocytopenia, and hypertension; seven had no identifiable risk factors. The median duration from IPH to (re-)initiation of bevacizumab was 113 days (range 13-1367). Brain imaging performed prior to bevacizumab treatment showed persistent or evolving hemorrhage in 8 patients and complete resolution in 10 patients. With a median follow-up duration of 137 days after bevacizumab re-initiation, only 1 (6%) of the 18 patients re-bled; this patient had an anaplastic oligodendroglioma and developed a grade 2 intratumoral bleed after 3 doses of bevacizumab. Conclusions The incidence of re-bleed is rare. Bevacizumab use was safe in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma following IPH for whom no other meaningful treatment options existed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI), an important complication of strokes, has numerous risk factors. A scale adequately classifying risk of cognitive impairment 3-6 months after mild stroke will be useful for clinicians.Objective: To develop a risk score based on clinical and neuroimaging variables that will be useful in identifying mild ischemic stroke patients at high risk for PSCI.Methods: The risk score development cohort comprised of a retrospective dataset of 209 mild stroke patients with MRI confirmed infarcts, without pre-stroke cognitive impairment, and evaluated within 6 months post-stroke for PSCI. Logistic regression identified factors predictive of PSCI and a risk score was developed based on regression coefficients. The risk score was checked for stability using 10-fold cross-validation and validated in an independent prospective cohort of 185 ischemic mild stroke patients.Results: Within 6 months post-stroke, 37.32% developed PSCI in the retrospective dataset. A 15-point risk score based on age, education, acute cortical infarcts, white matter hyperintensity, chronic lacunes, global cortical atrophy, and intracranial large vessel stenosis was highly predictive of PSCI with an AUC of 0.829. 10.11% with low scores, 52.69% with moderate scores, and 74.07% with high scores developed PSCI. In the prospective validation cohort, the model had an AUC of 0.776, and exhibited similar accuracy and stability statistics at both 6 and 12 months.Conclusion: The seven item risk score adequately identified mild stroke patients who are at an increased risk of developing PSCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Young onset dementia (YOD) presents in individuals who are economically productive and socially active. While the cost related to dementia in the elderly has been widely studied, the cost related to YOD is largely unknown.Objective: To study the economic burden of community dwelling YOD in relation to late onset dementia (LOD) and cost of YOD based on etiology.Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study of 255 patients attending a tertiary neurology center, data on economic burden, clinical features, and caregiver burden were collected using structured financial questionnaire, standard cognitive and neuropsychiatric measures, and Zarit caregiver burden scale. Cost components were grouped into those relating to direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs, and those related to indirect costs. Cost was also categorized based on etiology of YOD.Results: The mean age at symptom onset in the YOD and LOD cohort was 57.0 (SD 5.1) and 75.0 (SD 5.9) years, respectively. The median annual cost for patients with YOD was almost twice that of LOD (USD 15,815 versus USD 8,396). Indirect cost contributed heavily to cost related to YOD. Even when grouped by dementia etiology, YOD patients with Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and vascular dementia had higher cost compared to their elderly counterparts. Young onset FTD had the highest cost. 43.2% of YOD reported loss of employment due to dementia, which was significantly higher than that in LOD (2.4%).Conclusion: Patients with YOD have a high economic burden. Young patients with FTD have the highest cost followed by vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia is a leading cause of infection in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Cloxacillin, cefazolin, and vancomycin are the mainstay antimicrobials. Cloxacillin administration leads to frequent drug dosing, longer length of stay (LOS), and higher cost, while resistance and poorer outcomes are associated with vancomycin use. Dosing cefazolin during HD allows for prolonged blood therapeutic levels. We assessed the outcomes and safety of a strategy of treating MSSA bacteremia with 2-3 g cefazolin on HD only. All HD patients with MSSA bacteremia admitted in June-December 2009 at our center and receiving this regime were compared with historical controls who received cloxacillin. Demographic characteristics and outcome measures like mortality, LOS, cost, recrudescence, and adverse drug reactions were assessed. Of 27 consecutive episodes reviewed, 14 and 13 patients received cefazolin and cloxacillin, respectively. Baseline demographics were comparable between the 2 treatment groups. More than one-third of the bacteremia was related to tunneled catheter infection. The 30-day mortality of cloxacillin- and cefazolin-treated patients was 15% and 7%, respectively (P=0.14). Two of the 11 survivors treated with cloxacillin (18%) had recrudescent bacteremia while none was observed in cefazolin-treated survivors. Cefazolin was associated with shorter LOS (10 vs. 20 days, P<0.05) and lower cost (US$8262.00 vs. US$15,367.00, P<0.05). Cefazolin use resulted in 3 idiosyncratic adverse drug reactions. Cefazolin dosed on each HD in MSSA bacteremia leads to earlier discharge and less cost. Larger prospective studies are, however, warranted to fully assess its safety and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary leptomeningeal lymphoma (PLML) is a rare entity, representing 7% of all cases of primary central nervous system lymphoma and approximately 0.1% of primary central nervous system tumours.1-4 Patients can present with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure, or cranial or spinal polyradiculopathies.1-3 Even with extensive investigations, diagnosis in up to a third of patients can only be confirmed with meningeal biopsy. In this Imaging Highlights, we describe a patient who presented with multiple cranial nerve palsies with corresponding MRI nerve enhancement, and subsequent meningeal biopsy proven lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a healthy 52 year old Sikh woman with painful calf swelling. The patient had a symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection such as weight loss and night sweats. She underwent a diagnostic test, punch biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging of the whole spine. Neurological examination revealed signs consistent with a conus medullaris lesion.