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Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could be a useful continuous, non-invasive technique for monitoring the effect of partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) fluctuations in the cerebral circulation during ventilation. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of NIRS to detect acute changes in cerebral blood flow following PaCO2 fluctuations after confirming the autoregulation physiology in piglets. Fourteen piglets (

Background: Malignant epithelial nail unit tumors pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to their clinical presentation often mimicking benign conditions and due to the need to preserve as much nail unit function as possible during surgery. Early detection is crucial, even if none of these tumors represent a life-threatening disease. Objectives: This review focus on squamous cell carcinoma, verrucous carcinoma, eccrine porocarcinoma, onychocytic carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, malignant onychopapilloma, malignant onycholemmal cyst and onycholemmal carcinoma. Methods: Existing literature on the aforementioned tumors has been revised and synthesized. Results: Clinical presentation, pathology, diagnostic procedures, risk factors and the challenges associated with surgical management have been described in detail. Conclusions: Malignant epithelial tumors of the nail unit require careful evaluation and management due to their complex presentation. Early detection and an informed surgical approach are essential to improve patient outcomes and minimize complications.

Abstract Several reports have described the autoimmune encephalitis' (AE) possible onset during pregnancy. In this systematic review, we summarize the available data on the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to AE during pregnancy, highlighting the associated maternal and fetal clinical outcomes. A systematic search of the literature was performed. The following databases were used: PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and CrossRef. The revision was registered on the PROSPERO platform (CRD42022336357). Forty‐nine patients were included. AE onset was mainly observed during the first and the second trimester of pregnancy with psychiatric manifestations and seizures as main onset symptoms. CSF analysis showed AE‐specific autoantibody positivity in 33 patients (anti‐NMDA receptor as the most frequent). EEG generally showed normal findings. MRI revealed pathological findings in less than half of patients. Tumor screening was positive in 14 cases. First‐line immunotherapy (single or combined) was generally employed while second line was administered in a minority of patients. Levetiracetam was the most used antiseizure medication. Cesarean section was performed in 18 women. Most of the women had an excellent early outcome after delivery but 22 showed persistent neurological deficits in long‐term follow‐up. Fetal outcome was positive in 33 cases, whereas 12 cases of fetal death were reported. A logistic regression showed that no variable significantly influenced the odds of good/bad maternal and fetal clinical outcome. Diagnosis and treatment of AE during pregnancy is challenging. The rate of miscarriage in women with AE seems to be higher than the general population. In addition, mothers may show long‐term neurological deficits.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common and lethal type of head and neck cancer in the world. Variable response and acquisition of resistance to traditional therapies show that it is essential to develop novel strategies that can provide better outcomes for the patient. Understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms of cell death control has increased rapidly in recent years. Activation of cell death pathways, such as the emerging forms of non-apoptotic programmed cell death, including ferroptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, NETosis, parthanatos, mitoptosis and paraptosis, may represent clinically relevant novel therapeutic opportunities. This systematic review summarizes the recently described forms of cell death in OSCC, highlighting their potential for informing diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Original studies that explored any of the selected cell deaths in OSCC were included. Electronic search, study selection, data collection and risk of bias assessment tools were realized. The literature search was carried out in four databases, and the extracted data from 79 articles were categorized and grouped by type of cell death. Ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis represented the main forms of cell death in the selected studies, with links to cancer immunity and inflammatory responses, progression and prognosis of OSCC. Harnessing the potential of these pathways may be useful in patient-specific prognosis and individualized therapy. We provide perspectives on how these different cell death types can be integrated to develop decision tools for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of OSCC.

BackgroundTheory of Mind (ToM) is the ability to predict and anticipate others' behaviors through the mental state attribution process. This study aims to investigate the ToM in patients with medication-overuse headache (MOH) and episodic migraine (EM) and to compare it with healthy controls (HC).MethodsThis study enrolled patients with MOH, patients with EM, and HC. ToM was assessed through the Theory of Mind Assessment Scale (ThOMAS), which includes four subscales: Scale A, I-Me, Scale B, Other-Self, Scale C, I-Other, and Scale D, Other-Me, through the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (RMET), which measures complex emotion recognition, and through the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), which measures alexithymia. Concomitant psychiatric disturbances were evaluated through the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II.ResultsThe study involved 21 patients with EM, 22 patients with MOH, and 18 HC. In all the four subscales of the ThOMAS, there was a significant difference between HC, EM, and MOH patients: Scale A (p = 0.009), Scale B (p = 0.004), Scale C (p = 0.039), and Scale D (p = 0.008). In the RMET, MOH patients had worse performances than EM patients and HC (p = 0.039). MOH group exhibited higher levels of alexithymia when compared to the HC (p = 0.033) and higher levels of anxiety than HC (p = 0.001).ConclusionMOH patients showed a subtle psychopathological pattern characterized by impaired social adaptation.

Pigmented Bowen’s disease is a rare variant of in situ squamous skin cell carcinoma. It mainly affects patients between 60 and 70 years of age. Its clinical features include well-demarcated, pigmented plaque arising in photo-exposed areas of the body. The best-characterized feature of the disease by histological examination is the presence of atypical keratinocytes, hyperpigmentation of the epidermis with trans-epidermal elimination of melanin and dermal melanophages. Precise diagnosis is often difficult, both clinically and dermoscopically, as Bowen’s disease is often mistaken with keratinocyte tumors such as solar lentigines, seborrheic keratosis, Bowenoid papulosis, pigmented basal cell carcinoma, pigmented actinic keratosis; or even melanocytic lesions such as melanocytic nevus, pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma, and melanoma. Precise diagnosis often requires biopsy and histopathological examination of the tissue. Reflectance confocal microscopy is a noninvasive technique to diagnose pigmented skin lesions. To date, not much data are available regarding its use in the diagnosis of pigmented Bowen’s disease. Herein, we report a well-represented case series of pigmented Bowen’s disease imaged using dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy.

Pincer nail is a common condition characterized by excessive transverse nail curvature, progressively pinching the nail bed distally, resulting in cosmetic discomfort, pain and functional limitation. Treatment is difficult and often unsatisfactory. Surgical treatment performed by experienced physicians provides good outcomes. However, patients usually hesitate to undergo invasive procedures, preferring conservative treatments. Unfortunately, these mainly offer only temporary relief and recurrence rate is high. Topical tazarotene has been used in several nail conditions, but its potential remains not fully elucidated. We herewith present a case of pincer nails in a 35-year-old woman successfully treated with tazarotene 0.1% gel applied topically twice a day for 3 months who did not experience recurrence at 1-year follow-up. At 1-year follow-up, no recurrence has been observed. To our knowledge, this is the first case of pincer nails successfully treated with tazarotene 0.1% gel. With our report, we suggest topical tazarotene as a novel, effective conservative treatment of milder cases of this common, albeit disturbing condition. Although our report may not be sufficient to generalize the results, it paves the way for larger studies investigating the potential of this fast, noninvasive therapeutic agent.

SR Mercuri,1 L Vollono,2 G Paolino1,3 1Unit of Dermatology, IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; 2Dermatology Unit, Department of “Medicina dei Sistemi”, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 3Dermatologic Clinic, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyCorrespondence: L VollonoTor Vergata University, via Cracovia 50, Rome 00133, ItalyTel +39 0620902743Fax +39 0620902742Email laura.vollono@gmail.comIntroduction: Vitiligo is an acquired, idiopathic disorder clinically characterized by amelanotic lesions on the skin which cause significant impairment of patients’ quality of life. A variety of treatments have been proposed, with inconsistent results. In the last decades, the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is receiving increasing interest as a potential effective technique in the treatment of several dermatological diseases, including vitiligo.Objective: We conducted a review with the aim to identify studies that documented the use of PRP for vitiligo.Materials and Methods: Electronic databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception to November 2019 have been searched using different combinations of the following terms: “platelet-rich plasma”, “platelet gel”, “platelet-rich fibrin”, “PRP” and “vitiligo”.Results: We identified 6 clinical studies consistent with our research, with a total of 253 patients, listing and discussing the obtained results. In all reports, all treated patients showed a stable vitiligo, and a significantly higher improvement in the PRP groups was always observed compared to control groups. Regarding the side effects, PRP in vitiligo patients is useful and without important side effects.Conclusion: PRP is a promising treatment for stable vitiligo lesions in different body sites. The possible use of PRP in combination with traditional therapeutic options and the standardization of processing protocols represents a very fertile field for future research. Larger clinical trials with longer time of observation would provide solid evidence regarding the effectiveness of PRP for the treatment of vitiligo.Keywords: vitiligo, skin, platlet rich plasma, PRP, treatment

Laura Vollono1, Arianna Piccolo1, Caterina Lanna1, Maria Esposito2, Mauro Bavetta1, Elena Campione1, Luca Bianchi1, Laura Diluvio1 1Dermatology Department, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Italy; 2Dermatology Department, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, ItalyCorrespondence: Laura VollonoDermatology Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, Rome 00133, ItalyTel +39 06 2090 0252Email laura.vollono@gmail.comIntroduction: Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, approved for patients affected by chronic spontaneous urticaria resistant to antihistamines. Although the clinical benefit of omalizumab has been established in several clinical trials, there are very little data about long-term treatment with this drug and real-life reports regarding its use in patients affected by comorbidities other than urticaria are lacking.Objectives: To assess omalizumab efficacy and safety in a heterogeneous population of patients affected by chronic spontaneous urticaria and several comorbidities in a real-world setting.Materials and methods: Patients affected by chronic spontaneous urticaria with weekly urticaria activity score >16 resistant to antihistamines were treated with omalizumab 300 mg injection as add-on to H1-antihistamines administered every 4 weeks for 6 months. Clinical assessment of weekly urticaria activity score, dermatology life quality index and blood tests were performed at baseline, 12, 24 and 52 weeks of treatment. Response was assessed based on reduction weekly urticaria activity score.Results: Thirty-two patients (22F; 10M) with a mean age of 52.4 years (range 27–72) affected by chronic spontaneous urticaria were enrolled. Comorbidities affecting our study population were divided into 6 categories: cardio-metabolic (77%), oncologic (19%), infectious (16%), allergic (45%) immunologic (41%) and others (18%). Omalizumab determined a satisfactory reduction of symptoms of chronic spontaneous urticaria and an amelioration of quality of life within our population. No relevant alterations regarding patients’ underlying conditions were encountered. This is the first study regarding the use of omalizumab for chronic spontaneous urticaria in a population of adult patients affected by several comorbidities, eg, cardio-metabolic, oncologic, infectious, allergic, immunologic and psychiatric diseases. Real-life data represent a valuable source of information about a drug’s safety and efficacy profile, especially in patients affected by different comorbidities that are widely diffused in Western countries.Keywords: chronic spontaneous urticaria, omalizumab, oncologic, cardiovascular, allergic and immunologic conditions, comorbidities

Purpose: The temporal lobe, a critical hub for cognition, also plays a central role in the regulation of autonomic cardiovascular functions. Lesions in this area are usually associated with abnormalities in the regulation of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP). The analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV) is useful to evaluate the cardiac parasympathetic nervous system activity. This study aims at comparing HRV changes occurring in two groups of patients suffering from Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE). To that aim, we evaluated patients differentiated by the right or left location of the epileptic foci.Materials and Methods: Fifty-two adult patients with a diagnosis of TLE were enrolled. Each patient underwent a 20-min EEG + EKG recording in resting state. According to the localization of epileptic focus, patients were divided into two subgroups: right TLE (R-TLE) and left TLE (L-TLE). HRV parameters were calculated with a short-lasting analysis of EKG recordings. Time-domain and frequency domain-related, as well as non-linear analysis, parameters, were compared between the two groups.Results: Compared to the R-TLE group, L-TLE subjects showed a significant decrease in low frequency (LF) (p < 0.01) and low frequency/high-frequency ratio (LF/HF) (p < 0.001) as well as increased HF values (p < 0.01), a parameter indicative of the presence of an increased cardiac vagal tone. These results were also confirmed in the subgroup analysis that took into account the seizure types, responses to antiepileptic drugs, seizure frequencies, and etiology.Conclusions: The main finding of the study is that, compared to R-TLE, L-TLE is associated with increased cardiac vagal tone. These results indicate that patients with TLE exhibit a lateralized cardiac autonomic control. L-TLE patients may have a lower risk of developing cardiac dysfunctions and less susceptible to develop Sudden Death for Epilepsy (SUDEP).

Se la lingua di tutti i generi televisivi, dall’informazione all’intrattenimento, è stata ampiamente analizzata, mimore attenzione è stata rivolta alla lingua della comicità televisiva In questo contributo si è partiti da un’analisi del palinsesto televisivo del periodo 2016/2017, con un aggiornamento relativo al 2020 per esaminare eventuali cambiamenti. Il covid-19 ha senz’altro modificato i palinsesti della televisione italiana. Il distanziamento sociale ha costretto anche chi lavora nel mondo dello spettacolo ad adeguarsi: molte trasmissioni sono state sospese, di altre sono state mandate in onda le repliche, per altre ancora si è scelto di farle continuare senza la presenza del pubblico. L’analisi risulta dunque influenzata dal particolare periodo storico; ad esempio, di Fratelli di Crozza, una delle trasmissioni analizzate, sono andate in onda due puntate senza pubblico, prima che la trasmissione venisse sospesa. Si intende qui fornire un’analisi generale della lingua dei comici televisivi con un’attenzione particolare all’aspetto della regionalità: l’italiano regionale, oltre ad essere la varietà che tutti noi usiamo quotidianamente, può anche diventare un mezzo per veicolare maggiore espressività o per imitare al meglio un personaggio. While language of all television genres, from information to entertainment, has been widely examined, less attention has received language of television comedy. In this text, we started with an analysis of the 2016/2017 television schedule with an update for 2020 to examine any changes. The covid-19 has certainly changed the schedules of Italian television. Social distancing has also forced those who work in the world of entertainment to adapt: ​​many broadcasts have been suspended, others have been broadcast on the air, for still others it has been chosen to continue them without the presence of the public. The analysis is therefore influenced by the particular historical period; for example, by Fratelli di Crozza, one of the broadcasts analyzed, two episodes were broadcast without audience, before the broadcast was suspended. In this text, we intend to provide a general analysis of the language of the television comedians with particular attention to the aspect of regionality: regional Italian is not only variety we all use daily, but can also become a means of convey greater expressiveness or to better imitate a character.

Objective: Neurological sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection have already been reported, but there is insufficient data about the impact of the pandemic on the management of the patients with chronic neurological diseases. We aim to analyze the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and social restriction rules on these fragile patients.Methods: Patients with chronic neurologic diseases routinely followed at the outpatient clinic of Gemelli University Hospital, Rome, were assessed for symptoms suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pandemic period, consequences of social restrictions, and neurological disease features, concomitant medical conditions, current medical and disease-specific treatments. Data source: a dedicated telephone survey designed to encompass questions on COVID-19 symptoms and on pandemic effects in chronic neurologic conditions.Results: Overall, 2,167 individuals were analyzed: 63 patients reported contact with COVID-19 positive cases, 41 performed the swab, and 2 symptomatic patients tested positive for COVID-19 (0.09%). One hundred fifty-eight individuals (7%) needed urgent neurological care, deferred due to the pandemic; 641 patients (30%) suspended hospital treatments, physiotherapy or other support interventions; 405 individuals (19%) reported a subjective worsening of neurological symptoms.Conclusions: In our population, the presence of neurological chronic diseases did not increase the prevalence of COVID-19 infection. Nevertheless, the burden of neurological disorders has been worsened by the lockdown.

Abstract The introduction of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP) or CGRP receptors in the treatment of migraine raised concerns on the possible risks associated to the long-term inhibition of CGRP physiological functions. In this proof-of-concept study, we have measured the circulating levels of CGRP in 7 patients with high-frequency episodic migraine receiving the anti-CGRP receptor mAb erenumab for at least 6 months, to test the hypothesis that long-term blockade of CGRP receptors induces an increase in systemic CGRP levels via a classical up-regulation mechanism. Plasma CGRP levels were measured by a validated radioimmunoassay at baseline, and after 1 and 6 months of treatment with erenumab, 70 mg given sc every 4 weeks. We found (data expressed as the means ± SD): 38.34 ± 30.74 pg CGRP/ml of plasma at baseline, 38.19 ± 29.23 pg/ml after 1 month and 53.89 ± 28.03 pg/ml after 6 months of treatment. Thus, the average increase in plasma CGRP levels after 6 months of treatment was about + 40% compared to both baseline and 1-month treatments; such difference was not statistically significant because of high SD values in all groups. These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in larger, sufficiently powered experiments.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is characterized by unpleasant sensations generally localized to legs, associated with an urge to move. A likely pathogenetic mechanism is a central dopaminergic dysfunction. The exact role of pain system is unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate the nociceptive pathways in idiopathic RLS patients. We enrolled 11 patients (mean age 53.2 ± 19.7 years; 7 men) suffering from severe, primary RLS. We recorded scalp laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) to stimulation of different sites (hands and feet) and during two different time conditions (daytime and nighttime). Finally, we compared the results with a matched control group of healthy subjects. The Aδ responses obtained from patients did not differ from those recorded from control subjects. However, the N1 and the N2-P2 amplitudes’ night/day ratios after foot stimulation were increased in patients, as compared to controls (N1: patients: 133.91 ± 50.42%; controls: 83.74 ± 34.45%; p=0.016; Aδ-N2-P2: patients: 119.15 ± 15.56%; controls: 88.42 ± 23.41%; p=0.003). These results suggest that RLS patients present circadian modifications in the pain system, which are not present in healthy controls. Both sensory-discriminative and affective-emotional components of pain experience show parallel changes. This study confirms the structural integrity of Aδ nociceptive system in idiopathic RLS, but it also suggests that RLS patients present circadian modifications in the pain system. These findings could potentially help clinicians and contribute to identify new therapeutic approaches.

La disfagia orofaringea è spesso presente durante la fase acuta di un ictus. Lo scopo di questo lavoro è stato quello di valutare se la registrazione elettromiografica di superficie tramite un elettrodo nasofaringeo può essere impiegata per testare l'attività muscolare del faringe nei pazienti con ictus acuto e se queste misurazioni elettrofisiologiche possono essere correlate con la valutazione clinica della deglutizione. Dal punto di vista clinico la severità del quadro è stata valutata mediante l'utilizzo della scala del National Institute of Health Stroke (NIHSS); la disfagia è stata valutata mediante il test di screening Gugging Swallowing Scale (GUSS); l'estensione della lesione ischemica alla TAC è stata misurata attraverso l'Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score (ASPECTS). Abbiamo valutato 70 pazienti di cui 50 disfagici (Dys+), e 20 non disfagici (Dys). Ciascun partecipante è stato sottoposto a un'elettromiografia di superficie registrata mediante un elettrodo NP costituito da un catetere di Teflon isolato in acciaio (lungo 16 cm e con un diametro in punta di 1,5 mm). L'elettrodo è stato inserito attraverso la cavità nasale, ruotato e posizionato approssimativamente 3 mm antero-inferiormente rispetto alla volta salpingo-palatina. Per ogni partecipante sono state registrate ed analizzate le risposte elettromiografiche di almeno quattro deglutizioni volontarie ripetute. La deglutizione induce sempre all'elettromiografia burst ripetitivi e polifasici di durata compresa fra 0,25 e 1 secondo, con un'ampiezza intorno ai 100-600mV. I disfagici hanno mostrano una maggiore durata del burst rilevato all'elettromiografia rispetto ai non disfagici, con una differenza statisticamente significativa (p < 0,001), ma non hanno mostrano differenze in termini di ampiezza del burst stesso (p = 0,775); quest'ultima invece era inversamente correlata con lo NIHSS score [r(48) = 0,31; p < 0,05)] e con lo ASPECTS score [r(48) = 0,27; p < 0,05]. Questi risultati suggeriscono che le registrazioni nasofaringee possono rappresentare un indice semi-quantitativo delle difficoltà deglutitorie secondarie a disfunzione faringea ed in particolare, i risultati dell'elettromiografia sarebbero indicativi di una ridotta motilità faringea durante la fase acuta di un ictus.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive technique of cortical stimulation. Although the exact mechanism of action is not clearly understood, it has been postulated that rTMS action on pain depends most on stimulation sites and stimulation parameters. Most studies concern high-frequency rTMS of the primary motor cortex (M1). High-frequency rTMS over motor cortex seems to induce an analgesic effect while contrasting results were reported after low-frequency rTMS. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of 1 Hz rTMS stimulation over the left primary motor cortex on subjective laser pain rating and laser evoked potential (LEP) amplitudes in healthy subjects. Subjects underwent two different sessions (real and sham rTMS) according to a cross-sectional design. In each session, LEPs and laser-pain rating to stimulation of both right and left hand dorsum were collected before 1 Hz rTMS over the left M1 area (baseline), which lasted 20 min. Then, LEPs and laser-pain rating were measured immediately after rTMS (T0), after 20 min from T0 (T0+20), and after 40 min from T0 (T0+40). We could not find any modification of both laser-pain rating and LEP parameters (latencies and amplitudes) following 1 Hz rTMS. Therefore, our results show that the low-frequency rTMS of the M1 area does not change the response of the cerebral cortex to pain.

• In adults and elderly patients with seizure cluster after i.v. brivaracetam administration no other rescue medications were needed in 77% of the cases. • A lower risk of evolution into status epilepticus was observed when BRV was used as first-line drug. • The underlyng etiology was one of the main outcome predictors of response of the seizure cluster. • No severe treatment emergent adverse events were observed after i.v. brivaracetam. Nearly half of people with epilepsy (PWE) are expected to develop seizure clusters (SC), with the subsequent risk of hospitalization. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use, effectiveness and safety of intravenous (IV) brivaracetam (BRV) in the treatment of SC. Retrospective multicentric study of patients with SC (≥ 2 seizures/24 h) who received IV BRV. Data collection occurred from January 2019 to April 2022 in 25 Italian neurology units. Primary efficacy outcome was seizure freedom up to 24 h from BRV administration. We also evaluated the risk of evolution into Status Epilepticus (SE) at 6, 12 and 24 h after treatment initiation. A Cox regression model was used to identify outcome predictors. 97 patients were included (mean age 62 years), 74 (76%) of whom had a history of epilepsy (with drug resistant seizures in 49% of cases). BRV was administered as first line treatment in 16% of the episodes, while it was used as first or second drug after benzodiazepines failure in 49% and 35% of episodes, respectively. On the one hand, 58% patients were seizure free at 24 h after BRV administration and no other rescue medications were used in 75 out of 97 cases (77%) On the other hand, SC evolved into SE in 17% of cases. A higher probability of seizure relapse and/or evolution into SE was observed in patients without a prior history of epilepsy (HR 2.0; 95% CI 1.03 – 4.1) and in case of BRV administration as second/third line drug (HR 3.2; 95% CI 1.1 – 9.7). No severe treatment emergent adverse events were observed. In our cohort, IV BRV resulted to be well tolerated for the treatment of SC and it could be considered as a treatment option, particularly in case of in-hospital onset. However, the underlying etiology seems to be the main outcome predictor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examined the cardiovascular health profiles of hospital employees participating in an incentive screening program for 4 years. The program involved cardiovascular screenings, results counseling, and encouragement to participate in education and behavioral support programs. Cardiovascular health improvements related to long-term program participation. Benefits were the greatest for participants who chose informal follow-up risk reduction options. (SM)

Objective: The temporal lobe plays a central role in the regulation of the "Central Autonomic Network" and cardiovascular functions. The blockade of glutamatergic pathways in the temporal lobe affects cardio-autonomic control. Perampanel (PER) is a non-competitive agonist of the AMPA receptor. This study evaluated PER effects on cardiac autonomic control in patients affected by drug-resistant TLE (DRTLE).Methods: We enrolled 40 adults with DRTLE treated with PER as add-on therapy (PER group) and 32 DRTLE age, sex, and seizure-frequency matched controls treated with different additional anti-seizure medication (ASM) as add-on therapy (No-PER group). HRV analysis was performed on 5-minute EKG recording in resting state before and 6-months after the introduction of add-on ASM. Linear Mixed Models (LMM) were used to analyzed HRV variables according to time (baseline and 6-months follow-up) and groups.Results: At baseline no differences were detected between PER group and No-PER group according to time-domain and frequency-domain HRV parameters. At the follow-up, in PER group a multiplicative effect for the interaction between treatment and time was observed for MeanRR (ms) (p=0.03), LnRMSSD (ms) (p=0.04), LnHF (ms2) (p<0.001), HF n.u. (p=0.001), HF% (p=0.002) with increased values, and for LnLF (ms2) (p=0.001), LF n.u. (p=0.001), LF% (p=0.01), and LF/HF (p<0.001) with reduced values. The change in seizure frequency after add-on therapy was comparable between the two groups (p=0.81) CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the notion that PER increases the vagal tone in DRTLE. This activity may exert a cardioprotective effect by reducing the risk of developing cardiac arrhythmias. Furthermore, given the correlations between HRV modifications and the occurrence of SUDEP, future studies will need to test the protective effects of PER on SUDEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]