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Introduction: Tissue at risk, as estimated by CT perfusion utilizing Tmax+6, correlates with final infarct volume (FIV) in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) without reperfusion. Tmax thresholds are derived from Western ethnic populations but not from ethnic Asian populations. We aimed to investigate the influence of ethnicity on Tmax thresholds. Methods: From a clinical-imaging registry of Australian and Indonesian stroke patients, we selected a participant subgroup with the following inclusion criteria: AIS under 24 h and absence of reperfusion therapy. Clinical data included demographics, time metrics, stroke severity, pre-morbid, and 3-month Modified Rankin Score. Baseline computed tomography perfusion and MRI <72 h were performed. Volumes of Tmax utilizing different thresholds and FIVs were calculated. Spearman correlation was used to evaluate relationship involving ordinal variables and calculate the optimal Tmax threshold against FIV in both populations. Results: Two hundred patients were included in the study sample, 100 in Jakarta and 100 in Geelong. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (IQR) were 6 (3–11) and 3 (1–5), respectively. The median Tmax+6 (IQR) was 0 (0–46.5) in Jakarta group and 0 (0–7.5) in Geelong group. The median FIV (IQR) was 0 (0–30.5) and 0 (0–5.5). Tmax+8 s in Jakarta population against FIV showed Spearman's coefficient ρ = 0.72, representing the optimal Tmax threshold. Tmax+6 s showed Spearman's coefficient ρ = 0.51 against FIV in the Geelong population. Conclusion: Tmax thresholds approximating FIV were possibly different in the Asian when compared with the non-Asian populations. Future studies are required to extend and confirm the validity of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motor neurone disease (MND) places considerable burden upon patients and caregivers. This is the first study, which describes the disability profile and healthcare needs for persons with MND (pwMND) in an Australian sample from the perspective of the patients and caregivers to identify current gaps in the knowledge and service provision. A prospective cross-sectional community survey of pwMND (n=44) and their caregivers (n=37) was conducted, to determine symptoms and problems affecting daily living. Standardized assessments were carried out to determine the disease severity for stratification purposes, service needs and gaps. The mean age was 61 years with more men affected than women (3 : 2). The severity of disease was high (n=18; 41%) based on the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale. Despite the high level of disability, 11 (25%) solely relied on their families for all assistance. Caregivers were mostly partners (mean age: 57 years). PwMND reported more pain, emotional disturbance and spasticity/cramps/spasms. Caregivers focused more on psychosocial issues. Nineteen (43%) pwMND reported gaps in the service in rehabilitation therapy and respite. Significantly proportionally, more caregivers (n=19; 51%) reported gaps particularly in the area of psychosocial support. The gaps identified in the MND care should be prioritized for future service development using the "neuropalliative rehabilitation" model of care. For improved consensus of care and communication among treating clinicians, the framework of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health should be explored in this population.

An innovative approach to patient management, evidence-based policy development, and clinical drug trials is required to provide personalized care and to improve the likelihood of finding an effective treatment for Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The MiNDAus Partnership builds on and extends existing national collaborations in a targeted approach to improve the standard and coordination of care for people living with MND in Australia, and to enhance the prospects of discovering a cure or treatment. Relationships have been developed between leading clinical and research groups as well as patient-centered organizations, care providers, and philanthropy with a shared vision. MiNDAus has established a corporate structure and meets at least biannually to decide on how best to progress research, drug development, and patient management. The key themes are; (i) empowering patients and their family carers to engage in self-management and ensure personalized service provision, treatment, and policy development, (ii) integration of data collection so as to better inform policy development, (iii) unifying patients and carers with advocacy groups, funding bodies, clinicians and academic institutions so as to inform policy development and research, (iv) coordination of research efforts and development of standardized national infrastructure for conducting innovative clinical MND trials that can be harmonized within Australia and with international trials consortia. Such a collaborative approach is required across stakeholders in order to develop innovative management guidelines, underpinned by necessary and evidence-based policy change recommendations, which, will ensure the best patient care until a cure is discovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) results in progressive impairment of upper and lower motor neurons. Increasing evidence from both in vivo and ex vivo studies suggest that iron accumulation in the motor cortex is a neuropathological hallmark in ALS. An in vivo neuroimaging marker of iron dysregulation in ALS would be useful in disease diagnosis and prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with its unique capability to generate a variety of soft tissue contrasts, provides opportunities to image iron distribution in the human brain with millimeter to sub‐millimeter anatomical resolution. Conventionally, MRI T1‐weighted, T2‐weighted, and T2*‐weighted images have been used to investigate iron dysregulation in the brain in vivo. Susceptibility weighted imaging has enhanced contrast for para‐magnetic materials that provides superior sensitivity to iron in vivo. Recently, the development of quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) has realized the possibility of using quantitative assessments of magnetic susceptibility measures in brain tissues as a surrogate measurement of in vivo brain iron. In this review, we provide an overview of MRI techniques that have been used to investigate iron dysregulation in ALS in vivo. The potential uses, strengths, and limitations of these techniques in clinical trials, disease diagnosis, and prognosis are presented and discussed. We recommend further longitudinal studies with appropriate cohort characterization to validate the efficacy of these techniques. We conclude that quantitative iron assessment using recent advances in MRI including QSM holds great potential to be a sensitive diagnostic and prognostic marker in ALS. The use of multimodal neuroimaging markers in combination with iron imaging may also offer improved sensitivity in ALS diagnosis and prognosis that could make a major contribution to clinical care and treatment trials. Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]