Research

In this special report recently published in Stroke, Smith et al., assembled a multidisciplinary working group to develop consensus-based recommendations and an algorithm for evaluation and treatment of acute stroke patients eligible for endovascular therapy (EVT) during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of minimizing the negative impact of COVID-19 on acute stroke patients and healthcare providers.

In this paper recently published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, the authors describe the demographic, clinical, radiological and laboratory characteristics of six consecutive patients assessed between 1st and 16th April 2020 at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK

In this paper recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Oxley et al., report five cases of large-vessel stroke in patients younger than 50 years of age affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

For May 2020, we have selected: Lechien JR, Chiesa-Estomba CM, De Siati DR et al. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions as a clinical presentation of mild‑to‑moderate forms of the coronavirus disease (COVID‑19): a multicenter European study.

In this very useful paper, the European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy (ESMINT) gives recommendations for optimal interventional neurovascular management during the covid-19 outbreak. The authors identify some important priorities including: early detection and limiting exposure of healthcare workers… Continue Reading

In this interesting correspondence just published in the Lancet, Varga et al. demonstrate endothelial cell involvement across vascular beds of different organs in a series of patients with COVID-19 finding evidence of direct viral infection of the endothelial cell and… Continue Reading

The aim of this multicenter retrospective study, just published in Epilepsia, was to clarify the incidence and risk of acute symptomatic seizures in people with COVID-19 infection. A total of 304 patients were enrolled, of whom 108 had severe disease,… Continue Reading

Neurologists stay aware of COVID-19 brain stem involvement The major clinical manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection are due to pulmonary complications. The majority of the patients so far in the COVID-19 pandemic had milder symptoms… Continue Reading

Cutaneous silent periods Cutaneous silent period is a useful, although underestimated tool for the clinical assessment of poly neuropathy as well as other neurological condition. This review provides an up to date on the physiology and methodology for its use… Continue Reading

In these troubled times, our Paper of the Month for April is: Grasselli G, Pesenti A, Cecconi M. Critical care utilization for the Covid-19 outbreak in Lombardy, Italy: Early experience and forecast during an emergency response.

·       What does inspire you outside neurology?  History. Knowing what happened in the past helps understanding what occurs currently and what the future could be. There are similarities between the reasoning of medical researchers and that of historians: search for original… Continue Reading

Rare Disease Day was launched in 2008 by EURORDIS, an alliance of patient organisations, and its Council of National Alliances, starting as a European event. It is now a major international event celebrated by rare disease organizations across the globe with… Continue Reading

This article addresses the difficult issue of how to allocate overstretched resources during a pandemic and proposes six recommendations based on principles of equality and maximising benefits.

The former co-chairs of the Scientific Panel on Higher Cortical Functions Masud Husain & Lüder Deecke explain the work and aims of the panel.