Author: Maria M. Manea

Case Management of Delirium in Patients with Major Neurocognitive Disorders

Delirium is associated with lower quality of life, increased healthcare costs, longer hospitalizations, and worse prognosis when detected in patients who are already confronted with a severe and invalidating disease, like the major neurocognitive disorder (MND). In order to identify the most evidence-based interventions that could be included in case management for patients with both delirium and MND, this narrative review explored three electronic databases (Pubmed, Cochrane, and Web of Science/Clarivate) for primary and secondary sources dedicated to this topic. All papers published in English between the inception of each database and September 2024 were screened for relevant data on pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies targeting delirium. The results supported the use of a multicomponent approach as the first line of treatment, mitigating the precipitating factors, and only as a second line, the use of pharmacological instruments. There is a lack of validated therapies targeting specifically the delirium superimposed on MND, most of the recommendations being extrapolated from studies with delirium in the general population or in elderly patients with different organic diseases. Further studies are required to investigate the specifics of delirium in patients with MND and potential strategies focused on neurobiological mechanisms instead of just clinical manifestations.

The Neurocardiogenic Impact of Ischemic Stroke: Intricacies of Cardiac Enzymes and the Vegetative System

There is a potential lateralization of vegetative influences at the cerebral level. We sought to understand the impact of these influences in the setting of ischemic stroke. We conducted a prospective study on 110 who presented with acute ischemic stroke (symptom onset maximum 24 hours before admission). We investigated correlations between stroke subtype, insular location or lateralization, stroke severity, hospital mortality, and the dynamic of enzymes (Tn, TnT, CK, CK-MB). We demonstrated that a higher cardiac enzyme value is associated either with stroke severity or with a higher risk of death in the short term, this growth being a marker for a more severe prognosis of a large stroke rather than an independent cause of mortality. Cardiac monitoring in the acute phase of ischemic stroke can prevent cardiac morbidity and mortality, which is why it is important to identify patients at high risk of heart complications after stroke.

Oxidative Stress and Nutritional Antioxidants in Neurological Diseases

A significant number of neurological diseases are pathogenetically related to oxidative stress, including but not limited to cerebrovascular afflictions such as ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and so on. Natural nutrients may help limit the impact of oxidative stress and, therefore, delay or prevent the impairment of these diseases. Although these natural components have not entered routine use, many have been studied in preclinical or even clinical settings with promising results. Therefore, the need to find the stage of the research in the field of validating the properties and clinical usefulness of such nutrients represents the main reason this narrative review was conducted. This analysis explored the PubMed database for papers related to the influence of natural nutrients on the onset and evolution of some of the most severe neurological disorders. The results of the review provide an overview of the pathways oxidative stress may undertake and how the use of nutrients may counteract these pathways. In conclusion, natural nutrients may have beneficial effects that can be impactful on clinical outcomes, but more good quality research in this field is needed before formulating any clear recommendation.

Primary retroperitoneal tumors – A brief classification and differential diagnosis

According to literature the primary retroperitoneal malignant pathology is rare, representing less than 0.5% of all malignancies. In spite of its low incidence, this pathology often proves challenging in terms of diagnosis and treatment. The most com¬mon retroperitoneal malignancy is represented by lymphoma that accounts for approximately 33 % of the retroperitoneal malignancies. Other frequent retroperitoneal tumors are sarcomas: leiomyosarcomas and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (in order of incidence). We have analyzed the existing data regarding the most common primary retroperitoneal tumors in order to realize a brief classification and their differential diagnosis considering their clinical, imagistic, histopathological and molecular characteristics. The technological developments that have been made over the years in terms of imaging investigations, as well as in biomelecular and cytogenetic studies have offered new possibilities for of assessing a retroperitoneal mass in order achieve more precise informations that can guide physicians to better distinguish between different types of retroperitoneal tumors and therefore their therapeutical protocol. liposarcomas,