JNNP podcast

Both patient and editor's choices are discussed in this monthly episode of the JNNP podcast. The clinical care of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) can often be complex; a disease with a highly variable clinical course. Professor Bart Jacobs, from the Department of Neurology at Erasmus Medical Centre (Rotterdam) provides an overview of some of the dilemmas that may arise when treating patients with GBS. The full article: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/88/4/346. In the second part of this podcast: The C9orf72 repeat expansion is reported to have a negative impact on prognosis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Until now, researchers have not been able to examine the relationship between C9orf72 and factors such as age, site of onset or gender. Dr James Rooney discusses how he and colleagues examined the prognostic impact of the C9orf72 repeat expansion in more detail. The full article is available here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/88/4/281.1.

There is concern that, despite being a rare complication of the Zika virus, we could see a steady rise in the number of cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). In preparation for this, it is important that clinicians are able to appropriately identify and differentiate between Zika-associated GBS and other neurological disorders. In this podcast, Professor Antonino Uncini (University ‘G’ d’Annunzio’, Chieti, Italy) discusses Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and it’s associations with Zika virus, as well as its clinical and electrophysiological subtypes. Read the full paper by Uncini, A., Shahrizaila, N., & Kuwabara, S. here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/88/3/266.

There is concern that, despite being a rare complication of the Zika virus, we could see a steady rise in the number of cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). In preparation for this, it is important that clinicians are able to appropriately identify and differentiate between Zika-associated GBS and other neurological disorders. In this podcast, Professor Antonino Uncini (University ‘G’ d’Annunzio’, Chieti, Italy) discusses Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and it’s associations with Zika virus, as well as its clinical and electrophysiological subtypes. Read the full paper by Uncini, A., Shahrizaila, N., & Kuwabara, S. here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/88/3/266.

Could currently available immunomodulatory therapies modify disability trajectories in patients with moderately advanced and advanced multiple sclerosis (MS)? Tomas Kalincik, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia, discusses the findings from the MSbase cohort study with Elizabeth Highton. Read the full article here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/88/3/196.

Could currently available immunomodulatory therapies modify disability trajectories in patients with moderately advanced and advanced multiple sclerosis (MS)? Tomas Kalincik, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia, discusses the findings from the MSbase cohort study with Elizabeth Highton. Read the full article here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/88/3/196.

Dr Mario Masellis and Dr. Sean Udow from the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Canada, look at the potential association between orthostatic hypotension and cognitive impairment in α-synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy. Read the review published by JNNP here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2016/09/09/jnnp-2016-314123.abstract.

Dr Mario Masellis and Dr. Sean Udow from the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Canada, look at the potential association between orthostatic hypotension and cognitive impairment in α-synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy. Read the review published by JNNP here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2016/09/09/jnnp-2016-314123.abstract.

Elizabeth Highton spoke to Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi from King’s College London about the development of a simple and clinically useful graphical model of predicting survival for motor neurone disease (MND) patients. Read the article here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2016/07/26/jnnp-2015-312908.abstract

Elizabeth Highton spoke to Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi from King’s College London about the development of a simple and clinically useful graphical model of predicting survival for motor neurone disease (MND) patients. Read the article here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2016/07/26/jnnp-2015-312908.abstract

Elizabeth Highton and Prof. Bruce Taylor discuss higher latitudes and its association with earlier age of onset of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The international study, published by the JNNP, links latitude to the age at which symptoms of MS first start. Each 10ᵒ increase in latitude is associated with a 10 month earlier onset of symptoms among those of European descent. Read the full article here: https://goo.gl/BmHXFo.

Elizabeth Highton and Prof. Bruce Taylor discuss higher latitudes and its association with earlier age of onset of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The international study, published by the JNNP, links latitude to the age at which symptoms of MS first start. Each 10ᵒ increase in latitude is associated with a 10 month earlier onset of symptoms among those of European descent. Read the full article here: https://goo.gl/BmHXFo.

Associate Editor of JNNP Alan Carson interviews Tom McMillan, Professor at the Institute for Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK, about the paper "Long Term Health Outcomes after Exposure to Repeated Concussion in Elite Level Rugby Union Players". Despite a high number of concussions in retired male Scottish international rugby players, the researchers didn’t find differences in mental health, social or work functioning late after injury. However, subtle group differences were detected on two cognitive tests. Listen to this podcast for full details. You can access this article here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2016/10/05/jnnp-2016-314279.full.

Associate Editor of JNNP Alan Carson interviews Tom McMillan, Professor at the Institute for Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK, about the paper "Long Term Health Outcomes after Exposure to Repeated Concussion in Elite Level Rugby Union Players". Despite a high number of concussions in retired male Scottish international rugby players, the researchers didn’t find differences in mental health, social or work functioning late after injury. However, subtle group differences were detected on two cognitive tests. Listen to this podcast for full details. You can access this article here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2016/10/05/jnnp-2016-314279.full.

Professor Bruce Taylor and Elizabeth Highton discuss how certain genetic risk variants may predict the clinical course and progression of Multiple Sclerosis. This podcast relates to the Patient Choice paper published in the JNNP November 2016 issue and is accessible here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/87/11/1204.full.

Professor Bruce Taylor and Elizabeth Highton discuss how certain genetic risk variants may predict the clinical course and progression of Multiple Sclerosis. This podcast relates to the Patient Choice paper published in the JNNP November 2016 issue and is accessible here: http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/87/11/1204.full.