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Introduction
atherosclerosis and stroke, OSA and stroke, atrial fibrillation and stroke, quality of life and multiple sclerosis, quality of life and Parkinson disease
Current institution
Publications
Publications (146)
Objective: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains one of the most common causes of death and disability in the world. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the modality of choice in the treatment of AIS and large vessel occlusion (LVO). The endovascular treatment of medium and distal vessel occlusions (DMVO) is currently under intensive scientific investiga...
Background
Leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 ( LRRK2 ) p.L1795F variant was proposed as a genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, its prevalence, phenotype, and origin remain unknown.
Objective
The aim was to evaluate the frequency and phenotype of p.L1795F in early‐onset PD (EOPD) and familial PD compared to healthy controls (HC) in...
Importance
The net clinical effect of early vs later direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) initiation after atrial fibrillation–associated ischemic stroke is unclear.
Objective
To investigate whether early DOAC treatment is associated with a net clinical benefit (NCB).
Design, Setting, and Participants
This was a post hoc analysis of the Early Versus...
Objective: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a leading cause of death, but isolated middle cerebral artery dissection (MCAD) is rarely reported. The aim of this article is to sum up the current information on this pathology and to explore the technical aspects of its endovascular treatment with emphasis on novel coated, antithrombogenic stents and ant...
Pathogenic variants in LRRK2 are one of the most common genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recently, the lesser-known p.L1795F variant was proposed as a strong genetic risk factor for PD, however, further families are currently lacking in literature. A multicentre young onset and familial PD cohort (n = 220) from 9 movement disorder...
Importance
Whether infarct size modifies the treatment effect of early vs late direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) initiation in people with ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation is unknown.
Objective
To assess whether infarct size modifies the safety and efficacy of early vs late DOAC initiation.
Design, Setting, and Participants
Post hoc analysi...
Aim of the study:
To investigate the relationship between serum lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] concentration and the risk of ischaemic stroke (IS) and its subtypes.
Clinical rationale for the study:
Lp(a) plays a role in atherogenic, pro-thrombotic, and antifibrinolytic processes. Elevated plasma Lp(a) is a strong independent risk factor for the develo...
Background: Whether hemorrhagic transformation (HT) modifies the treatment effect of early versus late initiation of direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC) in people with ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation is unknown.
Methods: This is a post-hoc analysis of the ELAN trial. The primary outcome was a composite of recurrent ischemic stroke, symptomat...
Purpose
Endovascular treatment (EVT) of tandem lesion (TL) in anterior circulation (AC) acute ischemic stroke (AIS) represents still a clinical challenge. We aimed to evaluate selected factors related to EVT and assess other possible predictors of good clinical outcome besides the generally known ones.
Methods
AIS patients with TL in AC treated wi...
Steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT), known as Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE), represents a heterogeneous group of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with a presence of antithyroid antibodies in case of other causes of encephalopathy were excluded. Clinical symptoms most commonly inclu...
Individuals with alcohol use disorder frequently suffer from vitamin D deficiency, in addition to deficiencies in vitamins B12, folic acid and B1. This is due to inadequate dietary intake and behavioural changes. Each of these deficiencies results in different clinical symptoms. Subacute spinal cord degeneration, together with radicular and sensori...
Background:
The effect of early as compared with later initiation of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in persons with atrial fibrillation who have had an acute ischemic stroke is unclear.
Methods:
We performed an investigator-initiated, open-label trial at 103 sites in 15 countries. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to early a...
Background and Objectives: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a sensitive biomarker of neuroaxonal damage. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the annual change in plasma NfL (pNfL) and disease activity in the past year, as defined by the concept no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) in a cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients....
Objective:
Sex differences regarding the safety and efficacy of carotid revascularization in carotid artery stenosis have been addressed in several studies with conflicting results. Moreover, women are underrepresented in clinical trials leading to limited conclusions regarding the safety and efficacy of acute stroke treatments.
Methods:
A syste...
Background and Objectives: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) has been defined as all problems in cognitive function that occur following a stroke. Studies published thus far on the prevalence of PSCI and post-stroke dementia (PSD) have shown conflicting estimates. The aim of this study was screening for cognitive impairment (CogI) in patients...
Introduction:
Nearly 80% of people diagnosed with idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) via video-polysomnography (v-PSG) are expected to be in the prodromal stage of an alpha-synucleinopathy. Signs of autonomic dysfunction can appear earlier than motor or cognitive alpha-synucleinopathy symptoms. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) can potentia...
Introduction:
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. Cerebral palsy-like (CP-like) disorders may clinically resemble CP but do not fulfill CP criteria and have often a progressive course and/or neurodevelopmental regression. To assess w...
Introduction
Although stroke patients in Slovakia had been treated according to European recommendations, no network of primary and comprehensive stroke centers had been officially established; the ESO recommended quality parameters had not been fulfilled. Therefore, the Slovak Stroke Society decided to change the stroke management concept and intr...
Background
The use of aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in men and women remains controversial. Our study aimed to investigate the role of aspirin in primary stroke prevention in men and women and the effect of aspirin on risk of ischemic stroke in patients with covert cerebral small vessel disease (ccSVD).
Methods
We perform...
Rationale
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are highly effective in preventing ischaemic strokes in people with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is unclear how soon they should be started after acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). Early initiation may reduce early risk of recurrence but might increase the risk of haemorrhagic complications.
Aim
To e...
Vertebral haemangioma is a benign vascular tumour mostly seen in the thoracic region of the spine. Spinal haemangiomas are usually asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally. In a few patients, however, aggressive vertebral haemangiomas can cause local pain, radicular pain or neurologic deficits, which result from neural compression. The aetiolog...
Introduction
The aim of our study was to determine whether the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the quality of acute care of stroke.
Methods
Data from the stroke register at the National Health Information Centre were analysed. Clinical data from two time periods (the first wave: March–April 2020; the second wave: October–November 2020)...
Pregnancy, postpartum and menopause are regarded as periods women are more vulnerable to ischaemic events. There are conflicting results regarding stroke risk and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during menopause. Stroke in pregnancy is generally increasing with serious consequences for mother and child; therefore, recommendations for acute treatm...
Background:
An increased prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) disease has been previously reported in subjects with Fabry disease (FD) carrying alpha-galactosidase (GLA) mutations and their first-line relatives. Moreover, decreased alpha-galactosidase A (AGLA) enzymatic activity has been reported among cases with PD compared to controls.
Object...
Introduction:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the leading causes of ischaemic stroke. However, screening for AF is often time-consuming in clinical practice. Therefore, the determination of an appropriate marker to detect the presence of AF would improve the diagnostic process.
Objective:
The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effic...
Introduction
Sixteen subjects with biallelic WARS2 variants encoding the tryptophanyl mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, presenting with a neonatal- or infantile-onset mitochondrial disease, have been reported to date. Here we present six novel cases with WARS2-related diseases and expand the spectrum to later onset phenotypes including dopa-...
Background:
Neurofilament light chain is a promising biomarker of disease activity and treatment response in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Its role in progressive MS is less clear.
Aim:
The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) and disease activity as defined by the concept...
Introduction:
There is a need for blood biomarkers of disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) and disease activity as defined by the concept three-domain no evident disease activity (NEDA-3).
Methods:
Levels of pNfL (SIMOA) were examined in 1...
Introduction
MDS research criteria for prodromal Parkinson’s disease (pPD) were published in 2015 and updated in 2019. We aimed to determine the difference in pPD patient detection rates in two cohorts recruited via gastrointestinal symptoms (PARCAS study) and the presence of a probable REM sleep behaviour disorder (PDBIOM study) using the original...
Background
The research is focused on sensitive biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Objective
The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) and disease activity as defined by the concept NEDA (no evident disease activity), including brain volumetry, in a cohort of MS patients treated with di...
DYT1 gene mutations lead to early-onset dystonia that begins with focal limb onset and spreads to other body regions within 5 years, with typical sparing of the oromandibular muscles. In the present study, we describe two patients with an unusual presentation of the disease.
Aim:
The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of CEA and CAS in patients with carotid artery stenosis, and their effect on long-term mortality and morbidity, as well as to identify predictors of long-term mortality in a single-centre observational study.
Clinical rationale:
While data on short-term morbidity and mortality after carotid e...
Background and purpose
A few studies using data from regional databases have recently pointed to a decreased number of patients with stroke. The aim of the present study was to describe country‐level data (the number of patients with stroke, the proportion of patients with acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA), the proportion of patients...
Background
Dystonia is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous condition that occurs in isolation (isolated dystonia), in combination with other movement disorders (combined dystonia), or in the context of multisymptomatic phenotypes (isolated or combined dystonia with other neurological involvement). However, our understanding of its aetiology...
Purpose:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder with a variable course. The aim of our study was to find out whether cognitive event-related potentials are prognostic for patient disability at the 15-year follow-up.
Methods:
In the observed cohort of patients with MS, we examined the event-related potentials at baseline (2003). Functional...
Objectives
Non‐motor symptoms (NMS) are commonly present along with motor impairment in patients with cervical dystonia (CD) and have a significant impact on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the prevalence of NMS and their association with dystonia are still unclear. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of depression, a...
Objectives
The study aimed to assess the effect of demographic and clinical features of epilepsy, anxiety, depressed mood, sleep, and quality of life on the prediction of cognitive decline in patients with epilepsy.Methods
Two hundred and six consecutive patients with epilepsy (age 41.8 ± 15.6 years, mean, SD) out of 279, were included in this cros...
Introduction
The gene encoding myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) has been implicated in autosomal-recessive spastic paraplegia type 75. To date, only four families with biallelic missense variants in MAG have been reported. The genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of MAG-associated disease awaits further elucidation.
Methods
Four unrelated patient...
Background and objective
The optimal timing for initiation of dabigatran after acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is not established. We aimed to evaluate initiation timing and clinical outcomes of dabigatran in AIS patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).
Design
Retrospective study based on prospectively collected data in SITS (Safe Imple...
Introduction:
Despite the availability of prevention and therapies of stroke, their implementation in clinical practice, even of low-cost ones, remains poor. In 2015, the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) initiated the ESO Enhancing and Accelerating Stroke Treatment (EAST) program, which aims to improve stroke care quality, primarily in Eastern E...
Background and Purpose—
Posterior circulation stroke (PCS) accounts for 5% to 19% of patients with acute stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis. We aimed to compare safety and outcomes following intravenous thrombolysis between patients with PCS and anterior circulation stroke (ACS) and incorporate the results in a meta-analysis.
Methods—
We in...
Background and Purpose—
A large infarct and expanding cerebral edema (CED) due to a middle cerebral artery occlusion confers a 70% mortality unless treated surgically. Reperfusion may cause blood-brain barrier disruption and a risk for cerebral edema and secondary parenchymal hemorrhage (PH). We aimed to investigate the effect of recanalization on...
Rationale:
Cerebrovascular diseases associated with pregnancy and postpartum period are uncommon; however, they can have an important impact on health of both women and foetus or newborn.
Aims:
To evaluate the frequency, characteristics and management of cerebrovascular events in pregnant/postpartum women, to clarify pathophysiological mechanism...
POLG2 associated disorders belong to the group of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diseases and present with a heterogeneous clinical spectrum, various age of onset, and disease severity. We report a 39-year old female presenting with childhood-onset and progressive neuroophthalmic manifestation with optic atrophy, mixed polyneuropathy, spinal and cerebel...
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to expand the genetic architecture of neurodevelopmental disorders, and to characterize the clinical features of a novel cohort of affected individuals with variants in ZNF142, a C2H2 domain-containing transcription factor.
Methods:
Four independent research centers used exome sequencing to elucidate the ge...
The aim of the presented study was to reveal the frequency of insomnia spells in E200K genetic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (gCJD) patients. Clinical records of 22 subjects diagnosed with E200K gCJD were retrospectively reviewed. The patients w/wo insomnia (n = 4, 18%/n = 18, 82%) did not differ in age, sex and the duration of the symptomatic phase. A...
Objectives:
An extraordinary incidence of genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (gCJD) appearing in clusters in the Slovak Republic was described in the 1990's. The aim of the study was to analyse data of CJD cases obtained from surveillance in Eastern Slovakia (ES) (2004-2016), the region outside the described geographical clusters.
Methods:
The da...
Objective
We assessed the outcomes of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients on dual antiplatelet therapy prior to stroke onset.
Methods
We analyzed prospectively collected data from the SITS International Stroke Thrombolysis Register (SITS‐ISTR) on consecutive IVT‐treated AIS patients during a seven‐year period (20...
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is the most common lymphoproliferative disorder in adults. Patients with B-CLL strongly express the CD23 - C type of lectin (low affinity IgE receptor, Fc epsilon RII), which is linked to B cell activation and proliferation. Phosphorylation in lymphocytes is tightly associated with regulation of protein a...
Background:
The relationship between Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and MDS-UPDRS has not been fully studied so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between all MDS-UPDRS components and HRQoL in a representative international cohort of PD patients.
Methods:
We collected demographic and disease-related data as well...
Introduction:
Cardioembolic stroke (CS) in patients without thrombolytic treatment is associated with a worse clinical outcome and higher mortality compared to other types of stroke. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical outcome of CS in patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis (IVT).
Material and methodology:
Data of patients...
Background:
The Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) is a newly developed tool to assess Parkinson's disease (PD). Changes in scores on the scale over the course of PD, including increasing disease duration and Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stages, have not been described. The objectives of this study were to analyz...
Objectives
Most of the psychological and physical factors associated with poor sleep quality in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a different prevalence in women and men, but whether or not these factors contribute differently to sleep quality in women and men with MS remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify possible gender d...
The aim of this study is to explore whether different coping strategies are able to mediate the association between Type D personality and quality of life. We collected information from 156 consecutive patients (response rate: 72.9%; 75.0% women; median age: 40 ± 3 years). Patients completed the Type D Scale-14, the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale and t...
Poor sleep is a serious burden for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study is to assess whether the association between sleep quality and disability in MS patients is direct or mediated by depression, pain, and fatigue. We collected data from 152 patients with MS who filled out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Hospital A...
Background:
ECHS1 encodes a mitochondrial enzyme involved in the degradation of essential amino acids and fatty acids. Recently, ECHS1 mutations were shown to cause a new severe metabolic disorder presenting as Leigh or Leigh-like syndromes. The objective of this study was to describe a family with 2 siblings affected by different dystonic disorde...
The aim of this study is to explore whether self-esteem and social participation are associated with the physical and mental quality of life (Physical Component Summary, Mental Component Summary) and whether self-esteem can mediate the association between these variables. We collected information from 118 consecutive multiple sclerosis patients. Ag...
Background and purpose:
According to the European license, alteplase can be given no sooner than 3 months after previous stroke. However, it is not known whether past history of stroke influences the effect of treatment. Our aim was to evaluate safety and functional outcome after intravenous thrombolysis administered in everyday practice to patien...
The Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) is a newly developed comprehensive tool to assess Parkinson's disease (PD), which covers a wider range of non-motor PD manifestations than the original UPDRS scale. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the MDS-UPDRS and Quality of Life (QoL) a...
Fatigue, as one of the most frequent symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), has various adverse effects on the physical and mental health-related quality of life (PCS, MCS) of patients. The aim of this study was to explore whether coping mediates the relationship between fatigue and PCS and MCS. We collected data from 154 consecutive MS...
Introduction: Recently, it has been shown in animal models that there is a
variability in X-chromosome inactivation. Thus, in some brains a mother’s
X chromosome may dominate to one hemisphere and the father’s
dominate to the other one. Hence, response of brain to ischemia may
differ in men and women. Our goal was to determine if there are differen...
Introduction: Shorter door-to-needle time (DNT) improves treatment efficacy in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Still, there are groups of patients at increased risk of longer DNT. The goal of our study was to determine temporal trends of DNT. The second goal was to identify if baseline characteristics of patients treated with intravenous thro...
Introduction: Shorter door-to-needle time (DNT) improves treatment efficacy in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Still, there are groups of patients at increased risk of longer DNT. The goal of our study was to determine temporal trends of DNT. The second goal was to identify if baseline characteristics of patients treated with intravenous thro...
Objectives
Fatigue and apathy are two of the most common and most disabling non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). They have a high coincidence and can often be confused; moreover, their relationship is not fully understood. The aim of our study was to describe the coincidence of apathy with different fatigue domains in the presence/absenc...
Purpose:
To explore how social support is associated with anxiety and depression in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients controlling for gender, disease duration and disease severity.
Methods:
The sample consisted of 124 patients (52.4% male; mean age 68.1 ± 8.4 years; mean disease duration 6.3 ± 5.5 years). Anxiety and depression were measured wit...
To explore whether self-rated health acts as a potential mediator in the association between functional status and health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease.
Older persons (as most patients with Parkinson's disease are) who reported poor self-rated health compared with those with excellent self-rated health were two-and-a-half times mor...
Fatigue, as one of the most frequent symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), has various adverse effects on the physical and mental health-related quality of life (PCS, MCS) of patients. The aim of this study was to explore whether coping mediates the relationship between fatigue and PCS and MCS. We collected data from 154 consecutive MS...
Purpose:
Fatigue is a frequent non-motor complaint of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite increasing knowledge on fatigue, the factors leading to its development are still not recognised. The aim of this investigation was to test, using structural equation modelling, the hypothesis that the influence of disease severity on fatigue is m...
Objectives:
To describe the prevalence and clinical determinants of apathy in elderly nondemented patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their relationship to quality of life (QoL).
Methods:
A total of 106 nondemented elderly patients with PD were examined using the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDR...
Purpose:
Bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction are often overlooked symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and can be associated with lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim is to explore the association of bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction with HRQoL in MS patients stratified by disease duration (≤5 and >5 years) and...
Background
Social participation is an integral part of everyday life in society; however, evidence about its association with Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is lacking.
Objective
The aim of this study is to explore whether social participation is associated with the Physical Component Summary of HRQoL...
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to analyse whether problem-focused coping, coping focused on getting support and coping focused on stopping unpleasant emotions and thoughts are associated with different levels of physical and mental quality of life (PCS, MCS), controlling for gender, age and disease severity among MS patients.
Method:
The sam...
Clinical and psychosocial factors associated separately with primary and secondary fatigue in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have not been thoroughly studied before. The aim of our study was to assess factors associated with different fatigue domains in groups with primary and secondary fatigue in PD separately. We divided 165 non-demented PD pa...
Objectives: To describe the prevalence and clinical determinants of apathy in elderly nondemented patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their relationship to quality of life (QoL). Methods: A total of 106 nondemented elderly patients with PD were examined using the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS),...
Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD) is a prion disease. Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative conditions affecting humans and a wide variety of animals. In prion diseases, normal, cellular protein (PrPC) is converted into insoluble, protease-resistant scrapie prion protein (PrP sc). PrP is encoded by the prion protein gene (PRNP) localised on the...
Following its critique, recommendations for revision of the original version of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) were published. Subsequently, the Movement Disorder Society (MDS) - sponsored revision entitled Movement Disorder Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) was presented. After its successful dini...
