Brainwaves

Webster defines ‘idiopathic’ as “arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause”. By definition, this means idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has no proximate cause. But that’s not exactly true. This week on the podcast, we explore the recent evidence behind the theory that transverse sinus stenosis may contribute to this condition. Disclaimer: No chicken or eggs were harmed in the making of this episode. Produced by James E. Siegler. Music courtesy of Squire Tuck, Swelling, Three Chain Links, and Unheard Music Concepts. The opening theme was composed by Jimothy Dalton. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. Unless otherwise mentioned in the podcast, no competing financial interests exist in the content of this episode. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Martins AN. Resistance to draina

It’s more than just a headache. Migraine is a disturbance of normal neurological function, and as you are aware, it causes more than just severe head pain. This week on BrainWaves, Dr. Deborah Friedman (UT Southwestern) shares her experience evaluating and managing the unusual neurologic manifestations of migraine that aren’t just the misery from recurrent attacks. Produced by James E. Siegler & Deborah Friedman. Music courtesy of Josh Woodward, Kevin McLeod and Lee Rosevere. The opening theme was composed by Jimothy Dalton. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. Unless otherwise mentioned in the podcast, no competing financial interests exist in the content of this episode. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Bianchin MM, Londero RG, Lima JE and Bigal ME. Migraine and epilepsy: a focus on overlapping c

On rounds, I sometimes joke that the two most important organs in the body are the right and left hemisphere. Only one of many, terrible, dad jokes my poor residents and students have to endure. But what happens when one organ fails, or you have to remove it? This week on BrainWaves, we’ll review a unique neurologic condition where such incredible hemispheric dysfunction can only be treated by surgically removing half of the brain. And OMG, a show about pediatrics! ** IF YOU’RE TAKING YOUR NEUROLOGY BOARDS THIS SUMMER, CHECK OUT THE PENN NEUROLOGY BOARD REVIEW COURSE AT https://upenn.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=5&EID=65373. AND FOR A DISCOUNTED RATE ON THE ONLINE OR STREAMING RESOURCES, USE PROMO CODE ‘WAVES2020’. ** Produced by James E. Siegler. Music courtesy of Ars Sonor, Daniel Birch, Jon Watts, and Lish Grooves. The opening theme was composed by Jimothy Dalton. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. Unless otherwise mentioned in the podcast, no competing financial interests exist in the con

Lewy Body Dementia may be the second most common neuropathologic cause of dementia behind Alzheimer disease, but it remains largely a clinical diagnosis with limited treatment options. This week on BrainWaves, Dr. Amy Colcher (Cooper University Hospital) reviews the diagnostic criteria and management strategies for patients and their caregivers who suffer from this condition. Plus, a sort of tribute to Robin Williams. ** IF YOU’RE TAKING YOUR NEUROLOGY BOARDS THIS SUMMER, CHECK OUT THE PENN NEUROLOGY BOARD REVIEW COURSE AT https://upenn.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=5&EID=65373. AND FOR A DISCOUNTED RATE ON THE ONLINE OR STREAMING RESOURCES, USE PROMO CODE ‘WAVES2020’. ** Produced by James E. Siegler and Amy Colcher. Music courtesy of Andrew Sacco, Axletree, Damiano Baldoni, Josh Woodward, and Julie Maxwell. The opening theme was composed by Jimothy Dalton. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. Unless otherwise mentioned in the podcast, no competing financial interests exist in the content of th

Can you hear that too? You can’t? Well, that doesn’t mean I’m having auditory hallucinations. It could just be tinnitus, which describes the irritating sound of ringing, buzzing, clicking, or hissing that affect 10-20% of the world's population. But is this a ringing in the ears, or a ringing in the brain? ** IF YOU’RE TAKING YOUR NEUROLOGY BOARDS THIS SUMMER, CHECK OUT THE PENN NEUROLOGY BOARD REVIEW COURSE AT https://upenn.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=5&EID=65373. AND FOR A DISCOUNTED RATE ON THE ONLINE OR STREAMING RESOURCES, USE PROMO CODE ‘WAVES2020’. ** Produced by James E. Siegler. Music courtesy of Andrew Sacco, Jon Watts, Kai Engel, Lovira, Patches, and Kevin McLeod. Unless otherwise mentioned in the podcast, no competing financial interests exist in the content of this episode. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwa

It’s 2020, and for the first time in its 72-year history, the American Academy of Neurology has cancelled its annual meeting because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But that does not mean we (BrainWaves producers, not the AAN) can’t provide a few major updates to advances in neurology and neurotherapeutics! This week on the program, Jim Siegler is joined by Dr. Sammita Satyanarayan (Stanford) on a whirlwind tour of some of the latest advances in neurology from this past year. Enjoy! ** IF YOU’RE TAKING YOUR NEUROLOGY BOARDS THIS SUMMER, CHECK OUT THE PENN NEUROLOGY BOARD REVIEW COURSE AT https://upenn.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=5&EID=65373. AND FOR A DISCOUNTED RATE ON THE ONLINE OR STREAMING RESOURCES, USE PROMO CODE ‘WAVES2020’. ** DISCLAIMER: BrainWaves: A Neurology Podcast is not a product of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) or its affiliates. Any content discussed on the program does not reflect the opinions of the AAN or its leadership nor does it contain any copyrighted material by the AAN or it

As my wife and I are raising our 9-month old daughter, and she is eating more solid food, I can’t help but think about how important it is she keep an open mind to new food groups. But being open minded is not just a lesson for toddlers. I emphasize it every day on rounds when seeing patients for a “stroke consult”, or a consult for “ICU delirium”. If you reduce yourself to the same anchoring biases that you've grown accustomed to, you’ll never entertain the possibility of other important, and treatable conditions. Or tasty foods. This week on the BrainWaves Podcast, Dr. Brian Jankowitz (Cooper University Hospital Vascular Neurosurgeon) joins Jim in a discussion about a rare, but treatable cause of myelopathy. A condition you won’t want to miss. ** IF YOU’RE TAKING YOUR NEUROLOGY BOARDS THIS SUMMER, CHECK OUT THE PENN NEUROLOGY BOARD REVIEW COURSE AT https://upenn.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=5&EID=65373. AND FOR A DISCOUNTED RATE ON THE ONLINE OR STREAMING RESOURCES, USE PROMO CODE ‘WAVES2020’. ** Produc

Perfusion imaging employs concepts that date back to the early 1830s, and it leverages hardware and software that emerged around the same time at multidetector helical CT scans. But it has only become popular in recent years for thrombectomy decision-making. If I'm being honest, I often never use it for this purpose. So what other purposes might it serve? And how does it work? This week, we review the fundamental concepts of perfusion CT, its utility in stroke care, and how it might prove useful for other neurologic conditions as well. ** IF YOU’RE TAKING YOUR NEUROLOGY BOARDS THIS SUMMER, CHECK OUT THE PENN NEUROLOGY BOARD REVIEW COURSE. FOR A DISCOUNTED RATE ON THE ONLINE OR STREAMING RESOURCES, USE PROMO CODE ‘WAVES2020’. ** Produced by James E. Siegler. Music courtesy of Julie Maxwell, John Bartmann, Kai Engel, and Pachyderm. Our theme song was composed by Jimothy Dalton. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. Some of the voices you heard throughout the program were those of Dr. Mathias Prokop, R

Imagine what it would have been like, to have lived in 1918. Spanish influenza killed approximately 3% of the world’s population. Other than the world war, international travel was fairly limited. There was no social media. No flu vaccine. No mechanical ventilators. No World Health Organization. A century later, we’re facing the next great pandemic. And what have we learned? What do we know? From the neurologic complications of SARS-CoV-2, to non-infectious consequences, the environmental impact of a pandemic, and lessons learned polio, we hope to leave you with a few important take-home messages, a silver lining—and some food for thought—about the ongoing COVID pandemic. ** IF YOU’RE TAKING YOUR NEUROLOGY BOARDS THIS SUMMER, CHECK OUT THE PENN NEUROLOGY BOARD REVIEW COURSE AT https://upenn.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=5&EID=65373. AND FOR A DISCOUNTED RATE ON THE ONLINE OR STREAMING RESOURCES, USE PROMO CODE ‘WAVES2020’. ** REFERENCES Murata K, Inoue O, Akutsu M and Iwata T. Neuromotor effects of short-

They say the eyes are the window to the soul. Well, maybe. They also happen to be the first organ we (perhaps, unknowingly) examine whenever we encounter a patient. This week on the program, we build on the prior episode about anisocoria (featuring Dr. Ali Hamedani, episode 74) and discuss the examination of the pupil, and all that these 3-5 millimeters of tissue can teach us. Plus, some Dad jokes at the end... Produced by James E. Siegler. Music courtesy of Chris Haugen, Daniel Birch, and Lee Roosevere. Unless otherwise mentioned in the podcast, no competing financial interests exist in the content of this episode. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Bouffard MA. The Pupil. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2019;25:1194-1214. Liu G, Volpe NJ and Galetta S. Neuro-Ophthalmology

Generalized weakness is a common complaint. Much of the time, we as neurologists don’t even see these patients in the hospital or the clinic. But more often than not, “generalized” weakness may be the only way a patient describes difficulty brushing their hair or climbing stairs. In these situations, it’s not exactly generalized weakness. It’s something else. This week on BrainWaves, we review the major patterns of weakness that characterize the most common muscle disorders. With a quick review of EMG findings. Enjoy! Produced by James E. Siegler. Music courtesy of Jahzzar, Kevin McLeod, Patches, and Montplaisir. Unless otherwise mentioned in the podcast, no competing financial interests exist in the content of this episode. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Suresh E

This week on BrainWaves, we're revisiting the 2017 episode on recurrent meningitis featuring Dr. Jon Rosenberg (New York Presbyterian-Columbia). While we may not have made much headway in the treatment of these patients since the original show came out, we have made some progress in the neurodiagnostics. Produced by James E. Siegler and Jon Rosenberg. Music courtesy of Coldnoise, Three Chain Links, and Uncanny. Unless otherwise mentioned in the podcast, no competing financial interests exist in the content of this episode. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Zunt JR and Baldwin KJ. Chronic and subacute meningitis. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2012;18:1290-318. Ginsberg L and Kidd D. Chronic and recurrent meningitis. Pract Neurol. 2008;8:348-61. Rosenberg J and Galen BT. R

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment. Unlike chemotherapy, which essentially includes cellular toxins that can cause widespread and unnecessary tissue damage, checkpoint inhibitors are used to train the body’s natural immune system to fight off the cancer. And while they are extraordinarily effective options for patients with malignant disease, they are not without risk. Every day, we are learning more and more about the autoimmune side effects of these novel therapies. This week on the BrainWaves Podcast, Dr. Justine Cohen (University of Pennsylvania) shares her experience managing patients with checkpoint inhibitor neurotoxicity. Produced by James E. Siegler and Justine Cohen. Music courtesy of Jon Watts, Kai Engel, and Kevin McLeod--as well as a cameo appearance by the Checkpoints. Unless otherwise mentioned in the podcast, no competing financial interests exist in the content of this episode. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online conte

The sole FDA approved indication for clobazam is as a therapeutic adjunct in Lennox Gastaut Syndrome. But as more and more clinicians publish their experience with the off-label success of certain therapies, we may see new indications for this and other pharmacologic agents in the treatment of neurologic disease. Produced by James E. Siegler. Unless otherwise mentioned in the podcast, no competing financial interests exist in the content of this episode. Music courtesy of Chris Zabriskie, Milton Arias, and John Bartmann. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Schmidt D, Rohde M, Wolf P and Roeder-Wanner U. Clobazam for refractory focal epilepsy. A controlled trial. Archives of neurology. 1986;43:824-6. Keene DL, Whiting S and Humphreys P. Clobazam as an add-on drug in the

In a patient with isolated, progressive hand numbness and weakness, there is a much to be learned about the clinical exam. Often, its all you need. This week, Dr. Aakriti Kothiwal (Cooper University Hospital) presents this week's clinical case and helps localize the lesion. Produced by James E. Siegler and Aakriti Kothiwal. Music courtesy of Jazzar, Lee Rosevere, and Loyalty Freak Music. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Gross PT and Jones HR, Jr. Proximal median neuropathies: electromyographic and clinical correlation. Muscle Nerve. 1992;15:390-5. Gross PT and Tolomeo EA. Proximal median neuropathies. Neurol Clin. 1999;17:425-45, v. Peters N, Muller-Schunk S, Freilinger T, During M, Pfefferkorn T and Dichgans M. Ischemic stroke of the cortical "hand knob" area: stro

The common teaching is that restricted diffusion on MRI indicates stroke—acute cerebral infarction. When, more specifically, the changes on DWI and ADC indicate impairment in the random movement of water molecules in a given tissue. With slower movement, as in energy-depleted tissues with failing ATP-dependent sodium/potassium channels, high cellularity, or a highly viscous extra-cellular space, there is restricted diffusion (of water) and a corresponding bright signal on DWI. These and other considerations are the focus of this week's episode of BrainWaves. Produced by James E. Siegler. Music courtesy of Uncanny and Kevin McLeod. Sound effects by Mike Koenig. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Filippi M, Iannucci G, Cercignani M, Assunta Rocca M, Pratesi A and Comi G. A quantitative study of water diffusion in mul

2019 was a big year. The year of the Mueller report. The American college admissions scandals. Brexit. But it was also the year the US Women's team won the World Cup, and lobbied for the equal pay of women and men in sports. It was the year of NMO, in which several pivotal trials showed benefit of disease modulating therapy in this condition. The year Will Smith played Genie in Aladdin. 2019 was a great year. And as we wrap up 2019, this week's episode includes some of the highlights. Enjoy! Produced by James E. Siegler with support from Erika Mejia, Rajat Dhar, and the entire Siegler family. Music courtesy of Axletree, Chris Zabriskie, John Paston, Kevin Mcleod, Josh Woodward, Steve Combs, Lee Rosevere, Scott Holmes, Advent Chamber Orchestra, Coldnoise, and Pachyderm. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest

In the TV show, HOUSE, it's either lupus or its sarcoidosis. Only, it's never sarcoidosis. That's because sarcoidosis is such a heterogeneous condition and can affect practically any age group. In some patients, this idiopathic inflammatory disorder can also involve the nervous system. Also causing a variety of signs and symptoms ranging from mild headache to a proximal myopathy or even a CNS vasculitis. This week on the BrainWaves podcast, Dr. Jesse Thon reflects on the literature and shares his experience managing patients with this troubling condition. Produced by Jesse Thon and James E. Siegler. Music courtesy of Steve Combs, Lovira, and Yakov Goldman. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Petereit HF, Reske D, Tumani H, Jarius S, Markus Leweke F, Woitalla D, Pfister

In 2016, when we first launched the BrainWaves podcast, cryptogenic stroke was a poorly understood concept. 3 years later, it remains poorly understood. But we are making progress. In this week's update of episode 10, we review the progress that has been made in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of these patients. Produced by James E. Siegler. The original 2016 version of this show was also produced by Dr. Noah Levinson. Music courtesy of Josh Woodward, Julie Maxwell, Dan Lebowitz, and this group called E’s Jammy Jams. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Siegler JE, Swaminathan B, Giruparajah M, Bosch J, Perera KS, Hart RG, Kasner SE and Investigators EGR. Age disparity in diagnostic evaluation of stroke patients: Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source Global

Peer review prior to publication of medical data dates back to the 9th century CE, but has only really gained steam in the past 70 or 80 years. Ideally, peer review would serve as an initial filter for data that enters a permanent public scientific record. But peer review is not without flaws. In the second installment of the BrainWaves segment, “It’s not over yet…”, we discuss publication as a potential source of bias, and highlight the reasons why it should not be the final step of the peer review process. Produced by James E. Siegler. Music courtesy of Cullah, Lee Rosevere, John Bartmann, Kevin McLeod, and Jon Watts. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast. REFERENCES Bingham C. Peer review on the Internet: A better class of conversation. Lancet. 1998;351:S10-14. Godlee F, Gale CR