We are proud and pleased to announce that “Aktualności Neurologiczne” (Current Neurology) has joined the elite group of periodicals with an Impact Factor (IF). Our IF for 2024 is 0.1.

On March 1, 2023, a new submission system has been launched. The manuscripts with all their attachments should be submitted via publishing platform Journals System.

The diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis are constantly evolving. A single, specific and sensitive marker of the disease is still lacking; therefore, the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis remains a diagnosis of exclusion. At the same time, it is crucial to start therapy with drugs that inhibit disease progression as early as possible. The successive criteria for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, known as the McDonald criteria, have aimed to incorporate the need for rapid disease diagnosis without compromising high sensitivity and specificity.

B lymphocytes are specialised leukocytes essential to the adaptive immune response, characterised by specificity and memory, in contrast to innate immunity. They mediate humoral immunity by targeting extracellular pathogens, while T lymphocytes are pivotal in intracellular antigen destruction and immune regulation. The differentiation of B cells begins with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), pluripotent cells in the bone marrow that generate all blood cell lineages. HSCs differentiate into myeloid and lymphoid lineages, giving rise to B and T lymphocytes.

Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies represent a particularly important class of drugs in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. This results from the discovery of the instrumental function of B cells in the initiation of multiple sclerosis autoimmunity, as well as their role in the protraction of the disease process. Ofatumumab is the first fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. Phase 2 and 3 trials demonstrated high efficacy of ofatumumab in a population of patients with the relapsingremitting and relapsing form of multiple sclerosis. Ofatumumab very efficiently decreased number of relapses.

Although recent findings reveal potential contributing factors to Parkinson’s disease, ongoing research remains essential to further understand and substantiate these connections, identifying lifestyle patterns and biopsychological factors that may contribute to either the onset or prevention of Parkinson’s disease. This study analyses the interactions among genetics, neuroplasticity, interoception, mindfulness, lifestyle, environment, and Parkinson’s disease.

The study aims to assess the validity of the Timed Up and Go test in patients with type IV spinal muscular atrophy and to examine its correlation with the 6-Minute Walk Test and the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale – Expanded (HFMSE) over an eight-month period. Fourteen adult, ambulant patients with spinal muscular atrophy type IV were included in the study. All patients were treated with intrathecal injections of nusinersen and were on a maintenance dosing schedule – once every four months. Assessments were performed twice, eight months apart, however, this was to short observation period to conduct an evaluative analysis of the effectiveness of disease-modifying therapy in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy as chronic neuromuscular disease.

Early diagnosis of ischaemic stroke and prompt implementation of causal treatment can improve patient outcomes. Recently, special attention has been paid to biomarkers associated with neuronal damage. One of them is neuronspecific enolase (NSE). Studies conducted to date indicate an increase in NSE concentration in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. The aim of this study was to assess serum NSE concentrations in patients with acute ischaemic stroke, and to determine the possible relationship between NSE levels and clinical features of the disease.

Neurosarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology, characterised by the presence of non-caseating granulomas within the nervous system. Its prevalence in patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis is estimated to be approximately 10%. The clinical presentation is ambiguous, with symptoms that may manifest acutely or progress gradually over time. Many of these symptoms mimic those of other diseases, making neurosarcoidosis a diagnostic challenge. 

Public knowledge of the disease is an important factor in both prevention and treatment. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge of stroke and cardiovascular risk factors in Polish society. The study used the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) method with an anonymous survey created using Google Forms.

Transient global amnesia (TGA) remains one of the most enigmatic neurological diseases. The results of latest studies indicate a strong association between acute hypertensive peaks and TGA. Elevated blood pressure (BP) is the most frequently observed clinical feature accompanying TGA. Animal studies indicate that BP peaks may lead to oxidative stress affecting mainly the CA1 sector of the hippocampus (a crucial structure for memory processing). Single-centre, retrospective, cross-sectional medical records analysis of 65 patients with TGA and 64 patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA) (control group). Analysis included systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP) values at admission, as well as mean and maximal circadian values of these parameters from 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Circadian BP variations were also assessed.

Ocrelizumab is used in multiple sclerosis treatment and is available in intravenous and subcutaneous forms. In Poland, only the intravenous form is currently reimbursed. The subcutaneous form offers a shorter administration time, potentially benefiting both healthcare providers and patients. This study evaluates the impact of the different forms of ocrelizumab administration on medical facility workflow and costs.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating disease with a still unknown pathogenesis. It remains a condition with diverse clinical manifestations. Once inevitably leading to disability, due to disease-modifying therapies, it is now possible to halt its progression. A large number of registered molecules enables the selection of the most appropriate treatment, depending on the individual disease pattern. The aim of this analysis was to assess patients with multiple sclerosis treated as part of the drug programme at the centre, focusing on various aspects of the disease and treatment. 

Many studies have investigated the interplay between Parkinson’s disease and diabetes mellitus, suggesting that glucose metabolism impairment may worsen the clinical course of Parkinson’s disease. This study aimed to explore the association between diabetes mellitus and the course of Parkinson’s disease. A retrospective study was performed by analysing the clinical data of patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who were hospitalised in University Clinical Centre of the Medical University of Silesia from 2019 to 2021. The study group comprised 241 patients selected according to the study’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. Their clinical conditions were assessed using body mass index, the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), the Hoehn–Yahr scale, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clock Drawing Test (CDT) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Data were collected on current anti-parkinsonian treatment, fasting glycaemia, lipid panel, and thyroid stimulating hormone, homocysteine and vitamin D₃ levels. 

We investigated the impact of 2D (2D_seg) and 3D (3D_seg) segmentation on the accuracy of prediction models in the radiomics analysis to determine the presence or absence of methylation in the O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoter region of gliomas. Magnetic resonance imaging images of gliomas were obtained from the Cancer Imaging Archive for 50 methylated and 50 unmethylated cases respectively. For each case, 2D_seg and 3D_seg were performed, and 788 radiomics features, including wavelet transform, were obtained. Ten features were selected by LASSO regression. The coefficients of determination (R²) and root mean squared error (RMSE) were calculated by multiple regression analysis. Discriminant boundaries to discriminate methylation were created by linear discriminant analysis, and the sensitivity and specificity of each method were calculated. The discriminant accuracy of both methods was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis.

Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) describes a group of extremely rare hereditary disorders with an estimated prevalence of 1–3/1,000,000. Mitochondrial membrane protein associated neurodegeneration (MPAN) is the third most common form of NBIA, accounting for 10% of NBIA cases globally and up to 50% of cases in Poland.

The aim of the study was to analyse the clinical symptoms and laboratory abnormalities of seizure disorders in febrile children infected with pathogens from the Herpesviridae family – human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV).

The article outlines the diagnostic pathway for patients with dementia, and specifically with Alzheimer’ s disease. The proper diagnostic approach for suspected dementia includes history, cognitive testing, physical and neurological examinations, and neuroimaging and laboratory analysis to fully clarify the patient’s condition. The consecutive stages of the diagnostic process and the current approaches to the importance of various tests are discussed.