Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a rapidly evolving procedure with its application in multiple fields of neurology, but it is most prominent in Parkinson's disease (PD). Through electrode implantation in different areas of the brain, it brings a favorable change to the motor symptoms to the magnitude that none of the medications have been able to, but the effect on cognition of the patients is still unknown. We did a comprehensive search through PubMed and Cochrane databases and conducted a systematic review by following the PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were studies conducted only in PD patients, after the year 2008. The studies published in languages other than English were excluded. Thirteen studies, including randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and meta-analysis, were analyzed in detail. The results showed a declining trend in verbal fluency and attention domains of cognition, while other functions remained unchanged. The decline was significant but not enough to impact the quality index in patients. DBS is associated with worse performance in verbal fluency and attention, and there is a further need for studies focusing on these domains with long-term follow-up. The overall cognitive profile was not affected significantly.

Autoimmune-associated vasculitis is related to conditions like granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and eosinophilic polyangiitis with granulomatosis (EGPA), among many others. An unlikely scenario is patients with the above conditions presenting with ischemic strokes before any renal or pulmonary pathology. These conditions are associated with increased antineutrophillic cytoplasmic antibodies (C-ANCA) levels in the blood, and its decline after treatment is directly proportional to the recovery of the patient. We present a case of a previously healthy 38-year-old male patient who presented with acute/subacute ischemic stroke with elevated C-ANCA levels; his MRI brain images revealed multiple posterior circulation infarcts with hemorrhagic transformation. With pulse steroid therapy, he had significant improvement in neurological functions. This case report highlights the importance of maintaining a high degree of suspicion and providing early treatment for autoimmune strokes in young patients with no clear etiology for such a presentation.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and pancreatic cancer (PC) in the elderly are widely considered to be interrelated. New-onset diabetes (NOD) patients are considered a high-risk group for the development of PC within three years of diagnosis. We reviewed the literature to determine the pathophysiological association between DM and PC, which can help in the development of screening tests for early PC diagnosis in the elderly with NOD. We also studied the potential associations between them after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or pancreatic resection. We collected studies published in the last five years in PubMed that are relevant to DM and PC in the elderly. We mainly focused on the pathophysiology and intracellular mechanisms involved between NOD and PC. We illustrated the clinical signs and immunological and metabolic biomarkers that can be used to diagnose early PC in the elderly with NOD. In the 34 studies we reviewed, five showed that long-term diabetes mellitus (LTDM) increases the risk of PC. Six studies showed that NOD in the elderly is an early sign of PC. Fourteen studies proposed that clinical signs and biomarker levels should be used to determine the high-risk risk group for PC among NOD patients. Six studies reported that NOD is associated with the worst outcomes postoperatively, and three studies showed that patients developed DM after pancreatic resection. LTDM is considered an independent risk factor for PC development in the elderly. NOD is a consequence and maybe the only early presenting sign of PC. Screening protocols and tests should be used in clinical practice to determine the proportion of NOD patients who should undergo further testing for early diagnosis of PC. DM and PC are also co-related postoperatively and patients should be monitored for impaired glucose levels, overall survival, and mortality.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is one of the foremost causes of childhood motor disability and disrupts the individual's development and ability to function. Several factors contribute to the development of CP such as preterm delivery, low birth weight, infection/inflammation, and additional pregnancy complications, both in preterm and term infants. As there is no specific treatment for CP, rehabilitation is the current option for the management of patients. The serious nature of this condition creates deficits that last a lifetime. We collected studies that were published in the past 10 years, using PubMed as our main database. We chose studies that were relevant to CP and stem cell therapy. We mainly focused on various types of stem cells that can be used in treatment, mechanism of action (MOA) of stem cells, routes, dosage, and adverse effects, their efficacy, and safety in CP patients. Of all the 38 studies we reviewed, we found that five articles discussed the utilization of human umbilical cord blood [hUCB], four articles discussed autologous bone marrow stem cells, and one discussed allogeneic umbilical cord blood usage. One article discussed neural stem-like cells (NSLCs) derived from bone marrow and the remaining 27 articles were about CP and its treatment. We reviewed detailed information about the possible stem cell therapies and their benefits in patients with CP. We found that immune modulation is the major mechanism of action of stem cells, and among all the types of stem cells. Autologous umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells appear to be safe and most effective in treatment compared to other stem cell treatments. Among all symptoms, motor symptoms are best corrected by stem cell therapy. Still, it did not show any marked improvement in treating other symptoms like speech defects, sensory or cognitive defects, or visual impairment.

Background: Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical education and residency recruitment. National organizations including ACGME and AAN recommended virtual interviews for adult and pediatric residency programs. This study provides insights from a single-center survey of applicants’ experiences with virtual interview process over three years. Methods: An online, anonymous survey was sent to 300 applicants who interviewed at our adult neurology residency program during the 2020-2021 (Year 1), 2021-2022 (Year 2), and 2023-2024 (Year 3) cycles. The survey was emailed after Rank Order List Submission, and responses were collected over 60 days. Results: Preference for virtual interviews increased from 29% in Year 1 to 41% in Year 3. Key factors influencing the rank list were interactions with the Program Director (65-80% of the applicants) and Program Coordinator, as well as program reputation and faculty interviews. A total of 110 applicants responded across the three cycles. The majority were non-US IMGs (59% Year 1, 61.3% Year 2, 47% Year 3). Most applicants applied to over 60 programs, with 77% doing so in Year 2. Over time, the number of interviews accepted declined, shifting from 10–20 in Year 1 to fewer than 10 in Year 3. Program websites were the most valuable resource, cited by 72–76% of applicants, followed by program-run webinars, open houses, and social media. Among social media platforms, X (formerly Twitter) was used more frequently than Facebook or Reddit. Over 80% of applicants reported no time zone issues, and Zoom was the preferred platform. Connectivity issues decreased over the years. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into applicants’ experiences and perceptions of the virtual interview process. While it does increase equity and access, it also leads to a greater trend of applying to more programs than usual. Interactions with Program Directors and Coordinators are instrumental in influencing applicants’ ranking decisions. More studies can help guide the future direction of this process.

Background: Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical education and residency recruitment. National organizations including ACGME and AAN recommended virtual interviews for adult and pediatric residency programs. This study provides insights from a single-center survey of applicants’ experiences with the virtual interview process over three years. Methods: An online, anonymous survey was sent to 300 applicants who interviewed at the adult neurology residency program during the 2020–2021 (Year 1), 2021–2022 (Year 2), and 2023–2024 (Year 3) cycles. We emailed the survey after the Rank Order List Submission and collected responses over 60 days. Results: The overall response rate was 110/300 (36.7%) over three years; response rates by year were 45% in Year 1, 31% in Year 2, and 34% in Year 3. The majority were non-US IMGs (59% in Year 1, 61.3% in Year 2, 47% in Year 3). In Years 1 and 2, most applicants applied to over 60 programs, with 77% doing so in Year 2. Over the application cycles, the proportion of applicants accepting fewer than 10 interviews rose from 20% to 32%, while the proportion accepting 10–20 interviews remained similar. Preference for virtual interviews numerically increased from 29% in Year 1 to 41% in Year 3. Key factors influencing the rank list were interactions with the program director (65–80% of the applicants) and program coordinator, as well as program reputation and faculty interviews. Program websites were the most valuable resource, cited by 72–76% of applicants, followed by program-run webinars, open houses, and social media. Among social media platforms, X (formerly Twitter) was found more helpful than Facebook or Reddit. Over 80% of applicants reported no time zone issues. Connectivity issues decreased numerically over the years. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into applicants’ experiences and perceptions of the virtual interview process. This model likely lowers applicants’ financial burden, but it is also associated with applicants’ preference for applying to more programs. Interactions with program directors and program coordinators are instrumental in influencing applicants’ ranking decisions. Future studies can build on these findings to evaluate emerging innovations in residency recruitment.