Objectives: We aimed to provide data of nerve sizes and echogenicity reference values of the Lithuanian population. Methods: High-resolution ultrasound was bilaterally performed according to the Ultrasound Pattern Sum Score and Neuropathy ultrasound protocols for healthy Lithuanian adults. Cross-sectional area (CSA) measurement and echogenicity were used as the main parameters for investigation. Echogenicity was evaluated using ImageJ, and nerves were categorized in classes according to echogenicity. Results: Of 125 subjects enrolled, 63 were males (mean age 47.57 years, range 25–78 years) and 62 were females (mean age 50.50 years, range 25–80 years). Reference values of nerve sizes and values of echogenicity as a fraction of black in percentage of cervical roots, upper and middle trunks of the brachial plexus and the following nerves: vagal, median, ulnar, radial, superficial radial, tibial, fibular, and sural in standard regions were established. Mild to moderate correlations were found between nerves CSA, echogenicity values and anthropometric measurements with the differences according to sex. Inter-rater (ICC 0.93; 95% CI 0.92–0.94) and intra-rater (ICC 0.94; 95% CI 0.93–0.95) reliability was excellent. Conclusions: Reference values of nerve size and echogenicity of Lithuanians were presented for the first time as a novel such kind of publication from the Baltic countries.

Background/Objectives: Glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are neurodegenerative conditions with vascular underpinnings. This study aimed to explore the relationship between blood pressure parameters such as mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and cognitive performance in patients with AD, normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), and healthy controls. We hypothesized that NTG patients, like those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), may experience subtle cognitive changes related to vascular dysregulation. Methods: Ninety-eight participants (35 NTG, 17 AD, 46 controls) were assessed for CPP, MAP, OPP, and cognitive performance. Statistical analyses compared groups and examined correlations. Results: AD patients showed lower CPP and MAP (p < 0.001), indicating systemic vascular dysfunction, while NTG patients had higher ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) (p = 0.008), suggesting compensatory mechanisms. CPP correlated with visuospatial abilities in AD (r = 0.492, p = 0.045). MAP correlated with the Clock drawing test (CDT) scores in the NTG group (r = 0.378, p = 0.025). PP negatively correlated with cognition in AD (r = −0.527, p = 0.016 for CDT scores) and controls (r = −0.440, p = 0.002 for verbal fluency and r = −0.348, p = 0.019 for total ACE scores). Conclusions: The study highlights distinct hemodynamic profiles: systemic dysfunction in AD and localized dysregulation in NTG. These findings emphasize the role of vascular dysregulation in neurodegeneration, with implications for personalized treatment approaches targeting vascular health in neurodegenerative conditions.

Objectives: We aimed to compare well-known ultrasound protocols for inflammatory polyneuropathies in a single cohort. Methods: High-resolution ultrasound was performed according to the Bochum ultrasound score (BUS)/neuropathy ultrasound protocol (NUP), ultrasound pattern sum score (UPSS), and EAN/PNS suggested protocol for patients with chronic (CIDP) and acute inflammatory polyneuropathies (AIDP), multifocal motor neuropathies (MMN) and healthy controls. The upper boundaries were adjusted according to our laboratory normative values to all above-mentioned protocols; additionally, another calculation was performed using the peripheral nerve size values officially proposed by EAN/PNS. Results: We enrolled a total of 189 subjects (105 males and 84 females), comprising 40 patients with CIDP, 13 with MMN, 11 with AIDP, and 125 healthy controls. The mean ages were 62.49 years (range 37–84 years) for the CIDP patients; 55.92 years (range 32–71 years) for the MMN patients; 68.09 years (range 51–88 years) for the AIDP patients; and 49.02 years (range 25–80 years) for the healthy controls. Using the EAN/PNS protocol bilaterally, 72.9% of CIDP cases were identified. When the adjusted EAN/PNS protocol was applied, the detection rate rose to 100%, with a sensitivity of 100%. Both the adjusted BUS/NUP and UPSS protocols demonstrated a specificity of 90% in diagnosing CIDP. EAN/PNS protocol detected 69.23% of MMN cases measured unilaterally and had a 100% sensitivity to distinguish MMN, while the UPSS protocol had the highest specificity (96%). In AIDP cases, the adjusted EAN/PNS protocol identified 90.90% of cases through unilateral or bilateral measurements, with sensitivity 91% and specificity 88%. Conclusions: The EAN/PNS protocol was the most valuable in the detection of treatable states, and the BUS/NUP, UPSS protocols were the most valuable in the differentiation of specific inflammatory polyneuropathies.