Feature extraction and selection are the main elements which lead to the correct classification and diagnosis of brain tumors with the help of medical imaging techniques. The detailed method of getting the distinguishing features of the MRI brain images through the combination of statistical, texture, and deep learning-based methods is shown in the analysis of this chapter. At first, it is the tumor regions that are subjected to enhancement and segmentation, done in the preprocessing steps, which are then handled for feature computation via Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG), and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). Then onward, feature reduction is done by applying Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Genetic Algorithms (GA) techniques in order to take away non-informative features and lower dimensionality. The suggested method promotes the classification effectiveness as well as the diagnostic accuracy. Trials on MRI datasets with MATLAB 2017b exhibit an average accuracy of 96,8 % and F1-score of 0,94, thus validating that optimal feature extraction and selection practices are great supporters of AI-based medical image analysis frameworks.
Introduction: The neurological depression inventory in people with epilepsy (NDDI-E), developed in 2006 by Gilliam and collaborators, is useful for evaluating major depressive episodes, however, it has not been linguistically or culturally adapted to people with epilepsy in the Cuban context. The objective was to linguistically and culturally adapt the NDDI-E inventory for people with epilepsy in the Cuban context. Methods: Technological developments work (Investigation + Development + innovation / I+D+i), in three stages: linguistic and cultural adaptation, content validation with experts on the subject and piloting in people with epilepsy. International Center for Neurological Restoration, Cuba. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were combined: consultation with linguistics and experts, piloting, debriefing, Cronbach´s alpha and item elimination analysis. Results: The linguistics did not propose any semantic or syntactical changes to the scale items. The debriefing identified that the average administration time of the instrument was 1.04 minutes, with harmless and appropriate items. The expert´s coefficient of content validity was 0.95. The Cronbach´s alpha of the pilot test was 0.76. It was not necessary to eliminate any item from the scale and the item-total correlations were >0.300. Conclusions: The NDDI-E, adapted to Cuban Spanish, is consistent with the version translated Spanish and is valid in its content. It is recommended to check the reliability, construct validity and convergence of this inventory in a distinctive samples of people with different types of epilepsy in the Cuban context.
The treatment of biomedical images through preprocessing and enhancement techniques draws the attention of everyone in the field of medical imaging due to the fact that such treatments will contribute to the improvement of the diagnostic accuracy. The present study investigates preprocessing and enhancement techniques applied to MRI brain tumor imaging. The tumor regions, consequently, become more visible and clearer. The methods used are Gaussian filtering, adaptive histogram equalization, and wavelet-based enhancement that remove the noise and make the image brighter at the same time. The power of the combination of these methods in yielding great images was astounding; the image quality measures used registered very significant changes—Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) increased from 28,6 dB to 36,8 dB, Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) from 0,82 to 0,94, and Mean Squared Error (MSE) decreased by approximately 40 %. The tumor boundary delineation got better as a result of such advancements leading to more accurate segmentation and classification. This research verified that good preprocessing and enhancement were prerequisites for the reliable analysis of brain MRI images, besides, it pointed out the future directions of diagnostic and machine learning applications in the area of biomedical image processing.
Introduction: Encephalopathy in the emergency department represents a diagnostic challenge due to its multifactorial etiology, which includes metabolic, infectious, and vascular causes. Listeria monocytogenes meningitis is a serious infection with high morbidity and mortality, which mainly affects older adults and immunosuppressed individuals. Clinical case: A 65-year-old male patient with multiple comorbidities was admitted to the emergency department due to altered consciousness, fever, headache, vomiting, and a seizure. Physical examination revealed hypoglycemia, hypernatremia, hyperammonemia, uremia, hypertension (180/90 mmHg), and hypoxia (saturation 80%). Metabolic alterations were corrected, empirical antibiotic therapy (vancomycin, ceftriaxone, dexamethasone) was initiated, and a lumbar puncture was performed. CSF culture confirmed Listeria monocytogenes meningitis, and treatment was adjusted to ampicillin and gentamicin. The patient's outcome was favorable. Discussion. This clinical case illustrates the diagnostic complexity of encephalopathy in patients with multiple comorbidities, where metabolic, infectious, and hypertensive factors converge. The identification of Listeria monocytogenes as the etiologic agent by CSF culture underscores the need to include this bacterium in the differential diagnosis of meningoencephalitis in older adults with risk factors, especially in settings of relative immunosuppression. Conclusions: The patient's favorable outcome was possible thanks to a comprehensive and timely approach, which combined the stabilization of critical metabolic alterations, hemodynamic monitoring, and the early initiation of targeted antibiotic therapy. This case reinforces the importance of maintaining a high index of clinical suspicion in atypical neurological presentations and of using complementary diagnostic tools such as lumbar puncture, especially when classic signs may be masked. In the emergency setting, this systematic and multidisciplinary approach is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with treatable infectious causes of encephalopathy, such as neurolisteriosis.
Introduction: Syringomyelia is a spinal cord cavitation disorder with an incidence of 8.4 per 100,000 inhabitants, predominantly manifesting in young adults (around age 30). Its pathophysiology involves alterations in cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and is associated with Chiari I malformation in 90% of cases. The clinical presentation, determined by the location of the cyst, includes loss of thermal and pain sensitivity, pyramidal signs, and muscle atrophy. Case report: A 67-year-old male with a history of hypertension and epilepsy presented with a 5-month history of walking inability. Neurological examination revealed interosseous atrophy, spastic quadriparesis, sensory level at T4, and pyramidal signs. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of syringomyelia. Surgical intervention was performed via a posterior craniocervical approach, involving durotomy (with observed CSF outflow under pressure), excision of the syrinx cavity capsule, and duraplasty. Postoperative evolution and rehabilitation were satisfactory. Conclusions: This case underscores the efficacy of management based on accurate imaging diagnosis and timely surgical intervention. Presentation in the seventh decade represents a significant variation from the usual epidemiological pattern, possibly influenced by a history of hemiplegia in childhood. Surgical decompression proved to be a fundamental therapeutic strategy, capable of favorably modifying functional prognosis, even in elderly patients.
Introduction: The validation of the neurological disorders depression inventory (NDDI-E) has been carried out in several countries; however, this process has not been carried out in Cuba. Therefore, the objective was to determine the reliability, construct validity, and convergent validity of the NDDI-E in a Cuban sample with epilepsy and a healthy control group. Methods: Technology development work research development innovation (I+D+i). Non probabilistic purposive sampling of 148 people (102 with epilepsies and 46 healthy control subjects). The NDDI-E and scale of the Zung and Conde pressure scale were applied. Cronbach alpha and items elimination analysis were evaluated. Exploratory factor analysis and Spearman Rho correlation between the scales was calculates, statistical significance p≤0.05. Results: Cronbach alpha was α = 0.73. The total-items correlation were > 0.300. The Kaiser Meyer Olhin (KMO = 0.70. The sphericity of Bartlett = 0.000. The exploratory factor analysis identified a bifactorial structure. A positive correlation was obtained between the NDDI-E and the Zung and Conde scale (Spearman Rho = 0.902, p < 0.001). Conclusions: It is proved that the NDDI-E adapted to a Cuban samples with epilepsy and a healthy control group has appropriate reliability and construct validity and convergence. It is recommended to validate the NDDI-E in a representative samples of the Cuban population with epilepsy, healthy and other neurological pathologies.
New approaches for diagnosing complex diseases with aid of computers such as artificial intelligence and CT scans have resulted from the recent developments in medical imaging as well as artificial intelligence. Deep learning architectures are one of the key strengths in feature learning; however, classical machine learning algorithms provide interpretability and computational efficiency besides their lesser accuracy. A model called Hybrid Deep-Classical Model is elaborated on, which consists of deep feature extraction by utilizing CNN architectures (VGG16, ResNet50) combined with classical classifiers like Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF). The combination leads to an increase in accuracy and generalization particularly in the case of small medical datasets. The experiments conducted on the BRATS 2020 and Kaggle Brain MRI datasets show that the results improve with the hybrid model having an average accuracy of 97,8 %, precision of 96,9 %, and F1-score of 97,2 % respectively. It can thus be concluded from the results that the hybrid models are superior to the others in the case of biomedical imaging for the purpose of obtaining reliable and efficient diagnosis of diseases.
Introduction: subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is blood in the subarachnoid space. It can be spontaneous or post-traumatic, and its morbidity and mortality are high. The majority of spontaneous SAH cases are due to aneurysmal rupture. In Honduras, information regarding the epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with spontaneous SAH is limited, which hinders prevention and treatment efforts. Access to this information will provide elements for public health intervention strategies. Method: this descriptive observational study collected data from patients over 18 years old diagnosed with spontaneous SAH admitted to the Escuela Hospital from 2020 to 2024. With a population of 360 patients, a recommended sample of 186 individuals was obtained, resulting in 70 complete records for analysis. A data collection instrument was applied to these records, and the data were processed in EPI-INFO 7.5.1.2. Results: of the evaluated cases, 65,7% were women and 34,3% were men. The average age of presentation was 53,7 years. The majority were housewives, accounting for 50,0%. The most frequent associated conditions were hypertension at 60,0%, idiopathic cases at 28,6%, and smoking at 14,3 %. The clinical and imaging characteristics were as follows: 30,0% were admitted with a Glasgow score of 15 and 34,3% with a Hunt and Hess grade of III, 52,9% had a Fisher grade of IV, and 18,6% had an angiographic result indicative of a ruptured aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery. Regarding complications, 35,7% presented none, 20,0% experienced vasospasm, and 12,9% had hydrocephalus. The mortality rate was 2,9%. Conclusions: spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage predominated in the female sex (65,7%), with an average age of presentation of 53,7 years. The main associated condition was hypertension (60%). The primary angiographic diagnoses were: ruptured cerebral aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery at 22,03%, ruptured cerebral aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery at 11,86%, and multiple cerebral aneurysms at 11,86%. The predominant imaging characteristics were Fisher IV at 52,9% and Fisher III at 25,7 %. The most frequent complications were vasospasm at 20,0 %, hydrocephalus at 12,9%, and electrolyte disturbances such as hypernatremia at 11,4% and hypokalemia at 11,4%. The mortality rate was 2,9%.
La gestión eficiente de los servicios de atención psicológica representa un desafío constante para las instituciones de salud, particularmente en entornos educativos, donde es necesario responder a dinámicas académicas específicas, a la alta rotación de usuarios y a limitaciones de recursos. Este trabajo presenta una serie de mejoras funcionales al Sistema para la Gestión de la Información del Laboratorio de Evaluación e Intervención Psicológica del Centro Universitario de los Valles (SIGILEIPCUValles), desarrollado para apoyar la gestión integral de servicios de salud mental en contextos universitarios. Si bien esta primera versión constituyó un avance relevante en la transformación digital de la atención psicológica en la institución, su implementación se vio limitada por restricciones funcionales y operativas. SIGILEIP 2.0, el centro de este trabajo, surge como una evolución funcional de este sistema inicial, concebida para superar dichas limitaciones y ampliar sus capacidades. Esta nueva versión incorpora un módulo para la generación dinámica de reportes, basado en técnicas de Procesamiento de Lenguaje Natural (Natural Language Processing, NLP) y un Modelo de Lenguaje Pequeño (en inglés: Small Language Model, SLM), así como un módulo para la planificación y programación de citas fundamentado en la satisfacción de restricciones. Además de reducir tareas manuales que limitaban la escalabilidad del sistema, la nueva versión introduce mejoras en la seguridad, el rendimiento y la usabilidad.
Introduction: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that predominantly affects children and young adults. Case report: A 25-year-old male patient presented with rapid progression to flaccid paraplegia and sensory level. Initial MRI showed multifocal demyelinating lesions in white matter and spinal cord. Methylprednisolone was administered with favorable response. The diagnosis of ADEM was confirmed one year later, after complete resolution of the lesions was evidenced on follow-up MRI. Conclusions: ADEM should be considered in young adults with acute neurological symptoms. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are decisive for prognosis.
Objective: To critically review the current epidemiology, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic strategies, and associated challenges of major neurodegenerative diseases in India, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Parkinson’s disease, and Multiple sclerosis. Methodology: A descriptive narrative review of published literature was conducted using data from national and international sources, including findings from the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative and the Global Burden of Disease Study (1990–2019). Relevant studies addressing epidemiology, diagnostic modalities, therapeutic interventions, and healthcare challenges related to neurodegenerative diseases in the Indian context was critically reviewed and discussed. Results: The review highlights a substantial and rising burden of neurodegenerative diseases in India, closely linked to demographic transitions and population ageing. Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, and Parkinson’s disease account for a major proportion of this burden. Significant gaps were identified in early diagnosis, availability of disease-modifying therapies, and access to specialized neurological care. These challenges are further aggravated by socioeconomic disparities, limited healthcare infrastructure, and the absence of comprehensive nationwide disease registry data. Conclusion: Neurodegenerative diseases represent an emerging public health priority in India. Addressing the growing burden will require improved diagnostic capacity, strengthened healthcare systems, enhanced data collection through national registries, and equitable access to care. This review underscores the need for targeted strategies and policy-level interventions to mitigate the impact of neurodegenerative diseases in the Indian population.
Introduction: a large majority of patients undergoing abdominal surgery experience pain, which can be attributed to poor management. This leads to a decreased quality of life, increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and higher costs. Inadequate postoperative pain management remains a significant healthcare problem. Various strategies and protocols exist for controlling pain, but it is currently unclear which is most effective for these types of procedures. Methods: a research protocol is carried out for the subsequent preparation of a systematic review of the literature by collecting selected articles on scientific research platforms: PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Scielo in order to provide sustainable information about the application of multimodal protocols for the management of postoperative pain in adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery, evaluating and comparing the efficacy, safety and cost-benefit to improve the quality of care and clinical outcomes. Results: multimodal analgesia is gaining ground as a first-line strategy, but significant rates of poorly controlled pain persist. Population studies report between 30 % and 75 % of patients with moderate to severe postoperative pain. This leads to limitations in early mobilization and postoperative rehabilitation, and increases the incidence of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular complications. Conclusion: the management of acute postoperative pain remains a challenge in today’s world. Many patients report moderate to severe pain after abdominal surgery, which can lead to chronic pain. Further studies are needed to establish an appropriate protocol and identify the factors that limit its implementation.
The main objective of this research is to determine the neurological effects of gluten intake in patients aged between 30-35 years, in the province of Panama in the year 2024. This study is based on the importance of understanding how gluten in the daily diet specifically affects the nervous system. The developed points explain the effects of gluten in the field of neurology in patients aged 30 to 35 years, in the province of Panama in the year 2024. In conclusion, it is crucial to consider a gluten-free diet as an integral part of symptom management.
Perinatal asphyxia (PA), asphysia can be defined as a conditionof impaired gas exchange in a subject, which leads to progressivehypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis depending on the extent andduration of this interruption. Asphyxia may occur before, during or after delivery. Perinatal asphyxia is the most common cause of early neonatal death, but in survivors it can progress to hypoxicischaemic encephalopathy responsible for increased neurological morbidity. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous lipid compound that has shown neuroprotective properties inseveral models of encephalopathy in vivo and in vitro. In our laboratory, we found that administration within the first hour prevents long-term behavioural and morphological alterationsin rats subjected to perinatal asphyxia (PA), a neurological risk factor with increasing incidence worldwide and locally. In this project, we investigated the neuroprotective function of PEAby investigating cell viability and morphology in the murine hippocampal neuronal line HT22. Methodologically, different experimental groups were carried out, a control group treated with vehicle, and which was not subjected to hypoxia, a group that was subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation and a group that was treated with PEA and subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenationand another control group that was treated with PEA and was not subjected to hypoxia. The results obtained in our experimental situation allowed us to conclude that PEA has a neuroprotectiveeffect on the murine hippocampal neuronal line HT22, as it partially attenuates the morphological alteration produced by hypoxia-reoxygenation. Therefore, PEA appears to be a promising neuroprotective agent requiring further investigation of its mechanism for the implementation of future strategies for its use.
Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is one of the leading causes of disability and work absenteeism in adults. Emerging evidence indicates that anxiety may contribute to the persistence and perception of this condition. A systematic review of recent scientific literature, focusing on studies assessing the relationship between anxiety and CMP. Preliminary trends show a link between anxiety and increased functional impact. In addition to synthesizing recent studies and prevalent scientific evidence about the relationship between anxiety and CMP. Incorporating mental health assessment and management into CMP care may enhance clinical outcomes and reduce socioeconomic burden.
Introduction: the subject of this thesis is sleep deprivation, its causes, and consequences in different categories: neurobiological, cognitive, emotional, and social. Therefore, the purpose is to understand how the lack of rest influences the overall health of the individual and their environment, as well as to identify risk factors and possible prevention strategies. Methods: a literature search was conducted in the PubMed database using MeSH terms such as Sleep Deprivation, Cognitive Function, Executive Function, Memory, and Attention. Results: the studies share a very similar thematic and scientific core but come from different approaches. They all agree that lack of sleep impairs cognitive functions, especially memory, attention, and decision-making, although they differ in their focus and study population. Conclusion: sleep deprivation is a multifactorial phenomenon that affects brain function and requires a comprehensive approach, as highlighted by the research findings.
Chronic migraine and chronic pain in general is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Characterized by frequent and intense episodes of headache, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound, this disease can significantly compromise patients’ quality of life. Although conventional treatments such as analgesics, triptans and preventive therapies are widely used, a considerable portion of patients do not obtain satisfactory relief or suffer from unwanted side effects. In this context, cannabidiol (CBD) emerges as a promising alternative. The study aimed to identify, based on scientific evidence, the characteristics of the medicinal use of cannabidiol as a therapeutic resource for chronic pain. This is a literature review with data grouping and knowledge synthesis on the subject. For the search, the following academic databases were used: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System on-line (MEDLINE), Latin American Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), using the descriptors Cannabidiol Therapeutic, Toxicity. CBD, one of the main non-psychoactive components of the Cannabis sativa plant, has been widely studied for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anxiolytic properties.
Background: Sleep plays an active role in memory consolidation throughout the lifespan. This review examines how sleep quality, continuity, and specific sleep stages modulate different memory systems. Understanding these differences allows us to recognize sleep as an essential modulator of learning, cognitive performance, and mental health. Methods: A narrative review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses identified in PubMed (2019–2025) was conducted using the strategy “sleep AND memory consolidation.” Out of 1,108 records, after filtering and critical appraisal, 7 articles were included. Results: In children and young adults, sleep enhances declarative and associative memory as well as vocabulary learning. In healthy adults, sleep quality and continuity improve emotional regulation and cognitive performance. In older adults, the reduction of deep sleep limits consolidation, although quality rest contributes to cognitive reserve. Non-REM sleep strengthens declarative memory and the extraction of regularities, while REM sleep favors episodic and linguistic memories. Short naps and sleep continuity are associated with better verbal and associative retention. Conclusion: Sleep constitutes a key and differential modulator of memory, whose efficacy depends on age, the type of memory involved, and sleep architecture. Promoting adequate sleep hygiene and nocturnal continuity can not only optimize learning and recall capacity, but also enhance cognitive performance and adaptive functioning in daily life.
Background: Background: Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties in models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: To synthesize quantitative evidence from four selected studies on CBD in neurodegenerative disorders. Methods: A narrative review was conducted including: one experimental study in AD (Cells 2023), one preclinical study in PD (IJMS 2021), a systematic review on MS, and a 2024 IJMS review on Cannabis compounds in neurological disorders. Results: In an AD mouse model (A1–42), CBD treatment for 12 days improved spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze, reduced neuroinflammation by lowering TNF- and MCP-1, and modulated inflammation-related genes (Plcg2, Ctsc, Slamf8, Prdx2, Grn). In a PD model induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), CBD preserved nigrostriatal neurons, reduced apomorphine-induced rotations by 54% and limb-use asymmetry by 34%, with mechanisms involving astrocytic TRPV1 activation and increased CNTF. In MS, evidence suggests immunomodulatory effects of CBD, and nabiximols (1:1 THC: CBD) reduced spasticity in clinical trials. Conclusion: Preclinical data support neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of CBD in AD and PD, while in MS, clinical benefits are suggested in combination therapies. Controlled clinical trials with isolated CBD are needed to establish efficacy, optimal dosing, and long-term safety.
