We are in this together

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<p>Pembrolizumab is a monoclonal antibody programmed cell death 1 inhibitor that is an established treatment for melanoma and various lung cancers. Whilst an effective treatment option, it is known to have multiple immune related adverse events associated with its use, including neurological complications such as myasthenia gravis. Previous case reports on the treatment of Pembrolizumab induced myasthenia gravis have detailed the difficulty in managing the condition. There is increasing evidence that Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody directed at CD20 antigen B cells may be an effective treatment option for this condition. This case report outlines the successful treatment of a patient with Pembrolizumab induced myasthenia gravis who was managed with Rituximab.</p>
</abstract>

Rituximab in the treatment of Pembrolizumab induced Myasthenia Gravis

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<p>This article outlines a research protocol for investigating the health care experiences of people living with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (Dytrophia Myotonica; DM1).</p>
<sec id="j_ajon-2022-003_s_001">
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>DM1 is a neuromuscular condition of highly variable presentation across the lifespan. It is a complex and variable condition which impacts many body systems. Care consensus, clinical experience and scientific genetic findings dominate much of the literature. Findings from the literature indicate health care input from multiple disciplines is recommended to help identify and prevent or minimise disability and early mortality. It is these recommendations for intense health care input and the perceptions people living with DM1 have of their health care that have prompted this enquiry.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_ajon-2022-003_s_002">
<h3>Objectives</h3>
<p>Investigate the experiences of health care from 3 different groups: people living with DM1, their family members, carers or support people, and health care providers. Potentially illuminating what we as nurses and health care providers do well or not so well.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_ajon-2022-003_s_003">
<h3>Intended methods</h3>
<p>Guided by Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of perception and triangulate these gathered experiences to ascertain if there is convergence or divergence between health care experiences of recipients and providers. This research will utilise a qualitative approach with methodology drawn from phenomenology. Semi-structured Interviews will be conducted with 3 different groups to gain insight into perceptions, experiences, and outcomes of health care interactions. People living with DM1, family members, carers and friends and health professionals providing services and care for people living with DM1 will be invited to participate.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Myotonic dystrophy Type 1: exploring the health care experiences of people living with DM1. A Research Protocol

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<sec id="j_ajon-2022-004_s_001">
<h3>Background</h3>
<p>The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the delivery of healthcare around the world. We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital presentations, reperfusion treatment and outcomes in a comprehensive stroke centre.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_ajon-2022-004_s_002">
<h3>Methods</h3>
<p>In this observational study seven months of retrospective data from February 2020 (at the beginning of the pandemic) were compared to data collected for the same time frame in 2019.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_ajon-2022-004_s_003">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>There was a transient reduction in stroke presentation only at the beginning of the wave of COVID-19 community transmissions in Sydney. There were significantly more haemorrhagic strokes in the COVID-19 period (n = 66, 15.4 % vs n = 95, 21.5 %, <italic>P</italic> = 0.02) and baseline stroke severity was higher (NIHSS median 3 vs 4, <italic>P</italic> = 0.049). Similar proportions of ischaemic stroke patients received reperfusion therapy in the two time periods (IV thrombolysis [n = 51, 17.3% vs n = 52, 17.9%, <italic>P</italic> = 0.838]; and ECR [n = 38, 12.9% vs n = 46, 15.9%, <italic>P</italic> = 0.30]). The time from presentation to stroke bed admission was significantly shorter during the COVID-19 period (median 295 vs 260 minutes, <italic>P</italic> = 0.031). Three-month follow-up Modified Rankin Score was 2 (median) in both periods (P = 0.92).</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_ajon-2022-004_s_004">
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>There was no change in stroke presentations overall during the 2020 COVID 19 pandemic time period with the exception of the first phase of the pandemic. Baseline stroke severity scores were higher. There was no a difference in the degree of disability at three-month follow-up.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Impact of the corona virus (Covid 19)pandemic on stroke code activities and outcome. A retrospective observational study

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<p>Collectively, Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) including Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) account for the second leading type of dementia following Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_ajon-2022-005_ref_16">Lee et al., 2019</xref>). Despite revised consensus criteria, detection rates in routine clinical practice remain poor (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_ajon-2022-005_ref_35">Vann Jones &amp; O’Brien, 2013</xref>) with cases commonly misdiagnosed as AD (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_ajon-2022-005_ref_22">McKeith et al., 2017</xref>).</p>
<p>Diagnosis can be challenging due to the presentation of an extensive range of autonomic, motor, sleep, cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms which can vary within a person and between individuals (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_ajon-2022-005_ref_30">Taylor et al., 2020</xref>). Given the disparity in management and prognosis of LBD compared to other dementias (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_ajon-2022-005_ref_9">Fujishiro et al., 2013</xref>), the timing and accuracy of diagnosis is of great consequence.</p>
</abstract>

Lewy body Dementia: What are the challenges of early and accurate diagnosis?

Huntington’s Disease: A Nursing Perspective

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 34 (2024): Issue 1 (May 2024)

Volume 33 (2023): Issue 2 (October 2023)

Volume 33 (2023): Issue 1 (May 2023)

Volume 32 (2022): Issue 2 (October 2022)

Volume 32 (2022): Issue 1 (May 2022)

Volume 31 (2021): Issue 2 (October 2021)

Volume 31 (2021): Issue 1 (May 2021)

Volume 30 (2020): Issue 2 (October 2020)

Volume 30 (2020): Issue 1 (May 2020)

Volume 29 (2019): Issue 2 (May 2019)

Volume 29 (2019): Issue 1 (May 2019)

Volume 28 (2018): Issue 2 (November 2018)

Volume 28 (2018): Issue 1 (June 2018)

Volume 27 (2017): Issue 2 (November 2017)

Volume 27 (2017): Issue 1 (November 2017)

Volume 26 (2016): Issue 2 (May 2016)

Volume 26 (2016): Issue 1 (May 2016)

Volume 25 (2015): Issue 2 (October 2015)

Volume 25 (2015): Issue 1 (May 2015)

Australasian Journal of Neuroscience

Australasian Journal of Neuroscience (AJoN) Journal Scope and Aims  Published bi-annually (May and October), the Australasian Journal of Neuroscience (AJoN), the official journal of the Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association (ANNA), has published original peer reviewed articles since 1988 making it one of the longest standing neuroscience nursing journals.  The AJoN is an international peer reviewed open access journal that aims to promote the development and exchange of knowledge that reflects the broad and emerging interests of neuroscience nursing and the neuroscience nursing profession. The AJoN is at the forefront of disseminating and communicating knowledge and through the promotion of clinically related scholarship, the AJoN supports and advances the practice and discipline of neuroscience nursing.  The mission of the AJoN is to further the neuroscience nursing profession through representation and the provision of works that best represent neuroscience nursing expertise and experience. Through this provision evidence is translated into neuroscience nursing practice to improve health outcomes for individuals, families, and populations.  Fields of nursing represented in the AJoN include, but are not limited to, neurology, movement disorders, neurosurgical, neuro-intensive, neuro-rehabilitative, neuropsychiatry, neuro-gerontology, neuro-paediatric, neuro-emergency and neuro-trauma. Contributions are also welcome from other healthcare fields on issues and developments that have a direct impact on neuroscience nursing practice.  The AJoN welcomes manuscripts from both new and experienced authors wishing to contribute neuroscience knowledge to nursing practice and research. Both National and International submissions are welcome, with the AJoN supporting the exchange of ideas and experience that represents different practices and cultures.  Submitted original articles should make a novel contribution to neuroscience nursing with examples including advances in neurosurgical and neurological nursing, patient care, complex care interventions, research, policy, professional issues, and theory. Submissions must be of a high quality and the journal accepts various article types including (but not limited to) review articles, systematic reports, case series, case studies, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research articles, practice updates, guest editorials, clinical trials, quality improvement articles, letters to the editor, commentaries, and the development of new guidelines that provide a unique insight into the field of neuroscience nursing. The journal’s purpose is to advance the field of neuroscience nursing by presenting published works with an emphasis on knowledge that will influence the way neuroscience nursing is practiced, taught, researched, and administrated. This information is applicable to nurses working in clinical, administrative, educational,  leadership and research settings. Each issues contains a variety of papers, commentaries and published works resulting from the National ANNA conference. The target audience of the AJoN includes nurses, student nurses, nurse practitioners, managers, executives, administrators, educators, and higher research degree students as well as allied health professionals.  Topics relevant to the AJoN include the development of clinical research and knowledge, evidenced based practice, leadership, and scientific enquiry. Works that explore the patient and family experience, illness, and recovery within the neuroscience field. Organisational factors including governance, patient safety, role development and models of service delivery. As well as cultural comparisons and evaluations of neuroscience nursing practice across different healthcare sectors, social and geographical settings.  The AJoN offers authors the benefits of a highly respected journal in the field of neuroscience nursing, indexed in a wide range of databases including (EBSCO, Elsevier, MIAR, MtScienceWork, ReadCube, SCILIT and Semantic Scholar). The journal has a truly global readership, rapid manuscript screening and efficient editorial processes. The journal also offers a highly visual format, with full colour figures, images, and tables.  The AJoN Editor is advised and supported by a Board of Reviewers that represent all facets of neuroscience nursing. Submitted papers are reviewed by Reviewers who meet a high standard of academic and clinical expertise. The AJoN will ensure that practice and policy development is evidenced based, research is informed at an advanced level and that readers are challenged to engage in critical debate and critically reflect on the interface between practice, policy, and research. The AJoN team believes that every neuroscience nurse should have the opportunity to grow and develop their practice and career through quality education and professional development. The AJoN is essential reading for anyone with an interest in neuroscience nursing.   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 