The S-ANT is an easily obtainable measure useful for the assessment of HE. (Hepatology 2017;66:198-208).

No abstract

The influence of liver transplantation (LT) on mental performance is debated, as is the role of pretransplant overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE). The aim of this study was to evaluate the time course of the neuropsychological and electroencephalogram (EEG) features of patients with cirrhosis before and after LT with respect to prior OHE. The study population included 65 patients with cirrhosis on the transplant waiting list; 23 had a history of OHE. Each patient underwent an extensive psychometric assessment (10 tests, including paper and pencil tests and a computerized test) and an EEG before and 9 to 12 months after LT. For a subgroup of 11 patients, the assessment was also performed 3 and 6 months after LT. EEGs were analyzed spectrally, and the mean dominant frequencies were obtained. Both psychometric tests and EEGs improved 9 to 12 months after LT. Patients with a history of OHE before LT had worse cognitive performances (P < 0.001) and EEG performances in comparison with their counterparts with a negative history. They also showed greater cognitive improvement after LT (P < 0.01); however, their global cognitive performance remained slightly impaired (P < 0.01). After LT, EEGs normalized for 98% of the patients (P < 0.01), regardless of any history of OHE. In the subgroup of patients evaluated every 3 months, psychometric and EEG findings showed deterioration at 3 months and subsequently steady improvements from 6 months onward. In conclusion, both neuropsychological and EEG performances had significantly improved 1 year after LT. Patients with a history of OHE showed greater improvements after LT than patients with a negative history, but their global cognitive function remained slightly worse; in contrast, EEGs normalized in both groups. Liver Transpl 20:977-986, 2014. V C 2014 AASLD.

No abstract

Previous reports documented abnormalities in cognitive functions and decision-making (DM) in patients with chronic pain, but these changes are not consistent across studies. Reasons for these discordant findings might include the presence of confounders, variability in chronic pain conditions, and the use of different cognitive tests. The present study was aimed to add evidence in this field, by exploring the cognitive profile of a specific type of chronic pain, i.e., chronic low back pain (cLBP). Twenty four cLBP patients and 24 healthy controls underwent a neuropsychological battery and we focused on emotional DM abilities by means of Iowa gambling task (IGT). During IGT, behavioral responses and the electroencephalogram (EEG) were recorded in 12 patients and 12 controls. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were averaged offline from EEG epochs locked to the feedback presentation (4000 ms duration, from 2000 ms before to 2000 ms after the feedback onset) separately for wins and losses and the feedback-related negativity (FRN) and P300 peak-to-peak amplitudes were calculated. Among cognitive measures, cLBP patients scored lower than controls in the modified card sorting test (MCST) and the score in this test was significantly influenced by pain duration and intensity. Behavioral IGT results documented worse performance and the absence of a learning process during the test in cLBP patients compared to controls, with no effect of pain characteristics. ERPs findings documented abnormal feedback processing in patients during IGT. cLBP patients showed poor performance in the MCST and the IGT. Abnormal feedback processing may be secondary to impingement of chronic pain in brain areas involved in DM or suggest the presence of a predisposing factor related to pain chronification. These abnormalities might contribute to the impairment in the work and family settings that often cLBP patients report.