Document Download: World Neurology - January/February 2018

Published by Ascend Integrated Media LLC, Kansas, USA

From the editors

Steven L. Lewis, MD, Editor, and Walter Struhal, MD, Co-Editor

We welcome neurologists from around the globe to the first issue of World Neurology for 2018. The issue begins with the inaugural President's Column by William Carroll, MD, the newly elected president of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). Dr. Carroll provides a wonderful tribute to his immediate predecessor, Dr. Raad Shakir, while also providing all of us with a glimpse of his carefully thought-out leadership plans for the WFN.

Dr. Gagandeep Singh updates us on the findings and further plans of a working group funded by a joint grant from the WFN and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) to address the issue of the impact of epilepsy on arranged marriages in South Asia. Dr. Njideka U. Okubadejo informs us about how the American Academy of Neurology's (AAN's) Continuum journal is used in the education of resident neurologists in Lagos, Nigeria, through the joint AAN-WFN Continuum program.

The WFN Department Visits continue to provide important opportunities for young neurologists with the opportunity for short-term observerships in established neurological centers, as evidenced by this issue's reports from department visits in Graz, Austria; Vienna, Austria; and Cologne, Germany. Reports from other recent and equally successful department visits will follow in the next issues.

In his history column for this issue, Dr. Peter Koehler discusses the planning and proceedings of the first international Congress of Neurology that took place in 1931 in Berne, Switzerland. This is especially timely as a historical counterpoint to the recent, hugely attended, and remarkably successful World Congress of Neurology held in Kyoto a few months ago. Drs. A. Buguet, Peter Spencer, and Jacques Reis report on the Second International Meeting on Environmental Health recently held in Strasbourg, France.

This issue also includes a WFN call for nominations, as well as the announcement of Dr. Jean-Marc Léger as the new Co-Opted Trustee of the WFN. Finally, Dr. Shakir provides his heartfelt reminiscences in his obituary of Prof. Richard Godwin Austen.

We look forward to more outstanding contributions from neurologists worldwide, to be read by neurologists worldwide, in upcoming 2018 issues of World Neurology.

Highlights

President's Column

• Looking Back and Forward
  

  By William Carroll, MD

  It is with much pleasure that I write this, my first "President's Column." It affords an opportunity to speak directly with neurologists worldwide and to update them of the changes in the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) that naturally follow a change in leadership and to acknowledge the contributions of many. To Raad Shakir, who has stepped down at the completion of his four-year term as president, the re-election of Riadh Gouider as trustee for another three years, and to those who unsuccessfully contested elections held during the WCN Kyoto, I offer my congratulations for their effort and gratitude for their demonstration of commitment to the work of the WFN. This time also marks

From the WFN

• Jean-Marc Léger Announced as WFN Co-Opted Trustee

  The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) is pleased to announce that Jean-Marc Léger, MD, has accepted the position of Co-Opted Trustee of the WFN for 2018.

• WFN Elections 2018

  On behalf of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), the Nominating Committee invites nominations for the positions of Elected Trustee for a three-year period, and for Secretary General for a four-year period.

• Junior Traveling Fellowships 2018

  This year, the WFN is offering Junior Traveling Fellowships for young neurologists from countries classified by the World Bank as Low or Lower Middle Income, to attend approved international meetings. There will be 30 awards; applicants should be neurologists in training or early in their careers, have an MD or equivalent medical degree, hold a post not above that of associate professor, and be no older than 45 years of age.

• Department Visit Report: Vienna, Austria
  

  By Ahmed Elkady

  It was an exciting moment when I learned about the acceptance of my application for the Austria department visit program this year. I am grateful to Tanja Weinhart for helping me get my visa; thank you also to her perfect organization for the whole visit.

• Department Visit Report: Graz, Austria
  

  By Mohammed H. Rabie, MBBCH, MSC, Neuropsychiatry

  It's with great pleasure to report on the Medical University of Graz observership program activities of the neurology department from Oct. 5-27, 2017.

• Department Visit Report: Cologne, Germany
  

  By Aminou Tassiou and Nana Rahamatou from the Ignace Deen Teaching Hospital

  Being one of the two candidates selected for the departmental visit in Germany this year, I had the opportunity to spend four weeks in the neurology department of Cologne Teaching Hospital.

Research Progress Report

• The Impact of Epilepsy on Arranged Marriages
  

  By Gagandeep Singh, MD, DM

  Epilepsy affects an estimated 12 million people in South Asia. More than half of this population is comprised of young people. Besides the sizable quantum of disability adjusted life years (DALYs) there is a hidden burden associated with epilepsy as these young people are often unable to complete their education, get appropriate jobs, and marry.

History of Neurology

• The First International Congress of Neurology Berne, Switzerland, 1931
  

  By Peter J. Koehler

  Specialization in medicine started during the second half of the 19th century. Several causes have been presented, including an increase in occupational diversity in Western society, the change from humoral to solid medicine, the appearance of theories on localized lesions versus diffuse causes (reflected for instance by monographs on diseases of one organ), the foundation of asylums and hospitals for particular diseases, and (later on) the fact that certain areas of medicine became too large to be dealt with by one type of physician.

The Lagos Experience

• Use of Continuum® in the residency training curriculum in Nigeria
  

  By Prof. Njideka U. Okubadejo

  Neurology training at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Nigeria is conducted using the guidelines of and under accreditation of the West African College of Physicians and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

Meetings

• Second International Meeting on Environmental Health
  

  By A. Buguet, P. Spencer, and J. Reis for the Environmental Neurology Research Group

  The Second International Meeting on Environmental Health Strasbourg (RISE 2017) was held Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2017, at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. The conference welcomed WFN President Prof. Raad Shakir and WFN General Secretary Prof. Wolfgang Grisold. As in 2016, the 2017 conference tackled the unresolved mechanisms and effects of air pollution and other environmental exposures on the brain and nervous system.

In Memoriam

• Richard Godwin-Austen
  

  By Prof Raad Shakir

  Richard Bertram Godwin-Austen came from an illustrious English family. His ancestry can be traced to the reign of Richard II in the 14th century. His 19th century ancestors included two Fellows of the Royal Society, Robert Alfred Cloyne and Henry Haversham. The latter extensively surveyed the Karakoram region of the Himalayas establishing the height of K2 (for a while known as “Mt. Godwin-Austen”).