Prediction of Outcome in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Based on Initial Severity and Improvement in the First 24 h

The pEGASUS-HPC stent system for intracranial arterial stenosis: a single-center case series

BACKGROUND

Intracranial arterial stenting is a technique for the treatment of symptomatic stenosis. In this single-center retrospective case series we evaluated a novel low profile laser-cut stent with an antithrombogenic hydrophilic polymer coating (pEGASUS-HPC, Phenox GmbH, Bochum, Germany) for the treatment of intracranial stenosis in the setting of acute ischemic stroke and elective cases.

METHODS

All patients treated with pEGASUS-HPC for one or more intracranial arterial stenoses at our institution were retrospectively included. Clinical, imaging and procedural parameters as well as clinical and imaging follow-up data were collected.

RESULTS

We performed 43 interventions in 41 patients with 42 stenoses in our neurovascular center between August 2021 and February 2024. Twenty-one patients (51.2%) were female and the mean±SD age was 71±10.8 years. Thirty-seven (86.1%) procedures were performed in the setting of endovascular acute ischemic stroke treatment. Technical or procedural complications occurred in seven patients (16.3%), six in the thrombectomy group and one in the elective group. One stent-related hemorrhagic complication (subarachnoid hemorrhage) occurred in emergency cases and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in one patient treated in an elective setting. Overall stenosis reduction following pEGASUS-HPC stent implantation was 53.0±18.0%. On follow-up imaging, which was available for 16 patients (37.2%) after an average of 32±58.6 days, 62.5% of the stents were patent.

CONCLUSION

Our single-center case series demonstrates the feasibility of using the pEGASUS-HPC stent system, especially in emergency situations when thrombectomy fails.

Three-year incidence and acute setting predictors of epilepsy after neonatal and childhood arterial ischaemic stroke: a disease-based cohort study

To assess the association between clinical and MRI characteristics of arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS) and the 3-year risk of post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) in paediatric patients. Retrospective cohort study. Database from a single tertiary referral centre for paediatric stroke in Chile. Two hundred seven neonates and children (1 day to 18 years) with a first-ever supratentorial AIS diagnosed between January 2003 and December 2019 were evaluated. Diagnosis of PSE and explanatory variables were consecutively recorded from hospital inpatient and annual outpatient records in a predesigned database. Competing risk analysis (competing events: death and loss to follow-up) of multiple Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to estimate adjusted subhazard ratios (SHRs) of PSE. Confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using bootstrap resampling (1000 replications). Interaction terms were added to investigate moderating effects. The 3-year incidence rate of PSE was 166.5 per 1000 person-years (neonatal: 150.1; childhood: 173.9). The 3-year cumulative incidence was 33%. Patients with acute symptomatic non-status seizures (SHR = 3.13; 95% CI = 1.43-6.82), status epilepticus (SHR = 5.16; 95% CI = 1.90-13.96), abnormal discharge neurological status (SHR = 2.52; 95% CI = 1.12-5.63), cortical lesions (SHR = 2.93; 95% CI = 1.48-5.81), and multifocal infarcts with stroke size < 5% of supratentorial brain volume (SHR = 3.49; 95% CI = 1.44-8.46) had a higher risk of PSE.

CONCLUSION

This study identified specific and reliable acute clinical and imaging predictors of PSE in paediatric patients, helping clinicians identify high-risk patients with potential implications for treatment decisions.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Numerous risk factors have been proposed for post-stroke epilepsy, but there is a lack of studies evaluating these variables while accounting for confounding factors and competing risks over time.

WHAT IS NEW

• After adjustment for competing events, acute symptomatic seizures, both non-status and status epilepticus, abnormal mental status or motor neurological examination at hospital discharge, cortical involvement, and multifocal ischaemic lesions in small strokes are all independent predictors of post-stroke epilepsy. • Knowing the predictors of post-stroke epilepsy is essential for clinicians to make well-informed and effective decisions about treatment.

Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke After Cardiac Interventions in the United States

Importance

Ischemic stroke is a serious complication of cardiac intervention, including surgery and percutaneous procedures. Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is an effective treatment for ischemic stroke and may be particularly important for cardiac intervention patients who often cannot receive intravenous thrombolysis.

Objective

To examine trends in EVT for ischemic stroke during hospitalization of patients with cardiac interventions vs those without in the United States.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study involved a retrospective analysis using data for 4888 US hospitals from the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample database. Participants included adults (age ≥18 years) with ischemic stroke (per codes from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification), who were organized into study groups of hospitalized patients with cardiac interventions vs without. Individuals were excluded from the study if they had either procedure prior to admission, EVT prior to cardiac intervention, EVT more than 3 days after admission or cardiac intervention, or endocarditis. Data were analyzed from April 2023 to October 2023.

Exposures

Cardiac intervention during admission.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The odds of undergoing EVT by cardiac intervention status were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. Adjustments were made for stroke severity in the subgroup of patients who had a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score documented. As a secondary outcome, the odds of discharge home by EVT status after cardiac intervention were modeled.

Results

Among 634 407 hospitalizations, the mean (SD) age of the patients was 69.8 (14.1) years, 318 363 patients (50.2%) were male, and 316 044 (49.8%) were female. A total of 12 093 had a cardiac intervention. An NIHSS score was reported in 218 576 admissions, 216 035 (34.7%) without cardiac intervention and 2541 (21.0%) with cardiac intervention (P < .001). EVT was performed in 23 660 patients (3.8%) without cardiac intervention vs 194 (1.6%) of those with cardiac intervention (P < .001). After adjustment for potential confounders, EVT was less likely to be performed in stroke patients with cardiac intervention vs those without (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.27; 95% CI, 0.23-0.31), which remained consistent after adjusting for NIHSS score (aOR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.22-0.35). Among individuals with a cardiac intervention, receiving EVT was associated with a 2-fold higher chance of discharge home (aOR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.14-4.29).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, patients hospitalized with ischemic stroke and cardiac intervention may be less than half as likely to receive EVT as those without cardiac intervention. Given the known benefit of EVT, there is a need to better understand the reasons for lower rates of EVT in this patient population.

Longitudinal associations between stroke-related neurologic deficits and course of basic activities of daily living up to six months after stroke

PURPOSE

To investigate the course of basic activities of daily living (ADL) from admission up to six months after the stroke and the longitudinal associations between stroke-related neurological deficits at admission to the stroke unit and course of basic ADL.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

180 individuals with a first-ever stroke were assessed at admission to the stroke unit and at follow-ups of three and six months. Stroke-related neurological deficits were assessed at admission with the National Institutes of Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Independence in basic ADL was assessed at admission and three and six months after the stroke by the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were performed.

RESULTS

Dependence in basic ADL reduced overtime, with most changes occurring over the first three months. Individuals, who had moderate/severe stroke-related neurological deficits (NIHSS ≥6) at admission, had higher chances of becoming more dependent in activities related to feeding (OR:1.27;95%CI = 1.03-1.55;p = 0.021), bathing (OR:1.30;95%CI = 1.11-1.50;p = 0.0005), dressing (OR:1.19;95%CI = 1.04-1.36;p = 0.010), transfers (OR:1.24;95%CI = 1.05-1.46;p = 0.0072), stair climbing (OR:1.46;95%CI = 1.27-1.66;p < 0.0001), and ambulation (OR:1.21;95%CI = 1.02-1.43;p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Decreases in dependence in basic ADL occurred mainly over three months after the stroke and showed different patterns for specific ADL. Baseline moderate/severe stroke-related neurological deficits were associated with poor functional status in basic ADL over the follow-up period.

Substance use disorder in young adults with stroke: clinical characteristics and outcome

OBJECTIVE

Stroke incidence among young adults has risen in the last decade. This research attempts to determine the effect of substance use disorder (SUD) on the clinical characteristics of stroke, mortality, outcome after IV thrombolysis, and functional dependency after 1 month among young adults.

METHODS

Through a retrospective study, data were extracted from the electronic medical records of stroke in young adults admitted to intensive care units in Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital (February 2018-January 2021). The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the Modified Rankin Scale were documented at the onset and after 1 month.

RESULTS

The study included 225 young adults with stroke (median age of 40, IQR: 34-44). Only 93 young adults (41%) met the criteria of SUD. Anabolic steroid use disorder was significantly associated with cerebral venous thrombosis (P-value = 0.02), while heroin use disorder was significantly associated with a hemorrhagic stroke (P-value = 0.01). Patients with tramadol, cannabis, and cocaine use disorders had significantly more frequent strokes in the posterior than the anterior circulation. Patients with heroin use disorders had significantly higher mortality than those without heroin use disorders (P-value = 0.01). The risk of poor outcomes was doubled by alcohol or heroin use disorder, while it was tripled by cocaine use disorder (P-value = 0.01 for each).

CONCLUSION

Forty-one percent of young adults diagnosed with a stroke had SUD, with a relatively higher posterior circulation involvement. Increased mortality was associated with heroin use disorder more than other substances. Poor stroke outcome was associated with alcohol, heroin, and cocaine use disorders.

Predicting self-perceived manual ability at three and six months after stroke: A prospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Recovery of manual ability is a critical issue in rehabilitation. Currently, little is known regarding the baseline predictors of self-perceived manual ability, which could capture information on individual's perceived functional ability, especially in carrying-out routine tasks outside clinical settings.

OBJECTIVE

To identify baseline predictors, which can be easily obtained within clinical settings, of self-perceived manual ability at three and six months after discharge from a stroke unit.

METHODS

A 6-month longitudinal study was carried-out. Participants were recruited from a stroke unit of a public hospital. The dependent outcome was self-perceived manual ability, and the following predictors were investigated: age, stroke severity, upper-limb motor impairments, cognitive function, muscle strength, and functional capacity. Linear regression analyses were employed to identify multivariate predictors of manual ability at three and six months after discharge (α=5%).

RESULTS

Participated 131 individuals, 69 women (mean age of 60 years). Regression analyses revealed that stroke severity and age accounted for 31% and 47% of the variance in manual ability at three and six months after stroke, respectively. Stroke severity was the best predictor of manual ability at three (R2=29%; F=44.7; p<0.0001) and six months (R2=45%; F=88.2; p<0.0001) after stroke, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Stroke severity showed to be the best predictor of manual ability at both three and six months after stroke. Although significant, age added little to the explained variance.

[Dynamic functional assessment of internal carotid artery tortuosity in patients with multifocal atherosclerosis]

A personalized approach with attention to anamnesis and specific symptoms is necessary in patients with internal carotid artery tortuosity. Neuroimaging (especially before elective surgery) or functional stress tests following ultrasound of supra-aortic vessels may be necessary depending on medical history and complaints. In addition to standard Doppler ultrasound, these patients should undergo rotational and orthostatic transformation tests. We analyze changes in shape and hemodynamic parameters within the tortuosity area in various body positions. This is especially valuable for patients with concomitant carotid artery stenosis. The article presents a clinical case illustrating the importance of such approach.

[Functional assessment of internal carotid artery tortuosity in patients with multifocal atherosclerosis]

The review is devoted to diagnosis and treatment of internal carotid artery tortuosity. The authors consider modern classification, epidemiology and diagnostic options using neuroimaging or ultrasound-assisted functional stress tests depending on medical history and complaints. In addition to standard Doppler ultrasound, rotational and orthostatic tests are advisable due to possible changes of local shape and hemodynamic parameters following body position changes, especially in patients with concomitant atherosclerotic stenosis. Thus, a personalized approach is especially important for treatment and diagnostics of internal carotid artery tortuosity.

STRAUMA: A Novel Alert System for a Combined Stroke and Trauma

INTRODUCTION

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) can lead to traumatic injury. While timely administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can be lifesaving in CVAs, it is contraindicated with active bleeding. A STRAUMA is a combined stroke and highest-level trauma activation for patients with suspected CVA and signs of trauma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of the STRAUMA activation on time to CT and patient outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted on adult patients presenting to a Level 1 trauma and comprehensive stroke center with signs of CVA between 01/2019 and 09/2020. Patients who had a STRAUMA activation were compared to patients who had a stroke alert.

RESULTS

Five hundred and eighty patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 111 had STRAUMA activations and 469 had stroke alerts. There were no differences in age, gender, or anticoagulation use. The STRAUMA group had a higher NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) (11 vs 5, P<.0001). The STRAUMA group had a longer time to CT (23.1 min vs 16.9 min, P<.0001) and a lower rate of tPA (13.5% vs 27.9%, P = .001). Time to tPA and thrombectomy were similar. The STRAUMA group had a 15% rate of traumatic injury with a median injury severity score of 9. Mortality was higher in the STRAUMA group (14.4% vs 6.0%, P = .003). Multivariable logistic regression identified NIHSS and time to CT as predictors of mortality. STRAUMA did not predict mortality.

CONCLUSION

The novel STRAUMA activation allows for an evaluation of both stroke and trauma to facilitate safe and timely administration of lifesaving interventions.

The Charlotte Large artery occlusion Endovascular therapy Outcome Score predicts independent outcome after thrombectomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Predicting functional outcomes after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is of interest to patients and families as they navigate hospital and post-acute care decision-making. We evaluated the prognostic ability of several scales to predict good neurological function after EVT.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed records from a health system's code stroke registry, including consecutive successful thrombectomy patients from August 2020 to February 2023 presenting with an anterior circulation large vessel occlusion who were evaluated with pre-EVT CT perfusion. Primary and secondary outcomes were 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores 0-2 and 0-1, respectively. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the ability of each scale to predict the outcomes. Scales were compared by calculating the area under the curve (AUC).

RESULTS

A total of 465 patients (mean age 68.1 [±14.9] years, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] 16 [11-21]) met inclusion criteria. In the logistic regression, the Charlotte Large artery occlusion Endovascular therapy Outcome Score (CLEOS), Totaled Health Risks in Vascular Events, Houston Intra-Arterial Therapy-2, Pittsburgh Response to Endovascular therapy, and Stroke Prognostication using Age and NIHSS were significant in predicting the primary and secondary outcomes. CLEOS was superior to all other scales in predicting 90-day mRS 0-2 (AUC .75, 95% confidence interval [CI] .70-.80) and mRS 0-1 (AUC .74, 95% CI .69-.78). Twenty of 22 patients (90.9%) with CLEOS <315 had 90-day mRS 0-2.

CONCLUSIONS

CLEOS predicts independent and excellent neurological function after anterior circulation EVT.

The relationship between neurological function trajectory, assessed by repeated NIHSS measurement, and long-term cardiovascular events, recurrent stroke, and mortality after ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Clinically significant changes in neurological deficits frequently occur after stroke onset, reflecting further neurological injury or neurological improvement. However, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score is only evaluated once in most studies, usually at stroke onset. Utilizing repeated measures of NIHSS scores to identify different trajectories of neurological function may be more informative and provide more useful predictive information. We determined the association of neurological function trajectories with long-term clinical outcomes after ischemic stroke.

METHODS

A total of 4025 participants with ischemic stroke from the China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke were included. Patients were recruited from 26 hospitals across China between August 2009 and May 2013. A group-based trajectory model was used to identify distinct neurological function trajectories, as measured by NIHSS at admission, 14 days or hospital discharge, and 3 months. Study outcomes were cardiovascular events, recurrent stroke, and all-cause mortality during 3-24 months after ischemic stroke onset. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the associations of neurological function trajectories with outcomes.

RESULTS

We identified three distinct subgroups of NIHSS trajectories: persistent severe (persistent high NIHSS scores during the 3-month follow-up), moderate (NIHSS scores started at around 5 and gradually reduced), and mild (NIHSS scores always below 2). The three trajectory groups had different clinical profiles and different risk of stroke outcomes at 24-month follow-up. Compared to the mild trajectory group, patients in the persistent severe trajectory group had a higher risk of cardiovascular events (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) = 1.77 (1.10-2.86)), recurrent stroke (1.82 (1.10-3.00)), and all-cause mortality (5.64 (3.37-9.43)). Those with moderate trajectory had an intermediate risk: 1.45 (1.03-2.04) for cardiovascular events and 1.52 (1.06-2.19) for recurrent stroke.

CONCLUSION

Longitudinal neurological function trajectories derived from repeated NIHSS measurements during the first 3 months after stroke provide additional predictive information and are associated with long-term clinical outcomes. The trajectories characterized by persistent severe and moderate neurological impairment were associated with increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular events.

Cerebroprotective Effect of 17β-Estradiol Replacement Therapy in Ovariectomy-Induced Post-Menopausal Rats Subjected to Ischemic Stroke: Role of MAPK/ERK1/2 Pathway and PI3K-Independent Akt Activation

Despite the overwhelming advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of stroke, a devastating disease affecting millions of people worldwide, currently there are only a limited number of effective treatments available. Preclinical and clinical studies show that stroke is a sexually dimorphic disorder, affecting males and females differently. Strong experimental evidence indicates that estrogen may play a role in this difference and that exogenous 17β-estradiol (E2) is neuroprotective against stroke in both male and female rodents. However, the molecular mechanisms by which E2 intervenes in ischemia-induced cell death, revealing these sex differences, remain unclear. The present study was aimed to determine, in female rats, the molecular mechanisms of two well-known pro-survival signaling pathways, MAPK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt, that mediate E2 neuroprotection in response to acute ischemic stroke. E2 pretreatment reduced brain damage and attenuated apoptotic cell death in ovariectomized female rats after an ischemic insult. Moreover, E2 decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and prevented ischemia/reperfusion-induced dephosphorylation of both Akt and the pro-apoptotic protein, BAD. However, MAPK/ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, but not the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, attenuated E2 neuroprotection. Thus, these results suggested that E2 pretreatment in ovariectomized female rats modulates MAPK/ERK1/2 and activates Akt independently of PI3K to promote cerebroprotection in ischemic stroke. A better understanding of the mechanisms and the influence of E2 in the female sex paves the way for the design of future successful hormone replacement therapies.

Nursing Care for Stroke Patients: Current Practice and Future Needs

BACKGROUND

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability worldwide. Stroke nurses play an important role in the care of patients living with stroke by using best practices and adhering to stroke-management guidelines. This study aims at examining the current nursing practice for stroke patients in Saudi Arabia.

METHOD

A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to collect data from nurses working in the stroke unit and intensive care unit between the period of February and June 2022 using electronic self-administered questionnaires.

RESULTS

A convenience sample of 131 nurses who provided care for stroke patients was enrolled. Significant differences in nursing practice were found between the stroke units and the intensive care units regarding the activation of the stroke code, X2 (4, N = 131) = 48.34, p < 0.001; transferring stroke patients to a designated bed, X2 (4, N = 131) = 48.74, p = 0.002; applying the NIHSS, X2 (4, N = 131) = 70.11, p < 0.001; using the modified Rankin scale, X2 (4, N = 131) = 61.24, p < 0.001; providing intervention for neglect syndrome, X2 (4, N = 131) = 44.72, and hemianopsia, X2 (4, N = 131) = 39.22; screening for poststroke depression, X2 (4, N = 131) = 101.59, p < 0.001; assessing for psychosocial needs, X2 (4, N = 131) = 74.44, p < 0.001, and encouraging patients to express their feelings, X2 (4, N = 131) = 58.64, p < 0.001; educating patients and families about stroke prevention, X2 (4, N = 131) = 40.51, p < 0.001.

CONCLUSION

As per the results of the study, there is an urgent need for stroke units run by specialized stroke nurses to provide early stroke management and improve survivors' outcomes. Structured stroke-care programs are needed to improve nursing practice and meet the international standard of stroke care.

Effects of emergency medical services on timely treatment and outcome in stroke patients with intravenous thrombolysis among the severity of neurologic deficits: A retrospective observational study

Whether emergency medical service (EMS) improves the outcome of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is still unknown among the severity of neurologic deficits. This study is to investigate the impact of EMS use on timely treatment and outcomes of AIS with IVT. This is a retrospective observational study. Clinical data after IVT from January 2017 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including onset-to-needle time (ONT), onset-to-door time (ODT). The patients were divided into EMS and non-EMS groups according to the method of admission. A good outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score of ≤2 at 3 months. The severity of neurological deficits was assessed using the national institutes of health stroke scale. A total of 2303 patients were analyzed (906 [(39.3%] female; mean age, 68 ± 13 year), and 1028 (44.6%) patients were transported by EMS and 1418 (67.9%) patients achieved good outcome. Among all patients, compared with non-EMS patients, EMS patients had shorter ONT (148 minutes vs 155 minutes, P = .002) and ODT (95 minutes vs 104 minutes, P < .001), but lower rate of good outcome (61.7% vs 73.0%, P < .001). The multivariate analysis showed that the use of EMS was negatively associated with ONT (ρ = -0.041, P = .048) and ODT (ρ = -0.051, P = .014). Among moderate to severe stroke patients, EMS was related with good outcome independently (OR: 3.101, 95%CI: 1.367-7.038, P = .007). In ischemic stroke, EMS can shorten the pre-hospital delay. Among moderate to severe stroke patients, EMS can further improve the outcome. But the study needs further validation.

Development and validation of a nomogram model for predicting unfavorable functional outcomes in ischemic stroke patients after acute phase

Introduction

Prediction of post-stroke functional outcome is important for personalized rehabilitation treatment, we aimed to develop an effective nomogram for predicting long-term unfavorable functional outcomes in ischemic stroke patients after acute phase.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed clinical data, rehabilitation data, and longitudinal follow-up data from ischemic stroke patients who underwent early rehabilitation at multiple centers in China. An unfavorable functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 3-6 at 90 days after onset. Patients were randomly allocated to either a training or test cohort in a ratio of 4:1. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the predictors for the development of a predictive nomogram. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate predictive ability in both the training and test cohorts.

Results

A total of 856 patients (training cohort: n = 684; test cohort: n = 172) were included in this study. Among them, 518 patients experienced unfavorable outcomes 90 days after ischemic stroke. Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification (p = 0.024), antihypertensive agents use [odds ratio (OR) = 1.86; p = 0.041], 15-day Barthel Index score (OR = 0.930; p < 0.001) and 15-day mRS score (OR = 13.494; p < 0.001) were selected as predictors for the unfavorable outcome nomogram. The nomogram model showed good predictive performance in both the training (AUC = 0.950) and test cohorts (AUC = 0.942).

Conclusion

The constructed nomogram model could be a practical tool for predicting unfavorable functional outcomes in ischemic stroke patients underwent early rehabilitation after acute phase.

Over- and under-supply of inpatient rehabilitation after stroke without a post-acute rehabilitation system: a nationwide retrospective cohort study

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the utilization of post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation prior to the introduction of the post-acute rehabilitation system in South Korea in 2017.

Methods

Medical resources utilized for patients with cerebral infarction hospitalized at Regional Cardio-Cerebrovascular Centers (RCCVCs) of 11 tertiary hospitals were tracked until 2019. Stroke severity was classified according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and multivariate regression analysis was performed to analyze factors influencing the length of hospital stay (LOS).

Results

This study included 3,520 patients. Among 939 patients with stroke with moderate or greater severity, 209 (22.3%) returned home after RCCVC discharge without inpatient rehabilitation. Furthermore, 1,455 (56.4%) out of 2,581 patients with minor strokes with NIHSS scores ≤4 were readmitted to another hospital for rehabilitation. The median LOS of patients who received inpatient rehabilitation after RCCVC discharge was 47 days. During the inpatient rehabilitation period, the patients were admitted to 2.7 hospitals on average. The LOS was longer in the lowest-income group, high-severity group, and women.

Conclusion

Before the introduction of the post-acute rehabilitation system, treatment after stroke was both over- and under-supplied, thus delaying home discharge. These results support the development of a post-acute rehabilitation system that defines the patients, duration, and intensity of rehabilitation.

Mechanical thrombectomy in M1 and M2 segments of middle cerebral arteries: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

BACKGROUND

Recent studies indicate that endovascular therapy is superior to intravenous thrombolysis in treating M1 segment MCA occlusions, however, the effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy in MI vs. M2 segment occlusions is unclear.

METHODS

The meta-analysis was conducted by searching databases from January 2016 to January 2023, without language constraints. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled data analysis of outcomes, pre-existing medical comorbidities, and baseline scores were performed.

RESULTS

Six prospective cohort studies with 6356 patients were included (4405 vs. 1638). Patients with M2 occlusion had a significantly lower mean baseline NIHSS at admission (MD: -2.14; 95 %CI: -3.48 to -0.81; p = 0.002). Conversely, patients with M1 occlusion had a lower ASPECTS at admission score (MD: 0.29; 95 %CI: 0.00-0.59; p = 0.05). No significant difference was found between segments in terms of pre-existing medical comorbidities (OR: 0.96; 95 %CI: 0.87-1.05; p = 0.36), mortality rate at 90 days (OR: 0.88; 95 %CI: 0.76-1.02; p = 0.10), and hemorrhage occurrence within 24-hours (OR: 1.06; 95 %CI: 0.89-1.25; p = 0.53). Patients with M2 occlusion were more likely to have good outcomes after therapy (OR: 1.18; 95 %CI: 1.05-1.32; p = 0.006). Successful recanalization rates were comparatively higher among patients with an M1 occlusion (OR: 0.79; 95 %CI: 0.68-0.92; p = 0.003). Functional outcomes at 90 days are better in M2 occlusion patients, while successful recanalization rates are higher in M1 occlusion patients. No significant differences were found in mortality rates or hemorrhage incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that mechanical thrombectomy is a safe and effective treatment for MCA occlusions in both M1 and M2 segments.

Driving Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Driving enables stroke survivors to freely participate in social integration. The purpose of this review was to summarize the evidence for the therapeutic effects of driving rehabilitation for patients when they return to driving after stroke and evaluate the predictors of returning to driving to identify the factors impacting their driving rehabilitation. This study employed a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed and four other databases were searched until 31 December 2022. Our review included randomized controlled trials (RCT) and non-RCTs that investigated driving rehabilitation for stroke and observational studies. A total of 16 studies (two non-RCT and 14 non-RCT) were reviewed; two RCTs investigated the effect of driving rehabilitation with a simulator system, and eight and six non-RCTS evaluated the predictive factors of driving return post-stroke and compared the effects of driving rehabilitation for stroke, respectively. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and having paid employment were significant predictors of resuming driving after stroke. The results suggest that NIHSS, MMSE, and paid employment are predictors of returning to driving post-stroke. Future research should investigate the effect of driving rehabilitation on the resumption of driving in patients with stroke.

Thrombolysis Outcomes in Acute Ischaemic Stroke Patients with Pre-Existing Cognitive Impairment

BACKGROUND

Thrombolysis treatment for ischaemic stroke in patients with pre-existing disabilities, including cognitive impairment, remains controversial. Previous studies have suggested functional outcomes post-thrombolysis are worse in patients with cognitive impairment. This study aimed to compare and explore factors contributing to thrombolysis outcomes, including haemorrhagic complications, in cognitively and non-cognitively impaired patients with ischaemic stroke.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 428 ischaemic stroke patients who were thrombolysed between January 2016 and February 2021 was performed. Cognitive impairment was defined as a diagnosis of dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or clinical evidence of the condition. The outcome measures included morbidity (using NIHSS and mRS), haemorrhagic complications, and mortality, and were analysed using multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The analysis of the cohort revealed that 62 patients were cognitively impaired. When compared to those without cognitive impairment, this group showed worse functional status at discharge (mRS 4 vs. 3, p < 0.001) and a higher probability of dying within 90 days (OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.85-6.01, p < 0.001). A higher risk of a fatal ICH post-thrombolysis was observed in the cognitively impaired patients, and, after controlling for covariates, cognitive impairment remained a significant predictor of a fatal haemorrhage (OR 4.79, 95% CI 1.24-18.45, p = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitively impaired ischaemic stroke patients experience increased morbidity, mortality, and haemorrhagic complications following thrombolytic therapy. However cognitive status is not independently predictive of most outcome measures. Further work is required to elucidate contributing factors to the poor outcomes observed in these patients and help guide thrombolysis decision-making in clinical practice.

Outcomes of procedural complications in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement

OBJECTIVES

As the application of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) expands, the longitudinal implications of periprocedural complications are increasingly relevant. We examine the influence of TAVR complications on midterm survival.

METHODS

Patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR at our institution between November 2011 and June 2018 were reviewed. Stroke severity was classified according to the National Institutes of Health stroke score. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess survival, and a Cox proportional hazards model was created to examine independent associations with survival. The median follow-up time was 36 months for a total of 2789 patient-years.

RESULTS

Overall, 866 patients were included. The mean age was 80 ± 9.5 years and mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 4.8% ± 2.7%. The mortality rate at 30-days was 2.8% and 11.8% at 1 year. In-hospital left bundle branch block and 30-day permanent pacemaker insertion occurred in 14.8% and 7.9%, respectively. Postprocedural greater-than-mild paravalvular leak was present in 4.4% and stroke occurred in 3.8% at 30-days. Greater-than-mild paravalvular leak was associated with decreased survival at 2 years (P = .02), but not at 5 years. Severe stroke was independently associated with decreased survival at 5 years (hazard ratio, 5.73; 95% confidence interval, 2.29-14.36; P ≤ .001); however, the effect of nonsevere stroke did not reach significance (hazard ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-3.47; P = .152).

CONCLUSIONS

Severe stroke was independently associated with decreased 5-year survival and initial risks associated with paravalvular leak may be attenuated over the midterm following transfemoral TAVR. Strategies to minimize the incidence of stroke and paravalvular leak must be prioritized to improve longitudinal outcomes after TAVR.

Generalised pairwise comparisons for trend: An extension to the win ratio and win odds for dose-response and prognostic variable analysis with arbitrary statements of outcome preference

The win ratio is a novel approach for handling complex patient outcomes that have seen considerable interest in the medical statistics literature, and operates by considering all-to-all pairwise statements of preference on outcomes. Recent extensions to the method have focused on the two-group case, with few developments made for considering the impact of a well-ordered explanatory variable, which would allow for dose-response analysis or the analysis of links between complex patient outcomes and prognostic variables. Where such methods have been developed, they are semiparametric methods that can only be applied to survival outcomes. In this article, we introduce the generalised pairwise comparison for trend, a modified form of Agresti's generalised odds ratio. This approach is capable of considering arbitrary statements of preference, thus enabling its use across all types of outcome data. We provide a simulation study validating the approach and illustrate it with three clinical applications in stroke research.

Strokes and Predictors of Outcomes

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability and fifth leading cause of death. Acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, the 3 subtypes of strokes, have varying treatment modalities. Common themes in management advocate for early interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality but not all perception is supported through randomized controlled trials. Each stroke subtype has varying premorbid-related and ictus-related outcome predictive models that have differing sensitivities and specificities.

Age Stratification and Stroke Severity in the Telestroke Network

BACKGROUND

Age is one of the most important risk factors for stroke, and an estimated 75% of strokes occur in people 65 years old and above. Adults > 75 years of age experience more hospitalizations and higher mortality. In this study, we aimed to investigate how age and various clinical risk factors affect acute ischemic stroke (AIS) severity in two age categories.

METHODS

This retrospective data analysis study was conducted using data collected from the PRISMA Health Stroke Registry between June 2010 and July 2016. Baseline clinical and demographic data were analyzed for 65-74-year-old patients and those ≥ 75 years of age. This study aimed to investigate risk factors associated with stroke severity in these two age categories of AIS patients treated in telestroke settings.

RESULTS

An adjusted multivariate analysis showed that the acute ischemic stroke (AIS) population of 65-74-year-old patients experiencing heart failure (odds ratio (OR) = 4.398, 95% CI = 3.912-494.613, p = 0.002) and elevated high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (OR = 1.066, 95% CI = 1.009-1.126, p = 0.024) trended towards worsening neurological function, while patients experiencing obesity (OR = 0.177, 95% CI = 0.041-0.760, p = 0.020) exhibited improved neurological functions. For the patients ≥ 75 years of age, direct admission (OR = 0.270, 95% CI = 0.085-0.856, p = 0.026) was associated with improved functions.

CONCLUSIONS

Heart failure and elevated HDL levels were significantly associated with worsening neurologic functions in patients aged 65-74. Obese patients and individuals ≥ 75 years of age who were directly admitted were most likely to exhibit improving neurological functions.

Evaluation of Blood Biomarkers and Parameters for the Prediction of Stroke Survivors' Functional Outcome upon Discharge Utilizing Explainable Machine Learning

Despite therapeutic advancements, stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability. The quality of current stroke prognostic models varies considerably, whereas prediction models of post-stroke disability and mortality are restricted by the sample size, the range of clinical and risk factors and the clinical applicability in general. Accurate prognostication can ease post-stroke discharge planning and help healthcare practitioners individualize aggressive treatment or palliative care, based on projected life expectancy and clinical course. In this study, we aimed to develop an explainable machine learning methodology to predict functional outcomes of stroke patients at discharge, using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) as a binary classification problem. We identified 35 parameters from the admission, the first 72 h, as well as the medical history of stroke patients, and used them to train the model. We divided the patients into two classes in two approaches: "Independent" vs. "Non-Independent" and "Non-Disability" vs. "Disability". Using various classifiers, we found that the best models in both approaches had an upward trend, with respect to the selected biomarkers, and achieved a maximum accuracy of 88.57% and 89.29%, respectively. The common features in both approaches included: age, hemispheric stroke localization, stroke localization based on blood supply, development of respiratory infection, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) upon admission and systolic blood pressure levels upon admission. Intubation and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels upon admission are additional features for the first approach and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) levels upon admission for the second. Our results suggest that the said factors may be important predictors of functional outcomes in stroke patients.

Predictors of poor outcome after endovascular treatment for acute vertebrobasilar occlusion: data from ANGEL-ACT registry

PURPOSE

Acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (VBAO) is a catastrophic disease for patients. There is evidence that the eventual patient outcome depends on patient-specific and procedural factors. This study aimed to identify the incidence and independent predictors of the 90-day poor outcome in VBAO after endovascular treatment (EVT).

METHODS

Subjects were selected from the ANGEL-ACT registry. The 90-day poor outcome was defined as a 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 4 to 6. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent predictors of the 90-day poor outcome.

RESULTS

Of the 347 enrolled patients with acute VBAO undergoing EVT, 176 (50.7%) experienced the 90-day poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that only the use of general anesthesia (GA) (odds ratio [OR] = 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-3.37; P = 0.006) and heparin during the procedure (OR =1.74; 95% CI, 1.06-2.86; P = 0.028), admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥ 26 (OR=3.96; 95% CI, 2.37-6.61; P < 0.001), and time from onset to puncture (OTP) ≥ 395 min (OR=1.91; 95% CI, 1.14-3.20; P = 0.014) and procedure duration ≥ 102 min (OR = 1.70; 95% CI, 1.04-2.79; P = 0.036) were independent predictors of the 90-day poor outcome after EVT. Furthermore, admission NIHSS (OR > 36 vs. ≤ 11 = 9.01, P for trend < 0.001), OTP (OR > 441min vs. ≤ 210 min = 2.71, P for trend = 0.023), and procedure duration (OR > 145 min vs. ≤ 59 min = 2.77, P for trend = 0.031) were significantly associated with increasing risk of the 90-day poor outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor outcome after EVT at 90 days occurred in 50.7% of acute VBAO patients from the ANGEL-ACT registry. Our study found several predictors of the 90-day poor outcome which should be highly considered in daily practice to improve acute VBAO management. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION : http://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov . Unique identifier: NCT03370939.

Activation of the ERK1/2 pathway mediates the neuroprotective effect provided by calycosin treatment

Calycosin is a natural product extracted from some plant families and exhibits various biological properties. But the effect of calycosin on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the neuroprotective effect of calycosin treatment on the differentiated SH-SY5Y cells exposed to OGD was evaluated using MTT and flow cytometry. Rats that were pretreatment with calycosin were subjected to MCAO, neurological behavior scores and brain infarct volume were evaluated. The protein expression of pERK/ERK were assessed using Western blot. siRNA-pERK and U0126 were administered to investigate the impact of the ERK pathway on calycosin preconditioning. The results demonstrated the neuronal viability in the calycosin-treated SH-SY5Y cells increased significantly, and the rate of apoptosis decreased compared with the Oxygen-glucose deprivation only SH-SY5Y cells. Calycosin pretreatment reduced infarct volume and improved neurological outcome in rats subjected to MCAO. Administration of calycosin increased the ratio of pERK/ERK expression, which was down-regulated in ischemia-reperfusion group. Down-regulation of pERK/ERK significantly attenuated the neuroprotective effect induced by calycosin pretreatment in vitro and in vivo. We concluded calycosin treatment could induce a neuroprotective effect against ischemia, which was related to the regulation of the ERK1/2 pathway.

Machine learning-based prediction of clinical outcomes after first-ever ischemic stroke

Background

Accurate prediction of clinical outcomes in individual patients following acute stroke is vital for healthcare providers to optimize treatment strategies and plan further patient care. Here, we use advanced machine learning (ML) techniques to systematically compare the prediction of functional recovery, cognitive function, depression, and mortality of first-ever ischemic stroke patients and to identify the leading prognostic factors.

Methods

We predicted clinical outcomes for 307 patients (151 females, 156 males; 68 ± 14 years) from the PROSpective Cohort with Incident Stroke Berlin study using 43 baseline features. Outcomes included modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Barthel Index (BI), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-M), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and survival. The ML models included a Support Vector Machine with a linear kernel and a radial basis function kernel as well as a Gradient Boosting Classifier based on repeated 5-fold nested cross-validation. The leading prognostic features were identified using Shapley additive explanations.

Results

The ML models achieved significant prediction performance for mRS at patient discharge and after 1 year, BI and MMSE at patient discharge, TICS-M after 1 and 3 years and CES-D after 1 year. Additionally, we showed that National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was the top predictor for most functional recovery outcomes as well as education for cognitive function and depression.

Conclusion

Our machine learning analysis successfully demonstrated the ability to predict clinical outcomes after first-ever ischemic stroke and identified the leading prognostic factors that contribute to this prediction.

DWI-FLAIR mismatch guided thrombolysis in patients without large-vessel occlusion: real-world data from a comprehensive stroke centre

Introduction

A significant proportion of ischaemic stroke patients present with unknown symptom onset time. DWI-FLAIR mismatch on MRI can help to identify those eligible for thrombolysis. We set out to analyse the short-term efficacy and safety of thrombolysis in a real-world setting.

Methods

A retrospective single-centre observational study was conducted. We collected data between January 2017 and April 2020. Patients with a large vessel occlusion (LVO) were excluded. Outcomes were compared between thrombolysed patients and those who did not receive alteplase due to lack of DWI-FLAIR mismatch or other contraindications. We analysed baseline and discharge NIHSS scores for efficacy and defined good outcome as any neurological improvement (ANI) on the NIHSS. In terms of safety, the presence and severity of intracerebral haemorrhage on follow-up imaging was analysed, and mortality at 90 days assessed.

Results

Seventy-one patients were included in this study, of whom 29 received thrombolysis. Significantly more patients had ANI in the thrombolysed group (OR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.178-8.479; p = 0.020). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, only thrombolysis correlated with ANI (OR, 3.051; 95% CI, 1.135-8.206; p = 0.027). Two thrombolysed patients suffered intracerebral haemorrhage (6.90%), of whom one was symptomatic and eventually fatal. We did not find a significant difference in 90-day mortality between the two groups (OR, 0.81, 95% CI, 0.134-4.856; p = 1.000).

Conclusions

Our real-world data demonstrate that thrombolysis based on DWI-FLAIR mismatch in patients without LVO has an early beneficial effect. The rate of intracerebral haemorrhage was similar to this complication reported in large thrombolysis trials with known onset times.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Clinical Practice Guideline: Cognitive Rehabilitation for the Management of Cognitive Dysfunction Associated With Acquired Brain Injury

BACKGROUND

Cognitive-communication impairments following acquired brain injury (ABI) can have devastating effects on a person's ability to participate in community, social, vocational, and academic preinjury roles and responsibilities. Guidelines for evidence-based practices are needed to assist speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and other rehabilitation specialists in the delivery of cognitive rehabilitation for the adult population.

PURPOSE

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, in conjunction with a multidisciplinary panel of subject matter experts, developed this guideline to identify best practice recommendations for the delivery of cognitive rehabilitation to adults with cognitive dysfunction associated with ABI.

METHOD

A multidisciplinary panel identified 19 critical questions to be addressed in the guideline. Literature published between 1980 and 2020 was identified based on a set of a priori inclusion/exclusion criteria, and main findings were pooled and organized into summary of findings tables. Following the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Evidence to Decision Framework, the panel drafted recommendations, when appropriate, based on the findings, overall quality of the evidence, balance of benefits and harms, patient preferences, resource implications, and the feasibility and acceptability of cognitive rehabilitation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

This guideline includes one overarching evidence-based recommendation that addresses the management of cognitive dysfunction following ABI and 11 subsequent recommendations focusing on cognitive rehabilitation treatment approaches, methods, and manner of delivery. In addition, this guideline includes an overarching consensus-based recommendation and seven additional consensus recommendations highlighting the role of the SLP in the screening, assessment, and treatment of adults with cognitive dysfunction associated with ABI. Future research considerations are also discussed.

Inpatient assessment of the neurological outcome of acute stroke patients based on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)

OBJECTIVE

Identify the association between stroke severity and the neurological outcome of an acute stroke using the National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS).

STUDY DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional study.Place and duration of study: Northwest hospital Hayatabad Peshawar.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional descriptive study was done in the general plus stroke unit of the northwest hospital in Peshawar, KPK during Jan 2022 to July 2022.400 admitted patients diagnosed with acute stroke in the past three months were included for NIHSS assessment and were classified as mild, moderate, or severe stroke. After entering all of the data from the collection into SPSS version 16, the information was transferred to an Excel spreadsheet. To further assess the results, the researcher and statistician evaluated all of the cases, radiological findings, and laboratory test data.

RESULTS

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 400 individuals ranging from 30 to 90 years of age were divided into two groups: males and females. The survey was conducted by 49% of men and 51% of women. The stroke severity was assessed to be mild in 22% of cases, moderate in 49%, and severe in 29% of patients. As evaluated by the NIHSS, Patients with acute ischemic stroke were divided into four groups depending on their neurological outcomes: those who improved were 160 (40%), those who remained stable were 124 (31%), and those who deteriorated were 52 (13%), and those who died were 64 (16%). Patients with greater triglyceride levels were 88, while those with lower levels were 312. Acute stroke was also detected in 34% of patients with a covid history, 28% of patients who were covid positive, and 38% of patients who were covid free in this investigation.

CONCLUSION

According to our findings, the NIHSS is a reliable scale for evaluating patients' neurological outcomes and determining the association between acute stroke severity and cognitive functioning (NIHSS).

Mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients with acute occlusion of the M1- compared to the M2-segment: Safety, efficacy, and clinical outcome

PURPOSE

Endovascular treatment (ET) in occlusions of the M1- and proximal M2-segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is an established procedure. In contrast, ET in distal M2-occlusions has not been sufficiently evaluated yet. The purpose of this study was to assess relevant parameters for clinical outcome, efficacy, and safety of patients undergoing ET in M1-, proximal M2-, and distal M2-occlusions.

METHODS

One hundred seventy-four patients undergoing ET in acute ischemic stroke with an occlusion of the M1- or M2-segment of the MCA were enrolled prospectively. Non-parametric analysis of variance in 3-month mRS, TICI scale, and complication rates were performed with Kruskal-Wallis test between M1- and proximal and distal M2-occlusions. Subsequent pairwise group comparisons were calculated using Mann-Whitney U-tests. Binary logistic regression models were calculated for each occlusion site.

RESULTS

There were no significant group differences in 3-month mRS, mTICI scale, or complication rates between M1- and M2-occlusions nor between proximal and distal M2-occlusions. Binary logistic regression in patients with M1-occlusions showed a substantial explanation of variance (NR2=0.35). NIHSS (p=0.009) and Maas Score as parameter for collateralization (p=0.01) appeared as significant contributing parameters. Binary logistic regression in M2-occlusions showed a high explanation of variance (NR2=0.50) of mRS but no significant factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical outcome and procedural safety of patients with M2-occlusions undergoing ET are comparable to those of patients with M1-occlusions. Clinical outcome of patients with M1-occlusions undergoing ET is primarily influenced by the initial neurological deficit and the collateralization of the occlusions. By contrast, clinical outcome in patients with M2-occlusions undergoing ET is more multifactorial.

Altered methylation pattern in EXOC4 is associated with stroke outcome: an epigenome-wide association study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The neurological course after stroke is highly variable and is determined by demographic, clinical and genetic factors. However, other heritable factors such as epigenetic DNA methylation could play a role in neurological changes after stroke.

METHODS

We performed a three-stage epigenome-wide association study to evaluate DNA methylation associated with the difference between the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at baseline and at discharge (ΔNIHSS) in ischaemic stroke patients. DNA methylation data in the Discovery (n = 643) and Replication (n = 62) Cohorts were interrogated with the 450 K and EPIC BeadChip. Nominal CpG sites from the Discovery (p value < 10-06) were also evaluated in a meta-analysis of the Discovery and Replication cohorts, using a random-fixed effect model. Metabolic pathway enrichment was calculated with methylGSA. We integrated the methylation data with 1305 plasma protein expression levels measured by SOMAscan in 46 subjects and measured RNA expression with RT-PCR in a subgroup of 13 subjects. Specific cell-type methylation was assessed using EpiDISH.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis revealed an epigenome-wide significant association in EXOC4 (p value = 8.4 × 10-08) and in MERTK (p value = 1.56 × 10-07). Only the methylation in EXOC4 was also associated in the Discovery and in the Replication Cohorts (p value = 1.14 × 10-06 and p value = 1.3 × 10-02, respectively). EXOC4 methylation negatively correlated with the long-term outcome (coefficient = - 4.91) and showed a tendency towards a decrease in EXOC4 expression (rho = - 0.469, p value = 0.091). Pathway enrichment from the meta-analysis revealed significant associations related to the endocytosis and deubiquitination processes. Seventy-nine plasma proteins were differentially expressed in association with EXOC4 methylation. Pathway analysis of these proteins showed an enrichment in natural killer (NK) cell activation. The cell-type methylation analysis in blood also revealed a differential methylation in NK cells.

CONCLUSIONS

DNA methylation of EXOC4 is associated with a worse neurological course after stroke. The results indicate a potential modulation of pathways involving endocytosis and NK cells regulation.

Gut virome dysbiosis following focal cerebral ischemia in mice

Stroke leads to gut bacterial dysbiosis that impacts the post-stroke outcome. The gut microbiome also contains a high abundance of viruses which might play a crucial role in disease progression and recovery by modulating the metabolism of both host and host's gut bacteria. We presently analyzed the virome composition (viruses and phages) by shotgun metagenomics in the fecal samples obtained at 1 day of reperfusion following transient focal ischemia in adult mice. Viral genomes, viral auxiliary metabolic genes, and viral protein networks were compared between stroke and sham conditions (stroke vs sham, exclusive to sham and exclusive to stroke). Following focal ischemia, abundances of 2 viral taxa decreased, and 5 viral taxa increased compared with the sham. Furthermore, the abundance of Clostridia-like phages and Erysipelatoclostridiaceae-like phages were altered in the stroke compared with the sham cohorts. This is the first report to show that the gut virome responds acutely to stroke.

The potential role of insulin resistance in predicting outcome from intravenous thrombolytic therapy

Background

The potential impact of insulin resistance on stroke prognosis after IV thrombolysis is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the effect of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome on the outcome of IV thrombolysis in non-diabetic patients with acute ischaemic stroke.

Methods

This prospective observational study was conducted on 70 non-diabetic acute ischaemic stroke patients who received rt-PA within 3 h of stroke onset. Patients were subjected to baseline and follow-up NIHSS measurements at 24 h and 3 months post-treatment. Stroke outcome was assessed after 3 months using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS). The homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated for the included patients at stroke onset.

Results

The mean age of included patients was 57.04 ± 14.39 years. Patients with unfavourable outcome had a significantly higher frequency of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, higher values of baseline NIHSS, insulin, HOMA-IR, uric acid and lower levels of HDL than those with favourable outcome (P value = 0.035, 0.007, ≤ 0.001, 0.001, ≤ 0.001, 0.002, 0.033, respectively). Each point increase in NIHSS before rt-PA increased the odds of an unfavourable outcome by 2.06 times (95% CI 1.22 − 3.478). Also, insulin resistance increased the odds of the unfavourable outcome by 11.046 times (95% CI 1.394–87.518). There was a statistically significant improvement in NIHSS 3 months after receiving rt-PA in all patients, significantly higher in patients who did not have insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion

Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome were associated with worse functional outcomes in non-diabetic stroke patients after receiving rt-PA.

Ischemic stroke demographics, clinical features and scales and their correlations: an exploratory study from Jordan

Aims:

The authors aimed to assess the ischemic stroke risk factors and scales.

Materials & methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with acute ischemic stroke (from January 2017 to December 2018). The scores of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission and discharge and of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Barthel Index (BI) scale post-month of the stroke were collected.

Results:

Out of 376 patients, 359 were included, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 67.8 (12.2) years and male predominance (56.2%). Hyperlipidemia and hypertension were the most prevalent comorbidities (91.1% and 80.5%, respectively). The NIHSS, BI and mRS scores were worse among women, with no significant effects for comorbidities. The NIHSS scores at admission and discharge were significantly correlated with the post-month BI and mRS scores.

Conclusion:

The study findings suggest a complex interplay of gender, strict control and prevention of the modifiable stroke risk factors, as well as the association of neurological deficits' intensity with the functional outcomes.

This study aimed to explore the demographics, the clinical risk factors and the scores of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Barthel Index (BI) scale at different points of time among the survivors of acute ischemic stroke at a tertiary hospital in Jordan. Also, the study aimed to investigate the differences in the scales' scores by the patients' characteristics and the correlations between these scales. Out of 376 screened patients, 359 were included. Their mean (standard deviation) age was 67.8 (12.2) years, and 56.2% were men. Compared with male participants, women scored significantly worse on the NIHSS at admission (7.61 [5.51] vs 9.47 [6.64]; p = 0.048), NIHSS at discharge (5.57 [4.72] vs 7.40 [5.88]; p = 0.028) and BI scale 1 month post-event (78.68 [28.33] vs 66.03 [35.86]; p = 0.011). The mean (standard deviation) mRS score post-month of stroke was lower in men (2.4 [1.7]) than in women (2.9 [1.9]), with a lack of statistical significance (p = 0.097). Thus, despite the male predominance in the cohort, women tended to have a more severe stroke, worse neurological impairment and poorer functional outcomes. Hyperlipidemia had the highest prevalence, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value rates, followed by hypertension. No statistically significant differences existed in the comorbidities' NIHSS, BI scale and mRS scores. Strong and significant correlations were observed between the scores of NIHSS at admission and discharge and the BI scale and mRS scores at 1 month post-event. Thus, the authors concluded that neurological deficit severity has a potential role in predicting functioning outcomes and vice versa.

Changes in Long-Term Functional Independence in Patients with Moderate and Severe Ischemic Stroke: Comparison of the Responsiveness of the Modified Barthel Index and the Functional Independence Measure

This study investigated the long-term functional changes in patients with moderate-to-severe ischemic stroke. In addition, we investigated whether there was a difference between the modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) according to severity. To evaluate the changes in the long-term functional independence of the subjects, six evaluations were conducted over 2 years, and the evaluation was performed using MBI and FIM. A total of 798 participants participated in this study, of which 673 were classified as moderate and 125 as severe. During the first 3 months, the moderate group showed greater recovery than the severe group. The period of significant change in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was up to 6 months after onset in the moderate group, and up to 3 months after onset in the severe group. In the severe group, MBI evaluation showed significant changes up to 6 months after onset, whereas FIM showed significant changes up to 18-24 months. Our results showed that functional recovery of patients with ischemic stroke in the 3 months after onset was greater in the moderate group than in the severe group. FIM is more appropriate than MBI for evaluating the functional status of patients with severe stroke.

The number of risk factors increases the recurrence events in ischemic stroke

PURPOSE

Stroke is a significant cause of disability worldwide and is considered a disease caused by long-term exposure to lifestyle-related risk factors. These risk factors influence the first event of stroke and recurrent stroke events, which carry more significant risks for more severe disabilities. This study specifically compared the risk factors and neurological outcome of patients with recurrent ischemic stroke to those who had just experienced their first stroke among patients admitted to the Hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We observed and analyzed 300 patients' data who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This retrospective observational study was conducted on consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to the top referral hospital, West Java, Indonesia. The data displayed are epidemiological characteristics, NIHSS score at admission and discharge, and the type and number of risk factors. Data were then analyzed using appropriate statistical tests.

RESULTS

Most patients had more than one risk factor with hypertension as the most frequent (268 subjects or 89.3%). In patients who experienced ischemic stroke for the first time, the average National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was lower (6.52 ± 3.55), and the alteration of NIHSS score was higher (1.22 ± 2.26) than those with recurrent stroke (6.96 ± 3.55) for NIHSS score and 1.21 ± 1.73 for alteration of NIHSS score). We processed the data with statistical analysis and showed a positive correlation between age (P < 0.05) and the number of risk factors (P < 0.001) in the recurrent ischemic stroke group.

CONCLUSIONS

Age and the number of risk factors correlate with recurrent ischemic strokes.

Favourable arterial, tissue-level and venous collaterals correlate with early neurological improvement after successful thrombectomy treatment of acute ischaemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Early neurological improvement (ENI) after thrombectomy is associated with better long-term outcomes in patients with acute ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO). Whether cerebral collaterals influence the likelihood of ENI is poorly described. We hypothesised that favourable collateral perfusion at the arterial, tissue-level and venous outflow (VO) levels is associated with ENI after thrombectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multicentre retrospective study of patients with AIS-LVO treated by thrombectomy. Tissue-level collaterals (TLC) were measured on cerebral perfusion studies by the hypoperfusion intensity ratio. VO and pial arterial collaterals (PAC) were determined by the Cortical Vein Opacification Score and the modified Tan scale on CT angiography, respectively. ENI was defined as improvement of ≥8 points or a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 0 hour or 1 24 hours after treatment. Multivariable regression analyses were used to determine the association of collateral biomarkers with ENI and good functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 0-2).

RESULTS

646 patients met inclusion criteria. Favourable PAC (OR: 1.9, CI 1.2 to 3.1; p=0.01), favourable VO (OR: 3.3, CI 2.1 to 5.1; p<0.001) and successful reperfusion (OR: 3.1, CI 1.7 to 5.8; p<0.001) were associated with ENI, but favourable TLC were not (p=0.431). Good functional outcomes at 90-days were associated with favourable TLC (OR: 2.2, CI 1.4 to 3.6; p=0.001), VO (OR: 5.7, CI 3.5 to 9.3; p<0.001) and ENI (OR: 5.7, CI 3.3 to 9.8; p<0.001), but not PAC status (p=0.647).

CONCLUSION

Favourable PAC and VO were associated with ENI after thrombectomy. Favourable TLC predicted longer term functional recovery after thrombectomy, but the impact of TLC on ENI is strongly dependent on vessel reperfusion.

Clinical relevance of circulating angiogenic cells in patients with ischemic stroke

Background

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are circulating angiogenic cells with endothelial features associated with risk for stroke. We aimed to delve into their functional characteristics. EPCs were isolated and cultured from Ischemic Stroke (IS) patients and predictors of their variance evaluated.

Methods

This is a single-center observational study evaluating 187 consecutively hospitalized patients with IS. EPCs were isolated from blood samples. The number of circulating angiogenic cells (CACs), colony-forming units (CFU-ECs) and the emergence of late outgrowths endothelial cells (LOECs) were counted. We collected clinical variables and measured the stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha (SDF1α) serum levels. We also examined the relative telomere length and the expression of osteogenic gene markers in CACs.

Results

CACs counts and CFU-ECs colony numbers were positively correlated (rho = 0.41, p < 0.001, n = 187). We found significant differences according to whether thrombolytic treatment was performed in the distribution of CFU-ECs (odds ratio (OR) = 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–6.35; p = 0.042) and CACs (OR = 4.45; 95% IC 1.2–15.5; p = 0.012). The main determinants of CACs variation were the number of risks factors, thrombolysis treatment, arterial hypertension, LOECs occurrence, and the vascular endothelial growth factor expression, whereas CFU-ECs variations depended on hemoglobin content and the relative reduction in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) criteria. The main predictors of LOECs appearance were thrombolysis and length of hospital stay.

Conclusions

Our study supports the relevance of patient risk factors and treatments in the analysis of the functional properties of EPCs.

Factors Associated with Unfavorable Functional Outcomes After Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Purpose

Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) has become a standard treatment for eligible ischemic stroke patients. However, functional outcomes after receiving IVT varied widely. Hence the primary goal of this study is to identify characteristics related to poor outcomes.

Patients and Methods

The study enrolled acute ischemic stroke patients aged 18 or older who received IVT within 4.5 hours after onset between January 2018 and December 2020. The data were retrospectively collected from medical records. The patients were classified as having an excellent (0–2) or poor (3–6) outcomes based on the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the results. The predictive model was determined and developed the score using regression coefficients. The prediction power was validated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results

The study included 138 eligible participants. Forty-eight patients had unfavorable functional outcomes. With multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors significantly associated with poor outcomes were age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.99–1.07; P = 0.05), diabetes (3.96; 1.61–9.37; P = 0.003), admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (1.08; 1.01–1.15; P = 0.02) and initial Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) (0.56; 0.37–0.86; P = 0.009). The predictive model developed from the findings demonstrated good discrimination power (AuROC 0.803, 95% CI 0.728–0.877).

Conclusion

The current study found that older age, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, higher admission NIHSS, and lower ASPECTS on the initial NCCT brain were related to unfavorable functional outcomes following IVT and served as good predictors of patient functional outcomes.

Quantitative EEG Correlates with NIHSS and MoCA for Assessing the Initial Stroke Severity in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients

BACKGROUND: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) measure stroke severity by assessing the functional and cognitive outcome, respectively. However, they cannot be used to measure subtle evolution in clinical symptoms during the early phase. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) can detect any subtle changes in CBF and brain metabolism thus may also benefit for assessing the severity. AIM: This study aims to identify the correlation between qEEG with NIHSS and MoCA for assessing the initial stroke severity in acute ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. We recruited 30 patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke hospitalized in Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. We measured the NIHSS, MoCA score, and qEEG parameter during the acute phase of stroke. Correlation and regression analysis was completed to investigate the relationship between qEEG parameter with NIHSS and MoCA. RESULTS: Four acute qEEG parameter demonstrated moderate-to-high correlations with NIHSS and MoCA. DTABR had positive correlation with NIHSS (r = 0.379, p = 0.04). Meanwhile, delta-absolute power, DTABR, and DAR were negatively correlated with MoCA score (r = −0.654, p = 0.01; r = −0.397, p = 0.03; and r = −0.371, p = 0.04, respectively). After adjusted with the confounding variables, delta-absolute power was independently associated with MoCA score, but not with NIHSS (B = −2.887, 95% CI (−4.304–−1.470), p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Several qEEG parameters had significant correlations with NIHSS and MoCA in acute ischemic stroke patients. The use of qEEG in acute clinical setting may provide a reliable and efficient prediction of initial stroke severity. Further cohort study with larger sample size and wide range of stroke severity is still needed.

Presenting symptoms and functional outcome of chronic subdural hematoma patients

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) can present with a variety of signs and symptoms. The relationship of these signs and symptoms with functional outcome is unknown. Knowledge of these associations might aid clinicians in the choice to initiate treatment and may allow them to better inform patients on expected outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if presenting signs and symptoms influence functional outcome in patients with CSDH.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive CSDH patients in three hospitals. Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOS-E) scores were obtained from the first follow-up visit after treatment. An ordinal multivariable regression analysis was performed, to assess the relationship between the different signs and symptoms on the one hand and functional outcome on the other adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

We included 1,307 patients, of whom 958 (73%) were male and mean age was 74 (SD ± 11) years. Cognitive complaints were associated with lower GOS-E scores at follow-up (aOR 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5 - 0.8) Headache and higher Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were associated with higher GOS-E scores. (aOR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.5-2.3 and aOR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2-1.4).

CONCLUSION

Cognitive complaints are independently associated with worse functional outcome, whereas headache and higher GCS scores are associated with better outcome. The increased probability of unfavorable outcome in patients with CSDH who present with cognitive complaints favors a more prominent place of assessing cognitive status at diagnosis.

Critical issue on the extinction and inattention subtest of NIHSS scale: an analysis on post-acute stroke patients attending inpatient rehabilitation

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of NIHSS extinction and inattention item, compared to the results of the Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS) heart subtest. Additionally, the possible role of the NIHSS visual field subtest on the NIHSS extinction and inattention subtest performance is explored and discussed.

Methods

We analysed scores on NIHSS extinction and inattention subtest, NIHSS visual field subtest, and OCS heart subtest on a sample of 118 post-stroke patients.

Results

Compared to OCS heart subtest, the results on NIHSS extinction and inattention subtest showed an accuracy of 72.9% and a moderate agreement level (Cohen’s kappa = 0.404). Furthermore, a decrease in NIHSS accuracy detecting neglect (61.1%) was observed in patients with pathological scores in NIHSS visual field item.

Conclusions

Extreme caution is recommended for the diagnostic performance of extinction and inattention item of NIHSS. Signs of neglect may not be detected by NIHSS, and may be confused with visual field impairment.

Trial registration

This study refers to an observational study protocol submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier: NCT03968627. The name of the registry is “Development of a National Protocol for Stroke Rehabilitation in a Multicenter Italian Institution” and the date of the registration is the 30th May 2019.

Deep Sequencing of the Rat MCAO Cortexes Reveals Crucial circRNAs Involved in Early Stroke Events and Their Regulatory Networks

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly enriched in the central nervous system and significantly involved in a range of brain-related physiological and pathological processes. Ischemic stroke is a complex disorder caused by multiple factors; however, whether brain-derived circRNAs participate in the complex regulatory networks involved in stroke pathogenesis remains unknown. Here, we successfully constructed a cerebral ischemia-injury model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Preliminary qualitative and quantitative analyses of poststroke cortical circRNAs were performed through deep sequencing, and RT-PCR and qRT-PCR were used for validation. Of the 24,858 circRNAs expressed in the rat cerebral cortex, 294 circRNAs were differentially expressed in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex between the MCAO and sham rat groups. Cluster, GO, and KEGG analyses showed enrichments of these circRNAs and their host genes in numerous biological processes and pathways closely related to stroke. We selected 106 of the 294 circRNAs and constructed a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network comprising 577 sponge miRNAs and 696 target mRNAs. In total, 15 key potential circRNAs were predicted to be involved in the posttranscriptional regulation of a series of downstream target genes, which are widely implicated in poststroke processes, such as oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammatory response, and nerve regeneration, through the competing endogenous RNA mechanism. Thus, circRNAs appear to be involved in multilevel actions that regulate the vast network of multiple mechanisms and events that occur after a stroke. These results provide novel insights into the complex pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke.

Cardiac Stroke Volume Index Is Associated With Early Neurological Improvement in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients

Early neurological improvement as assessed with the NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) at 24 h has been associated with improved long-term functional outcomes following acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Cardiac dysfunction is often present in AIS, but its association with outcomes is incompletely defined. We performed a pilot study to evaluate the association between non-invasively measured cardiac parameters and 24-h neurological improvement in prospectively enrolled patients with suspected AIS who presented within 12 h of symptom-onset and had an initial systolic blood pressure>140 mm Hg. Patients receiving thrombolytic therapy or mechanical thrombectomy were excluded. Non-invasive pulse contour analysis was used to measure mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), cardiac stroke volume index (cSVI), cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI). Transcranial Doppler recorded mean middle cerebral artery flow velocity (MFV). We defined a decrease of 4 NIHSS points or NIHSS ≤ 1 at 24-h as neurological improvement. Of 75 suspected, 38 had confirmed AIS and did not receive reperfusion therapy. Of these, 7/38 (18.4%) had neurological improvement over 24 h. MAP was greater in those without improvement (108, IQR 96-123 mm Hg) vs. those with (89, IQR 73-104 mm Hg). cSVI, CO, and MFV were similar between those without and with improvement: 37.4 (IQR 30.9-47.7) vs. 44.7 (IQR 42.3-55.3) ml/m2; 5.2 (IQR 4.2-6.6) vs. 5.3 (IQR 4.7-6.7) mL/min; and 39.9 (IQR 32.1-45.7) vs. 34.4 (IQR 27.1-49.2) cm/s, respectively. Multivariate analysis found MAP and cSVI as predictors for improvement (OR 0.93, 95%CI 0.85-0.98 and 1.14, 95%CI 1.03-1.31). In this pilot study, cSVI and MAP were associated with 24-h neurological improvement in AIS.

Roseburia Abundance Associates With Severity, Evolution and Outcome of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke induces disorder of gut microbiota, however, whether this disorder differs according to stroke severity and its role in the evolution and outcome of stroke is currently unknown. Here we explored the composition and structure of fecal microbiome based on 68 acute ischemic stroke patients presenting with minor symptoms (admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≤ 3) and 67 patients with non-minor stroke (admission NIHSS 4-34) using high-throughput Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA. There was no significant difference in α-diversity indices, but the principal coordinate analysis of the microbiota indicated clear separation of the two groups. The significantly enriched butyrate-producing genus Roseburia in the minor stroke group was negatively correlated with fasting glucose, while the Erysipelotrichaceae incertae sedis abundant in non-minor stroke patients was positively correlated with stress hyperglycemia (i.e. fasting glucose/glycated hemoglobin ratio). Moreover, the relative abundance of genus Roseburia was also significantly associated with the dynamic changes of NIHSS score, as well as short-term and long-term functional outcomes. Our results suggested that stroke affects microbiota composition in a manner differentiated by stroke severity, and the enrichment of genus Roseburia may play a protective role in stroke evolution and outcome. Our findings strengthen the relevance of specific taxa for stroke severity that might allow targeted therapy in acute ischemic stroke.

Role of dyslipidemia in ischemic stroke patients treated in the telestroke network

PURPOSE

The relationship between the telestroke technology and clinical risk factors in a dysplipidemic ischemic stroke population and neurologic outcomes is not fully understood. This issue was investigated in this study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed retrospective data collected from a regional stroke registry to identify demographic and clinical risk factors in patients with improving (NIHSS ​≤ ​7) or worsening (NIHSS ​> ​7) neurologic outcome in dyslipidemic ischemic stroke population. We used logistic multivariate models to identify independent predictors of improving or worsening outcome based on dyslipidemia disease status in ischemic stroke patients.

RESULTS

In the adjusted analysis for dyslipidemic ischemic stroke population, cholesterol reducer use (odd ratio; [OR] ​= ​0.393, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.176-0.879, P ​= ​0.023) and direct admission (OR ​= ​0.435, 95% CI, 0.199-0.953, P ​= ​0.037) were more likely to be associated with neurologic improvement and no clinical or demographic factors were associated with poor neurologic outcome in dyslipidemic ischemic stroke patients treated in the telestroke network. For the ischemic stroke population without dyslipidemia, increasing age (OR ​= ​1.070, 95% CI, 1.031-1.109, P ​< ​0.001), coronary artery disease (OR ​= ​3.633, 95% CI, 1.307-10.099, P ​= ​0.013), history of drug or alcohol abuse (OR ​= ​6.548, 95% CI, 1.106-38.777, P ​= ​0.038), and improvement in ambulatory outcome (OR ​= ​2.880, 95% CI, 1.183-7.010, P ​= ​0.020) were associated with worsening neurological functions, while being Caucasian (OR ​= ​0.294, 95% CI, 0.098-0.882, P ​= ​0.029) was associated with improving neurologic functions.

CONCLUSION

Demographic and clinical risk factors among the dysplipidemic ischemic stroke population in the telestroke network were not associated with worsening neurologic functions.

Circulating Extracellular Vesicle Proteins and MicroRNA Profiles in Subcortical and Cortical-Subcortical Ischaemic Stroke

In order to investigate the role of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs), proteins, and microRNAs as damage and repair markers in ischaemic stroke depending on its topography, subcortical (SC), and cortical-subcortical (CSC) involvement, we quantified the total amount of EVs using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique and analysed their global protein content using proteomics. We also employed a polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the circulating microRNA profile. The study included 81 patients with ischaemic stroke (26 SC and 55 CSC) and 22 healthy controls (HCs). No differences were found in circulating EV levels between the SC, CSC, and HC groups. We detected the specific expression of C1QA and Casp14 in the EVs of patients with CSC ischaemic stroke and the specific expression of ANXA2 in the EVs of patients with SC involvement. Patients with CSC ischaemic stroke showed a lower expression of miR-15a, miR-424, miR-100, and miR-339 compared with those with SC ischaemic stroke, and the levels of miR-339, miR-100, miR-199a, miR-369a, miR-424, and miR-15a were lower than those of the HCs. Circulating EV proteins and microRNAs from patients with CSC ischaemic stroke could be considered markers of neurite outgrowth, neurogenesis, inflammation process, and atherosclerosis. On the other hand, EV proteins and microRNAs from patients with SC ischaemic stroke might be markers of an anti-inflammatory process and blood–brain barrier disruption reduction.

Smoking-Induced Sex Differences in Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy for Stroke

OBJECTIVE

Ischemic stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Smoking accelerates the onset of stroke by 10 years. The effects of smoking status on percent change in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, infarct volume, and edema volume were examined following mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

Subjects (N = 90; >18 years old) were divided into 3 groups based on smoking status: current smokers, previous smokers (defined as having quit >6 months before the ischemic event), and nonsmokers. Percent change in NIHSS score was defined as score at admission minus score at discharge divided by score at admission and was used as a predictor of functional outcome. Linear regression analysis was performed based on infarct or edema volume versus percent change in NIHSS score and separated by sex.

RESULTS

Consistent with previous findings, smokers experienced a stroke 10 years earlier than nonsmokers (P = 0.004). Statistically significant linear regressions existed between infarct volume or edema volume in relation to worsening change in NIHSS score with female smokers only. Stroke-induced tissue damage, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography, was predictive of functional recovery only in female smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are valuable for patient counseling, particularly for women, for smoking cessation.