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INTRODUCTION: Wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms pose significant challenges for endovascular treatment. A recent innovation, the stent plus balloon-assisted coiling technique, combines a stent and a balloon to address these aneurysms effectively. PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the stent plus balloon-assisted coiling for the treatment of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of our endovascular database to identify patients who were treated with this technique and had a satisfactory angiographic follow-up of at least 24 months. Technical success, initial clinical and angiographic outcomes, procedural complications, and follow-up results were analyzed. Angiographic and clinical outcomes were assessed using Modified Raymond-Roy Classification and Modified Rankin Scale, respectively. RESULTS: Our study included 37 aneurysms in 36 patients (26 females) with a mean age of 56.6 years. Mean aneurysm and neck sizes were 7.3 ± 3.5 mm and 3.7 ± 1.0 mm, respectively. Technical success reached 97.2%, with an immediate occlusion rate of 65.7%. At a mean follow-up of 36.5 ± 9.7 months, final angiographic follow-up showed a 91.9% complete occlusion rate. Three aneurysms did not achieve complete occlusion; however, none required retreatment. Complications developed in 32.4% of the procedures. Mortality and morbidity rates were 5.4% and 2.7%, respectively. A good clinical outcome was observed in 91.9% of patients. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that stent plus balloon-assisted coiling technique allows good angiographic outcomes for wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. However, overall complication rate is high. Subgroup analysis indicated promising safety and efficacy for MCA bifurcation aneurysms, suggesting this technique could be a valuable option for select aneurysms.

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BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for proximal large vessel occlusion after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) have been demonstrated. Clinical investigations of endovascular approaches for treating AIS due to M2 occlusions have been ongoing. PURPOSE: To assess the outcomes of M2 occlusions according to treatment modality and anatomical division. METHODS: A total of 113 consecutive M2 occlusions treated with endovascular treatment (EVT) at our tertiary stroke center between January 2019 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups: mechanical thrombectomy (MT); intravenous thrombolysis plus MT (IVT + MT); and IVT alone. The primary outcomes were good prognosis (mRS = 0-2) and mortality (mRS = 6) on day 90. The secondary outcome was to determine the differences in outcomes between lesions in the superior and inferior branches of M2. RESULTS: In total, 55 (48.7%) patients underwent MT. In 42 (37.2%) patients, bridging IVT was performed with MT, and IVT alone was applied in 16 (14.2%) patients. Neither the prognosis at 90 days nor the mortality rate significantly differed among the groups. The outcomes did not significantly differ between occlusions in the superior and inferior branches of M2. CONCLUSION: MT was found to be safe and effective for treating M2 occlusions in this series.

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The diagnosis of central pontine hyperintensities on cranial magnetic resonance imaging has wide-spectrum clinical entities, and the pro-type diagnosis of these is central pontine myelinolysis. The rapid changes in extracellular environment due to an imbalance of electrolytes or metabolic or toxic stress to the myelin sheath can cause demyelination of white matter tracts in pons, which is why this situation could have different etiologies than just rapid sodium changes. Central pontine myelinolysis can be presented with different clinical scenarios from asymptomatic to death. Here, we present eight patients who had central pontine hyperintensities on radiological imaging but showed various clinical symptoms and different etiologies. The etiologies of these cases are hypertriglyceridemia, alcohol consumption, antidepressant usage, immunocompromised situations, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney failure, electrolyte changes, and adrenal insufficiency. We aimed to take attention with this case series to the fact that not only fast correction of hyponatremia is the cause of central pontine myelinolysis, but also different etiologies could play a role in this situation, and making the central pontine myelinolysis diagnosis considering different diagnosis is very important.

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PURPOSE: To compare outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) taking warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). METHODS: A total of 71 consecutive patients with AF who underwent MT due to AIS between January 2018 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped as warfarin versus DOAC group. CHA2DS2-VASc, HAS-BLED, The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at the time of admission and at 24 h, successful recanalization, post- MT complications and technical properties of MT were evaluated. Patients were divided into a good prognosis group, and a mortality group according to the 90th day mRS. RESULTS: HAS-BLED score was significantly higher in DOAC group (p = 0.006) There were no significant differences in stroke severity, successful recanalization rates, post-procedural complications and mRS 90th day scores between patients with warfarin and DOACs. CHA2DS2-VASc, NIHSS at admission and NIHSS on the 24th hour scores were significantly lower in the good mRS group (p = 0.012, p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: MT is safe and effective in patients receiving warfarin or DOACs. HASBLED and CHA2DS2-VASc scores can help to predict functional outcome after MT.

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Background: Currently, there is still no clear consensus on bridging thrombolysis (BT) before mechanical thrombectomy (MT). In this study, we aimed to compare clinical and procedural outcomes and complication rates of BT versus direct mechanical thrombectomy (d-MT) in anterior circulation stroke. Methods: A total of 359 consecutive anterior circulation stroke patients who received d-MT or BT in our tertiary stroke center between January 2018 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups as Group d-MT (n = 210) and Group BT (n = 149). The primary outcome was the impact of BT on clinical and procedural outcomes, whereas the secondary outcome was the safety of BT. Results: The incidence of atrial fibrillation was higher in the d-MT group (p = 0.010). The median duration of the procedure was significantly higher in Group d-MT than in Group BT (35 vs 27 min, respectively; P = 0.044). The number of patients achieving good and excellent outcomes was significantly higher in Group BT (p = 0.006 and P = 0.03). The edema/malign infarction rate was higher in the d-MT group (p = 0.003). Successful reperfusion, first-pass effects, symptomatic intra-cranial hemorrhage, and mortality rates were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In this study, BT seems to yield better clinical and procedural outcomes with lower complication rates than d-MT. These findings may support the additional value of intravenous alteplase in anterior system strokes. Further large-scale, prospective, randomized-controlled studies will clarify the gray lines in this consensus, but this paper is important for reflecting the real-world data in developing countries.

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PURPOSE: The predicting bleeding complications in patients undergoing stent implantation and the subsequent dual antiplatelet therapy (PRECISE-DAPT) score predicts the risk of bleeding in patients with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Patients with carotid artery stenting (CAS) are also treated with DAPT. In this study, we aimed to investigate the performance of the PRECISE-DAPT score in predicting bleeding in patients with CAS. METHODS: Patients who had CAS between January 2018 and December 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. The PRECISE-DAPT score was calculated for each patient. The patients were divided into two groups based on their PRECISE-DAPT score: low < 25 and high ≥ 25. Bleeding and ischemia complications and laboratory data among the two groups were compared. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients with a mean age of 67.3 ± 9.7 years were included. Forty-three patients had high PRECISE-DAPT scores, and 77 patients had low PRECISE-DAPT scores. Six patients developed bleeding events during the six-month follow-up, and five of them were in the PRECISE DAPT score ≥ 25 group. The difference between the two groups regarding bleeding events at six months was significant (P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: The PRECISE-DAPT score might be used for predicting the bleeding risk in patients with CAS, and the bleeding rate was significantly higher in patients with a PRECISE-DAPT score ≥ 25.

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AIM: To examine ischemic neurodegeneration of the ciliospinal center on permanent miosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nineteen rabbits were examined in this study. The animals were divided into three groups, as control (GI, n=5), sham (GII, n=5) and study group (GIII, n=9). Pupil diameters were measured after giving 0.5 mL physiological saline for sham and autologous arterial blood for the study group into the cervico-thoracic subarachnoid space. After three weeks of follow up, the cervico-thoracic cord and bilateral superior cervical sympathetic ganglia were removed. The pupil diameter values were compared with degenerated neuron volumes of sympathetic ganglia and degenerated neuron densities of thoracic sympathetic nuclei which were studied by stereological methods. RESULTS: The mean pupil diameter was 5180 ± 370 µm and the mean degenerated neuron density of the ciliospinal center was 4 ± 1/mm3 in animals of the control group (GI). These values were 9850 ± 610 εm, 10 ± 3/mm3 in sham (GII), and 7.010 ± 440 εm and 98 ± 21/mm3 in the study (GIII) groups. There was an inverse relationship between degenerated neuron density of the ciliospinal nuclei and pupil diameters. CONCLUSION: We showed and reported for the first time that ciliospinal sympathetic center ischemia-induced neurodegeneration may have been responsible for permanent miosis following SAH.

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AIM: To investigate the relationship between neuron density of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia and pupil diameter in subarachnoid hemorrhage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 22 rabbits; 5 for the baseline control group, 5 for the SHAM group and 12 for the study group. Pupil diameters were measured via sunlight and ocular tomography on day 1 as the control values. Pupil diameters were re-measured after injecting 0.5 cc saline to the SHAM group, and autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna of the study group. After 3 weeks, the brain, superior cervical sympathetic ganglia and ciliary ganglia were extracted with peripheral tissues bilaterally and examined histopathologically. Pupil diameters were compared with neuron densities of the sympathetic ganglia and ciliary ganglia which were examined using stereological methods. RESULTS: Baseline values were; normal pupil diameter 7.180±620 ?m and mean neuron density of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia 6.321±510/mm3, degenerated neuron density of ciliary ganglia was 5±2/mm3 after histopathological examination in the control group. These values were measured as 6.850±578 ?m, 5.950±340/mm3 and 123±39/mm3 in the SHAM group and 9.910±840 ?m, 7.950±764/mm3 and 650±98/mm3 in the study group. A linear relationship was determined between neuron density of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia and pupil diameters (p < 0.005). Degenerated ciliary ganglia neuron density had an inverse effect on pupil diameters in all groups (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Highly degenerated neuron density of the ciliary ganglion is not responsible for pupil dilatation owing to parasympathetic pupilloconstrictor palsy, but high neuron density of the pupillodilatatory superior cervical sympathetic ganglia should be considered an important factor for pupil dilatation.

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OBJECTIVE: Hypothyroidism is defined as an underactive thyroid gland and one of the reasons for inadequate stimulation of thyroid is dysfunction of the hormone regulating brain centers. Olfaction disorders have been considered as a problem in hypothyroidism. It has been hypothesized that olfaction disorders reduce olfactory stimulation and diminished olfactory stimulus may trigger hypothyroidism. In this study, an examination was made of the thyroid hormone levels, histologic features of thyroid glands, and vagal nerve network degradation in an experimental animal model of olfactory bulbectomy (OBX). METHODS: A total of 25 rats were divided into control (n = 5), SHAM (n = 5), and OBX (n = 15) groups and were followed up for 8 weeks. Thyroid hormone levels were measured before (1 time), during the experiment (1 time/month) and the animals were decapitated. The olfactory bulbs, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagal nerves, and thyroid gland sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and tunnel dye to determine OBX-related damage. Specimens were analyzed stereologically to evaluate neuron density of the vagal nucleus and hormone-filled total follicle volume (TFV) per cubic centimeter, and these were statistically compared with thyroid hormone levels. RESULTS: The mean degenerated neuron density of the vagal nucleus was 21 ± 8/mm3. TFV and triiodothyronine (T3)-thyroxine (T4) levels were measured as TFV, (312 ± 91) × 106µm3/cm3; T3, 105 µg/dl; T4, 1.89 µg/dl in control (group I). Mean degenerated neuron density, 56 ± 12/mm3; TFV, (284 ± 69) × 106µm3/cm3; T3, 103 µg/dl; T4, 1.85 µg/dl in SHAM (group II). Mean degenerated neuron density, 235 ± 64/mm3; TFV, (193 ± 34) × 106µm3/cm3; T3, 86 µg/dl; T4, 1.37 µg/dl in the OBX group (group III). The TFV were significantly diminished because of apoptotic degradation in olfactory bulbs and thyroid gland with decreased T3- T4 levels with increased thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in OBX-applied animals of subarachnoid hemorrhage (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that diminished hormone secretion as a result of thyroid gland degradation results in both olfaction loss and vagal complex degeneration in OBX animals, contrary to the common belief that anosmia results from hypothyroidism.

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BACKGROUND: Autonomous innervations of the lungs are maintained by cervical sympathetic and vagal nerves. Sympathetic overactivity-induced neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) is known as a serious complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage, but the rational neuronal mechanism of that overactivity has not yet been clarified fully. The aim of this study was to examine whether there is a relationship between vagal nerve ischemia related sympathetic overactivity and neurogenic pulmonary edema in subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS: This study was conducted on 27 rabbits. A control group was formed of 5 animals, a sham group of 7 to which saline was administered, and a study group of 15 animals that were injected with homologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna. Electrocardiography and respiratory rhythm parameters were monitored for 3 weeks and the animals were then decapitated. Statistical analysis was made of the numbers of degenerated axons in the pulmonary branches of the vagal nerves, the neuron density of stellate ganglions and the vasospasm index of the pulmonary arteries. RESULTS: In the control group, the normal respiration rate was 34 ± 6 bpm, total axon number was 1600 ± 270/mm(2), degenerated axon number was 10 ± 3/mm(2), and vasospasm index was 1.34 ± 0.25. The sham group values were 30 ± 3 bpm, 163 ± 47/mm(2), and 1.95 ± 0.45 and the study group values were 45 ± 8 bpm, 530 ± 92/mm(2), and 2.76 ± 0.83. The mean stellate ganglion neuron density was evaluated as 8.112 ± 1.230/mm(3) in all animals, as 7.420 ± 4.10/mm(3) in animals with slight NPE, and as 12.512 ± 1.236/mm(3) in animals that developed severe NPE. CONCLUSION: High neuron density of stellate ganglion may have important roots in sympathetic overactivity-related NPE development in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

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