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Stroke, the second leading cause of mortality globally, predominantly results from ischemic conditions. Immediate attention and diagnosis, related to the characterization of brain lesions, play a crucial role in patient prognosis. Standard stroke protocols include an initial evaluation from a non-contrast CT to discriminate between hemorrhage and ischemia. However, non-contrast CTs lack sensitivity in detecting subtle ischemic changes in this phase. Alternatively, diffusion-weighted MRI studies provide enhanced capabilities, yet are constrained by limited availability and higher costs. Hence, we idealize new approaches that integrate ADC stroke lesion findings into CT, to enhance the analysis and accelerate stroke patient management. This study details a public challenge where scientists applied top computational strategies to delineate stroke lesions on CT scans, utilizing paired ADC information. Also, it constitutes the first effort to build a paired dataset with NCCT and ADC studies of acute ischemic stroke patients. Submitted algorithms were validated with respect to the references of two expert radiologists. The best achieved Dice score was 0.2 over a test study with 36 patient studies. Despite all the teams employing specialized deep learning tools, results reveal limitations of computational approaches to support the segmentation of small lesions with heterogeneous density.

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BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a risk factor for cerebral ischemia. Identifying the presence of AF, especially in paroxysmal cases, may take time and lacks clear support in the literature regarding the optimal investigative approach; in resource-limited settings, identifying a higher-risk group for AF can assist in planning further investigation. OBJECTIVE: To develop a scoring tool to predict the risk of incident AF in the poststroke follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal study with data collected from electronic medical records of patients hospitalized and followed up for cerebral ischemia from 2014 to 2021 at a tertiary stroke center. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram data, as well as neuroimaging data, were collected. Stepwise logistic regression was employed to identify associated variables. A score with integer numbers was created based on beta coefficients. Calibration and validation were performed to evaluate accuracy. RESULTS: We included 872 patients in the final analysis. The score was created with left atrial diameter ≥ 42 mm (2 points), age ≥ 70 years (1 point), presence of septal aneurysm (2 points), and score ≥ 6 points at admission on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS; 1 point). The score ranges from 0 to 6. Patients with a score ≥ 2 points had a fivefold increased risk of having AF detected in the follow-up. The area under the curve (AUC) was of 0.77 (0.72-0.85). CONCLUSION: We were able structure an accurate risk score tool for incident AF, which could be validated in multicenter samples in future studies.

ANTECEDENTES: Fibrilação atrial (FA) é um fator de risco para isquemia cerebral. Identificar a presença de FA, especialmente em casos paroxísticos, pode demandar tempo, e não há fundamentos claros na literatura quanto ao melhor método de proceder à investigação; em locais de parcos recursos, identificar um grupo de mais alto risco de FA pode auxiliar no planejamento da investigação complementar. OBJETIVO: Desenvolver uma ferramenta de escore para prever o risco de FA no acompanhamento após acidente vascular cerebral (AVC). MéTODOS: Estudo longitudinal retrospectivo, com dados coletados dos prontuários eletrônicos de pacientes hospitalizados e acompanhados ambulatorialmente por isquemia cerebral, de 2014 a 2021, em um centro de AVC terciário. Foram coleados dados demográficos, clínicos, laboratoriais, de eletrocardiograma e ecocardiograma, além de dados de neuroimagem. Mediante uma regressão logística por stepwise, foram identificadas variáveis associadas. Um escore com números inteiros foi criado com base nos coeficientes beta. Calibração e validação foram realizadas para avaliar a precisão. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 872 pacientes na análise final. O escore foi criado com diâmetro de átrio esquerdo ≥ 42 mm (2 pontos), idade ≥ 70 anos (1 ponto), presença de aneurisma septal (2 pontos) e pontuação à admissão ≥ 6 na escala de AVC dos National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS, em inglês; 1 ponto). O escore tem pontuação que varia de 0 a 6. Pacientes com escore ≥ 2 pontos tiveram cinco vezes mais risco de terem FA detectada no acompanhamento. A área sob a curva (area under curve, AUC, em inglês) foi de 0.77 (0.72­0.85). CONCLUSãO: Pudemos estruturar uma ferramenta precisa de escore de risco de FA, a qual poderá ser validada em amostras multicêntricas em estudos futuros.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of sonographic vasospasm and delayed ischemic deficit in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, to evaluate the correlation between different tomographic scales and these complications, and to study prognostic factors in this group of patients. METHODS: This was a prospective study of patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The prevalence of sonographic vasospasm and radiological delayed cerebral ischemia was analyzed, as was the correlation between different tomographic scales and these complications. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients were studied. Sixty percent of the patients developed sonographic vasospasm, which was significantly associated with delayed cerebral ischemia and mortality. The Claassen and Hijdra scales were better correlated with the development of cerebral vasospasm (areas under the curve of 0.78 and 0.68) than was Fisher's scale (0.62). Thirty-two patients (56.1%) developed cerebral infarction on CT; the significantly associated factors were poor clinical grade at admission (p = 0.04), sonographic vasospasm (p = 0.008) and severity of vasospasm (p = 0.015). Only the semiquantitative Hijdra scale was significantly correlated with the development of radiological delayed cerebral ischemia (p = 0.009). The patients who presented cerebral infarction had worse neurological evolution and higher mortality. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in our environment on the subject. The Claassen and Hijdra tomographic scales showed better prognostic performance than the Fisher scale for the development of cerebral vasospasm. The finding of sonographic vasospasm could be a noninvasive criterion for the early detection of delayed cerebral ischemia and neurological deterioration in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Precise evaluation of brain computerized tomography (CT) is a crucial step in acute ischemic stroke evaluation. Electronic Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (E-ASPECTS) helps in the selection of patients who may be eligible for thrombolysis. This paper seeks to assess the performance of emergency physicians (EPs) in the evaluation of ASPECTS scores with and without the use of E-ASPECTS and to compare their results with neuroradiologists. METHODS: A total of 116 patients were selected. Initially, two EPs and two neuroradiologists evaluated the admission nonenhanced CT without E-ASPECTS. Then, after 30 days, they re-evaluated the images using E-ASPECTS. Sensitivity, specificity, Matthew's correlation coefficients (MCC), and receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for analysis before and after the software use. RESULTS: Eps' performances improved when they used E-ASPECTS, with their results closer to those obtained by neuroradiologists. In the initial evaluation, MCC values for the two EPs were -0.01 and 0.04, respectively. After the software assistance, they obtained 0.38 and 0.43, respectively, which was closer to the scores obtained by the neuroradiologists (0.53 and 0.39, respectively). DISCUSSION: This is the first study that has specifically compared neuroradiologists' and EPs' performances before and after using E-ASPECTS. E-ASPECTS assisted and improved the evaluation of the images of patients with acute ischemic stroke. CONCLUSION: Artificial intelligence in the emergency room may increase the number of patients treated with tissue-type plasminogen activators.

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BACKGROUND: Among patients with acute ischemic stroke with a mismatch between deficit severity and infarct volume, thrombectomy performed within a 6-24 hours time window has efficacy and safety similar to treatment within 6 hours. However, whether magnetic resonance imaging with T2 diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is feasible remains to be validated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate prognosis among stroke patients receiving endovascular treatment (EVT) within 6 hours and 6-24 hours using non-contrasted computed tomography (NCCT) and DWI. METHODS: Overall, 209 anterior-circulation ischemic stroke patients with large-vessel occlusion who underwent EVT were divided into ≤ 6 hours and 6-24 hours groups. Patients presenting symptoms within 6 hours were treated if their NIHSS score was ≥ 7 and ASPECTS score was ≥ 5, whereas those with wake-up stroke (WUS) or presenting symptoms 6-24 hours after last seen well (WUS/late-presenting stroke, LPS) were managed if their NIHSS score was ≥ 7 and ASPECTS score was ≥ 5. RESULTS: The percentages of patients undergoing intracranial stenting and intracranial ballooning without stenting significantly differed between two groups (p < 0.001). Grades 0, 1, 2a and 2b recanalization rates did not differ between the 6 hours and 6-24 hours groups (all p > 0.05). Grade 3 recanalization rate in the 6 hours group was significantly lower than in the 6-24 hours group (p = 0.043). The 3-month Rankin Scale score did not significantly differ between the two groups (p = 0.629). CONCLUSIONS: EVT is a safe and effective treatment for patients with WUS and LPS selected through NCCT and DWI-based simple imaging.

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ABSTRACT Background: Among patients with acute ischemic stroke with a mismatch between deficit severity and infarct volume, thrombectomy performed within a 6-24 hours time window has efficacy and safety similar to treatment within 6 hours. However, whether magnetic resonance imaging with T2 diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is feasible remains to be validated. Objective: To investigate prognosis among stroke patients receiving endovascular treatment (EVT) within 6 hours and 6-24 hours using non-contrasted computed tomography (NCCT) and DWI. Methods: Overall, 209 anterior-circulation ischemic stroke patients with large-vessel occlusion who underwent EVT were divided into ≤ 6 hours and 6-24 hours groups. Patients presenting symptoms within 6 hours were treated if their NIHSS score was ≥ 7 and ASPECTS score was ≥ 5, whereas those with wake-up stroke (WUS) or presenting symptoms 6-24 hours after last seen well (WUS/late-presenting stroke, LPS) were managed if their NIHSS score was ≥ 7 and ASPECTS score was ≥ 5. Results: The percentages of patients undergoing intracranial stenting and intracranial ballooning without stenting significantly differed between two groups (p < 0.001). Grades 0, 1, 2a and 2b recanalization rates did not differ between the 6 hours and 6-24 hours groups (all p > 0.05). Grade 3 recanalization rate in the 6 hours group was significantly lower than in the 6-24 hours group (p = 0.043). The 3-month Rankin Scale score did not significantly differ between the two groups (p = 0.629). Conclusions: EVT is a safe and effective treatment for patients with WUS and LPS selected through NCCT and DWI-based simple imaging.

RESUMO Antecedentes: Entre pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico (AVCI) agudo com divergência entre gravidade do déficit e volume do infarto, a trombectomia em 6 a 24 horas tem eficácia e segurança semelhantes ao tratamento em até 6 horas. Entretanto, a viabilidade da imagem ponderada em T2 com difusão (DWI) da ressonância magnética necessita validação. Objetivo: Investigar o prognóstico de pacientes com AVCI que recebem tratamento endovascular (EVT) em até 6 horas e de 6-24 horas usando tomografia computadorizada sem contraste (NCCT) e DWI. Métodos: Duzentos e nove pacientes com AVCI de circulação anterior submetidos a EVT foram divididos em ≤ 6 horas e 6-24 horas. Pacientes com sintomas até 6 horas foram tratados se NIHSS ≥ 7 e ASPECTS ≥ 5; aqueles com AVCI ao despertar (WUS) ou com sintomas entre 6-24 horas da última vez em que foram vistos bem (WUS/AVC de fase tardia, LPS) foram tratados se NIHSS ≥ 7 e ASPECTS ≥ 5. Resultados: As porcentagens de pacientes submetidos a implante de stent intracraniano e angioplastia intracraniana sem stent diferiram entre os dois grupos (p <0,001). As taxas de recanalização 0, 1, 2a e 2b não diferiram entre 6 horas e 6-24 horas (p> 0,05). A taxa de recanalização de grau 3 no grupo 6 horas foi menor do que 6-24 horas (p = 0,043). Pontuação na Escala Rankin (3 meses) não foi diferente (p = 0,629). Conclusões: EVT é um tratamento seguro e eficaz para pacientes com WUS e LPS selecionados por meio de imagens baseadas em NCCT e DWI.

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BACKGROUND: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been considered a potential mechanism of embolic stroke of undetermined origin. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify the features of the right-to-left shunt (RLS) in patients with undetermined embolic ischemic stroke and compare them with those of patients with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 168 patients with stroke and RLS separated into the following two groups: the undetermined embolic stroke group (UES group) and non-cardioembolic stroke group (NCES group). All patients were assessed by transcranial Doppler to evaluate the presence and quantification of microembolic signals (MES) at rest and under Valsalva maneuver. RESULTS: Of all patients evaluated in the current study, 96 were included in the UES group and 72 in the NCES group. In the UES group, 65 patients had RLS with ≥10 MES (67.7%), which was higher than that observed in the NCES group (51.4%, p=0.038). According to the moment of the cardiac cycle, 75 patients (78.1%) in the UES group had a positive test at rest compared to 42 (58.3%) in the NCES group (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated that almost 70% of patients with undetermined embolic stroke and PFO presented a large RLS and more than 75% had RLS at rest. These findings suggest that the size of the shunt should be taken into account when evaluating whether PFO could be a possible mechanism underlying cryptogenic stroke.

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Abstract Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been considered a potential mechanism of embolic stroke of undetermined origin. Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify the features of the right-to-left shunt (RLS) in patients with undetermined embolic ischemic stroke and compare them with those of patients with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with 168 patients with stroke and RLS separated into the following two groups: the undetermined embolic stroke group (UES group) and non-cardioembolic stroke group (NCES group). All patients were assessed by transcranial Doppler to evaluate the presence and quantification of microembolic signals (MES) at rest and under Valsalva maneuver. Results: Of all patients evaluated in the current study, 96 were included in the UES group and 72 in the NCES group. In the UES group, 65 patients had RLS with ≥10 MES (67.7%), which was higher than that observed in the NCES group (51.4%, p=0.038). According to the moment of the cardiac cycle, 75 patients (78.1%) in the UES group had a positive test at rest compared to 42 (58.3%) in the NCES group (p=0.007). Conclusions: The current study demonstrated that almost 70% of patients with undetermined embolic stroke and PFO presented a large RLS and more than 75% had RLS at rest. These findings suggest that the size of the shunt should be taken into account when evaluating whether PFO could be a possible mechanism underlying cryptogenic stroke.

RESUMO Antecedentes: Uma das potenciais fontes embólicas no acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) de origem indeterminada é o forame oval patente (FOP). Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar as características do shunt direita-esquerda em paciente com AVC de etiologia indeterminada, presumidamente embólica, e comparar tais características com pacientes apresentando AVC por outras causas não embólicas. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo com 168 pacientes com AVC e forame oval patente, separados em dois grupos: AVC embólico de etiologia indeterminada e AVC por outras causas não embólicas. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a Doppler transcraniano, para avaliar a presença de shunt direita-esquerda por meio do teste de embolia paradoxal. Além da quantificação de microbolhas, também foi avaliada a presença de shunt em repouso e sob manobra de Valsalva. Resultado: Do total, 96 pacientes foram incluídos no primeiro grupo (AVC indeterminado) e 72, no segundo grupo (AVC não embólico). No primeiro grupo, 65 pacientes exibiram shunt com passagem de mais de 10 microbolhas (67,5%), enquanto no segundo grupo isso aconteceu em 51,4% (p=0,038) dos casos. Além disso, 75 pacientes (78,1%) do primeiro grupo tiveram teste positivo ao repouso, comparados com 42 pacientes (58,3%) no segundo grupo (p=0,007). Conclusão: O presente estudo demonstrou que até 70% dos pacientes com AVC de etiologia indeterminada e forame oval apresentaram shunts maiores; em mais de 75%, houve passagem de microbolhas ao repouso. Esses achados sugerem que as características do shunt, como quantidade de microbolhas e passagem ao repouso, devem ser levadas em consideração na avaliação do FOP como possível mecanismo subjacente ao AVC.

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating disease, with a mortality rate of 35%. Among patients who survive the initial bleeding, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality is delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Electroencephalography (EEG) can detect cerebral ischemia in the early stages. We report a 66-year-old female patient who consulted for ictal headache and impaired consciousness. On admission, she was confused, dysarthric, and with meningeal signs. Brain angio-CT showed SAH FISHER IV and an aneurysm of the left posterior cerebral artery. After excluding the aneurysm (by coiling), the patient recovered the altered consciousness. Continuous EEG monitoring was initiated. On the sixth day of follow up, she had a transient headache and apathy. The brain MRI showed low cerebral blood flow in the left frontotemporal area, without ischemic lesions. On the seventh day, she presented expression aphasia and right facial-brachial paresis. Angiography confirmed severe vasospasm in M1 and M2 segments bilaterally. Pharmacological angioplasty with nimodipine was performed, with an excellent radiological response, although not clinical. A second MRI was carried out on the eighth day, which showed a left insular infarction and generalized vasospasm. A second therapeutic angiography was performed; the patient persisted with aphasia and left central facial paresis. The quantitative EEG analysis performed retrospectively showed a generalized reduction in the spectral edge frequency 95 (SEF95; meaning slowing in the EEG signal) at the fourth day of follow up, three days earlier than the clinical and imaging diagnosis of DCI was established.

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Acute ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the leading causes of morbidity, functional disability and mortality worldwide. The objective was to evaluate IS risk factors and imaging variables as predictors of short-term disability and mortality in IS. Consecutive 106 IS patients were enrolled. We examined the accuracy of IS severity using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid stenosis (both assessed using ultrasonography with doppler) predicting IS outcome assessed with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) three months after hospital admission. Poor prognosis (mRS ≥ 3) at three months was predicted by carotid stenosis (≥ 50%), type 2 diabetes mellitus and NIHSS with an accuracy of 85.2% (sensitivity: 90.2%; specificity: 81.8%). The mRS score at three months was strongly predicted by NIHSS (ß = 0.709, p < 0.001). Short-term mortality was strongly predicted using a neural network model with cIMT (≥ 1.0 mm versus < 1.0 mm), NIHSS and age, yielding an area under the receiving operator characteristic curve of 0.977 and an accuracy of 94.7% (sensitivity: 100.0%; specificity: 90.9%). High NIHSS (≥ 15) and cIMT (≥ 1.0 mm) increased the probability of dying with hazard ratios of 7.62 and 3.23, respectively. Baseline NIHSS was significantly predicted by the combined effects of age, large artery atherosclerosis stroke, sex, cIMT, body mass index, and smoking. In conclusion, high values of cIMT and NIHSS at admission strongly predict short-term functional impairment as well as mortality three months after IS, underscoring the importance of those measurements to predict clinical IS outcome.

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OBJECTIVE: Myocardial speckle-tracking echocardiography can detect subtle abnormalities in the left atrial function. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between left atrial myocardium and tissue function n assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHOD: The study was composed of 80 patients (45 men, 35 women, mean age: 67±15 years) with acute ischemic stroke. The patients were divided into two groups based on the calculated National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (group 1, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score < 16; group 2, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥ 16). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data for all patients were collected. Cardiac functions were evaluated using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography within 48 hours from admission to the neurology care unit. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the patients' clinical parameters. Left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (59.2±5.6 to 51.4±6.3, p=0.024). Left atrial longitudinal strain was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (34.48±9.73 to 26.27±7.41, p=0.019). There were no significant differences between other echocardiographic parameters. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that left atrial longitudinal strain is associated with stroke severity during admission in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Left atrial longitudinal strain is an indicator of left atrial myocardial function.

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Introducción: El método clínico por sí solo no es definitivo para diagnosticar una enfermedad cerebrovascular, por lo que es importante el uso de medios de diagnóstico imagenológicos como la tomografía axial computarizada, que permite investigar los aspectos morfológicos y funcionales del cerebro. Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas y tomográficas de pacientes con infarto cerebral. Métodos: Se efectuó un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 269 pacientes con infarto cerebral, atendidos en el Hospital Provincial Docente Clinicoquirúrgico Saturnino Lora Torres de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero hasta diciembre de 2019. Resultados: Predominaron el sexo masculino (54,6 %), el grupo etario de 70-79 años, las afectaciones motoras (76,5 %), la alteración de la conciencia (51,3 %) y el trastorno del lenguaje (50,5 %). En 38 pacientes los resultados de la tomografía fueron negativos antes de las 24 horas de evolución y 64,0 % se consideraron mejorados con secuelas. Conclusiones: La tomografía antes de las 24 horas demuestra una baja positividad y los hallazgos evolucionan con el tiempo, aunque es posible reconocer varios signos precoces de ictus agudo en menos de 4-6 horas.

Introduction: The clinical method by itself is not definitive to diagnose a cerebrovascular disease, reason why the use of imaging diagnostic means, as the computerized axial tomography is important, as it allows to investigate the morphological and functional aspects of the brain. Objective: To describe the clinical and tomographic characteristics of patients with complete stroke. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study of 269 patients with complete stroke, assisted in Saturnino Lora Torres Teaching Clinical Surgical Provincial Hospital was carried out in Santiago de Cuba, from January to December, 2019. Results: There was a prevalence of the male sex (54.6 %), 70-79 age group, motor disorders (76.5 %), alteration of the conscience (51.3 %) and language disorder (50.5 %). In 38 patients the results of the tomography were negative before the 24 hours of clinical course and 64.0 % were better with aftereffects of the disease. Conclusions: Tomography before the 24 hours demonstrates a low positivity and findings have a favorable clinical course as time goes by, although it is possible to recognize several early signs of acute ictus in less than 4-6 hours.

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The white matter hyperintensities (WMH, leucoaraiosis) represent the most common kind of ischemic vascular lesion of the white matter due to small vessel diseases, and occurs frequently in the elderly. Consequent to the neuroimaging identification arouse the need for their assessment. The group of Fazekas proposed a systematized semi-quantitative visual scale to score such lesions where two parameters were considered, extent and localization. The original scale was further modified, to a simplified version. Although other more complex scales have appeared, researchers remarked that the relatively simple Fazekas scale, in comparison to the complex ones and to volumetric measures, appeared to be sufficient when analyzing relationships between clinical parameters and WMH load in a clinical setting.

As hiperintensidades da substância branca (HSB, leucoaraiose) representam o tipo de lesão isquêmica mais comum da substância branca decorrente de doenças de pequenos vasos e ocorre frequentemente em idosos. Consequente à identificação por neuroimagem surgiu a necessidade de sua avaliação. O grupo de Fazekas propos uma escala visual semiquantitativa sistematizada para pontuar tais lesões, onde foram considerados dois parâmetros, extensão e localização. A escala original foi modificada para constituir uma versão mais simplificada. Embora outras escalas mais complexas tenham aparecido, pesquisadores comentaram que a relativamente simples escala de Fazekas, em comparação às mais complexas e a método volumétrico, mostrou-se suficiente quando é analisada a relação entre parâmetros clínicos e a carga de HSB em um cenário clínico.

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BACKGROUND: Flow diverters (FDs) result in high occlusion rates of aneurysms located distally to the carotid artery. However, the complications reported are not negligible. New modified surface FDs have low thrombogenic properties that may reduce ischemic complications related to the treatment. In addition, a modified surface FD may allow for the use of a single antiplatelet medication to reduce hemorrhagic risk during the procedure. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the p48 MW HPC (phenox, Bochum, Germany) to treat distal intracranial aneurysms under the use of aspirin monotherapy. METHODS: The primary endpoint was the incidence of any neurologic deficit after treatment after 6 months of follow-up. The secondary endpoint was the rate of the complete occlusion of the aneurysms at the 6-month follow-up. Enrollment of 20 patients was planned, but after inclusion of seven patients the study was stopped due to safety issues. RESULTS: Seven patients with eight aneurysms were included. Among the seven patients, three (42.8%) had ischemic complications on the second day after FD deployment. Two patients experienced complete recovery at discharge (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score=0), while one patient maintained mild dysarthria at discharge (NIHSS score=1) which improved after 6 months (NIHSS score=0). All three patients had no new symptoms during the 6-month follow-up. Complete aneurysm occlusion occurred in six (75%) of the eight aneurysms at the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Antiplatelet monotherapy with aspirin for the treatment of distal intracranial aneurysms with this modified surface FD resulted in a significant incidence of ischemic complications after treatment.

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SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Myocardial speckle-tracking echocardiography can detect subtle abnormalities in the left atrial function. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between left atrial myocardium and tissue function n assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHOD: The study was composed of 80 patients (45 men, 35 women, mean age: 67±15 years) with acute ischemic stroke. The patients were divided into two groups based on the calculated National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (group 1, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score < 16; group 2, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥ 16). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data for all patients were collected. Cardiac functions were evaluated using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography within 48 hours from admission to the neurology care unit. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the patients' clinical parameters. Left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (59.2±5.6 to 51.4±6.3, p=0.024). Left atrial longitudinal strain was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (34.48±9.73 to 26.27±7.41, p=0.019). There were no significant differences between other echocardiographic parameters. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that left atrial longitudinal strain is associated with stroke severity during admission in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Left atrial longitudinal strain is an indicator of left atrial myocardial function.

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating disease, with a mortality rate of 35%. Among patients who survive the initial bleeding, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality is delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Electroencephalography (EEG) can detect cerebral ischemia in the early stages. We report a 66-year-old female patient who consulted for ictal headache and impaired consciousness. On admission, she was confused, dysarthric, and with meningeal signs. Brain angio-CT showed SAH FISHER IV and an aneurysm of the left posterior cerebral artery. After excluding the aneurysm (by coiling), the patient recovered the altered consciousness. Continuous EEG monitoring was initiated. On the sixth day of follow up, she had a transient headache and apathy. The brain MRI showed low cerebral blood flow in the left frontotemporal area, without ischemic lesions. On the seventh day, she presented expression aphasia and right facial-brachial paresis. Angiography confirmed severe vasospasm in M1 and M2 segments bilaterally. Pharmacological angioplasty with nimodipine was performed, with an excellent radiological response, although not clinical. A second MRI was carried out on the eighth day, which showed a left insular infarction and generalized vasospasm. A second therapeutic angiography was performed; the patient persisted with aphasia and left central facial paresis. The quantitative EEG analysis performed retrospectively showed a generalized reduction in the spectral edge frequency 95 (SEF95; meaning slowing in the EEG signal) at the fourth day of follow up, three days earlier than the clinical and imaging diagnosis of DCI was established.

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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency and radiological predictors of recurrent acute symptomatic seizures (RASS) and motor impairment at discharge after a neonatal arterial ischemic stroke (NAIS). METHODS: In a nonconcurrent cohort study, 33 full-term newborns with NAIS confirmed by MRI are admitted into our hospital between January 2003 and December 2012. Stroke size, calculated as stroke volume divided by whole brain volume (WBV), was categorized as > or < 3.3% of WBV. A univariate analysis of categorical variables was performed using Fisher's exact test. A multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression models including all variables with a p value < 0.1 in the univariate analysis. RESULTS: The median age at NAIS was 2 days (IQR, 1-5.6), 36.4% were girls. The stroke size was > 3.3 of WBV in 48.5% of the cases, and 54.5% showed multifocal lesions. Involvement of the cerebral cortex (54.5%), thalamus (48.5%), posterior limb of the internal capsule (36.4%), basal ganglia (36.4%), and brainstem (28.2%) were found. At discharge, 45.5% of newborns had a motor deficit, and 27.3% had at least two seizures. Multivariate analyses revealed that stroke size > 3.3% of WBV (OR: 8.1, CI: 1.2-53.9) and basal ganglia involvement (OR: 12.8, CI: 1.7-95.4) predicted motor impairment at discharge. Cortical involvement of temporal and frontal lobes (OR: 14, CI: 2.2-88.1; and OR: 9.1, CI: 1.2-72.6) were predictive of RASS. CONCLUSION: Stroke size and location are independent risk factors for adverse short-term neurological outcomes in full-term newborns following a NAIS.

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