Machine Learning to Predict Three Types of Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury Using Data at Admission: A Multi-Center Study for Development and Validation.

The difficulty of accurately identifying patients who would benefit from promising treatments makes it challenging to prove the efficacy of novel treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although machine learning is being increasingly applied to this task, existing binary outcome prediction models are insufficient for the effective stratification of TBI patients. The aim of this study was to develop an accurate 3-class outcome prediction model to enable appropriate patient stratification. To this end, retrospective balanced data of 1200 blunt TBI patients admitted to six Japanese hospitals from January 2018 onwards (200 consecutive cases at each institution) were used for model training and validation. We incorporated 21 predictors obtained in the emergency department, including age, sex, six clinical findings, four laboratory parameters, eight computed tomography findings, and an emergency craniotomy. We developed two machine learning models (XGBoost and dense neural network) and logistic regression models to predict 3-class outcomes based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) at discharge. The prediction models were developed using a training dataset with n = 1000, and their prediction performances were evaluated over two validation rounds on a validation dataset (n = 80) and a test dataset (n = 120) using the bootstrap method. Of the 1200 patients in aggregate, the median patient age was 71 years, 199 (16.7%) exhibited severe TBI, and emergency craniotomy was performed on 104 patients (8.7%). The median length of stay was 13.0 days. The 3-class outcomes were good recovery/moderate disability for 709 patients (59.1%), severe disability/vegetative state in 416 patients (34.7%), and death in 75 patients (6.2%). XGBoost model performed well with 69.5% sensitivity, 82.5% accuracy, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.901 in the final validation. In terms of the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the XGBoost outperformed the neural network-based and logistic regression models slightly. In particular, XGBoost outperformed the logistic regression model significantly in predicting severe disability/vegetative state. Although each model predicted favorable outcomes accurately, they tended to miss the mortality prediction. The proposed machine learning model was demonstrated to be capable of accurate prediction of in-hospital outcomes following TBI, even with the three GOSE-based categories. As a result, it is expected to be more impactful in the development of appropriate patient stratification methods in future TBI studies than conventional binary prognostic models. Further, outcomes were predicted based on only clinical data obtained from the emergency department. However, developing a robust model with consistent performance in diverse scenarios remains challenging, and further efforts are needed to improve generalization performance.

Transvenous embolization through the ipsilateral deep facial vein: A novel approach route for treatment of a cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula.

The superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) approach through the facial vein is usually preferred for transvenous embolization of a cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (CS DAVF) when the ipsilateral inferior petrosal sinus is angiographically occluded. However, navigating the microcatheter can sometimes be difficult because of stenosis or tortuous angulation at the junction between the angular vein and SOV. We present a novel transvenous access route to treat a CS DAVF using the ipsilateral deep facial vein through the SOV to reach the cavernous sinus. A 66-year-old woman presented with left-sided chemosis, exophthalmos, and external ophthalmoplegia. Angiography showed a left CS DAVF associated with a dilated SOV and retrograde cortical venous reflux. A dilated drainage vein, which branched from the SOV, ran through the lateral aspect of the orbit and exited the orbit through the inferior orbital fissure. This vein connected with the ipsilateral deep facial vein draining into the facial and internal jugular veins. We performed transvenous embolization via the SOV approach through the deep facial vein and achieved complete obliteration, by placing 3 platinum coils, without complications. Ophthalmic veins may connect with the cavernous sinus and pterygoid plexus, passing through the superior and inferior orbital fissures, respectively. Our case suggests that the deep facial vein may provide access to the SOV through the inferior orbital fissure without passing the difficult tortuous angle between the angular vein and SOV.

Machine Learning to Predict In-Hospital Morbidity and Mortality after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Recently, successful predictions using machine learning (ML) algorithms have been reported in various fields. However, in traumatic brain injury (TBI) cohorts, few studies have examined modern ML algorithms. To develop a simple ML model for TBI outcome prediction, we conducted a performance comparison of nine algorithms: ridge regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, random forest, gradient boosting, extra trees, decision tree, Gaussian naïve Bayes, multi-nomial naïve Bayes, and support vector machine. Fourteen feasible parameters were introduced in the ML models, including age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), systolic blood pressure (SBP), abnormal pupillary response, major extracranial injury, computed tomography (CT) findings, and routinely collected laboratory values (glucose, C-reactive protein [CRP], and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products [FDP]). Data from 232 patients with TBI were randomly divided into a training sample (80%) for hyperparameter tuning and validation sample (20%). The bootstrap method was used for validation. Random forest demonstrated the best performance for in-hospital poor outcome prediction and ridge regression for in-hospital mortality prediction: the mean statistical measures were 100% sensitivity, 72.3% specificity, 91.7% accuracy, and 0.895 area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC); and 88.4% sensitivity, 88.2% specificity, 88.6% accuracy, and 0.875 AUC, respectively. Based on the feature selection method using the tree-based ensemble algorithm, age, Glasgow Coma Scale, fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products, and glucose were identified as the most important prognostic factors for poor outcome and mortality. Our results indicate the relatively good predictive performance of modern ML for TBI outcome. Further external validation is required for more heterogeneous samples to confirm our results.

[Clinical Features and Treatment Strategy of Vertebral Artery Injury Associated with Cervical Spine Trauma].

OBJECTIVE: Vertebral artery injury(VAI)associated with cervical spine trauma has the potential to cause catastrophic vertebrobasilar stroke. However, there are no well-defined treatment recommendations for VAI. The purpose of this study was to identify an effective treatment strategy for VAI following cervical spine trauma. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with blunt cervical spine trauma were treated at Hyogo Prefectural Kakogawa Medical Center between January 2013 and September 2017. Of these patients, 49 underwent computed tomographic angiography or magnetic resonance angiography for evaluation of the vertebral artery. Eighteen patients(36.7%)had a diagnosis of VAI. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes in these 18 patients. RESULTS: Seven patients(38.9%)had bilateral VAI, 16(88.9%)had cervical dislocation, and 2(11.1%)had transverse process fractures extending into the transverse foramen. Surgical reduction was performed in 14 patients. Five patients with either bilateral or unilateral occlusion underwent parent artery occlusion before reduction. There were no complications after this procedure. Two patients with bilateral VAI had a stroke before treatment. There were no infarctions in the distribution of the vertebrobasilar artery after intervention. The perioperative stroke rate was relatively good, and almost all Glasgow Outcome Scale scores were related to the degree of spinal cord injury. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive screening for VAI is important in patients with cervical spine trauma in order to ensure adequate treatment. Although the treatment strategy described here could yield good results, it may require modification according to the needs of the individual patient.

[A Pediatric Case of Intractable Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage after Implantation of an Intrathecal Baclofen Pump].

Intrathecal baclofen(ITB)infusion can offer a useful treatment for severe spasticity;however, numerous complications have been reported. We report a pediatric case in which intractable cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)leakage associated with several inconvenient symptoms arose after implantation of the ITB pump system. A 10-year-old girl with spastic quadriparesis and athetoid cerebral palsy underwent implantation of an ITB delivery system. After discharge, she presented with fluid collection surrounding the pump in the abdomen. The volume of fluid increased and was percutaneously aspirated every other week. However, conservative management failed to relieve fluid collection, which was suspected to be due to CSF leakage. She underwent additional purse-string suture of the point inserted catheter insertion in the back, epidural blood patch, and subfascial implantation of an anchor. However, none of these therapies proved effective. Progressive enlargement of the accumulated fluid was observed. Furthermore, symptoms of ITB withdrawal appeared. Lumbar-peritoneal shunting was performed, and the subcutaneous fluid collection was relieved postoperatively. The course after shunting was uneventful;hence, the dose of baclofen was stabilized. No recurrence of fluid collection was encountered for two years. Intractable CSF leakage was thought to be caused by wasting, occult hydrocephalus, and twisted movements. This case indicates that care is required in the management of CSF leakage after ITB pump implantation.

Solitary metastatic tumor within the optic chiasm--case report.

A 61-year-old female, previously treated for lung cancer, presented with a rare case of metastasis directly to the optic chiasm manifesting as visual deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a suprasellar mass similar to an optic glioma. At surgery, the optic chiasm appeared swollen with hypervascularity over the surface. The bilateral optic nerves and the pituitary stalk appeared normal. A small incision was made on the superior surface of the chiasm and biopsy specimens were taken. The histological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma, which was consistent with the primary lung cancer. She received whole brain irradiation, resulting in mild improvement of her vision. Suprasellar metastatic tumors to the pituitary gland, pituitary stalk, and hypothalamus are well documented, but solitary metastasis within the optic chiasm should be considered as one of several differential diagnoses of suprasellar tumors, in patients with or without a history of treated cancer.

Loss of CO2-induced distensibility in cerebral arteries with chronic hypertension or vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

We developed a rat cerebral angiography system using monochromatic synchrotron radiation X-rays at SPring-8, a third generation synchrotron radiation facility. Using new technique, we assessed the distensibility of major trunk arteries after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Twenty-five adult Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and fourteen stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were prepared SAH by double hemorrhage injection method into cisterna magna. Angiography was performed on day 7 and was repeated three times in each rat before and after loading of hypercapnia at 100-120 mmHg of PaCO2. The diameters of major trunk vessels were assessed. Light microscopic observation of artery lumen and wall were also performed. Angiographical vasospasm was demonstrated in basilar artery in WKY with 66 % reduction in diameter of control. In ICA and other major trunk in WKY and all the arteries in SHR did not demonstrate vasospasm. SHA resulted in loss of hypercapnia-induced distention in BA of WKY. In SHR, the distensibility was impaired regardless of hemorrhage. Histological study demonstrated basilar artery in WKY thickened at 184 % after SAH and became similar to non-hemorrhagic SHR. ICA in WKY and both BA and ICA in SHR were unchanged in wall thickness before and after SAH. High quality angiography demonstrated deteriorated distensibility in chronic hypertension or SAH-induced spastic vessels.

In vivo cerebral artery microangiography in rat and mouse using synchrotron radiation imaging system.

Microangiography with spatial resolution in the micrometer range was carried out to depict vascular responses of the cerebral artery and arterioles in rats and mice using a real-time imaging system and a third generation synchrotron radiation source at SPring-8. An X-ray direct-conversion type detector with 6 microm spatial resolution was developed for real-time biomedical imaging. The X-ray image is converted directly into an electrical signal in the photoconductive layer without image blurring. In synchrotron radiation radiography, a long source-to-object distance and a small source spot can produce high-resolution images. Microangiographic images were obtained without image blurring and were stored in a digital frame memory system with a 1024 x 1024-pixel, 10-bit format. In imaging experiments, vasoconstriction and vasodilatation of small cerebral arteries were visualized in response to hypercapnia, hemorrhagic hypotension, and vasoactive agents after iodine contrast agent injection into the carotid artery.

[A case of amebic brain abscess].

Amebic brain abscess is a rare and usually fatal complication of Entamoeba histolytica infections. We successfully treated a patient with this infection accompanied by brain, liver and pulmonary abscesses. Treatment consisted of administration of metronidazole through a nasogastric tube, and drainage of the brain abscess. A 51-year-old male patient presented with a two-week history of fever, severe back pain, and chest pain. Liver and pulmonary abscesses were drained upon admission. Biopsy of the colon showed infection by Entamoeba histolytica. After oral administration of metronicazole, the patient became somnolent, and neurological examination showed left side weakness. CT scan and MRI of the brain disclosed an abnormal lesion in the right basal ganglia. He was then transferred to our department, where stereotactic aspiration with drainage of the brain abscess was performed. The abscess was filled with reddish purulent material. Treatment with metronidazole (1,200 mg daily) for 18 days resulted in almost complete resolution of the intracerebral lesion and survival of the patient without any neurological deficits. His general condition improved dramatically, and he was discharged from our hospital 2 months later. Only 14 cases with amebic brain abscess associated with Entamoeba histolytica infection who recovered after treatment have been reported. We suggest amebic brain abscess should be taken into consideration for patients with brain abscess with a history of dysenteric illness especially since early diagnosis and aggressive management is likely to result in a cure.

Quantification of distension in rat cerebral perforating arteries.

We developed a novel cerebral angiography procedure for rodents using monochromatic synchrotron radiation X-rays and obtained images of rat cerebral perforating arteries for the first time. In normotensive rat, hypercapnia rapidly distended the perforators between 3 and 15 min after induction and major trunk vessels distended more rapidly in 3-6 min. Systemic hypotension made by stepwise hemorrhage distended the perforators up to 158% of control values but constricted most of the large cerebral trunk vessels. In spontaneous hypertensive rats, systemic hypotension-induced distension disappeared in perforators, indicating that perforators with chronic hypertension lose their autoregulatory distensibility.

[A case of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord diagnosed by characteristic findings of magnetic resonance imaging: case report and review of 22 cases].

Subacute combined degeneration (SCD) is a rare cause of demyelination of the dorsal and lateral columns of the spinal cord, and is a neurogenic complication due to vitamin B12 deficiency. This report concerns a patient with progressive sensory disturbance, but no abnormal neurological findings. A 73-year-old man with gastrectomy presented with a 6-month history of gradually worsening tingling in both hands. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine clearly showed symmetrical high-signal areas on T2WI involving the posterior columns of the cervical cord from C2 through C6. A diagnosis of SCD of the spinal cord was considered and confirmed by laboratory findings. The patient was treated with vitamin B12 supplements and showed gradual improvement in his clinical symptoms. Repeat MRI of the cervical spine after 3 months indicated a slight decrease in the area of the abnormal signal. Among all the possible causes of myelopathy, SCD of the spinal cord, involving neurological complications due to vitamin B12 deficiency, is one of the less often encountered diseases. Nevertheless, SCD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Improvement of visual acuity caused by opticochiasmal astrocytoma after treatment for associated hydrocephalus--case report.

A 33-year-old male presented with syncopal attacks. He had a history of slowly progressive deterioration of visual acuity in both eyes. His visual deterioration began in the left eye at age 12 years and in the right eye at age 20 years. His left eye was completely blind by age 33 years. He had received no prior treatment for these visual disturbances. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging on admission showed a large tumor with inhomogeneous intensity occupying the bilateral optic canals and orbital cavities, with extension to parasellar region. Arachnoid cysts were found in the left middle fossa and supracerebellar space, which had caused herniation of the cerebellar tonsils to the foramen magnum. Open biopsy and histology verified that the tumor was pilocytic astrocytoma. Arachnoid cysts associated with the hydrocephalus were treated with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Seven years after surgery, visual acuity of the right eye had improved although the left eye remained blind. Follow-up MR imaging demonstrated marked reduction in size of the ventricles and arachnoid cysts, but the tumor size did not change. This case illustrates the benign nature of low-grade glioma in this region in spite of the large size and long history. Deterioration of visual acuity may be reversible in some cases of opticochiasmal astrocytoma. In our case, the improvement in visual acuity probably resulted from growth arrest of the tumor and improvement in the dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid flow.

Congenital cavernous angioma exhibits a progressive decrease in size after birth.

CASE REPORT: We report a case of congenital intracranial cavernous angioma, which was initially found at a gestational age of 34 weeks in utero as a mass lesion associated with hydrocephalus. After birth, the patient was treated for hydrocephalus first by external drainage and then by ventricular peritoneal shunt. The natural course of the mass lesion was observed until the age of 8 months when the histopathological diagnosis confirmed the cavernous angioma after tissue was obtained by surgery. CT scans repeated monthly during this period demonstrated that the angioma continuously decreased in size. There was no evidence of hemorrhage in the angioma on serial CT scans. The histopathology revealed thrombosis of cavernous vessels with hyaloid changes in the angioma. DISCUSSION: The mechanisms of the decreasing size of the cavernous angioma have often been discussed in relation to spontaneous hemorrhages and resolution. The present case suggests a mechanism in which the spontaneous formation of a thrombus might be the dominant factor for the decrease in size. Thrombus formation may result from low perfusion due to the large size of the angioma.

Moyamoya syndrome after prophylactic cranial irradiation for acute lymphocytic leukemia.

A 9-year-old boy presented with an episode of syncope, and MR imaging revealed bilateral internal carotid artery stenosis with moyamoya vessel formation. He had had prophylactic cranial irradiation at a total dose of 24 Gy for the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia at the age of 4. Following this, he was in a complete state of remission for 6 years. During an observation period of a year after the onset of syncope, MR imaging showed development of multiple ischemic lesions in both hemispheres. He developed a transient ischemic attack of mild motor weakness in his arm and an indirect anastomosis was performed on the severely affected side at the age of 10. Radiation-induced vasculopathies are known to be associated with primary diseases of intracranial tumors, but the frequency is unclear. Ours is the third case in whom prophylactic cranial irradiation for a hematological disorder might have induced cerebral vasculopathies.

[Clinical analysis of pediatric shunt catheter fracture].

Between 1985 and 1998, 415 shunt dysfunctions occurred at Kobe Children's Hospital. The main reasons for shunt revision were obstruction of the catheter, shunt infection, and shunt disconnection. This report presents an analysis of 35 patients (36 cases) who underwent a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt revision because of shunt catheter fracture. All patients were less than 18 years old. We researched their age at the time of revision, site of disruption, postoperative period, shunt system, clinical symptoms, and other factors. The mechanical aspects of shunt catheter fracture are also discussed in this report. The peak time of shunt catheter fracture was the time when children were growing up and were entering elementary school. In other words, when their height was increasing rapidly. At that time, the distal catheter is subjected to traction between the valve and the abdomen at the site of insertion in either the upper or lower direction. However, physical examination of the shunt catheter showed normal range. Additional contributory factors were chronic stimulation at the occipital bone, clavium bone, and costal arch, while movement of the neck and body rotation also caused shunt catheter fracture. These factors all originated from shearing strain at the shunt catheter. We look forward to the introduction of a stronger shunt catheter, because surgical repair time must be minimized to protect the child's mental development. In addition, shearing strain at the shunt catheter needs special attention.