Immune-inflammatory, coagulation, adhesion, and imaging biomarkers combined in machine learning models improve the prediction of death 1 year after ischemic stroke.

Some clinical, imaging, and laboratory biomarkers have been identified as predictors of prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (IS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic validity of a combination of clinical, imaging, and laboratory biomarkers in predicting 1-year mortality of IS. We evaluated 103 patients with IS within 24 h of their hospital admission and assessed demographic data, IS severity using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and degree of stenosis, as well as laboratory variables including immune-inflammatory, coagulation, and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers. The IS patients were categorized as survivors and non-survivors 1 year after admission. Non-survivors showed higher NIHSS and cIMT values, lower antithrombin, Protein C, platelet counts, and albumin, and higher Factor VIII, von Willebrand Factor (vWF), white blood cells, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) than survivors. Neural network models separated non-survivors from survivors using NIHSS, cIMT, age, IL-6, TNF-α, hsCRP, Protein C, Protein S, vWF, and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) with an area under the receiving operating characteristics curve (AUC/ROC) of 0.975, cross-validated accuracy of 93.3%, sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 85.7%. In conclusion, imaging, immune-inflammatory, and coagulation biomarkers add predictive information to the NIHSS clinical score and these biomarkers in combination may act as predictors of 1-year mortality after IS. An early prediction of IS outcome is important for personalized therapeutic strategies that may improve the outcome of IS.

Carotid intima media thickness measurements coupled with stroke severity strongly predict short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a machine learning study.

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.

The Use of Osirix for Surgical Planning Using Cranial Measures and Region of Interest Tools: Technical Note.

BACKGROUND: During the surgery for intrinsic brain lesions, it is important to plan the proper site of the craniotomy and to identify the relations with the gyri and superficial veins. This might be a challenge, especially in small subcortical lesions and when there is a distortion of the cortical anatomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the free computer software Osirix, we have created a 3-dimensional reconstruction of the head and cerebral showing the gyri and superficial veins. With the aid of some tools, it is possible to create a colored image of the lesion and also to calculate the distance between the areas of interest and some easily identifiable structure, making it easier to plan the site of the craniotomy identify the topography of the lesion. RESULTS: The reconstructions were compared to the intraoperative view. We found this technique to be useful to help identify the gyri and cortical veins and use them to find the lesions. The use of a region of interest to show better the lesion under the cortical surface and in the three-dimensional reconstruction of the head was also helpful. CONCLUSIONS: This is a low-cost and easy technique that can be quickly learned and performed before every surgery. It helps the surgeon to plan a safe craniotomy and lesionectomy.

An Affordable Stereomicroscope for Microsurgery Training with Fluorescence Mode.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory training is a very important step on the development of the skills necessary for a neurosurgeon. This can be achieved using animal models and surgical microscopes or stereomicroscopes. Methods, like the use of fluorescein, increase the lifelike situation and allow anyone to assess the patency of an anastomosis and improve the quality of this training. METHODS: We report the use of a stereomicroscope with white light and a fluorescence mode used to perform dissection of small arteries and anastomosis using a chicken wing model. Using an affordable device, we could perform fluorescein videoangiography to asses the patency of those anastomosis and improve the quality of the training skills in microsurgery. RESULTS: The stereomicroscope is a useful tool for laboratory training and can be used as a substitute of a surgical microscope for microsurgery training. The fluorescence mode allowed us to perform fluorescein videoangiography with very a good quality of image. CONCLUSIONS: Microsurgery training is important part in the life of any neurosurgeon. Using a stereomicroscope with a fluorescence mode is an affordable method that can be reproduced in any laboratory in the world.

Displasia fibrosa óssea extensa em coluna cervical de paciente jovem e assintomático: Relato de caso / Extense cervical fibrous dysplasia of bones in young Assymptomatic Patient. Case Report

Introdução: A Displasia Fibrosa Óssea (DFO) é uma lesão benigna, representando 5 a 7% dos tumores ósseos benignos. Temsua etiologia relacionada a mutações somáticas. Classifica-se em monostótica, quando atinge apenas um osso ou poliostóticano envolvimento de mais de um. O acometimento cervical é raro, sendo mais comum na apresentação poliostótica. Os casoscom comprometimento funcional ou estético excessivo constituem-se como principais indicações para o tratamento cirúrgico.Objetivos: Os autores mostram o tratamento da lesão destrutiva do corpo vertebral cervical, quinto segmento, causada porDFO monostótica, por meio de somatectomia associada a artrodese anterior com substituto de corpo vertebral, placa detitânio anterior, laminectomia e fixação posterior com cabos de titânio sublaminares. Métodos e Resultados: Relato de caso,inicialmente de trauma automobilístico, que após estudo por imagem da coluna cervical confirmou diagnóstico de DFO. Devidoà instabilidade da região cervical indicou-se cirurgia, sobre a qual foram comentadas suas principais etapas...

Introduction: Fibrous Dysplasia of bones (FDB) is a benign lesion, representing 5-7% of all benign bone tumors. Its etiology isassociated to somatic mutations. It is classified as monostotic only when it reaches a bone, polyostotic when there is involvementof two or more bones. The cervical involvement is rare and is more common in polyostotic presentation. Cases with excessivefunctional or aesthetic impairment constitute the main indications for surgical treatment. Objectives: The authors present thetreatment of destructive lesions of the cervical vertebral body, segment of the fifth vertebra, caused by FDB monostotic usingsomatectomia associated to anterior arthrodesis with vertebral body replacement, titanium plate anterior, laminectomy andposterior fixation with sublaminares tittanium system. Methods and Results: Initially detected as an automobile trauma, afterimaging study of the cervical spine confirmed diagnosis of FDB. Due to the instability of the cervical region, surgery wasindicated...