Endovascular Therapy for Basilar Artery Occlusion in Sudden Onset to Maximal Deficit Ischemic Events.

BACKGROUND: The presence of sudden onset to maximal deficit (SOTMD) in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion often results in more severe outcomes. However, the effect of endovascular therapy on SOTMD and whether the outcome is affected by onset-to-puncture time remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the prospective BASILAR (Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Study Registry). Consecutive patients with basilar artery occlusion receiving endovascular therapy were dichotomized into SOTMD and non-SOTMD cohorts. The primary outcomes included a favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale 0-3), recanalization, and mortality at 90 days. The outcomes of patients with SOTMD were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. In the multivariate analysis, a favorable outcome was similar between the two cohorts (odds ratio [OR], 0.88 [95% CI, 0.58-1.34]; P=0.5), although the mortality of patients with SOTMD was higher than that of patients with non-SOTMD (OR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.14-2.44]; P=0.008). The probability of mortality increased from 40.0% at 1 hour to 70.0% at 6 hours in the SOTMD cohort, and favorable outcomes of patients with non-SOTMD declined from 38.0% at 1 hour to 18.0% at 8 hours. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was observed in favorable outcomes between the SOTMD and non-SOTMD groups, although mortality was higher in the SOTMD cohort. The patients with SOTMD had a stronger time dependence for endovascular therapy in terms of mortality, while the time dependency regarding favorable outcome in the NSOTMD group was even higher. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn; Unique identifier: ChiCTR1800014759.

Monitoring the Opening of Rapid Palatal Expansion (RPE) in a 3D-Printed Skull Model Using Fiber Optic F-P Sensors.

We present a novel method for the online measurement of multi-point opening distances of midpalatal sutures during a rapid palatal expansion (RPE) using fiber optic Fabry-Perot (F-P) sensors. The sensor consists of an optical fiber with a cut flat end face and an optical reflector, which are implanted into the palatal base structure of an expander and is capable of measuring the precise distance between two optical reflective surfaces. As a demonstration, a 3D-printed skull model containing the maxilla and zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) was produced and a miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander (MARPE) with two guide rods was used to generate the midpalatal suture expansion. The reflected spectrums of the sensors were used to dynamically extract cavity length information for full process monitoring of expansion. The dynamic opening of the midpalatal suture during the gradual activation of the expander was measured, and a displacement resolution of 2.5 µm was demonstrated. The angle of expansion was derived and the results suggested that the midpalatal suture was opened with a slight V-type expansion of 0.03 rad at the first loading and subsequently expanded in parallel. This finding might be useful for understanding the mechanical mechanisms that lead to different types of expansion. The use of a fiber optic sensor for mounting the rapid palatal expander facilitates biomechanical studies and experimental and clinical evaluation of the effects of RPE.

Effect of Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage on Outcome After Endovascular Treatment in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion.

Background and Purpose: Gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH) is associated with a poorer prognosis and a higher mortality rate after acute ischemic stroke (AIS), but its association with outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT) remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors, and relationships among clinical outcomes of GIH after EVT in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO). Methods: Consecutive patients treated with EVT were identified from the EVT for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Study (BASILAR) registry. All enrolled patients were divided into GIH and non-GIH subgroups, and the independent predictors of GIH after EVT were explored. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to assess the association between GIH and primary outcome [distribution of modified Rankin scale (mRS)] at 90 days, while binary logistic regression models for other outcomes were also employed. Results: Among 647 patients with acute BAO, 114 (17.6%) patients experienced GIH after EVT. Higher glucose levels at admission, longer procedure time, and general anesthesia were the independent predictors of GIH after EVT, while protective factors include the posterior circulation-Acute Stroke Prognosis Early Computed Tomography Score (pc-ASPECTS) ≥ 5 and a history of hyperlipidemia. Compared with the non-GIH group, the GIH group was associated with a worse functional outcome [adjusted common odds ratio (OR), 2.12 (95% CI, 1.39-3.25)], lower rates of functional independence [adjusted OR,.47 (95% CI, 0.26-0.88)], a favorable outcome [adjusted OR, 0.41 (95% CI, 0.22-0.73)], and a higher risk of 90-day mortality [adjusted OR, 1.76 (95% CI, 1.08-2.85)]. Conclusion: This study concluded that GIH is not uncommon after EVT in patients with acute BAO and is associated with worse functional disability and higher mortality.

CD99 mediates neutrophil transmigration through the bEnd.3 monolayer via the induction of oxygen-glucose deprivation.

AIM/BACKGROUND: CD99 participate in neutrophil infiltration after inflammatory events; however, despite the important role of inflammation in ischemic stroke, the role of CD99 in ischemic stroke remains unclear. METHOD: In the present study, we detected the protein expression of CD99, ICAM-1, and CD31 (PECAM-1) in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced bEnd.3 cells and neutrophils and explored the influence of HIF-1α and IL-1ß on their expression. We also explored the role of CD99 in the OGD-induced transmigration of neutrophils. RESULTS: Our results showed that OGD induction upregulated CD99 in bEnd.3 cells and that this effect could be abolished by the preadministration of IL-1ß and was not mediated by HIF-1α. However, the activation of ICAM-1 by OGD remained activated with IL-1ß treatment. No significant influence of IL-1ß on OGD-induced CD31. Finally, we found a significant increase in infiltrated neutrophils after OGD induction compared with the control and OGD + anti-CD99 groups. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that CD99 mediates neutrophil infiltration and transmigration via OGD induction and thus constitutes a potential therapeutic target for anti-inflammatory treatment after ischemic stroke.

Application of capillary index score in predicting three-month functional outcome after endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke in China.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative neuroimaging assessment of collateral circulation is important for selecting acute ischemic stroke patients who are appropriate for endovascular treatment. We sought to validate the capillary index score system in an Asian population and compare its ability in predicting clinical outcomes with the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology grading system. METHODS: We continuously enrolled acute ischemic stroke patients from two neurological centers from March 2014 to March 2017. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess the capillary index score system with 90-day clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale score). The scoring systems were compared for predicting good (modified Rankin scale 0-2) and excellent (modified Rankin scale 0-1) functional outcomes using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: We identified 157 patients (median age, 65 years; 96 (61.1%) males), of whom 71 (45.2%) patients with 90-day good functional outcomes were selected. Capillary index score was independently associated with clinical outcome after endovascular treatment (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.43-0.92; P = 0.016) with its predictive ability for good functional outcome (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.755). For excellent functional outcome, the capillary index score system was not inferior to the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology grading system (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.748 versus 0.793, P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: The capillary index score system is a potentially useful tool for predicting 90-day functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients after endovascular treatment.

Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Functional and Safety Outcomes after Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Endovascular treatment (EVT) is proven to be safe and effective for treating acute large vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS). The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) reflects systemic inflammation, which plays an important role in the process of treating ischemic stroke. This study aims to explore the relationship between NLR and the clinical outcomes of LVOS patients undergoing EVT. METHODS: Patients were selected from the EVT for acUte Anterior circuLation (ACTUAL) ischemic stroke registry. The laboratory data (neutrophil count, lymphocyte count) before EVT were collected. Poor functional outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 3-6 at 3 months. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship of NLR with functional outcome, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality. RESULTS: We eventually included 616 patients (median of age, 66 years; 40.3% female). There were 350 (56.7%) patients achieving mRS of 3-6 at 3 months, 98 (15.9%) patients with sICH, and the mortality at 3 months was 24.8% (153/616). Baseline NLR was independently associated with poor functional outcome (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.02-2.45; p = 0.039) and sICH (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.09-3.11; p = 0.023) but showed a trend for predicting 3-month mortality (OR 1.57; 95% CI 0.94-2.65; p = 0.088). CONCLUSIONS: NLR independently predicts 3-month functional outcome and sICH but the existence of a trend association with mortality after EVT for acute anterior circulation LVOS patients.

Suppression of NLRP3 attenuates hemorrhagic transformation after delayed rtPA treatment in thromboembolic stroke rats: Involvement of neutrophil recruitment.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation and neutrophils play pivotal roles in hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) treatment in stroke; however, the contribution of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), a key component of the innate immune system, is not yet known. This study aimed to explore the role of NLRP3 in the delayed rtPA-induced HT and its association with the neutrophil recruitment. METHODS: Rats were subjected to thromboembolic focal cerebral ischemia and delayed rtPA treatment at 4 h after ischemia to mimic HT. NLRP3 short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) were administered 72 h before ischemia. Additionally, rabbit anti-rat neutrophil serum (inducing neutropenia) was administered before cerebral ischemia. The infarct volume, edema volume, neurological deficit, hemorrhages, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and brain neutrophil recruitment were evaluated at 24 h after cerebral ischemia. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that delayed rtPA treatment at 4 h after ischemia promoted the expression of NLRP3 in neurons, microglia and endothelial cells, degradation of BBB components, and HT. NLRP3 knockdown significantly attenuated NLRP3 expression, BBB disruption, and HT. It also improved neurological functions and reduced neutrophil recruitment. Rabbit anti-rat neutrophil serum, like NLRP3 shRNA, reduced hemorrhage score and hemorrhage volumes after rtPA treatment. Furthermore, the anti-rat neutrophil serum combined with NLRP3 shRNA didn't further increase the protective effect on HT compared to rabbit anti-rat neutrophil serum used alone. CONCLUSIONS: Together, our data suggest that NLRP3 inhibition can reduce neutrophil recruitment, which may contribute to the inhibitory effect on HT.