Dual-tDCS Enhances Online Motor Skill Learning and Long-Term Retention in Chronic Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: Since motor learning is a key component for stroke recovery, enhancing motor skill learning is a crucial challenge for neurorehabilitation. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising approach for improving motor learning. The aim of this trial was to test the hypothesis that dual-tDCS applied bilaterally over the primary motor cortices (M1) improves online motor skill learning with the paretic hand and its long-term retention. METHODS: Eighteen chronic stroke patients participated in a randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled, double bind trial. During separate sessions, dual-tDCS or sham dual-tDCS was applied over 30 min while stroke patients learned a complex visuomotor skill with the paretic hand: using a computer mouse to move a pointer along a complex circuit as quickly and accurately as possible. A learning index involving the evolution of the speed/accuracy trade-off was calculated. Performance of the motor skill was measured at baseline, after intervention and 1 week later. RESULTS: After sham dual-tDCS, eight patients showed performance worsening. In contrast, dual-tDCS enhanced the amount and speed of online motor skill learning compared to sham (p < 0.001) in all patients; this superiority was maintained throughout the hour following. The speed/accuracy trade-off was shifted more consistently after dual-tDCS (n = 10) than after sham (n = 3). More importantly, 1 week later, online enhancement under dual-tDCS had translated into superior long-term retention (+44%) compared to sham (+4%). The improvement generalized to a new untrained circuit and to digital dexterity. CONCLUSION: A single-session of dual-tDCS, applied while stroke patients trained with the paretic hand significantly enhanced online motor skill learning both quantitatively and qualitatively, leading to successful long-term retention and generalization. The combination of motor skill learning and dual-tDCS is promising for improving post-stroke neurorehabilitation.

Case-matched comparison of early and long-term outcomes of everted cervical vein and saphenous vein carotid patch angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES: To compare outcomes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with saphenous vein patch closure (SV), with cervical vein (external jugular and common facial) patch closure (CV). DESIGN: A total of 322 cases of CEA was achieved consecutively by using venous patch angioplasty. Propensity scores were calculated followed by a one-to-one basis case-matching. MATERIALS: This resulted into 90 SV and 90 CV matched cases. METHODS: The primary endpoint was the incidence of ipsilateral stroke and transient ischaemic attack at any time during follow-up. RESULTS: Ten-year freedom from stroke was 94.1% ± 3.5% for the SV group and 90.5% ± 4.2% for the CV group (log rank P = 0.230). Ten-year freedom from ipsilateral neurological events (stroke and transient ischaemic attack) was 93.5% ± 3.3% for SV group and 92.4% ± 3.0% for the CV group (log rank P = 0.403). Ten-year freedom from ≥75% stenosis/occlusion was 93.1 ± 4.8% for the SV group and 89.9 ± 6.0% for the CV group (log rank P = 0.481). CONCLUSIONS: CV is a good alternative to SV patching, particularly when the SV needs to be preserved for further use or is unsuitable.

The Belgian experience with intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: We report the Belgian results of the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke - International Stroke Thrombolysis Register (SITS-ISTR). This prospective observational register evaluates the safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis with rtPA (recombinant tissue Plasminogen Activator) for ischemic stroke in routine clinical practice. METHODS: We compared the baseline characteristics, treatment delay, rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and functional outcome at 90 days after treatment between patients enrolled in centres in Belgium and the non-Belgian SITS-registry population. We performed a multivariate analysis to adjust for differences in demographic and baseline characteristics. RESULTS: 743 patients were enrolled in 42 centers in Belgium between December 2002 and December 2007. These patients were older, had more severe stroke were more frequently female and more frequently had hyperlipidemia and atrial fibrillation. The median stroke onset-to-treatment delay was 140 min vs. 145 min. More patients died and were disabled 3 months after the stroke. A slight, non-significant, increase of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) as per SITS protocol was observed (2.4 vs. 1.6%, p = 0.15). After adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics, functional independence (mRS < or = 2) at 3 months (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.86-1.05, p = 0.31) was not different from non-Belgian patients, nor was the rate of SICH. However mortality at 3 months in Belgian patients was slightly higher (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.29, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Intravenous thrombolysis for ischemic stroke is safe and effective in the routine clinical use in Belgium. The higher mortality we observed is not related to a higher rate of SICH.

Risk factors and treatment of stroke at the time of recurrence.

The profile of recurrent ischemic strokes has not been much investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the therapeutic strategies recommended for secondary prevention after an ischemic stroke are implemented in the real world of clinical practice. All patients admitted for a recurrent ischemic stroke or TIA were prospectively registered. The etiology was determined according to the TOAST classification. The risk factors and cardiovascular treatment at the time of the recurrence were recorded. A total of 168 patients were evaluated. Most of the patients (61%) recurred after 1 year. The recurrent stroke was not associated with a particular etiological subtype. The most frequent risk factor was hypertension (79%), followed by hypercholesterolemia (43%), smoking (25%), and diabetes (22%). Most of the patients had more than 1 risk factor (84%). Hypertension was not satisfactorily controlled in 38% of patients, hypercholesterolemia in 42%, and diabetes in 59%. A significant minority of patients (15%) were not taking any antithrombotic agent despite a history of stroke or TIA. Only 34% of the cases with a known atrial fibrillation were on anticoagulant therapy and the International Normalized Ratio was < 2.0 in 71% of them. In conclusion, stroke prevention needs to be improved by better implementation of therapeutic strategies in clinical practice. The patients should also be better informed about target values as well as the importance of physical activity and smoking cessation.

Organisation of inhospital acute stroke care and minimum criteria for stroke care units. Recommendations of the Belgian Stroke Council.

There is ample evidence from randomized trials that for patients with stroke, stroke unit care is superior to care in general medical or neurological wards. This evidence, which has been adopted by international guidelines has to be implemented into daily stroke care. This consensus document prepared by the Belgian Stroke Council provides a set of minimum criteria to meet international standards for stroke care. It is intended to provide help in the creation of stroke units in centers who do not currently have one and to provide a benchmark for centres already having organised stroke care.

Caecum and ascending colon herniated in the lesser sac through the Winslow's hiatus. A case report.

Herniation of the caecum and the ascending colon in the lesser sac through the Winslow's hiatus is an uncommon cause of intestinal occlusion. The clinical presentation can be acute or chronic. The diagnosis often remains unclear before surgical operation, even with the assistance of abdominal CT, providing an image of a digestive structure in the lesser sac and the presence of mesentery between the portal triad and the vena cava. The treatment consists of reducing the internal hernia, which could be considered under laparoscopy.

Family history of hypertension is not an independent genetic factor predisposing to ischemic stroke subtypes.

OBJECTIVES: The effect of family history of hypertension (FHx(HT)), as a genetic factor predisposing to some ischemic stroke subtypes and independently of hypertension as risk factor, has never been studied. METHODS: A positive FHx(HT) was searched in 472 patients (312 men, 160 women; mean [S.D.] age, 67.9 [11.4] years) consecutively admitted for a first-ever ischemic stroke (348) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (124) due to small vessel disease (SVD, 180), large vessel disease (156), or cardioembolism (136). In this population and in three age bands, the genetically transmitted vascular risk factors, age, gender and the ischemic stroke subtypes were compared between those with and without a positive FHx(HT). RESULTS: None of the risk factors was associated with a positive FHx(HT), except for hypertension in the whole population (68.9% vs. 48.7%; p=0.001) and in the <65 year-old patients (72.5% vs. 39.5%; p<0.001). Regarding the stroke subtypes, a positive FHx(HT) was only associated with SVD in the subgroup of <65 year-old patients (odd ratios (OR), 2.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01 to 4.25; p=0.045). However, this finding disappeared in a logistic regression analysis, which only retained hypertension as independently associated with SVD. CONCLUSIONS: FHx(HT) is not an independent genetic factor predisposing to some aetiological stroke subtypes.

Atopic myelitis: a clinical, biological, radiological and histopathological diagnosis.

We describe a young patient with an unusual intramedullary lesion filled with eosinophils. The 21-year-old man developed chronic myelitis without optic neuritis or signs of systemic or infectious disease. A spinal biopsy was conducted because of the progressive extension and pseudo-tumoural aspect of the lesion. Histopathological analysis of the biopsy specimen revealed a severe inflammatory process with macrophages and numerous eosinophils. The eosinophil count in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were normal. Clinical, laboratory and radiological data did not correspond with the usual causes of eosinophilic myelitis. Abnormal mite antigen-specific IgE levels and features similar to Japanese cases of atopic myelitis suggested an allergic origin. Despite normal total IgE levels, this case may be the second case of atopic myelitis reported in a Caucasian patient. Striking differences with the first reported case are the absence of a typical history of atopy and normal total IgE levels. This case highlights that atopic myelitis should be considered in myelopathy occurring in Caucasian patients even in the absence of hyperIgEaemia.

Segmental spinal myoclonus and syringomyelia: A case report.

We report the case of a 75-year-old woman who developed involuntary jerks of the abdominal musculature. They occurred spontaneously or triggered by a forced inspiration or attempts to rise from the supine position. Electromyography (EMG) recorded abnormal bursts of muscle activity in the abdominal, thoracic paraspinal, and intercostal muscles up to the 3rd intercostal space. The bursts were bilateral, arrythmic and synchronous in all muscles. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine revealed a syringomyelic cavity between the T3 and T10 levels. The topological correlation between the EMG muscle activities and the MRI findings was consistent with spinal myoclonus arising from the thoracic spinal cord. The synchronous bursts in muscles depending from few adjacent spinal segments suggested the diagnosis of segmental spinal myoclonus (SSM). There are few reports of SSM related to syringomyelia in the literature.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei: review on a cluster of peritoneal mucinous diseases.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is an uncommon condition characterized by abundant extracellular mucinous material and peritoneal tumoural implants. A ruptured appendiceal mucinous adenoma seems to be the most common origin, but low grade ovarian malignancies are often associated. Peritoneal gelatinous diseases must be subdivided into disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis, peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis and intermediate cases. These entities have significantly different prognosis. Debulking surgery is the most common treatment but some are in favour of an ultra radical surgery with hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy, with some encouraging results.

[Medical treatment for cerebral atherothrombosis]. / Traitement médical de l'athérothrombose cérébrale.

Atherothrombotic ischemic stroke is associated with multiple vascular risk factors, including mainly hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Medical therapy of cerebral atherothrombosis implies control of these vascular risk factors and antithrombotic drugs as well. This paper reviews the current therapeutic guidelines according to the randomized trials for primary and secondary stroke prevention.

Lipids in ischemic stroke subtypes.

In secondary prevention, reduction of the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke might be expected with statins if a correlation can be established between hyperlipidemia and ischemic stroke or some specific ischemic stroke/TIA subtypes. However, such correlation remains controversial, and more particularly with the etiologic stroke/TIA subtypes. Few studies have evaluated the plasma lipid profile in different ischemic stroke subtypes, and notably in lacunar infarctions and cardioembolic strokes. The objectives of this case-control study was to determine (1) which cholesterol fractions is associated with large vessel disease (LVD), small vessel disease (SVD), and cardioembolic disease (CED); (2) whether hypertriglyceridemia is related more to any particular stroke subtype; and (3) whether the lipid profile is different between LVD and SVD which are both responsible for atherothrombotic cerebral ischemia. From a cohort of 485 patients, were selected 240 consecutive cases with ischemic stroke (n = 182) or transient ischemic attack (n = 58) due to a single etiology. The levels of total cholesterol (total-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) were measured in 61 patients with LVD, in 65 with SVD, and in 114 with CED, and compared with age- and sex-matched control subjects. Additional analysis was performed to compare the lipid profile between LVD and SVD after adjustment for other risk factors. Compared to controls, the total-C level was significantly higher in patients with SVD (p = 0.005) and LVD (p = 0.018). A significant increase in the LDL-C level (p < 0.004) and a significant decrease in the HDL-C level (p = 0.001) were only observed in the LVD patients. The three stroke subtypes showed higher TG levels than the controls (CED, p = 0.037; SVD, p < 0.001; LVD, p = 0.014). The plasma lipid profile was similar in the SVD and LVD subtypes except for HDL-C, which was significantly lower in LVD than in SVD (p = 0.047). Logistic regression adjusted for confounders showed that decreased HDL-C (p = 0.020), and smoking (p = 0.019) were significant discriminative factors for LVD vs. SVD. In conclusion, this controlled study shows that hypertriglyceridemia is commonly found in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease whatever the etiologic subtype, whereas hypercholesterolemia is related more to SVD and LVD. In addition to hypertension and diabetes, hypercholesterolemia may also be involved in the etiology of SVD and differs from LVD by a lower decrease in HDL-C.

Hypnic headache: a case report with polysomnography.

We report on a case of nocturnal headache attacks fulfilling the criteria for hypnic headache syndrome. Using an overnight polysomnography, one nocturnal headache attack was captured during the REM phase of sleep. Quality of sleep was poor with desaturation episodes. However, the hypnic headache attack was not associated with oxygen desaturation. This additional case supports the view of a relationship between the hypnic headache syndrome and the REM sleep stage. Lithium therapy decreased the intensity and frequency of headache attacks.