Acute Brain Infarction in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis: A Korean Single-Center Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the clinical and radiological features of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with acute brain infarction, using a cohort of Korean patients with AAV. METHODS: This study included 263 patients with AAV. Acute brain infarction was defined as infarction that occurred within 7 days or less. The brain territories affected by acute brain infarction were investigated. Active AAV was arbitrarily defined as the highest tertile of Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS). RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 59.0 years, and 35.4% were male. Fourteen cases of acute brain infarction occurred in 12 patients (4.6%), which was calculated as 1332.2 per 100,000 patient-years and 10 times higher than the incidence rate in the Korean general population. Patients with AAV with acute brain infarction exhibited significantly older age, increased BVAS at diagnosis, and a more frequent history of prior brain infarction compared with those without. The brain territories affected in AAV patients were middle cerebral artery (50.0%), multiple territories (35.7%), and posterior cerebral artery (14.3%). Lacunar infarction and microhemorrhage were observed in 42.9% and 71.4% of cases, respectively. Prior brain infarction and BVAS at diagnosis were independently associated with acute brain infarction (hazard ratios, 7.037 and 1.089). Patients with AAV with prior brain infarction or BVAS for active AAV exhibited significantly lower cumulative acute brain infarction-free survival rates than those without. CONCLUSION: Acute brain infarction was observed in 4.6% of AAV patients, and both prior brain infarction and BVAS at diagnosis were independently associated with acute brain infarction.

The Diagnostic Value of Whole Blood lncRNA NR_120420 for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Current clinical practice based on CT or multimodal images to diagnose ischemic stroke always led to substantial treatment delay. We perform this study to explore possible circulating lncRNA biomarker to help promptly diagnose the disease. METHODS: We used microarray to identify the differentially expressed lncRNAs in the peripheral whole blood between AIS patients and controls and verified the results by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to determinate the lncRNAs independently associated with AIS occurrence. The ROC curve was used to detect the diagnostic accuracy of candidate lncRNAs in AIS and AIS subtypes, which was classified according to the Oxford Community Stroke Project (OCSP) criteria. RESULTS: The microarray analysis screened out 5686 differentially expressed lncRNAs. Among the nine selected lncRNAs verified by qPCR, NR_120420 (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.02-1.65, P = 0.037) was found independently associated with AIS after balancing patient baseline characteristics. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis concerning NR_120420 in total anterior circulation infarction subgroup showed that the area under the curve was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.73-0.99, P = 0.003), and at the optimal cutoff point of 1.93, the sensitivity and specificity reached 85.7% and 84.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that NR_120420 could predict the total anterior circulation infarction with high sensitivity and specificity and could be potentially used as a biomarker for total anterior circulation infarction in AIS patients.

Editor's Choice - Relevance of Infarct Size, Timing of Surgery, and Peri-operative Management for Non-ischaemic Cerebral Complications After Carotid Endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of post-operative non-ischaemic cerebral complications as a pivotal outcome parameter with respect to size of cerebral infarction, timing of surgery, and peri-operative management in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected single centre CEA registry data. Consecutive patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis were subjected to standard patch endarterectomy. Brain infarct size was measured from the axial slice of pre-operative computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating the largest infarct dimension and was categorised as large (> 4 cm2), small (≤ 4 cm2), or absent. CEA was performed early (within 14 days) or delayed (15 - 180 days) after the ischaemic event. Peri-operative antiplatelet regimen (none, single, dual) and mean arterial blood pressure during surgery and at post-operative stroke unit monitoring were registered. Non-ischaemic post-operative cerebral complications were recorded comprising haemorrhagic stroke and encephalopathy, i.e., prolonged unconsciousness, delirium, epileptic seizure, or headache. RESULTS: 646 symptomatic patients were enrolled of whom 340 (52.6%) underwent early CEA; 367 patients (56.8%) demonstrated brain infarction corresponding to stenosis induced symptoms which was small in 266 (41.2%) and large in 101 (15.6%). Post-operative non-ischaemic cerebral complications occurred in 12 patients (1.9%; 10 encephalopathies, two haemorrhagic strokes) and were independently associated with large infarcts (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 6.839; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.699 - 27.534) and median intra-operative mean arterial blood pressure in the upper quartile, i.e., above 120 mmHg (adjusted OR 13.318; 95% CI 2.749 - 64.519). Timing of CEA after the ischaemic event, pre-operative antiplatelet regimen, and post-operative blood pressure were not associated with non-ischaemic cerebral complications. CONCLUSION: Infarct size and unintended high peri-operative blood pressure may increase the risk of non-ischaemic complications at CEA independently of whether performed early or delayed.

Prognostic Factors for Long-Term Recovery of Homonymous Visual Field Defects After Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke.

OBJECTIVES: Ischemic stroke (IS) is the main cause of homonymous visual field defects (HVFDs) in adults. Some reports suggest recovery even in late-phase strokes, but data is sparse. This study examines the frequency of long-term recovery from HVFDs in patients with posterior circulation infarction (POCI) and evaluates whether demographic or clinical characteristics are prognostic factors of perimetric recovery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included patients with HVFDS due to POCI who had undergone 2 or more kinetic perimetric evaluations at least 6 months after the index IS. Clinical and imaging data were systematically reviewed and we performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine whether demographic, stroke etiology (TOAST classification), and initial perimetric patterns were prognostic factors of visual recovery occurring 6 months and beyond from POCI. RESULTS: One hundred one patients with POCI were included. Median subject age was 60 years and 54.4% were female. After a median perimetric follow-up time of 13.5 months, spontaneous visual improvement was observed in 15.8% of patients. Prognostic factors for visual improvement were age < 50 years (OR 4.6; P = 0.093), POCI associated with hypercoagulable states (OR 12.3; P = 0.048), and vertebral artery dissection (OR 12.6; P = 0.048), while the presence of complete homonymous hemianopia was a negative predictor of recovery (OR 0.2; P = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Partial visual recovery in HVFDs is observed even 6 months and beyond POCI. Age < 50 years and stroke etiology were predictors of recovery.

Mind Diet Adherence and Cognitive Performance in the Framingham Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to the Mediterranean-DASH for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet has previously been associated with cognitive decline and dementia. To our knowledge, no prior study has investigated the association between the MIND diet and measures of brain volume, silent brain infarcts (SBIs), or brain atrophy. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether adherence to the MIND diet associated with superior cognitive function, larger brain volumes, fewer SBIs, and less cognitive decline in the community-based Framingham Heart Study. METHODS: 2,092 participants (mean±SD, age 61±9) completed Food Frequency Questionnaires, averaged across a maximum of 3-time points (examination cycles 5, 6, and 7), cognitive testing at examination cycle 7 (present study baseline: 1998-2001) and after a mean±SD of 6.6±1.1 years from baseline (n = 1,584). A subset of participants also completed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at examination cycle 7 (n = 1,904). In addition, participants with dementia, stroke, and other relevant neurological diseases such as significant head trauma, subdural hematoma, or multiple sclerosis were excluded from the analyses. RESULTS: Higher MIND diet scores were associated with better global cognitive function (ß±SE,+0.03SD±0.01; p = 0.004), verbal memory, visual memory, processing speed, verbal comprehension/reasoning, and with larger total brain volume (TBV) following adjustments for clinical, lifestyle and demographic covariates, but not with other brain MRI measures (i.e., hippocampal volume, lateral ventricular volume, white matter hyperintensity volume, and SBIs) or cognitive decline. CONCLUSION: Higher MIND diet scores associated with better cognitive performance and larger TBV at baseline, but not with cognitive decline. Clinical trials are needed to ascertain whether adopting the MIND diet affects trajectories of cognitive decline.

Bilateral anterior cerebral artery occlusion following CD19- and BCMA-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for a myeloma patient.

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T)-cell therapy is a promising treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). In our previous report, CD19- and BCMA-targeted CAR-T co-administration was associated with a high response rate. Although cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity are frequent complications following CAR-T treatment, cerebral infarction is rarely reported as a CAR-T-related complication. We reported a 73-year-old female MM patient who received CD19- and BCMA-targeted CAR-T for refractory disease. Her disease responded to CAR-T therapy, but she developed neurological symptoms following CRS. Cranial CT and MRI demonstrated multiple cerebral infarctions and bilateral anterior cerebral artery (ACA) occlusion. We suggest that cerebral infarction other than CAR-T-related neurotoxicity is the underlying cause of abnormal neuropsychological symptoms, and diagnostic imaging tests should be actively performed to exclude ischemic cerebrovascular events.

Utility of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for the Progression of Neurological Symptoms in Lenticulostriate Artery Territory Infarction.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) in determining the progression of neurological symptoms resulting in acute ischemic stroke in patients with lenticulostriate artery (LSA) infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1HMRS was performed within 72 h after neurological symptom onset. Voxel of interest was placed in tissue that included the pyramidal tract and identified diffusion weighted echo planar spin-echo sequence (DWI) coronal images. Infarct volume in DWI was calculated using the ABC/2 method. 1HMRS data (tNAA, tCr, Glx, tCho, and Ins) were analyzed using LCModel. Progressive neurological symptoms were defined as an increase of 1 or more in the NIHSS score. Patients who underwent 1HMRS after progressive neurological symptoms were excluded. RESULTS: In total, 77 patients were enrolled. Of these, 19 patients had progressive neurological symptoms. The patients with progressive neurological symptoms were significantly more likely to be female and had higher tCho/tCr values, higher rates of axial slices ≥ 3 slices on DWI, higher infarct volume on DWI, higher maximum diameter of infarction of axial slice on DWI, and higher SBP on admission compared to those without. Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that higher tCho/tCr values were independently associated with progressive neurological symptoms after adjusting for age, sex, and initial DWI infarct volume (tCho/tCr per 0.01 increase, OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.03-1.52, P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Increased tCho/tCr score were associated with progressive neurological symptoms in patients with LSA ischemic stroke. Quantitative evaluation of 1HMRS parameters may be useful for predicting the progression of neurological symptoms.

Clinical Outcomes and Medical Costs of Hydration Therapy with Hydroxyethyl Starch (130/0.4) or Acute Single Infarction.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of hydration with or without Hydroxyethyl Starch (HES) 130/0.4 on neurological outcomes and medical costs during hospitalisation in patients with a single infarction (SI) in the posterior lenticulostriate artery (LSA) territory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective, single-centre, non-blinded cohort study, SI in the posterior LSA was defined as an ischaemic lesion with a high-signal intensity area ≥20 mm. All patients received basic stroke care within 48 h of symptom onset between April 2015 and January 2019. Patients were divided into the following two groups by clinician's preference: 1) those administered HES 130/0.4 and 2) those receiving other infusion fluid. The relationships between hospital costs and hydration therapy type were examined. RESULTS: Eighteen (31%) of 58 patients received HES 130/0.4. The HES group had a significantly lower total cost than the control group (3.6 vs. 6.4 million yen, p=0.006). Moreover, the HES group had a significantly shorter hospital stay duration (79.5 vs. 141.0 days) and lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on day 7. Multivariate analysis found that HES 130/0.4 administration was an independent factor associated with high costs. CONCLUSIONS: Hydration therapy with HES 130/0.4 significantly decreased the total costs and hospitalisation duration of patients with SI in the posterior LSA territory.

Prominent hypointense vessel on susceptibility-weighted images accompanying hyperacute and acute large infarction.

BACKGROUND: Multiple prominent hypointense vessels on susceptibility-weighted image (SWI) have been found in the ischemic territory of patients with acute ischemic stroke. SWI is suitable for venous imaging. PURPOSE: To evaluate the conditions of prominent hypointense vessel (PHV) in hyperacute and acute cerebral infarctions using susceptibility-weighted image (SWI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance images, including SWI, of 284 patients with acute infarction were evaluated. Based on lesion size, the infarction was classified as a small (< 3 cm) or a large (> 3 cm) infarction. Stage of infarction was classified as hyperacute (< 6 h) or acute (> 6 h, < 1 week) on the basis of the onset of stroke. The site of infarction was categorised as a deep grey matter or a mixed (cortical and/or deep grey matter) infarction. The venous structures were analysed qualitatively for the calibre difference between ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres. We quantitatively analysed the relationship between the size of areas with PHV on SWI and the abnormalities on MR angiography, apparent diffusion coefficient value, and signal intensity on T2WI in the 271 patients. RESULTS: PHV over the infarction site was observed in 54.1% (137/253) of the large infarctions, and 19.3% (6/31) of the small infarctions on SWI. PHV was demonstrated in 63.1% (118/187) of mixed infarctions and 25.8% (25/97) of deep grey matter infarctions, and 59.2% (58/98) in hyperacute and 45.7% (85/186) of acute infarctions. The presence of PHV was statistically significant in the size and region of cerebral infarction (p < 0.05), and was not significant in the stage of infarction (p = 0.137). Quantitative analysis revealed significant differences in the MRA abnormalities and ADC values in the PHV ( +) group (p < 0.05) and no significant difference in the T2WI SI ratio in the PHV ( +) group (p = 0.086), compared with PHV (-) group. CONCLUSION: PHV on SWI was more prominent at the portions with the large and mixed infarctions. PHV was observed both in hyperacute and acute infarction.

Clinical Relevance of Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on 1.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Late-Adult Population.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cortical cerebral microinfarcts (CMIs) have been linked with dementia and impaired cognition in cross-sectional studies. However, the clinical relevance of CMIs in a large population-based setting is lacking. We examine the association of cortical CMIs detected on 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging with cardiovascular risk factors, cerebrovascular disease, and brain tissue volumes. We further explore the association between cortical CMIs with cognitive decline and risk of stroke, dementia, and mortality in the general population. METHODS: Two thousand one hundred fifty-six participants (age: 75.7±5.9 years, women: 55.6%) with clinical history and baseline magnetic resonance imaging (January 2009-December 2013) were included from the Rotterdam Study. Cortical CMIs were graded based on a previously validated method. Markers of cerebrovascular disease and brain tissue volumes were assessed on magnetic resonance imaging. Cognition was assessed using a detailed neuropsychological test at baseline and at 5 years of follow-up. Data on incident stroke, dementia, and mortality were included until January 2016. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-seven individuals (10.5%) had ≥1 cortical CMIs. The major risk factors of cortical CMIs were male sex, current smoking, history of heart disease, and stroke. Furthermore, presence of cortical CMIs was associated with infarcts and smaller brain volume. Persons with cortical CMIs showed cognitive decline in Stroop tests (color-naming and interference subtasks; ß for color-naming, 0.18 [95% CI, 0.04-0.33], P interaction ≤0.001 and ß for interference subtask, 1.74, [95% CI, 0.66-2.82], P interaction ≤0.001). During a mean follow-up of 5.2 years, 73 (4.3%) individuals developed incident stroke, 95 (5.1%) incident dementia, and 399 (19.2%) died. People with cortical CMIs were at an increased risk of stroke (hazard ratio, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.09-1.28]) and mortality (hazard ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.00-1.19]). CONCLUSIONS: Cortical CMIs are highly prevalent in a population-based setting and are associated with cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and increased risk of stroke and mortality. Future investigations will have to show whether cortical CMIs are a useful biomarker to intervene upon to reduce the burden of stroke.

Validation of a Polish version of the Israeli Vertebrobasilar Stroke Scale - An attempt to more accurately assess posterior Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Posterior circulation stroke, in contrast to anterior circulation stroke, has a greater complexity and variability of clinical symptoms. This could be responsible for delayed diagnosis and treatment time and, as a consequence, worse prognosis. Certain blame in this respect can also be attributed to the clinimetric scales used to assess stroke severity, which are characterized by significantly lower accuracy than with anterior strokes. The Israeli Vertebrobasilar Stroke Scale (IVBSS) was the first attempt dedicated to posterior strokes and was devised for better measurement of clinical condition. We aimed to develop a Polish version of the IVBSS (PL-IVBSS) to assess the reliability, validity and psychometric properties of the tool to confirm its clinical utility. METHODS: We enrolled 126 posterior circulation ischemic stroke subjects. Four researchers estimated stroke severity using appropriate and widely accepted devices (the modified Rankin Scale - mRS, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale - NIHSS, the Barthel Index, and the Glasgow Coma Scale - GCS) and compared with the PL-IVBSS. We analyzed inter- and intrarater agreements, repeatability, concurrent and predictive validity, internal consistency, scalability and homogeneity, reflecting the psychometric features of a validated instrument. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.67, and the median inter-item correlation coefficient was 0.22, indicating moderate internal consistency and insufficient homogeneity. A total of 63.6% of the individual items obtained required discriminatory power (r > 0.3), showing moderate scalability. The PL-IVBSS achieved a good coefficient of repeatability (CR = 1.21 95%CI 1.08-1.38) and narrow limits of agreement in Bland-Altman analysis, emphasizing the accuracy and high reproducibility. Excellent intraclass correlation coefficients and weighted kappa values (all >0.90) underlined the high reliability of the PL-IVBSS. Highly significant correlations with other relevant devices (all r > 0.5, p < 0.0001) highlighted the satisfactory concurrent and predictive validity of a validated clinimetric tool. CONCLUSION: We devised a validated version of the IVBSS, indicating the high reproducibility, repeatability and accuracy of the PL-IVBSS and confirming its clinical utility. Despite moderate psychometric properties, our findings support the need for its clinical application and widespread use in stroke units for a reliable assessment of posterior stroke severity.

Deep Medullary Vein White Matter Injury Global Severity Score Predicts Neurodevelopmental Impairment.

AIM: To examine associations between the deep medullary vein white matter injury global severity scoring system and neurodevelopmental impairment. METHODS: This is a prospective observational cohort study of infants born at ≥32 weeks, diagnosed with deep medullary vein thrombosis and infarction on neuroimaging in the first month of life. Developmental testing was performed using validated measures for early, preschool, and school-age follow-up. RESULTS: Nineteen (37%) patients had major neurodevelopmental impairment. Global severity score was higher among patients with neurodevelopmental impairment (21.6 vs 13.4, P = .04). Overall, 78% of patients with epilepsy had neurodevelopmental impairment. A greater degree of asymmetry with right-sided injury predominance was associated with lower Bayley-III cognitive scores and presence of neurodevelopmental impairment (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a need for targeted clinical surveillance for patients with a high global severity score and/or asymmetric, predominantly right cerebral white matter injury and for those who develop epilepsy.

Diabetes, Brain Infarcts, Cognition, and Small Vessels in the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds Study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease and cognitive impairment. The anatomical basis for this is uncertain. METHODS: The Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds collected brain and carotid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 2 cognitive tests (the Digit Symbol Substitution Test and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test) in a cross-sectional sample of men and women. Brain MRIs identified brain infarcts (BI), lacunar BI, high white matter hyperintensity (WMH), vascular brain injury (VBI; BI or high WMH), and small vessel VBI (lacunar BI or high WMH). Carotid MRIs estimated carotid wall volume, a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis. Cognitive scores were standardized to each site's mean score, and cognitive impairment was identified by 1 or both test scores ≤1 standard deviation below the site's mean score on that test. RESULTS: The 7733 participants included 495 participants (6.4%) with diabetes, of whom 388 were taking diabetes drugs. After age and sex adjustment, diabetes was independently associated with BI (odds ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05, 2.24), VBI (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.26, 2.13), small vessel VBI (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.28, 2.19), and cognitive impairment (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.20, 1.80). The association between diabetes and small vessel VBI persisted after adjustment for cerebrovascular disease risk factors and nonlacunar infarcts (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.15, 2.01), and the association with cognitive impairment persisted after adjustment for small vessel VBI (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.03, 1.56). CONCLUSION: Small vessel disease characterizes much of the relationship between diabetes and VBI. However, additional factors are required to disentangle the relationship between diabetes and cognitive impairment.

Intracranial Calcification is Predictive for Hemorrhagic Transformation and Prognosis After Intravenous Thrombolysis in Non-Cardioembolic Stroke Patients.

AIM: Hemorrhagic transformation is the major complication of intravenous thrombolysis. Calcification is used widely as an imaging indicator of atherosclerotic burden and cerebrovascular function. The relationship between intracranial calcification and hemorrhagic transformation has not been explored fully. We aimed to identify and quantify calcification in the main cerebral vessels to investigate the correlations between quantitative calcification parameters, hemorrhagic transformation, and prognosis. METHODS: Acute, non-cardiogenic, ischemic stroke patients with anterior circulation who received intravenous thrombolysis therapy in the First Hospital of Jilin University were retrospectively and consecutively included. All included patients underwent a baseline CT before intravenous thrombolysis and a follow-up CT at 24 hours. A third-party software, ITK-SNAP, was used to segment and measure the calcification volume. A vascular non-bone component with a CT value ＞130 HU was considered calcified. Hemorrhagic transformation was determined based on the ECASS II classification criteria. RESULTS: The study included 242 patients, 214 of whom were identified as having calcification. Thirty-one patients developed hemorrhagic transformation. The calcification volume on the lesion side (0.1ml) was associated with hemorrhagic transformation (p=0.004, OR=1.504, 95% CI: 1.140-1.985). Ninety-six patients had poor prognoses. The poor prognosis group had more calcified vessels than the good prognosis group (p=0.014, OR=1.477, 95% CI: 1.083-2.015). CONCLUSIONS: The arterial calcification volume on the lesion side is associated with hemorrhagic transformation after thrombolysis. The higher the number of calcified vessels, the greater the risk of poor prognosis.

[Lacunar stroke as a very late complication of radiotherapy: value of nuclear medicine techniques]. / Ictus lacunar como complicación muy tardía de la radioterapia: valor de las técnicas de medicina nuclear.

INTRODUCTION: Radiation therapy is a very useful treatment for central nervous systemS neoplasms. The time range of its complications is very wide; they appear even many years after its completion. These late complications behave clinically and radiologically similar to a relapse; a functional diagnostic study with radioactive isotopes can help to make a therapeutic decision. CASE REPORT: A male suddenly presented deficient neurological symptoms in the same site where he received radiation therapy 25 years earlier for a pilocytic astrocytoma. The MRI findings suggested a lacunar stroke but a finding in the perfusion sequence forced us to be more precise in the diagnosis. A PET-CT 11C-methionine was performed which showed an increased uptake compatible with neoplasia. The spontaneous regressive evolution of the symptoms inclined us to take a conservative attitude. Lacunar ictus was confirmed on MRI three months later. CONCLUSIONS: The reappearance of neurological symptoms years after radiotherapy of a brain neoplasm poses a diagnostic dilemma. Current diagnostic techniques are very accurate but present false positives. The various nuclear medicine techniques, in particular PET-CT 11C-methionine, are a diagnostic aid. With the presentation of this case we intend to draw attention to one of the late complications of radiation therapy and the various differential diagnoses. Diagnostic and therapeutic advances have increased the life expectancy of cancer patients, so these late complications are expected to be more frequent.

TITLE: Ictus lacunar como complicación muy tardía de la radioterapia: valor de las técnicas de medicina nuclear.Introducción. La radioterapia es un tratamiento de gran utilidad en las neoplasias del sistema nervioso central. El rango temporal de sus complicaciones es muy amplio, ya que aparecen incluso muchos años más tarde de haberla finalizado. Estas complicaciones tardías se comportan clínica y radiológicamente de forma similar a una recidiva; un estudio funcional diagnóstico con isótopos radiactivos puede ayudar a tomar una decisión terapéutica. Caso clínico. Varón que presentó de forma brusca sintomatología neurológica deficitaria en la misma localización donde 25 años antes había recibido radioterapia por un astrocitoma pilocítico. La resonancia magnética sugería un ictus lacunar, pero un hallazgo en la secuencia de perfusión obligaba a ser más preciso en el diagnóstico. Una tomografía por emisión de positrones-tomografía computarizada (PET-TC) con C11-metionina mostró un aumento de captación compatible con neoplasia. La evolución espontánea regresiva de los síntomas inclinó a tomar una actitud conservadora. Una resonancia magnética realizada tres meses más tarde confirmó el ictus lacunar. Conclusiones. La reaparición de síntomas neurológicos años más tarde de la radioterapia de una neoplasia cerebral supone un dilema diagnóstico. Las técnicas diagnósticas actuales son muy precisas, pero presentan falsos positivos. Las distintas técnicas de medicina nuclear, en concreto la PET-TC con C11-metionina, suponen una ayuda diagnóstica. Con este caso se pretende llamar la atención sobre una de las complicaciones tardías de la radioterapia y los distintos diagnósticos diferenciales. Los avances diagnósticos y terapéuticos han aumentado la esperanza de vida de los pacientes oncológicos, con lo que estas complicaciones tardías se prevén más frecuentes.

Association of Serum Complement C1q Concentration with Severity of Neurological Impairment and Infarct size in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation occurs after acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and complement C1q is involved in inflammation. However, studies about the association of complement C1q with AIS are still rare. The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between serum C1q concentration and the clinical severity of AIS. METHODS: A total of 1294 patients were enrolled in our study, including 647 patients with AIS and 647 non-stroke controls. The infarction volume of AIS was assessed by the diameter of maximum transverse section (DMTS) based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of brain magnetic resonance imaging. Neurological impairment was assessed by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The association of serum C1q levels with DMTS or NIHSS was investigated by Pearson's or Spearman's correlation analysis. RESULTS: Serum C1q levels of patients with AIS were significantly higher than those of individuals without AIS. Serum levels of C1q were associated with DMTS (r=0.511, p<0.001) and NIHSS (r=0.433, p<0.001) among patients with AIS. CONCLUSION: Serum C1q concentration was positively associated with DMTS and NIHSS of patients with AIS.

Possible affective cognitive cerebellar syndrome in a young patient with COVID-19 CNS vasculopathy and stroke.

Early case series suggest that about one-third of patients with COVID-19 present with neurological manifestations, including cerebrovascular disease, reported in 2%-6% of hospitalised patients. These are generally older patients with severe infection and comorbidities. Here we discuss the case of a previously fit and well 39-year-old man who presented with fever and respiratory symptoms, evolving in pneumonia with hypoxia but only requiring continuous positive airway pressure. After resolution of the respiratory disease, the patient developed focal neurology and was found to have bilateral occipital, thalamic and cerebellar infarcts. A diagnosis of COVID-19 central nervous system vasculopathy was made. He developed a florid neuropsychiatric syndrome, including paranoia, irritability, aggression and disinhibition, requiring treatment with antipsychotics and transfer to neurorehabilitation. Neuropsychometry revealed a wide range of cognitive deficits. The rapid evolution of the illness was matched by fast resolution of the neuropsychiatric picture with mild residual cognitive impairment.

Cerebellar Necrosectomy Instead of Suboccipital Decompression: A Suitable Alternative for Patients with Space-Occupying Cerebellar Infarction.

OBJECTIVE: Space-occupying cerebellar ischemic strokes (SOCSs) often lead to neurological deterioration and require surgical intervention to release pressure from the posterior fossa. Current guidelines recommend suboccipital decompressive craniectomy (SDC) with dural expansion when medical therapy is not sufficient. However, no good-quality evidence is available to support this surgical practice, and the surgical timing and technique both remain controversial. We have described an alternative to SDC, surgical evacuation of infarcted tissue (necrosectomy) and its clinical outcomes. METHODS: In the present retrospective, single-center study, 34 consecutive patients with SOCS undergoing necrosectomy via osteoplastic craniotomy were included. The patient characteristics and radiological findings were evaluated. To differentiate the effects of age on the functional outcomes, the patients were divided into 2 groups (group I, age ≤60 years; and group II, age >60 years). Functional outcomes were assessed using the Glasgow outcome scale, modified Rankin scale, and Barthel index at discharge and 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS: In our cohort, we observed overall mortality of 21%, with good functional outcomes (Glasgow outcome scale score ≥4) for 76% of the patients. No statistically significant differences in mortality or functional outcomes were observed between the 2 patient groups. Comparing our data with a recent meta-analysis of SDC, the number of adverse events and unfavorable outcome showed equipoise between the 2 treatment modalities. CONCLUSIONS: Necrosectomy appears to be a suitable alternative to SDC for SOCS, achieving comparable mortality and functional outcomes. Further trials are necessary to evaluate which surgical technique is more beneficial in the setting of SOCSs.

Clinical Characteristics and Analysis of Lung Cancer- Associated Acute Ischemic Stroke.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of lung cancer and acute ischemic stroke remains high in recent years, both of which occur mostly in people over 60 years old. In the present study, we aimed to further clarify the pathogenesis of lung cancer-associated acute ischemic stroke (LCA-AIS) by comparing and analyzing clinical characteristics of stroke patients with or without lung cancer. METHODS: A total of 51 patients with lung cancer were selected as the case group (LCSG), and 78 patients without cancer history were adopted as the control group (SG). The data collected in this study included sex, age, traditional cerebrovascular disease risk factors (TCDRFs), blood test index, imaging findings, etiological typing, and prognosis evaluation. SPSS21.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Normally distributed data were analyzed by t-test, and count data were analyzed by chi-square test or exact probability method. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In the case group, the levels of plasma D-dimer, fibrinogen degradation products (FDPs) and NIHSS, as well as the mRS score and mortality of patients, were higher, while the levels of RBC, Hb and Hcy were lower compared with the control group. Imaging findings showed that multivessel involvement was more common in the case group, and the infarcts were more likely to be multiple and involved in both the anterior and posterior circulations. The TOAST classification of LCSG was dominated by stroke of undetermined etiology (SUE) and stroke of other determined etiology (SOE). Statistical analysis showed that the patients were more likely to suffer from acute ischemic stroke within 1 year after the diagnosis of lung cancer (41 cases, 80.39%). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercoagulability and acute multiple brain infarcts were more common in patients with LCA-AIS, and hypoproteinemia and hyponatremia were more likely to occur in these patients, leading to worse prognosis. Patients were most likely to have a stroke within 1 year after the diagnosis of lung cancer.