The relationship between perihematomal edema (PHE) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) outcomes is uncertain. Given newly published studies, we updated a previous systematic review and meta-analysis ...assessing the prognostic impact of PHE on ICH outcomes.
Databases were searched through September 2022 using pre-defined keywords. Included studies used regression to examine the association between PHE and functional outcome (assessed by modified Rankin Scale mRS) and mortality. The study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The overall pooled effect, and secondary analyses exploring different subgroups were obtained by entering the log transformed odds ratios and their confidence intervals into a DerSimonian-Laird random effects meta-analysis.
Twenty-eight studies (n=8655) were included. The pooled effect size for overall outcome (mRS and mortality) was 1.05 (95% CI 1.03, 1.07; p<0.00). In secondary analyses, PHE volume and growth effect sizes were 1.03 (CI 1.01, 1.05) and 1.12 (CI 1.06, 1.19), respectively. Results of subgroup analyses assessing absolute PHE volume and growth at different time points were: baseline volume 1.02 (CI 0.98, 1.06), 72-hour volume 1.07 (CI 0.99, 1.16), growth at 24 hours 1.30 (CI 0.96, 1.74) and growth at 72 hours 1.10 (CI 1.04, 1.17). Heterogeneity across studies was substantial.
This meta-analysis indicates that PHE growth, especially within the first 24 hours after ictus, has a stronger impact on functional outcome and mortality than PHE volume. Definitive conclusions are limited by the large variability of PHE measures, heterogeneity, and different evaluation time points between studies.
Treatment options for stroke remain limited. Neuroprotective therapies, in particular, have invariably failed to yield the expected benefit in stroke patients, despite robust theoretical and ...mechanistic background and promising animal data. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) play a pivotal role in critical brain functions, such as energy homeostasis, neuronal growth, and differentiation. They may exhibit neuroprotective properties in acute ischemic stroke based upon their vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects, as well as improvements of functional connectivity, neuronal metabolism, neurotransmitter regulation, and remyelination. Intranasally administered insulin has demonstrated a benefit for prevention of cognitive decline in older people, and IGF-1 has shown potential benefit to improve functional outcomes in animal models of acute ischemic stroke. The intranasal route presents a feasible, tolerable, safe, and particularly effective administration route, bypassing the blood–brain barrier and maximizing distribution to the central nervous system (CNS), without the disadvantages of systemic side effects and first-pass metabolism. This review summarizes the neuroprotective potential of intranasally administered insulin and IGF-1 in stroke patients. We present the theoretical background and pathophysiologic mechanisms, animal and human studies of intranasal insulin and IGF-1, and the safety and feasibility of intranasal route for medication administration to the CNS.
Gait speed is an indicator of overall functional health and is correlated with survival in older adults. We prospectively evaluated the long-term association between cerebral vasoreactivity and gait ...speed during normal walking (NW) and dual-task walking (DTW) in older adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 40 participants (aged 67.3 ± 8.8 years, 20 with T2DM) completed a 2-year prospective study consisting of MRI, blood sampling, and gait assessments. The whole brain vasoreactivity was quantified using continuous arterial spin labeling MRI. Gait speed during DTW was assessed by subtracting serial sevens. Dual-task cost was calculated as the percent change in gait speed from NW to DTW. In the entire cohort, higher glycemic profiles were associated with a slower gait speed. In the diabetic group, lower vasoreactivity was associated with a slower gait speed during NW (
r
adj
2
= 0.30,
p
= 0.019) and DTW (
r
adj
2
= 0.35,
p
= 0.01) and a higher dual-task cost (
r
adj
2
= 0.69,
p
= 0.009) at 2-year follow-up. The participants with T2DM and lower cerebral vasoreactivity had a greater decrease in gait speed during NW and DTW after the 2-year follow-up (
r
adj
2
= 0.17,
p
= 0.04 and
r
adj
2
= 0.28,
p
= 0.03, respectively). Longer diabetes duration was associated with a higher dual-task cost (
r
adj
2
= 0.19,
p
= 0.04) and a greater decrease in gait speed during NW (
r
adj
2
= 0.17,
p
= 0.02). These findings indicate that in older adults with type 2 diabetes, gait performance is highly dependent on the integrity of cerebrovascular regulation.
Novel noninvasive measures of vascular function are emerging as subclinical markers for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and may be useful to predict CVD events. The purpose of our prospective study was ...to assess associations between digital peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) measures and first-onset major CVD events in a sample of FHS (Framingham Heart Study) participants.
Using a fingertip PAT device, we assessed pulse amplitude in Framingham Offspring and Third Generation participants (n=3865; mean age, 55±14 years; 52% women) at baseline and in 30-second intervals for 4 minutes during reactive hyperemia. The PAT ratio (relative hyperemia index) was calculated as the post-to-pre occlusion pulse signal ratio in the occluded arm, relative to the same ratio in the control (nonoccluded) arm, and corrected for baseline vascular tone. Baseline pulse amplitude and PAT ratio during hyperemia are measures of pressure pulsatility and microvascular function in the finger, respectively. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to relate PAT measures in the fingertip to incident CVD events.
During follow-up (median, 9.2 years; range, 0.04–10.0 years), 270 participants (7%) experienced new-onset CVD events (n=270). In multivariable models adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors, baseline pulse amplitude (hazard ratio HR per 1 SD, 1.04 95% CI, 0.90–1.21; P=0.57) and PAT ratio (HR, 0.95 95% CI, 0.84–1.08; P=0.43) were not significantly related to incident composite CVD events, including myocardial infarction or heart failure. However, higher PAT ratio (HR, 0.76 95% CI, 0.61–0.94; P=0.013), but not baseline pulse amplitude (HR, 1.15 95% CI, 0.89–1.49; P=0.29), was related to lower risk for incident stroke. In a sensitivity analysis by stroke subtype, higher PAT ratio was related to lower risk of incident ischemic stroke events (HR, 0.68 95% CI, 0.53–0.86; P=0.001).
Novel digital PAT measures may represent a marker of stroke risk in the community.
Dysphagia is a serious stroke complication but lacks effective therapy. We investigated safety and preliminary efficacy of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) paired with ...swallowing exercises in improving post-stroke dysphagia from an acute unilateral hemispheric infarction (UHI). We conducted a double-blind, early phase-2 randomized controlled trial, in subjects (n = 42) with moderate-severe dysphagia Penetration and Aspiration Scale (PAS) score ≥ 4, from an acute-subacute UHI. Subjects were randomized to Low-Dose, High-Dose atDCS or Sham stimulation for 5 consecutive days. Primary safety outcomes were incidence of seizures, neurological, motor, or swallowing function deterioration. Primary efficacy outcome was a change in PAS scores at day-5 of intervention. Main secondary outcome was dietary improvement at 1-month, assessed by Functional Oral Intake (FOIS) score. No differences in pre-defined safety outcomes or adjusted mean changes in PAS, FOIS scores, between groups, were observed. Post-hoc analysis demonstrated that 22 /24 subjects in the combined atDCS group had a clinically meaningful dietary improvement (FOIS score ≥ 5) compared to 8 /14 in Sham (p = 0.037, Fisher-exact). atDCS application in the acute-subacute stroke phase is safe but did not decrease risk of aspiration in this early phase trial. The observed dietary improvement is promising and merits further investigation.
Abstract Background Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients often undergo intubation and mechanical ventilation (MV). Prolonged intubation and MV have disadvantages and complications. Conventional ...extubation criteria based only on respiratory parameters are insufficient to guide extubation practices in stroke patients where capacity for airway protection is a major concern. Objective. To identify clinical and neuroanatomical markers of successful extubation in AIS patients requiring MV. Methods Retrospective review of tertiary care hospital patient database from May 2009–November 2012 to identify consecutive patients with AIS intubated during hospitalization. We assessed the effect of age, sex, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, level of consciousness, facial weakness, dysarthria, neglect, infarct location, dysphagia, respiratory parameters and history of pneumonia on successful extubation by hospital discharge using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results 112 subjects met study criteria and were included in the analysis. Age and NIHSS scores (mean ± standard deviation) were 74.5 ± 16.1 years and 19 ± 9.8, respectively; 56% were women. In multivariate analysis, NIHSS score ≤ 15 (Odds Ratio 4.6, 95% Confidence Interval 1.9–11.3, p < 0.001) and absence of dysarthria prior to intubation (Odds Ratio 3.0, 95% Confidence interval 1.1–8.3, p = 0.04) were independently associated with successful extubation. Conventional respiratory parameters had no effect on extubation success in this cohort. Conclusions Milder stroke and absence of dysarthria prior to intubation were independently associated with extubation success. Our findings could help inform extubation practices in patients with AIS though prospective validation is necessary.
Acute ischemic stroke(AIS)is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the USA and worldwide.Significant advances in the last two decades have resulted in the introduction of intravenous ...tissue plasminogen activator and more recently catheter based endovascular interventions in selected patients(Berkhemer et al.,2015;Goyal et al.,2015).
•The relationship between statins and ICH are mixed in the literature.•We found no association between statin use and radiographic measures of ICH.•We also found no association between statin use and ...good clinical outcome.•Our findings support neither protective nor harmful effects of statins in ICH.
A post-hoc analysis of the ICH Deferoxamine (i-DEF) trial was performed to examine any associations pre-ICH statin use may have with ICH volume, PHE volume, and clinical outcomes.
Baseline characteristics were assessed. Various ICH and PHE parameters were measured via a quantitative, semi-automated method at baseline and follow-up CT scans 72–96 h later. A multivariable logistic regression model was created, adjusting for the variables that were significantly different on univariable analyses (p < 0.05), to assess any associations between pre-ICH statin use and measures of ICH and PHE, as well as good clinical outcome (mRS ≤2), at 90 and 180 days.
262 of 291 i-DEF participants had complete data available for analysis. 69 (26.3 %) used statins prior to ICH onset. Pre-ICH statin users had higher prevalences of hypertension, diabetes, and prior ischemic stroke; higher concomitant use of antihypertensives and antiplatelets; and higher blood glucose level at baseline. On univariable analyses, pre-ICH statin users had smaller baseline ICH volume and PHE volume on repeat scan, as well as smaller changes in relative PHE (rPHE) volume and edema extension distance (EED) between the baseline and repeat scans. In the multivariable analysis, none of the ICH and PHE measures or good clinical outcome was significantly associated with pre-ICH statin use.
Pre-ICH statin use was not associated with measures of ICH or PHE, their growth, or clinical outcomes. These findings do not lend support to either overall protective or deleterious effects from statin use before or after ICH.