The Role of Cervical Muscles Morphology in the Surgical Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease: Clinical Correlations Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies.

Cervical spine musculature still remains a less studied component of the cervical spine anatomical compartments, although it plays a significant role in the mobility of the head and the preservation of cervical spine alignment. The goal of this study was to extract any significant information from the literature regarding the role of cervical spine muscles morphology in the outcome of surgically treated patients for degenerative disc disease (DDD) based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. Eleven clinical case series were found, from which four were prospective and seven were retrospective. Six studies were concentrated on anterior approaches and five studies on posterior approaches in the cervical spine. In posterior approaches aiming at the preservation of muscles attachments and overall less surgical manipulations, results on cervical lordosis, axial pain and patient's functionality were found superior to traditional laminectomies. The study of cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of deep paraspinal muscles in the cervical spine could add significant information for the spine surgeon such as the prediction of adjacent level disease (ALD), fusion failure, axial pain persistence, postoperative cervical alignment and patient's postoperative functionality. It seems that MRI studies focusing on muscle layers of the cervical spine could add significant information for the spinal surgeon regarding the final surgical outcome in terms of pain and function expression. Larger multicenter clinical studies are a necessity in defining the role of the muscle component of the cervical spine in the surgical treatment of DDD.

Acute reperfusion therapies for acute ischemic stroke patients with unknown time of symptom onset or in extended time windows: an individualized approach.

Recent randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) have revolutionized acute ischemic stroke care by extending the use of intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular reperfusion therapies in time windows that have been originally considered futile or even unsafe. Both systemic and endovascular reperfusion therapies have been shown to improve outcome in patients with wake-up strokes or symptom onset beyond 4.5 h for intravenous thrombolysis and beyond 6 h for endovascular treatment; however, they require advanced neuroimaging to select stroke patients safely. Experts have proposed simpler imaging algorithms but high-quality data on safety and efficacy are currently missing. RCTs used diverse imaging and clinical inclusion criteria for patient selection during the dawn of this novel stroke treatment paradigm. After taking into consideration the dismal prognosis of nonrecanalized ischemic stroke patients and the substantial clinical benefit of reperfusion therapies in selected late presenters, we propose rescue reperfusion therapies for acute ischemic stroke patients not fulfilling all clinical and imaging inclusion criteria as an option in a subgroup of patients with clinical and radiological profiles suggesting low risk for complications, notably hemorrhagic transformation as well as local or remote parenchymal hemorrhage. Incorporating new data to treatment algorithms may seem perplexing to stroke physicians, since treatment and imaging capabilities of each stroke center may dictate diverse treatment pathways. This narrative review will summarize current data that will assist clinicians in the selection of those late presenters that will most likely benefit from acute reperfusion therapies. Different treatment algorithms are provided according to available neuroimaging and endovascular treatment capabilities.

Clinical and Neuroimaging Characteristics in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined versus Cardioembolic Origin: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Evidence suggests that cardioembolism represents the underlying mechanism in the minority of embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS). In this population-based study, we sought to compare the clinical and imaging characteristics as well as outcomes in patients with ESUS and cardioembolic stroke (CE). METHODS: We included consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke (IS) from the previously published population-based Evros-Stroke-Registry identified as ESUS or CE according to standardized criteria. Baseline characteristics, admission NIHSS scores, cerebral edema, hemorrhagic transformation, stroke recurrence, functional outcomes (determined by modified Rankin Scale [mRS] scores), and mortality rates were recorded during the 1-year follow-up period. RESULTS: We identified 21 ESUS (3.7% of IS) and 211 CE (37.1% of IS) cases. Patients with ESUS were younger (median age: 68 years [interquartile range [IQR]: 61-75] vs 80 years [IQR: 75-84]; P < .001), had lower median admission NIHSS scores (4 points [IQR: 2-8] vs 10 points [IQR: 5-17]; P < .001), and lower prevalence of cerebral edema on neuroimaging studies (0 vs. 33.3%, P = .002). Functional outcomes were more favorable in ESUS at 28 (median mRS score: 2 [IQR: 1-3] vs 4 [IQR: 4-5]; P < .001), 90 (median mRS score: 1 [IQR: 0-2] vs 4 [IQR: 3-5]; P < .001), and 365 days (median mRS score: 1 [IQR: 0-2] vs 4 [IQR: 2-4]; P < 0.001). At 1-year, the mortality rate was lower in ESUS (0% [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0-13.5%] vs 34.6% [95% CI: 28.2-41.0%]; P < .001); the 1-year recurrent rate was also lower numerically (0% [95% CI: 0-13.5%] vs 9.5% [95% CI: 5.5-13.4%]; P = .140) but this difference failed to reach statistical significance due to the small study population. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and neuroimaging profiles as well as clinical outcomes vary substantially between ESUS and CE indicating different underlying mechanisms.

Incidence, characteristics and outcomes in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source: A population-based study.

Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) represents a subgroup of cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CS) distinguished by high probability of an underlying embolic mechanism. There are scarce population-based data regarding the incidence, characteristics and outcomes of ESUS. Consecutive patients included with first-ever ischemic stroke of undetermined cause in the previously published population-based Evros Stroke Registry were further subdivided into ESUS and non-ESUS CS. Crude and adjusted [according to the European Standard Population (ESP), WHO and Segi population] incidence rates (IR) for ESUS and non-ESUS CS were calculated. Baseline characteristics, admission stroke severity (assessed using NIHSS-score), stroke recurrence and functional outcomes [determined by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores], were recorded during the 1-year follow-up period. We identified 21 and 242 cases with ESUS (8% of CS) and non-ESUS CS. The crude and ESP-adjusted IR for ESUS were 17.5 (95%CI: 10-25) and 16.6 (95%CI: 10-24) per 100,000 person-years. Patients with ESUS were younger (p < .001) and had lower median admission NIHSS-scores (p < .001). Functional outcomes were more favorable in ESUS at 28, 90 and 365 days. ESUS was independently (p = .033) associated with lower admission NIHSS-scores (unstandardized linear regression coefficient: -13.34;95%CI: -23.34, -3.35) on multiple linear regression models. ESUS was not related to 1-year stroke recurrence, mortality and functional improvement on multivariable analyses. In conclusion we found that ESUS cases represented 8% of CS patients in this population-based study. Despite the fact that ESUS was independently related to lower admission stroke severity, there was no association of ESUS with long-term outcomes.

Stroke recurrence and mortality in northeastern Greece: the Evros Stroke Registry.

Up to date there is no population-based study from Greece providing long-term data on incidence of both all-cause mortality and stroke recurrence for patients with first ever stroke (FES). Adult patients with FES were registered during a 24-month period (2010-2012) and followed-up for 12 months. We calculated cumulative incidences of stroke mortality and recurrence. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to identify independent determinants of 1-year mortality and 1-year stroke recurrence. We prospectively documented 703 first ever stroke cases (mean age 75 ± 12 years; 52.8% males; ischemic stroke 80.8%, intracerebral hemorrhage 11.8%, subarachnoid hemorrhage 4.4%, undefined 3.0%) with a total follow-up time of 119,805 person-years. The cumulative incidence rates of mortality of all FES patients at 28 days, 3 months and 1 year were 21.3% (95% CI 18.5-24.5%), 26% (95% CI 22.9-29.4%) and 34.7% (95% CI 31.3-38.3%), respectively. The risk of 1-year mortality was independently (p < 0.05) associated with advancing age, history of hypertension, increased stroke severity on admission, and hemorrhagic FES type. Cumulative 1-year stroke mortality differed according to both index FES type (ischemic vs. hemorrhage; p < 0.001), but also across different ischemic stroke subtypes (p = 0.025). The cumulative incidence rates of recurrent stroke at 28 days, 3 months and 1 year were 2.0% (95% CI 1.2-3.6%), 4.2% (2.8-6.2%) and 6.7% (5.1-8.8%), respectively. Comparable to other population-based surveys, our study reports 1-year mortality and stroke recurrence rates in patients with FES. These findings highlight the need for effective secondary prevention strategies in a border region of southeastern Europe, which exhibits very high FES incidence rates.

Endovascular Repair of an Inadvertent Right Vertebral Artery Rupture during Dialysis Catheter Insertion.

Central venous (CV) catheterization is not only an invaluable diagnostic modality but also an essential therapeutic tool for the treating physician, enabling rapid and reliable intravenous administration of drugs and fluids, providing venous access to patients undergoing long-term continuous or repeated intravenous treatment such as chemotherapy, or it can be used for hemodialysis in patients suffering from acute or chronic renal disease. On the other hand, CV catheterization can lead to a wide range of life-threatening complications for the patient especially if left untreated or become late-diagnosed. In particular, arterial injuries are among the most feared complications that require early clinical suspicion for prompt diagnosis and management. We report the case of a 79-year-old female dialysis patient who suffered from a vertebral artery (VA) injury complicated by a herald bleeding on the third postintervention day after an internal jugular vein dialysis catheter replacement. The patient initially presented neurological signs of a stroke and urgently treated endovascularly after immediate diagnosis of VA rupture was made. Imaging techniques are evidence-based tools that help minimize these mechanical complications, including inadvertent arterial puncture and therefore should be practiced and taught in training programs to avoid the potentially devastating consequences of CV catheterization.

Subcutaneous and total fat at L4-L5 and subcutaneous, visceral and total fat at L3-L4 are important contributors of fasting and postprandial adiponectin levels.

OBJECTIVES: Insulin resistance and central obesity have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypoadiponectinemia in obesity. The aim of this study is to evaluate circulating post-prandial adiponectin in relation to glucose and insulin metabolism, indexes of insulin resistance and sensitivity and, indexes of body fat accumulation and distribution in obese men. METHODS: Twenty-eight non-diabetic men underwent an OGTT followed by an oral fat load and were studied at baseline and for 5 h post-prandially for serum adiponectin, glucose and insulin. Insulin resistance was estimated by Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and insulin sensitivity by Matsuda index. Body fat accumulation and distribution were evaluated by anthropometric indexes and multiple slices MRI of the abdomen and hip. RESULTS: Adiponectin was negatively correlated to insulin levels. Fasting and area under the curve (AUC) adiponectin levels were negatively correlated to HOMA (both p < 0.01) and positively to Matsuda index (both p < 0.05). Negative correlations between fasting adiponectin and total fat (r = -0.408, p < 0.05), AUC adiponectin and subcutaneous, visceral and total fat (r = -0.375, -0.413 and -0.475 respectively, all p < 0.05) at L3-L4 were found, and negative correlations between fasting adiponectin and subcutaneous (r = -0.402, p < 0.05) and total fat (r = -0.491, p < 0.05) and between AUC adiponectin and subcutaneous and total fat (r = -0.506 and -0.547, respectively, both p < 0.01) were present at L4-L5. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating adiponectin is inversely correlated to both visceral and subcutaneous fat in non-diabetic men, implying that both compartments are important for adiponectin levels. The best correlation is found at measurement site L4-L5.

Hybrid reconstruction of the upper limb in a patient with chronic limb ischemia.

AIM: Hybrid vascular interventions performed in patients with chronic limb ischemia are considered minimally invasive techniques for treating complex multilevel arterial occlusive disease. METHODS: We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with a critical upper limb ischemia, who underwent angioplasty and secondary stenting of the distal-third of the axillary artery followed by a brachial-brachial bypass using an autologous graft. RESULTS: The patient had an uneventful recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of hybrid vascular reconstruction in the upper limb due to atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: Hybrid revascularization procedure in the upper limb is technically feasible, safe for the patient, and should become a part of the armamentarium of the modern vascular surgeon.

Endovascular treatment of aneurysms associated with fenestrated A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery: report of two cases.

Fenestration in A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery is a rare entity. Treatment of aneurysms derived from a fenestrated artery may be more challenging because the fenestrations provide specific difficulties. A thorough radiologic work-up driven by high clinical suspicion is needed. Endovascular treatment, although it has been tried only once, appears to be the treatment of choice. We successfully treated 2 cases using endovascular techniques and can conclude that endovascular treatment is a safe and effective treatment of aneurysms associated with this rare variation in the A1 segment of ACA.

Treatment response classification of liver metastatic disease evaluated on imaging. Are RECIST unidimensional measurements accurate?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of unidimensional measurements (response evaluation criteria in solid tumors, RECIST) compared with volumetric measurements in patients with liver metastases undergoing chemotherapy. Forty-four patients with newly diagnosed liver lesions underwent three MRI examinations at treatment initiation, during chemotherapy, and immediately post-treatment. Measurements based on RECIST guidelines and volume calculations were performed on the "target" lesions (TLs). The two methods were in agreement in 64/77 of patients and 253/301 of individual lesions classification in response categories ("good" agreement, Cohen kappa = 0.735 and 0.741, respectively). In 16.88% of the comparisons the two methods stratified patients to a different response category; 27.6% of TLs did not follow the response category of the patient in whom lesions were located. The actual volume of TLs differs from the calculated volume of a sphere with the same diameter. Our study supports the use of volumetric techniques that may overcome certain disadvantages of unidimensional measurements.

Knee osteonecrosis due to lead poisoning: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Though rare, a relationship between toxic heavy-metal accumulation and bone necrosis exists. CASE REPORT: A 28-year-old man suffered from chronic bilateral knee pain accompanied by muscle fibrillations and night cramps. On examiniation he presented tenderness and mild quadriceps muscle atrophy, but unaffected range of movement, sensation, and tendon reflexes and no effuision. He also complained of blurred vision, lethargy, and tremor. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these data it appeared that these infarcts were attributable to lead poisoning. This situation has not been described in the knee region, but finrther clarification of a possible causal relationship between toxic trace element concentration and idiopathic bone necrosis appears necessary.

Stereology versus planimetry to estimate the volume of malignant liver lesions on MR imaging.

Liver tumor volume measurements are clinically useful in patients undergoing cancer treatment. The techniques of planimetry and stereology were applied for this purpose on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Fifty-eight malignant liver lesions were depicted on MR images in 20 consecutive patients. The volume of all lesions was estimated using stereology technique, based on point counting. Stereological tumor volume estimations were compared with those determined by manual planimetry. The repeatability of both techniques was assessed. Tumor volumes estimated by the two techniques were highly correlated (r = 0.98, p < 0.0001). The 95% limits of agreement showed that the stereological volume estimations may differ from the planimetric assessments by less than 23%. Both techniques presented comparable intra- and interobserver variability. The planimetry was 1.5 times faster than the stereology. Both volumetric techniques may provide reliable and reproducible liver tumor volume estimations. The planimetry may be the method of choice because of its superior speed.