The PRESTO study: awareness of stroke symptoms and time from onset to intervention.

Timely access to medical assistance is the first crucial step to improving clinical outcomes of stroke patients. Many educational campaigns have been organized with the purpose of making people aware of what a stroke is and what is necessary to do after its clinical onset. The PRESTO campaign was organized in Genoa (Italy) to spread easy messages regarding the management of the acute phase of stroke. Educational material was disseminated to educate people to call the emergency medical services as soon as symptoms appear. Data collected were analyzed in three different phases of the campaign: before the beginning, during, and after the end. We enrolled 1,132 patients with ischemic stroke admitted to hospital within 24 hours of symptoms onset. Our data showed a mild reduction in onset-to-door time (24 minutes) during the months following the end of the campaign and a slight increase in number of patients who arrived at hospitals, in particular with milder symptoms and transient ischemic attack, as opposed to the same period before the campaign. Interestingly, in the months after the end of the campaign, we observed a slight reduction of the percentage of patients who accessed hospitals after 4.5 hours from symptoms onset. In conclusion, our results may suggest that an informative campaign can be successful in making people rapidly aware of stroke onset, with the consequent rapid access to hospitals. Considering the changing of way of access to information, we think that an extensive multimedia campaign should be evaluated in the next future.

The role of the deep convolutional neural network as an aid to interpreting brain [18F]DOPA PET/CT in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To test the performance of a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) in analysing brain [18F]DOPA PET/CT in order to identify patients with nigro-striatal neurodegeneration. We evaluated the robustness of the 3D CNN by testing it against a manual regional analysis of the striata by using a striatal-to-occipital ratio (SOR). METHODS: We analyzed patients who had undergone [18F]DOPA PET/CT from 2016 to 2018. Two examiners interpreted PET/CT images as positive or negative. Only patients with at least 2 years of follow-up and an ascertained neurological diagnosis were included. A 3D CNN was developed to evaluate [18F]DOPA PET/CT and refine the diagnosis of movement disorder. This system required training and testing, which were carried out on 2/3 and 1/3 of patients, respectively. A regional analysis was also conducted by drawing region of interest on T1-weighted 3D MRI scans, on which the [18F]DOPA PET images were first co-registered. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were enrolled: 43 presented nigro-striatal degeneration and 55 negative cases used as controls. After training on 69 patients, the diagnostic performance of the 3D CNN was then calculated in 29 patients. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value and accuracy were 100%, 89%, 100%, 85% and 93%, respectively. When we compared the 3D CNN results with the SOR analysis, we found that the two patients falsely classified as positive by the 3D CNN procedure showed SOR values ≤ 5th percentile of the negative cases' distribution. CONCLUSIONS: 3D CNNs are able to interpret [18F]DOPA PET/CT properly, revealing patients affected by Parkinson's disease. KEY POINTS: • [18F]DOPA PET/CT is a sensitive diagnostic tool to identify patients with nigro-striatal neurodegeneration. • A semiquantitative evaluation of the images allows a more confident interpretation of the PET findings. • 3D convolutional neural network allows an accurate interpretation of 18F-DOPA PET/CT images, revealing patients affected by Parkinson's disease.

Acute tea tree oil intoxication in a pet cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus): a case report.

BACKGROUND: Phytotherapy is becoming a more and more common practice, not only for personal care but also for pet care. Nevertheless, we often have to deal with substances on which, in most cases, very little literature is available, even more so if the species of interest are the exotic ones. In particular, the essential oil from the Melaleuca leaves, because of its antinflammatory and antibacterial properties, is widely used and very little is known about its potential toxicity on pet birds. The present paper describes the first case of Tea tree oil intoxication in a pet bird. CASE PRESENTATION: A one-year-old, 80 g male cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) was presented for clinical examination due to a serious despondency episode after the application of 3 drops of tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifoglia) directly on the cutis of its right wing. The subject was urgently hospitalized and blood tests were performed.Serum biochemical values showed severe liver damage and slight renal involvement, complete blood count (CBC) parameters indicated a moderate neutrophilia a moderate neutropenia. Warm subcutaneous fluids and vitamin (VIT) B12 were administered, and after 8 h of fluid therapy the clinical condition of the patient improved. The subject was discharged after 48 h of hospitalization, in stable conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Toxicosis are relatively common in bird pets and a number of cases are reported in literature, concerning heavy metals intoxications and toxic plants ingestion. However, in literature there are no described cases regarding Melaleuca oil intoxication in pet birds, but it has been reported in humans (mainly by ingestion) as well as in dogs, cats and rats. We hope that this first case report can be an initial aid in the knowledge of this potential toxicosis and therefore in the clinical veterinary practice of pet birds.

Recalibration of the insect evolutionary time scale using Monte San Giorgio fossils suggests survival of key lineages through the End-Permian Extinction.

Insects are a highly diverse group of organisms and constitute more than half of all known animal species. They have evolved an extraordinary range of traits, from flight and complete metamorphosis to complex polyphenisms and advanced eusociality. Although the rich insect fossil record has helped to chart the appearance of many phenotypic innovations, data are scarce for a number of key periods. One such period is that following the End-Permian Extinction, recognized as the most catastrophic of all extinction events. We recently discovered several 240-million-year-old insect fossils in the Mount San Giorgio Lagerstätte (Switzerland-Italy) that are remarkable for their state of preservation (including internal organs and soft tissues), and because they extend the records of their respective taxa by up to 200 million years. By using these fossils as calibrations in a phylogenomic dating analysis, we present a revised time scale for insect evolution. Our date estimates for several major lineages, including the hyperdiverse crown groups of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera: Heteroptera and Diptera, are substantially older than their currently accepted post-Permian origins. We found that major evolutionary innovations, including flight and metamorphosis, appeared considerably earlier than previously thought. These results have numerous implications for understanding the evolution of insects and their resilience in the face of extreme events such as the End-Permian Extinction.

Is CT perfusion helpful in the treatment allocation of patients with acute ischemic stroke? An expert-opinion analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous tPA is the standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Neuroradiological selection is currently based upon non-contrast- brain CT scan (NCCT). AIMS: To verify, in an "expert-opinion setting", the possible usefulness of CT perfusion (CTP) in decision-making toward i.v. thrombolysis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: One hundred and three consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent NCCT and CTP were re-evaluated by an expert in cerebrovascular disease, to verify if adding CTP information would have changed expert's opinion. RESULTS: After CTP, a definitive decision was made for 20 more patients, changing the proportion of patients candidate to i.v. tPA from 44% to 51%, and reducing uncertainty from 29% to 10%. CTP results were useful inmilder stroke (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In a "real world" setting, CT perfusion could be useful for clinical decision, in particular for milder stroke.

Sex-related differences in migraine.

This paper reviews sex-related differences in migraine epidemiology, symptoms, natural history and co-morbid disorders. Migraine is more than twice as common in females as in males, and women experience more frequent, longer lasting and more painful attacks, have more disability and a risk of transition from episodic to chronic migraine greater than men, but the mechanisms behind these differences are still poorly understood. The role of sex hormones, genes, and the differences in brain function and structure are discussed. Finally, we evaluate the many gender-related questions about treatment of migraine in women. In future research data should be analyzed separately for men and women to ensure that differences between the sexes could be identified.

Penetrance of the V203I variant of the PRNP gene: report of a patient with stroke-like onset of Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease and review of published cases.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is usually sporadic, but 10-15% of cases are caused by autosomal-dominant pathogenic variants in the prion protein gene (PRNP). A few PRNP variants show low penetrance. We report the case of a 64-year-old man, admitted to the ward with acute onset of aphasia; death occurred 6 weeks later. Brain MRI, EEG pattern and brain pathology were consistent with CJD diagnosis. Genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous V203I variant. We summarized the key clinical findings in patients carrying the V203I variant who were described to date. We also discuss the hypothesis as to whether V203I is a risk factor for CJD rather than a Mendelian disease-associated variant, as well as the possible implications of such hypothesis in the clinical scenario.

Central nervous system and muscular bundles preserved in a 240 million year old giant bristletail (Archaeognatha: Machilidae).

Among the incomparably diverse group of insects no cases of central nervous system (CNS) preservation have been so far described in compression fossils. A third of the fossil insects collected from a 240-239 million year old (Ma) level at Monte San Giorgio UNESCO World Heritage (Switzerland-Italy) underwent phosphatization, resulting in the extraordinary preservation of soft tissues. Here we describe Gigamachilis triassicus gen. et sp. nov. (Archaeognatha: Machiloidea: Machilidae) that, with an estimated total length of ~80 millimeters, represents the largest apterygote insect ever recorded. The holotype preserves: (i) components of the CNS represented by four abdominal ganglia, optic lobes with neuropils and compound retina; (ii) muscular bundles. Moreover, G. triassicus, possessing morphological features that prompt its assignment to the extant archaeognathan ingroup Machilidae, places the origin of modern lineages to Middle Triassic. Interestingly, at Monte San Giorgio, in the same stratigraphic unit the modern morphology of G. triassicus co-occurs with the ancient one represented by Dasyleptus triassicus (Archaeognatha: †Monura). Comparing these two types of body organization we provide a new reconstruction of the possible character evolution leading towards modern archaeognathan forms, suggesting the acquisition of novel features in a lineage of apterygote insects during the Permian or the Lower Triassic.

Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis in a subject with thyrotoxicosis and MTHFR gene polymorphism.

We report a case of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) due to tyrotoxicosis in a patient with methylenetetrahydro-folate-reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism C677T, (genotype 677TT), in which discontinuation of intravenous heparin was followed by clinical and radiological worsening despite warfarin treatment. We discuss the relationship between CVT, MTHFR hyperthiroidism and anticoagulant therapy.

Carotid artery stenosis: intraindividual correlations of 3D time-of-flight MR angiography, contrast-enhanced MR angiography, conventional DSA, and rotational angiography for detection and grading.

PURPOSE: To compare three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography, contrast-enhanced MR angiography, digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and rotational angiography for depiction of stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study had Ethics Committee approval, and each patient gave written informed consent. Forty-nine patients (18 women, mean age, 67.2 years +/- 9.1 [+/- standard deviation], and 31 men, mean age, 63.1 years +/- 8.0) with symptomatic stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) diagnosed at duplex ultrasonography underwent transverse 3D TOF MR angiography with sliding interleaved kY acquisition and coronal contrast-enhanced MR angiography, followed by DSA and rotational angiography within 48 hours. MR angiography was performed at 1.5-T with a cervical coil. Contrast-enhanced MR angiograms were obtained after a bolus injection of 20 mL of gadobenate dimeglumine. Maximum ICA stenosis on maximum intensity projection and source images was quantified according to NASCET criteria. Correlations for 3D TOF MR angiography, contrast-enhanced MR angiography, DSA, and rotational angiography were determined by means of cross tabulation, and accuracy for detection and grading of stenoses were calculated. Data were evaluated with analysis of variance, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and McNemar test, all at significance of P < .05. RESULTS: Ninety-eight ICAs were evaluated at contrast-enhanced MR angiography, DSA, and rotational angiography, and 97 were evaluated at 3D TOF MR angiography. Correlations for contrast-enhanced MR angiography, 3D TOF MR angiography, and DSA relative to rotational angiography were r2 = 0.9332, r2 = 0.9048, and r2 = 0.9255, respectively. Lower correlation (r2 = 0.8593) was noted for contrast-enhanced MR angiography and DSA. Respective sensitivity and specificity for detection of hemodynamically relevant stenosis relative to rotational angiography were 100% and 90% for contrast-enhanced MR angiography, 95.5% and 87.2% for 3D TOF MR angiography, and 88.6% and 100% for DSA. Four of 31 severe stenoses were underestimated at DSA, and three were underestimated at contrast-enhanced MR angiography. Three severe stenoses were underestimated at 3D TOF MR angiography, and one was misclassified as occluded. Of 13 moderate (50%-69%) stenoses, one was overestimated at contrast-enhanced MR angiography, two were underestimated and three overestimated at 3D TOF MR angiography, and two were underestimated at DSA. CONCLUSION: DSA results in an underestimation of ICA stenosis compared with rotational angiography. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography correlates best with rotational angiography.