Endovascular therapy versus medical management in isolated posterior cerebral artery acute ischemic stroke: A multinational multicenter propensity score-weighted study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the proven effectiveness of endovascular therapy (EVT) in acute ischemic strokes (AIS) involving anterior circulation large vessel occlusions, isolated posterior cerebral artery (PCA) occlusions (iPCAo) remain underexplored in clinical trials. This study investigates the comparative effectiveness and safety of EVT against medical management (MM) in patients with iPCAo. METHODS: This multinational, multicenter propensity score-weighted study analyzed data from the Multicenter Analysis of primary Distal medium vessel occlusions: effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy (MAD-MT) registry, involving 37 centers across North America, Asia, and Europe. We included iPCAo patients treated with either EVT or MM. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days, with secondary outcomes including functional independence, mortality, and safety profiles such as hemorrhagic complications. RESULTS: A total of 177 patients were analyzed (88 MM and 89 EVT). EVT showed a statistically significant improvement in 90-day mRS scores (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.30-1.00, p = 0.048), functional independence (OR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.02-6.20, p = 0.045), and a reduction in 90-day mortality (OR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.03-0.54, p = 0.006) compared to MM. Hemorrhagic complications were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSION: EVT for iPCAo is associated with better neurological outcomes and lower mortality compared to MM, without an increased risk of hemorrhagic complications. Nevertheless, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the study's observational design. The findings are hypothesis-generating and highlight the need for future randomized controlled trials to confirm these observations and establish definitive treatment guidelines for this patient population.

Prevalence of fractures in adults over 50 years of age with osteoporosis in Colombia.

What are the fractures associated with osteoporosis in Colombian persons over 50 years of age? Through the analysis of the Ministry of Health databases, Colombians over 50 years of age with osteoporosis fracture the forearm the most, followed by the thoracolumbar vertebrae and then the hip. We describe the differences between men and women. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of all bone fractures among adults aged 50 and above, both with and without osteoporosis, using data from SISPRO (Integrated Information System for Social Protection), the administrative database of the Colombian Ministry of Health. METHODS: Information was collected for the years 2017 to 2021 for all bone fractures (except cranial or face fractures), and how many of them occurred in patients who had the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated separately for males and females by dividing the prevalence in those with by the prevalence of those without osteoporosis. RESULTS: For the period from 2017 to 2021, 303,037 adults over 50 years of age (females 279,057, 92.1%) were diagnosed with osteoporosis in Colombia, for a prevalence of 39.4 per thousand women and 4.14 in men; 40,823 of these women (14.6%) presented a fracture in the period, as well as 4020 of men (16.7%). Osteoporosis was present in 7.5% of the 596.618 (females 369.795; 62.0%) who suffered any fracture (1.8% of males and 11.0% of females). Overall PR was 3.4 (males 4.3; females 3.3). In men with osteoporosis, the most frequent fractures were hip (902), followed by lumbar vertebrae (842), ribs (648), and forearm (538), while in women, forearm (11,001), followed by hip (6885), lumbar vertebra (4813), and thoracic vertebra (2701) were the most common. PR in men was 21.9 for dorsal vertebrae fracture, 21.3 for lumbar vertebrae, 11.8 for ribs, and 7.7 for hip fracture. In women, PR was 15.7 for thoracic vertebrae, 13.3 for lumbar vertebrae, 3.3 for hip fracture, and 2.2 for forearm fracture. CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis is a highly prevalent disease in Colombia where women are more affected. Although fractures were more common in women, men with osteoporosis have a higher PR of associated fractures.

Mechanical Thrombectomy Versus Intravenous Thrombolysis in Distal Medium Vessel Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Multinational Multicenter Propensity Score-Matched Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to distal medium vessel occlusion (DMVO) remains uncertain, particularly in comparing the effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) plus mechanical thrombectomy (MT) versus IVT alone. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy in DMVO patients treated with either MT-IVT or IVT alone. METHODS: This multinational study analyzed data from 37 centers across North America, Asia, and Europe. Patients with AIS due to DMVO were included, with data collected from September 2017 to July 2023. The primary outcome was functional independence, with secondary outcomes including mortality and safety measures such as types of intracerebral hemorrhage. RESULTS: The study involved 1,057 patients before matching, and 640 patients post-matching. Functional outcomes at 90 days showed no significant difference between groups in achieving good functional recovery (modified Rankin Scale 0-1 and 0-2), with adjusted odds ratios (OR) of 1.21 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81 to 1.79; P=0.35) and 1.00 (95% CI 0.66 to 1.51; P>0.99), respectively. Mortality rates at 90 days were similar between the two groups (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.29; P=0.30). The incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage was comparable, but any type of intracranial hemorrhage was significantly higher in the MT-IVT group (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.63; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that while MT-IVT and IVT alone show similar functional and mortality outcomes in DMVO patients, MT-IVT presents a higher risk of hemorrhagic complications, thus MT-IVT may not routinely offer additional benefits over IVT alone for all DMVO stroke patients. Further prospective randomized trials are needed to identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit from MT-IVT treatment in DMVO.

Predictive value of follow-up infarct volume on functional outcomes in middle cerebral artery M2 segment vessel occlusion stroke treated with mechanical thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND: Medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) strokes, particularly affecting the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery, represent a critical proportion of acute ischemic strokes, posing significant challenges in management and outcome prediction. The efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in MeVO stroke may warrant reliable predictors of functional outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of follow-up infarct volume (FIV) for predicting 90-day functional outcomes in MeVO stroke patients undergoing MT. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the Multicenter Analysis of primary Distal medium vessel occlusions: effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy (MAD-MT) registry, covering patients with acute ischemic stroke due to M2 segment occlusion treated with MT. We examined the relationship between 90-day functional outcomes, measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and follow-up infarct volume (FIV), assessed through CT or MRI within 12-36 h post-MT. RESULTS: Among 130 participants, specific FIV thresholds were identified with high specificity and sensitivity for predicting outcomes. A FIV ⩽5 ml was highly specific for predicting favorable and excellent outcomes. The optimal cut-off for both prognostications was identified at ⩽15 ml by the Youden Index, with significant reductions in the likelihood of favorable outcomes observed above a 40 ml threshold. Receiver Operator Curve (ROC) analyses confirmed FIV as a superior predictor of functional outcomes compared to traditional recanalization scores, such as final modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score (mTICI). Multivariable analysis further highlighted the inverse relationship between FIV and positive functional outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: FIV within 36 h post-MT serves as a potent predictor of 90-day functional outcomes in patients with M2 segment MeVO strokes. Establishing FIV thresholds may aid in the prognostication of stroke outcomes, suggesting a role for FIV in guiding post intervention treatment decisions and informing clinical practice. Future research should focus on validating these findings across diverse patient populations and exploring the integration of FIV measurements with other clinical and imaging markers to enhance outcome prediction accuracy.

Endovascular therapy versus best medical management in distal medium middle cerebral artery acute ischaemic stroke: a multinational multicentre propensity score-matched study.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute ischaemic stroke due to distal medium vessel occlusion (DMVO) remains uncertain. Our study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EVT compared with the best medical management (BMM) in DMVO. METHODS: In this prospectively collected, retrospectively reviewed, multicentre cohort study, we analysed data from the Multicentre Analysis of primary Distal medium vessel occlusions: effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy registry. Patients with acute ischaemic stroke due to DMVO in the M2, M3 and M4 segments who underwent EVT or received BMM were included. Primary outcome measures comprised 10 co-primary endpoints, including functional independence (mRS 0-2), excellent outcome (mRS 0-1), mortality (mRS 6) and haemorrhagic complications. Propensity score matching was employed to balance the cohorts. RESULTS: Among 2125 patients included in the primary analysis, 1713 received EVT and 412 received BMM. After propensity score matching, each group comprised 391 patients. At 90 days, no significant difference was observed in achieving mRS 0-2 between EVT and BMM (adjusted OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.50, p>0.99). However, EVT was associated with higher rates of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (8.4% vs 3.0%, adjusted OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.69 to 7.48, p<0.001) and any intracranial haemorrhage (37% vs 19%, adjusted OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.81 to 3.78, p<0.001). Mortality rates were similar between groups (13% in both, adjusted OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.87 to 2.51, p=0.15). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that while EVT does not significantly improve functional outcomes compared with BMM in DMVO, it is associated with higher risks of haemorrhagic complications. These results support a cautious approach to the use of EVT in DMVO and highlight the need for further prospective randomised trials to refine treatment strategies.

Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage in proximal and distal medium middle cerebral artery occlusion patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by distal medium vessel occlusions (DMVOs) represents a significant proportion of overall stroke cases. While intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) has been a primary treatment, advancements in endovascular procedures have led to increased use of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in DMVO stroke patients. However, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) remains a critical complication of AIS, particularly after undergoing intervention. This study aims to identify factors associated with sICH in DMVO stroke patients undergoing MT. METHODS: This retrospective analysis utilized data from the Multicenter Analysis of Distal Medium Vessel Occlusions: Effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy (MAD-MT) registry, involving 37 centers across North America, Asia, and Europe. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) DMVO stroke patients were included. The primary outcome measured was sICH, as defined per the Heidelberg Bleeding Classification. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors independently associated with sICH. RESULTS: Among 1708 DMVO stroke patients, 148 (8.7%) developed sICH. Factors associated with sICH in DMVO patients treated with MT included older age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.00 to 1.03, P=0.048), distal occlusion site (M3, M4) compared with medium occlusions (M2) (aOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.74, P=0.026), prior use of antiplatelet drugs (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.99, P<0.001), lower Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Scores (ASPECTS) (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.84, P<0.001), higher preoperative blood glucose level (aOR 1.00, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.01, P=0.012), number of passes (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.39, P<0.001), and successful recanalization (Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2b-3) (aOR 0.43, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.66, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study provides novel insight into factors associated with sICH in patients undergoing MT for DMVO, emphasizing the importance of age, distal occlusion site, prior use of antiplatelet drugs, lower ASPECTS, higher preoperative blood glucose level, and procedural factors such as the number of passes and successful recanalization. Pending confirmation, consideration of these factors may improve personalized treatment strategies.

Pretreatment predictors of very poor clinical outcomes in medium vessel occlusion stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) from primary medium vessel occlusions (MeVO) is a prevalent condition associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite the common use of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in AIS, predictors of poor outcomes in MeVO remain poorly characterized. METHODS: In this prospectively collected, retrospectively reviewed, multicenter, multinational study, data from the MAD-MT (Multicenter Analysis of primary Distal medium vessel occlusions: effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy) registry were analyzed. The study included 1568 patients from 37 academic centers across North America, Asia, and Europe, treated with MT, with or without intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IVtPA), between September 2017 and July 2021. RESULTS: Among the 1568 patients, 347 (22.2%) experienced very poor outcomes (modified Rankin score (mRS), 5-6). Key predictors of poor outcomes were advanced age (odds ratio (OR): 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02 to 1.04; p < 0.001), higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.10; p < 0.001), pre-operative glucose levels (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.02; p < 0.001), and a baseline mRS of 4 (OR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.25 to 5.82; p = 0.011). The multivariable model demonstrated good predictive accuracy with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.76. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that advanced age, higher NIHSS scores, elevated pre-stroke mRS, and pre-operative glucose levels significantly predict very poor outcomes in AIS-MeVO patients who received MT. These findings highlight the importance of a comprehensive risk assessment in primary MeVO patients for personalized treatment strategies. However, they also suggest a need for cautious patient selection for endovascular thrombectomy. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore targeted therapeutic interventions.

Outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in anticoagulated patients with acute distal and medium vessel stroke.

BACKGROUND: Stroke remains a major health concern globally, with oral anticoagulants widely prescribed for stroke prevention. The efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in anticoagulated patients with distal medium vessel occlusions (DMVO) are not well understood. METHODS: This retrospective analysis involved 1282 acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who underwent MT in 37 centers across North America, Asia, and Europe from September 2017 to July 2023. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, treatment specifics, and outcomes were collected. The primary outcomes were functional outcomes at 90 days post-MT, measured by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. Secondary outcomes included reperfusion rates, mortality, and hemorrhagic complications. RESULTS: Of the patients, 223 (34%) were on anticoagulation therapy. Anticoagulated patients were older (median age 78 vs 74 years; p < 0.001) and had a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (77% vs 26%; p < 0.001). Their baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were also higher (median 12 vs 9; p = 0.002). Before propensity score matching (PSM), anticoagulated patients had similar rates of favorable 90-day outcomes (mRS 0-1: 30% vs 37%, p = 0.1; mRS 0-2: 47% vs 50%, p = 0.41) but higher mortality (26% vs 17%, p = 0.008). After PSM, there were no significant differences in outcomes between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Anticoagulated patients undergoing MT for AIS due to DMVO did not show significant differences in 90-day mRS outcomes, reperfusion, or hemorrhage compared to non-anticoagulated patients after adjustment for covariates.

A contemporary analysis of surgical ligation versus endovascular embolization in patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas: a propensity score-matched and mixed-effects model study.

OBJECTIVE: Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) are rare vascular lesions that can be asymptomatic or can lead to devastating hemorrhage based on the dAVF's aggressiveness. Several approaches can be taken to treat dAVFs, such as endovascular embolization and surgical ligation. However, very few studies have evaluated the influence of surgery compared to endovascular approaches on patient outcomes. This study was performed to analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who underwent treatment for intracranial dAVF in which either endovascular embolization or microsurgical ligation was used. METHODS: The Nationwide Readmissions Database was reviewed for all patients who underwent treatment for dAVFs (n = 18,152) between 2016 and 2019. Patients who received only surgical ligation or endovascular embolization (i.e., not both) were included. Variables regarding demographics, clinical outcomes, and healthcare utilization were queried. Primary outcome measures were nonroutine discharge, 1-year readmission, top quartile length of stay (LOS), and top quartile of inpatient all-payer cost. Propensity score matching was performed to evaluate the influence of either surgery or embolization on patient outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created for each outcome measure. The area under the curve (AUC) of each ROC was used to estimate mixed-effects model performance. RESULTS: Following propensity score matching, 127 and 113 patients made up the surgical ligation and endovascular embolization cohort, respectively. There were no differences found in age (p = 0.16), sex (p = 0.57), or average Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (p = 0.32). Patients receiving surgical ligation had lower odds of readmission (OR 0.37, p = 0.028) and greater odds of nonroutine discharge (OR 2.21, p = 0.03) compared to patients who underwent endovascular embolization. The authors found no differences in the top quartile of LOS (p = 0.84), top quartile of cost (p = 0.38), or mortality (p > 0.99) between cohorts. ROC curves revealed that the mixed-effects models inclusive of approach outperformed models agnostic to approach with respect to nonroutine discharge (AUC with approach, 0.871; AUC without approach, 0.850; p = 0.018) and readmission (AUC with approach, 0.686; AUC without approach, 0.651; p = 0.019), but no differences were observed regarding top quartile of LOS (p = 0.17) and top quartile of cost (p = 0.40). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical approach may influence perioperative outcomes in patients treated for intracranial dAVF-most significantly discharge disposition and 1-year readmission. Future longitudinal prospective studies with more clinical detail will be required to fully capture the predictive utility of surgical approach in patients treated for intracranial dAVF, particularly for various dAVF subtypes.

Future of Endovascular and Surgical Treatments of Atherosclerotic Intracranial Stenosis.

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease and resultant intracranial stenosis is a global leading cause of stroke, and poses an ongoing treatment challenge. Among patients with intracranial stenosis, those with hemodynamic compromise are at high risk for recurrent stroke despite medical therapy and risk factor modification. Revascularization of the hypoperfused territory is the most plausible treatment strategy for these high-risk patients, yet surgical and endovascular therapies have not yet shown to be sufficiently safe and effective in randomized controlled trials. Advances in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies have led to a resurgence of interest in surgical and endovascular treatment strategies, with a growing body of evidence to support their further evaluation in the treatment of select patient populations. This review outlines the current and emerging endovascular and surgical treatments and highlights promising future management strategies.

Supracerebellar infratentorial resection of a torcular lesion causing fulminant intracranial hypertension: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Venous sinus stenosis has been implicated in intracranial hypertension and can lead to papilledema and blindness. The authors report the unique case of a cerebellar transtentorial lesion resulting in venous sinus stenosis in the torcula and bilateral transverse sinuses that underwent resection. OBSERVATIONS: A 5-year-old male presented with subacute vision loss and bilateral papilledema. Imaging demonstrated a lesion causing mass effect on the torcula/transverse sinuses and findings of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). A lumbar puncture confirmed elevated pressure, and the patient underwent bilateral optic nerve sheath fenestration. Cerebral angiography and venous manometry showed elevated venous sinus pressures suggestive of venous hypertension. The patient underwent a craniotomy and supracerebellar/infratentorial approach. A stalk emanating from the cerebellum through the tentorium was identified and divided. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed decreased lesion size and improved sinus patency. Papilledema resolved and other findings of elevated ICP improved. Pathology was consistent with atrophic cerebellar cortex. Serial imaging over 6 months demonstrated progressive decrease in the lesion with concurrent improvements in sinus patency. LESSONS: Although uncommon, symptoms of intracranial hypertension in patients with venous sinus lesions should prompt additional workup ranging from dedicated venous imaging to assessments of ICP and venous manometry.

Adult Moyamoya Disease and Syndrome: Current Perspectives and Future Directions: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Adult moyamoya disease and syndrome are rare disorders with significant morbidity and mortality. A writing group of experts was selected to conduct a literature search, summarize the current knowledge on the topic, and provide a road map for future investigation. The document presents an update in the definitions of moyamoya disease and syndrome, modern methods for diagnosis, and updated information on pathophysiology, epidemiology, and both medical and surgical treatment. Despite recent advancements, there are still many unresolved questions about moyamoya disease and syndrome, including lack of unified diagnostic criteria, reliable biomarkers, better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, and stronger evidence for treatment guidelines. To advance progress in this area, it is crucial to acknowledge the limitations and weaknesses of current studies and explore new approaches, which are outlined in this scientific statement for future research strategies.

Comparative Analysis of Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Pharmacological Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Latin America.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world. The majority of diabetes deaths (> 80%) occur in low- and middle-income countries, which are predominant in Latin America. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to compare the clinical practice guideline (CPG) for the pharmacological management of T2DM in Latin America (LA) with international reference guidelines. RECENT FINDINGS: Several LA countries have recently developed CPGs. However, the quality of these guidelines is unknown according to the AGREE II tool and taking as reference three CPGs of international impact: American Diabetes Association (ADA), European Diabetes Association (EASD), and Latin American Diabetes Association (ALAD). Ten CPGs were selected for analysis. The ADA scored > 80% on the AGREE II domains and was selected as the main comparator. Eighty percent of LA CPGs were developed before 2018. Only one was not recommended (all domains < 60%). The CPGs in LA have good quality but are outdated. They have significant gaps compared to the reference. There is a need for improvement, as proposing updates every three years to maintain the best available clinical evidence in all guidelines.

[The impact of novel drugs on the survival of patients with multiple myeloma in two chilean centers]. / Mieloma múltiple en Chile. Uso de drogas noveles en dos centros nacionales.

BACKGROUND: The incorporation of novel drugs, such as proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulators, improved considerably the survival of patients with multiple myeloma. AIM: To evaluate the effect on survival of proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulators in patients with multiple myeloma in two national hospitals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of clinical records from two hospitals of Santiago. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic data was obtained from 144 patients with multiple myeloma diagnosed between 2002 and 2016. RESULTS: Information was retrieved from 78 patients at one center and from 66 at the other center. The mean age at diagnosis was 58 and 62 years, the proportion of males was 53% and 52%, and presentation at stage III was 34% and 46%, respectively. The use of novel drugs, mainly bortezomib, was 90% in one of the centers and 3% in the other one. The use of autologous stem-cell transplantation was 47% and 3% respectively. The median overall survival of patients from the centers with and without access to novel drugs was 117 and 71 months respectively (p < 0.05). The five-year overall survival was 93 and 43% respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of novel drugs, especially bortezomib, and autologous stem-cell transplantation significantly improved the survival of multiple myeloma patients treated in national hospitals. It is necessary to include them as a first line treatment.

Biofortified tomatoes provide a new route to vitamin D sufficiency.

Poor vitamin D status is a global health problem; insufficiency underpins higher risk of cancer, neurocognitive decline and all-cause mortality. Most foods contain little vitamin D and plants are very poor sources. We have engineered the accumulation of provitamin D3 in tomato by genome editing, modifying a duplicated section of phytosterol biosynthesis in Solanaceous plants, to provide a biofortified food with the added possibility of supplement production from waste material.

Periodontitis and Other Risk Factors Related to Myocardial Infarction and Its Follow-Up.

The main issue in the prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) is to reduce risk factors. Periodontal disease is related to cardiovascular disease and both share risk factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether periodontitis can be considered a risk factor for MI and common risk factors in a case-control study and in a prospective follow-up study in patients with MI. The test group (MIG) was made up of 144 males who had MI in the previous 48 h. The control group (CG) was composed of 138 males without MI. Both groups were subdivided according to the presence or absence of stage III and IV of periodontitis. General data; Mediterranean diet and physical activity screening; periodontal data; and biochemical, microbiological and cardiological parameters were recorded. ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests and binary logistic regression analysis were applied. No differences in anthropometric variables were observed between the four groups. The average weekly exercise hours have a higher value in CG without periodontitis. The number of leukocytes was higher in MIG, the number of monocytes was higher in CG and the number of teeth was lower in MIG with periodontitis. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was higher in CG. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia were higher in CG with periodontitis and in MIG with and without periodontitis. At follow-up, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) data were better in the non-periodontitis group: 15 patients had Mayor Cardiovascular Adverse Events (MACE), 13 of them had periodontitis and 2 did not show periodontitis. Periodontitis, exercise, diet and smoking are risk factors related to MI. MACE presented in the 'MI follow-up' shows periodontitis, weight, exercise hours and dyslipidemia as risk factors. LVEF follow-up values are preserved in patients without periodontitis. Our data suggest that periodontitis can be considered a risk factor for MI and MACE in the studied population.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage-cerebral vasospasm and prophylactic ibuprofen: a randomised controlled pilot trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). One of the recently implicated underlying mechanisms of CVS is inflammatory cascades. Specific feasibility objectives include determining the ability to recruit 30 participants over 24 months while at least 75% of them comply with at least 75% of the study protocol and being able to follow 85% of them for 3 months after discharge. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial. Eligible participants are adult patients who are 18 years of age and older with an aSAH confirmed by a brain CT scan, and CT angiography, or magnetic resonance angiography, or digital subtraction angiography who admitted to the emergency department within 12 hours of the ictus. Eligible subjects will be randomised 1:1 for the administration of either ibuprofen or a placebo, while both groups will concomitantly be treated by the standard of care for 2 weeks. Care givers, patients, outcome assessors and data analysts will be blinded. This will be the first study to investigate the preventive effects of a short-acting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on CVS and the key expected outcome of this pilot study is the feasibility and safety assessment of the administration of ibuprofen in patients with aSAH. The objectives of the definitive trial would be to assess the effect of ibuprofen relative to placebo on mortality, CVS, delayed cerebral ischaemia, and level of disability at 3-month follow-up. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study is approved by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences ethical committee (IR.MUMS.MEDICAL.REC.1398.225). Results from the study will be submitted for publication regardless of whether or not there are significant findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN14611625.