The factors associated with the modified Fisher grade in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a life-threatening medical condition with a high fatality and morbidity rate. There was a substantial link between the modified Fisher grade of aSAH and the neurological function deficit. This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with the modified Fisher grade of aSAH using a machine learning approach. Methods: A multi-center observational study was conducted. The patients with aSAH were recruited from five tertiary hospitals in China. The volume of hemorrhage in aSAH was measured using the modified Fisher grade scale. The risk factors responsible for the modified Fisher grade of aSAH were analyzed, which include sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, blood index, and ruptured aneurysm characteristics. We built several tree-based machine learning models (XGBoost, CatBoost, LightGBM) for prediction and used grid search to optimize model parameters. To comprehensively evaluate the model, we used Accuracy, Precision, Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUROC), Area Under the Precision-Recall Curve (AUPRC), and Brier as evaluation indicators to assess the model performance and select the best model. Results: A total of 888 patients with aSAH were recruited, of whom 305 with modified Fisher grade of 3 and 4. The results show that the XGBoost model has the highest AUROC of 0.772, and the indicators are better than CatBoost and LightGBM. The feature importance graph shows that the top feature variables include platelet, thrombin time, fibrinogen, preadmission systolic blood pressure, activated partial thromboplastin time, and the time interval between the onset of aSAH and the first-time CT examination. Conclusion: The factors responsible for the modified Fisher grade of aSAH were identified, which offered valuable insights for future research and clinical intervention. These risk factors should be controlled in the treatment of unruptured aneurysms, and appropriate treatment can be given if necessary to reduce the risk of severe hemorrhage after aneurysm rupture.

Visual inspection versus spectrophotometry for xanthochromia detection in patients with sudden onset severe headache-A diagnostic accuracy study.

OBJECTIVE: There is still disagreement about whether to routinely use spectrophotometry to detect xanthochromia in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or whether visual inspection is adequate. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of these methods in detecting an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in patients with sudden onset severe headache. BACKGROUND: When a patient presents to the emergency department with a headache for which there is suspicion of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, the gold standard to rule this out is to perform a CSF analysis for xanthochromia with or without spectrophotometry if the cranial non-contrast computed tomography (CT) upon admission is negative. METHODS: Having applied the gold standard, we retrospectively included patients with acute headache who underwent both CT scan and CSF spectrophotometry at our hospital in the period 2002-2020. Patients were excluded if the cranial CT was interpreted as positive, there was a bloody CSF, or if visual assessment data of the CSF was unavailable. We scrutinized the patients' medical records and evaluated the benefit of spectrophotometry compared to visual inspection. The net bilirubin absorbance cut-off for support of subarachnoid hemorrhage was set at >0.007 absorbance units. The spectrophotometry was also considered positive if the net bilirubin absorbance was ≤0.007 and net oxyhemoglobin absorbance was ≥0.1 absorbance units. We calculated and compared the sensitivity and specificity of CSF spectrophotometry and visual inspection of the CSF. RESULTS: In total, 769 patients, with a mean age of 42.3 ± (standard deviation [SD] = 17.3) years, were included. The headache onset was classified as a thunderclap headache in 41.5%, and 4.7% had a sudden loss of consciousness. Fifteen patients (2%) were finally diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage, six (0.8%) had an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, seven (0.9%) had a perimesencephalic hemorrhage, one (0.1%) had a cortical cerebral sinus venous thrombosis, and one (0.1%) had a spinal epidural hematoma. Four patients (0.5%) had a subarachnoid hemorrhage that was not detected by visual inspection, and two were caused by an aneurysmal rupture. One of these two patients died just before intervention, and the other underwent coiling for an anterior communicating aneurysm. The number needed for lumbar puncture to detect a subarachnoid hemorrhage was 51, but 128 to detect an aneurysmal hemorrhage. The corresponding numbers needed for CSF spectrophotometric analysis were 192 and 385, respectively. Spectrophotometry was positive in 31 patients (4.0%), of whom 18 (2.3%) also had visually detected xanthochromia (11 true positive). The mean net bilirubin absorbance in the 13 samples with visually clear CSF was 0.0111 ± (SD = 0.0103) absorbance units, compared to 0.0017 ± (SD = 0.0013) in the CSF with negative spectrophotometry. The corresponding figures for net oxyhemoglobin absorbance were 0.0391 ± (SD = 0.0522) versus 0.0057 ± (SD = 0.0081). The sensitivity of spectrophotometric xanthochromia detection was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78-100), compared to 73% (95% CI, 45-92) for visual xanthochromia detection. The specificity of spectrophotometric xanthochromia detection was 98% (95% CI, 97-99) compared to 99% (95% CI, 98-100) for visual xanthochromia detection. Both methods had high negative predictive values: 100% (95% CI, 99.5-100) versus 99.5% (95% CI, 98.6-99.9), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both visual inspection and spectrophotometry have high diagnostic accuracy for detecting CSF xanthochromia, but the lower sensitivity of visual assessment makes it unreliable, and we recommend the use of spectrophotometry in clinical practice.

Efficacy and Safety of Early Treatment with Glibenclamide in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of glibenclamide treatment in patients with acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). METHODS: The randomized controlled trial was conducted from October 2021 to May 2023 at two university-affiliated hospitals in Beijing, China. The study included patients with aSAH within 48 h of onset, of whom were divided into the intervention group and the control group according to the random number table method. Patients in the intervention group received glibenclamide tablet 3.75 mg/day for 7 days. The primary end points were the levels of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and soluble protein 100B (S100B) between the two groups. Secondary end points included evaluating changes in the midline shift and the gray matter-white matter ratio, as well as assessing the modified Rankin Scale scores during follow-up. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT05137678). RESULTS: A total of 111 study participants completed the study. The median age was 55 years, and 52% were women. The mean admission Glasgow Coma Scale was 10, and 58% of the Hunt-Hess grades were no less than grade III. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. On days 3 and 7, there were no statistically significant differences observed in serum NSE and S100B levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). The computer tomography (CT) values of gray matter and white matter in the basal ganglia were low on admission, indicating early brain edema. However, there were no significant differences found in midline shift and gray matter-white matter ratio (P > 0.05) between the two groups. More than half of the patients had a beneficial outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores 0-2), and there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. The incidence of hypoglycemia in the two groups were 4% and 9%, respectively (P = 0.439). CONCLUSIONS: Treating patients with early aSAH with oral glibenclamide did not decrease levels of serum NSE and S100B and did not improve the poor 90-day neurological outcome. In the intervention group, there was a visible decreasing trend in cases of delayed cerebral ischemia, but no statistically significant difference was observed. The incidence of hypoglycemia did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Degree of subarachnoid hemorrhage affects clinical outcome after mechanical thrombectomy for M2 occlusion.

PURPOSE: The prognostic relevance of post-mechanical thrombectomy (MT) subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate whether the thickness of the SAH clot affects clinical outcomes following MT for M2 occlusion. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a prospective database of patients who underwent MT for isolated M2 occlusion. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the presence and thickness of SAH. Clinical and angiographical characteristics and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Of the 36 patients included, SAH was observed in 15 (42%). When comparing patients with no SAH (grade 0) or thin SAH (grade 1) (N = 28) with those who had thick SAH (grade 2) (N = 8), patients with Grade 2 SAH required a higher number of passes and had a more severe angulation at M2. Patients with SAH Grade 2 had significantly worse NIHSS scores at 24 h (median, 4 vs. 14), but only one patient was identified as having a symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Patients with SAH Grade 2 were found to have a lower rate of favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale 0-2) (23% vs. 75%, P = 0.0026) and higher mortality (25% vs. 0%, P = 0.0499) at 90 days. CONCLUSION: The study found that thick SAH prevents clinical recovery after MT for M2 occlusion, even in cases of successful recanalization, and is associated with an unfavorable outcome. Thick SAH after MT is also linked to an increase in the number of passes and severe angulation at the M2 segment.

Factors associated with radiographic progression and neurologic decline in patients with isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Complicated mild traumatic brain injury (cmTBI) is a common neurosurgical disorder that consumes a significant amount of healthcare resources without a clearly established benefit. Best practices for the management of cmTBI regarding triage, hospital admission, and the necessity for repeat imaging are controversial. Our objective is to describe the rate of radiographic progression and neurologic decline for isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (itSAH) patients admitted to the hospital. We hypothesized that only a minority of itSAH patients suffer radiographic progression and that radiographic progression is not necessarily associated with neurologic decline. METHODS: Database queries and direct patient chart reviews were used to gather patient data. T-tests and Fisher's exact tests were performed. RESULTS: A total of 340 patients with cmTBI associated with itSAH were included for analysis. The radiographic progression rate was 5.6%. There was no statistically significant association between age, gender, GCS at presentation, anticoagulation status, and risk of radiographic progression. However, subgroup analysis on anticoagulated patients did show those on warfarin had a statistically significant risk of radiographic progression (p = 0.003). No patient developed neurologic decline, irrespective of whether they developed radiographic progression. CONCLUSION: Secondary triaging, hospital admission, ICU stay, and repeat HCT might not be necessary for awake, GCS 13-15 patients with itSAH without any other significant injuries. In the case of anticoagulant use, but not necessarily antiplatelet use, the medication should be reversed, and admission should be considered.

A Fully Automated Pipeline Using Swin Transformers for Deep Learning-Based Blood Segmentation on Head CT Scans After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Accurate volumetric assessment of spontaneous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a labor-intensive task performed with current manual and semiautomatic methods that might be relevant for its clinical and prognostic implications. In the present research, we sought to develop and validate an artificial intelligence-driven, fully automated blood segmentation tool for SAH patients via non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) scans employing a transformer-based Swin-UNETR architecture. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed NCCT scans from patients with confirmed aSAH utilizing the Swin-UNETR for segmentation. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated against manually segmented ground truth data using metrics such as Dice score, Intersection over Union (IoU), Volumetric Similarity Index(VSI), Symmetric Average Surface Distance(SASD), Sensitivity and Specificity. A validation cohort from an external institution was included to test the generalizability of the model. RESULTS: The model demonstrated high accuracy with robust performance metrics across the internal and external validation cohorts. Notably, it achieved high Dice coefficient (0.873±0.097), IoU (0.810±0.092), VSI (0.840±0.131), Sensitivity (0.821±0.217) and Specificity (0.996±0.004) values and a low SASD (1.866±2.910), suggesting proficiency in segmenting blood in SAH patients. The model's efficiency was reflected in its processing speed, indicating potential for real-time applications. CONCLUSIONS: Our Swin UNETR-based model offers significant advances in the automated segmentation of blood in SAH patients on NCCT images. Despite the computational demands, the model operates effectively on standard hardware with a user-friendly interface, facilitating broader clinical adoption. Further validation across diverse datasets is warranted to confirm its clinical reliability.

A Comparison of Subarachnoid Block Characteristics Following Co-administration of Fentanyl Premixed With Hyperbaric Bupivacaine Versus Antecedent or Succedent to Hyperbaric Bupivacaine: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Background Adjuvants are often used during subarachnoid block to enhance and prolong the analgesia and decrease the adverse effects of high doses of local anesthetic agents. Intrathecal fentanyl premixed with hyperbaric bupivacaine has been used in spinal anesthesia and compared with the sequential use of these drugs in separate syringes. However, given the paucity of literature, we conducted this study where premixed antecedent and succedent administration of intrathecal fentanyl with hyperbaric bupivacaine were compared in terms of flow dynamics, block characteristics, and hemodynamic alterations. Methodology This prospective, randomized, triple-blinded comparative study was conducted among 160 patients who were randomly allocated into four groups. Group A (n = 40) (control) received 3.0 mL (15 mg) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine and 0.5 mL of normal saline via a 5.0 mL syringe. Group B (n = 40) received 3.0 mL (15 mg) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine and 0.5 mL (25 µg) of fentanyl premixed via a single 5.0 mL syringe. Group C (n = 40) received 0.5 mL (25 µg) of fentanyl via a 1.0 mL syringe followed by 3.0 mL (15 mg) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine via a 5.0 mL syringe. Group D (n = 40) received 3.0 mL (15 mg) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine via a 5.0 mL syringe followed by 0.5 mL (25 µg) of fentanyl via a 1.0 mL syringe. The onset and regression of sensory and motor blockade, hemodynamic parameters, time to first rescue analgesia, and adverse events were observed. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17.0 (SPSS Statistics Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results The mean time taken for the onset of sensory and motor blockade was least in Group D followed by Group C. Duration of sensory and motor blockade was prolonged in Group D. Patients in Group A experienced more hypotension than Groups B, C, and D. Requirement of rescue analgesia was delayed in Groups C and D. Conclusions Administering 25 µg (0.5 mL) of Fentanyl separately after 15 mg (3.0 mL) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine results in early onset and prolonged duration of sensory and motor blockade, intraoperative hemodynamic stability, the delayed requirement of rescue analgesia postoperatively, and fewer side effects compared to its co-administration as a premixed solution or antecedent to hyperbaric bupivacaine.

Evaluating the Strength and Quality of Evidence in American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Guidelines for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice recommendations guide healthcare decisions. This study aims to evaluate the strength and quality of evidence supporting the American Heart Association (AHA)/American Stroke Association (ASA) guidelines for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: We reviewed the current AHA/ASA guidelines for aSAH and spontaneous ICH and compared with previous guidelines. Guidelines were classified based on the Class of recommendation (COR) and Level of evidence (LOE). COR signifies recommendation strength (COR 1: Strong; COR 2a: Moderate; COR 2b: Weak; COR 3: No Benefit/Harm), while LOE denotes evidence quality (LOE A: High-Quality; LOE B-NR: Moderate-Quality, Not Randomized; LOE B-R: Moderate-Quality, Randomized; LOE C-EO: Expert Opinion; LOE C-LD: Limited Data). RESULTS: For aSAH, we identified 84 recommendations across 15 guideline categories. Of these, 31% were classified as COR I, 30% as COR 2a, 17% as COR 2b, and 18% as COR 3. In terms of LOE, 7% were based on LOE A, 10% on LOE B-R, 65% on LOE B-NR, 14% on LOE C-LD, and 5% on LOE C-EO. Compared to previous guidelines, there was a 46% decrease in LOE A, a 45% increase in LOE B, and an 11% decrease in LOE C. For spontaneous ICH, 124 guidelines were identified across 31 guideline categories. Of these, 28% were COR I, 32% COR 2b, and 9% COR 3. For LOE, 4% were based on LOE A, 35% on LOE B-NR, and 42% on LOE C-LD. Compared to previous guidelines, there was a 78% decrease in LOE A, an 82% increase in LOE B, and a 14% increase in LOE C. This analysis highlights that less than a third of AHA/ASA guidelines are classified as the highest class of recommendation, with less than 10% based on the highest LOE. CONCLUSION: Less than a third of AHA/ASA guidelines on aSAH and spontaneous ICH are classified as the highest class of recommendation with less than 10% based on highest LOE. There appears to be a decrease in proportion of guidelines based on highest LOE in most recent guidelines.

A nomogram model for predicting postoperative prognosis in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage using preoperative biochemical indices.

OBJECTIVE: The nutritional status and inflammatory responses of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) play a vital prognostic role. We investigated the relationship between preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI)、neutrophil/albumin ratio (NAR)、platelet/albumin ratio (PAR) and other factors and the clinical prognosis of patients who underwent clipping for aSAH and its predictive model. METHODS: The clinical data of 212 patients with aSAH who underwent neurosurgery at Nanyang Central Hospital between 2018 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at 6 months postoperatively, the patients were categorized into two groups: poor (GOSI-III) and good (GOSIV-V) prognosis groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predictive value of preoperative PNI、NAR、PAR、hyperlipidemia and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for prognosis. Furthermore, nomograms and prognostic prediction models were constructed. Receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve (AUC) were utilized to determine the predictive values. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that PNI (OR = 1.250, 95%CI 1.060 ~ 1.475, P = 0.008), NAR (OR = 0.000, 95%CI 0.000 ~ 0.004, P = 0.000), PAR(OR = 0.515, 95%CI 0.283 ~ 0.937, P = 0.030), hyperlipidemia (OR = 4.627, 95%CI 1.166 ~ 18.367, P = 0.029), and GCS(OR = 1.446, 95%CI 1.041 ~ 2.008, P = 0.028) are independent risk factors for poor postoperative prognosis. The total score of the nomogram was 200, and the AUC value was 0.972. CONCLUSIONS: PNI and NAR can reflect the nutritional status and inflammatory responses of patients.They are significantly associated with the postoperative prognosis of patients with aSAH. Comprehensively analyzing PNI and NAR combined with other clinical indicators can more effectively guide treatment and help predict prognosis.

Hyperhomocysteinemia in a Patient With Subdural Hematoma and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Secondary to a Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant global health issue, contributing substantially to mortality and disability. Serum biomarkers, such as homocysteine (Hcy), play a critical role in the prognosis of brain injuries, with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) potentially leading to neurological disorders. We present the case of a 64-year-old patient admitted to the emergency department following a road traffic accident (RTA). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed parietal subdural hematoma (SDH), right frontal contusion, and left subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The patient underwent a craniotomy to address SAH and SDH. Initial Hcy levels were markedly elevated compared to post-operative levels. Hcy represents a rapid, non-invasive, and cost-effective diagnostic tool for assessing brain injury severity and guiding medical intervention. Early detection of HHcy could potentially mitigate vascular and neurological complications, thereby improving patient outcomes.

Impact of Carotid Siphon Calcification on the Course and Outcome of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Carotid siphon calcification (CSC) serves as a marker of atherosclerosis and therefore may influence the outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We aimed to analyze the impact of CSC on neurological outcomes, ischemia, and vasospasm. METHODS: A total of 716 patients with aSAH were treated between December 2004 and June 2016 in our central European tertiary neurovascular care center in Essen, Germany. CSC was recorded using the Woodcock scale (grades 0-3) on a computed tomography scan. Study end points included an unfavorable outcome at 6 months post-aSAH (modified Rankin Scale score ≥4), vasospasm, and early cerebral ischemia (72 hours) and delayed cerebral ischemia (delayed cerebral ischemia; >72 hours) in the follow-up computed tomography scans. The associations were adjusted for patients' baseline characteristics and secondary complications. Finally, within a subgroup analysis, patients with and without daily aspirin intake after endovascular aneurysm occlusion were compared. RESULTS: Increasing grades of CSC were associated with lower rates of vasospasm in the anterior circulation. Severe CSC (grade 3) was independently related to the risk of an unfavorable outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.06 [95% CI, 1.98-8.33]; P<0.001) and early cerebral ischemia (aOR, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.03-2.43]; P=0.035) but not delayed cerebral ischemia (aOR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.67-1.73]; P=0.763). In the aspirin subgroup analysis, the negative effect of severe CSC on functional outcome remained significant only in aSAH cases without aspirin (aOR, 5.47 [95% CI, 2.38-12.54]; P<0.001). In contrast, there was no association between severe CSC and unfavorable outcomes among individuals with daily aspirin intake (aOR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.59-4.21]; P=0.603). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest CSC as a cerebrovascular risk factor resulting in higher rates of early cerebral ischemia and unfavorable outcomes after aSAH. However, by increasing arterial stiffness, CSC might lower the probability of vasospasm, which could explain the missing link between CSC and delayed cerebral ischemia. Additionally, aspirin intake seems to potentially mitigate the negative impact of CSC on aSAH outcome. Further investigations are needed to confirm the observations from the present study.

Prevalence of ruptured small and very small aneurysms: a retrospective single-centre study.

AIM OF STUDY: To retrospectively assess the occurrence and consequences of subarachnoid haemorrhages (SAH) caused by ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIA), particularly focusing on the treatment outcomes of small aneurysms treated with either endovascular embolisation or surgical intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data from 408 patients (144 males and 264 females) who were hospitalised between 2013 and 2022 at the Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology in University Hospital Nr 2 in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Clinical conditions at admission, assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale, Hunt-Hess scale (H-H), modified Rankin scale (mRS), as well as age and sex, were recorded. Additionally, aneurysm data including size, localisation, and the method and outcome of endovascular or surgical treatment were examined. RESULTS: Among the 408 patients hospitalised due to SAH, the most common localisation of the 375 RIAs was the anterior communicating artery (AcomA) complex (111 cases, 29.6%), followed by the medial cerebral artery (MCA) (95 cases, 25.3%), internal carotid artery (ICA) (94 cases, 25%), and the vertebrobasilar complex (consisting of the basilar artery (BA) - 25 cases, vertebral artery (VA) - 13 cases, anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) - one case, and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) - four cases), which accounted for 43 SAH cases (11.46%). In 33 cases, neither RIA nor a haemorrhage source was identified, or arteriography showed no cerebral arteries contrast flow. Among the examined group of 375 RIAs, 45 (12%) were microaneurysms (≤ 3 mm), 35 (9%) were small aneurysms (3 ≤ 5 mm), 89 (24%) were medium-sized (5 ≤ 7 mm), and 151 (40%) were large aneurysms (> 7 mm), serving as the source of SAH. A better outcome was significantly associated with lower initial H-H grade (p < 0.001), higher GCS (p < 0.001), lower mRS at admission (p < 0.001), younger age (p < 0.001), smaller size (≤ 3 mm) (p < 0.001), and endovascular treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this series, over 21% of patients suffered from SAH resulting from ruptured small aneurysms (≤ 5 mm), with 12% specifically attributed to ruptured very small aneurysms (≤ 3 mm), despite large aneurysms (> 7 mm) being the most prevalent source of bleeding in 40% of cases. A worse prognosis was primarily associated with the severity of SAH, reflected in poorer clinical status at admission and older age. Endovascular embolisation was found to be effective and associated with better outcomes compared to surgical treatment.

Diagnostic workup of acute headache and subarachnoid hemorrhage in a Norwegian population: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: Acute headache may be the primary symptom of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Recent guidelines suggest that non-contrast computed tomography (CT) is adequate to exclude aneurysmal SAH if performed within 6 h after symptom onset. However, most studies of acute headache including CT, lumbar puncture and SAH are multicenter studies from referral hospitals with highly selected patient populations. The main purpose of this study was to describe the diagnostic properties of head CT and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spectrophotometry for detecting SAH in an unselected primary hospital population with acute headache. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at a large primary hospital serving roughly 10% of the Norwegian population. Diagnostic workup from consecutive patients evaluated for acute headache in 2009-2020 were collected. All CSF-spectrophotometry reports were standardized and the same CT scanner was used during the study. RESULTS: A total of 3227 patients were included. Median age was 45 years and 63% were women. In total, 170 (5.3% of all acute headache patients) had SAH. Of 3071 CT-negative patients, 2852 (93%) underwent lumbar puncture. Of the CSF reports, 2796 (98%) were negative for xanthochromia. Overall, the rate for detection of aneurysmal SAH by positive xanthochromia was 9 in 2852 cases (3‰). The miss rate for the detection of an aneurysmal SAH with a CT scan within 6 h was 0 and within 12 h 1 in 2852 cases (0.3‰). CONCLUSION: In acute headache, a CT scan taken within 6 h is practically 100% sensitive for detecting any SAH.

A Prediction Model for Detecting Dysthyroid Optic Neuropathy Based on Clinical Factors and Imaging Markers of the Optic Nerve and Cerebrospinal Fluid in the Optic Nerve Sheath.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and test a model for predicting dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) based on clinical factors and imaging markers of the optic nerve and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the optic nerve sheath. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) without DON and patients with TAO accompanied by DON at our hospital. The imaging markers of the optic nerve and CSF in the optic nerve sheath were measured on the water-fat images of each patient and, together with clinical factors, were screened by Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. Subsequently, we constructed a prediction model using multivariate logistic regression. The accuracy of the model was verified using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: In total, 80 orbits from 44 DON patients and 90 orbits from 45 TAO patients were included in our study. Two variables (optic nerve subarachnoid space and the volume of the CSF in the optic nerve sheath) were found to be independent predictive factors and were included in the prediction model. In the development cohort, the mean area under the curve (AUC) was 0.994, with a sensitivity of 0.944, specificity of 0.967, and accuracy of 0.901. Moreover, in the validation cohort, the AUC was 0.960, the sensitivity was 0.889, the specificity was 0.893, and the accuracy was 0.890. CONCLUSIONS: A combined model was developed using imaging data of the optic nerve and CSF in the optic nerve sheath, serving as a noninvasive potential tool to predict DON.

Flow diversion with hydrophilic polymer coating with prasugrel as single antiplatelet therapy in the treatment of acutely ruptured intracranial aneurysms: a multicenter case series, complication and occlusion rates.

BACKGROUND: This study reports a multicenter experience of using hydrophilic polymer-coated (HPC) flow diverters with prasugrel single antiplatelet therapy to treat ruptured aneurysms with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: Patients treated for intracranial aneurysms within 30 days after SAH with a p64/p48 MW HPC flow diverter were prospectively identified. Clinical presentation and outcomes, periprocedural and postprocedural complications, and degree of occlusion at follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were treated in 88 sessions (54.5% women; mean age 53.3 years). Four patients (4.7%) experienced flow diverter-dependent complications. No cases of aneurysm re-rupture or hemorrhagic complications related to antiplatelet therapy were recorded. Immediate complete occlusion was achieved in 27.4% of cases (23/84). The rate of complete occlusion among survivors was 83% in early follow-up, 90.2% in mid-term follow-up, and 92.3% in the latest possible follow-up. CONCLUSION: p64/p48 MW HPC flow diverters with prasugrel single antiplatelet therapy were associated with safety from aneurysm re-rupture and high occlusion rates at medium- and long-term follow-up in managing ruptured aneurysms. Adequate management of single antiplatelet therapy with prasugrel is crucial, particularly with higher doses than usual, to avoid both ischemic and hemorrhagic complications.

miR-93-5p impairs autophagy-lysosomal pathway via TET3 after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Intact autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) in neuronal survival is crucial. However, it remains unclear whether ALP is intact after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Ten-eleven translocation (TET) 3 primarily regulates genes related to autophagy in neurons in neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to investigate the role of TET3 in the ALP following SAH. The results indicate that the ALP is impaired after SAH, with suppressed autophagic flux and an increase in autophagosomes. This is accompanied by a decrease in TET3 expression. Activation of TET3 by α-KG can improve ALP function and neural function to some extent. Silencing TET3 in neurons significantly inhibited the ALP function and increased apoptosis. Inhibition of miR-93-5p, which is elevated after SAH, promotes TET3 expression. This suggests that the downregulation of TET3 after SAH is, at least in part, due to elevated miR-93-5p. This study clarifies the key role of TET3 in the functional impairment of the ALP after SAH. The preliminary exploration revealed that miR-93-5p could lead to the downregulation of TET3, which could be a new target for neuroprotective therapy after SAH.

Analysis of different expression RNA binding protein genes in mouse microglia cell from the brains of mice 72 h after subarachnoid hemorrhage or sham operation.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of brain injury caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is poor. Previous studies showed that abnormal function of RBPs might be involved in brain injury, neuroinflammation and further affect microglia homeostasis. However, no studies have systematically analyzed the genome-wide abnormal expression of RBPs genes in microglia during SAH. METHODS: RNA-seq data of microglia from the SAH mouse group (SAH) and control sham-operated mouse group (sham) were downloaded from the GEO database in GSE167957, including four samples from the sham group and four samples from the SAH group for subsequent analysis.Utilizing GO and KEGG functional enrichment analyses, we conducted a comprehensive study of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), alternative splicing patterns, and co-expression networks to gain deeper insights into the differential expression of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and differential alternative splicing events (ASEs) between the SAH (subarachnoid hemorrhage) and sham groups. This analysis aimed to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the aberrant expression of RBPs in microglia during brain injury caused by SAH. RESULTS: ASEs and co-expression analyses of differentially expressed RBPs and differential ASEs were carried out in microglia in terms of gene expression. GO and KEGG functional enrichment analysis showed that aberrantly expressed RBPs such as Mcm7, Mtdh, SRSF3, and Hnrnpa2b1 may affect and regulate downstream Csnk1d, Uckl1 and other protein phosphorylation-related genes by alterative splicing. CONCLUSION: RBPs were aberrantly expressed in microglia during the development of brain injury secondary to SAH, regulating alterative splicing of downstream genes and influencing the progression of SAH brain injury in this study. This implies that RBPs are important for the identification of new therapeutic targets for brain injury after SAH.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome due to teprotumumab: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS) involves cerebral vasculature constriction and dilation. While the exact pathophysiology of RCVS is still not fully understood, there are multiple etiological factors suggested to be implicated in triggering RCVS. We report two RCVS cases potentially linked to teprotumumab. Case 1: A 59-year-old female with Graves' eye disease (GED) developed leg weakness and headache after initiating teprotumumab, and neuroimaging studies revealed multifocal cerebral vasospasm (CVS). Verapamil mitigated vasospasm and the patient overall improved. Case 2: A 71-year-old female with GED developed thunderclap headache two months after starting teprotumumab, with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and CVS revealed on neuroimaging studies. The patient improved on verapamil and was discharged without deficits. CONCLUSIONS: The temporal correlation between teprotumumab initiation and RCVS's symptom onset raises concern for the potential involvement of teprotumumab in triggering RCVS via disrupting cerebrovascular modulation. Further research is needed to investigate this proposed association.

Gender-specific prognosis models reveal differences in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients between sexes.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) represents a severe stroke subtype. Our study aims to develop gender-specific prognostic prediction models derived from distinct prognostic factors observed among different-gender patients. METHODS: Inclusion comprised SAH-diagnosed patients from January 2014 to March 2016 in our institution. Collected data encompassed patients' demographics, admission severity, treatments, imaging findings, and complications. Three-month post-discharge prognoses were obtained via follow-ups. Analyses assessed gender-based differences in patient information. Key factors underwent subgroup analysis, followed by univariate and multivariate analyses to identify gender-specific prognostic factors and establish/validate gender-specific prognostic models. RESULTS: A total of 929 patients, with a median age of 57 (16) years, were analyzed; 372 (40%) were male, and 557 (60%) were female. Differences in age, smoking history, hypertension, aneurysm presence, and treatment interventions existed between genders (p < 0.01), yet no disparity in prognosis was noted. Subgroup analysis explored hypertension history, aneurysm presence, and treatment impact, revealing gender-specific variations in these factors' influence on the disease. Screening identified independent prognostic factors: age, SEBES score, admission GCS score, and complications for males; and age, admission GCS score, intraventricular hemorrhage, treatment interventions, symptomatic vasospasm, hydrocephalus, delayed cerebral ischemia, and seizures for females. Evaluation and validation of gender-specific models yielded an AUC of 0.916 (95% CI: 0.878-0.954) for males and 0.914 (95% CI: 0.885-0.944) for females in the ROC curve. Gender-specific prognostic models didn't significantly differ from the overall population-based model (model 3) but exhibited robust discriminative ability and clinical utility. CONCLUSION: Variations in baseline and treatment-related factors among genders contribute partly to gender-based prognosis differences. Independent prognostic factors vary by gender. Gender-specific prognostic models exhibit favorable prognostic performance.

Trend analysis of stroke subtypes mortality attributable to high body-mass index in China from 1990 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of stroke disability associated with high BMI has significantly increased over the past three decades. However, it remains uncertain whether high body-mass index (BMI) exerts a similar impact on the disease burden of different stroke subtypes. The aim of this study is to assess the long-term trends of stroke and subtypes mortality attributable to high BMI in China between 1990 and 2019. METHODS: Data on stroke and subtypes mortality attributable to high BMI in China was extracted in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019. The trends of age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) were calculated using the linear regression and age-period-cohort framework. RESULTS: The changing trend of ASMR on stroke attributable to high BMI in China differed among subtypes, with an estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and 95%CI of 2.04 (1.86 to 2.21) for ischemic stroke (IS), 0.36 (-0.03 to 0.75) for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and - 4.62 (-5.44 to -3.78) for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Net and local drift analyses revealed a gradual increase in the proportion of older people with IS and a gradual increase in the proportion of younger people with hemorrhagic strokes. The cohort and period rate ratios varied by subtype, showing an increasing trend for IS and ICH but a decreasing trend for SAH. The stroke mortality attributable to high BMI increased significantly with age for IS and ICH, peaking between ages 50-70 for SAH. Notably, males had higher ASMR related to stroke but exhibited slighter declines or higher growth compared to females in China. Moreover, the population affected by fatal strokes tended to be older among females but more evenly distributed across a wider age range encompassing both younger and older individuals. CONCLUSION: The research findings indicate a rising trend in the ASMR of stroke and subtypes attributable to high BMI in China from 1990 to 2019, with different patterns of change for different subtypes, genders and ages. Consequently, it is imperative for public health authorities in China to formulate guidelines for specific stroke subtypes, genders and ages to prevent the burden of stroke attributable to high BMI.