RapidpulseTM cyclic aspiration system for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusions.

BACKGROUND: The best strategy to achieve optimal reperfusion outcomes during mechanical thrombectomy remains to be defined. The RapidPulseTM Cyclic Aspiration System is a novel technology, delivering high-frequency pulsed vacuum forces to increase the efficiency of aspiration thrombectomy. METHODS: Prospective, multicenter, open-label, core lab-adjudicated, two-arm study comparing safety and efficacy of a feasibility version of the RapidPulseTM system compared with contemporary controls. Primary endpoint was the rate of mTICI ≥ 2c after first-pass effect (FPE). Additional efficacy endpoints were the rates of mTICI ≥ 2b after first pass (modified FPE (mFPE)), last pass with study device defined as frontline technical success, and after all passes including rescue therapy. The primary safety endpoints included symptomatic ICH (sICH) within 24 h post-procedure. RESULTS: Between February 2022 to December 2022, 80 subjects were consented and enrolled in the study (n = 40 treatment arm, n = 40 control arm). In the intent to treat (ITT) population, mean age was 67.8 ± 11.5 years; 19 (47.5%) were male. Median NIHSS score was 16 (IQR: 13-22). Median ASPECTS score was 9 (IQR: 8-10). The rate of mTICI ≥ 2c after first pass was 53.9% in ITT population (60.0% in per-protocol population) versus 38.5% in the corresponding control population. Functional independence (mRS 0-2) at 90 days was achieved in 61.1% (22/36) in the RapidPulseTM arm and 52.8% (19/36) in the control arm. In the RapidPulseTM arm, no sICH within 24 h and no device-related morbidity or mortality occurred. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data suggests RapidPulseTM Aspiration System is highly effective and safe for recanalization of large vessel occlusions.

Perfusion Computed Tomography as a Screening Tool for Pending Delayed Cerebral Ischemia in Comatose Patients After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is frequently complicated by delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), leading to poor outcomes. Early diagnosis of DCI is crucial for improving survival and outcomes but remains challenging in comatose patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate computed tomography with angiography and perfusion (P-CT) as a screening modality on postictal days four and eight for impending DCI after aSAH in comatose patients using vasospasm with hypoperfusion (hVS) as a surrogate and DCI-related infarction as an outcome measure. Two objectives were set: (1) to evaluate the screening's ability to accurately risk stratify patients and (2) to assess the validity of P-CT screening. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of the records of comatose patients with aSAH from January 2019 to December 2021 who were monitored with P-CT scans on days four and eight. The event rates of DCI-related infarction, hVS, and endovascular rescue therapy (ERT) were analyzed, and the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) for DCI were calculated. DCI-related infarction was defined as new secondary cerebral infarction > 48 h < 6 weeks post aSAH not attributable to other causes, and hVS was defined as arterial narrowing with corresponding hypoperfusion on P-CT. RESULTS: Fifty-six comatose patients were included, and 98 P-CT scans were performed. The incidence of DCI-related infarction was 40%. Screening P-CT on days four and eight found vasospasm in 23% of all patients, including 11% with hVS. A positive hVS on day four or eight revealed a relative risk of 2.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-5.11, p = 0.03], sensitivity of 23% (95% CI 8-45, p = 0.03), specificity of 95% (95% CI 36-100, p = 0.03), PPV of 0.83 (95% CI 0.36-1.00, p = 0.03), and NPV of 0.65 (95% CI 0.50-0.78). Six positive P-CT scans led to digital subtraction angiography in five patients, three of whom received ERT. All ERT-intervened patients developed DCI-related infarction. CONCLUSIONS: P-CT resulted in few interventions and often resulted in late detection of DCI at an irreversible stage. Although a positive P-CT result accurately predicts impending DCI-related infarction, screening on days four and eight alone in comatose patients with aSAH often fails to timely detect impending DCI. Based on our analysis, we cannot recommend P-CT as a screening modality. P-CT is likely best used as a confirmatory test prior to invasive interventions when guided by continuous multimodal monitoring; however, prospective studies with comparison groups are warranted. The need for a reliable continuous screening modality is evident because of the high rate of deterioration and narrow treatment window.

A peptide derived from HSP60 reduces proinflammatory cytokines and soluble mediators: a therapeutic approach to inflammation.

Cytokines are secretion proteins that mediate and regulate immunity and inflammation. They are crucial in the progress of acute inflammatory diseases and autoimmunity. In fact, the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines has been widely tested in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some of these inhibitors have been used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients to improve survival rates. However, controlling the extent of inflammation with cytokine inhibitors is still a challenge because these molecules are redundant and pleiotropic. Here we review a novel therapeutic approach based on the use of the HSP60-derived Altered Peptide Ligand (APL) designed for RA and repositioned for the treatment of COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammation. HSP60 is a molecular chaperone found in all cells. It is involved in a wide diversity of cellular events including protein folding and trafficking. HSP60 concentration increases during cellular stress, for example inflammation. This protein has a dual role in immunity. Some HSP60-derived soluble epitopes induce inflammation, while others are immunoregulatory. Our HSP60-derived APL decreases the concentration of cytokines and induces the increase of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in various experimental systems. Furthermore, it decreases several cytokines and soluble mediators that are raised in RA, as well as decreases the excessive inflammatory response induced by SARS-CoV-2. This approach can be extended to other inflammatory diseases.

Jusvinza, an anti-inflammatory drug derived from the human heat-shock protein 60, for critically ill COVID-19 patients. An observational study.

This paper presents the results of an observational and retrospective study on the therapeutic effects of Jusvinza, an immunomodulatory peptide with anti-inflammatory properties for critically ill COVID-19 patients. This peptide induces regulatory mechanisms on the immune response in experimental systems and in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Exploratory research in COVID-19 patients revealed that Jusvinza promotes clinical and radiological improvement. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical outcome and variations of several inflammatory biomarkers in a cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients, divided into two groups during the observational research: one group received Jusvinza and the other did not. Research physicians extracted the patients´ data from their hospital's clinical records. The study analyzed 345 medical records, and 249 records from critically ill patients were included. The data covered the demographic characteristics, vital signs, ventilatory parameters and inflammatory biomarkers. Survival outcome was significantly higher in the group receiving Jusvinza (90.4%) compared to the group without Jusvinza (39.5%). Furthermore, in patients treated with Jusvinza there was a significant improvement in ventilatory parameters and a reduction in inflammation and coagulation biomarkers. Our findings show that Jusvinza could control the extent of inflammation in COVID-19 patients. This study indicates that Jusvinza is a helpful drug for the treatment of diseases characterized by hyperinflammation.

El tratamiento con Jusvinza disminuye la hiperinflamación y la hipercoagulación en pacientes críticos con la COVID-19

RESUMEN Introducción: La infección con el SARS-CoV-2 induce un estado protrombótico en los pacientes, atribuible a la combinación de la respuesta hiperinflamatoria y la hipoxia. En Cuba, se usa el fármaco Jusvinza, basado en un péptido inmunomodulador, para el tratamiento de los pacientes con la COVID-19, que presenten signos y síntomas de hiperinflamación. Objetivos: Describir la evolución clínica y las variaciones de biomarcadores asociados con la inflamación y la coagulación, en un grupo de pacientes críticos con la COVID-19, tratados con Jusvinza, en comparación con un grupo de pacientes que no recibieron tratamiento con este péptido. Métodos: Se incluyeron 40 pacientes críticos con la COVID-19; se dividieron en 2 grupos: 20 pacientes tratados con Jusvinza y 20 no fueron tratados con dicho péptido (grupo control). Las características demográficas, comorbilidades, signos vitales, parámetros respiratorios, biomarcadores de la inflamación y de la coagulación se obtuvieron a partir de las historias clínicas de cada paciente. Resultados: El tratamiento con Jusvinza indujo una mejoría clínica en los pacientes, asociada con la disminución de varios biomarcadores de la inflamación y la coagulación. La sobrevida de los pacientes tratados con Jusvinza fue significativamente superior a la sobrevida de los pacientes no tratados con este péptido. Conclusiones: Jusvinza es capaz de controlar la hiperinflamación y la hipercoagulación en pacientes críticos con la COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 induces a prothrombotic state in patients, by the combination of hyperinflammatory response and hypoxia. In Cuba, the drug called Jusvinza, based on an immunomodulatory peptide, is used for the treatment of patients with COVID-19, who present signs and symptoms of hyperinflammation. Objectives: To describe the clinical course and behavior of various biomarkers associated with the inflammation and coagulation, in a group of critically ill patients with COVID-19 treated with Jusvinza, compared to a group of patients who did not receive treatment with this peptide. Methods: 40 critically ill patients with COVID-19 were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 20 patients were treated with Jusvinza and 20 were not treated with this peptide (control group). Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, vital signs, respiratory parameters and inflammation and coagulation biomarkers were obtained from the medical records of each patient. Results: Treatment with Jusvinza induced a clinical improvement in the patients, associated with the decrease of several inflammation and coagulation biomarkers. Patients treated with Jusvinza had a significantly higher survival than patients not treated with this peptide. Conclusions: Jusvinza is able to control hyperinflammation and hypercoagulation in critical ill patients with COVID-19.

Bimetallic M-Cu (M = Ag, Au, Ni) Nanoparticles Supported on γAl2O3-CeO2 Synthesized by a Redox Method Applied in Wet Oxidation of Phenol in Aqueous Solution and Petroleum Refinery Wastewater.

Three bimetallic catalysts of the type M-Cu with M = Ag, Au and Ni supports were successfully prepared by a two-step synthesized method using Cu/Al2O3-CeO2 as the base monometallic catalyst. The nanocatalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction of H2 (H2-TPR), N2 adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy with diffuse reflectance (DR-UV-Vis) techniques. This synthesized methodology allowed a close interaction between two metals on the support surface; therefore, it could have synthesized an efficient transition-noble mixture bimetallic nanostructure. Alloy formation through bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) of AgCuAlCe and AuCuAlCe was demonstrated by DR-UV-Vis, EDS, TEM and H2-TPR. Furthermore, in the case of AgCuAlCe and AuCuAlCe, improvements were observed in their reducibility, in contrast to NiCuAlCe. The addition of a noble metal over the monometallic copper-based catalyst drastically improved the phenol mineralization. The higher activity and selectivity to CO2 of the bimetallic gold-copper- and silver-copper-supported catalysts can be attributed to the alloy compound formation and the synergetic effect of the M-Cu interaction. Petroleum Refinery Wastewater (PRW) had a complex composition that affected the applied single CWAO treatment, rendering it inefficient.

[Screening for cerebral arteriovenous malformations in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia].

Patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are known to suffer from cerebral arteriovenous malformations (CAVMs). In this review, we explore existing literature for bleeding risk, interventional therapy and neuroradiological features in HHT-related CAVMs. Studies estimate the annual intracerebral haemorrhage rate of CAVMs in HHT patients to be 0.667-1.014%. The clinician must balance bleeding risk and the non-negligible procedural risks of interventional therapy. We recommend, in agreement with European guidelines, that screening of asymptomatic HHT patients should only be carried out after careful information.

Upfront PET/CT affects management decisions in patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To compare multidisciplinary team conference (MDTC) decisions regarding treatment intent based on either chest X-ray + MRI of the head and neck (CXR/MRI) or 18F-FDG-PET/CT (PET/CT) in patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: Prospective blinded cohort study based on paired data. Consecutive patients with suspected recurrent HNSCC were invited to participate. All included patients underwent CXR/MRI and PET/CT before diagnostic biopsy. An ordinary MDTC using all available imaging data was conducted as per standard practice. After at least three months (to eliminate recall bias in the team), the first project MDTC, based on either CXR/MRI or PET/CT, was conducted, and the tumor board made conclusions regarding treatment. After an additional three months, a second project MDTC was conducted using the complementary imaging strategy. The separate treatment strategies were compared using McNemar's test. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients (90 males and 20 females, median age 66 years, range 40-87) were included. The initial primary tumor originated from the pharynx in 56 (51%) patients, oral cavity in 17 (15%) patients, and larynx in 37 (34%) patients. Based on CXR/MRI, 87 patients (79%) were recommended curative treatment and 23 (21%) palliative treatment. Based on PET/CT, the MDTC decided that 52 (47%) patients were suitable for curative treatment and 58 (53%) for palliative treatment. The absolute difference of 32% was statistically significant (95% CI: 22-42%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT affected MDTC decisions in patients with recurrent HNSCC towards less curative and more palliative treatment.

Up-front F18-FDG PET/CT in suspected salivary gland carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a 18F-FDG PET/CT (PET/CT)-based diagnostic strategy adds decisive new information compared to conventional imaging in the evaluation of salivary gland tumours and the detection of cervical lymph node metastases, distant metastases, and synchronous cancer in patients with salivary gland carcinoma. METHODS: The study was a blinded prospective cohort study. Data were collected consecutively through almost 3 years. All patients underwent conventional imaging-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and chest X-ray (CXR)-in addition to PET/CT prior to surgery. Final diagnosis was obtained by histopathology. MRI/CXR and PET/CT were interpreted separately by experienced radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians. Interpretation included evaluation of tumour site, cervical lymph node metastases, distant metastases, and synchronous cancer. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were included in the study. Thirty-three patients had primary salivary gland carcinoma and eight had cervical lymph node metastases. With PET/CT, the sensitivity was 92% and specificity 29% regarding tumour site. With MRI/CXR, the sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 26%, respectively. Regarding cervical lymph node metastases in patients with salivary gland carcinoma, the sensitivity with PET/CT was 100% and with MRI/CXR 50%. PET/CT diagnosed distant metastases in five patients, while MRI/CXR detected these in two patients. Finally, PET/CT diagnosed two synchronous cancers, whereas MRI/CXR did not detect any synchronous cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with MRI/CXR PET/CT did not improve discrimination of benign from malignant salivary gland lesions. However, PET/CT may be advantageous in primary staging and in the detection of distant metastases and synchronous cancers.

[Screening for intracranial aneurysms].

This review states the reasons for considering screening for intracranial aneurysms in Denmark: if patients have two first-degree relatives with intracranial aneurysms, are 30-70 years old, do not have competing disorders, which could significantly shorten life expectancy, and subsequently in patients with autosomal dominant kidney disease and a family history of subarachnoid haemorrhage. MR angiography should be the imaging study of choice, unless contraindicated. Generally, the ethical consequences ought to be considered before carrying out screening.

PET/CT Versus Standard Imaging for Prediction of Survival in Patients with Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether staging with 18F-FDG PET/CT better predicts survival in patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) than chest x-ray (CXR) plus head and neck MRI or chest CT (CCT) plus head and neck MRI. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study based on paired data. Consecutive patients with histologically verified HNSCC recurrence were enrolled from September 2013 to March 2016. All patients underwent CXR/MRI, CCT/MRI, and PET/CT on the same day and before biopsy. All imaging studies underwent masked interpretation by separate teams of experienced nuclear physicians or radiologists. Recurrent carcinomas were categorized as localized (equivalent to primary stages I-II), locally advanced (equivalent to primary stages III-IVB), or metastatic (equivalent to primary stage IVC). Discriminative abilities for each imaging strategy with respect to cancer-specific and stage-based survival were compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox proportional-hazards regression with the Harrell concordance index (C-index), and net reclassification improvement. Results: In total, 110 patients (90 men and 20 women; median age, 66 y; range, 40-87 y) were included. PET/CT significantly changed the assigned tumor stage when compared with imaging strategies based on CXR/MRI or CCT/MRI (P < 0.001 for both). Kaplan-Meier analysis of PET/CT-based staging showed progressively worsened prognosis with localized, locally advanced, or metastatic disease (log-rank test, P < 0.001), whereas CXR/MRI and CCT/MRI were unable to distinguish between these groups in terms of survival (log-rank test, P = 0.18 and P = 0.58, respectively). Overall discriminative ability in predicting cancer-specific mortality was significantly greater for PET/CT (C-index, 0.72) than for CXR/MRI (C-index, 0.55) (P = 0.001) and CCT/MRI (C-index, 0.55)(P < 0.001). The addition of PET/CT to either CXR/MRI or CCT/MRI was associated with a significantly positive net reclassification improvement (P < 0.001 for both). Conclusion: Contrary to standard imaging strategies, PET/CT-based staging in recurrent HNSCC was able to significantly discriminate among the survival courses of patients with local, locally advanced, or metastatic disease and predict their respective survival probability.

A PET/CT-Based Strategy Is a Stronger Predictor of Survival Than a Standard Imaging Strategy in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Our purpose was to examine whether staging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by upfront 18F-FDG PET/CT (i.e., on the day of biopsy and before the biopsy) discriminates survival better than the traditional imaging strategies based on chest x-ray plus head and neck MRI (CXR/MRI) or chest CT plus head and neck MRI (CCT/MRI). Methods: We performed a masked prospective cohort study based on paired data. Consecutive patients with histologically verified primary HNSCC were recruited from Odense University Hospital from September 2013 to March 2016. All patients underwent CXR/MRI, CCT/MRI, and PET/CT on the same day. Tumors were categorized as localized (stages I and II), locally advanced (stages III and IVB), or metastatic (stage IVC). Discriminative ability for each imaging modality with respect to HNSCC staging were compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression with the Harrell C-index, and net reclassification improvement. Results: In total, 307 patients with histologically verified HNSCC were included. Use of PET/CT significantly altered the stratification of tumor stage when compared with either CXR/MRI or CCT/MRI (χ2, P < 0.001 for both). Cancer stages based on PET/CT, but not CXR/MRI or CCT/MRI, were associated with significant differences in mortality risk on Kaplan-Meier analyses (P ≤ 0.002 for all PET/CT-based comparisons). Furthermore, overall discriminative ability was significantly greater for PET/CT (C-index, 0.712) than for CXR/MRI (C-index, 0.675; P = 0.04) or CCT/MRI (C-index, 0.657; P = 0.02). Finally, PET/CT was significantly associated with a positive net reclassification improvement when compared with CXR/MRI (0.184, P = 0.03) but not CCT/MRI (0.094%, P = 0.31). Conclusion: Tumor stages determined by PET/CT were associated with more distinct prognostic properties in terms of survival than those determined by standard imaging strategies.

Up-front PET/CT changes treatment intent in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: In patients with newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), we wanted to examine the differences in overall treatment decisions, i.e. curative versus palliative treatment intent, reached by a multidisciplinary team conference (MDTC) based on 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) or chest X-ray + MRI of the head and neck (CXR/MRI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective blinded cohort study based on paired data. Consecutive patients with histologically verified primary HNSCC were invited to participate. All included patients underwent CXR/MRI and PET/CT before diagnostic biopsy. An ordinary MDTC using all available imaging was conducted as per standard practice. After at least 3 months (to eliminate recall bias in the team), the first project MDTC was conducted, based on either CXR/MRI or PET/CT, and the tumor board drew conclusions regarding treatment. After an additional 3 months, a second project MDTC was conducted using the complementary imaging modality. RESULTS: A total of 307 patients were included. Based on CXR/MRI, 303 patients (99%) were recommended for curative treatment and only four patients (1%) for palliative treatment. Based on PET/CT, the MDTC concluded that 278 (91%) patients were suitable for curative treatment and 29 (9%) patients for palliative treatment. The absolute difference of 8% was statistically significant (95% CI: 4.8%-11.5%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A PET/CT-based imaging strategy significantly changed the decisions regarding treatment intent made by a MDTC for patients diagnosed with HNSCC, when compared with the standard imaging strategy of CXR/MRI.

Head-to-Head Comparison of Chest X-Ray/Head and Neck MRI, Chest CT/Head and Neck MRI, and 18F-FDG PET/CT for Detection of Distant Metastases and Synchronous Cancer in Oral, Pharyngeal, and Laryngeal Cancer.

The purpose of this study was to determine the detection rate of distant metastasis and synchronous cancer, comparing clinically used imaging strategies based on chest x-ray + head and neck MRI (CXR/MRI) and chest CT + head and neck MRI (CHCT/MRI) with 18F-FDG PET/CT upfront in the diagnostic workup of patients with oral, pharyngeal, or laryngeal cancer. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study based on paired data. Consecutive patients with histologically verified primary head and squamous cell carcinoma at Odense University Hospital from September 2013 to March 2016 were considered for the study. Included patients underwent CXR/MRI and CHCT/MRI as well as PET/CT on the same day and before biopsy. Scans were read masked by separate teams of experienced nuclear physicians or radiologists. The true detection rate of distant metastasis and synchronous cancer was assessed for CXR/MRI, CHCT/MRI, and PET/CT. Results: A total of 307 patients were included. CXR/MRI correctly detected 3 (1%) patients with distant metastasis, CHCT/MRI detected 11 (4%) patients, and PET/CT detected 18 (6%) patients. The absolute differences of 5% and 2%, respectively, were statistically significant in favor of PET/CT. Also, PET/CT correctly detected 25 (8%) synchronous cancers, which was significantly more than CXR/MRI (3 patients, 1%) and CHCT/MRI (6 patients, 2%). The true detection rate of distant metastasis or synchronous cancer with PET/CT was 13% (40 patients), which was significantly higher than 2% (6 patients) for CXR/MRI and 6% (17 patients) for CHCT/MRI. Conclusion: A clinical imaging strategy based on PET/CT demonstrated a significantly higher detection rate of distant metastasis or synchronous cancer than strategies in current clinical imaging guidelines, of which European ones primarily recommend CXR/MRI, whereas U.S. guidelines preferably point to CHCT/MRI in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

[Incidental extracardial findings in connection with cardiac CT]. / Tilfaeldige ekstrakardiale fund ved hjertecomputertomografi.

We report three cases with significant incidental extracardiac findings during the implementation of 64-slice CT coronary angiography. On the basis of these findings we recommend that radiologists are involved in the evaluation of cardiac CT on a routine basis.