Liver fibrosis index is associated with functional outcome among acute ischemic stroke patients.

INTRODUCTION: The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index and the fibrosis-5 (FIB-5) index are noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Although liver fibrosis a potential risk factor for stroke development, it is uncertain whether liver fibrosis influences stroke outcomes. We investigated the associations between these two indices and stroke patient outcomes and compared their predictive accuracy. METHODS: We conducted a double-center, hospital-based, retrospective study. Consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients (n=2399) were analyzed. We calculated the FIB-4 index and the FIB-5 index and evaluated their relationships with poor stroke outcome, which was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 3-6 at three months after stroke. We evaluated the ability of each index to predict stroke outcome according to cutoff values calculated from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Of 2399 recruited patients, 1549 patients (mean age, 73 years) were analyzed. The FIB-4 index and FIB-5 index had similar areas under their ROC curves for predicting stroke outcome (FIB-4 index, 0.675 and FIB-5 index, 0.683, P=0.334). The cutoff points of the FIB-4 index and FIB-5 index according to the ROC analysis were associated with poor stroke outcome in the multivariable analyses (odds ratio [OR] 2.23, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.72-2.89, OR 1.93, 95 % CI 1.47-2.54, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Liver fibrosis scores may be useful for predicting outcomes in patients with acute stroke. The FIB-4 and FIB-5 indices should be considered comprehensive tools for assessing the outcome risk after ischemic stroke.

Association between Carotid Wall Shear Stress-Based Vascular Vector Flow Mapping and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

AIM: Wall shear stress (WSS) is the frictional force caused by viscous blood flowing along the vessel wall. Decreased WSS is associated with local vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. The vector flow mapping (VFM) technique detects the direction of intracardiac blood flow and WSS on the vessel wall with echocardiography. In this study, we examined carotid WSS by applying the VFM technique to the carotid arteries and evaluated its relationship with cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). METHODS: This is a single-center, prospective, observational study. We investigated the association between carotid WSS and SVD imaging, and cognitive outcomes in consecutive 113 patients with acute lacunar infarction. RESULTS: Carotid WSS was negatively associated with age (r=-0.376, p＜0.001). Lower WSS was correlated with total SVD scores (ρ=-0.304, p=0.004), especially with enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) in the basal ganglia ＞10 (p＜0.001). The carotid intima-media thickness was not associated with the total SVD score (ρ=-0.183, p=0.052). Moreover, lower WSS was associated with executive dysfunction. CONCLUSION: EPVS has recently been reported as a marker of early SVD imaging, and executive dysfunction is common in vascular cognitive impairment. These results suggested that decreased carotid WSS based on vascular VFM, which can be measured easily, is associated with imaging and cognitive changes in the early stages of SVD.

The association between nutritional intake one week after admission and outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients.

OBJECTIVES: Although associations between malnutrition status at stroke admission and poor stroke outcomes have been established, the effect of nutritional intake during the acute phase remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the associations between nutritional intake one week after admission and the outcome at three months among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive AIS patients were investigated. Nutritional status at admission was evaluated using the Controlling Nutritional Status score, calculated from the serum albumin, lymphocyte count, and total cholesterol. We retrospectively evaluated nutritional intake (energy and protein) one week after admission, and the cutoff value of each nutritional intake level for good outcome was defined as the modified Rankin Scale 0-2 at three months after stroke onset using the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: Of the 205 patients, 146 patients had good outcomes. Mild initial neurological symptoms and good nutritional status at admission were associated with good outcome. The cutoff value of good outcome for protein intake was 0.812 g/kg/day (sensitivity: 0.884, specificity: 0.509) and that for energy intake was 19.0 kcal/kg/day (sensitivity: 0.918, specificity: 0.424). Those nutritional intake indicators were independently associated with good outcome after adjusting for baseline confounders, including stroke severity and nutritional status at admission (protein intake: odds ratio (OR), 4.04; 95% confidence intervals (CIs), 1.14-13.1, and energy intake: OR, 5.00; 95% CIs, 1.41-17.8, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Adequate nutritional intake at one week after admission was independently associated with good outcome regardless of the nutritional status at admission or stroke severity.

Short-term or long-term outcomes for stroke patients with cancer according to biological markers.

BACKGROUND: Although hypercoagulability using D-dimer levels may be a useful marker for predicting outcomes in ischemic stroke patients with cancer, other biological markers for predicting outcomes are unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations between several biological markers and short-term or long-term outcomes among ischemic stroke patients with cancer. METHODS: Consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients with cancer (n = 309) were registered. Biological markers such as hemoglobin, albumin, C-reactive protein and D-dimer levels were assessed. Stroke outcomes, namely, a 3-month modified Rankin Scale score indicating poor functional outcome (mRS score of 3-6) and 1-year survival, were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 277 patients who could be assessed for 3 months outcome, 131 patients (47.3%) had a poor outcome at 3 months. Multivariable analysis revealed that increased D-dimer levels and decreased albumin levels were independently associated with poor stroke outcomes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.08, and aOR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.31-0.80, respectively). Of 309 patients, 70 patients (22.7%) died during the follow-up period (median, 241 days). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses showed that high D-dimer levels and hypoalbuminemia were independently associated with mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.37-5.12, and aHR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.21-4.49, respectively). The effect of each biological marker on mortality was notably observed among patients with active cancer but not among those with nonactive cancer. CONCLUSION: Low albumin levels were independently associated with short- and long-term outcomes, as were D-dimer levels, in acute ischemic stroke patients with cancer.

RNF213 p.R4810K (c.14429G > A) Variant Determines Anatomical Variations of the Circle of Willis in Cerebrovascular Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Dysregulation of the RING finger protein 213 (RNF213) gene impairs vascular formation in experimental animal models. In addition, vascular abnormalities in the circle of Willis are associated with cerebrovascular disease. Here, we evaluated the relationship between the East Asian founder variant RNF213 p.R4810K and consequent anatomical variations in the circle of Willis in cerebrovascular disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study is an observational cross-sectional study. It included patients with acute anterior circulation non-cardioembolic stroke admitted to our institution within 7 days of symptom onset or last-known-well from 2011 to 2019, and those who participated in the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Biobank. We compared anatomical variations of the vessels constituting the circle of Willis between RNF213 p.R4810K (c.14429G > A) variant carriers and non-carriers using magnetic resonance angiography and assessed the association between the variants and the presence of the vessels constituting the circle of Willis. Patients with moyamoya disease were excluded. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-one patients [146 women (30%); median age 70 years; median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 5] were analyzed. The RNF213 p.R4810K variant carriers (n = 25) were more likely to have both posterior communicating arteries (PComAs) than the variant non-carriers (n = 456) (56% vs. 13%, P < 0.01). Furthermore, variant carriers were less likely to have an anterior communicating artery (AComA) than non-carriers (68% vs. 84%, P = 0.04). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the association of RNF213 p.R4810K variant carriers with the presence of both PComAs and the absence of AComA remained significant. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the RNF213 p.R4810K variant is an important factor in determining anatomical variations in the circle of Willis.

Glucose Fluctuation and Severe Internal Carotid Artery Siphon Stenosis in Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

The impact of glucose fluctuation on intracranial artery stenosis remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the association between glucose fluctuation and intracranial artery stenosis. This was a cross-sectional study of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients equipped with the FreeStyle Libre Pro continuous glucose monitoring system (Abbott Laboratories) between February 2019 and June 2020. Glucose fluctuation was evaluated according to the standard deviation (SD) of blood glucose, coefficient of variation (%CV), and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE). Magnetic resonance angiography was used to evaluate the degree of intracranial artery stenosis. Of the 103 patients, 8 patients developed severe internal carotid artery (ICA) siphon stenosis (≥70%). SD, %CV, and MAGE were significantly higher in the severe stenosis group than in the non-severe stenosis group (<70%), whereas there was no significant intergroup difference in the mean blood glucose and HbA1c. Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for sex showed that SD, %CV, and MAGE were independent factors associated with severe ICA siphon stenosis. In conclusion, glucose fluctuation is significantly associated with severe ICA siphon stenosis in T2DM patients. Thus, glucose fluctuation can be a target of preventive therapies for intracranial artery stenosis and ischemic stroke.

Atherosclerotic Components in Thrombi Retrieved by Thrombectomy for Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion Due to Large Artery Atherosclerosis: A Case Report.

Introduction: The correlation between the composition of thrombi retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and stroke etiology is inconclusive. We describe a case with atherosclerotic components in thrombi retrieved by MT for acute internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. Case Presentation: A 69-year-old man with acute onset of global aphasia and right hemiplegia was transferred to our institute. His baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 24. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated acute ischemic stroke in the left parietal lobe. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed occlusion of the left ICA. MT was attempted for acute left ICA occlusion. The initial angiography showed occlusion of the proximal ICA, while intraprocedural angiography revealed a large thrombus that extended from the cervical ICA to the intracranial ICA. Successful reperfusion was achieved by five passes using stent retrievers and an aspiration catheter. A large volume of red thrombus was retrieved by each pass. The final angiogram showed successful reperfusion with modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia grade 2b and severe stenosis in the proximal ICA. Neck magnetic resonance imaging showed severe left ICA stenosis with a vulnerable plaque. Hence, his stroke etiology was determined as large artery atherosclerosis. Histopathological examination of the retrieved thrombi revealed atheromatous components, including cholesterol clefts, foam cells, and a necrotic core. Conclusions: Atherosclerotic components in retrieved thrombi might provide useful clues for diagnosing stroke pathogenesis. Further studies are warranted to clarify the utility of assessing atheromatous components in retrieved thrombi in diagnosing stroke etiology.

[A case of lower urinary tract dysfunction due to acute hemorrhage in the lateral medulla oblongata].

A 67-year-old woman was transported to our hospital with abnormal sensation in the left temporal region and unstable gait. She had a history of increased urinary frequency without medication. Head CT showed intracerebral hemorrhage in the left dorsal medulla oblongata. On the day of admission, she became aware of difficulty in urination and the volume of residual urine was 100 ml. Cystometry revealed normal voiding sensation and relatively lower intravesical pressure during voiding effort. The maximum cystometric capacity was also mildly decreased. The lower urinary tract dysfunction in this patient was diagnosed as detrusor underactivity. An α1-adrenoreceptor antagonist, urapidil, was started and her residual urine was decreased. Urapidil was terminated on the 14th day of onset, but her lower urinary tract symptoms did not recur thereafter. The brain MR imaging with magnetization-prepared 2 rapid acquisition gradient-echoes (MP2RAGE) clearly demonstrated a small hematoma in the dorsolateral medulla with surrounding edema. The perihematomal edema initially spread to involve the left lateral tegmentum of the medulla, but it almost disappeared in the follow-up MP2RAGE imaging on the 21st day. At the medulla level, the descending tract from the pontine micturition center is assumed to lie lateral tegmentum. The lower urinary tract dysfunction in this case was presumed to be caused by damage to the descending tract from the pontine micturition center, and the disappearance of perihematomal edema and the compensation by the contralateral tract would have contributed to the early improvement of symptoms.

Mechanical Thrombectomy via the Transfemoral Approach for Acute Middle Cerebral Artery M1 Occlusion That Occurred during Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping Application.

Objective: We report a case of cardioembolic stroke treated by mechanical thrombectomy (MT) via the transfemoral approach under the assistance of intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP). Case Presentation: A 64-year-old man suddenly developed consciousness disturbance, aphasia, and left hemiparesis during intensive care for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with IABP. The patient was transferred to our hospital and diagnosed with acute right middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. We performed MT using a balloon-guiding catheter via the transfemoral approach and achieved complete recanalization. Conclusion: Endovascular therapy for acute MCA M1 occlusion via the transfemoral route was safe even when the patient was treated using IABP.