Venous sinus stenting for idiopathic intracranial hypertension: An updated Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by elevated intracranial pressure and primarily affects obese women of reproductive age. Venous sinus stenting (VSS) is a surgical procedure used to treat IIH, but its safety and efficacy are still controversial. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Multiple databases were searched for studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of VSS in IIH patients and meta-analysis was performed to pool the data. RESULTS: A total of 36 studies involving 1066 patients who underwent VSS were included. After VSS, a significant reduction in trans-stenotic gradient pressure was observed. Patients also showed significantly lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure. Clinical outcomes demonstrated improvement in tinnitus (95%), papilledema (89%), visual disturbances (88%), and headache (79%). However, 13.7% of patients experienced treatment failure or complications. The treatment failure rate was 8.35%, characterized by worsening symptoms and recurrence of IIH. The complications rate was 5.35%, including subdural hemorrhage, urinary tract infection, stent thrombus formation, and others. CONCLUSION: VSS appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for IIH patients who are unresponsive to medical therapy or have significant visual symptoms. However, long-term outcomes and safety of the procedure require further investigation.

Intensive vs Conventional Blood Pressure Control After Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large-vessel occlusion (LVO), but optimal post-EVT blood pressure (BP) control remains debated. Objective: To assess the association of different systolic BP targets following EVT with functional outcomes, mortality, and complications in patients with AIS due to LVO. Data Sources: Systematic review and meta-analysis of databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) to September 8, 2023. Study Selection: Inclusion criteria consisted of randomized clinical trials examining post-EVT management of systolic BP in patients with AIS and LVO comparing intensive vs conventional targets. Nonrandomized studies, observational studies, noninterventional trials, meeting abstracts, duplicate studies, studies with overlapping data, and non-English language studies were excluded. Two authors independently applied these criteria through a blinded review, with discrepancies resolved through consensus. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomized trials. Data Extraction and Synthesis: This study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. Three authors extracted data regarding study characteristics, baseline patient data, and outcomes of interest. The pooled data were analyzed using a random-effects meta-analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Rates of functional independence, 90-day mortality, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and hypotensive events. Results: A total of 4 randomized clinical trials with 1571 initially enrolled patients were included in the analysis. Lower functional independence rates were observed in the intensive control group (relative risk [RR], 0.81 [95% CI, 0.67-0.98]). No significant differences were found in 90-day mortality (RR, 1.18 [95% CI, 0.92-1.52]), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (RR, 1.12 [95% CI, 0.75-1.67]), or hypotensive events (RR, 1.80 [95% CI, 0.37-8.76]). There was minimal heterogeneity among the studies included in the functional independence outcome (I2 = 13% and τ2 = 0.003), which was absent among other outcomes (I2 = 0 and τ2 = 0). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that intensive post-EVT BP reduction does not yield benefits and may carry risks. While awaiting the results of additional ongoing trials, a conservative BP management strategy after endovascular recanalization is favored in daily practice.

Prediction of cerebral aneurysm rupture risk by machine learning algorithms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18,670 participants.

It is possible to identify unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) using machine learning (ML) algorithms, which can be a life-saving strategy, especially in high-risk populations. To better understand the importance and effectiveness of ML algorithms in practice, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to predict cerebral aneurysm rupture risk. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched without restrictions until March 20, 2023. Eligibility criteria included studies that used ML approaches in patients with cerebral aneurysms confirmed by DSA, CTA, or MRI. Out of 35 studies included, 33 were cohort, and 11 used digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as their reference imaging modality. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) and anterior cerebral artery (ACA) were the commonest locations of aneurysmal vascular involvement-51% and 40%, respectively. The aneurysm morphology was saccular in 48% of studies. Ten of 37 studies (27%) used deep learning techniques such as CNNs and ANNs. Meta-analysis was performed on 17 studies: sensitivity of 0.83 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.77-0.88); specificity of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.75-0.88); positive DLR of 4.81 (95% CI, 3.29-7.02) and the negative DLR of 0.20 (95% CI, 0.14-0.29); a diagnostic score of 3.17 (95% CI, 2.55-3.78); odds ratio of 23.69 (95% CI, 12.75-44.01). ML algorithms can effectively predict the risk of rupture in cerebral aneurysms with good levels of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. However, further research is needed to enhance their diagnostic performance in predicting the rupture status of IA.

Natural History, Pathophysiology, and Recent Management Modalities of Intraventricular Hemorrhage.

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a clinical challenge observed among 40-45% of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) cases. IVH can be classified according to the source of the hemorrhage into primary and secondary IVH. Primary intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH), unlike secondary IVH, involves only the ventricles with no hemorrhagic parenchymal source. Several risk factors of PIVH were reported which include hypertension, smoking, age, and excessive alcohol consumption. IVH is associated with high mortality and morbidity and several prognostic factors were identified such as IVH volume, number of ventricles with blood, involvement of fourth ventricle, baseline Glasgow Coma Scale score, and hydrocephalus. Prompt management of patients with IVH is required to stabilize the clinical status of patients upon admission. Nevertheless, further advanced management is crucial to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with intraventricular bleeding. Recent treatments showed promising outcomes in the management of IVH patients such as intraventricular anti-inflammatory drugs, lumbar drainage, and endoscopic evacuation of IVH, however, their safety and efficacy are still in question. This literature review presents the epidemiology, physiopathology, risk factors, and outcomes of IVH in adults with an emphasis on recent treatment options.

Osteomalacia Prevalence, Biochemical Profile, and Histology in Patients with Low-Energy Hip Fractures Over the Age of 45.

Our objective was to determine the prevalence of osteomalacia in low-energy hip fracture patients over the age of 45, based on biochemical and histological measures. This cross-sectional study included 72 patients over 45 with low-energy mechanism hip fractures. Samples of fasting venous blood were taken for hemograms and serum biochemistry analyses. Bicortical biopsies of the iliac crest were obtained, processed, and evaluated by an expert pathologist for osteomalacia. Biochemical osteomalacia (b-OM) is defined according to a distinct criterion. A low level of serum calcium, phosphorus, albumin, and 25OHD was found in 43.1, 16.7, 73.6, and 59.7% of patients, respectively. 50.0% of patients had high serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. b-OM was found in 30 (41.7%), and no significant association was found with PTH, Cr, Alb, age, sex, fracture type, side of the trauma, and season were not associated with osteomalacia. Osteomalacia was diagnosed on histopathological analysis in 19/72 (26.7%), and 54/72 (75.0%) of all cases fulfilled b-OM criteria. In the histologic evaluation, osteoid seam width, osteoid surface, and osteoid volume were 28.5 µm, 25.6, and 12.1%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the biochemical test for detecting osteomalacia were 73.6, 64.2, 42.4, 87.2, and 66.7%, respectively. Up to 30% of elderly patients with low-energy hip fractures are affected by osteomalacia. A biochemical screening along with a bone biopsy and histopathologic evaluation may be logical in a high-risk population for osteomalacia diagnosis.