Effect of endovascular treatment on patients with basilar artery occlusion presenting with different pathologic mechanisms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to summarize the clinical outcomes of endovascular treatment in patients with basilar artery occlusion (BAO) with different pathologic mechanisms. METHODS: Two independent reviewers searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library database up to December 2022, patients with different BAO pathological mechanisms (BAO with in situ atherosclerosis vs. embolism alone without vertebral artery steno-occlusion vs. embolism from tandem vertebral artery steno-occlusion) were collected and analyzed. We calculated the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the associations between clinical outcomes and BAO pathological mechanisms. RESULTS: A total of 1163 participants from 12 studies were identified. Compared with embolism alone, patients with in situ atherosclerotic BAO had a lower favorable outcome rate (modified Rankin score [mRS] 0-2: 34.5% vs. 41.2%; OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70-0.98; P = 0.03) and moderate outcome rate (mRS 0-3: 45.8% vs. 55.4%; OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47-0.90; P = 0.01) at 3 months and a higher risk of mortality (29.9% vs. 27.2%; OR 1.31, 95% CI 0.96-1.79, P = 0.09; adjusted OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.08-1.96). Tandem BAO had a comparable mortality risk to that of in situ atherosclerotic BAO (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.84-2.22; P = 0.48) or embolism alone (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.65-3.21; P = 0.43), and there were no significant differences in favorable or moderate outcomes between tandem BAO and each of the other two BAO mechanisms. CONCLUSION: Among BAO patients with endovascular treatment, embolism mechanism had better clinical outcomes than in situ atherosclerosis, and atherosclerotic mechanism was associated with a higher mortality at 3 months. RCTs are needed to further confirm clinical outcomes of BAO by different mechanisms.

Effects of Antecedent Intravenous Thrombolysis on Endovascular Treatment of Acute Stroke Using Tirofiban.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether preceding intravenous thrombolysis combined with tirofiban in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular treatment is safe and effective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive data were identified for patients who experienced acute ischemic stroke and were admitted to 2 comprehensive stroke centers from January 2015 to August 2021. All patients were divided into 2 groups-a thrombolytic with tirofiban group and a tirofiban-alone group-on the basis of whether intravenous thrombolysis before emergency endovascular angioplasty was used. Multivariate regression and propensity adjustment analyses were performed to characterize differences in safety and clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Of 373 eligible patients, 111 (29.7%) were treated with thrombolysis with tirofiban. There was a significant difference in the rate of any intracerebral hemorrhage (35.1% vs 24.8%; P = .04) but not in the rates of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (16.2% vs 11.5%; P = .23) and reocclusion at 24 hours (5.4% vs 7.6%; P = .51) between the 2 groups. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that intravenous thrombolysis was not associated with any or symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, artery occlusion, functional outcome, or death at the 3-month follow-up (all adjusted P > .05). After propensity adjustment, the thrombolytic with tirofiban group showed nonsignificant rates of clinical and safety outcomes compared with those of the tirofiban-alone group (all P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Tirofiban may be used without increasing the risk of adverse events in selected patients who experienced ischemic stroke and were treated with intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular therapy.

New stress-induced hyperglycaemia markers predict prognosis in patients after mechanical thrombectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Stress-induced hyperglycaemia (SIH) is a frequent phenomenon that occurs in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SIH and the prognosis of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) patients according to the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) and glycaemic gap (GG) indicators, as well as explore its relationship with haemorrhagic transformation (HT). METHODS: Patients were enrolled from January 2019 to September 2021 in our centre. SHR was calculated as fasting blood glucose divided by the A1c-derived average glucose (ADAG). GG was calculated as fasting blood glucose minus ADAG. Logistic regression was used to analyse SHR, GG with outcome and HT. RESULTS: A total of 423 patients were enrolled in the study. The incidence of SIH was as follows: 191/423 of patients with SHR > 0.89, 169/423 of patients with GG > -0.53. SHR > 0.89 (OR: 2.247, 95% CI: 1.344-3.756, P = 0.002) and GG>-0.53 (OR: 2.305, 95% CI: 1.370-3.879, P = 0.002) were both associated with poor outcomes (modified Rankin Scale > 2) at Day 90 and an increase risk of HT. Additionlly, receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the predictive performance of the SHR and GG on outcomes. The area under the curve for SHR to predict poor outcomes was 0.691, with an optimal cut-off value of 0.89. The area under the curve for GG was 0.682, with an optimal cut-off value of -0.53. CONCLUSION: High SHR and high GG are strongly associated with poor 90-day prognosis in MT patients and an increased risk of HT.

Endovascular treatment in patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion of different aetiologies.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in endovascular treatment (EVT) outcomes in M1 segment middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) patients with different pathologic subtypes. METHODS: Patients with MCAO who received EVT from July 2014 to December 2020 were categorized into three groups: embolism without internal carotid artery steno-occlusion (MCAO-E), in situ atherosclerotic thrombosis (MCAO-AS) and embolism from tandem ICA steno-occlusion (MCAO-T). Baseline characteristics, EVT-related factors and clinical outcomes were compared between groups. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between aetiologic classification and outcomes at 90 days after stroke. RESULTS: Among eligible patients (n = 220), MCAO-E (n = 129, 58.6%) was the most common aetiology, followed by MCAO-AS (n = 47, 21.4%) and MCAO-T (n = 44, 20.0%). Patients with MCAO-E were significantly older but had a lower rate of dyslipidaemia and smoking history than those with MCAO-AS. Although patients with MCAO-AS and MCAO-T more often required rescue balloon angioplasty and stenting (p < 0.001), no significant difference in the rate of final recanalization was found. Patients in the MCAO-AS group obtained better functional outcomes (90-day modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2) (p = 0.002) and lower mortality than in the MCAO-E group (p = 0.009). On multivariable logistic regression, we failed to find that stroke subtype was an independent predictor of functional outcomes and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute MCA M1 occlusion stroke due to different pathogeneses had comparable successful recanalization rates and functional independence at 90 days. The optimal management for MCAO patients with different aetiologies requires further research.

The relationship between occlusion patterns and outcomes after thrombectomy in patients with acute internal carotid artery occlusion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSES: Ischemic stroke caused by acute internal carotid artery occlusions (AICO) is usually associated with high disability and mortality. We aimed to investigate whether occlusion patterns significantly influence clinical outcome in patients receiving endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of databases from two comprehensive stroke centers and consecutively investigated patients who had underwent EVT. AICO was defined as acute internal carotid artery occlusions (cervical segment to terminal segment). The clinical characteristics, intervention parameters, and prognosis data were collected. Leptomeningeal collaterals (LMC) were assessed with the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology scale (ASITN/SIRs), graded on a 5-point scale. The occlusion patterns based on Willisian collaterals were categorized into I-type, L-type, and T-type by contralateral carotid artery injections at digital subtraction angiography. Multivariate regression models were applied to evaluate the relationship between occlusion patterns and the prognosis of patients at 90 days after stroke. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients were included in the study. Of those,142 (66.7%) achieved successful reperfusion and 64 (30.0%) achieved favorable outcomes at 90 days. Overall, 26 (12.2%), 117 (54.9%), and 70 (32.9%) cases respectively suffered from I-type, L-type, and T-type occlusion. In addition, patients with I-type occlusions had a higher percentage of complete LMC compared with L-type or T-type occlusions (88.5% versus 30.8% versus 27.1%, P< 0.0167). In multivariable logistic regression, we found T-type occlusion was no longer an independent predictor of poor functional outcomes in AICO after adjusting LMC (T versus I, OR, 2.555, 95%CI: 0.717-9.103, P = 0.148; L versus I, OR, 0.815, 95%CI: 0.258-2.574, P = 0.727). CONCLUSIONS: For ACIO, occlusion patterns are still a topic that needs attention. Furthermore, compensatory LMC may affect the association between occlusion patterns and functional prognosis in AICO. Occlusion patterns and LMC status distinguish the nature and impact of AICO on expected EVT and subsequent clinical outcomes.

Blood pressure variability and outcome in atherosclerosis versus cardioembolism cerebral large vessel occlusion after successful thrombectomy.

Higher blood pressure variability (BPV) has been proven associated with worse functional outcome after endovascular treatment (EVT). However, this association is not established according to different stroke etiologies. In this study, we compared patients with the two highest proportions of stroke etiologies-cardioembolism (CE) and large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA), aiming to explore appropriate strategies of BP management for different etiologies. We enrolled patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) in anterior circulation who underwent EVT and achieved successful recanalization retrospectively. 24-h blood pressure (BP) and BPV measured as blood pressure reduction (BPr), standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), successive variation (SV), average real variability (ARV) after EVT were collected for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The favorable outcome was defined as functional independence by 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS 0-2). In our cohort, higher BPV parameters significantly resulted in 90d functional dependence in CE-LVO patients (SBPSV OR: 1.083, 95%CI = 1.009-1.163; SBPARV OR: 1.121, 95%CI = 1.019-1.233; DBPSD OR: 1.124, 95%CI = 1.007-1.1256; DBPCV OR: 1.078, 95%CI = 1.002-1.161). However, for LAA-LVO patients, no positive results correlated 90d functional dependence with 24-hour BPV. Additionally, 90d functional dependence in CE patients with poor collaterals were significantly dependent on post-procedural BPV (DBPmax OR: 1.044, 95%CI = 1.002-1.087; DBPSD OR: 1.229, 95%CI = 1.022-1.1.479; DBPCV OR: 1.143, 95%CI = 1.009-1.295). Whereas to patients with good collaterals, there did not exist such a correlation. In summary, stroke etiologies should probably be taken into consideration to optimize individualized BP management strategies. In order to achieve better clinical outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion, stricter blood pressure management should be taken in cardioembolic stroke patients in contrast with large artery atherosclerotic stroke patients after successful endovascular therapy.

Prognosis of Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Endovascular Thrombectomy is Influenced by Systemic Inflammatory Index Through Malignant Brain Edema.

Purpose: The systemic immune inflammatory index (SII), as a new marker, is widely used to predict the disease prognosis. We investigated the predictive value of SII for malignant cerebral edema (MCE) and whether postoperative MCE mediates the relationship between SII and functional prognosis in patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Patients and Methods: A total of 829 patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusive stroke (LVOS) were registered, and 675 (81.4%) met the inclusion criteria. We collected baseline data upon admission, including SII. Postoperative computed tomography was performed to assess the presence and grading of cerebral edema (CED), and MCE was defined as a CED score of 3. A good prognosis was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-2 at the 90-day follow-up. Results: A total of 132 patients developed MCE after EVT. The patients were divided into MCE and non-MCE groups, and univariate and multifactorial analyses were performed. Among these risk factors, an elevated SII was independently correlated with the occurrence of MCE. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the predictive capability of SII levels for prognosis. The area under the ROC was 0.69, and the optimal critical value was 2.14. In addition, postoperative MCE may partially account for the poorer functional prognosis of patients with elevated SII (regression coefficient changed by 40.3%). Conclusion: The SII is an independent predictor of malignant brain edema after EVT. Postoperative MCE is partly the reason for the poorer prognosis in patients with elevated SII.

Effects of deterioration and mildewing on the quality of wheat seeds with different moisture contents during storage.

Deterioration and mildewing caused by moisture of wheat seeds are serious problems that should be addressed for safe storage. In this work, simulated storage facilities were employed to preserve wheat seeds with different moisture contents (16%, 18%, 20% and 22%). The temperature changes in grain bulk, the mildewing situation, and the biochemical properties of wheat seeds were analyzed. Microstructures of endosperm and embryos were observed under electron microscopy. The results showed that with the increase of moisture content in wheat seeds, the deterioration and mildewing became serious. In the storage of wheat seeds with high moisture content, serious damage to the internal structure of endosperm and embryo was observed. Besides, the temperature increase and the fungal growth in grain bulk are attributed to the moisture of wheat seeds. Particularly, with the nutrient loss and cell damage, germination efficiency decreased with the extension of the storage period and the biochemical properties of wheat seeds are negatively impacted. Based on the results of this study, to prevent the deterioration and mildewing of wheat seeds and protect the biochemical properties in long-term storage, moisture should be controlled during the storage.

Correction: Effects of deterioration and mildewing on the quality of wheat seeds with different moisture contents during storage.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D0RA00542H.].