Dynamic Imaging of Blood Coagulation Within the Hematoma of Patients With Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: The dynamics of blood clot (combination of Hb [hemoglobin], fibrin, and a higher concentration of aggregated red blood cells) formation within the hematoma of an intracerebral hemorrhage is not well understood. A quantitative neuroimaging method of localized coagulated blood volume/distribution within the hematoma might improve clinical decision-making. METHODS: The deoxyhemoglobin of aggregated red blood cells within extravasated blood exhibits a higher magnetic susceptibility due to unpaired heme iron electrons. We propose that coagulated blood, with higher aggregated red blood cell content, will exhibit (1) a higher positive susceptibility than noncoagulated blood and (2) increase in fibrin polymerization-restricted localized diffusion, which can be measured noninvasively using quantitative susceptibility mapping and diffusion tensor imaging. In this serial magnetic resonance imaging study, we enrolled 24 patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage between October 2021 to May 2022 at a stroke center. Patients were 30 to 70 years of age and had a hematoma volume >15 cm3 and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score >1. The patients underwent imaging 3×: within 12 to 24 (T1), 36 to 48 (T2), and 60 to 72 (T3) hours of last seen well on a 3T magnetic resonance imaging system. Three-dimensional anatomic, multigradient echo and 2-dimensional diffusion tensor images were obtained. Hematoma and edema volumes were calculated, and the distribution of coagulation was measured by dynamic changes in the susceptibilities and fractional anisotropy within the hematoma. RESULTS: Using a coagulated blood phantom, we demonstrated a linear relationship between the percentage coagulation and susceptibility (R2=0.91) with a positive red blood cell stain of the clot. The quantitative susceptibility maps showed a significant increase in hematoma susceptibility (T1, 0.29±0.04 parts per millions; T2, 0.36±0.04 parts per millions; T3, 0.45±0.04 parts per millions; P<0.0001). A concomitant increase in fractional anisotropy was also observed with time (T1, 0.40±0.02; T2, 0.45±0.02; T3, 0.47±0.02; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This quantitative neuroimaging study of coagulation within the hematoma has the potential to improve patient management, such as safe resumption of anticoagulants, the need for reversal agents, the administration of alteplase to resolve the clot, and the need for surgery.

Imaging predictors of 4q12 amplified and RB1 mutated glioblastoma IDH-wildtype.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have identified that glioblastoma IDH-wildtype consists of different molecular subgroups with distinct prognoses. In order to accurately describe and classify gliomas, the Visually AcceSAble Rembrandt Images (VASARI) system was developed. The goal of this study was to evaluate the VASARI characteristics in molecular subgroups of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of glioblastoma IDH- wildtype with comprehensive next-generation sequencing and pre-operative and post-operative MRI was performed. VASARI characteristics and 205 genes were evaluated. Multiple comparison adjustment by the Bejamin-Hochberg false discovery rate (BH-FDR) was performed. A 1:3 propensity score match (PSM) with a Caliper of 0.2 was done. RESULTS: 178 patients with GBM IDH-WT met the inclusion criteria. 4q12 amplified patients (n = 20) were associated with cyst presence (30% vs. 12%, p = 0.042), decreased hemorrhage (35% vs. 62%, p = 0.028), and non-restricting/mixed (35%/60%) rather than restricting diffusion pattern (5%), meanwhile, 4q12 non-amplified patients had mostly restricting (47.4%) rather than a non-restricting/mixed diffusion pattern (28.4%/23.4%). This remained statistically significant after BH-FDR adjustment (p = 0.002). PSM by 4q12 amplification showed that diffusion characteristics continued to be significantly different. Among RB1-mutant patients, 96% had well-defined enhancing margins vs. 70.6% of RB1-WT (p = 0.018), however, this was not significant after BH-FDR or PSM. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with glioblastoma IDH-wildtype harboring 4q12 amplification rarely have restricting DWI patterns compared to their wildtype counterparts, in which this DWI pattern is present in ~ 50% of patients. This suggests that some phenotypic imaging characteristics can be identified among molecular subtypes of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma.

BRAF/MEK Dual Inhibitors Therapy in Progressive and Anaplastic Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma: Case Series and Literature Review.

Recurrent and anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (r&aPXA) is a rare primary brain tumor that is challenging to treat. Two-thirds of PXA tumors harbor a BRAF gene mutation. BRAF inhibitors have been shown to improve tumor control. However, resistance to BRAF inhibition develops in most cases. Concurrent therapy with MEK inhibitors may improve tumor control and patient survival. In this study, we identified 5 patients diagnosed with BRAF-mutated PXA who received BRAF and MEK inhibitors over a 10-year interval at our institution. Patient records were evaluated, including treatments, adverse effects (AEs), outcomes, pathology, next-generation sequencing, and MRI. The median age was 22 years (range, 14-66 years), 60% male, and 60% anaplastic PXA. Median overall survival was 72 months (range, 19-112 months); 1 patient died of tumor-related hemorrhage while off therapy, and the other 4 experienced long-term disease control (21, 72, 98, and 112 months, respectively). Dual BRAF/MEK inhibitors were well tolerated, with only grade 1-2 AEs, including rash, neutropenia, fatigue, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. No grade 3-5 AEs were detected. A literature review was also performed of patients diagnosed with BRAF-mutated PXA and treated with BRAF and/or MEK inhibitors through August 2021, with a total of 32 cases identified. The median age was 29 years (range, 8-57 years) and the median PFS and OS were 8.5 months (range, 2-35 months) and 35 months (range, 10-80 months), respectively. The most common AEs were grade 1-2 fatigue and skin rash. Results of this case series and literature review indicate that dual-drug therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors for r&aPXA with BRAF V600E mutation may delay tumor progression without unexpected AEs.

Imaging Primer on Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy for Radiologists.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a recently approved breakthrough treatment that has become a new paradigm in treatment of recurrent or refractory B-cell lymphomas and pediatric or adult acute lymphoid leukemia. CAR T cells are a type of cellular immunotherapy that artificially enhances T cells to boost eradication of malignancy through activation of the native immune system. The CAR construct is a synthetically created functional cell receptor grafted onto previously harvested patient T cells, which bind to preselected tumor-associated antigens and thereby activate host immune signaling cascades to attack tumor cells. Advantages include a single treatment episode of 2-3 weeks and durable disease elimination, with remission rates of over 80%. Responses to therapy are more rapid than with conventional chemotherapy or immunotherapy, with intervening short-interval edema. CAR T-cell administration is associated with therapy-related toxic effects in a large percentage of patients, notably cytokine release syndrome, immune effect cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, and infections related to immunosuppression. Knowledge of the expected evolution of therapy response and potential adverse events in CAR T-cell therapy and correlation with the timeline of treatment are important to optimize patient care. Some toxic effects are radiologically evident, and familiarity with their imaging spectrum is key to avoiding misinterpretation. Other clinical toxic effects may be occult at imaging and are diagnosed on the basis of clinical assessment. Future directions for CAR T-cell therapy include new indications and expanded tumor targets, along with novel ways to capture T-cell activation with imaging. An invited commentary by Ramaiya and Smith is available online. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2022.

Traumatic spondylolisthesis of axis: clinical and imaging experience at a level one trauma center.

PURPOSE: Traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis (TSA) with bilateral pars interarticularis fracture (a pattern also known as Hangman's fractures) accounts for 4-5% of all cervical fractures. Various classification systems have been described to assist therapeutic decision-making. The goal is to reassess the utility of these classifications for treatment strategy and evaluate additional imaging associations. METHODS: This is an IRB approved, retrospective analysis of patients with imaging diagnosis of TSA from 2016 to 2019. Consensus reads were performed classifying TSA into various Levine and Edwards subtypes and typical vs. atypical fractures. Other imaging findings such as additional cervical fractures, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and vertebral artery injury were recorded. Treatment strategy and outcome were reviewed from clinical charts. Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients were included, with a mean age of 62.7 ± 25 years, and male to female ratio of 1:1.2. Motor vehicle collision was the most common cause of TSA. Type I and III injuries were the most and the least common injuries, respectively. Patients with type I injuries were found to have good healing rates with conservative management (p < 0.001) while type IIa and III injuries were managed with surgical stabilization (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). No statistical difference was observed in the treatment strategy for type II fractures (p = 0.12) and its prediction of the associated injuries. Atypical fractures were not found to have a higher incidence of SCI (p = 0.31). A further analysis revealed significantly higher-grade vertebral artery injuries (grades III and IV according to Biffl grading) in patients with type IIa and III injuries (p = 0.001) and an 11-fold increased risk of TBI compared to type I and type II fractures (p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: TSA fracture types were not associated with any clinical outcome. Levine and Edwards type II classification itself is not enough to guide the treatment plan and does not account for associated injuries. Additional imaging markers may be needed.

Using flexible regression models for calculating hospital's production functions.

BACKGROUND: The relative lack of flexibility of parametric models has led to the development of nonparametric regression techniques based on the family of generalized additive models. However, despite the potential advantages of using Generalized Additive Model (GAM) in practice many models have, until now, not been sufficiently explored in health economics problems. It could be interesting to calculate a new flexible hospital production function by means of a GAM including interactions and to compare it with the classic model Cobb-Douglas in the prediction of the behavior of productive factors. METHOD: The flexible model considered has been the AM including the beds-facultative interaction. The covariates "Hospital", being a categorical variable and "Year" being a continuous variable, have also been included in the model. Based on the estimation of the model penalized thin plate splines will be used to represent smoothed functions. In this configuration, the smoothed parameters will be estimated via REML. RESULTS: Cobb-douglas model fits well for the production functions of the more general clinical and surgical services, while the GAM adjusts better in the case of more specialized medical services. CONCLUSIONS: Generalized Additive Models are more flexible than parametric models, providing a better fit in the presence of non-linear relationships and thus allowing more accurate prediction values. The results of this study suggest that AM is a promising technique for the areas of research and application in health economics.

Rapid Infarct Progression in Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion Ischemic Stroke Patients During Inter-Facility Transfer.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to identify factors associated with rapid infarct progression during inter-facility transfer for endovascular thrombectomy evaluation and its impact on clinical outcomes. METHODS: Patients with anterior circulation large artery occlusion within 24 h of onset transferred within our 17 hospital tele-stroke network were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into fast progressors and slow progressors. Fast progressors were defined as CT ASPECTS score of ≥6 at the referring hospital (RH) and <6 at the hub hospital. Good clinical outcomes were defined as modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) 0-2 at 90 days. Demographic, clinical and radiologic variables associated with fast progressors and good clinical outcomes were identified using multivariable regression models. RESULTS: Among the 190 patients, 44 (23%) patients underwent rapid infarct progression. Higher stroke severity at presentation [aOR, 1.096, 95% CI,1.023, 1.174; p = 0.009], presence of early ischemic changes (CT ASPECT 6-9) at the RH [aOR, 2.721, 95% CI, 1.22, 6.071; p = 0.014] were positively associated, whereas prior ischemic stroke [aOR, 0.272, 95% CI, 0.078, 0.948; p = 0.04] and higher collateral score (2,3,4) [aOR, 0.138, 95%CI, 0.059, 0.324, p=<0.0001] were negatively associated with rapid infarct progression. Fifty-eight (31%) transferred patients had good outcomes. After adjusting for reperfusion status, age [aOR, 0.96, 95% CI, 0.93, 0.98; p=<0.001], initial stroke severity [aOR, 0.87, 95% CI, 0.81, 0.93; p=<0.001], absolute rate of decrease in CT ASPECTS [aOR, 0.38, 95% CI, 0.19, 0.77; p = 0.007] and internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion [aOR, 0.34, 95 %CI, 0.12, 0.94; p = 0.038] were negatively associated with good outcome. CONCLUSION: Higher stroke severity, presence of early ischemic changes at the referring facility, absence of prior stroke, and poor collateral scores (CS 0-1) are the factors associated with rapid infarct progression in the telemedicine transfer cohort. Increasing age, higher stroke severity, higher absolute decrease in CT ASPECTS and ICA occlusion determine poor clinical outcomes.

Cerebral Radiation Necrosis: Incidence, Pathogenesis, Diagnostic Challenges, and Future Opportunities.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cerebral radiation necrosis (CRN) is a major dose-limiting adverse event of radiotherapy. The incidence rate of RN varies with the radiotherapy modality, total dose, dose fractionation, and the nature of the lesion being targeted. In addition to these known and controllable features, there is a stochastic component to the occurrence of CRN-the genetic profile of the host or the lesion and their role in the development of CRN. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies provide some insight into the genetic mechanisms underlying radiation-induced brain injury. In addition to these incompletely understood host factors, the diagnostic criteria for CRN using structural and functional imaging are also not clear, though multiple structural and functional imaging modalities exist, a combination of which may prove to be the ideal diagnostic imaging approach. As the utilization of novel molecular therapies and immunotherapy increases, the incidence of CNR is expected to increase and its diagnosis will become more challenging. Tissue biopsies can be insensitive and suffer from sampling biases and procedural risks. Liquid biopsies represent a promising, accurate, and non-invasive diagnostic strategy, though this modality is currently in its infancy. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of CRN will expand and optimize the diagnosis and management of CRN by better utilizing existing treatment options including bevacizumab, pentoxifylline, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and laser interstitial thermal therapy.

Standardizing Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocols, Requisitions, and Reports in Multiple Sclerosis: An Update for Radiologist Based on 2017 Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis and 2018 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Consensus Guidelines.

The advent of magnetic resonance imaging has improved our understanding of the pathophysiology and natural course of multiple sclerosis (MS). The ability of magnetic resonance imaging to show the evolution of MS lesions on sequential scans has brought it to be one of the endpoints in clinical trials for disease-modifying therapies. Based on the most updated consensus guidelines from the American (Consortium of MS Centers) and European (Magnetic Resonance Imaging in MS) boards of experts in MS, this document shows the most relevant landmarks related to imaging findings, diagnostic criteria, indications to obtain a magnetic resonance, scan protocols and sequence options for patients with MS. Although incorporating the knowledge derived from the research arena into the daily clinical practice is always challenging, in this article, the authors provide useful recommendations to improve the information contained in the magnetic resonance report oriented to facilitate communication between radiologists and specialized medical teams involved in MS patients' multidisciplinary care.

Case Series of Adolescents With Stroke-Like Symptoms Following Head Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Studies cite the incidence of pediatric blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI) ranges from 0.03% to 1.3%. While motor vehicle incidents are a known high-risk mechanism, we are the first to report on football injuries resulting in BCVI. CASE REPORT: Case 1 is a 14-year-old male football player who presented with slurred speech and facial droop 16 h after injury that had resulted in unilateral stinger on the field. The patient had a negative brain computed tomography (CT) at the onset of symptoms. Given progression of symptoms over the next 24 h, re-evaluation with CT angiography (CTA) of brain and neck showed left internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed left middle cerebral artery infarct. Case 2 is a 16-year-old male football player who presented with headache and right hemiparesis immediately following a tackle injury. CT brain and neck were negative at an outside hospital, but he was transferred to us for progressive symptoms, and then CTA showed a left ICA dissection with distal emboli, including occlusive involvement of the intracranial left ICA. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: The diagnosis of BCVI requires a high level of suspicion. Focal neurologic deficits are consistently a risk factor across all screening criteria, including the Denver, Utah, Memphis, and Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. These current screening criteria, however, may not be sufficient to diagnosis BCVI in children. The addition of the mechanism of injury and attention to the patient's clinical presentation and examination are important to prevent missed diagnosis and poor neurologic outcomes.

Extent of Resection Thresholds in Molecular Subgroups of Newly Diagnosed Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-Wildtype Glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Maximizing the extent of resection (EOR) improves outcomes in glioblastoma (GBM). However, previous GBM studies have not addressed the EOR impact in molecular subgroups beyond IDH1/IDH2 status. In the current article, we evaluate whether EOR confers a benefit in all GBM subtypes or only in particular molecular subgroups. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of newly diagnosed GBM isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype undergoing resection were prospectively included in a database (n = 138). EOR and residual tumor volume (RTV) were quantified with semiautomated software. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissues were analyzed by targeted next-generation sequencing. The association between recurrent genomic alterations and EOR/RTV was evaluated using a recursive partitioning analysis to identify thresholds of EOR or RTV that may predict survival. The Kaplan-Meier methods and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression methods were applied for survival analysis. RESULTS: Patients with EOR ≥88% experienced 44% prolonged overall survival (OS) in multivariable analysis (hazard ratio: 0.56, P = .030). Patients with alterations in the TP53 pathway and EOR <89% showed reduced OS compared to TP53 pathway altered patients with EOR>89% (10.5 vs 18.8 months; HR: 2.78, P = .013); however, EOR/RTV was not associated with OS in patients without alterations in the TP53 pathway. Meanwhile, in all patients with EOR <88%, PTEN -altered had significantly worse OS than PTEN -wildtype (9.5 vs 15.4 months; HR: 4.53, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a subset of molecularly defined GBM IDH-wildtype may benefit more from aggressive resections. Re-resections to optimize EOR might be beneficial in a subset of molecularly defined GBMs. Molecular alterations should be taken into consideration for surgical treatment decisions in GBM IDH-wildtype.

Estimated Technological Obsolescence of Computed Tomography Equipment.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a model for predicting technological obsolescence of computed tomography (CT) equipment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Baseline data consisted of various models of CT scanners that have been on the market since 1974 and represent a technological leap in CT. In documenting the CT scans, a principal component analysis was performed to reduce the number of variables. A Cox regression model was used to calculate the probability of a technology leap. RESULTS: The CT parameters were divided into three main components: detection system, image resolution, and device performance. Cox regression odds ratios show that a technology leap can be expected as a function of the variables device power (1.457), detection system (0.818), and image resolution (0.964). CONCLUSION: Our results show that the variables that predict the technological leap in CT are device performance, image resolution, and detection system. The results provide a better understanding of the expected technological changes in CT, which will lead to advances in planning investments in this technology, purchasing and installing equipment in hospitals where this type of technology is not yet available, and renewing the technological base already installed.

The feasibility of mechanical thrombectomy versus medical management for acute stroke with a large ischemic territory.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke is generally avoided when the expected infarction is large (defined as an Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score of <6). OBJECTIVE: To perform a meta-analysis of recent trials comparing MT with best medical management (BMM) for treatment of acute ischemic stroke with large infarction territory, and then to determine the cost-effectiveness associated with those treatments. METHODS: A meta-analysis of the RESCUE-Japan, SELECT2, and ANGEL-ASPECT trials was conducted using R Studio. Statistical analysis employed the weighted average normal method for calculating mean differences from medians in continuous variables and the risk ratio for categorical variables. TreeAge software was used to construct a cost-effectiveness analysis model comparing MT with BMM in the treatment of ischemic stroke with large infarction territory. RESULTS: The meta-analysis showed significantly better functional outcomes, with higher rates of patients achieving a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-3 at 90 days with MT as compared with BMM. In the base-case analysis using a lifetime horizon, MT led to a greater gain in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of 3.46 at a lower cost of US$339 202 in comparison with BMM, which led to the gain of 2.41 QALYs at a cost of US$361 896. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was US$-21 660, indicating that MT was the dominant treatment at a willingness-to-pay of US$70 000. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that, besides having a better functional outcome at 90-days' follow-up, MT was more cost-effective than BMM, when accounting for healthcare cost associated with treatment outcome.

Cost-Utility Analysis of PCSK9 Inhibitors and Quality of Life: A Two-Year Multicenter Non-Randomized Study.

The primary objective of this study was to conduct a cost-utility analysis of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors in real-world, comparing their use with standard care for managing cardiovascular disease. A multicenter prospective study was conducted across 12 Spanish hospitals from May 2020 to April 2022, involving 158 patients with hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This study assessed health-related quality of life (QoL) using the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. The cost-utility analysis evaluated the economic impact of PCSK9 inhibitors when used with standard care compared to standard care alone, calculating the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). This study included 158 patients with an average age of 61 years, male (66.5%). For patients initiating PCSK9 inhibitors, the treatment cost was EUR 13,633.39, while standard therapy cost EUR 3638.25 over two years. QoL for PCSK9 inhibitors stood at 1.6489 over two years, compared to 1.4548 for standard therapy. The results revealed favorable cost-utility outcomes, with an ICER of EUR 51,427.72. Significant improvements were observed in the domains of mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression (p < 0.001). This study presents the first real-world cost-utility analysis of PCSK9 inhibitors, supporting their economic rationale and highlighting their benefits in clinical practice. Healthcare decision-makers can use these results to inform their decisions and reimbursement policies concerning PCSK9 inhibitors. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04319081.

An Unusual Finding: Papillary Tumor of the Pineal Region.

A papillary tumor of the pineal region (PTPR) is a rare tumor of neuroepithelial origin formed from specialized ependymocytes of the subcommissural organ located in the lining of the posterior commissure, not the pineal gland itself. Patients with this type of tumor generally present with nonspecific symptoms secondary to obstructive hydrocephalus such as headache and vision changes. The mean age of patient presentation is 31, with a slight predominance in females. This type of tumor has a high rate of recurrence (56%) following surgical resection. This case study describes the presentation of this uncommon tumor in a 61-year-old woman, including presentation, imaging, surgery, and pathology findings.

Atypical Imaging Findings of Nonketotic Hyperglycemic Hemichorea: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Nonketotic hyperglycemic hemichorea (NH-HC) is a rare condition presenting in the clinical setting. Brain imaging plays an important role in diagnosing NH-HC, which typically shows basal ganglia changes contralateral to the side of the hemiballismus/hemichorea. Only a few articles in the literature have reported normal pertinent magnetic resonance/CT findings in patients presenting with NH-HC. To the authors' knowledge, no cases in the literature have reported basal ganglia changes solely observed on CT but not on MRI in patients presenting with NH-HC. Herein, we describe a unique case in which a CT of a patient presenting with NH-HC demonstrated basal ganglia abnormalities with negative MRI findings.

Adrenal Ganglioneuroblastoma of Adult Onset: A Literature Review.

Ganglioneuroblastomas (GNBs) are a rare subtype of neoplastic tumors that arise from the autonomic nervous system and contain both mature gangliocytes and immature neuroblasts. The primary age group affected by GNBs is the pediatric population, with less than 50 cases of adult GNBs existing in the literature. To the authors' best knowledge, only 21 cases of GNBs arising in the adrenal glands of adults have been reported. Herein we present a literature review examining the symptoms, treatment type, age, and sex of adults, and the presence of tumor metastases and calcification from the 21 cases reported in the literature.

Longitudinal Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study: A Seed-Based Connectivity Biomarker in Patients with Ischemic and Intracerebral Hemorrhage Stroke.

Objective: The primary aim of the research was to compare the impact of postischemic and hemorrhagic stroke on brain connectivity and recovery using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Methods and Procedures: We serially imaged 20 stroke patients, 10 with ischemic stroke (IS) and 10 with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), at 1, 3, and 12 months (1M, 3M, and 12M) after ictus. Data from 10 healthy volunteers were obtained from a publically available imaging data set. All functional and structural images underwent standard processing for brain extraction, realignment, serial registration, unwrapping, and denoising using SPM12. A seed-based group analysis using CONN software was used to evaluate the default mode network and the sensorimotor network connections by applying bivariate correlation and hemodynamic response function weighting. Results: In comparison with healthy controls, both IS and ICH exhibited disrupted interactions (decreased connectivity) between these two networks at 1M. Interactions then increased by 12M in each group. Temporally, each group exhibited a minimal increase in connectivity at 3M compared with 12M. Overall, the ICH patients exhibited a greater magnitude of connectivity disruption compared with IS patients, despite a significant intrasubject reduction in hematoma volume. We did not observe any significant correlation between change in connectivity and recovery as measured on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at any time point. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the largest changes in functional connectivity occur earlier (3M) rather than later (12M) and show subtle differences between IS and ICH during recovery and should be explored further in larger samples.

The Complexity of Online Patient Education Materials About Interventional Neuroradiology Procedures Published by Major Academic Institutions.

Introduction Health literacy is an independent predictor of population health status and is directly related to the readability of available patient education material. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Medical Association have recommended that patient education materials (PEMs) be written between a fourth- and a sixth-grade education level. The authors assessed the readability of online PEMs about neurointerventional procedures that have been published by several academic institutions across the US. Methods Online PEMs regarding five common neurointerventional procedures, including mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion, cerebral diagnostic angiography, carotid artery stenting, endovascular aneurysm embolization, and epidural steroid injection collected from the websites of 20 top institutions in Neurology and Neurosurgery. The materials were assessed via five readability scales and then were statistically analyzed and compared to non-institutional education websites (Wikipedia.com and WebMD.com). Results None of the PEMs were written at or below the NIH's recommended 6th-grade reading level. The average educational level required to comprehend the texts across all institutions, as assessed by the readability scales, was 10-11th grade level. Some materials required a college-level education or higher. Material from non-institutional websites had significantly lower readability scores compared to the 20 institutions. Conclusions Current PEMs related to neurointerventional procedures are not written at or below the NIH's recommended fourth- to sixth-grade education level. Given the complexity of those procedures, significant attention should be pointed toward an improvement in the available online materials.

The reproducibility of interventional radiology randomized controlled trials and external validation of a classification system.

PURPOSE: The fragility index (FI) measures the robustness of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). It complements the P value by taking into account the number of outcome events. In this study, the authors measured the FI for major interventional radiology RCTs. METHODS: Interventional radiology RCTs published between January 2010 and December 2022 relating to trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, trans-arterial chemoembolization, needle biopsy, angiography, angioplasty, thrombolysis, and nephrostomy tube insertion were analyzed to measure the FI and robustness of the studies. RESULTS: A total of 34 RCTs were included. The median FI of those studies was 4.5 (range 1-68). Seven trials (20.6%) had a number of patients lost to follow-up that was higher than their FI, and 15 (44.1%) had a FI of 1-3. CONCLUSION: The median FI, and hence the reproducibility of interventional radiology RCTs, is low compared to other medical fields, with some having a FI of 1, which should be interrupted cautiously.