Neuroimaging Modalities Used for Ischemic Stroke Diagnosis and Monitoring.

Strokes are one of the global leading causes of physical or mental impairment and fatality, classified into hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Ischemic strokes happen when a thrombus blocks or plugs an artery and interrupts or reduces blood supply to the brain tissue. Deciding on the imaging modality which will be used for stroke detection depends on the expertise and availability of staff and the infrastructure of hospitals. Magnetic resonance imaging provides valuable information, and its sensitivity for smaller infarcts is greater, while computed tomography is more extensively used, since it can promptly exclude acute cerebral hemorrhages and is more favorable speed-wise. The aim of this article was to give information about the neuroimaging modalities used for the diagnosis and monitoring of ischemic strokes. We reviewed the available literature and presented the use of computed tomography, CT angiography, CT perfusion, magnetic resonance imaging, MR angiography and MR perfusion for the detection of ischemic strokes and their monitoring in different phases of stroke development.

Effects of Supplementation in Vitamin D3 Deficient or Insufficient Children with Allergic Diseases.

Background and Objectives: Although vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency is prevalent in children with allergic diseases, recommendations for supplementation dosing regimens are imprecise and variable in the literature, because clinical trials aiming to determine optimal doses were scarce in the past. This study aimed to investigate supplementation of vitamin D3 that may achieve therapeutically effective but not toxic serum levels in a subpopulation of children with allergic diseases and concomitant hypovitaminosis D. Materials and Methods: The retrospective, observational study with a cross-sectional design included 94 children suffering from allergic diseases and having vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency who were prescribed high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation by a pediatrician for at least 6 weeks and not more than 9 weeks. Serum levels of the major metabolite of vitamin D (25-(OH)D) were determined in all children twice: before and two weeks after the end of vitamin D3 supplementation. Results: An increase in serum level of the 25-(OH)D after supplementation was significant. However, if the subjects had higher serum levels of the 25-(OH)D before the supplementation, and if the supplementation lasted 8 instead of 6 weeks, the absolute increase in serum level of the 25-(OH)D was lower. Patients taking corticosteroids as inhalation or intranasally had a more intense effect of vitamin D3 supplementation, i.e., the absolute increase in levels of 25-(OH)D was higher than in patients not using such medication. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in children with allergic diseases can be treated with maximal recommended doses of vitamin D3 for a short period of time, especially if they were prescribed with inhalation or intranasal corticosteroids.

Brixia Chest X-ray Score, Laboratory Parameters and Vaccination Status for Prediction of Mortality in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients.

Chest X-ray has verified its role as a crucial tool in COVID-19 assessment due to its practicability, especially in emergency units, and Brixia score has proven as a useful tool for COVID-19 pneumonia grading. The aim of our study was to investigate correlations between main laboratory parameters, vaccination status, and Brixia score, as well as to confirm if Brixia score is a significant independent predictor of unfavorable outcome (death) in COVID-19 patients. The study was designed as a cross-sectional multicentric study. It included patients with a diagnosed COVID-19 infection who were hospitalized. This study included a total of 279 patients with a median age of 62 years. The only significant predictor of unfavorable outcome (death) was Brixia score (adjusted odds ratio 1.148, p = 0.022). In addition, the results of the multiple linear regression analysis (R2 = 0.334, F = 19.424, p < 0.001) have shown that male gender (B = 0.903, p = 0.046), severe COVID-19 (B = 1.970, p < 0.001), and lactate dehydrogenase (B = 0.002, p < 0.001) were significant positive predictors, while albumin level (B = -0.211, p < 0.001) was a significant negative predictor of Brixia score. Our results provide important information about factors influencing Brixia score and its usefulness in predicting the unfavorable outcome (death) of COVID-19 patients. These findings have clinical relevance, especially in epidemic circumstances.