Central Nervous System involvement in tuberculosis: An MRI study considering differences between patients with and without Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 infection

BackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is largely used in the diagnosis of central nervous system involvement of tuberculosis (CNSTB), yet there is no MRI comparison study between HIV+ and HIV− patients with CNSTB. The aim of the present study was to identify MRI differences in CNSTB between HIV+ and HIV− patients and possibly find early characteristics that could raise the suspect of this disease.MethodsWe included all patients admitted in our institution between 2011 and 2018 with confirmed diagnosis of CNSTB, and MRI performed in the first week. Patients with preexisting brain pathology or immunodeficiency not HIV related were excluded. We compared CNSTB MRI features between the two groups.ResultsSixty-nine patients were included (19 HIV+; 50 HIV−). Findings in HIV+ group: 6 lung TB, 5 hydrocephalus, 4 meningeal enhancement, 6 stroke, 2 hemorrhages, and 10 tuberculomas. HIV− group: 22 lung tuberculosis, 15 hydrocephalus, 21 meningeal enhancement, 5 stroke, 4 hemorrhages, 20 tuberculomas. The only statistically significant difference between the two groups was in the stroke occurrence, more frequent in the HIV+ group (P = .028), all involving the basal ganglia.ConclusionsStroke involving the basal ganglia best differentiates CNSTB patients who are HIV+ from those HIV−. This finding was not correlated with meningeal enhancement suggesting that small arteries involvement might precede it. Therefore, we think that HIV+ patients with a new onset of stroke should be evaluated for CNSTB. Follow-up MRI should also be planned since meningeal enhancement might appear in later stages of the disease.     

Obesity and diabetes are jointly associated with functional disability in stroke survivors

BackgroundStroke is the most common cause of complex disability. Obesity and diabetes increase risk for functional disability in the general population, but their contribution to functional disability in stroke survivors is unknown.ObjectiveTo investigate the joint association of obesity and diabetes with functional disability in stroke survivors.MethodsCross-sectional data from 34,376 stroke survivors from the 2015 and 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys were examined. Weighted and age-adjusted prevalence estimates and adjusted odds ratios (AOR, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to compare prevalence and odds for self-reported functional disability, stratified by obesity-diabetes status (i.e., neither condition, obesity only, diabetes only, both conditions).ResultsPrevalence of functional disability increased across obesity-diabetes categories in the total sample: neither condition (45.4%, 95% CI: 43.4%–47.4%), obesity only (55.3%, 95% CI: 52.7%–58.0%), diabetes only (60.8%, 95% CI: 57.5%–64.1%), and both conditions (70.3%, 95% CI: 67.7%–72.9%). Compared to respondents with neither condition, those with both obesity and diabetes had 2.62 (95% CI: 2.23–3.08) higher odds for functional disability; odds were also increased for respondents with obesity only (1.52, 95% CI: 1.32–1.76) and diabetes only (1.71, CI: 1.45–2.01).ConclusionsOur findings indicated a joint effect of obesity and diabetes on functional disability that exceeded either condition alone, placing stroke survivors with both health conditions at greatest risk for diminished functional capacity. Recognizing obesity and diabetes as modifiable risk factors may be useful for identifying stroke sub-populations that could benefit from lifestyle intervention.     

Development of a Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction Model Using the Suita Study,a Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study in Japan

Aim: To construct a risk prediction model for cardiovascular disease (CVD) based on the Suita study, an urban Japanese cohort study, and compare its accuracy against the Framingham CVD risk score (FRS) model.Methods: After excluding participants with missing data or those who lost to follow-up, this study consisted of 3,080 men and 3,470 women participants aged 30–79 years without CVD at baseline in 1989–1999. The main outcome of this study was incidence of CVD, defined as the incidence of stroke or coronary heart disease. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models with stepwise selection were used to develop the prediction model. To assess model performance, concordance statistics (C-statistics) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a bootstrap procedure. A calibration test was also conducted.Results: During a median follow-up period of 16.9 years, 351 men and 241 women developed CVD. We formulated risk models with and without electrocardiogram (ECG) data that included age, sex, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and urinary protein as risk factors. The C-statistics of the Suita CVD risk models with ECG data (0.782; 95% CI, 0.766–0.799) and without ECG data (0.781; 95% CI, 0.765–0.797) were significantly higher than that of the FRS model (0.768; 95% CI, 0.750–0.785).Conclusions: The Suita CVD risk model is feasible to use and improves predictability of the incidence of CVD relative to the FRS model in Japan.     

Stratifying chronic stroke patients based on the influence of contralesional motor cortices: An inter-hemispheric inhibition study

ObjectiveA recent “bimodal-balance recovery” model suggests that contralesional influence varies based on the amount of ipsilesional reserve: inhibitory when there is a large reserve, but supportive when there is a low reserve. Here, we investigated the relationships between contralesional influence (inter-hemispheric inhibition, IHI) and ipsilesional reserve (corticospinal damage/impairment), and also defined a criterion separating subgroups based on the relationships.MethodsTwenty-four patients underwent assessment of IHI using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (ipsilateral silent period method), motor impairment using Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer (UEFM), and corticospinal damage using Diffusion Tensor Imaging and active motor threshold. Assessments of UEFM and IHI were repeated after 5-week rehabilitation (n = 21).ResultsRelationship between IHI and baseline UEFM was quadratic with criterion at UEFM 43 (95%conference interval: 40–46). Patients less impaired than UEFM = 43 showed stronger IHI with more impairment, whereas patients more impaired than UEFM = 43 showed lower IHI with more impairment. Of those made clinically-meaningful functional gains in rehabilitation (n = 14), more-impaired patients showed further IHI reduction.ConclusionsA criterion impairment-level can be derived to stratify patient-subgroups based on the bimodal influence of contralesional cortex. Contralesional influence also evolves differently across subgroups following rehabilitation.SignificanceThe criterion may be used to stratify patients to design targeted, precision treatments.     

缺血性脑卒中再发相关危险因素分析

目的探讨包括脑白质疏松(LA)在内的相关危险因素与缺血性脑卒中再发的关系。方法连续收集2010年1月至2014年12月在我院保健科、神经内科发病72 h内住院首发急性缺血性卒中患者751例,随访3年,入选患者701例,随访中再发患者124例为再发组;首发缺血性卒中患者577例为未再发组,比较分析两组患者危险因素。结果再发组患者LA程度高于未再发组(Z=-2.307,P=0.021);再发组血糖、血压、血脂控制达标率低于未再发组(均P<0.05)。Spearson相关分析与缺血性卒中再发患者呈正相关的因素为LA(r=0.451,P=0.007)、年龄(r=0.334,P=0.015)、血压(r=0.812,P=0.001)、血糖(r=0.637,P=0.002)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)(r=0.674,P=0.000)、总胆固醇(r=0.748,P=0.003)、三酰甘油(r=0.878,P=0.004)、吸烟(r=0.380,P=0.008);与脑卒中再发无明显相关的因素为性别(r=0.032,P=0.115)。二分类Logistics回归与缺血性卒中再发呈正相关因素为年龄(B=0.142,P=0.000)、血压(B=0.135,P=0.000)、LDL-C(B=1.141,P=0.001)、三酰甘油(B=0.367,P=0.036)、血糖(B=0.385,P=0.000);与缺血性卒中再发无相关的因素为LA(B=22.221,P=0.997)、总胆固醇(B=0.081,P=0.867)、吸烟(B=21.434,P=0.995)。结论年龄、高血糖、高血压、三酰甘油是缺血性卒中患者复发的独立危险因素,LA、总胆固醇、吸烟是缺血性卒中复发的混杂因素。进行积极危险因素干预治疗,对预防缺血性卒中复发有重要意义。     

Neurophysiology of motor skill learning in chronic stroke

ObjectiveMotor learning is relevant in chronic stroke for acquiring compensatory strategies to motor control deficits. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying motor skill acquisition with the paretic upper limb have received little systematic investigation. The aim of this study was to assess the modulation of corticomotor excitability and intracortical inhibition within ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1) during motor skill learning.MethodsTen people at the chronic stage after stroke and twelve healthy controls trained on a sequential visuomotor isometric wrist extension task. Skill was quantified before, immediately after, 24 hours and 7 days post-training. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to examine corticomotor excitability and short- and long-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI and LICI) pre- and post-training.ResultsThe patient group exhibited successful skill acquisition and retention, although absolute skill level was lower compared with controls. In contrast to controls, patients’ ipsilesional corticomotor excitability was not modulated during skill acquisition, which may be attributed to excessive ipsilesional LICI relative to controls. SICI decreased after training for both patient and control groups.ConclusionsOur findings indicate distinct inhibitory networks within M1 that may be relevant for motor learning after stroke.SignificanceThese findings have potential clinical relevance for neurorehabilitation adjuvants aimed at augmenting the recovery of motor function.     

A body-weight-supported visual feedback system for gait recovering in stroke patients: A randomized controlled study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a novel body-weight-supported (BWS) gait training system with visual feedback, called Copernicus® (Rehalife, Italy). This computerized device provides comfortable, regular and repeatable locomotion in hemiplegic patients. Through visual real-time monitoring of gait parameters, patients are trained to transfer weight loading alternately on both feet.DesignA single-blind, randomized controlled study. A single center used a computer-generated randomization code to allocate treatments.SettingIntensive rehabilitation unit (IRU) at the Institute S. Anna (Italy).Participants63 first-ever stroke patients (39 men, age: 66.1 ± 9.6 years; 61.6 % with left-sided lesion) randomly distributed into three demographically/clinically matched groups.TreatmentsAll groups were treated five times a week for 2 -h sessions for six consecutive weeks. The first group (“control”) underwent a conventional physical therapy; the second group performed advanced BWS gait training sessions without visual feedback (Experimental VF- group); whereas the third group used BWS with visual feedback stimulation (Experimental VF+ group).Main Outcome MeasuresAbsolute changes were recorded using conventional clinical scales and kinematic measurement of static gait balance from baseline to follow-up.ResultsSignificant interaction Group*Time effects scales (F_2,126 = 5.1, p-level = 0.005, η²_p = 0.25; F_2,126 = 4.7, p-level = 0.007, η²_p = 0.19; respectively) were detected in the Functional Independence Measure and Tinetti-Balance scales. Post hoc analysis demonstrated that the recovery of motor functioning was greater for the VF + group with respect to other groups (all p’s ≤ 0.001). A similar pattern of findings was also obtained with a stabilometric analysis, demonstrating a better clinical improvement in static balance after VF + treatment.ConclusionThe proposed advanced rehabilitation system with visual feedback was more effective in improving gait recovery with respect to conventional and high-tech therapies without a sensor feedback.     

Association of blood lipids,atherosclerosis and statin use with dementia and cognitive impairment after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundTrial and observational evidence is conflicting in terms of the association of blood lipids, atherosclerosis and statin use with dementia and cognitive impairment in the general population. It is uncertain whether the associations occur in stroke patients, who are at known higher risk of cognitive decline. This systematic review was to synthesize the evidence for these associations among stroke patients.MethodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and trial registries were searched. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or observational cohort studies conducted among patients with stroke and reported on the association of blood lipids, atherosclerosis or statin use with dementia or cognitive impairment. Meta-analysis was conducted separately for crude and maximally adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs).ResultsOf 18,026 records retrieved, 56 studies (one RCT and 55 cohort studies) comprising 38,423 stroke patients were included. For coronary heart disease, the pooled OR of dementia and cognitive impairment was 1.32 (95%CI 1.10–1.58, n = 15 studies, I² = 0%) and 1.23 (95%CI 0.99–1.54, n = 14, I² = 26.9%), respectively. Peripheral artery disease was associated with dementia (OR 3.59, 95%CI 1.47–8.76, n = 2, I² = 0%) and cognitive impairment (OR 2.70, 95%CI 1.09–6.69, n = 1). For carotid stenosis, the pooled OR of dementia and cognitive impairment was 2.67 (95%CI 0.83–8.62, n = 3, I² = 77.9%) and 3.34 (95%CI 0.79–14.1, n = 4, I² = 96.6%), respectively. For post-stroke statin use, the pooled OR of dementia and cognitive impairment was 0.89 (95%CI 0.65–1.21, n = 1) and 0.56 (95%CI 0.46-0.69, n = 3, I² = 0%), respectively. No association was observed for hypercholesterolemia. These results were mostly consistent with adjusted ORs or HRs, which were reported from limited evidence.ConclusionAtherosclerosis was associated with an increased risk of post-stroke dementia. Post-stroke statin use was associated with decreased risk of cognitive impairment. To confirm whether or not statins confer advantages in the post-stroke population in terms of preventing cognitive decline over and above their known effectiveness in reducing risk of further vascular events, further stroke trials including cognitive assessment and observational analyses adjusted for key confounders, focusing on key subgroups or statin use patterns are required.