Strokes and TIAs during and after Carotid Artery Doppler: Cause or Coincidence?

The aim of the present study was to explore the prevalence of acute cerebrovascular symptoms temporally related to carotid Doppler examination (DEx), in order to increase the awareness and recording of such events and to discuss possible mechanisms. All adult patients who complained of acute onset neurologic symptoms during or shortly after a carotid DEx, between 01/2003 and 12/2011 in the University Hospital of Lausanne were prospectively collected. We identified four consecutive patients with acute onset neurologic symptoms during or shortly after a carotid DEx among approximately 13,500 patients who underwent carotid DEx in our facility during the nine-year period (0.015% of all examined carotids). Clinical data, imaging reports and CTA (CT angiography) or/and ultrasound images are presented for each patient. Ischemic cerebrovascular events during or immediately after cervical Doppler could be due to chance or to several physical factors. They should be promptly recognized by Doppler personnel and properly treated, but do not put into question the overwhelming benefits of Doppler in cerebrovascular patients.     

The Effect of Short Duration Ultrasound Pulses on the Interaction Between Individual Microbubbles and Fibrin Clots

In previous work, we examined microscale interactions between microbubbles and fibrin clots under exposure to 1 ms ultrasound pulses. This provided direct evidence that microbubbles were capable of deforming clot boundaries and penetrating into clots, while also affecting fluid uptake and inducing fibrin network damage. Here, we investigate the effect of short duration (15 μs) pulses on microscale bubble-clot interactions as function of bubble diameter (3–9 μm) and pressure. Individual microbubbles (n = 45) were placed at the clot boundary with optical tweezers and exposed to 1 MHz ultrasound. High-speed (10 kfps) imaging and 2-photon microscopy were performed during and after exposure, respectively. While broadly similar phenomena were observed as in the 1 ms pulse case (i.e., bubble penetration, network damage and fluid uptake), substantial quantitative differences were present. The pressure threshold for bubble penetration was increased from 0.39 MPa to 0.6 MPa, and those bubbles that did enter clots had reduced penetration depths and were associated with less fibrin network damage and nanobead uptake. This appeared to be due in large part to increased bubble shrinkage relative to the 1 ms pulse case. Stroboscopic imaging was performed on a subset of bubbles (n = 11) and indicated that complex bubble oscillations can occur during this process.     

Mediation effect of arterial stiffness on ideal cardiovascular health and stroke

Background and aimsIdeal cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics was associated with stroke, but the causal pathway was poorly investigated. Arterial stiffness was a major factor associated with both ideal CVH metrics and stroke. This study aimed to investigate whether the effect of ideal CVH metrics on stroke was mediated and enhanced by arterial stiffness.Methods and resultsA total of 15,297 participants were included in current study. Arterial stiffness was measured by brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Causal mediation analyses were used to separate the overall effects of ideal CVH metrics on stroke into indirect effects (mediated by arterial stiffness) and direct effects (mediated through pathways other than arterial stiffness). After a median follow-up of 5.88 years, 324 total stroke events (292 ischemic stroke and 31 hemorrhagic stroke) occurred. Mediation analysis showed 23.94% of the relation between ideal CVH and total stroke was mediated by baPWV (95% confidence interval [CI] of the indirect effect: 0.93–0.95). Further analysis showed the ideal CVH < median combined with baPWV ≥1400 cm/s was associated with the highest risk of total stroke (hazard ratio: 5.62; 95% CI, 3.53–8.96), compared with CVH ≥ median combined with baPWV < 1400 cm/s. Similar results were observed for ischemic stroke, but not for hemorrhagic stroke.ConclusionsArterial stiffness played a mediating role in the associations between ideal CVH metrics and risk of total and ischemic stroke. Combined ideal CVH metrics and baPWV is a reasonable and useful tool for the assessment and prevention of stroke.     

高尿酸血症相关脑血管病的研究进展

高尿酸血症与血管内皮功能障碍、动脉粥样硬化及心脑血管事件发生密切相关。高尿酸 血症与卒中发生及预后相关研究的结论存在争议，更多的研究倾向高尿酸血症增加了卒中发生风险， 而在卒中患者预后方面，近期研究表明尿酸水平升高可改善其预后，主要得益于尿酸的抗氧化及神 经保护作用等。同时，高尿酸血症可增加脑小血管病的发生风险，从而引起认知功能下降。     

Dynamic biomechanical effect of lower body positive pressure treadmill training for hemiplegic gait rehabilitation after stroke: A case report

BACKGROUNDLower body positive pressure (LBPP) treadmill has potential applications for improving the gait of patients after stroke, but the related mechanism remains unclear.CASE SUMMARYA 62-year-old male patient suffered from ischemic stroke with hemiplegic gait. He was referred to our hospital because of a complaint of left limb weakness for 2 years. The LBPP training was performed one session per day and six times per week for 2 wk. The dynamic plantar pressure analysis was taken every 2 d. Meanwhile, three-digital gait analysis and synchronous electromyography as well as clinical assessments were taken before and after LBPP intervention and at the 4-wk follow-up. During LBPP training, our patient not only improved his lower limb muscle strength and walking speed, but more importantly, the symmetry index of various biomechanical indicators improved. Moreover, the patient’s planter pressure transferring from the heel area to toe area among the LBPP training process and the symmetry of lower body biomechanical parameters improved.CONCLUSIONIn this study, we documented a dynamic improvement of gait performance in a stroke patient under LBPP training, which included lower limb muscle strength, walking speed, and symmetry of lower limb biomechanics. Our study provides some crucial clues about the potential dynamic mechanism for LBPP training on gait and balance improvement, which is related to rebuilding foot pressure distribution and remodeling symmetry of biomechanics of the lower limb.     

神经内科护理中康复护理对于脑卒中后偏瘫患者的预后观察研究

目的:本次研究分析在脑卒中后偏瘫患者护理中采用神经内科护理对患者预后效果的观察。方法:本次研究样本选取莒南县中医医院100例脑卒中后偏瘫患者,研究时间从2018年3月-2019年3月,按照护理方式进行对比,试验组患者采用神经内科护理,对照组患者采用常规护理,对比两组患者护理结果。结果:对比两组患者肢体运动功能评分,分析得知,试验组患者出院后肢体功能评分明显较高,两组对比存在统计学标准(P<0.05);对比两组患者日常生活能力量表(Activities of Daily Living,ADL)评分,分析得知,试验组患者出院后ADL评分明显较高,两组对比存在统计学标准(P<0.05);对比两组患者预后生活质量评分,分析得知,试验组患者预后生活质量评分较高,两组对比符合统计学标准(P<0.05)。结论:通过此次研究得知,在脑卒中后偏瘫患者护理中采用神经内科护理,能对患者肢体功能与神经功能进行明显改善,还能进一步提高患者生活质量。     

Mechanical thrombectomy with a novel stent retriever with multifunctional zones: Initial clinical experience with the NeVa™ thrombectomy device

Background and purposeThe NeVa™ (Vesalio, Nashville, Tennessee) thrombectomy device is a CE-approved novel hybrid-cell stent retriever with offset enlarged openings coupled with functional zones and a closed distal end. The device was designed to incorporate and trap resistant emboli. The purpose was to determine the safety and efficacy of the NeVa™ stent.MethodsProspective data was collected on the first thirty consecutive patients treated at four stroke centers with NeVa™ as first line treatment between December 2017 and May 2018. Clinical outcome measures included re-perfusion scores after each pass, complications (per-procedural complications, device related adverse events, all intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and symptomatic ICH (sICH) on follow up imaging), 24 hour NIHSS, mRS at discharge and 90 days. Baseline data as well as treatment parameters were documented.ResultsMean presenting NIHSS was 16. Sites of primary occlusion were 10 ICA, 16 M1-MCA, 3 M2-MCA and one basilar. There were five tandem occlusions. Reperfusion outcomes after each NeVa pass; TICI ≥ 2b after first pass 63%, after 1 or 2 passes 83%, after 1 to 3 passes 90%. TICI 2c-3 after first pass 47%, after 1-2 passes 57%, after 1–3 passes 60%. TICI ≥ 2b after final pass 93%; TICI 2c-3, 63%. There were no device related serious averse events and no sICH. Clot material was partially or completely incorporated into the device after 70% passes. The mean 24 hour NIHSS was 7 and the 90 day mRS was 0–2 in 53%.ConclusionsThe NeVa™ device demonstrated a high rate of first pass complete reperfusion effect, a good safety profile and favorable 90 day clinical outcomes in this initial clinical experience.