Long-Term Follow-Up of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-Associated Intracranial Hemorrhage Reveals a High Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation

Goal: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is the second-most common cause of nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH), surpassed only by uncontrolled hypertension. We characterized the percentage, risk factors, and comorbidities of patients suffering from CAA-related ICH in relation to long-term outcomes. Material and Methods: We performed retrospective analyses and clinical follow-ups of individuals suffering from ICH who were directly admitted to neurosurgery between 2002 and 2016. Findings: Seventy-four of 174 (42%) spontaneous nontraumatic lobar ICH cases leastwise satisfied the modified Boston criteria definition for at least “possible CAA.” Females suffered a higher risk of CAA-caused ICH (42 of 74, 56.8%, P= .035). Atrial fibrillation as a major comorbidity was observed in 19 patients (25.7%). Recovery (decrease of modified Rankin scale [mRS]) was highest during hospitalization in the acute clinic. One-year mortality was as follows: 14 of 25 patients (56%) with probable CAA without supporting pathology, 6 of 18, and 8 of 31 patients with supporting pathology and possible CAA, respectively. Only 10 of 74 (13.6%) had favorable long-term outcomes (mRS ≤2). Increasing numbers of lobar hemorrhages, low initial Glasgow Coma Scale, and subarachnoid hemorrhage were significantly associated with poor survivability, whereas statins, antithrombotic agents, an intraventricular hemorrhage, and midline shift played seemingly minor roles. Conclusions: Symptomatic ICH is a serious stage in CAA progression with high mortality. The high incidence of concurrent atrial fibrillation in these patients may support data on more widespread vascular pathology in CAA.     

Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Ischemic Stroke and TIA

Background and ObjectivesIschemic stroke (IS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) share common risk factors and one may be the harbinger of the other. We aimed to study prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic CAD in a cohort of consecutive patients with IS and assess its relationship with intracranial and extracranial large artery cerebrovascular disease (LAD).MethodsAll consecutive eligible IS and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) patients were recruited into the study. Both clinically suspected and asymptomatic patients (N = 259) underwent myocardial Stress-rest Gated Technetium-99m (Tc99m) MIBI Myocardial Perfusion SPECT scan performed on a dual head SPECT-CT to estimate evidence of myocardial ischemia.ResultsThree hundred patients completed the study. Forty one patients were previously diagnosed cases of definitive CAD. Twelve patients were clinically suspected to have CAD and 247 patients were asymptomatic. Among these, 12 patients (4.81%) had a positive SPECT. The overall prevalence of CAD was 17.67% (n = 53). Presence of diabetes was an independent predictor of CAD (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.07-3.67. P .02). No significant association was found between the presence of LAD and CAD in all subgroup comparisons. However, there was a suggestion of higher LAD among patients with known CAD compared with others.ConclusionsCAD is prevalent in patients with ischemic stroke. No definitive relationship was found between CAD and intracranial or extracranial LAD. Population based stratification tools are needed to further assess the need to detect subclinical CAD in patients with stroke.     

Tick-borne Encephalitis: Stroke-like Presentation

Tick-borne encephalitis, caused by the tick-borne virus (TBEV), is endemic in central, eastern, and northern Europe eastwards through Russian Siberia and China. For the year 2009, the highest incidence in Scandinavian countries was in Sweden. The clinical symptoms have a wide spectrum. We report a unique case of clinical symptoms and radiological findings compatible with a stroke-like inflammatory lesion in the thalamus, suggesting microangiopathy from TBEV. Our case shows that TBEV could be a possible cause of stroke-like lesions.     

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。     

目标教学运用在神经内科临床护理带教中的效果及方法

目的探究目标教学运用在神经内科临床护理带教中的效果及方法。方法选取2018年6月-2019年6月期间到该院神经内科实习的48名女护生作为研究对象,采取随机双盲方法,将其均分为两组,各24例,对照组护生行常规护理带教模式,观察组护生行目标教学护理带教,对比两组护生出科综合成绩和带教满意度。结果观察组出科综合成绩显著高于对照组(t=3.732、6.862、6.715,P<0.05),且带教满意度优于对照组(χ~2=5.400,P<0.05)。结论在神经内科临床护理带教工作中运用目标教学法可调动护生学习积极性,提升护士对护理知识的掌握程度,提高带教满意度。     

渐进式PBL在神经病学教学中的应用效果评估

目的 研究渐进式以问题为基础的学习（problem-based learning, PBL）在神经病学教学中的应用效果。方法 将110名5年制本科生随机分为传统教学（lecture-based learning, LBL）组和渐进式PBL教学组，每组55名学生。教学内容包括基础知识、临床技能、病例剖析和文献检索。渐进式PBL教学按引入阶段、过渡阶段、PBL阶段渐进式教学。教学结束分别以理论知识、实践技能考试成绩及问卷调查作为指标，比较LBL组和渐进式PBL教学组的教学质量。并采用Pearson χ2检验分析学生性别、生源地城乡属性、相关学科知识基础掌握程度和组内贡献对渐进式PBL教学考试成绩的影响。结果 渐进式PBL组理论知识成绩显著低于LBL组[(78.49±3.15) vs.( 81.94±5.37)，T=-4.11，P<0.001]，临床技能操作成绩[(86.34±9.16) vs.( 80.96±7.85)，T=1.63，0.002相似文献   

Paradoxical Cerebral Embolism as Initial Manifestation of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A Case Report

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is characterized by chronic thrombi in the pulmonary arteries, causing pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. Early and accurate diagnosis are essential for successful treatment but are often difficult because clinical signs and symptoms can be nonspecific and risk factors, such as history of venous thromboembolism, may not always be present. Here, we report a case involving a 76-year-old woman who demonstrated paradoxical cerebral embolism as the initial manifestation of CTEPH. She developed right hemiplegia without dyspnea or edema. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple fresh infarctions, while transesophageal echocardiography revealed a patent foramen ovale. Based on these findings, she was diagnosed as having paradoxical cerebral embolism. During the search for the embolic source, right heart catheterization showed significant pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary angiography revealed chronic thrombi in the peripheral pulmonary arteries, consistent with a diagnosis of CTEPH. To our knowledge, this is the first case of CTEPH to be diagnosed with the onset of paradoxical cerebral embolism. Because CTEPH is the only potentially curable form of pulmonary hypertension, clinicians should consider paradoxical cerebral embolism as a possible initial manifestation of CTEPH.