Frontiers in Neurology最新文献

Objectives: This study aims to present the first comprehensive meta-analysis assessing the effectiveness and safety of drug-eluting stents (DES) versus bare-metal stents (BMS) in treating intracranial and vertebral artery stenosis.

Methods: A comprehensive examination was undertaken to compare the effectiveness and safety of DES and BMS in individuals experiencing symptomatic stenosis in the intracranial and vertebral arteries through an in-depth analysis of clinical research. We conducted an extensive search across multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to September 2024. The emphasis of our investigation was on various outcomes including rates of in-stent restenosis, symptomatic occurrences of in-stent restenosis, incidence of stroke, procedural success, mortality rates, complications associated with the procedure, and any adverse events.

Results: Our analysis included 12 studies with a total of 1,243 patients (562 in the DES group and 681 in the BMS group). The findings demonstrated a significantly lower rate of in-stent restenosis in the DES group for both intracranial [odds ratio (OR): 0.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13 to 0.41; p < 0.00001] and vertebral artery stenosis (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.72; p = 0.003) compared to the BMS group. Additionally, the DES group showed a significantly reduced rate of postoperative strokes in vertebral artery stenosis cases (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.90; p = 0.03), with no significant differences noted in the intracranial artery stenosis comparison (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.20 to 1.95; p = 0.42). The study also revealed no significant disparities in symptomatic in-stent restenosis, procedural success, mortality, adverse effects, and perioperative complications between the two groups across the conditions studied.

Conclusion: The comparison indicates that DES significantly reduces the risk of in-stent restenosis and postoperative strokes in patients with vertebral artery stenosis, compared to BMS. For both intracranial and vertebral artery stenosis, DES and BMS exhibit comparable safety profiles.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=439967.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1291020.].

Background and purpose: The immune response following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) can exacerbate secondary brain injury and impact clinical outcomes. As the immune response after aSAH is a dynamic process, we aim to track and characterize immune cell trajectories over time to identify patterns associated with various clinical outcomes.

Methods: In this retrospective single-center study of patients with aSAH, we analyzed immune cell count trajectories, including neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts, collected from day 1 to day 14. These trajectories were classified into four distinct clusters utilizing the k-means longitudinal clustering method. A comprehensive multivariable analysis was performed to explore the associations of these immune cell clusters with various clinical outcomes. These outcomes included a Modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) of 3 to 6, indicative of poor functional outcomes, along with complications including shunt dependency, vasospasm, and secondary cerebral infarction.

Results: In this study, 304 patients with aSAH were analyzed. The trajectories of immune cell counts, including neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes, were successfully categorized into four distinct clusters for each immune cell type. Within neutrophil clusters, both persistent neutrophilia and progressive neutrophilia were associated with poor functional outcomes, shunt dependency, and vasospasm, with resolving neutrophilia showing a lesser degree of these associations. Within monocyte clusters, early monocytosis was associated with vasospasm, whereas delayed monocytosis was associated with shunt dependency. Within lymphocyte clusters, both early transient lymphopenia and early prolonged lymphopenia were associated with poor functional outcomes.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that distinct immune cell trajectories post-aSAH, identified through unsupervised clustering, are significantly associated with specific clinical outcomes. Understanding these dynamic immune responses may provide key insights with potential for future therapeutic strategies.

A great proportion of neuromuscular diseases are immune-mediated, included myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, acute- and chronic-onset autoimmune neuropathies (anti-MAG neuropathy, multifocal motor neuropathy, Guillain-Barré syndromes, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, CANDA and autoimmune nodopathies), autoimmune neuronopathies, peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndromes and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. The detection of autoantibodies against neuromuscular structures has many diagnostic and therapeutic implications and, over time, allowed a better understanding of the physiopathology of those disorders. In this paper, we will review the main autoantibodies described in neuromuscular diseases and focus on their use in clinical practice.

Background: Irreversible hearing loss is a well-known adverse effect of aminoglycosides, however, inability to accurately predict ototoxicity is a major limitation in clinical care. We addressed this limitation by developing a prediction model for aminoglycoside ototoxicity applicable to the general population.

Methods: We employed a prospective non-drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), non-HIV/AIDS cohort of 153 adults on Streptomycin based anti-TB therapy. High frequency pure-tone audiometry was done at regular intervals throughout the study. Clinical and audiological predictors of ototoxicity were collated and ototoxic threshold shift from the baseline audiogram computed. The prediction model was developed with logistic regression method by examining multiple predictors of ototoxicity. Series of models were fitted sequentially; the best model was identified using Akaike Information Criterion and likelihood ratio test. Key variables in the final model were used to develop a logit model for ototoxicity prediction.

Results: Ototoxicity occurred in 35% of participants. Age, gender, weight, cumulative Streptomycin dosage, social class, baseline pure tone average (PTA) and prior hearing symptoms were explored as predictors. Multiple logistic regression showed that models with age, cumulative dosage and baseline PTA were best for predicting ototoxicity. Regression parameters for ototoxicity prediction showed that yearly age increment raised ototoxicity risk by 5% (AOR = 1.05; CI, 1.01-1.09), and a gram increase in cumulative dosage increased ototoxicity risk by 7% (AOR = 1.05; CI, 1.05-1.12) while a unit change in baseline log (PTA) was associated 254% higher risk of ototoxicity (AOR = 3.54, CI: 1.25, 10.01). Training and validation models had area under the receiver operating characteristic curve as 0.84 (CI, 0.76-0.92) and 0.79 (CI, 0.62-0.96) respectively, showing the model has discriminatory ability.

Conclusion: This model can predict aminoglycoside ototoxicity in the general population.

Introduction: CACNA1A-related Hemiplegic Migraine (HM) is a rare neurological disorder distinguished by paroxysmal episodes of hemiparesis/hemiplegia with and without headache. Clinical features have been widely characterized, yet the impacts of the paroxysmal events on the patient and caregiver have not been thoroughly explored. Disease concept models are formal frameworks used to describe the lived experiences of patients and their families, offering a source for surrogate endpoints for clinical trials.

Methods: We completed 13 semi-structured interviews with caregivers of 12 individuals diagnosed with CACNA1A-related HM. We methodically coded themes, grouping concepts into three domains. We measured the occurrence of concepts throughout all interviews and subgroups stratified by age categories.

Results: Over 11 h of interviews yielded 2,018 references to 27 distinct concepts. Established symptoms such as seizures (87 references; including status epilepticus 27 references), hemiparesis/hemiplegia (24 references), and unconsciousness (17 references) were referenced, as well as previously underreported symptoms such as apneic episodes (32 references), lost ability to eat (13 references), and vascular access challenges (10 references). The symptom impacts were largely medical (294 references), followed by health (101 references), emotional (36 references), daily living (28 references), and social (26 references). Caregiver impacts were the most referenced domain (995 references), with the pivotal effects seen in caregiver requirements (355 references), emotional (245 references), HM treatments (179 references), daily living (148 references), and health support (135 references).

Discussion: CACNA1A-related HM is a complex disorder defined by serious paroxysmal events that affects a broad range of social and clinical domains. We systematically classified symptoms and impacts from HM episodes, creating a disease concept model to help develop surrogate endpoints for future clinical trials, and identified two opportunities to improve patient management, including a written emergency protocol and a transition plan for adolescents approaching adulthood.

Background: This research aimed to ascertain independent risk factors and the diagnostic value of vascular parameters in differentiating posterior circulation ischemic isolated vertigo (PCI-IV) from vestibular peripheral vertigo (VPV).

Methods: This study involved 247 patients with acute-onset vertigo, categorized into two groups: PCI-IV and VPV. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to pinpoint independent risk factors for PCI-IV.

Results: The duration of vertigo, particularly episodes lasting more than a few hours, was a significant predictor of PCI-IV (OR = 2.183, p < 0.001). The presence of diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.746, p = 0.008) and hypertension (OR = 2.291, p = 0.004) also notably increased the likelihood of PCI-IV. Hemodynamic measurements such as the inner diameter and average blood flow velocity (Vmean) of the vertebral artery, as well as the resistive index (RI), were identified as significant predictive factors (p ≤ 0.033). The ROC analysis demonstrated the vertebral artery RI had the highest diagnostic accuracy with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78, indicating an optimal balance between sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion: Clinical features such as the duration of vertigo, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, along with vascular hemodynamics, are crucial in assessing the risk of PCI-IV. The RI in the vertebral artery emerged as a particularly potent diagnostic parameter. These findings advocate a multifaceted diagnostic approach, combining clinical and vascular parameters for the effective identification and management of PCI-IV.

Background: Motor imagery (MI) has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for Parkinson's disease (PD). MI entails mentally rehearsing motor actions without executing them. This cognitive process has garnered attention due to its potential benefits in aiding motor function recovery in patients. The purpose of this review was to highlight the findings observed in motor symptoms, balance, gait, and quality of life.

Methods: A literature search was carried out in Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), from the first publication to February 2024. Studies with at least one keyword to PD and MI in the title were included.

Results: The analysis included 53 studies out of the 262 identified. These comprised 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with an average PEDro score of 6.6 out of 10, as well as 41 non-RCT studies. Notably, the majority of the RCTs focused on balance, gait, and lower limb exercises. The experimental group found an 85.2% improvement on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) with a cognitive task (p < 0.02), 5.8% improvement on the TUG (p < 0.05), and 5.1% improvement in walking speed (p < 0.05). Other variables did not show significant improvement. In descriptive and non-RCT studies, there were various tasks and outcomes for the lower and upper limbs. It has been demonstrated that there was no difference in execution time in MI between patients and healthy subjects (HS), whereas motor execution was slower in patients. Several tasks were analyzed for the upper limb, including thumb opposition, joystick movements, and writing tasks with variable results. RCTs were more focused on balance, lower limbs, and walking. There was no specific outcome regarding the upper limb or speech. Additionally, the heterogeneity of tasks and outcomes across studies is also a limitation.

Conclusion: Current research on walking disorders in PD shows promise, but further investigations are crucial, particularly with an emphasis on upper limb function and speech. Studies with larger sample sizes and more precise methodologies are needed to enhance our understanding of the potential benefits of MI within the framework of comprehensive PD rehabilitation.

Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy becomes more complex when the occlusion occurs in a tortuous cerebral anatomy, increasing the puncture to reperfusion time and the number of attempts for clot removal. Therefore, an understanding of stent retriever performance in these locations is necessary to increase the efficiency and safety of the procedure. An in vitro investigation into the effects of occlusion site tortuosity, blood clot hematocrit, and device geometry was conducted to identify their individual influence on stent retriever removal forces.

Methods: Embolus analogs were used to create occlusions in a mock circulatory flow loop, and in vitro mechanical thrombectomies were performed in arterial models of increasing tortuosity. The stent retriever removal forces of Solitaire Platinum and EmboTrap II devices were recorded through each geometry with and without embolus analogs present. Similar experiments were also conducted with Solitaire stent retrievers of varying lengths and diameters and 0, 25, and 50% hematocrit embolus analogs.

Results: The removal force increased as model tortuosity increased for both the Solitaire Platinum and EmboTrap II stent retriever devices. The average removal forces in the simplest geometry with the Solitaire Platinum and EmboTrap II were 0.24 ± 0.01 N and 0.37 ± 0.02 N, respectively, and increased to 1.2 ± 0.08 N and 1.6 ± 0.17 N, respectively, in the most complex geometry. Slight increases in removal force were found with 0% hematocrit embolus analogs, however, no statistical significance between removal force and EA hematocrit was observed. A comparison between stent retriever removal forces between devices of different diameters also proved to be significant (p < 0.01), while forces between devices of varying lengths were not (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Benchtop mechanical thrombectomies performed with commercial stent retrievers of varying geometry showed that device removal forces increase with increasing model tortuosity, clot hematocrit does not play a significant role in device removal force, and that a stent retriever's diameter has a greater impact on removal forces compared to its length. These results provide an improved understanding of the overall forces involved in mechanical thrombectomy and can be used to develop safer and more effective stent retrievers for the most difficult cases.

Background: Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is primarily caused by a malfunctioning immune system in which T-cells damage the hypothalamus. To elucidate the causal relationships between biomarkers in T-cells and NT1, we employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: We conducted a two-sample MR analysis utilizing genetically predicted T-cell traits to examine their effects on NT1. Genome-wide association study summary data were extracted from studies by Valeria (3,757 participants) for 211 T-cell traits, Ollila (6,073 cases and 84,856 controls) for NT1. The MR analysis was executed at two threshold levels. Inverse variance weighted, Wald ratio, weighted median, and MR-Egger regression methods were used for the MR analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated, and heterogeneity tests, as well as pleiotropy tests, were conducted.

Results: After Bonferroni correction at the significant level (p < 1.18 × 10^-4), a higher ratio of naive CD4^- CD8^- T-cells was identified as a risk factor for NT1 (OR = 10.50; 95% CI: 6.98, 15.90, p = 3.89 ×10^-29). Conversely, CD4 on HLA DR⁺ CD4⁺ T cells (mean fluorescence intensity, MFI) exhibited a negative correlation with NT1. At nominally significant levels (p < 0.05) for both threshold levels, HVEM (herpesvirus entry mediator) on naive CD8⁺ T cells (MFI) was suggested as a protective factor for NT1. Additionally, a higher ratio of CD25⁺⁺ CD45RA^- CD4 not regulatory T cells, CD127 on CD45RA^- CD4 not regulatory T cells (MFI), CD127 on CD28⁺ CD4⁺ T cells (MFI), CD3 on HLA DR⁺ T cells (MFI), and CD3 on HLA DR⁺ CD4⁺ T cells (MFI) were suggested as risk factors for NT1.

Conclusion: This study confirmed the causal effects of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells on NT1 and found several novel T-cell-related characteristics.