Neurologist最新文献

Objectives: Neurological emergencies pose significant challenges in medical care in resource-limited countries. Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly health chatbots, offers a promising solution. Rigorous validation is required to ensure safety and accuracy. Our objective is to evaluate the diagnostic safety and effectiveness of an AI-powered virtual assistant (VA) designed for the triage of neurological pathologies.

Methods: The performance of an AI-powered VA for emergency neurological triage was tested. Ten patients over 18 years old with urgent neurological pathologies were selected. In the first stage, 9 neurologists assessed the safety of the VA using their clinical records. In the second stage, the assistant's accuracy when used by patients was evaluated. Finally, VA performance was compared with ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.

Results: In stage 1, neurologists agreed with the VA in 98.5% of the cases for syndromic diagnosis, and in all cases, the definitive diagnosis was among the top 5 differentials. In stage 2, neurologists agreed with all diagnostic parameters and recommendations suggested by the assistant to patients. The average use time was 5.5 minutes (average of 16.5 questions). VA showed superiority over both versions of ChatGPT in all evaluated diagnostic and safety aspects (P<0.0001). In 57.8% of the evaluations, neurologists rated the VA as "excellent" (suggesting adequate utility).

Conclusions: In this study, the VA showcased promising diagnostic accuracy and user satisfaction, bolstering confidence in further development. These outcomes encourage proceeding to a comprehensive phase 1/2 trial with 100 patients to thoroughly assess its "real-time" application in emergency neurological triage.

Objective: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) improves outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) when timely administered. The aim of this study was to collect and analyze data of stroke-related factors which may influence the performance of stroke-related rescue chains, the use of IVT, and patients' outcomes.

Methods: This study enrolled patients with AIS admitted to our Stroke Unit (SU) between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023. We investigated whether age, occurrence of baseline disabling deficits, stroke severity, or stroke location influenced the median Onset-to-Door Time (ODT), the chance of receiving IVT, or the outcomes of AIS in our facility.

Results: A total of 208 patients were enrolled. Patients who received IVT had higher baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (12.26±1.2) than those who did not (6.77±0.51) (P<0.0001). Patients with IVT further showed a greater strength deficit, less ataxia, and lower median ODT (108±20 min) than patients with NO IVT (720±67) (P<0.0001). Weakness of the lower limbs and higher total NIHSS predicted ODT≤ 3.5 hours and the use of IVT. Ataxia and Posterior Circulation Stroke slowed the rescue chain and were negatively correlated with the use of IVT.

Conclusions: Stroke-related factors may slow the rescue chain and affect the application of IVT for AIS. New evaluation strategies are warranted to overcome the detrimental effects of these factors and to allow clinicians to effectively manage strokes of any severity and location.

Introduction: Dynamic vertebral artery insufficiency is a rare vascular phenomenon characterized by insufficient flow of the posterior cerebral circulation induced by dynamic motion of the head. Prior case reports have been limited to vertebral artery occlusion by cervical osteophytes or other structural impingements.

Case report: In this case report, we discuss the unusual case of a 61-year-old female with a history of vertigo, diplopia, nystagmus, and left subclavian stenosis admitted to the hospital for syncope elicited by a left head turn and left shoulder raise. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound and angiography showed evidence of dynamic vertebrobasilar insufficiency elicited by a left-head turn. Percutaneous stenting of the left subclavian artery led to the resumption of normal vessel flow as assessed by TCD and the resolution of the patient's symptoms.

Conclusions: This case highlights an unusual cause of dynamic vertebrobasilar insufficiency induced by head turn and/or left shoulder raise due to subclavian stenosis, diagnosed by TCD and angiography, and successfully treated with subclavian artery stenting.

Objectives: The utility of thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy in patients with mild stroke and large vessel occlusion (LVO) remains inconclusive. This retrospective study compared short-term and long-term outcomes in patients treated with best medical therapy (BMT group) versus with intravenous thrombolytics and/or endovascular thrombectomy (intervention group).

Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), LVO, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS) ≤5 were included. Data collected includes demographics; hospital length of stay (LOS); modified Rankin scale (mRS) at admission, discharge, and follow-up; hemorrhagic conversion; and disposition. Bivariate analyses were conducted to compare outcomes between groups.

Results: Of the 29 patients, 15 were treated with BMT and 14 underwent intervention. Median hospital LOS was slightly longer in the intervention group (6.5 [IQR=4 to 12] vs. 5 [IQR=3 to 5] d, P=0.070). Everyone in the BMT group had a favorable outcome (mRS 0 to 2) at discharge and follow-up, unlike the intervention group's rate at discharge (100% vs. 71.4%, P=0.042), This gap was closed at follow-up between BMT group (median=33 d, IQR=28 to 48) and intervention group (median=44.5 days, IQR=30 to 48) (100% vs. 85.7%, P=0.224). Hemorrhagic conversion rates were similar between groups. More patients in the BMT group were discharged home (80% vs. 42.9%, P=0.079).

Conclusions: Patients with AIS, low NIHSS, and LVO, who received thrombolytics and/or thrombectomy had longer hospital LOS, higher mRS at discharge and follow-up, and were less likely to be discharged home, though these trends were not statistically significant. Our study is limited by a small sample size and these findings should be further explored in larger studies.

Objectives: Higher blood pressure has been proven to be associated with poorer functional outcomes after successful reperfusion by EVT. However, the effect of intensive blood pressure-lowering regimens in these patients remains controversial and ambiguous in clinical practice. We propose further analysis aimed at determining the effect of an intensive blood pressure-lowering regimen after EVT in AIS.

Methods: The protocol registered in PROSPERO CRD42023360989. We performed a systematic search that was comprehensively executed in online databases for studies published up to June 2022. Eligibility criteria were established based on the PICOS model. The Cochrane risk of bias algorithm was used to evaluate the risk of bias. The effect models were applied to calculate the pooled ORs and CIs via Review Manager 5.4 software.

Results: A total of 1582 citations were identified, 3 randomized clinical trials and 2 retrospective cohort studies were included. Data from 3211 patients were analyzed. We revealed that intensive blood pressure-lowering interventions could significantly reduce symptomatic intraparenchymal hemorrhage compared with standard blood pressure lowering. Nevertheless, favorable functional outcome, poor outcome, all-cause mortality within 3 months and intraparenchymal hemorrhage in 24 hours showed no significant differences. Subgroup analysis revealed the variability of systolic blood pressure within 24 hours after EVT was not associated with odds of poor outcome and intraparenchymal hemorrhage.

Conclusions: Based on the current evidence, intensive blood pressure-lowering regimen was superior to standard blood pressure-lowering regimen for a reduced risk of symptomatic intraparenchymal hemorrhage in AIS patients treated with EVT, but there was no statistically significant difference found between the 2 regimens for the other outcomes.

Objectives: To assess characteristics of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD).

Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective review of 84 MOGAD cases at the University of Florida, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of California San Diego, and Providence Health and Services, Portland, Oregon, to identify cases with a documented increased opening pressure >25 cm H2O. A literature review was conducted to identify previously reported MOGAD cases with an opening pressure >25 cm H2O.

Results: Of 28 MOGAD cases with available opening pressures, 6 (21.4%) patients (age: 5 to 36 y; 2/6 females) had documented increased ICP with an opening pressure of 26 to 46 cm H2O and optic nerve head edema on funduscopic examination. The increased ICP occurred in the setting of bilateral optic neuritis in all cases. In 5/6 patients, this was the initial presentation of the disorder. Anti-MOG titers were 1:40 (n = 1), 1:100 (n = 4), and 1:1000 (n = 1). In our literature review, we identified 13 additional MOGAD cases with ICP elevations in the setting of meningo-cortical presentations (n = 10), as well as bilateral optic neuritis (n = 3).

Conclusions: Increased ICP may occur in MOGAD and may be more common in patients with optic neuritis or meningoencephalitis.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) with stroke and mortality rates using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the aggregated data from 5 cycles (2009 to 2018) of NHANES. SII was the independent variable, and stroke was the dependent variable. Weighted logistic regression models were employed to analyze their relationship. The nonlinear association between SII and stroke was examined using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) method in subgroups stratified by smoking status, hypertension, and dietary inflammatory index. Weighted Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were used to investigate the association of SII with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.

Results: A total of 22,107 samples were included in this study. Weighted logistic regression analysis showed a significant correlation between SII and stroke (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.22-1.92, P <0.001). The stratified analysis revealed that interactions of smoking status and hypertension with SII, respectively, had significant impacts on stroke risk. A remarkable positive link between SII and stroke risk (OR>1, P <0.05) was observed in the crude model (unadjusted for confounding factors), model I (adjusted for demographic characteristics), and model II (adjusted for all confounding factors). RCS analysis displayed a remarkable nonlinear positive correlation between SII and stroke risk only in the "now smoking" population ( P -nonlinear<0.05) after adjusting for all confounding factors. In the overall sample population, Kaplan-Meier curves indicated that individuals in the highest quartile of SII had the highest risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality (log-rank test P <0.05). Samples with proinflammatory dietary habits had considerably higher risks of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality compared with those with anti-inflammatory dietary habits (log-rank test P <0.05). Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models showed significantly increased all-cause mortality and CVD mortality rates in the highest quartile of SII compared with the lowest quartile.

Conclusions: SII levels were considerably positively linked to stroke risk, particularly in the "now smoking" population. Moreover, elevated SII levels increased the risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in the overall population. On the basis of these findings, we recommend incorporating smoking cessation measures into stroke risk reduction strategies.

Introduction: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii ( R. rickettsii ). RMSF presents after a tick bite with fever, rash, and headache but can also cause more serious neurological manifestations. We report a case of RMSF encephalitis presenting with altered sensorium and rapid progression to coma, fever, and petechial rash, and an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain notable for a "starry sky" pattern.

Case report: A 61-year-old woman presented with confusion and fever and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. Two days later, she became comatose. MRI brain revealed lacunar infarcts in the right centrum semiovale and splenium of the corpus callosum. Lumbar puncture was notable for neutrophilic pleocytosis and elevated protein with negative bacterial and viral cultures. Empiric meningitis therapy was initiated, and she was transferred to our institution. On transfer, she was febrile, comatose, and had a diffuse petechial rash. Repeat MRI brain demonstrated diffuse, innumerable punctate foci of diffusion restriction with susceptibility-weighted signal attenuation throughout cerebral hemispheres in a "starry sky" pattern. Skin biopsy revealed perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates. Serologic RSMF antibody titers were obtained, and doxycycline was initiated for presumed RMSF encephalitis. The family opted to pursue palliative measures, given no clinical improvement. RSMF titers and postmortem PCR from brain tissue were positive for R. rickettsii.

Conclusions: This case report highlights the clinical presentation of RMSF encephalitis. RMSF encephalitis should be suspected in a patient presenting with encephalopathy, fever, petechial rash, and MRI brain findings of diffuse punctate foci of diffusion restriction and susceptibility-weighted signal attenuation in a "starry-sky" pattern.

Introduction: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy, an autoimmune central nervous system disorder characterized by the development of immunoglobulin G reactive with GFAP, has received growing attention in recent years. It is documented that GFAP-immunoglobulin G and other autoantibodies can be both detected in some patients. However, the coexistence of anti-myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and GFAP antibodies is rarely reported.

Case: A 45-year-old man presented with headache, fever, backache, dysuria, tremble of hands, numbness of lower limbs, without diplopia, decreased vision, or other manifestations of optic neuritis. He was initially diagnosed with viral meningitis. After antiviral therapy, his headache, fever, and dysuria were improved, but the tremble of his upper limbs and numbness of his lower limbs still existed. A lumbar puncture was further performed and found both anti-GFAP and anti-MOG antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid. No evidence of other immune disorders or infectious diseases was revealed. Meanwhile, a magnetic resonance scan showed enhancement of spinal pia mater in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar segments. He was then treated with immunoglobulin (intravenous immunoglobulin) therapy (25 g for 5 d), and steroid pulse therapy (methylprednisolone, 1 g for 5 d), followed by a gradual tapering of oral prednisolone.

Conclusion: We reported a case of overlapping anti-GFAP and anti-MOG antibody-associated syndrome. This case enriches our understanding of the clinical manifestations of overlapping syndrome and expands the spectrum of this disorder.

Background: The concept of wake-up stroke (WUS) as a distinct subtype of acute ischaemic stroke, characterized by an uncertain onset time, traditionally resulted in the exclusion of patients from intravenous thrombolysis treatment.

Review summary: Advancements in neuroimaging have prompted a shift in the approach to intravenous thrombolysis treatment, moving away from a strict focus on the onset time window toward consideration of the tissue time window. This paradigm shift has expanded the opportunity for a larger cohort of patients with WUS to receive timely and effective treatment, ultimately leading to improved prognosis.

Conclusions: This study reviews the WUS pathogenesis and the progress of various imaging diagnostic techniques to clarify the WUS onset time and select the optimal treatment plan.