Associations of Soluble Inflammatory and Endothelial Activation Biomarkers with Cognitive Function Over Three Years After Ischemic Stroke-PROSCIS-B.

Background: The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a well-known and validated scale to measure the severity of symptoms associated with stroke. NIHSS item 9, “Best Language”, is often used to ascertain initial aphasia, however, data on how well NIHSS item 9 can discriminate aphasia in stroke patients is incomplete. We investigated if NIHSS item 9 is a reliable tool to diagnose patients with aphasia in the acute phase of first-ever ischemic stroke. Methods: 56 patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke were included prospectively and consecutively in the Lund Stroke Register Study. Patients were excluded if they had any of the following characteristics: 1) diagnosed dementia or psychiatric disorders; 2) non-native Swedish language; 3) altered consciousness. Patients were assessed within 7 days after stroke onset by a trained research nurse with the NIHSS item 9 followed by a language evaluation with the Language Screening Test (LAST, range 0-15, where 0-14 indicate aphasia) within 24 hours of the NIHSS item 9 assessment, by a licensed speech and language pathologist. Data were analyzed using LAST as a ‘gold standard.’ Results: Of 56 first-ever ischemic stroke patients (median age 79 years; n=37 female, n= 19 male) 9 patients (16%) had aphasia according to NIHSS item 9 (the distribution of scores 1-3 were n=6, n=1, and n=2, respectively). When using LAST 17 patients (30%) had aphasia (score ≤14) with a median LAST score of 13 (IQR 10-14). The median LAST score for patients with NIHSS item 9 with a score of 0, but LAST ≤ 14 (n= 10) was 14 (IQR 13-14). Assuming LAST as gold standard, NIHSS item 9 gave 10 false negatives for aphasia (LAST scores ranging from 12 to 14) and 2 false positives (both with NIHSS item 9 score of 1) for aphasia, translating into a sensitivity of 34% and a specificity of 95%. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the sensitivity of NIHSS item 9 is low compared to more in depth testing by a speech and language pathologist. Using NIHSS item 9 as a diagnostic tool for aphasia after stroke can misclassify patients with mild to moderate aphasia.

Introduction: Extensive forms of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) are a consequence of and indicative for advanced cerebral small vessel disease, and thus are reportedly associated with higher risks for stroke, dementia, and mortality. Our aim was to analyze impact of WMH on severity and outcome in patients with acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke using data from a nationwide stroke registration. Methods: We studied patients hospitalized with acute stroke in 103 participating centers of the Japan Stroke Data Bank from 2001 to 2015. Deep WMH was evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and classified with Fazekas grade. We examined associations of WMH with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission and poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale of 3 - 6) at discharge using multivariable models. Results: We studied a total of 28,469 patients with MRI imformation. In patients with ischemic stroke (n = 24,591; women, 40%; and age, 72.5±12.1 years), median NIHSS was 4 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-9); and 10,073 (41%) had poor outcome. WMH grades of 0, 1, 2, and 3 were observed in 23%, 45%, 25%, and 6%, respectively. In multivariate analysis adjusted by age and sex, WMH grade was independently related to higher admission NIHSS (incidence rate ratio [IRR] of grade 3 versus 0, 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-1.35, P for trend <0.001). In multivariate analysis adjusted by age, sex, and admission NIHSS, WMH grade was related to poor outcome (odds ratio [OR] of grade 3 versus 0, 3.08; 95% CI 2.63-3.60; P for trend <0.001). In patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 3,878; women, 42%; and age, 66.9±14.2), median NIHSS was 10 (IQR 4-20); and 2,393 (62%) had poor outcome. WMH grade of 0, 1, 2 and 3 were observed in 28%, 43%, 22%, and 7%, respectively. In multivariate analysis adjusted by age and sex, WMH was independently related to higher NIHSS (IRR of grade 3 versus 0, 1.35; 95%CI, 1.30-1.40). In multivariate analysis adjusted by age, sex, and admission NIHSS, WMH grade was related to poor outcome (OR of grade 3 versus 0, 1.99; 95% CI 1.28-3.11; P for trend <0.001). Conclusions: Extensive forms of WMH influenced on severity and outcome in both acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage in a nationwide hospital-based patient cohort.

BackgroundTo characterize the severity and distribution of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and to assess the relationship of WMHs with initial stroke severity, 3-month functional outcome, stroke recurrence and response to antiplatelet therapies.MethodsIn Clopidogrel High-risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial, 787 minor stroke patients with baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) information were included in this analysis. Deep and periventricular WMHs (DWMHs and PVWMHs) were rated using the Fazekas scale and categorized into mild (grades 0–2), moderate (grades 3–4) and severe (grades 5–6). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the associations between WMHs severities and outcomes, including initial stroke severity by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, 3-month functional outcome by modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and stroke recurrence. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the treatment-by-subgroup interaction effect.ResultsAmong the 787 patients in this analysis, 432 (54.9%) had moderate or severe WMHs (3-6). Compared with mild WMHs, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of severe WMHs for risk of higher NIHSS was 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.26–3.48 (P=0.004). Both severities of SDWMHs (OR 1.66; 95% CI, 1.15–2.40; P=0.007) and PVWMHs (OR 1.47; 95% CI, 1.02–2.10; P=0.04) were associated with higher NIHSS scores. There were no statistically significant associations of WMHs with 3-month functional outcome and stroke recurrence. There were no significant interactions between WMHs and antiplatelet therapy.ConclusionsIn patients with minor stroke, both SDWMHs and PVWMHs might related with initial stroke severity. No interaction was detected between the severity of WMHs and antiplatelet treatment.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00979589. Date of registration: Sep 18, 2009.

Vasculocentricity Versus Cerebrocentricity: What Stroke-Related Baroreceptor Reflex Sensitivity Changes Might Be Telling Us

Infarction Size, Interleukin-6, and Their Interaction Are Predictors of Short-Term Stroke Outcome in Young Egyptian Adults

To the Editor: Before new therapies for ischemic stroke are established, their safety and effectiveness must be proved. In particular, the numerous multicenter acute stroke trials currently being performed require a valid, efficient, and reliable measure of patient status and outcome after treatment. Interrater variation in the assessment of neurological deficits could imply that important effects of the treatment remain concealed, which in turn may have a misleading influence on therapeutic decisions. A commonly used yardstick for measuring the outcome of neurological deficits in stroke patients is the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).1 2 3 Not only experienced neurologists can reliably apply the NIHSS; it can be used as well by nonneurologists or even nonphysicians (eg, study nurses),4 5 6 7 provided the raters are well trained and given detailed instructions. As far as the NINDS study is concerned, the investigators were video trained and required to take an examination.1 The question, however, of whether the NIHSS provides precise and reliable data when applied without an intensive training program has not yet been raised. We therefore investigated the reliability of the NIHSS as used by trained and untrained raters in 22 stroke patients in the Neurological Department at …

Adiponectin. Spectator or Player?

The purpose of this study was to assess immunological status and correlations of cytokines of diff erent groups in patients in the acute period of ischemic stroke (IS). Material and methods. 80 patients with IS (treatment group) and 20 patients with cardiovascular diseases (control group) were examined. All patients were assessed for comorbidity, cognitive function and demographic characteristics. The following were assessed in patients with IS: IS subtype, functional status using Barthel Index (BI), Ranking scale (mRS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), neuroimaging parameters. Laboratory diagnosis included assessment of serum concentrations of interleukins, interferons, CXC- and CC-chemokines, MIF, GM-CSF and TNF-α. Statistical analyses were performed using Python and its libraries Pandas and SciPy. Results. Higher levels of IFN-γ, CXCL1, and CCL23 were determined in patients with IS. CXCL1 was found to correlate with BI, NIHSS, MoCA, foci size; IL — 6 — with BI, NIHSS, presence of diabetes, overweight; IFN-γ — with hyperlipidemia, BI, NIHSS. CCL23 levels were associated with mRS at day 14, presence of atherosclerosis, atherothrombotic subtype of IS; CCL2 — with BI, presence of atherosclerosis, leukoaraiosis, and hypertension; CXCL8 — with MoCA, NIHSS, diabetes. Conclusion. The research of the level and differential expression of cytokines in patients in the acute period of IS is an actual direction of clinical medicine. The verifi cation of cytokines CXCL1, CXCL8, CCL23, CCL2, IL-6 and IFN-γ as potential biomarkers of severity, course and outcomes of AI requires clarifi cation through further studies.

Background: The incidence of ischemic stroke significantly increases with age. With increasing life expectancy, very old subjects will constitute the majority of stroke patients. However, epidemiological and clinical features of very elderly patients with stroke are still uncertain. Our aim was to study the patients' characteristics, outcome and trends in the very elderly (aged ≥ 85 years) in comparison with patients aged 65–84 years with a first-ever ischemic stroke in the National Acute Stroke Israeli Survey (NASIS) registry. Methods: The NASIS registry is a nationwide prospective hospital-based study performed triennially (2004, 2007, 2010). Patients with ischemic stroke aged ≥85 years were compared with those 65–84 years old regarding their baseline characteristics, stroke severity, etiology of stroke and stroke outcomes. Stroke severity was determined according to the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score and functional disability using the modified Rankin scale (mRS). Logistic regression analyses were used in the comparison of outcomes adjusting for potential confounders. Trends in patients' characteristics and stroke outcome were studied. Results: A first-ever ischemic stroke was diagnosed in 3125 patients. The proportion of very elderly (≥85 years) patients among the NASIS population increased from 18.3% in 2004 to 19.9% in 2007 and 24.5% in 2010 (p=0.005). The percentage of women was higher in patients aged ≥85 years (p<0.0001). Atrial fibrillation, congestive heart disease and prior disability were significantly more prevalent in the very elderly. The very elderly presented with more severe strokes: 36.3% of the ≥85 years-old patients had NIHSS≥11 compared with 22.0% in the younger age group. Adjusted rates of in-hospital complications [OR (95% CI=1.7 (1.3–2.2)] and severe disability or death (mRS>3) [1.4 (1.0–1.9)] were increased for very elderly patients. In the analysis of trends by registry period, rates of dyslipidemia increased from 25.4% in 2004 to 63.7% in 2010 (p for trend<0.0001) and hypertension increased from 74.8% in 2004 to 90.5% in 2010 (p for trend=0.0004). A significant decrease in the rate of in-hospital mortality among the very old patients is evident: rates decreased from 18.7% in 2004 to 5.7% in 2010 (p for trend=0.0005). Conclusions: There is an increasing proportion of very elderly subjects, mostly women, among first-ever ischemic stroke patients. Current information on age specific aspects of stroke in the very elderly is crucial to set up successful prevention pathways and implementing well-organized stroke care for this population.

Background and aim Ischemic stroke has a good outcome because these patients usually have a good motor recovery. The aim of this work was to assess the prognostic value of the neurocognitive status to detect early cognitive dysfunction in stroke phases, evaluate outcome after first-ever ischemic stroke, and to choose proper preventive management of stroke cognitive dysfunction. Patients and methods Patients with ischemic stroke were prospectively evaluated using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) individually and in combination with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), either at the subacute stroke phase or within 2 weeks (baseline), and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores, for functional outcome 3 and 6 months later. Results Cognitive impairment was diagnosed at baseline in 37.5% of patients with median NIHSS=4 and median mRS=2 (P<0.001). Baseline NIHSS, MMSE, and MoCA can individually predict mRS scores at 3 and 6 months, and NIHSS is the strongest predictor. However, patients with more disability at baseline (NIHSS>2), baseline MoCA, and MMSE had a moderately large significant predictive value to the baseline NIHSS for mRS scores at 3 and 6 months. Conclusion Screening of cognitive state at the subacute stroke phase can predict functional outcome independently and improve the predictive value of stroke severity scores. And it is important to evaluate what cognition is, and the brief cognitive test may facilitate assessment in the early phases.

IntroductionLow ankle-brachial index (ABI) ≤0. 9 is a marker for generalized atherosclerosis and a risk factor for cognitive decline in the general population.ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of ABI ≤0.9 on cognitive function up to 3 years after first-ever ischemic stroke.MethodsData was used from the “PROspective Cohort with Incident Stroke-Berlin” (PROSCIS-B; NCT01363856). ABI was measured at baseline and categorized into normal (1.4–0.9) vs. low (≤0.9). Cognitive function was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE) at baseline and with the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m) at 1–3 years of follow-up. We performed confounder adjusted generalized linear models (GLM) to calculate relative risks (RR) for cognitive impairment at baseline (MMSE≤26; MoCA≤25) and linear mixed models (LMM) to estimate the impact of low ABI on TICS-m over time.ResultsWe included 325 patients [mean age: 66 (SD = 13); 38% female, median NIHSS = 2 (IQR = 1–4), ABI≤0.9: 59 (18%)]. Patients with low ABI were at increased risk of cognitive impairment at baseline (adjusted RR for MoCA≤25 = 1.98; 95%-CI:1.24 to 3.16). TICS-m scores were consistently lower over time in patients with low ABI (adjusted ß = −1.96; 95%-CI:−3.55 to −0.37). Independent of ABI, cognitive function did not decline over time (adjusted ß:0.29; 95%-CI:−0.06 to 0.64).ConclusionIn patients with mild to moderate first-ever ischemic stroke, low ABI is associated with reduced cognitive function over a 3-year follow-up.Study Registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01363856.

This study aimed to explore the impact of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on the short-term outcomes of reperfusion therapy in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. We prospectively collected data on AIS patients undergoing reperfusion therapies at Chengdu Second People's Hospital from January 2020 and January 2024. WMH severity was graded as 0-3 (none to moderate) or 4-6 (severe) by the Fazekas scale. We analyzed National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, good functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale, mRS 0-2) at 7days and discharge, and safety outcomes like in-hospital mortality and intracranial hemorrhage. During the study period, 669 patients were included, with 345 having none to moderate WMH and 324 with severe WMH. Patients with severe WMH exhibited significantly higher NIHSS and mRS at 7days and discharge, with a decrease in good outcomes (mRS 0-2: 40.43% vs. 75.65%), and an increase in intracranial hemorrhage (16.4% vs. 5.8%) and in-hospital mortality (11.7% vs. 2.0%) compared with none to moderate WMH patients. After matching the baseline data, none to moderate WMH was associated with higher likelihood of good outcomes at discharge [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.142; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.380-3.304; P < 0.001] and a lower rate of any intracranial hemorrhage (aOR, 0.348; 95% CI 0.180-0.673; P < 0.001), with no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between the groups. Severe WMH could reduce the benefits of reperfusion therapy in AIS, with increased risk of hemorrhagic complications, warranting further research into treatment strategies for these patients.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS), exerting a modulating effect on a number of processes that determine the outcome of this disease. Objective: to investigate the peripheral blood levels of IL-6 in patients in the acute period of different IS pathogenetic subtypes and its effect on recovery rates. Patients and methods. The study enrolled 155 patients (74 men and 81 women; mean age, 63.8 years). A control group consisted of 28 people without IS. Pathogenetic subtype II was established in accordance with the TOAST (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) criteria on the basis of their clinical picture and the data of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography of the main arteries of the head. The severity of a patient's condition and a focal neurological defect and the time course of clinical changes after stroke were determined using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to measure IL-6 levels on days 1, 7, and 21 after onset of IS. An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to measure IL-6 levels on days 1, 7, and 21 after onset of IS. Results. In the acute period of IS, there were significantly elevated levels of IL-6. The latter reached its highest values on day 7 in patients with the atherothrombotic pathogenetic subtype of IS. On day 7 of the study, the peak concentration of IL6 was typical for patients with all subtypes of IS, except for lacunar stroke. After its increase on day 1 of the study, the IL6 level in patients with lacunar stroke did not change significantly in all other periods. In acute IS, the concentration of IL-6 was significantly influenced by the following cardiovascular risk factors: hypercholesterolemia of days 1, 7 (p&lt;0.01) and 21 (p&lt;0.05), hypertension in day 1 (p&lt;0.05), diabetes mellitus on days 1 and 7 (p&lt;0.05), and coronary heart disease in all the study periods (p&lt;0.01). The IL-6 concentration significantly correlated with the severity of neurological defect, but did not significantly affect the rate of recovery in the patient with acute IS. Conclusion. IL-6 was established to be of prognostic value for the outcome of acute IS on day 7. The rate of recovery can be used to identify targets for therapeutic intervention.

The paradoxical protective effect of hepatic steatosis on severity and functional outcome in patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack

Small deep brain infarcts.