Unfavorable Outcome Group Research Articles

The clinic-based predictive modeling for prognosis of patients with cryptococcal meningitis

BackgroundCryptococcal meningitis (CM) is the most common fungal infection of the central nervous system that can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Although several prognostic factors have been identified, their clinical efficacy and use in combination to predict outcomes in immunocompetent patients with CM are not clear. Therefore, we aimed to determine the utility of those prognostic factors alone or in combination in predicting outcomes of immunocompetent patients with CM.MethodsThe demographic and clinical data of patients with CM were collected and analyzed. The clinical outcome was graded by the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) at discharge, and patients were divided into good (score of 5) and unfavorable (score of 1–4) outcome groups. Prognostic model was created and receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted.ResultsA total of 156 patients were included in our study. Patients with higher age at onset (p = 0.021), ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement (p = 0.010), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of less than 15(p< 0.001), lower CSF glucose concentration (p = 0.037) and immunocompromised condition (p = 0.002) tended to have worse outcomes. Logistic regression analysis was used to create a combined score which had a higher AUC (0.815) than those factors used alone for predicting outcome.ConclusionsOur study shows that a prediction model based on clinical characteristics had satisfactory accuracy in prognostic prediction. Early recognition of CM patients at risk of poor prognosis using this model would be helpful in providing timely management and therapy to improve outcomes and to identify individuals who warrant early follow-up and intervention.

Texture analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient maps in predicting the clinical functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke.

To investigate texture analysis (TA) based on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map in predicting acute ischemic stroke (AIS) prognosis and discriminating TA features in stroke subtypes. This retrospective study included patients with AIS between January 2018 and April 2021. The patients were assigned to the favorable [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤ 2] and unfavorable (mRS score > 2) outcome groups. All patients underwent stroke subtyping according to the Trial of Org 10,172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification. The TA features were extracted from infarction lesions on the ADC map. The demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and texture features were used to construct prediction models with recurrent neural network (RNN). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were implemented to evaluate the performance of the predictive models. A total of 1,003 patients (682 male; mean age 65.90 ± 12.44) with AIS having documented the 90-day mRS score were identified, including 840 with favorable outcomes. In the validation set, the area under the curve (AUC) of the predictive model using only clinical characteristics achieved an AUC of 0.56, texture model 0.77, the model combining both clinical and texture features showed better with an AUC of 0.78. The texture feature profiles differed between large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) and small artery occlusion (SAO) subtypes (all p < 0.05). The AUC of combined prediction models for LAA and SAO subtypes was 0.80 and 0.81. Texture analysis based on ADC map could be useful as an adjunctive tool for predicting ischemic stroke prognosis.

Predictors of In-hospital Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients With COPD Exacerbation

Background: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with significant mortality. Objectives: The present study aimed to identify the risk factors that contribute to hospital outcomes of patients admitted with COPD exacerbation. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was performed on 74 patients hospitalized with COPD exacerbation. Pulse oximetry, complete blood count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and venous blood gas were taken under standard conditions. The clinical condition of patients was scored based on the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and shortness of breath based on the standard, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) questionnaire. The patients were divided into three groups based on in-hospital outcomes (i.e., favorable, unfavorable, and terrible or worse). One-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, logistic regression model, and odds ratio (OR) analysis were used to determine the most important factors associated with outcomes. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 74 patients, 43 (58.1%) and 31 (41.9%) subjects were male and female, respectively. The patients’ mean age was 68.19 ± 10.62 years. The number (%) of patients in favorable, unfavorable, and worse outcome groups was 27 (36.48%), 30 (40.54%), and 17 (22.97%), respectively. As the CAT and mMRC score increased, the chance of terrible outcomes also increased (OR = 1.22, confidence interval (CI): 1.10 - 1.35). There was no significant correlation between worse outcomes and hs-CRP. The PCT was significantly higher in the group with worse outcomes than in the groups with favorable and unfavorable outcomes (P &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: The COPD evaluation by the CAT and mMRC plays an important role in the in-hospital outcomes of hospitalized COPD patients with exacerbation. The serum level of PCT was also a determinant factor of prognosis in hospitalized patients with COPD exacerbation.

Factors Affecting the Surgical Outcomes of Patients Treated With "de-tension" Surgical Strategy for Multilevel Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Thoracic Spine: A Minimum 2-year Follow-Up Study of 83 Patients in a Single Center.

Retrospective cohort study. To describe the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of patients with multilevel-ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (mT-OPLL), and to identify risk factors for unfavorable outcomes. Patients who were diagnosed with mT-OPLL and underwent one-stage thoracic posterior laminectomy combined with selective OPLL resection, spinal cord de-tension, and fusion surgery between August 2012 and October 2020 were recruited. Patients' demographic-, surgical- and radiological-related parameters were collected and analyzed. Neurological status was evaluated with mJOA score, and recovery rate (RR) was calculated using the Hirabayashi formula. According to RR, patients were divided into a favorable outcome group (FOG, RR ≥50%) and an unfavorable outcome group (UOG, RR <50%). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare the difference between the 2 groups and to identify risk factors for unfavorable outcomes. A total of 83 patients were included, with an average age of 50.6 ± 8.3 years. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage (60.2%) and transient neurological deterioration (9.6%) were the most common complications. The average mJOA score improved from preoperative 4.3 ± 2.2 to 9.0 ± 2.4 at the last follow-up, and the mean RR was 74.9 ± 26.3%. Disease duration, preoperative nonambulatory status, and the number of decompressed levels were identified as potential risk factors by Univariate analysis (all P < .05). Multivariate analysis showed that the preoperative disease duration and nonambulatory status were independent risk factors for unfavorable outcomes. Long disease duration and nonambulatory status before surgery were independent risk factors for unfavorable outcomes.

Dual-energy CT in assessment of thrombus perviousness and its application in predicting outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke

PurposeTo evaluate the feasibility of using iodine overlay maps reconstructed from dual-energy CT (DECT) to assess thrombus perviousness and investigate its value in predicting outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Method86 patients with proximal intracranial occlusions of the anterior circulation who underwent intravenous thrombolysis were included in this study. Thrombus iodine concentrations (ICthrombus) and normalized iodine concentrations (NICthrombus) were compared to conventional perviousness parameters (thrombus attenuation increase, TAI; void fraction, ε and CTA-index). The associations between perviousness parameters and outcomes were analyzed by Spearman’s correlation and regression analysis. ResultsICthrombus and NICthrombus were significantly correlated with conventional perviousness parameters (P < 0.001). The median ICthrombus was 6.81 (interquartile range [IQR], 4.76–8.73) mg/ml in the favorable functional outcome group, which was higher than 3.52 (IQR, 2.08–6.86) mg/ml in the unfavorable outcome group (P = 0.001). The median NICthrombus was 0.095 (IQR, 0.068–0.116) and 0.054 (IQR, 0.031–0.083) in the favorable and unfavorable outcome groups, respectively (P < 0.001). NICthrombus predicted favorable outcome with a higher area under the curve (AUC) of 0.755 than any conventional perviousness parameter (P < 0.05). In the multivariable regression model, ICthrombus was independently associated with favorable outcome (odds ratio [OR] = 1.472, 95 % CI: 1.154–1.877, P = 0.002) and successful recanalization (OR = 1.356, 95 % CI: 1.093–1.681, P = 0.006). ICthrombus was negatively correlated with the final infarct volume (FIV) (r = −0.262, P = 0.020). Results for NICthrombus were similar. ConclusionsDECT is of great value in assessing thrombus perviousness. NICthrombus is a meaningful predictor of stroke prognosis and recanalization after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke.

Association of new sonographic features with outcome in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis.

We have recently noted some sonographic features in necrotizing enterocolitis that have receivedlittle or no attention in the current literature.These include thickening of the mesentery, hyperechogenicityof intraluminal intestinal contents, abnormalities of the abdominal wall, and poordefinition of the intestinal wall. It has been our impression that the above four sonographic findings are generally seen in neonates with more severe necrotizing enterocolitis and maybe useful in predicting outcome. The aim of this study is, firstly, to review a large series of neonates, known to have clinical NEC, to document how frequently the above four sonographic features occur in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis and, secondly, to determine whether they are predictive of outcome. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, radiographic, sonographic, and surgical findings in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis between 2018 and 2021. The neonates were categorized into two groups based on outcome. Group A included neonates with a favorable outcome defined as successful medical treatment with no surgical intervention. Group B included neonates with an unfavorable outcome defined as failed medical treatment requiring surgery (for acute complications or late strictures) or death because of necrotizing enterocolitis. The sonographic examinations were reviewed with attention to the features of mesenteric thickening, hyperechogenicity of intraluminal intestinal contents, abnormalities of the abdominal wall, and poor definition of the intestinal wall. We then determined the association of these four findings with the two groups. We included 102 neonates with clinical necrotizing enterocolitis: 45 in group A and 57 in group B. Neonates in group B were born at a significantly earlier gestational age (median 25weeks, range 22-38weeks) and had a significantly lower birth weight (median 715.5g, range 404-3120g) than those in group A (median age 32weeks, range 22-39weeks, p = 0.003; median weight 1190g, range 480-4500g, p = 0.002). The four sonographic features were present in both study groups but with different frequency. More importantly, all four were statistically significantly more frequently present in neonates in group B compared to group A: (i) mesenteric thickening, A = 31 (69%), B = 52 (91%), p = 0.007; (ii) hyperechogenicity of intestinal contents, A = 16 (36%), B = 41 (72%), p = 0.0005; (iii) abnormalities of the abdominal wall, A = 11 (24%), B = 35 (61%), p = 0.0004; and (iv) poor definition of the intestinal wall, A = 7 (16%), B = 25 (44%), p = 0.005. Furthermore, the proportion of neonates with more than two signs was greater in group B compared to group A (Z test, p < 0.0001, 95% CI = 0.22-0.61). The four new sonographic features described were found to occur statistically significantly more frequently in those neonates with an unfavorable outcome (group B) than in those with a favorable outcome (group A). The presence or absence of these signs should be included in the sonographic report to convey the radiologists concern regarding the severity of the disease in every neonate, suspected or known to have necrotizing enterocolitis, as the findings may impact further medical or surgical management.

Association of Liver Function Serum Markers and Unfavorable Outcomes in Traumatic Liver Injury Patients

OBJECTIVE To evaluate serum markers in liver function tests (LFT) at various intervals after traumatic liver injury to identify serum markers associated with unfavorable outcomes. METHODS A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted of trauma center patients older than 18 years with traumatic liver injury. Liver function test (LFT) results of patients with favorable and unfavorable outcomes were compared at different post-injury time points. Statistical significance was established as p-value less than 0.05. RESULTS Of the 206 patients with severe liver injuries in the unfavorable outcome group, 119 (57.8%) needed intervention. Aspartate amino-transferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were seen to increase in correlation with injury severity at initial admission. On days 1-5 and 6-10 after admission, the unfavorable outcome group had a slower decline in AST. In the unfavorable group, total bilirubin (TB) and direct bilirubin (DB) levels rose significantly 5 days after the injury and were higher than normal with a higher odds ratio (OR) of unfavorable outcome 11-15 days after injury in multivariable analysis [OR (95% confidence intervals): 2.7 (1.02-7.37) and 6.9 (1.08-44.14), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS Liver function tests can help identify individuals at risk for traumatic liver injury complications. Elevated levels of TB and DB are statistically significantly associated with adverse outcomes, particularly after day 5 following the injury. Early repeating LFT in first five days after injury may be less beneficial in determining patient risk. Blood test results may be affected by the amount of fluid resuscitation, particularly on the first day of admission in cases of high- grade injuries. KEYWORDS aspartate aminotransferase, liver injury, liver function test, unfavorable outcome, alanine transaminase, bilirubin

Risk factors and pathogen characteristics associated with unfavorable outcomes among adults with pneumococcal meningitis in Japan, 2006 to 2016

PurposeIn this study, we aimed to clarify the risk factors associated with unfavorable outcomes in adults with pneumococcal meningitis (PnM). MethodsSurveillance was conducted between 2006 and 2016. Adults with PnM (n = 268) were followed up for outcomes within 28 days after admission using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). After classifying the patients into the unfavorable (GOS1–4) and favorable (GOS5) outcome groups, i) the underlying diseases, ii) biomarkers at admission, and iii) serotype, genotype, and antimicrobial susceptibility for all isolates were compared between both groups. ResultsOverall, 58.6% of patients with PnM survived,15.3% died, and 26.1% had sequelae. The number of living days in the GOS1 group was highly heterogeneous. Motor dysfunction, disturbance of consciousness, and hearing loss were the commonest sequelae. Of the underlying diseases identified in 68.9% of the PnM patients, liver and kidney diseases were significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes. Of the biomarkers, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, followed by platelet and C-reactive protein had the most significant associations with unfavorable outcomes. There was a significant difference in the high protein concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid between the groups. Serotypes 23F, 6C, 4, 23A, 22F, 10A, and 12F were associated with unfavorable outcomes. These serotypes were not penicillin-resistant isolates possessing three abnormal pbp genes (pbp1a, 2x, and 2b), except for 23F. The expected coverage rate of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) was 50.7% for PCV15 and 72.4% for PCV20. ConclusionsIn the introduction of PCV for adults, the risk factors for underlying diseases should be prioritized over age, and serotypes with unfavorable outcomes should be considered.

Gender-related differences in the coagulofibrinolytic responses and long-term outcomes in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury: A 2-center retrospective study.

Coagulation function differs by gender, with women being characterized as more hypercoagulable. Even in the early stages of trauma, women have been shown to be hypercoagulable. Several studies have also examined the relationship between gender and the prognosis of trauma patients, but no certain conclusions have been reached. Patients with isolated traumatic brain injury (iTBI) are known to have coagulopathy, but no previous studies have examined the gender differences in detail. This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective registry conducted at 2 centers. The study included adult patients with iTBI enrolled from April 2018 to March 2021. Coagulofibrinolytic markers were measured in each patient at 1 hour, 24 hours, 3 days, and 7 days after injury, and neurological outcomes were assessed with the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended at 6 months. Subgroup analysis was also performed by categorizing patients into groups according to neurological prognosis or age at 50 years. Males (n = 31) and females (n = 21) were included in the analysis. In males, there was a significant difference in the levels of activated partial thromboplastin time (P = .007), fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (P = .025), D-dimer (P = .034), α2-plasmin inhibitor (P = .030), plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complex (P = .004) at 1 hour after injury between favorable and unfavorable long-term neurological outcome groups, while in females there was no significant difference in these markers between 2 groups. In the age group under 50 years, there were significant gender differences in fibrinogen (day 3: P = .018), fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (1 hour: P = .037, day 3: P = .009, day 7: P = .037), D-dimer (day 3: P = .005, day 7: P = .010), plasminogen (day 3: P = .032, day 7: P = .032), and plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complex (day 3: P = .001, day 7: P = .001), and these differences were not evident in the age group over 50 years. There were differences in coagulofibrinolytic markers depending on gender in patients with iTBI. In male patients, aggravation of coagulofibrinolytic markers immediately after traumatic brain injury may be associated with poor neurologic outcome 6 months after injury.

Systemic inflammation response index predicts 3-month outcome in patients with mild acute ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis.

A crucial aspect of stroke progression is the inflammatory response. As novel inflammatory and prognostic markers, the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) have recently been studied. The objective of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of SII and SIRI in mild acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients following intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Our study screened the clinical data of patients with mild AIS admitted to the Minhang Hospital of Fudan University for retrospective analysis. The SIRI and SII were examined by the emergency laboratory before IVT. Functional outcome was evaluated 3 months after the onset of stroke using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). mRS ≥ 2 was defined as an unfavorable outcome. The relationship between SIRI and SII and the 3-month prognosis was determined using both univariate and multivariate analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve was performed to evaluate the predictive value of SIRI for AIS prognosis. A total of 240 patients were included in this study. Both SIRI and SII were higher in the unfavorable outcome group than in the favorable outcome group [1.28 (0.70-1.88) vs. 0.79 (0.51-1.08), P < 0.001 and 531.93 (377.55-797.12) vs. 397.23 (263.32-577.65), P < 0.001]. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that SIRI was significantly associated with 3-month unfavorable outcome of mild AIS patients [odds ratio (OR) = 2.938, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.805-4.782, P < 0.001], conversely, SII had no prognostic value. When SIRI combined with the established clinical factors, the area under the curve (AUC) showed a significant improvement (0.773 vs. 0.683, P for comparison = 0.0017). Higher SIRI could be valuable in predicting poor clinical outcomes for patients with mild AIS following IVT.

Prediction of Poor Outcome after Successful Thrombectomy in Patients with Severe Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Retrospective Study

Several baseline hematologic and metabolic laboratory parameters have been linked to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) clinical outcomes in patients who successfully recanalized. However, no study has directly investigated these relationships within the severe stroke subgroup. The goal of this study is to identify potential predictive clinical, lab, and radiographic biomarkers in patients who present with severe AIS due to large vessel occlusion and have been successfully treated with mechanical thrombectomy. This single-center, retrospective study included patients who experienced AIS secondary to large vessel occlusion with an initial NIHSS score ≥ 21 and were recanalized successfully with mechanical thrombectomy. Retrospectively, demographic, clinical, and radiologic data from electronic medical records were extracted, and laboratory baseline parameters were obtained from emergency department records. The clinical outcome was defined as the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days, which was dichotomized into favorable functional outcome (mRS 0-3) or unfavorable functional outcome (mRS 4-6). Multivariate logistic regression was used to build predictive models. A total of 53 patients were included. There were 26 patients in the favorable outcome group and 27 in the unfavorable outcome group. Age and platelet count (PC) were found to be predictors of unfavorable outcomes in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of models 1 (age only model), 2 (PC only model), and 3 (age and PC model) were 0.71, 0.68, and 0.79, respectively. This is the first study to reveal that elevated PC is an independent predictor of unfavorable outcomes in this specialized group.

Cerebral pressure autoregulation and optimal cerebral perfusion pressure during neurocritical care of children with traumatic brain injury.

The management of cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is a challenge in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) because the normal blood pressure is age dependent and the role of cerebral pressure autoregulation (CPA) is unclear. In this study, the authors aimed to examine the pressure reactivity index (PRx), CPP, optimal CPP (CPPopt), and deviations from CPPopt (ΔCPPopt) in a series of children with TBI generally and regarding age relations, temporal changes, and the influence on outcome. Intracranial pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) monitoring data were collected during neurointensive care in 57 children who sustained a TBI and were ≤ 17 years of age. CPP, PRx, CPPopt, and ΔCPPopt (actual CPP - CPPopt) were calculated. Clinical outcomes at 6 months postinjury were dichotomized into favorable outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS] score 4 or 5) and unfavorable outcomes (GOS scores 1-3). The median patient age was 15 (range 0.5-17) years, and the median Glasgow Coma Scale motor score at admission was 5 (range 2-5). Forty-nine (86%) of the 57 patients had favorable outcomes. For the entire group, lower PRx (better preserved CPA) was associated with a more favorable outcome (p = 0.023, ANCOVA adjusted for age). When the children were divided into age groups, this finding was statistically significant in children ≤ 15 years of age (p = 0.016), but not in children ≥ 16 years (p = 0.528). In children ≤ 15 years, a lower proportion of time with ΔCPPopt < -10% was significantly associated with a favorable outcome (p = 0.038), but not in the older age group. Temporal analysis indicated that PRx was higher (more impaired CPA) from day 4 and CPPopt was higher from day 6 in the unfavorable outcome group compared with the favorable outcome group, although those findings were not significant. Impaired CPA is related to poor outcome, particularly in children ≤ 15 years of age. In that age group, actual CPP below the CPPopt level contributed significantly to unfavorable outcome, while levels close to or above the CPPopt were unrelated to outcome. CPPopt appears to be higher during the time period when CPA is most impaired.

Prediction of Functional Outcome in Stroke Patients with Proximal Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusions Using Machine Learning Models.

At present, clinicians are expected to manage a large volume of complex clinical, laboratory, and imaging data, necessitating sophisticated analytic approaches. Machine learning-based models can use this vast amount of data to create forecasting models. We aimed to predict short- and medium-term functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions using machine learning models with clinical, laboratory, and quantitative imaging data as inputs. Included were consecutive AIS patients with MCA M1 and proximal M2 occlusions. The XGBoost, LightGBM, CatBoost, and Random Forest were used to predict the outcome. Minimum redundancy maximum relevancy was used for selecting features. The primary outcomes were the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) shift and the modified Rankin Score (mRS) at 90 days. The algorithm with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for predicting the favorable and unfavorable outcome groups at 90 days was LightGBM. Random Forest had the highest AUROC when predicting the favorable and unfavorable groups based on the NIHSS shift. Using clinical, laboratory, and imaging parameters in conjunction with machine learning, we accurately predicted the functional outcome of AIS patients with proximal MCA occlusions.

Endovascular treatment over 24hours after ischemic stroke onset: a single-center retrospective study.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke caused by large-vessel obstruction or stenosis (AIS-LVO/S) over 24h after first AIS symptom recognition (FAISSR). A total of 33 AIS-LVO/S cases with EVT over 24h after FAISSR during the period from January 2019 to February 2022 in our hospital were divided into the 90d mRS ≤ 2 group [favorable outcome (FO) group] and 90d mRS > 2 group [unfavorable outcome (UFO) group] and retrospectively analyzed. The reperfusion was successfully established with EVT in 97% (32/33) of cases, and most (63.6%, 21/33) had 90d mRS ≤ 2 and only 36.4% (12/33) had 90d mRS > 2. Preoperative DWI-ASPECT and ASITN/SIR scores were significantly higher and NIHSS scores were significantly lower in the FO group than those in the UFO group (P < 0.05). In addition, the FAISSR to exacerbation time, FAISSR to groin puncture time, and FAISSR to reperfusion time were significantly longer, and the groin puncture to reperfusion time was significantly shorter in the FO group than those in the UFO group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the stroke exacerbation to groin puncture time (P > 0.05). The patients with cerebral infarction due to artery dissection had more favorable EVT outcomes, but the patients with posterior cerebral circulation infarction had very poor EVT outcomes. The FAISSR to groin puncture time over 24h may not be a taboo for EVT and it may be safe and effective for AIS-LVO/S in anterior cerebral circulation, especially with lower preoperative NIHSS scores.

Time-Frequency Analysis of Somatosensory Evoked High-Frequency (600 Hz) Oscillations as an Early Indicator of Arousal Recovery after Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury.

Cardiac arrest (CA) remains the leading cause of coma, and early arousal recovery indicators are needed to allocate critical care resources properly. High-frequency oscillations (HFOs) of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) have been shown to indicate responsive wakefulness days following CA. Nonetheless, their potential in the acute recovery phase, where the injury is reversible, has not been tested. We hypothesize that time-frequency (TF) analysis of HFOs can determine arousal recovery in the acute recovery phase. To test our hypothesis, eleven adult male Wistar rats were subjected to asphyxial CA (five with 3-min mild and six with 7-min moderate to severe CA) and SSEPs were recorded for 60 min post-resuscitation. Arousal level was quantified by the neurological deficit scale (NDS) at 4 h. Our results demonstrated that continuous wavelet transform (CWT) of SSEPs localizes HFOs in the TF domain under baseline conditions. The energy dispersed immediately after injury and gradually recovered. We proposed a novel TF-domain measure of HFO: the total power in the normal time-frequency space (NTFS) of HFO. We found that the NTFS power significantly separated the favorable and unfavorable outcome groups. We conclude that the NTFS power of HFOs provides earlier and objective determination of arousal recovery after CA.

491: IMPORTANCE OF NEUROMONITORING FOR NONPRIMARY NEUROLOGIC CRITICAL PATIENTS

Introduction: Several non-primary neurological conditions may lead to brain blood circulation impairment, as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) per example. Impairment of cerebrovascular autoregulation mechanisms also may lead to intracranial pressure (ICP) elevation and intracranial compliance (ICC) reduction. As COVID-19 severe disease is mostly characterized by ARDS, the present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of cerebrovascular and ICC disorders in these patients. Methods: 50 consecutive artificially ventilated (AV) patients due to COVID-19 had cerebral hemodynamics (CH) assessed using transcranial Doppler (TCD), whereas intracranial compliance (ICC) was assessed using an elastance sensor. Subjects were included upon ICU admission. Prevalence of ICC and CH disturbances were calculated either to the satisfactory outcome group as 1) patients progressing to spontaneous breathing (SB), or unfavorable outcome (UO) groups as 2) unsuccessful AV weaning or 3) death within 7 days after last cerebrovascular and ICC assessments. Results: After this cohort, 17 (34%) patients reached SB successfully, whereas of the 33 (66%) patients that belonged to the UO group, 24 (48%) died during the study period. ICC impairment (p=0.03) and TCD estimated ICP (p=0.01) were significantly higher among patients with UO, with a synergism for the combination between CH and ICC disorders to predict UO (p< 0.001, with area under the curve 0.86). Mortality after the end of the study was 60% and mean length of hospitalization 31 days (11-57). Conclusions: In the present study, intracranial compliance and brain circulatory disturbances were prevalent among patients with a non-primary neurological disease. These complications seem to have impact on outcomes and alert physicians to perform neurological multimodal monitoring besides taking care of the systemic conditions of the severely ill patient.

Increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with unfavorable functional outcomes in acute pontine infarction

BackgroundThe neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is positively associated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with cerebral infarction. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the NLR and the short-term clinical outcome of acute pontine infarction.MethodsPatients with acute pontine infarction were consecutively included. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. All patients were followed up at 3 months using modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. An unfavorable outcome was defined as an mRS score ≥ 3. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to calculate the optimal cutoff values for patients with acute pontine infarction. risk factors can be predictive factors for an unfavorable outcome after acute pontine infarction.ResultsTwo hundred fifty-six patients with acute pontine infarction were included in this study. The NLR was significantly higher in the unfavorable outcome group than in the favorable outcome group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the infarct size was significantly higher in the high NLR tertile group than in the low NLR tertile group (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, NLR, platelet count, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) level were significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes 3 months after acute pontine infarction. The optimal cutoff value of the NLR for predicting the 3-month outcome of acute pontine infarction was 3.055. The negative and positive predictive values of NLR were 85.7% and 61.3%, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity of NLR were 69.2% and 80.9%.ConclusionsWe found that the NLR may be an independent predictive factor for the outcome of acute pontine infarction.

Epidemiology, Outcomes and Tolerability of Protracted Treatment of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections at a Community Teaching Hospital in the Southeastern United States.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections present a treatment challenge for clinicians and patients. There are limited data about current susceptibility patterns and treatment outcomes in U.S. adults. This was a 10-year, single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study of adults with a positive NTM culture and clinical suspicion of infection between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2020. The primary objective was to identify predictors for favorable treatment outcomes. Key secondary objectives were characterization of NTM epidemiology, susceptibility profiles, and safety and tolerability of treatment, including the proportion of subjects with an antimicrobial change and the reasons for the change. Of 250 subjects diagnosed with NTM infection, the most prevalent NTM isolates were Mycobacterium avium intracellulare complex (66.8%) followed by Mycobacterium abscessus (17.6%). Antimicrobial susceptibility data were available for 52.4% of the cohort (45.8% slow growers; 54.2% rapid growers). Only 88 (35%) subjects received treatment with evaluable clinical outcomes. The proportion of subjects with a favorable outcome was 61.4%. More subjects in the unfavorable outcome group experienced a change in antimicrobial therapy (73.5% vs. 51.9%, p = 0.043). The most common reason for antimicrobial change was adverse drug events (n = 36, 67.9%). In the regression model, private insurance was associated with a favorable outcome, whereas having multiple antimicrobial changes was associated with an unfavorable outcome. The complexity of NTM treatment and high incidence of medication-related issues suggest the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration to improve overall treatment outcomes in NTM infections.

Increase in Trigeminal Nerve Cross-Sectional Area on Immediate Postoperative MRI Predicts Favorable Outcome After Microvascular Decompression for Classical Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Although distortion or indentation of a trigeminal nerve due to neurovascular compression (NVC) is associated with classical trigeminal neuralgia, whether morphological change in the trigeminal nerve is relieved by eliminating NVC has not been studied. To estimate morphological change in the trigeminal nerve after microvascular decompression (MVD). Fifty patients with classical trigeminal neuralgia who underwent MVD were included. Using coronal images in both preoperative and postoperative MRI, the trigeminal nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured at 4 mm anterior to the nerve entry into the pons. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Intensity Scale (BNI-PS) at the patient's latest follow-up. Forty-one patients achieved favorable outcomes without medication (BNI-PS I or II), and 9 patients had residual pain (BNI-PS ≥ 3A). The mean symptomatic trigeminal nerve CSA was increased by 51.47% after MVD in the favorable outcome group (preoperative: 4.37 ± 1.64 mm 2 vs postoperative: 6.26 ± 1.76 mm 2 , P < .01), whereas it was not significantly changed in the unfavorable outcome group (preoperative: 4.20 ± 1.19 mm 2 vs postoperative: 4.43 ± 1.24 mm 2 , P = .69). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the 3-year probability of maintaining a favorable outcome was 92.3 ± 7.4% and 56.1 ± 11.9%, for those whose symptomatic trigeminal nerve CSA was increased by over 20% and less than 20%, respectively ( P < .01). Morphological changes in the trigeminal nerve due to NVC could be recovered by MVD, and increases in the trigeminal nerve CSA predicted favorable outcomes.

Quantitative collateral score for the prediction of clinical outcomes in stroke patients: Better than visual grading.

To identify preoperative prognostic factors for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients receiving mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and compare the performance of quantitative collateral score (qCS) and visual collateral score (vCS) in outcome prediction. Fifty-five patients with AIS receiving MT were retrospectively enrolled. qCS was defined as the percentage of the volume of collaterals of both hemispheres. Based on the dichotomous outcome assessed using a 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS), we compared qCS, vCS, age, sex, National Institute of Health stroke scale score, etiological subtype, platelet count, international normalized ratio, glucose levels, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels between favorable and unfavorable outcome groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effect on the clinical outcome. The discriminatory power of qCS, vCS, and their combination with cofounders for determining favorable outcomes was tested with the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC). vCS, qCS, LDL-C, and age could all predict clinical outcomes. qCS is superior over vCS in predicting favorable outcomes with a relatively higher AUC value (qCS vs. vCS: 0.81 vs. 0.74) and a higher sensitivity rate (qCS vs. vCS: 72.7% vs. 40.9%). The prediction power of qCS + LDL-C + age was best with an AUC value of 0.91, but the accuracy was just increased slightly compared to that of qCS alone. Collateral scores, LDL-C and age were independent prognostic predictors for patients with AIS receiving MT; qCS was a better predictor than vCS. Furthermore, qCS + LDL-C + age offers a strong prognostic prediction power and qCS alone was another good choice for predicting clinical outcome.