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Background: Episodic non-ketotic hyperglycaemia in patients with diabetes may be responsible for a syndrome characterised by hemichorea-hemiballism associated with unique radiological features. Objective: To investigate whether factors other than hyperglycaemia may be responsible for the neurological involvement. Methods: Three patients who developed a persistent choreaballism syndrome triggered by a hyperglycaemic crisis were investigated. In these patients, the persistence of the involuntary movements required neuroleptic medication. Results: Ti weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral hyperintense lesions involving the striatum. Surprisingly, in these patients, the laboratory investigations revealed peripheral red blood cell acanthocytosis in a significant proportion of cells. Conclusion: Compared with the large population of patients with diabetes who do not show abnormal involuntary movements, unrecognised acanthocytosis in diabetes might render patients prone to develop hemichorea-hemiballism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. It is uncertain whether Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with ischemic syndromes and whether this association is mediated by the induction of atherosclerosis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that atherosclerotic stroke shows a selective association with virulent H. pylori strains. Methods and Results. The seroprevalence of infection by H. pylori and by strains bearing the cytotoxin-associated gene-A (CagA), a strong virulence factor, was assessed by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay in 138 patients with large vessel stroke (group A), 61 with cardioembolic stroke (group B), and in 151 healthy controls. The three groups had a similar socioeconomic status. Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were also measured by enzyme immunoassay. The prevalence of infection was 71% in group A, 63.9% in group B, and 70.2% in controls (P = NS), whereas the prevalence of Cag-A positive strains was higher in group A than in group B patients (42.8% vs 19.7%; odds ratio [OR]: 3.04, 95% confidence intervals [CI6.49; P < 0.001) and controls (42.8% vs 17.9%; OR: 4.3, 95% CI, 2.12 to 8.64; P < 0.001), after adjusting for main cardiovascular risk factors and social class. A trend toward a difference in CRP (mg/dl, mean ± SD) was observed among patients with stroke, between CagA positive (2.00 ± 3.43) and CagA negative ones (1.31±1.72), (P = 0.072, Mann-Whitney U test). Conclusions. The association between H. pylori and acute cerebrovascular disease seems to be due to a higher prevalence of more virulent H. pylori strains in patients with atherosclerotic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 30% of patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion have pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores ≥2. We aimed to investigate the safety and outcomes of endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with AIS with moderate pre-stroke disability (mRS score 3) in an extended time frame (ie, 6-24 hours from the last time known well)., Methods: Data were collected from five centers in Europe and the USA from January 2018 to January 2023 and included 180 patients who underwent EVT in an extended time frame. Patients were divided into two groups of 90 each (Group 1: pre-mRS 0-2; Group 2: pre-mRS 3; 71% women, mean age 80.3±11.9 years). Primary outcomes were: (1) 3-month good clinical outcome (Group 1: mRS 0-2, Group 2: mRS 0-3) and ΔmRS; (2) any hemorrhagic transformation (HT); and (3) symptomatic HT. Secondary outcomes were successful and complete recanalization after EVT and 3-month mortality., Results: No between-group differences were found in the 3-month good clinical outcome (26.6% vs 25.5%, P=0.974), any HT (26.6% vs 22%, P=0.733), and symptomatic HT (8.9 vs 4.4%, P=0.232). Unexpectedly, ΔmRS was significantly smaller in Group 2 compared with Group 1 (1.64±1.61 vs 2.97±1.69, P<0.001). No between-group differences were found in secondary outcomes., Conclusion: Patients with pre-stroke mRS 3 are likely to have similar outcomes after EVT in the extended time frame to those with pre-stroke mRS 0-2, with no difference in safety., Competing Interests: Competing interests: T.N. Nguyen discloses advisory board for Brainomix, Aruna Bio; Associate Editor of Stroke. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interests., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background and Purpose: To report clinical and procedural outcomes of acute ischemic stroke patients after endovascular treatment with the new thromboaspiration catheter AXS Catalyst 6., Methods: Patients with anterior and posterior circulation stroke were selected. Successful reperfusion defined as a Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score ≥2 b and 3-month functional independence defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤2 were the main efficacy outcomes. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality were the main safety outcomes., Results: 107 patients were suitable for analysis. Mean age was 73.18±12.62 year and median baseline NIHSS was 17 (range: 3-32). The most frequent site of occlusion was the middle cerebral artery (MCA) (60.7%). 76.6% of patients were treated with AXS Catalyst 6 alone without the need for rescue devices or thromboaspiration catheters. Successful reperfusion was achieved in 84.1%, functional independence in 47.6%, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 3.7%, and mortality in 21.4%., Conclusions: Endovascular treatment with AXS Catalyst 6 proved to be safe, technically feasible, and effective. Comparison analyses with other devices for mechanical thrombectomy are needed., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Background: Few data exist on malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MMI) among patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) after endovascular treatment (ET). Numerous predictors of MMI evolution have been proposed, but a comprehensive research of patients undergoing ET has never been performed. Our purpose was to find a practical model to determine robust predictors of MMI in patients undergoing ET., Methods: Patients from a prospective single-center database with AIS secondary to large intracranial vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation, treated with ET, were retrospectively analyzed. We investigated demographic, clinical, and radiological data. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify clinical and imaging predictors of MMI., Results: 98 patients were included in the analysis, 35 of whom developed MMI (35.7%). No differences in the rate of successful reperfusion and time from stroke onset to reperfusion were found between the MMI and non-MMI groups. The following parameters were identified as independent predictors of MMI: systolic blood pressure (SBP) on admission (p=0.008), blood glucose (BG) on admission (p=0.024), and the CTangiography (CTA) Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) (p=0.001). A scoreof ≤5 in CTA ASPECTS was the best cut-off to predict MMI evolution (sensitivity 46%; specificity 97%; positive predictive value 78%; negative predictive value 65%)., Conclusions: in our study a clinical and radiological features-based model was strongly predictive of MMI evolution in AIS. High SBP and BG on admission and, especially, a CTA ASPECTS ≤5 may help to make decisions quickly, regardless of time to treatment and successful reperfusion., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Background: Collateral flow (CF) is an effective predictor of outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with potential to sustain the ischemic penumbra. However, the clinical prognostic value of CF in patients with AIS undergoing mechanical thrombectomy has not been clearly established. We evaluated the relationship of CF with clinical outcomes in patients with large artery anterior circulation AIS treated with mechanical thrombectomy., Methods: Baseline collaterals of patients with AIS (n=135) undergoing mechanical thrombectomy were independently evaluated by CT angiography (CTA) and conventional angiography and dichotomized into poor and good CF. Multivariable analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive effect of CF on outcome and the effect of time to reperfusion on outcome based on adequacy of the collaterals., Results: Evaluation of CF was consistent by both CTA and conventional angiography (p<0.0001). A higher rate of patients with good collaterals had good functional outcome at 3-month follow-up compared with those with poor collaterals (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2: 60% vs 10%, p=0.0001). Patients with poor collaterals had a significantly higher mortality rate (mRS 6: 45% vs 8%, p=0.0001). Multivariable analyses showed that CF was the strongest predictor of outcome. Time to reperfusion had a clear effect on favorable outcome (mRS ≤2) in patients with good collaterals; in patients with poor collaterals this effect was only seen when mRS ≤3 was considered an acceptable outcome., Conclusions: CTA is a valid tool for assessing the ability of CF to predict clinical outcome in patients with AIS treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Limiting time to reperfusion is of definite value in patients with good collaterals and also to some extent in those with poor collaterals., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)