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Nawaf J Shatnawi,1 Nabil A Al-Zoubi,1 Hassan M Hawamdeh,2 Yousef S Khader,3 Khaled Garaibeh,4 Hussein A Heis1 1Department of Surgery, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Basic Medical Science, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Community Medicine, Public Health and Family Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the risk factors of major lower extremity amputations in type 2 diabetic patients referred for hospital care with diabetic foot syndrome. Patients and methods: This retrospective study involved 225 type 2 diabetic patients referred for management of diabetic foot syndrome at King Abdullah University Hospital in the period between January 2014 and December 2015. A structured customized diabetic foot data collection form with diabetic foot characteristics chart was used for documentation of relevant information, which checks for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, duration of diabetes, diabetic control therapy, associated hypertension, cardiac diseases, stroke, chronic renal impairment, renal replacement therapy (hem-dialysis), and history of diabetes-related complication in both feet prior to the study period. The predictors for major lower limb amputations were compared between groups using chi-square test, and binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with major amputation. Results: Twenty-seven limbs underwent major amputations with an overall rate of major amputation of 11.6%. The following predictors were found to be associated with the higher incidence of major lower limb amputations: duration of diabetes ≥15 years, HbA1c ≥8%, patients on insulin, with hypertension, cardiac diseases, chronic renal impairment, stroke, having gangrene, higher number of components, higher Wagner classification, and ischemia. However, the rate did not differ significantly between men and women. Conclusion: Presentation with gangrenous tissue and poor glycemic control are the important risks and significant predictive factors for type 2 diabetes-related major lower limb amputations. Keywords: diabetes mellitus, amputations, diabetic foot complication, gangrene

A Power line communication (PLC) system suitable for power meter reading is presented. A PLC transmitter, receiver and interfacing circuit are designed, fabricated and tested. Experimental results of digital data transferred over 220V/50 Hz power lines are presented. The carrier frequency used in this work is 140 kHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) at the output of a nonlinear amplifier is defined through the decomposition of the nonlinear output into correlated output and uncorrelated distortion. The analysis is based on the orthogonalisation of the nonlinear behavioual model that allows the accurate estimation of the effective in-band (or co-channel) distortion and hence determination of SNDR. Fundamental issues regarding the evaluation of the effective in-band distortion and its effect on digitally modulated signals are discussed. Simulations of in-band distortion and SNDR of WCDMA signals are verified experimentally using feed-forward cancelation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topic: Hemodialysis. Background: Sevelamer is an orally administered ion-exchange resin used in the treatment of hyperphosphatemia associated with advanced and end stage kidney disease. The use of sevelamer has been associated with multiple side effects, most of which are gastrointestinal. We herein report a case of colonic ischemia in the setting of use of sevelamer with identification of sevelamer crystals on biopsy. Methods: A 74 year old woman with end stage renal disease due to diabetic nephropathy maintained on in-center hemodialysis for a year prior to presentation was evaluated in the emergency department (ED) for abdominal pain and nausea. Notable in her past medical history are coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and hypertension. On presentation, she reported no bowel movement for three days. In the ED, she had a bowel movement without medical intervention; however, it was noted to be bloody. At that time, her hemoglobin was 8.6 g/dl, WBC 24.8*109/l, potassium 4.7 mmol/l, creatinine 8.5 mg/dl, calcium 9 mg/dl, and phosphorus 3.5 mg/dl. A urinalysis was normal. Her medications consisted of warfarin, insulin, multivitamin, pantoprazole, and sevelamer carbonate. A CT scan of her abdomen showed circumferential rectal wall thickening with adjacent fat stranding. She subsequently underwent sigmoidoscopy that showed severe ischemic- appearing changes with circumferential ulcerations in the mid and distal rectum. Biopsy of the rectal mucosa showed ulceration and deposits of sevelamer crystals. Further testing of stool revealed evidence of clostridium difficile infection for which she was treated with oral vancomycin. Her sevelamer was discontinued. On follow up two months later, her symptoms had resolved and her bowel movements were regular. Conclusions: Sevelamer was introduced in year 2000 and since has become a common phosphate binder used in advanced and end stage renal disease. Side effects reported with sevelamer include gastrointestinal effects (such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and constipation) which happen in close to a third of patients. The association of sevelamer with intestinal histologic abnormalities has been rarely described in the literature. The changes range from chronic mucosal damage to ischemia (as in our patient), and even necrosis. Sevelamer crystals are broad, curved, and irregularly spaced with an eosinophilic to brown discoloration on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Although it is not yet known whether sevelamer crystals play a causal role in the intestinal ischemia, it is important to raise awareness of this association to allow for better characterization and further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies suggest that the use of adjunctive intraarterial alteplase after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) may improve outcomes; however, there are limited data on the use of intraarterial tenecteplase, a newer-generation lytic, in this acute ischemic stroke patient population. Here, we evaluate the use of intraarterial tenecteplase in the ALLY pilot study (Adjunctive Intraarterial Tenecteplase Following Mechanical Thrombectomy)., Methods: ALLY was a prospective, single-center, nonrandomized pilot study assessing the feasibility and safety of intraarterial tenecteplase up to 4.5 mg in acute ischemic stroke-large vessel occlusion MT patients with incomplete recanalization. The primary safety end point was any intracranial hemorrhage and neurological worsening by ≥4 points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale within 24 hours of treatment with intraarterial tenecteplase. A post hoc analysis was performed with a control cohort of MT patients (ALLY MT) not receiving intraarterial tenecteplase., Results: From April 2022 to July 2023, 218 MTs were performed at ProMedica Hospital (Toledo, OH), of which 20 patients were enrolled in ALLY. The mean age was 66.1±13.8 years, with 35% women. Median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Scores were 13 (interquartile range, 9-18.8) and 10 (interquartile range, 9-10), respectively. IV thrombolysis was administered in 55%. Most patients presented with middle cerebral artery occlusion (90%). Post-MT modified Treatment in Cerebral Ischemia grade was 2b and 2c in 11 and 9 patients, respectively. Final modified Treatment in Cerebral Ischemia 2b, 2c, and 3 was achieved in 55% (11/20), 35% (7/20), and 10% (2/20), respectively. Any intracranial hemorrhage was observed in 11 patients; however, only 1 patient had symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. A favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2) at 90 days was achieved in 50%. No difference in intracranial hemorrhage rates was observed between the ALLY and ALLY MT cohorts., Conclusions: The use of adjunctive intraarterial tenecteplase up to 4.5 mg in patients with acute ischemic stroke with incomplete reperfusion post-MT is feasible and was not associated with increased rates of hemorrhage. Larger, randomized studies are needed to assess the safety and efficacy of intraarterial tenecteplase in this population., Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05172934., Competing Interests: Dr Zaidi reports research grant support from Genentech. Dr Jumaa reports research grant support from Medtronic and is a consultant for Microvention and Ocudyne. Dr Castonguay is an employee of Medtronic (work not affiliated with her employer). Dr Zaidat is a consultant and speaker for Medtronic, Stryker Neurovascular, Penumbra, and J&J and reports research grant support from Stryker, Genentech, and Medtronic Neurovascular (modest); honoraria from Codman, Stryker, Penumbra, and Medtronic Neurovascular (modest); is an expert witness (modest); and is a consultant/advisory board member at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) StrokeNet, Penumbra, Medtronic Neurovascular, Codman, and Stryker (modest). Dr Sheth reports compensation from Imperative Care, Inc for consultant services; compensation from Viz.ai for consultant services; compensation from Motif Neurosciences for other services; compensation from Penumbra, Inc for consultant services; grants from the National Institutes of Health; and employment by UTHealth McGovern Medical School. Dr Haussen reports compensation from Vesalio for consultant services; compensation from Cerenovus for consultant services; compensation from Poseydon Medical for consultant services; compensation from the Jacobs Institute for data and safety monitoring services; compensation from Chiesi USA, Inc for consultant services; compensation from Brainomix for consultant services; compensation from Stryker for consultant services; and stock options in Viz.ai. Dr Nguyen is Associate Editor of Stroke and an advisory board member for Aruna Bio and Brainomix. The other authors report no conflicts.

Background: We aimed to investigate whether rescue stenting (RS) following failed mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute basilar artery occlusion results in superior functional outcomes and enhanced safety compared with the natural history of failed MT., Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke Evaluation: Analyzing Radiographic and Intra-Procedural Predictors for Mechanical Thrombectomy registry, encompassing 8 high-volume centers in the United States and covering the period from 2015 to 2021. Patients with basilar artery occlusion who experienced failed MT (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 0-2a after at least 1 attempt of clot retrieval) were categorized based on whether they received additional intervention with RS. The primary outcome was a shift analysis of the 90-day modified Rankin Scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess both efficacy and safety outcomes., Results: Of a total of 444 patients, 119 presented failed MT and were included in the analysis. The RS group comprised 65 (14.6%) patients, while the control group consisted of 54 (12.2%) patients. After adjusting, the RS group showed a favorable shift in the overall 90-day modified Rankin Scale distribution (adjusted common odds ratio, 4.56 [95% CI, 1.67-12.45]; P =0.003) and higher rates of 90-day 0 to 3 modified Rankin Scale score (RS: 44.6% versus control: 18.5%; adjusted odds ratio, 7.57 [95% CI, 1.91-30.12]; P =0.004) compared with the control group. RS also showed lower rates of 90-day mortality (RS: 43.1% versus control: 64.8%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.09-0.80]; P =0.018) and comparable rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (RS: 3.1% versus control: 13%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.05-1.95]; P =0.214)., Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that RS is associated with improved functional outcomes and reduced mortality in basilar artery occlusion patients presenting MT failure. Further randomized trials are needed to validate these findings., Competing Interests: Dr Ortega-Gutierrez reports grants from National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS; R01NS127114-01 and R03NS126804), Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Stryker, Medtronics, Microvention, Methinks, IschemiaView, Viz.ai, and Siemens; consultant: Medtronic and Stryker Neurovascular. Dr Al Kasab reports compensation from Stryker for other services. Dr Toth reports compensation from Elton B. Stephens Company, Kaneka Pharma America LLC, and Penumbra Inc for consultant services and compensation from Medtronic USA Inc for other services. Dr Jadhav reports employment by Barrow Brain and Spine; a patent issued for novel stent retriever device licensed to Basking Biosciences; compensation from Basking Biosciences for consultant services; and stock options in Gravity Medical Technology. Dr Nguyen reports advisory board for Brainomix, Aruna Bio; and is an Associated Editor of Stroke. Dr Pandey reports grants from Medtronic; a patent issued for Histotripsy technology for treatment of brain disorders licensed to Histosonics; and grants from NINDS. Dr Zaidi reports grants from Genentech USA, Inc. Dr Jumaa reports grants from Medtronic to other services. The other authors report no conflicts.

Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for medium vessel occlusions (MeVO) is emerging as a promising treatment in acute stroke. We aim to evaluate the utility of additional imaging (CTP) in patients with MeVOs who received thrombolysis at a spoke hospital and were transferred to the hub., Methods: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from April 2018 to June 2023. Patients were transferred to one of the following destinations: CT scanner for a perfusion scan, directly to the angiography suite, or admitted to the neurological intensive care unit (NICU). We compared baseline characteristics, MT times, radiographic and clinical outcomes between the group that was initially transferred to CTP vs. the group that was not initially transferred to CTP., Results: Seventy-eight MeVO patients who received IV thrombolysis and were transferred to our comprehensive stroke center were included in the analysis. Forty patients went directly to CTP, thirty went directly to the angiography suite (DTA), and eight were transferred to the NICU. 67.5% of patients presenting to CTP did not subsequently go to the angiography suite. The CTP and non-CTP groups did not differ significantly in terms of demographics, rates of successful recanalization, complications, and clinical outcomes at 90 days. The CTP group had significantly longer median door-to-groin times and median door-to-recanalization times., Conclusion: Mechanical thrombectomy should be considered in stroke patients with confirmed medium vessel occlusions who receive thrombolysis. CTP utilization may lead to lower angiography utilization and longer door-to-procedure times but does not significantly affect long-term outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: Significant debate exists on the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and childhood asthma. We aimed to explore this association in a cohort of children in Palestine while estimating the prevalence of H. pylori in this population., Methods: We conducted a prospective case-control study among children aged 6-15 years in Palestine, including 44 asthma cases diagnosed by pediatric pulmonologists and 99 age-matched healthy controls recruited through cluster sampling from schools. H. pylori status was determined using a stool antigen test. Asthma severity was assessed using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Data on recent antibiotic use, which could affect H. pylori status, were collected for both groups. Multiple logistic regression analyzed the association between H. pylori and asthma, adjusting for age and sex. The chi-square test assessed the impact of antibiotic use on H. pylori status., Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in the study population was 45%. Children with asthma had a lower prevalence of H. pylori infection compared to healthy controls (32% vs. 51%, adjusted odds ratios, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.99; p =0.04). Antibiotic use in the past month or year did not significantly impact H. pylori status. Among children with asthma, H. pylori infection rates did not vary by asthma severity ( p =0.05)., Conclusion: H. pylori infection is associated with a reduced risk of asthma in children, suggesting a potential protective role. Further prospective cohort studies are warranted to clarify the mechanisms underlying this association., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors have no financial conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2025 by The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.)

Objectives: Patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) may present with early intracerebral hemorrhage (EICH). The objective of this study was to identify predictors for EICH in CVT patients via a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes associated with the presence of EICH in these patients., Methods: Literature search on PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases from inception up to 1 February 2024 was conducted. Five studies with predictors of EICH were included in qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis., Results: Pooled analysis demonstrated a statistically significant association between female gender and EICH (odd ratios (OR) = 1.51, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.23-1.85, p < 0.01). The ICH patients had higher likelihood of seizures (OR = 3.07, 95 % CI = 1.69-5.58, p < 0.01), focal neurological deficits (OR = 4.07, 95 % CI = 2.57-6.44, p < 0.01), and decreased level of consciousness (OR = 3.89, 95 % CI = 2.53-5.87, p < 0.01). Superior Sagittal Sinus thrombosis was associated with higher likelihood of EICH (OR: 1.49, 95 % CI 1.05-2.13, P = 0.03). No statistically significant association was demonstrated between presence of EICH and pregnancy, presence of hematological diseases or thrombophilia, or other site of venous thrombosis (deep venous system, or multiple sinuses involvement). Furthermore, patients who exhibited early EICH were notably less likely to attain a favorable functional outcome (mRS 0-2) (OR: 0.28; 95 % CI 0.16-0.49; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates that among CVT patients, female patients with new onset seizures, focal neurological deficits and decreased level of consciousness are more likely to present with EICH., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) large vessel occlusion (LVO) is responsible for up to 30% of LVO. In this study, we aimed to determine the likelihood of favorable functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 0-3) in acute ICAD-LVO basilar occlusion compared with embolic basilar occlusion., Methods: This is an analysis of the Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke Evaluation: Analyzing Radiographic and Intraprocedural Predictors for Mechanical Thrombectomy Registry in which patients with acute basilar artery occlusions from 8 comprehensive stroke centers were included from 2015 to 2021. Patients were dichotomized into with (ICAD-LVO) or without underlying ICAD (embolic). Descriptive statistics for each group and multivariate logistic analysis were performed on the primary outcome., Results: Three hundred forty-six patients were included. There were 215 patients with embolic (62%) and 131 patients with ICAD-LVO (38%). Baseline demographics were equivalent between the 2 groups except for sex (male 47% vs 67%; P < .001), history of stroke (12% vs 25%; P = .002), and atrial fibrillation (31% vs 17%; P = .003). At 90 days, patients in the ICAD-LVO cohort were less likely to achieve favorable functional outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 0.41, 95% CI 0.22-0.72; P = .003) after adjusting for potentially confounding factors. In addition, ICAD-LVO strokes were less likely to achieve thrombolysis in cerebral infarction ≥2b (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.14-0.57; P < .001). ICAD-LVO lesions were more likely to require stent placement (OR 14.94, 95% CI 4.91-45.49; P < .001). Subgroup analysis demonstrated favorable functional outcomes in patients who underwent stenting and angioplasty compared with failed recanalization cohort (OR 4.96, 95% CI 1.68-14.64; P < .004)., Conclusion: Patients with acute basilar ICAD-LVO have higher morbidity and mortality compared with patients with embolic source. Lower rates of successful recanalization in the ICAD-LVO cohort support this finding. Our subgroup analysis demonstrates that stenting should be considered in patients with recanalization failure. Rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were similar between the ICAD-LVO and embolic cohorts., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2024. All rights reserved.)

Multiple prognostic scores have been developed to predict morbidity and mortality in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(sICH). Since the advent of machine learning(ML), different ML models have also been developed for sICH prognostication. There is however a need to verify the validity of these ML models in diverse patient populations. We aim to create machine learning models for prognostication purposes in the Qatari population. By incorporating inpatient variables into model development, we aim to leverage more information. 1501 consecutive patients with acute sICH admitted to Hamad General Hospital(HGH) between 2013 and 2023 were included. We trained, evaluated, and compared several ML models to predict 90-day mortality and functional outcomes. For our dataset, we randomly selected 80% patients for model training and 20% for validation and used k-fold cross validation to train our models. The ML workflow included imbalanced class correction and dimensionality reduction in order to evaluate the effect of each. Evaluation metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, F-1 score were calculated for each prognostic model. Mean age was 50.8(SD 13.1) years and 1257(83.7%) were male. Median ICH volume was 7.5 ml(IQR 12.6). 222(14.8%) died while 897(59.7%) achieved good functional outcome at 90 days. For 90-day mortality, random forest(RF) achieved highest AUC(0.906) whereas for 90-day functional outcomes, logistic regression(LR) achieved highest AUC(0.888). Ensembling provided similar results to the best performing models, namely RF and LR, obtaining an AUC of 0.904 for mortality and 0.883 for functional outcomes. Random Forest achieved the highest AUC for 90-day mortality, and LR achieved the highest AUC for 90-day functional outcomes. Comparing ML models, there is minimal difference between their performance. By creating an ensemble of our best performing individual models we maintained maximum accuracy and decreased variance of functional outcome and mortality prediction when compared with individual models., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Recent randomized controlled trials demonstrated superiority of mechanical thrombectomy compared to medical therapy in acute basilar artery occlusions, however, little data is available to guide clinicians in functional prognosis and risk stratification., Patients and Methods: Data from the retrospectively established PC-SEARCH Thrombectomy registry, which included patients with basilar artery occlusion from eight sites from January 2015 to December 2021, was interrogated. Outcomes were dichotomized into 90-day favorable (mRS ⩽ 3) and unfavorable (mRS > 3). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with respect to the outcome groups and were adjusted for potential confounding baseline characteristics., Results: Four-hundred-forty-four patients were included in this analysis. Mean age was 66 [SD 15], with 56% male, and comprised of 76% Caucasian. Patients presented with an initial median NIHSS of 18 and 199 patients (44.8%) achieved favorable 90-day functional outcomes. Independent predictors of favorable outcomes included younger age, pc-ASPECTS > 8 (OR 2.30 p  < 0.001), and TICI ⩾ 2b (OR 7.56 p  < 0.001). Unfavorable outcomes were associated with increasing number of passes (OR 1.29 p  = 0.004) and sICH (OR 4.19 p  = 0.015). IA-tPA was an independent risk factor for sICH (OR 7.15 p  = 0.002) without improving favorable functional outcomes., Conclusion and Discussion: PC-ASPECTS > 8, successful recanalization (TICI ⩾ 2b), first-pass recanalization, and younger age are independent predictors of favorable 90-day functional outcome in thrombectomy treated patients with acute basilar artery occlusion. Conversely, sICH were independent predictors of unfavorable outcomes. IA-tPA and unsuccessful recanalization are independently associated with sICH., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The authors listed do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose. The following payments are reported by the listed authors but do not conflict with this analysis. Dr. Mouhammad Jumaa has received general payments (<$1000) and academic funding from Chiesi USA, Genentech, Medtronic, and Stryker. Dr. Sami Al Kasab has received general payments (<$1000) from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, MicroVention, and Stryker. Dr. Santiago Ortega Gutierrez has received general payments and academic funding from Medtronic, and Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Stryker. Dr. Ashutosh P Jadhav has received general payments (<$1000) and academic funding from Medtronic, Viz AI, and Medical Device Business Services, Inc. Dr. Toth Gabor has received general payments (<$1000) and academic funding from BioSense Webster, Medtronic, and Stryker. Dr. Thanh Nguyen has received academic funding from AtriCure.

Introduction: Age is often used as a predictor in determining outcomes in large vessel occlusions treated with mechanical thrombectomy. However, limited data exist for octo/nonagenarian outcomes compared to younger individuals in acute basilar artery occlusions treated with thrombectomy., Methods: Patient data were obtained from the PC-SEARCH Thrombectomy Registry which consists of 444 acute basilar artery occlusions treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Individuals were dichotomized based on age (>80 and ≤80 years old). Primary outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale of 0-3 at 90 days. Logistic and multivariate regression, as well as control-matched analysis, were performed., Results: There were 373 and 71 patients in the younger and older cohorts, respectively. Gender, ethnicity, smoking status, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease were noted to be significantly different between cohorts. At 90 days, 178 (47.7%) and 23 (32.4%) patients achieved primary outcome at 90 days (p = 0.02), however, after controlling for potentially confounding factors this association lost significance (OR 0.50 95% CI 0.24-1.05; p = 0.07). There were 84 patients included in the control matched analysis and demonstrated no significant differences on multivariate analysis between cohorts (OR 0.68 95% CI 0.25-1.84; p = 0.45)., Interpretation: Octa/nonagenarians presenting with an acute basilar artery occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy can achieve acceptable rates of favorable functional outcomes compared to younger individuals with similar baseline demographic and stroke characteristics., Competing Interests: Authors’ contributionThe authors who have contributed to at least one of the key contributions that justify authorship, including (1) conception and design of the study (ATM, PPR, MJ), (2) acquisition and analysis of data (ATM, PPR, MJ) or (3) drafting a significant portion of the manuscript or figures (i.e., a substantial contribution beyond copy editing and approval of the final draft, which is expected of all authors) (ATM, PPR, MJ). Individuals who contributed data acquisition (including phenotyping and gathering information on patients) but not to the final analysis that is unique to this manuscript (e.g., site investigators in a large clinical trial or contributors to a large patient database) (PC-SEARCH Thrombectomy REGISTRY Group includes: NA, KG, EA, SZ, AN, SAK, SOG, JVS, MF, APJ, SD, GT, AA, TNN, PK, MA, ZW, SV, and NV). Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr Mouhammad Jumaa has received general payments (<$1000) and academic funding from Chiesi USA, Genentech, Medtronic, and Stryker. Dr Sami Al Kasab has received general payments (<$1000) from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, MicroVention, and Stryker. Dr Santiago Ortega Gutierrez has received general payments and academic funding from Medtronic, and Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Stryker. Dr Ashutosh P Jadhav has received general payments (<$1000) and academic funding from Medtronic, Viz AI, and Medical Device Business Services, Inc. Dr Toth Gabor has received general payments (<$1000) and academic funding from BioSense Webster, Medtronic, and Stryker. Dr Thanh Nguyen has received academic funding from AtriCure.

Objective: There are limited data evaluating the optimum blood pressure (BP) goal post mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and its effect on outcomes of patients with large vessel occlusions (LVO). The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of intensive versus conventional BP control after reperfusion with MT via a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)., Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase to obtain articles related to BP control post MT through September 2023. The primary outcome was functional independence (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 0-2) at 3 months, while secondary outcomes included excellent outcome (mRS 0-1), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality., Results: Four RCTs with 1,566 patients (762 randomized into intensive BP control vs. 806 randomized into conventional BP control) were included. Analysis showed that there was a lower likelihood of functional independence (mRS 0-2: odds ratio [OR]: 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51-0.91, p = 0.009) in the more intensive treatment group compared with the conventional treatment group. There was no statistically significant difference in achieving excellent outcome (mRS0-1: OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.63-1.07; p = 0.15), risk of sICH or mortality., Interpretation: This systematic review and meta- analysis Indicates that in patients who achieved successful MT for acute ischemic stroke with LVO, intensive BP control was associated with a lower likelihood of functional independence at 3 months without significant difference in likelihood of achieving excellent outcome, sICH risk, or mortality. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:858-865., (© 2024 The Authors. Annals of Neurology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Neurological Association.)

Objective: To assess the prognostic values of hyperdense sign on pretreatment non-contrast head CT scan for successful recanalization (mTICI ≥2b) and 90-day good functional outcome (mRs 0-2) in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT)., Methods: Literature search on PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases from inception up to 1 November 2023 was conducted. Twelve studies which reported hyperdense sign, recanalization and clinical outcomes were included in qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis., Results: Pooled analysis demonstrated a statistically significant association between successful recanalization and hyperdense sign-positive patients who underwent MT (odd ratios (OR) = 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-2.10, p  = 0.04). No statistically significant association was demonstrated between presence of hyperdense sign and good functional outcome (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.72-1.49, p  = 0.85) or symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage sICH (OR: 1.80, 95% CI 0.72-4.47, p  = 0.21)., Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrated that pre-intervention hyperdense sign on CT imaging might be useful in prediction of successful recanalization after MT., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Importance: Stroke-to-recanalization time is a strong predictor of outcomes in anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion (LVO). The authors aimed to evaluate functional outcomes in early (<6 h) vs. late (6-24 h) time windows for thrombectomy-treated basilar artery occlusions., Methods: Patients were derived from the Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke Evaluation: Analyzing Radiographic and Intra-procedural Predictors of Mechanical Thrombectomy (PC-SEARCH) Registry and retrospectively analyzed early and late basilar artery thrombectomy time windows cohorts. Patients were dichotomized based on the last known well and correlated to 90-day functional outcomes (mRS 0-3). A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed., Results: A total of 405 patients were included in this study: 216 and 189 patients in the early and late time windows, respectively. Baseline demographic, stroke, radiographic, and intraprocedural characteristics were similar between the groups. A total of 99 (46%) and 79 (42%) patients in the early and late time windows, respectively, achieved favorable functional outcomes at 90 days ( p  = 0.41), and multiple logistic regression analysis did not reveal differences between cohorts (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.46-1.19; p  = 0.22). Symptomatic hemorrhage (7% vs. 5%; p  = 0.69) and neurological complications (8% vs. 9%; p  = 0.83) were similar between the groups; however, hospital complications were more common in the early time window cohort (22% vs. 13%; p  = 0.01)., Conclusion: The early and late thrombectomy time windows can achieve similar rates of 90-day favorable functional outcomes. However, timely thrombectomy influences the likelihood of achieving excellent functional outcomes (mRS ≤ 2) within the early time window., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Mierzwa, Rao, Al Kasab, Nelson, Ortega-Gutierrez, Vivanco-Suarez, Farooqui, Jadhav, Desai, Toth, Alrohimi, Nguyen, Klein, Abdalkader, Salahuddin, Pandey, Wilseck, Koduri, Vora, Aladamat, Gharaibeh, Afreen, Zaidi and Jumaa.)

Background: Benign airway stenosis (BAS) represents a significant burden on patients, providers, and healthcare systems. Spray cryotherapy (SCT) has been proposed as an adjunctive treatment to reduce BAS recurrence. We sought to examine safety and practice variations of the latest SCT system when used for BAS., Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study in seven academic institutions within the Interventional Pulmonary Outcomes Group. All patients who underwent at least one SCT session with a diagnosis of BAS at the time of procedure at these institutions were included. Demographics, procedure characteristics, and adverse events were captured through each center's procedural database and electronic health record., Results: A total of 102 patients underwent 165 procedures involving SCT from 2013 to 2022. The most frequent etiology of BAS was iatrogenic (n = 36, 35%). In most cases, SCT was used prior to other standard BAS interventions (n = 125; 75%). The most frequent SCT actuation time per cycle was five seconds. Pneumothorax complicated four procedures, requiring tube thoracostomy in two. Significant post-SCT hypoxemia was noted in one case, with recovery by case conclusion and no long-term effects. There were no instances of air embolism, hemodynamic compromise, or procedural or in-hospital mortality., Conclusion: SCT as an adjunctive treatment for BAS was associated with a low rate of complications in this retrospective multicenter cohort study. SCT-related procedural aspects varied widely in examined cases, including actuation duration, number of actuations, and timing of actuations relative to other interventions., Competing Interests: Disclosure: O.B.R.: Consultant for STERIS endoscopy J.S.F. VIDA Diagnostics-multiple grants, consulting, stock options; Noah Medical – grants, consulting, stock options; Cook Medical – consulting; PPDI – DMC membership. For the remaining authors there are no conflict of interest or other disclosures., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Aspiration catheters (ASPs) and stentriever thrombectomy devices have comparable safety and efficacy in anterior circulation ischemic strokes. However, there is lack of high-quality comparative data in acute basilar artery occlusions. Our objective is to compare the outcomes and safety of ASPs and stentriever devices in acute basilar artery occlusions., Methods: This is an analysis of the retrospectively established PC-SEARCH Thrombectomy (Posterior-Circulation Ischemic Stroke Evaluation: Analyzing Radiographic and Intraprocedural Predictors for Mechanical Thrombectomy) registry. Patients were dichotomized based on their first-line thrombectomy device (ASP and stentriever) and associated with their 90-day functional outcomes, intraprocedural metrics, and safety measures. Propensity analysis based on unequal baseline characteristics was performed. Consecutive patients with acute basilar artery occlusions who received mechanical thrombectomy were included from January 2015 to December 2021. Patients received either first-line contact aspiration or stentriever mechanical thrombectomy. Primary clinical and safety outcomes were 90-day functional independence measured by a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 3 and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, respectively. Secondary outcomes included puncture-recanalization times, first-pass recanalization rates, crossovers to other thrombectomy device, and neurological/hospital complications., Results: Five hundred eighteen patients were included in the registry, and a total of 383 patients were included (mean [SD] age, 65.5 [15] years; 228 [59%] men) in this analysis. Of these, 219 patients were first-line ASP while 164 patients received first-line stentriever devices. Median premorbid modified Rankin Scale was zero and median presenting National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 17 (interquartile range, 8-26). The proportion of favorable functional outcome was similar between the 2 techniques before (47.3% versus 42.5%; odds ratio, 1.22 [95% CI, 0.78-1.89]; P =0.38) and after propensity matching (odds ratio, 1.46 [95% CI, 0.85-2.49]; P =0.17). In our propensity-matched cohorts, puncture-recanalization times (18 versus 52 minutes; P <0.01) favored first-line ASP; however, first-pass recanalization rates (43.5% versus 44.5%; P =0.90) were similar between groups. First-line ASP was associated with higher rates of crossover (22% versus 6%; P <0.01), whereas stentriever was associated with higher rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (9.8% versus 3.4%; P =0.04)., Conclusions: First-line ASP and stentriever methods demonstrated similar functional outcome and recanalization rates. Stentriever methods were associated with higher rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, whereas ASPs were associated with higher rates of crossover to alternative technique in patients with acute basilar occlusions., Competing Interests: Disclosures Dr Jumaa reports grants from Medtronic to other services. Dr Al Kasab reports compensation from Stryker for other services. Dr Toth reports compensation from EBSCO for consultant services and compensation from Medtronic USA, Inc, for other services. Dr Nguyen reports compensation from Medtronic for other services; grants from the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology; and compensation from Idorsia for other services. Dr Ortega Gutierrez reports grants from Siemens; grants from the National Institutes of Health; grants from Stryker; grants from MicroVention, Inc; compensation from MicroVention, Inc, for consultant services; compensation from Medtronic for consultant services; employment by Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa; compensation from Stryker for consultant services; and grants from methinks. Dr Jadhav reports employment by Barrow Brain and Spine; a patent issued for novel stent retriever device licensed to Basking Biosciences; compensation from Basking Biosciences for consultant services; and stock options in Gravity Medical Technology. The other authors report no conflicts.

Background: Lance-Adams Syndrome (LAS) is a rare complication of successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It is a form of posthypoxic myoclonus characterized by action or intention myoclonus developing days to months after an hypoxic insult to the brain. LAS, especially early in a patient's clinical course, can be challenging to diagnose. Electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern of midline spike-wave discharge associated with favorable prognosis. There is no consensus in treatment of LAS but use of various anti-epileptic medications has been documented in literature., Case Presentation: In this case series, all of the patients presented after achieving return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and subsequently developed myoclonus. EEG findings beyond the initial hospitalization continued to show later showed changes consistent with LAS in three of the four patients. Different combinations of AEDs were used in the management of LAS with variable success and adverse effects., Conclusion: Our cases highlight that the characteristic EEG pattern can be useful in the diagnosis of LAS and allow for better prognostication and management in patients with posthypoxic myoclonus. We reviewed the available literature to better understand the prevalence, mechanism, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of LAS., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a stress-induced cardiomyopathy characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction. It can be triggered by various central nervous system pathologies including status epilepticus (SE) and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) encephalitis. Herpex simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a life-threatening, sporadic, encephalitis associated with focal or global cerebral dysfunction caused by herpes simplex viruses type 1(HSV-1), or less commonly, type 2(HSV-2). While approximately 20% of patients with HSE develop NMDAr antibodies, not all manifest with encephalitis clinically. We present here a 77-year-old woman admitted with HSV-1 encephalitis who presented with acute encephalopathy and seizure-like activity. Continuous EEG monitoring (cEEG) showed periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) involving the left parietotemporal region but no evidence of electrographic seizures. Her early hospital course was complicated by TCM which subsequently resolved on repeat TTE. She demonstrated initial neurological improvement. However, five weeks later her mental status declined. Again, no seizures were appreciated on cEEG. Unfortunately, repeat studies including lumbar puncture and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain were consistent with NMDAr encephalitis. She was treated with immunosuppression and immunomodulation therapies. To our knowledge we report the first case of TCM secondary to HSE without comorbid status epilepticus. However, further studies are needed to better understand the correlation between, and underlying pathophysiology of HSE and TCM, as well as any potential association with this presentation and subsequent development of NMDAr encephalitis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Three percent hypertonic saline (3% HTS) is used to treat several critical conditions such as severe and symptomatic hyponatremia and increased intracranial pressure. It has been traditionally administered through a central venous catheter (CVC). The avoidance of peripheral intravenous infusion of 3% HTS stems theoretically from the concern about the ability of the peripheral veins to tolerate hyperosmolar infusions. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the rate of complications associated with the infusion of 3% HTS using peripheral intravenous access., Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the rate of complications related to the peripheral infusion of 3% HTS. We searched several databases for available studies that met the criteria until February 24th, 2022. We included ten studies conducted across three countries examining the incidence of infiltration, phlebitis, venous thrombosis, erythema, and edema. The overall event rate was calculated and transformed using the Freeman-Tukey arcsine method and pooled using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. I 2 was used to evaluate heterogeneity. Selected items from Newcastle-Ottawa Scale 2 were used to assess the risk of bias in each included study., Results: A total of 1200 patients were reported to have received peripheral infusion of 3% HTS. The analysis showed that peripherally administered 3% HTS has a low rate of complications. The overall incidence of each of the complications was as follows: infiltration 3.3%, (95% C.I. = 1.8-5.1%), phlebitis 6.2% (95% C.I. = 1.1-14.3%), erythema 2.3% (95% C.I. = 0.3-5.4%), edema 1.8% (95% C.I. = 0.0-6.2%), and venous thrombosis 1% (95% C.I. = 0.0-4.8%). There was one incident of venous thrombosis preceded by infiltration resulting from peripheral infusion of 3% HTS., Conclusions: Peripheral administration of 3% HTS is considered a safe and possibly preferred option as it carries a low risk of complications and is a less invasive procedure compared to CVC., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors confirm that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. All rights reserved.)

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a medical emergency that can develop in leukemias and lymphomas as a first presentation or after the initiation of anti-neoplastic regimens. On the other hand, tumor genesis syndrome (TGS) is a rare condition associated with certain malignancies, especially those with a high neoplastic burden characterized by rapid proliferation, leading to avid uptake of phosphorus from the serum and culminating in hypophosphatemia. Interestingly, a combination of TLS and TGS can occur simultaneously in a subset of patients. This leads to the development of hypophosphatemia instead of the hyperphosphatemia commonly associated with TLS. We herein present a case of severe asymptomatic hypophosphatemia in a patient with an incidental finding of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The patient was initially diagnosed with TLS with hypophosphatemia, but further investigation revealed that the patient had isolated TGS., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Dukmak et al.)

Background: Headache with neurologic deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis, previously also termed pseudomigraine with temporary neurologic symptoms and lymphocytic pleocytosis, is a self-limiting syndrome characterized by moderate to severe headache associated with focal neurological deficits occurring in the context of lymphocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid. As a consequence of its rarity, data regarding headache with neurologic deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis is sparse. Therefore, we conducted this review to analyze data related to 93 patients of headache with neurologic deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis, to characterize their demographics, clinical manifestations, investigations and treatment options., Methods: We performed a systematic review of cases reported through PubMed and Google scholar database, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol. Keywords used were 'Headache with Neurologic Deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis', 'Headache with neurologic deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis syndrome'. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool., Results: We analyzed a total of 93 cases of headache with neurologic deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis with a mean age of 28.8 years at onset. Seventy patients (75.2%) were adults, while 23 (24.7%) belonged to the pediatric age group. Comparing these groups, mean age at onset was 32.5 years and 14.3 years, respectively. The average duration of follow-up was 11.08 months. Thirty percent of patients experienced relapsing episodes of headache with neurologic deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis symptoms. The most common type of headache reported was unilateral severe throbbing episodic headache. Other associated symptoms included sensory deficit (60%) and motor deficits (54.8%). The least common symptoms were nystagmus and agraphia, which were reported in one patient each. Antiviral agents were a common treatment option in the acute phase (n  =  23 patients [23.6%]), while Flunarizine was the most commonly used agent in the chronic setting (n = 3 patients [3.2%]). While most of the patients had normal brain magnetic resonance imaging, 20 patients had magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities, including (but not limited to) non-specific white matter lesions (eight patients) and meningeal enhancement (six patients). The most common electroencephalographic findings included diffuse and focal slowing. The mean cerebrospinal fluid opening-pressure was 240.5 mmH 2 O. Cerebrospinal fluid protein was elevated in 59 (63.4%) patients, with a mean value of 114 mg/dL. Two patients in our cohort were found to have cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands., Conclusion: Headache with neurologic deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis tends to affect young individuals with a slight male predominance. Unilateral severe throbbing episodic headache with associated hemi-paresthesia and hemiparesis were the most common symptoms based on our review. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid opening-pressure can be seen in headache with neurologic deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis syndrome. Early recognition of the syndrome is paramount. Antivirals were found to be among the most widely used treatments in the acute setting. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is mostly normal. Diffuse and focal slowing were among the most common electroencephalographic findings. Cerebral flow abnormalities on perfusion scans are not uncommon in headache with neurologic deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis. Prospective studies with a larger sample size are needed to validate our findings and guide the clinical care of these patients.

Intracranial hypotension is a result of low Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure caused by either spontaneous or postoperative leakage. The classic presentation of spontaneous intracranial hypotension is acute orthostatic headache, but the diagnosis can sometimes be challenging as some patients may present with atypical initial presentations including cervical pain as well as cervical radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine venous engorgement. We described a 42-year-old female patient who presented initially with neuropathic pain symptoms as well as weakness involving both lower extremities for which she underwent diagnostic lumbar puncture with concern regarding demyelinating neuropathy. However, subsequently she developed postural headache as well as severe cervical pain which was attributed to cervical epidural venous engorgement in setting of intracranial hypotension based on cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. She was managed conservatively, and repeated cervical spine MRI 3 days later showed prominent improvement in the imaging findings. Spinal epidural venous engorgement can occur secondary to intracranial hypotension (mainly post lumbar puncture), and can present clinically with neck pain or even symptoms of radiculopathy. Since the findings can mimic more serious conditions, it is extremely important to consider this condition in the differential diagnosis of an enhancing epidural collection in the cervical spine, particularly when intracranial hypotension is suspected., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background and Objectives: AKI is classified as prerenal, intrinsic, and postrenal. Prerenal AKI and intrinsic AKI represent the most common causes for AKI in hospitalized patients. This study aimed to examine the accuracy of the fractional excretion of sodium for distinguishing intrinsic from prerenal AKI., Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus for all available studies that met the criteria until December 31, 2021. We included studies that evaluated fractional excretion of sodium in differentiating AKI etiologies in adults, whereas studies that did not have sufficient data to extract a 2×2 table were excluded. We assessed the methodologic quality using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool and extracted the diagnostic accuracy data for all included studies. We conducted a meta-analysis using the bivariate random effects model. We performed subgroup analysis to investigate sources of heterogeneity and the effect of the relevant confounders on fractional excretion of sodium accuracy., Results: We included 19 studies with 1287 patients. In a subset of 15 studies (872 patients) that used a threshold of 1%, the pooled sensitivity and specificity for differentiating intrinsic from prerenal AKI were 90% (95% confidence interval, 81% to 95%) and 82% (95% confidence interval, 70% to 90%), respectively. In a subgroup of six studies (511 patients) that included CKD or patients on diuretics, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 83% (95% confidence interval, 64% to 93%) and 66% (95% confidence interval, 51% to 78%), respectively. In five studies with 238 patients on diuretics, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 80% (95% confidence interval, 69% to 87%) and 54% (95% confidence interval, 31% to 75%), respectively. In eight studies with 264 oliguric patients with no history of CKD or diuretic therapy, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 95% (95% confidence interval, 82% to 99%) and 91% (95% confidence interval, 83% to 95%), respectively., Conclusions: Fractional excretion of sodium has a limited role for AKI differentiation in patients with a history of CKD or those on diuretic therapy. It is most valuable when oliguria is present., (Copyright © 2022 by the American Society of Nephrology.)

BACKGROUND Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) is a very rare fulminant post-infectious demyelinating disease of the CNS. We report an atypical presentation of AHLE involving unique brain areas 2 weeks following a viral upper-respiratory tract infection (URTI). Early diagnosis and proper management improve the prognosis of this disease, and AHLE can have a very poor prognosis and high mortality rate. CASE REPORT A 52-year-old male patient was referred for deteriorating consciousness 2 weeks after a viral URTI. An initial brain CT scan showed multiple patchy bilateral and diffuse hypodense areas including the cerebellar, occipital, parietal, and frontal lobes. The diagnostic workup also included CSF analysis and MRI of the brain, which revealed multiple areas of hemorrhagic involvement. Management included broad-spectrum antibiotics, acyclovir, mannitol, steroids, and plasmapheresis. On the fifth day of admission, brain CT showed severe diffuse edema and brain herniation. Unfortunately, despite prompt aggressive treatment measures, within 48 hours the patient died due to centrally-mediated hemodynamic instability. CONCLUSIONS We report a rare case of AHLE with a unique presentation and extensive unusual involvement of regions of periventricular and subcortical white matter, cerebellum, and midbrain. Early diagnosis along with appropriate management measures and intensive care can help decrease morbidity and mortality; therefore, prompt referral and high-level care should be sought for all patients who present with acute deteriorating consciousness. We hope that this report can help future studies to better characterize this rare disease and provide further guidance regarding prognosis and management.

Hospitalized patients who have established kidney disease and those who have acute kidney injury in the hospital, along with patients with electrolyte disturbances tend to be some of the most complex to care for. Through working closely in nephrology consultation in the hospital with patients and providers, in both private and academic settings, we have come to encounter certain common presentations and recurrent themes that are worthy of emphasis, and of which a good understanding can translate into improved patient care. For the provider who works closely with such patients, many of these aspects are important to recognize and understand. In this review, we present 10 questions that address some of the highly relevant aspects of nephrology for the provider in the hospital. Through a MEDLINE database search, we reviewed the most pertinent studies as we then go through the explanation of management decisions in an evidence-based methodology with an up-to-date approach based on the current literature on the subject., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of Greater Baltimore Medical Center.)

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rheumatic disease syndrome with overlapping features of scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and polymyositis. An extremely rare but serious complication that can occur in MCTD is scleroderma renal crisis (SRC). There have been different approaches to the treatment of SRC associated with MCTD. We present a case of MCTD with chronic features of Raynaud's phenomenon, dermatomyositis, and thrombocytopenia complicated with acute SRC which showed a great response to ACE inhibitors. Here, we advise the early and aggressive use of ACE inhibitors as soon as SRC is suspected., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Jomana Madieh et al.)

Introduction: Multiple risk factors of mortality have been identified in patients with COVID-19. Here, we sought to determine the effect of a history of neurological disorder and development of neurological manifestations on mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: From March 20 to May 20, 2020, hospitalized patients with laboratory confirmed or highly suspected COVID-19 were identified at four hospitals in Ohio. Previous history of neurological disease was classified by severity (major or minor). Neurological manifestations during disease course were also grouped into major and minor manifestations. Encephalopathy, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, and seizures were defined as major manifestations, whereas minor neurological manifestations included headache, anosmia, dysgeusia, dizziness or vertigo, and myalgias. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine significant predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19 infection. Results: 574/626 hospitalized patients were eligible for inclusion. Mean age of the 574 patients included in the analysis was 62.8 (SD 17.6), with 298 (51.9%) women. Of the cohort, 240(41.8%) patients had a prior history of neurological disease (HND), of which 204 (35.5%) had a major history of neurological disease (HND). Mortality rates were higher in patients with a major HND (30.9 vs. 15.4%; p = 0.00002), although this was not a significant predictor of death. Major neurological manifestations were recorded in 203/574 (35.4%) patients during disease course. The mortality rate in patients who had major neurological manifestations was 37.4% compared to 11.9% ( p = 2 × 10 -12 ) in those who did not. In multivariate analysis, major neurological manifestation (OR 2.1, CI 1.3-3.4; p = 0.002) was a predictor of death. Conclusions: In this retrospective study, history of pre-existing neurological disease in hospitalized COVID-19 patients did not impact mortality; however, development of major neurological manifestations during disease course was found to be an independent predictor of death. Larger studies are needed to validate our findings., (Copyright © 2020 Salahuddin, Afreen, Sheikh, Lateef, Dawod, Daboul, Karim, Gharaibeh, Al-Chalabi, Park, Castonguay, Assaly, Safi, Matal, Sheikh, Tietjen, Malaiyandi, James, Ali, Zaidi, Abdelwahed, Kung, Burgess and Jumaa.)

Toxic leukoencephalopathy is a rare cause of encephalopathy. We describe two cases of toxic leukoencephalopathy associated with opiate abuse where they were misdiagnosed and admitted to the psychiatric ward. In our case series, both patients presented with behavioral changes, restlessness, pressured speech, and cognitive impairment for which they were initially labeled as psychiatric patients and were treated as such. However, after an extensive workup to elucidate the etiology of alteration in mental status, toxic leukoencephalopathy associated with heroin abuse was found to be the culprit in both cases. Toxic leukoencephalopathy is a rare condition that can be caused by inhalation of heroin. Clinically, it may present with confusion, behavioral changes, extrapyramidal symptoms, generalized motor deficit, unresponsiveness and even death. Our cases highlight the importance of recognizing the psychiatric presentation of toxic leukoencephalopathy., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2020, Al-Chalabi et al.)