Stroke Recurrence and Its Relationship With Language Abilities

Purpose Many factors influence poststroke language recovery, yet little is known about the influence of previous stroke(s) on language after left hemisphere stroke. In this prospective longitudinal study, we investigated the role of prior stroke on language abilities following an acute left hemisphere ischemic stroke, while controlling for demographic and stroke-related factors, and examined if earlier stroke impacted language recovery at a chronic time point. Method Participants ( n = 122) with acute left hemisphere ischemic stroke completed language evaluation and clinical neuroimaging. They were divided into two groups: single stroke (SS; n = 79) or recurrent stroke (RS; n = 43). A subset of participants ( n = 31) completed chronic-stage re-evaluation. Factors studied included age, education, diabetes and hypertension diagnoses, lesion volume and broad location, group status, aphasia prevalence, and language scores. Results Groups did not differ in language performance across time points. The only significant group differences were that participants with RS were older, had smaller acute lesions, and were less educated. Stroke group membership (SS vs. RS) was not associated with language performance at either time point. In patients with prior stroke, large acute lesion volumes were associated with acute language performance, whereas both large acute and chronic volumes influenced recovery. Conclusions History of prior stroke in itself may not significantly influence language impairment after an additional acute left hemisphere stroke, unless it contributes substantially to the total volume of infarcted brain tissue. Chronic and acute lesion volumes should be accounted for in studies investigating poststroke language performance and recovery. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14669715

In vivo imaging of synaptic SV2A protein density in healthy and striatal-lesioned rats with [11C]UCB-J PET

The number of functionally active synapses provides a measure of neural integrity, with reductions observed in neurodegenerative disorders. [11C]UCB-J binds to synaptic vesicle 2A (SV2A) transmembrane protein located in secretory vesicles. We aimed to assess [11C]UCB-J PET as an in vivo biomarker of regional cerebral synaptic SV2A density in rat lesion models of neurodegeneration. Healthy anesthetized rats had [11C]UCB-J PET and arterial blood sampling. We compared different models describing [11C]UCB-J brain uptake kinetics to determine its regional distribution. Blocking studies were performed with levetiracetam (LEV), an antiepileptic SV2A antagonist. Tracer binding was measured in rodent unilateral acute lesion models of Parkinsonism and Huntington’s disease, induced with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and quinolinic acid (QA), respectively. [3H]UCB-J autoradiography was performed in postmortem tissue. Rat brain showed high and fast [11C]UCB-J uptake and washout with up to 80% blockade by LEV. [11C]UCB-J PET showed a 6.2% decrease in ipsilateral striatal SV2A binding after 6-OHDA and 39.3% and 55.1% decreases after moderate and high dose QA confirmed by autoradiography. In conclusion, [11C]UCB-J PET provides a good in vivo marker of synaptic SV2A density which can potentially be followed longitudinally along with synaptic responses to putative neuroprotective agents in models of neurodegeneration.

КЛІНІЧНИЙ ВИПАДОК ПОШКОДЖЕННЯ МОРЕЛЬ-ЛАВАЛЛЕ В ДИТИНИ

У статті описано клінічний випадок рідкісного пошкодження – травматичного відшарування шкіри (ТВШ) у дитини внаслідок травмування колінного суглоба. Згідно з даними літератури, відшарування шкіри (small acute lesion) спостерігають при наїзді колеса автомобіля на ногу, падінні з висоти, ударі важким предметом, стисненні між автомобілями, тачками, вагонетками, волочінні тіла по землі – це основні фактори, які сприяють ТВШ. Незважаючи на те, що дане пошкодження давно (у 1848 р.) описав французький хірург Morel-Lavallet, дотепер його вивчено недостатньо. Тому хірурги і травматологи не завжди вчасно можуть діагностувати таке пошкодження, що обумовлює несвоєчасну та неадекватну терапію. Травми колінного суглоба в дітей з гематомами будь-якої локалізації, резистентними до консервативного лікування, необхідно розглядати як серйозні пошкодження з метою діагностики ТВШ, використовуючи такі сучасні методи обстеження, як УЗД, МРТ.

Mobile device for thrombolysis decisions for telestroke

Aim: This study compares the reliability of brain CT interpretations performed using a diagnostic workstation and a mobile tablet computer in a telestroke context. Methods: A factorial design with 1,452 interpretations was used. Reliability was evaluated using the Fleiss’ kappa coefficient on the agreements of the interpretation results on the lesion classification, presence of imaging contraindications to the intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) administration, and on the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS). Results: The intra-observer agreements were as follows: good agreement on the overall lesion classification (κ= 0.63, p<0.001), very good agreement on hemorrhagic lesions (κ= 0.89, p<0.001), and moderate agreements on both without acute lesion classification and acute ischemic lesion classification (κ= 0.59 and κ= 0.58 respectively, p<0.001). There was good intra-observer agreement on the dichotomized-ASPECTS (κ= 0.65, p<0.001). Conclusions: The results of our study allow us to conclude that the reliability of the mobile solution for interpreting brain CT images of patients with acute stroke was assured, which would allow efficient and low-cost telestroke services.

Abstract 40: The Disappearing Core: Time to Re-think Irreversible Injury in This Era of Endovascular Therapy

Background and Purpose: Early and complete recanalization achieved in this new era of endovascular therapy (ET) can result in nearly imperceptible lesions on post-treatment MRI. In this context we have observed a pattern of lesion evolution on MRI that is atypical from that seen following IV tPA alone, including striking reversal of the ischemic core. We sought to determine the frequency of acute lesion reversal following ET, and its association with sustained reversal and clinical outcome. Methods: Patients were included in this study if: 1) ET for anterior territory ischemic stroke from Jan 2015 to July 2016, 2) baseline pre-ET and 24h MRI, and 3) consent for research. Two raters evaluated ADC maps for early “reversal” (defined visually as >50%) by comparing 24h to baseline. FLAIR MRI at 30d were later assessed for reversal from baseline, blinded to 24h scan. Early neurological improvement (ENI) was defined as decrease in NIHSS≥8 at 24h. Good clinical outcome defined as mRS≤2. Results: Twenty-two patients were included: median age 68.5 years, 73% women, median baseline NIHSS 19. Median time from last known well to recanalization 254 min. TICI 2b/3 in 91%. ADC reversal in 12 of 22 (55%) at 24h. Reversal at 30d was associated with 24hr (p=0.002) with two having no visually appreciable infarct at 30d. Baseline NIHSS did not differ for early reversal versus without (18.5 vs. 19.5), however NIHSS differed at discharge (1.5 vs. 8.5, p=0.003); early reversal is significantly associated with ENI (83% vs. 30%, p=0.027), but not with good clinical outcome at 30-90d (50% vs. 30%, p=0.415). Conclusions: In this new era of consistently effective ET, salvageable tissue includes not just penumbra but ischemic core, previously considered irreversibly injured. Despite lesion reversal and ENI, for some patients, independent outcome is not achieved, a finding that reinforces the need for adjunctive treatments to build upon the success of ET. Figure: Example of a patient with early ADC reversal.