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Abstract Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) have common vascular risk factors; however, ICH often occurs in adults aged

Abstract Background Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) is commonly used to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) during hospitalization in patients with acute stroke. However, if DVT exists at admission, IPC of the legs with DVT may cause migration of the thrombi, resulting in pulmonary emboli. Whole-leg ultrasonography (wl-US) is a practical tool to detect DVT; however, wl-US is not always performed at admission in all stroke patients. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate DVT frequency and identify significant factors indicating the presence of DVT at admission for acute stroke. Methods We included patients admitted within 24 h of stroke onset between 2017 and 2019. Patients who did not undergo blood tests for D-dimer or wl-US within 72 h of arrival were excluded. We collected patient data on age; sex; anthropometric variables; presence of DVT on wl-US; and biomarkers such as D-dimer, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and lipids. Results Of 1129 acute stroke patients, 917 met our inclusion criteria. DVT was detected in 161 patients (17.6 %). Patients with DVT were older; were more likely to be female; had lower body weight; had higher D-dimer and hs-CRP levels; had lower albumin, hemoglobin, and triglyceride levels; and had higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and pre-stroke modified Rankin scale scores than patients without DVT (n = 756). In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that sex (female) and D-dimer levels (≥ 1.52 µg/mL) were independent significant factors for the presence of DVT. Among 161 patients with DVT, 78 (48.4 %) had both these significant factors. Among 756 patients without DVT, 602 (79.6 %) had no or one significant factor. The odds ratio of the presence of DVT in patients with both significant factors was 6.29, using patients without any significant factors as the group for comparison. Conclusions The frequency of DVT is high in acute stroke patients at admission. Female sex and a high D-dimer level were independent significant factors for the presence of DVT. Therefore, in patients with these two significant factors at admission, IPC should be avoided or wl-US should be performed before IPC.

Abstract Background Dynamic axial computed tomographic angiography (dynax–CTA), covering a thin width, with a focus on the bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA), can quickly visualize the internal carotid artery (ICA) or MCA occlusion. We aimed to investigate whether dynax–CTA appropriately evaluated the collateral status coupled with the upper limit of the onset-to-reperfusion (OtR) time to achieve a major neurological improvement (MNI) at a 24-h follow-up examination after mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Methods We included acute ischemic stroke patients admitted from 2018 to 2020 who underwent dynax–CTA on admission and emergent MT for ICA or MCA occlusion. We performed dynax–CTA using an 80-row CT scanner and acquired 25 volume scans, consisting of 40 images of 1-mm thickness and 4-cm width. We classified the collateral status as good, intermediate, and poor based on MCA branch opacification. We evaluated the collateral status and the upper OtR time limit to achieve MNI. Results Forty-eight patients met our inclusion criteria. Dynax–CTA findings demonstrated MCA and ICA occlusion in 30 and 18 patients, respectively. The collateral status was good, intermediate, and poor in four, 25, and 19 patients, respectively. The upper limits of the OtR time for MNI were 3.63, 8.08, and 8.67 h in patients with poor, intermediate, and intermediate or good collateral status, respectively. Conclusions Dynax–CTA appropriately evaluated the collateral status coupled with the upper limit of the OtR time before performing MT.

Abstract Background Malnutrition often occurs in acute stroke patients receiving enteral tube feeding (ETF). Unless malnutrition is improved, their clinical outcome is poor. However, strategies to improve malnutrition in these patients have not been established. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) may enhance protein synthesis and attenuate inflammation. Our study aimed to investigate whether a leucine enriched BCAA dietary supplement (LEBDs) could quickly increase serum levels of albumin (Alb) or transthyretin (TTR) and decrease high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) in the development of severe malnutrition within a few days after stroke onset compared to standard BCAA dietary supplement (SBDs). Methods We retrospectively included acute stroke patients who: 1) were admitted between August 2016 and July 2017; 2) underwent ETF for 7 days or longer after admission, and 3) underwent blood examination of Alb, TTR, and CRP on admission, the fifth day and the seventh day. We defined severe malnutrition as severe hypoproteinemia: decrease of TTR to less than 15 mg/dl on the 5th day. In LEBDs and SBDs groups, patients started to receive a dietary supplement containing leucine of 1.44 and 0. 72 g twice a day on the fifth day, respectively. We evaluated Alb (g/dl), TTR (mg/dl), and CRP (mg/dl) on admission, the fifth day, and the seventh day. Results Twenty-nine patients met our inclusion criteria:15 in LEBDs and 14 in SBDs. In LEBDs and SBDs groups, the median Alb was 3.5 and 3.3 g/dl, TTR was 12.7 and 10.7 mg/dl, and CRP was 1.02 and 0.673 mg/dl on admission, respectively. In LEBDs, the median Alb and TTR decreased to 2.6 g/dl and 11.9 mg/dl, and CRP increased to 5.337 mg/dl on the fifth day. On the 7th day, TTR increased, and CRP decreased, although Alb did not improve. In SBDs, the median Alb and TTR decreased to 2.6 g/dl and 9.7 mg/dl, and CRP increased to 4.077 mg/dl on the fifth day. On the 7th day, Alb, TTR, and CRP did not improve. Conclusion In acute stroke patients receiving leucine enriched BCAA dietary supplement, quick improvements in transthyretin and CRP were observed.

Abstract Background Serum fatty acid (s-FA) compositions and their correlation with serum lipids (s-LPs) such as total cholesterol (T-CHO) and triglycerides (TG) have been reported in healthy young subjects. However, little is known about such features in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). The aim of our study was to investigate s-FA characteristics and their correlation with AIS in elderly patients. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients aged 50 years or older who were admitted between September 2015 and March 2017 within 24 h of the first AIS onset. We evaluated concentrations and compositions of s-FAs and their association with s-LPs, age, and ischaemic stroke subtypes, including large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA), small-vessel occlusion (SVO), and cardioembolism (CE) or others. Results One hundred ninety-one patients met our inclusion criteria. Their average age was 74.4 years, mean T-CHO and median TG were 203.4 and 94.5 mg/dl, respectively, and median or mean concentrations of palmitic acid (PA), oleic acid (OlA), linoleic acid (LiA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were 680.7, 602.5, 795.2, and 136.9 μg/ml, respectively, with mean compositions of 23.7, 21.3, 27.1, and 4.4%, respectively. PA, OlA, and LiA concentrations were weakly negatively associated with age and positively correlated with TG. In LAA or SVO (LAA_SVO) and CE or others (CE_O), mean age was 71.9 and 77.4 years (p

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