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One of the issues with the existing rail network is the cross-level issue, where the two parallel tracks have unwanted elevation differences, risking train derailment. The speed of trains is typically reduced in those identified areas but still, the geometric irregularity causes train body vibrations reduces the riding comfort. Once that elevation difference exceeds a design limit operation ceases for safety. Conventional solutions to this are jacking up the track by re-filling material inside and injecting expandable foam. None of those temporary techniques have a significant contribution to eliminating the root cause; rather invite additional risks with unpredictable differential stiffness. An enduring solution is rebuilding the embankment with the use of strong geocell reinforcement. The threedimensional confinement along with the high tensile strength of reinforcing polymeric geocell introduces a stiffer layer. Through this paper, a design approach utilizing the tensile strength, stiffness, and geometric properties of the geocell has been established to provide a dependable solution. Three projects have been discussed where a high-strength novel polymeric alloy geocell with the established design method was successfully used. The effective theoretical reduction of bearing pressure was from 38% to 55%. Observation over a year indicated the effectiveness of the design methodology.

Humanity has long been haunted by the notions of Armageddon and the coming of a Golden Age. While the English Romantic poets like Shelley saw hopes of a new millennium in poems like “Queen Mab” and “The Revolt of Islam”, others like Blake developed their own unique “cosmology” in their longer poems that were nevertheless coloured with their vision of redemption and damnation. Even Hollywood movies, like The Book of Eli (2010), rehearse this theme of salvation in the face of imminent annihilation time and again. Keeping with such trends, this paper would like to trace this line of apocalyptic vision and subsequent hopes of renewal with reference to William Golding’s debut novel Lord of the Flies (1954) and his Pincher Martin (1956). While in the former, a group of young school boys indulge in violence, firstly for survival, and then for its own sake, in the latter, a lonely, shipwrecked survivor of a torpedoed destroyer clings to his own hard, rock-like ego that subsequently is a hurdle for his salvation and redemption, as he is motivated by a lust for life that makes him exist in a different moral and physical dimension. In Lord of the Flies, the entire action takes place with nuclear warfare presumably as its backdrop, while Pincher Martin has long been interpreted as an allegory of the Cold War and the resultant fear of annihilation from nuclear fallout (this applies to Golding’s debut novel as well). Thus, this paper would argue how Golding weaves his own vision of social, spiritual, and metaphysical dissolution, and hopes for redemption, if any, through these two novels.

The first estimation of the isothermal compressibility (kT) of matter is presented for a wide range of collision energies from √sNN = 7.7 GeV to 2.76 TeV. kT is estimated with the help of event-byevent charged particle multiplicity fluctuations from experiment. Dynamical fluctuations are extracted by removing the statistical fluctuations obtained from the participant model. kT is also estimated from event generators AMPT, UrQMD, EPOS and a hadron resonance gas model. The values of isothermal compressibility are estimated for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) energies with the help of the event generators.

Abstract Background Proper expression and functioning of transcription factors (TFs) are essential for regulation of different traits and thus could be crucial for the development of complex diseases. Subjects with Down syndrome (DS) have a higher incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) while solid tumors, like breast cancer (BC) and oral cancer (OC), show rare incidences. Triplication of the human chromosome 21 in DS is associated with altered genetic dosage of different TFs. V-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog 2 (ETS2) and Single Minded 2 (SIM2) are two such TFs that regulate several downstream genes involved in developmental and neurological pathways. Here we studied functional genetic polymorphisms (fSNP) in ETS2 and SIM2 encoding genes in a group of patients and control subjects to better understand association of these variants with DS phenotypes. Methods We employed an in silico approach to identify potential target pathways of ETS2 and SIM2. fSNPs in genes encoding for these two TFs were identified using available databases. Selected sites were genotyped in individuals with DS, their parents, ALL, BC, OC as well as ethnically matched control individuals. We further analyzed these data by population-based statistical methods. Results Allelic/genotypic association analysis showed significant (P Conclusions We infer from the present investigation that the difference in frequencies of fSNPs and their independent as well as interactive effects may be the cause for altered expression of SIM2 and ETS2 in DS and malignant groups, which affects different downstream biological pathways. Thus, altered expression of SIM2 and ETS2 could be one of the reasons for variable occurrence of different malignant conditions in DS.

Abstract Background This retrospective cohort study compared the risks of exacerbations and COPD-related healthcare costs between patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) initiating tiotropium (TIO) alone and patients initiating triple therapy with fluticasone-salmeterol combination (FSC) added to TIO. Methods Managed-care enrollees who had an index event of ≥ 1 pharmacy claim for TIO during the study period (January 1, 2003-April 30, 2008) and met other eligibility criteria were categorized into one of two cohorts depending on their medication use. Patients in the TIO+FSC cohort had combination therapy with TIO and FSC, defined as having an FSC claim on the same date as the TIO claim. Patients in the TIO cohort had no such FSC use. The risks of COPD exacerbations and healthcare costs were compared between cohorts during 1 year of follow-up. Results The sample comprised 3333 patients (n = 852 TIO+FSC cohort, n = 2481 TIO cohort). Triple therapy with FSC added to TIO compared with TIO monotherapy was associated with significant reductions in the adjusted risks of moderate exacerbation (hazard ratio 0.772; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.641, 0.930) and any exacerbation (hazard ratio 0.763; 95% CI 0.646, 0.949) and a nonsignificant reduction in COPD-related adjusted monthly medical costs. Conclusions Triple therapy with FSC added to TIO compared with TIO monotherapy was associated with significant reductions in the adjusted risks of moderate exacerbation and any exacerbation over a follow-up period of up to 1 year. These improvements were gained with triple therapy at roughly equal cost of that of TIO alone.

The development of methods to detect and treat intracranial large-vessel occlusions (LVOs) has revolutionized the management of acute ischemic stroke. CT angiography (CTA) of the head and neck is effective in depicting LVOs and widely used in the evaluation of patients who have had a stroke. Ongoing efforts are now focused on the potential to detect and treat intracranial medium-vessel occlusions (MeVOs), which by definition are smaller than LVOs and thus more difficult to detect with CTA. The authors review common and variant anatomies of medium-sized cerebral arteries and the appearance of a variety of MeVOs on CT angiograms. Possible pitfalls in MeVO detection include rare anatomic variants, calcified thrombi, and stump occlusions. Current recommendations for performing CTA and ancillary methods that might aid in MeVO detection are discussed. Understanding the relevant anatomy and the variety of appearances of MeVOs aids radiologists in identifying these occlusions, particularly in the setting of urgent stroke. © RSNA, 2024 See the invited commentary by Ospel and Nguyen in this issue.

Competing Interests: Disclosures Dr Albers reports compensation from Genentech and iSchemaView for consultant services and stock holdings in iSchemaView. Dr Heit reports compensation from Medtronic, iSchemaView, and MicroVention Inc for consultant services. Dr Derdeyn reports grants from Siemens Healthineers and other from Penumbra, Silk Road, NoNo, and Euphrates Vascular outside the submitted work. Dr Inoue reports speaker fees from Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daichi Sankyo, and Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Yedavalli reports consulting fees from MRIOnline and iSchemaView (RapidAI). Dr Seners reports consulting fees for Acticor Biotech. Dr Cereda reports compensation from iSchemaView for consultant services. Dr Mistry serves as a consultant for AbbVie, RAPID AI, and SilverCreek Pharmaceuticals and the American Heart Association. She reports a nonfinancial relationship with Translational Sciences Inc. She reports research funding from the NIH/NINDS and Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Dr Chattrerjee reports consulting fees from MDReview and Penumbra Inc. Dr Derdeyn reports Euphrates Vascular - stock options; Silk Road (NITE trial DSMB); Penumbra (MIND and THUNDER trial DSMBs); NoNO (ESCAPE NEXT and FRONTIER DSMBs). Dr Khatri has received a research grant from Cerenovus/Johnson & Johnson (ENDOLOW trial); consulting fees for scientific advisory roles from Lumosa, Basking Biosciences and Shionogi; drug and assays from Translation Sciences (for NIH-funded SISTER trial); royalties from UpToDate (online publication royalties); and funding from NIH STEP Grant (NINDS OT2NS129366). Dr Olivot reports grants from the French Minstry of Health; compensation from Abbvie, Acticor, and Boehringer Ingelheim; and speaker fees from Bristol Myers Squibb. Dr Hill reports grants from Medtronic, Boehringer Ingelheim, NoNO Inc, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and MicroVention Inc; compensation from Brainsgate Ltd, for consultant services; a patent issued for Systems and Methods for Assisting in Decision-Making and Triaging for Acute Stroke Patients licensed to Circle NVI; and employment by the University of Calgary. Dr Saver reports consulting fees for advising on rigorous and safe clinical trial design and conduct from Abbott, Acticor, Aeromics, Amgen, Argenica, Astrocyte, Bayer, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, BrainsGate, BrainQ, CSL Behring, Filterlex, Genentech, Johnson&Johnson, MindRhythm, Medtronic, NeuroMerit, Neuronics, Novo Nordisk, Occlutech, Phenox, Phillips, QuantalX, Rapid Medical, Roche, and Stream Biomedical. Dr Fisher reports compensation from Simcere USA and Lumosa for consultant services; employment by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The other authors report no conflicts.

Traumatic cerebrovascular injury (CVI) involving the cervical carotid and vertebral arteries is rare but can lead to stroke, hemodynamic compromise, and mortality in the absence of early diagnosis and treatment. The diagnosis of both blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) and penetrating CVI is based on cerebrovascular imaging. The most commonly used screening criteria for BCVI include the expanded Denver criteria and the Memphis criteria, each providing varying thresholds for subsequent imaging. Neck CTA has supplanted catheter-based digital subtraction angiography as the preferred screening modality for CVI in patients with trauma. This AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review describes the current state of CTA-based cervical imaging in trauma. We review the most common screening criteria for BCVI, discuss BCVI grading scales that are based on neck CTA, describe the diagnostic performance of CTA in the context of other imaging modalities and evolving treatment strategies, and provide a practical guide for neck CTA implementation.

Background and Importance: Neurointervention is a very competitive specialty in the United States due to the limited number of training spots and the larger pool of applicants. The training standards are continuously updated to ensure solid training experiences. Factors affecting candidate(s) selection have not been fully established yet. Our study aims to investigate the factors influencing the selection process., Methods: A 52-question survey was distributed to 93 program directors (PDs). The survey consisted of six categories: (a) Program characteristics, (b) Candidate demographics, (c) Educational credentials, (d) Personal traits, (e) Research and extracurricular activities, and (f) Overall final set of characteristics. The response rate was 59.1%. As per the programs' characteristics, neurosurgery was the most involved specialty in running the training programs (69%). Regarding demographics, the need for visa sponsorship held the greatest prominence with a mean score of 5.9 [standard deviation (SD) 2.9]. For the educational credentials, being a graduate from a neurosurgical residency and the institution where the candidate's residency training is/was scored the highest [5.4 (SD = 2.9), 5.4 (SD = 2.5), respectively]. Regarding the personal traits, assessment by faculty members achieved the highest score [8.9 (SD = 1)]. In terms of research/extracurricular activities, fluency in English had the highest score [7.2 (SD = 1.9)] followed by peer-reviewed/PubMed-indexed publications [6.4 (SD = 2.2)]., Conclusion: Our survey investigated the factors influencing the final decision when choosing the future neurointerventional trainee, including demographic, educational, research, and extracurricular activities, which might serve as valuable guidance for both applicants and programs to refine the selection process., 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.

Background: Intracranial aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery can be treated using several open surgical and endovascular approaches. Given the growing evidence of clinical equipoise between these various treatment strategies, there is a need to assess the costs associated with each., Methods: Cost of aneurysm treatment was divided into two categories for comparison. "Initial cost" comprised the total in-hospital expenses for initial aneurysm treatment and "total cost" comprised initial aneurysm treatment and all expenses relating to readmission due to treatment-related complications, prescribed catheter angiograms for monitoring of treatment stability, and any retreatments needed for a given aneurysm. The open surgical group was subdivided into a pterional approach group and a lateral supraorbital (LSO) approach group for., Results: Median initial cost was $37,152 (IQR $31,318-$44,947) for aneurysms treated with the pterional approach, $29,452 (IQR $27,779-$32,826) for aneurysms treated with the LSO approach, and $19,587 (IQR $14,125-$30,521) for aneurysms treated with endovascular approaches. The median total cost was $39,737 (IQR $33,891-$62,259) for aneurysms treated with the pterional approach, $31,785 (IQR $29,513-$41,099) for aneurysms treated with the LSO approach, and $24,578 (IQR $18,977-$34,547) for aneurysms treated with endovascular approaches. Analysis of variance test demonstrated variance across groups for both initial and total cost ( p  = 0.004, p  = 0.008, respectively). In our subsequent analysis, initial cost and total cost were higher in the pterional group than the endovascular group ( p  = 0.003 and p  = 0.006, respectively)., Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of elective aneurysms has a significantly lower cost than open surgical treatment with the pterional approach, but not with the LSO approach. For aneurysms not amenable to endovascular treatment, a minimally invasive LSO approach carries a lower cost burden than a pterional approach., 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.

Background and Purpose: Flow diversion of intracranial aneurysms with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) is frequently performed, but the outcomes of retreatment for aneurysms that failed to occlude after prior treatment with PED have not been well studied. Here, we report the safety and efficacy of PED retreatment after initial failure to occlude., Materials and Methods: Clinical and angiographic data from eligible patients were retrospectively assessed for demographics, aneurysm occlusion status, and clinical outcomes. Patients were included in this study if they underwent PED retreatment to treat an aneurysm that had previously been treated with PED., Results: Retreatment of previously flow-diverted aneurysms with PED was performed in 42 cases. At final angiographic follow-up, angiographic improvement was observed after 45% (19/42) of retreatments and complete aneurysm occlusion was observed following 26% (11/42). Significant clinical complications occurred in 10% (4/42) of PED retreatments., Conclusions: Retreatment of intracranial aneurysms with PED following initial failure to achieve aneurysm occlusion has a low rate of subsequent complete aneurysm occlusion., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsJWO is a consultant for Medtronic and Microvention. CJM is a consultant for Medtronic, Cerenovus, Microvention, Stryker, and Balt. APK is a consultant for Penumbra and Microvention.

Objective: Despite the adoption of same-day outpatient surgical procedures in some specialties, it remains common practice to admit patients for monitoring after elective endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms to monitor for complications. The necessity of such monitoring has not been fully characterized. Here, the authors reviewed the utilization of imaging during posttreatment hospitalization, a surrogate measure for workup of suspected complications requiring hospital resources, to infer the value of inpatient monitoring after endovascular aneurysm treatment., Methods: Clinical and angiographic data from eligible patients were retrospectively assessed for demographic characteristics, imaging indications, timing of imaging, and imaging findings. Patients were included if they underwent elective endovascular brain aneurysm treatment, and patients were excluded if significant intraprocedural complications occurred. The recorded imaging modalities included CT, MRI, catheter-based imaging, and ultrasound; plain radiographs were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of the need for posttreatment imaging., Results: In total, 1229 elective endovascular procedures for brain aneurysm treatment were included. Patients underwent imaging before discharge in 13.4% (165/1229) of cases, with significant findings in 5.0% (61/1229) of cases. The median (interquartile range) time to first posttreatment imaging was 13.2 (4.2-22.8) hours. The need for imaging during posttreatment hospitalization was positively associated with larger aneurysm size (p < 0.05) and negatively associated with underlying cardiovascular disease (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: More than 1 in 8 patients who underwent elective endovascular brain aneurysm treatment required imaging during posttreatment hospitalization, most within the first 24 hours, and 1 in 20 had significant findings. These results suggest the importance of short-term hospitalization after elective endovascular aneurysm treatment.

Background and Purpose: Stent-assisted coiling of wide neck bifurcation aneurysms in the anterior communicating segment and basilar tip region can be performed with varying stent configurations, including single stenting or Y-stenting. Y-stenting requires two stents and thus incurs greater cost and procedural complexity than single-stent constructs. The influence of first stent type on the need for Y-stenting remains unknown., Materials and Methods: Clinical and angiographic data were retrospectively obtained for patients that underwent stent-assisted coiling for basilar tip or anterior communicating aneurysms at a high-volume center. Patients were included in this study if stent-assisted coiling was performed using Neuroform Atlas or LVIS Jr stents. A multivariate binary logistic regression was performed to measure the influence of first stent type on the need for Y-stenting., Results: Stent-assisted coiling was used to treat 82 aneurysms in 81 patients during the study period, and Y-stenting was performed in 18.3% (15/82) of cases. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, use of LVIS Jr. as the first stent did not significantly influence the need for subsequent Y-stenting after controlling for aneurysm morphology (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.18-2.43)., Conclusion: Controlling for aneurysm morphology and location, the use of Y-stenting for stent-assisted coiling was not independently influenced by the choice of LVIS Jr or Neuroform Atlas as the first stent. A larger cohort may reveal differences between these two stents, particularly for aneurysms with large neck sizes., Competing Interests: Competing interests JWO is a consultant for Medtronic and Microvention. CJM is a consultant for Medtronic, Cerenovus, Microvention, Stryker, and Balt. APK is a consultant for Penumbra and Microvention., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Adaptive plasticity of Breast Cancer stem cells (BCSCs) is strongly correlated with cancer progression and resistance, leading to a poor prognosis. In this study, we report the expression profile of several pioneer transcription factors of the Oct3/4 network associated with tumor initiation and metastasis. In the triple negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) stably transfected with human Oct3/4-GFP, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using qPCR and microarray, and the resistance to paclitaxel was assessed using an MTS assay. The tumor-seeding potential in immunocompromised (NOD-SCID) mice and DEGs in the tumors were also assessed along with the intra-tumor (CD44+/CD24-) expression using flow cytometry. Unlike 2-D cultures, the Oct3/4-GFP expression was homogenous and stable in 3-D mammospheres developed from BCSCs. A total of 25 DEGs including Gata6, FoxA2, Sall4, Zic2, H2afJ, Stc1 and Bmi1 were identified in Oct3/4 activated cells coupled with a significantly increased resistance to paclitaxel. In mice, the higher Oct3/4 expression in tumors correlated with enhanced tumorigenic potential and aggressive growth, with metastatic lesions showing a >5-fold upregulation of DEGs compared to orthotopic tumors and variability in different tissues with the highest modulation in the brain. Serially re-implanting tumors in mice as a model of recurrence and metastasis highlighted the sustained upregulation of Sall4, c-Myc, Mmp1, Mmp9 and Dkk1 genes in metastatic lesions with a 2-fold higher expression of stem cell markers (CD44+/CD24-). Thus, Oct3/4 transcriptome may drive the differentiation and maintenance of BCSCs, promoting their tumorigenic potential, metastasis and resistance to drugs such as paclitaxel with tissue-specific heterogeneity.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a devastating condition causing significant morbidity and mortality. While outcomes from subarachnoid hemorrhage have improved in recent years, there continues to be significant interest in identifying therapeutic targets for this disease. In particular, there has been a shift in emphasis toward secondary brain injury that develops in the first 72 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage. This time period of interest is referred to as the early brain injury period and comprises processes including microcirculatory dysfunction, blood-brain-barrier breakdown, neuroinflammation, cerebral edema, oxidative cascades, and neuronal death. Advances in our understanding of the mechanisms defining the early brain injury period have been accompanied by improved imaging and nonimaging biomarkers for identifying early brain injury, leading to the recognition of an elevated clinical incidence of early brain injury compared with prior estimates. With the frequency, impact, and mechanisms of early brain injury better defined, there is a need to review the literature in this area to guide preclinical and clinical study.

Tools and techniques utilized in endovascular brain aneurysm treatment have undergone rapid evolution in recent decades. These technique and device-level innovations have allowed for treatment of highly complex intracranial aneurysms and improved patient outcomes. We review the major innovations within neurointervention that have led to the current state of brain aneurysm treatment., Competing Interests: JO was a consultant for Medtronic and Microvention. AV has received teaching and speaker fees from Penumbra. AK was a consultant for Penumbra, Microvention, and Medtronic. CD was a consultant for Penumbra, NoNO Inc., and Silk Road Medical. CM was a consultant for Medtronic, Cerenovus, Microvention, Stryker, and Balt. AC was a consultant for Penumbra and MDReview. The remaining 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 © 2023 Lauzier, Huguenard, Srienc, Cler, Osbun, Chatterjee, Vellimana, Kansagra, Derdeyn, Cross and Moran.)

Background: Intracranial mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is increasingly indicated for use in acute ischemic stroke patients. We analyzed recent trends in the characteristics and geographic distributions of physicians providing this service with frequency to Medicare beneficiaries., Methods: We linked public data sources to elucidate and visualize trends in high-volume MT providers between 2016 and 2019., Results: High-volume MT providers increased by 184% between 2016 and 2019. The number of neurosurgeons, neurologists, and radiologists in this physician population increased by 251%, 205%, and 139%, respectively. Male practitioners accounted for 96% of providers in the most recent year of analysis. International medical graduates accounted for roughly one-third of these physicians across all 4 years of analysis. As of 2019, the three states with the most high-volume MT providers were Florida, California, and Texas, accounting for 7%, 7%, and 6% of providers, respectively., Conclusions: High-volume providers of MT services for Medicare beneficiaries represent a dynamic and rapidly expanding subset of physicians with diverse specialty backgrounds., Competing Interests: Competing interests: JAH is a member of the JNIS editorial board and serves as a Deputy Editor of the JNIS. JAH additionally holds or held the following leadership positions: Chair of the SNIS’ Health Policy Committee, Past President of the ASNR and Board Member of ASIPP. RD is a member of the Board of Chancellors of the American College of Radiology. JAH – consulting fees from Medtronic, Persica and Spine Biopharma., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Intracranial fusiform aneurysms are circumferential dilations of cerebral arteries that can lead to complications including ischemic stroke due to vessel occlusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or intracerebral hemorrhage. Treatment options for fusiform aneurysms have expanded significantly in recent years. Microsurgical treatment options include proximal and distal surgical occlusion and microsurgical trapping of the aneurysm, usually in association with high-flow bypass procedures. Endovascular treatment options include the placement of coils and/or flow diverters., Observations: Here the authors report a case of aggressive surveillance and treatment of a man with multiple progressive, recurrent, and de novo fusiform aneurysms of the left anterior cerebral circulation over 16 years. Because the long-term course of his treatment coincided with the recent expansion of endovascular treatment options, he underwent every type of treatment listed above., Lessons: This case demonstrates the wide range of therapeutic options for fusiform aneurysms and how the treatment model for these lesions has evolved.

Mounting evidence has suggested a relationship between Chiari I malformation and idiopathic intracranial hypertension, with some studies implicating anomalies of the cerebral venous system in the development of these conditions. However, precise mechanisms explaining these associations are not well described. There is a clear need to clarify the interplay between these conditions to guide further study in this area. In tandem with these efforts, it is necessary to review proper diagnosis and management to improve outcomes in patients suffering from these diseases., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Flow diversion of intracranial aneurysms with the pipeline embolization device (PED) may produce angiographically apparent stenosis within the PED, which can lead to secondary ischemic complications. In-stent stenosis can be treated medically with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), but the safety and efficacy of this approach are unknown. In this work, we review the safety and efficacy of DAPT to prevent progression of in-stent stenosis or development of cerebral ischemia., Methods: Clinical and angiographic data from eligible patients were assessed from a prospectively maintained neurointerventional database. Details surrounding in-stent stenosis and DAPT were extracted. Patients were included in this study if in-stent stenosis was detected at any angiographic follow-up and managed with DAPT. The primary efficacy endpoint was lack of angiographic progression of in-stent stenosis or new ipsilateral infarct following initiation of medical therapy., Results: In total, 23 PED constructs developed in-stent stenosis and were managed with DAPT. Follow-up angiography was available for 19 constructs. Eighty-nine percent (17/19) of PED constructs achieved the primary endpoint of lack of stenosis progression and lack of new ipsilateral ischemic events. Of the 2 PED constructs that failed to achieve the primary endpoint of this study, one demonstrated worsening of in-stent stenosis from 55% to 76% over 16 months, while the other developed ipsilateral ischemic stroke 4 months after detection of in-stent stenosis. In addition, one patient experienced intracranial hemorrhage 9 months after the initiation of DAPT., Conclusions: Progression of in-stent stenosis and new ipsilateral ischemic events are limited in the presence of DAPT. However, hemorrhagic events related to DAPT may occasionally occur., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Rates of aneurysm occlusion following treatment with flow-diverting stents have been quantified at predefined time points in clinical trials, but data characterizing the continuous temporal progression of aneurysm occlusion are lacking. This study used real-world variability in timing of angiographic follow-up to characterize the time line of aneurysm occlusion following treatment with the Pipeline embolization device (PED)., Methods: All aneurysms treated with a PED at our institution between 2011 and 2020 were screened. Nonsaccular or ruptured aneurysms were excluded. Aneurysm occlusion status and time since treatment were recorded for each follow-up angiogram. Aneurysm occlusion was characterized using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analysis after censoring at last follow-up or subsequent treatment., Results: There were 290 aneurysms in 222 patients analyzed. The median time of observed aneurysm occlusion was 7.5 months, and overall rate of aneurysm occlusion was 77.9%. Larger aneurysms demonstrated a longer median time to occlusion and lower rate of aneurysm occlusion (P = 0.029). There were no observed differences in the time line of occlusion for aneurysms treated with a single PED or multiple PEDs (P = 0.889) or without or with adjunctive coiling (P = 0.771)., Conclusions: Aneurysms treated with a PED had a median time to observed occlusion of 7.5 months. Occlusion of larger aneurysms occurred more slowly than occlusion of smaller aneurysms following flow diversion. The number of PEDs deployed or the use of adjunctive coiling did not affect the time line or likelihood of aneurysm occlusion. These findings may guide optimal timing of follow-up after treatment with a PED., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Traumatic cerebrovascular injuries following blunt or penetrating trauma are common and carry a high risk of permanent disability or death. Proper screening, diagnosis, and treatment of these lesions is essential to improve patient outcomes. Advances in imaging continue to improve the accuracy of non-invasive diagnosis of these injuries while new clinical data provide better evidence for optimal management, whether medical or invasive. Here, we review screening, diagnosis, and treatment of traumatic cerebrovascular injuries., Competing Interests: Competing interests: APK’s institution receives research funds related to industry trials from Medtronic and Microvention. APK does not personally receive these funds. APK receives consulting income from Penumbra and Microvention. This relationship is not related to the content of this manuscript., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Flow diversion of intracranial aneurysms with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) is commonly performed, but the value of long-term angiographic follow-up has not been rigorously evaluated. Here we examine the prevalence of actionable findings of aneurysm recurrence and development of in-stent stenosis in a cohort of patients that underwent long-term angiographic follow-up at multiple time points., Methods: Angiographic data from eligible patients were retrospectively assessed for aneurysm occlusion, in-stent stenosis, and aneurysm regrowth or recurrence. Patients were included in this study if they underwent angiographic imaging at 6 months post-treatment and at least one later time point., Results: 100% (132/132) of aneurysms occluded at 6 months remained occluded at final follow-up. 85.7% (6/7), 56.3% (27/48), and 25% (6/24) of aneurysms with entry remnant, subtotal filling, and total filling, respectively, at 6 months were completely occluded at final follow-up. 98.7% (147/149) of PED constructs that demonstrated no stenosis at 6 months demonstrated no stenosis at final angiography, while 44.4% (8/18) of PED constructs demonstrating in-stent stenosis at 6 months had resolution of stenosis on final angiography., Conclusions: Among patients who undergo treatment of intracranial aneurysms with PED, the value of long-term angiography in patients demonstrating complete aneurysm occlusion and no in-stent stenosis on 6 month post-treatment angiography is low., Competing Interests: Competing interests: JWO is a consultant for Medtronic and Microvention. CJM is a consultant for Medtronic and Cerenovus. APK is a consultant for Penumbra, Microvention, and iSchemaView, and is on the iSchemaView medical advisory board., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background and Purpose: Flow diversion of aneurysms located in the M1 segment and middle cerebral artery bifurcation with Pipeline embolization device is sometimes performed, but further study is needed to support its regular use in aneurysm treatment. Here, we report measures of safety and efficacy for Pipeline embolization in the proximal middle cerebral artery in a multi-center cohort., Materials and Methods: Clinical and angiographic data of eligible patients were retrospectively obtained from participating centers and assessed for key clinical and angiographic outcomes. Additional details were extracted for patients with complications., Results: In our multi-center cohort, complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved in 71% (17/24) of treated aneurysms. There were no deaths or disabling strokes, but non-disabling ischemic strokes occurred in 8% (2/24) of patients. For aneurysms in the M1 segment, complete aneurysm occlusion was observed in 75% (12/16) of aneurysms, aneurysm volume reduction was observed in 100% (16/16) of aneurysms, and non-disabling ischemic strokes occurred in 13% (2/16) of patients. For aneurysms at the middle cerebral artery bifurcation, complete aneurysm occlusion was observed in 63% (5/8) of aneurysms, aneurysm volume reduction occurred in 88% (7/8) of aneurysms, and ischemic or hemorrhagic complications occurred in 0% (0/8) of patients., Conclusion: Pipeline embolization of cerebral aneurysms in the M1 segment and middle cerebral artery bifurcation demonstrated a 71% rate of complete aneurysm occlusion. There were no deaths or disabling strokes, but there was an 8% rate of non-disabling ischemic strokes.

Objective: The Pipeline embolization device (PED) is widely used for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, including in off-label applications. In this work, the authors compared the real-world efficacy and safety of PED use in on-label and off-label aneurysm treatments., Methods: Clinical and angiographic data of patients who underwent PED placement at a high-volume academic medical center were retrospectively obtained. Treatments were classified as on-label if they fell within the applications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as of 2021. Recorded outcomes included aneurysm occlusion, procedural complications, ischemic events, in-stent stenosis, intracranial hemorrhage, postprocedural functional status, and death., Results: In total, 416 aneurysms in 330 patients were treated with PED, comprising 256 aneurysms that received on-label treatments and 160 that received off-label treatments. The overall rate of complete aneurysm occlusion was 76.4% for on-label aneurysms and 75.6% for off-label aneurysms (p = 0.898). The risk of ischemic stroke in patients who underwent off-label treatments was 15.2%, which was higher than the 4.2% rate in patients who underwent on-label treatment (p = 0.003). All other clinical complications, procedural complications, and long-term functional status were comparable between the on-label and off-label groups., Conclusions: In real-world practice, off-label use of PED is common and can achieve similar efficacy as on-label use. However, in aggregate, off-label use was found to carry an increased rate of ischemic complications. With judicious attention to safety and individual patient characteristics, these results highlight the scale and general feasibility of off-label PED use by experts.

Objective: Flow diversion of distal MCA aneurysms in the M2-M4 segments with Pipeline embolization device is promising, but further study is needed. Here, we seek to quantify the safety and efficacy of Pipeline embolization in the M2-M4 region in a dual-center cohort and comprehensive meta-analysis., Methods: Clinical and angiographic data of eligible patients was obtained from participating centers. A systematic review was performed with searches of Pubmed, Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for articles from inception to May 2021. 86 studies were identified in systematic review. Of these, 7 studies with 46 aneurysms met the inclusion criteria and were aggregated with 8 aneurysms from our dual-center cohort for analysis., Results: In our dual-center cohort, complete occlusion was observed in 88% (7/8) of aneurysms, and no patients experienced hemorrhagic or thromboembolic complications. Clinical outcomes were reported for 100% (54/54) of aneurysms included in meta-analysis and angiographic follow-up was available for 91% (49/54). The overall rate of complete aneurysm occlusion was 80% (95% CI, 69-91%), and the overall rate of clinical complication was 9% (95% CI, 2-16%)., Conclusion: Pipeline embolization of cerebral aneurysms of the M2-M4 segments of the MCA was reasonably effective and safe in a small group of selected patients, but further study is needed to validate these preliminary results., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Flow diversion is commonly used to treat intracranial aneurysms in various regions of the cerebral vasculature, but is only approved for use in the internal carotid arteries. Treatment of distal PICA aneurysms with PED is sometimes performed but has not been well studied. Here, we report our experience with flow diversion of distal PICA aneurysms with PED., Materials and Methods: Clinical and angiographic data of eligible patients was retrospectively obtained and assessed for key demographic characteristics and clinical and angiographic outcomes. Principal outcomes included rates of aneurysm occlusion, ischemic or hemorrhagic complication, technical complication, and in-stent stenosis., Results: Three female and 2 male patients underwent placement of PED in the PICA for treatment of 5 distal PICA aneurysms. Clinical and angiographic follow-up was obtained for all patients. Complete aneurysm occlusion was observed in 100% (5/5) of treated aneurysms at 6 month and longest angiographic follow-up. While there were no ischemic or device-related complications, delayed hemorrhagic complications occurred in 20% (1/5) of patients., Conclusion: Pipeline embolization of distal PICA aneurysms can be performed in select patients. Further study is necessary in larger cohorts to better define clinical scenarios in which flow diversion in the distal PICA should be considered.

Background: The benefit of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) before mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke is uncertain. Conventional metrics of final modified thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia (mTICI) score and 90-d modified Rankin Scale may be insensitive to IVT effects on procedural complexity and duration., Objective: To study the effect of IVT prior to MT on clot survival., Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of 257 acute stroke patients with LVO undergoing MT and analyzed the effect of IVT prior to MT using a novel, pass-by-pass clot survival methodology., Results: The use of IVT was associated with a significantly lower number of passes to attain mTICI 2B or greater (P = .002) or mTICI 3 (P = .039) reperfusion. The number of patients who achieved mTICI 2B or greater after the first pass was significantly higher in the IVT group (P = .003). This increased rate of reperfusion persisted into subsequent passes., Conclusion: IVT prior to MT reduces the number of thrombectomy passes required to achieve mTICI 2B or mTICI 3 reperfusion. This information should be considered as the merits of IVT prior to MT are debated., (© Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2021.)

Objective: Catheter-based cerebral angiography is commonly used for neurovascular diagnosis in children. In this work, the authors aimed to quantify the complication rate of cerebral angiography in children, characterize these complications, and identify risk factors for complications., Methods: Relevant clinical data were retrospectively obtained for 587 consecutive cerebral angiography procedures performed in 390 children from March 2002 to March 2020. Complications were categorized as neurological or nonneurological, and severity was graded using a standard schema. Incidences of complications were reported as point estimates. Associations between risk factors and complications were characterized in univariate analysis using the two-tailed Fisher exact test and in multivariate analysis using multiple logistic regression with bidirectional elimination based on the Akaike information criterion. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, statistical significance was corrected for multiple comparisons using the Benjamini-Hochberg method., Results: Complications occurred in 6.5% of procedures, including neurological complications in 1.9% and nonneurological complications in 4.8%. Permanent deficits occurred in only 0.2% of cases. Overall, 0.5% of procedures resulted in major complications, while 6.0% resulted in minor complications. Female sex and a history of hypertension or ischemic stroke were associated with an increased risk of complications, while femoral artery access was associated with a decreased risk of complications., Conclusions: Pediatric cerebral angiography was shown to have a low rate of major or permanent complications. Children who were female and those with a history of hypertension or ischemic stroke were shown to be at higher risk of complications, while the use of femoral access carried a lower risk of complications.

Objective: Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) carry a risk of rupture and subsequent morbidity or mortality unless fully treated. AVMs in pediatric patients are known to occasionally recur after obliteration. The objective of this study was to characterize the risk of AVM recurrence following angiographically confirmed obliteration in children., Methods: Consecutive pediatric AVMs treated at a single center were identified from a prospective database. Patients with angiographically confirmed AVM obliteration following treatment were included in this study. Associations between AVM recurrence and patient or procedural factors were characterized using the two-tailed Fisher exact test or Mann-Whitney U-test. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and the Clarivate Web of Science with defined search criteria, and eligible studies were included alongside this study cohort in a meta-analysis. Rates of AVM recurrence following obliteration were pooled across studies with a random-effects model and reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)., Results: Recurrence after angiographic confirmation of AVM obliteration was observed in 10.4% (7/67) of pediatric AVMs treated at the authors' center. Patients with recurrent AVMs were significantly younger than those without recurrence (p = 0.002). In the meta-analysis, which included 1134 patients across 24 studies, the rate of recurrence was 4.8% (95% CI 3.0%-6.7%). The rate of AVM recurrence following radiosurgery was 0.7% (95% CI 0%-1.6%), which was significantly lower than the 8.5% rate (95% CI 5.0%-12.0%) following microsurgery., Conclusions: Recurrence of obliterated brain AVMs is common in children. Recurrence is more common in young children and following microsurgery.

Abstract: Tremendous advancements in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in the last 25 years have been based on the principle of reperfusion in early time windows and identification of small core infarct for intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy. Advances in neuroimaging have made possible the safe treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke in longer time windows and with more specific selection of patients with salvageable brain tissue. In this review, we discuss the history of endovascular stroke thrombectomy trials and highlight the neuroimaging-based trials that validated mechanical thrombectomy techniques in the extended time window with assessment of penumbral tissue. We conclude with a survey of currently open trials that seek to safely expand eligibility for this highly efficacious treatment., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This prospective randomized trial is designed to compare the performance of conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) using Lipiodol-only with additional use of degradable starch microspheres (DSM) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in BCLC-stage-B based on metric tumor response., Methods: Sixty-one patients (44 men; 17 women; range 44-85) with HCC were evaluated in this IRB-approved HIPPA compliant study. The treatment protocol included three TACE-sessions in 4-week intervals, in all cases with Mitomycin C as a chemotherapeutic agent. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed prior to the first and 4 weeks after the last TACE. Two treatment groups were determined using a randomization sheet: In 30 patients, TACE was performed using Lipiodol only (group 1). In 31 cases Lipiodol was combined with DSMs (group 2). Response according to tumor volume, diameter, mRECIST criteria, and the development of necrotic areas were analyzed and compared using the Mann-Whitney-U, Kruskal-Wallis-H-test, and Spearman-Rho. Survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator., Results: A mean overall tumor volume reduction of 21.45% (± 62.34%) was observed with an average tumor volume reduction of 19.95% in group 1 vs. 22.95% in group 2 (p = 0.653). Mean diameter reduction was measured with 6.26% (± 34.75%), for group 1 with 11.86% vs. 4.06% in group 2 (p = 0.678). Regarding mRECIST criteria, group 1 versus group 2 showed complete response in 0 versus 3 cases, partial response in 2 versus 7 cases, stable disease in 21 versus 17 cases, and progressive disease in 3 versus 1 cases (p = 0.010). Estimated overall survival was in mean 33.4 months (95% CI 25.5-41.4) for cTACE with Lipiosol plus DSM, and 32.5 months (95% CI 26.6-38.4), for cTACE with Lipiodol-only (p = 0.844), respectively., Conclusions: The additional application of DSM during cTACE showed a significant benefit in tumor response according to mRECIST compared to cTACE with Lipiodol-only. No benefit in survival time was observed., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Cervical carotid and vertebral artery traumatic injuries can have a devastating natural history. This article reviews the epidemiology, mechanisms of injury, clinical presentation, and classification systems pertinent to consideration of endovascular treatment. The growing role of modern endovascular techniques for the treatment of these diseases is presented to equip endovascular surgeons with a framework for critically assessing patients presenting with traumatic cervical cerebrovascular injury., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Combining MRI techniques with machine learning methodology is rapidly gaining attention as a promising method for staging of brain gliomas. This study assesses the diagnostic value of such a framework applied to dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC)-MRI in classifying treatment-naïve gliomas from a multi-center patients into WHO grades II-IV and across their isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status., Methods: Three hundred thirty-three patients from 6 tertiary centres, diagnosed histologically and molecularly with primary gliomas (IDH-mutant = 151 or IDH-wildtype = 182) were retrospectively identified. Raw DSC-MRI data was post-processed for normalised leakage-corrected relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) maps. Shape, intensity distribution (histogram) and rotational invariant Haralick texture features over the tumour mask were extracted. Differences in extracted features across glioma grades and mutation status were tested using the Wilcoxon two-sample test. A random-forest algorithm was employed (2-fold cross-validation, 250 repeats) to predict grades or mutation status using the extracted features., Results: Shape, distribution and texture features showed significant differences across mutation status. WHO grade II-III differentiation was mostly driven by shape features while texture and intensity feature were more relevant for the III-IV separation. Increased number of features became significant when differentiating grades further apart from one another. Gliomas were correctly stratified by mutation status in 71% and by grade in 53% of the cases (87% of the gliomas grades predicted with distance less than 1)., Conclusions: Despite large heterogeneity in the multi-center dataset, machine learning assisted DSC-MRI radiomics hold potential to address the inherent variability and presents a promising approach for non-invasive glioma molecular subtyping and grading.

Background: Endovascular thrombectomy is currently the standard of care for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Although earlier trials on endovascular thrombectomy were performed using stent retrievers, recently completed the contact aspiration vs stent retriever for successful revascularization (ASTER) and a comparison of direct aspiration versus stent retriever as a first approach (COMPASS) trials have shown the noninferiority of direct aspiration., Objective: To report the largest experience with ADAPT thrombectomy and compare the impact of advancement in reperfusion catheter technologies on outcomes., Methods: We reviewed a retrospective database of AIS patients who underwent ADAPT thrombectomy between January 2013 and November 2017 at the Medical University of South Carolina. Demographics and baseline characteristics, technical variables, and radiological and clinical outcomes were reviewed., Results: Among 510 patients (mean age: 67.7, 50.6% females), successful recanalization at first pass was achieved in 61.8%, and with aspiration only in 77.5%. Mean procedure time was 27.4 min, and the rate of good outcomes (mRS 0-2) at 90 d was 42.9%. The rate of recanalization with aspiration only was significantly higher, and procedure time was significantly lower in patients treated with larger catheters (ACE 064 and ACE 068) compared to smaller catheters (5 MAX and ACE, P < .05). There were no differences in complication rates or postoperative parenchymal hemorrhage across groups (P > .05); however, use of ACE 068 was an independent predictor of good outcomes at 90 d on multivariate regression analysis (odds ratio = 1.6, P < .05)., Conclusion: Refinement of ADAPT thrombectomy by incorporating reperfusion catheters with higher inner diameters and thus higher aspiration forces is associated with better outcomes, shorter procedure times, and lower likelihood of using additional devices without impacting complication rates., (Copyright © 2018 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.)

Background: Endovascular thrombectomy (ET) is the standard of care for treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) secondary to large vessel occlusion. The elderly population has been under-represented in clinical trials on ET, and recent studies have reported higher morbidity and mortality in elderly patients than in their younger counterparts., Objective: To use machine learning algorithms to develop a clinical decision support tool that can be used to select elderly patients for ET., Methods: We used a retrospectively identified cohort of 110 patients undergoing ET for AIS at our institution to train a regression tree model that can predict 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. The identified algorithm, termed SPOT, was compared with other decision trees and regression models, and then validated using a prospective cohort of 36 patients., Results: When predicting rates of functional independence at 90 days, SPOT showed a sensitivity of 89.36% and a specificity of 89.66% with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.952. Performance of SPOT was significantly better than results obtained using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score, or patients' baseline deficits. The negative predictive value for SPOT was >95%, and in patients who were SPOT-negative, we observed higher rates of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage after thrombectomy. With mRS scores prediction, the mean absolute error for SPOT was 0.82., Conclusions: SPOT is designed to aid clinical decision of whether to undergo ET in elderly patients. Our data show that SPOT is a useful tool to determine which patients to exclude from ET, and has been implemented in an online calculator for public use., Competing Interests: Competing interests: AS: Penumbra. consulting, honorarium, speaker bureau; Pulsar Vascular, consulting, honorarium, speaker bureau; Microvention, consulting, honorarium, speaker bureau, research; Stryker, consulting, honorarium, speaker bureau., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: After showing the success of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in treating large-vessel occlusion stroke, the target population has been expanded to include patients with smaller and more distal vessels including the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery. We compared the procedural and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing MT using direct aspiration (ADAPT [A Direct Aspiration at first Pass Technique]) between superior or inferior divisions of M2 and M1., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a database of patients undergoing MT between June 2013 and July 2018 at our center for clinical and procedural variables. Patients with isolated M1 or M2 occlusions were included. M2 occlusions were classified into superior and inferior divisions. Functional outcomes were collected at 90 days., Results: A total of 205 patients with M1, 65 with M2 superior division (middle cerebral artery M2 superior segment [M2S]), and 57 with inferior division (middle cerebral artery M2 inferior segment [M2I]) stroke were included. M1 and M2S patients had comparable National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at presentation, but higher than M2I (P < 0.01). Compared with M1, M2 occlusions had longer procedure times and required more aspiration attempts (P < 0.05). M2S thrombectomy had a significantly lower rate of successful recanalization (P < 0.05). Rates of good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) were 46% in M1, 34% in M2S, and 44% in M2I, and postprocedural hemorrhage rates were comparable between groups. On multivariate analysis, M2S occlusion was associated with longer procedure times, lower odds of good outcomes, and lower TICI recanalization scores (P < 0.05) compared with M1., Conclusions: ADAPT is safe and effective in M2 stroke. The procedural success and efficacy of ADAPT in M2 stroke are influenced by the anatomic division with less favorable clinical and technical outcomes in the M2S division., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The rate of first-attempt recanalization (FAR) with the newer-generation thrombectomy devices, and more specifically with aspiration devices, is not well known. Moreover, the effect of FAR on outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy is not properly understood., Objective: To report the rate of FAR using a direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT), investigate the association between FAR and outcomes, and identify the predictors of FAR., Methods: The ADAPT database was used to identify a subgroup of patients in whom FAR was achieved. Baseline characteristics, procedural, and postprocedural variables were collected. Outcome measures included 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS) score, mortality, and hemorrhagic complications. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify FAR predictors., Results: A total of 524 patients was included of whom 178 (34.0%) achieved FAR. More patients in the FAR group than in the non-FAR group received IV tPA (46.6% vs 37.6%; p<0.05). For the functional outcome, higher proportions of patients in the FAR group achieved functional independence (mRS score 0-2; 53% vs 37%; p<0.05). Additionally, we observed lower mortality and hemorrhagic transformation rates in the FAR group than the non-FAR group. Independent predictors of FAR in the anterior circulation were pretreatment IV tPA, non-tandem occlusion, and use of larger reperfusion catheters (Penumbra, ACE 64-68). Independent predictors of FAR in the posterior circulation were diabetes, onset-to-groin time, and cardioembolic etiology., Conclusion: FAR was associated with better functional outcome and lower mortality rate. When ADAPT is used, a larger aspiration catheter and pretreatment IV tPA should be employed when indicated., Competing Interests: Competing interests: AS: consulting-Penumbra, Minnetronix, Cerenovus. AT: consulting-Codman, Penumbra, Microvention, Blockade, Pulsar Vascular, Medtronic, Siemens; research grants- Codman, Penumbra, Microvention, Pulsar Vascular, Medtronic Stock- Pulsar Vascular, Blockade. The remaining authors report no disclosure., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy (ET) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in octogenarians is still controversial., Objective: To evaluate, using a large multicenter cohort of patients, outcomes after ET in octogenarians compared with younger patients., Methods: Data from prospectively maintained databases of patients undergoing ET for AIS at seven US-based comprehensive stroke centers between January 2013 and January 2018 were reviewed. Demographic, procedural, and outcome variables were collected. Outcomes included 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, postprocedural National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, postprocedural hemorrhage, and mortality. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the independent effect of age ≥80 on outcome measures. Subgroup analyses were also performed based on location of stroke, success of recanalization, or ET technique used., Results: Rates of functional independence (mRS score 0-2) after ET in elderly patients were significantly lower than for younger counterparts. Age ≥80 was independently associated with increased mortality and poor outcome. Age ≥80 showed an independent negative prognostic effect on outcome even when patients were divided according to thrombectomy technique, location of stroke, or success of recanalization. Age ≥80 independently predicted higher rate of postprocedural hemorrhage, but not success of recanalization. Baseline deficit and number of reperfusion attempts, but not Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score were associated with lower odds of good outcome., Conclusion: The large effect size of ET on AIS outcomes is significantly diminished in the elderly population when using comparable selection criteria to those used in younger counterparts. This raises concerns about the risk-benefit ratio and the cost-effectiveness of performing this procedure in the elderly before optimizing patient selection., Competing Interests: Competing interests: AT: consulting- Codman, Penumbra, Microvention, Blockade, Pulsar Vascular, Medtronic, Siemens; research grants- Codman, Penumbra, Microvention, Pulsar Vascular, Medtronic; Stock- Pulsar Vascular, Blockade. PK– consultant, Medtronic and Stryker neurovascular. AMS: consulting- Penumbra, Pulsar Vascular, Microvention, Stryker; honorarium- Penumbra, Pulsar Vascular, Microvention, Stryker; speaker bureau- Penumbra, Pulsar Vascular, Microvention, Stryker; research- Microvention., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Reviews of published scientific literature are a valuable resource that can underline best practices in medicine and clarify clinical controversies. Among the various types of reviews, the systematic review of the literature is ranked as the most rigorous since it is a high-level summary of existing evidence focused on answering a precise question. Systematic reviews employ a pre-defined protocol to identify relevant and trustworthy literature. Such reviews can accomplish several critical goals that are not easily achievable with typical empirical studies by allowing identification and discussion of best evidence, contradictory findings, and gaps in the literature. The Association of University Radiologists Radiology Research Alliance Systematic Review Task Force convened to explore the methodology and practical considerations involved in performing a systematic review. This article provides a detailed and practical guide for performing a systematic review and discusses its applications in radiology., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Head computed tomography (CT) with perfusion imaging has become crucial in the selection of patients for mechanical thrombectomy. In recent years, machine learning has rapidly evolved and found applications in a wide variety of health care tasks. We report our initial experiences with training a neural network to predict the presence and laterality of a perfusion deficit in patients with acute ischemic stroke., Methods: CT perfusion images of patients with suspicion for acute ischemic stroke were obtained. The data were split into training and validation sets. A long-term, recurrent convolutional network was constructed, which consisted of a convolutional neural network stacked on top of a long short-term memory layer., Results: Of the 396 patients, 139 (35.1%) had a right-sided perfusion deficit, 199 (50.3%) had a left-sided deficit, and 58 (14.6%) had no evidence of a deficit. The best model was able to achieve an accuracy of 85.8% on validation data. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for each class, and an area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for each class. For right-sided deficits, the AUC was 0.90, for left-sided deficits, the AUC was 0.96, and for no deficit, the AUC was 0.93., Conclusions: The field of machine learning, powered by convolutional neural networks for the task of image recognition and processing, has quickly developed in recent years. We constructed an artificial neural network that can identify and classify the presence and laterality of a perfusion deficit on CT perfusion imaging., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)