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Background: Virtual Reality (VR) is an emerging technology in post stroke recovery. However, its precise role in stroke rehabilitation is not well defined. The aim of this paper is to conduct an overview of systematic reviews on the role of VR in stroke rehabilitation., Methods: A meta-review with results from a search of 7 databases from inception till 5 th December 2022 with subsequent quality appraisal was conducted. The primary outcome was to produce a narrative review on the efficacy of VR versus usual or other care in stroke recovery. Data was synthesized in a descriptive fashion and high-quality systematic reviews were emphasized. The AMSTAR-2 tool was used for quality assessment of the included studies., Results: Evidence from high-quality systematic reviews suggests that there is benefit from VR in upper limb, lower limb, gait, and balance recovery particularly when additive to conventional therapy. There is also limited evidence to suggest that VR has a positive effect in those with impaired cognition., Conclusion: VR is safe and effective as an adjunct to conventional therapy for adults after stroke and should be used routinely for upper and lower limb motor recovery. Further high-quality studies that evaluate its efficacy and explore ways to increase its positive impact in areas such as cognition are required. There is also a scope for the development of stroke-specific virtual environments. (PROSPERO registration # CRD42022372926)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Posterior cerebral circulation ischemic stroke (PCS) comprises up to 25% of all strokes. It is characterized by variable presentation, leading to misdiagnosis and morbidity and mortality. We aim to describe PCS in large multiethnic cohorts., Methods: A retrospective review of a large national stroke database from its inception on the 1st of January 2014 till 31 December 2020. Incidence per 100,000 adult population/year, demographics, clinical features, stroke location, and outcomes were retrieved. We divided the cohort into patients from MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and others., Results: In total, 1,571 patients were identified. The incidence of PCS was observed to be rising and ranged from 6.3 to 13.2/100,000 adult population over the study period. Men were 82.4% of the total. The mean age was 54.9 ± 12.7 years (median 54 years, IQR 46, 63). MENA patients comprised 616 (39.2%) while others were 954 (60.7%); of these, the majority (80.5%) were from South Asia. Vascular risk factors were prevalent with 1,230 (78.3%) having hypertension, 970 (61.7%) with diabetes, and 872 (55.5%) having dyslipidemia. Weakness (944, 58.8%), dizziness (801, 50.5%), and slurred speech (584, 36.2%) were the most commonly presenting symptoms. The mean National Institute of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS) score was 3.8 ± 4.6 (median 3, IQR 1, 5). The overall most frequent stroke location was the distal location (568, 36.2%). The non-MENA cohort was younger, less vascularly burdened, and had more frequent proximal stroke location ( p  < 0.05). Dependency or death at discharge was seen in 39.5% and was associated with increasing age, and proximal and multilocation involvement; while at 90 days it was 27.4% and was associated with age, male sex, and having a MENA nationality ( p  < 0.05)., Conclusion: In a multiethnic cohort of posterior circulation stroke patients from the MENA region and South Asia, we noted a rising incidence over time, high prevalence of vascular risk factors, and poor outcomes in older men from the MENA region. We also uncovered considerable disparities between the MENA and non-MENA groups in stroke location and outcome. These disparities are crucial factors to consider when tailoring individualized patient care plans. Further research is needed to thoroughly investigate the underlying reasons for these variations., 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 Imam, Chandra, Singh, Hakeem, Al Sirhan, Kotob, Akhtar, Kamran, Al Jerdi, Muhammad, Haroon, Hussain, Perkins, Elalamy, Alhatou, Ali, Abdelmoneim, Joseph, Morgan, Uy, Bhutta, Azad, Ayyad, Elsotouhy, Own and Deleu.)

Purpose: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of rescue stent placement in patients who experienced acute stroke in whom mechanical thrombectomy failed., Methods: This was a retrospective review of a multiethnic stroke database. After stent placement, an aggressive antiplatelet protocol was followed with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa infusion. The primary outcomes were incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), recanalization score, and favorable prognosis (modified Rankin score ≤ 2) at 90 days. A comparison was made between patients from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and those from other regions., Results: Fifty-five patients were included, with 87% being men. The mean age was 51.3 years (SD ±11.8); 32 patients (58%) were from South Asia, 12 (22%) from MENA, 9 (16%) from Southeast Asia, and 2 (4%) from elsewhere. Successful recanalization (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score = 2b/3) was achieved in 43 patients (78%), and symptomatic ICH occurred in 2 patients (4%). A favorable outcome at 90 days was seen in 26 of the 55 patients (47%). Apart from significantly older age-mean, 62.8 years (SD ±13; median, 69 years) versus 48.1 years (SD ±9.3; median, 49 years)-and coronary artery disease burden-4 (33%) versus 1 (2%) (P < .05), patients from MENA had risk factors, stroke severity, recanalization rates, ICH rates, and 90-day outcomes similar to those from South and Southeast Asia., Conclusion: Rescue stent placement showed good outcomes and a low risk of clinically significant bleeding in a multiethnic cohort of patients from MENA and South and Southeast Asia, similar to that in published literature., (Copyright © 2023 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Studies assessing the burden of stroke in Qataris are limited. We aim to study stroke in the Qatari population., Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of all Qatari adults presenting with stroke to Hamad Medical Corporation over a 5-year period. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic and all other clinical characteristics of the patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of stroke in the Qatari patients. Comparison was made between the sexes., Results: 862 patients were included, with 58.9% being male. The average incidence of stroke over the 5-year period was 92.04 per 100,000 adult Qatari population. The mean age of the cohort was 64.3±14.4 years, (range 19-105 years). The mean age of first ever cerebrovascular event was 63.2±14.5 years. The diagnosis was ischemic stroke in (73.7%), transient ischemic attack in (13.8%), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in (11.6%), subarachnoid hemorrhage in (0.7%) and (0.2%) cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Small vessel disease was the most common cause of ischemic stroke accounting for (46.5%), followed by large artery atherosclerosis (24.5%). Hypertension (82.7%) and diabetes (71.6%) were particularly prevalent in this cohort. Females were older (65.8±14.1 vs 63.4±14.5 years), had more hypertension and diabetes and more disability or death at 90 days (p<0.05) compared to Qatari males., Conclusion: Stroke occurs at a significantly lower age in Qataris compared to the western population. This study has uncovered sex differences that need to be studied further., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) is elusive to diagnosis. Two widely used clinical scores are the Thwaites diagnostic score (TDS) and The Lancet Consensus score (LCS). We aim to evaluate the accuracy of these scores in a retrospective cohort of meningitis patients., Methods: A retrospective review of all meningitis cases admitted to a tertiary center in a 7-year period. The primary outcome was the sensitivity and the specificity of a preset cutoff on the TDS and the LCS and finding the best cutoff value with optimum sensitivity and specificity using Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis., Results: We included 156 cases of meningitis; 80 TBM and 76 controls (other meningitides). Seventy-eight (97.5%) of TB cases were suggestive of TBM compared to 45(59.2%) of controls (p < .001) using the TDS. Sensitivity was 97.5% and specificity was 40.8%. The PPV was 63.4% and the NPV was 93.9%. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.80 (0.73-0.87 at 95% CI). When calculated for bacterial meningitis vs TBM a cutoff of 4 showed excellent sensitivity (93%) and specificity (96%). AUC =0.96 (0.89-1.00 at 95% CI). While for the LCS, 67 (83.3%) were suggestive of TBM vs. 11 controls (14.5%) (p < .001). Sensitivity was 83.8%, specificity was 85.5%, and PPV and NPV were 85.9% and 83.3% respectfully. The AUC was 0.93 (95% CI 0.89-0.97)., Conclusion: The TDS performs best in differentiating bacterial meningitis from TBM and has a good negative predictive value. The LCS has good sensitivity and specificity in differentiating TBM from others forms of meningitides., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Recurrent ischemic strokes (IS) make up to one-third of all strokes. Nine out of 10 strokes are due to modifiable risk factors. Thus, it seems that standard management strategies of modifiable risk factors are yet to improve. Hence, we planned a randomized controlled trial assessing nurses or pharmacists-led aggressive control of comorbidities and their prognostic impact on IS and transient ischemic attacks (TIA)., Methods/design: Prospective study to optimize the health of patients with TIAs and stroke admitted to the Hamad General Hospital (PROMOTE HEALTH) is an assessor-blinded, open-label, randomized, two-arm, controlled trial. Eligible patients have IS or TIA, and an additional modifiable risk factor (Hypertension or dyslipidemia) attending the stroke ward or clinic at the Weill Cornell-affiliated Hamad General Hospital. Stroke specialists will offer the control group the currently practiced best risk factor management strategies. Whereas, in the intervention arm, with the assistance of a nurse and a pharmacist, we will make aggressive attempts to meet targets of defined risk factors. The primary outcomes are the mean difference in blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein. Whereas myocardial infarction, recurrent stroke events, and mortality serve as the study's secondary outcomes. We require 200 patients per study arm to achieve a power of 80% and an alpha level of <0.05. The Medical Research Center and the Institutional Review Board have approved the study, and it was prospectively registered in a trial registry., Discussion: A significant proportion of strokes are due to modifiable preventable risk factors. Despite having the right preventive strategies aimed at mitigating these risk factors, a sizeable proportion of strokes are due to recurring events. This prompted the medical community to evaluate aggressive means of addressing these risk factors. The nurse or pharmacist-led management of comorbidities has been proven to be of value in the management of diabetes and hypertension. It will be of value to demonstrate the effectiveness of utilizing this additional task force in aggressively managing IS or TIA patients with an overarching goal of improving their prognosis. If our intervention proves to be efficacious, this would have a substantial impact on the current stroke practices and guidelines. Additionally, it will invite further research in the area., Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02868723, last updated on September 2018.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is an important risk factor for stroke but there are limited data on atrial fibrillation-related stroke from the Middle East., Methods: We interrogated the Qatar Stroke Database to establish the occurrence, clinical features, and outcomes of atrial fibrillation-related stroke at Hamad General Hospital, the sole provider of acute stroke care in Qatar., Results: A total of 4079 patients (81.4% male, mean age 55.4 ± 13.3 years) were enrolled in the stroke database between January 2014 and 21 October 2017. Atrial fibrillation was present in 260 (6.4%) patients, of whom 106 (2.6%) had newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was significantly higher (7.9 + 7.0 (median 6; IQR 11) vs. 5.9 + 6.4 (median 4; IQR 6), P < 0.001) in atrial fibrillation patients. The modified Rankin Score (mRS) (P < 0.001) and mortality at 90-day follow-up (P = 0.002) were significantly higher in atrial fibrillation compared to non-atrial fibrillation stroke patients., Conclusion: We demonstrate a low rate of atrial fibrillation and stroke in Qatar, perhaps reflecting the relatively young age of these patients. Atrial fibrillation-related strokes had higher admission NIHSS, greater disability, and higher mortality at 90 days when compared to non-atrial fibrillation strokes.

Treatment of hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking cessation, and healthy lifestyle have all contributed to the decline in the incidence of vascular disease over the last several decades. Patients who suffer an acute stroke are at a high risk for recurrence. Introduction of newer technologies and their wider use allows for better identification of patients in whom the risk of recurrence following an acute stroke may be very high. Traditionally, the major focus for diagnosis and management has focused on patient history, examination, imaging for carotid stenosis/occlusion, and detection of AF and paroxysmal AF (PAF) with 24-48 h cardiac monitoring. This review focuses on the usefulness of three newer investigative tools that are becoming widely available and lead to better prevention. Continuous ambulatory blood pressure measurements for 24 h or longer and 3D Doppler measures of the carotid arteries provide key useful information on the state of vascular health and enhance our ability to monitor the response to preventive therapies. Furthermore, the detection of PAF can be significantly improved with prolonged cardiac monitoring for 3 weeks or longer, enabling the initiation of appropriate prevention therapy. This review will focus on the potential impact and importance of these emerging technologies on the prevention of recurrent stroke in high-risk patients.

Background: Tuberculous meningitis is the severest and commonest form of central nervous system tuberculosis causing high mortality and morbidity. We aim to study the clinical, biochemical, and radiological characteristics of tuberculous meningitis in adult patients in Qatar and to calculate the incidence., Methods: A descriptive retrospective 7-year study was conducted at the Hamad General Hospital (the only tertiary referral center and sole health care provider for tuberculosis in Qatar) between the 1st of January 2006 and the 31st of December 2012, to describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, outcome, and the incidence of adult tuberculous meningitis in Qatar., Results: Tuberculous meningitis was diagnosed in 80 patients (65 male, 15 female), with a mean age of 30.3 ± 8.9. The majority of patients (76.3%) were from the Indian subcontinent. The commonest clinical features were fever (79%), headache (71%), and meningism (56%). Cerebrospinal fluid tuberculosis culture was positive in 44% of patients. Almost 39% of patients were in Stage I, 46% in Stage II and 15% in Stage III of the disease. The commonest neuroimaging features were leptomeningeal enhancement (34%) and hydrocephalus (33%). Cranial nerve palsy, limb weakness, and an elevated C-reactive protein were associated with a poorer outcome. Sixty eight percent had complete recovery, 10% had residual neurological sequelae without disability, 17% had disability, and 5% died. The average incidence of tuberculous meningitis over 7 years was 0.9 per 100,000 adult population., Conclusion: The characteristics of tuberculous meningitis were described in our population. Our data indicate that the incidence of tuberculosis meningitis in Qatar has increased. Tuberculous meningitis in Qatar is mainly an imported disease.

The presence of cerebral palsy and that of slow growing brain tumors are risk factors for convulsive and nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) needs electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring to be confirmed as it may be clinically subtle. Furthermore, it may present with a variety of ictal EEG morphologies. We report a case of a patient with cerebral palsy and a large central meningioma. Electroencephalogram showed a slow pattern of periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) (a pattern considered as being situated in the ictal-interictal continuum) on an alpha background. The patient was treated for NCSE successfully with benzodiazepines followed by up-titration of his antiepileptic drug doses.

No published epidemiologic data on multiple sclerosis (MS) in Qatar exist. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence, demographics and clinical characteristics of MS in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar. We analyzed data for Qatari MS patients fulfilling the McDonald diagnostic criteria. A total of 154 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. On 31 April 2010, the crude prevalence of MS in Qatar was 64.57 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% CI: 58.31-70.37). The female-to-male ratio was 1.33:1. A positive family history was found in 10.4% of included MS patients. We conclude that Qatar is now a medium-to-high risk area for MS, with some important differences in clinical characteristics as compared to other countries in the region.

Background. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has many variants with distinct presentations. Ptosis as an initial presentation is rare. Case Report. We describe a young female with bilateral ptosis without ophthalmoplegia as the initial presentation of Guillain-Barré ptosis in an anti-GQ1b IgG antibody negative patient with a favorable outcome to intravenous immunoglobulins. Objectives. Our paper highlights the importance of recognizing GBS as a potential etiology in a patient presenting with isolated ptosis, particularly since the course of GBS can be more dramatic than in the anti-GBQ1b syndromes such as ophthalmoparesis without ataxia and Miller Fisher syndrome or ocular myasthenia. Conclusion. This is the first paper of anti-GBQ1b antibody negative GBS presenting with isolated ptosis without ophthalmoparesis. GBS should be included in the list of differential diagnosis of such presentations.

Hypertensive encephalopathy typically presents with headache, confusion, and bilateral parietooccipital vasogenic edema. Brainstem edema in hypertensive encephalopathy usually occurs in association with typical supratentorial parieto-occipital changes and is usually asymptomatic. We report here a patient with hypertensive encephalopathy, with isolated brain stem involvement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Rapid treatment of hypertension resulted in clinical and radiological improvement. Prompt recognition of the condition and aggressive treatment of hypertension in such patients is crucial to relieve edema and prevent life-threatening progression.

We describe a patient presenting with vertical one-and-a-half syndrome and concomitant contralesional horizontal gaze paresis as the result of a solitary neurocysticercosis (NCC) lesion in the right midbrain extending into the thalamomesencephalic junction. The patient received an albendazole-dexamethasone course which resulted in resolution of his symptoms. The neuro-ophthalmological complications of NCC are reviewed and the clinical topography of the neuro-ophthalmological findings of this unusual observation are discussed., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We report a unique neuroophthalmological syndrome consisting of vertical one-and-a-half syndrome-resulting from a combination of supranuclear conjugate upgaze palsy associated with left infranuclear (fascicular) third nerve involvement (Weber syndrome)-with concomitant contralesional pseudo-abducens palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed that this unusual clinical combination was the result of two infarcts one in the left thalamomesencephalic junction and another affecting the left infrategmental paramedian area of the rostral midbrain. We discuss the clinical topography of both neuroophthalmological findings. This unusual neuroophthalmological finding has not been reported., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Invasive group beta-streptococcal arthritis is being increasingly diagnosed as suggested by recent data. We report a case of a middle-aged lady from Sri Lanka who developed septic arthritis of the right shoulder and the left sacroiliac joint as well as an iliopsoas collection caused by Streptococcus agalactiae shortly after labor at Hamad General Hospital in Doha, Qatar. We conclude that Streptococcus agalactiae septic arthritis is rare. It can present with invasive disease in adults. It usually targets older females and immuno compromised patients especially those with risk factors for bacteraemia. Therefore a high index of suspicion is needed. Shoulder and sacroiliac joint affection is not uncommon for unknown reasons. Utilizing imaging modalities such as ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging is helpful.

Background. Extrapontine myelinolysis (EPM) has been well described in the presence of rapid correction of hyponatremia. It is seldom reported with adrenal insufficiency. We report a unique case where a patient developed EPM as a result of adrenal insufficiency where the brain MRI revealed symmetrical lesion in the basal ganglia with pallidal sparing. Case Report. A 30-year-old gentleman with panhypopituitarism developed adrenal crisis, hyponatremia, and hyponatremic encephalopathy. Seven days after the rapid correction of hyponatremia, he developed parkinsonism and neuropsychiatric symptoms. MRI showed extrapontine myelinolysis without central pontine myelinolysis. Conclusion. Extrapontine myelinolysis without central pontine myelinolysis is rare and should raise a concern of associated adrenal insufficiency in the right clinical setting. Rapid correction of hyponatremia particularly in steroid-deficient states should be avoided as it can predispose to extrapontine myelinolysis. Magnetic resonance imaging is very helpful in supporting the diagnosis of EPM.

Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. It is a major cause of seizures in developing countries, especially in the Indian subcontinent and most of Asia, Latin America and Africa. It is increasing in prevalence in Muslim countries, especially in the Gulf region reflecting the demographics of these countries which rely heavily on labourers from highly endemic areas. Infections among Muslims in non-endemic regions are increasing. We describe one prospective case report of a Qatari male who presented with seizures and was found to have neurocysticercosis, and three retrospective cases of this infection among Qatari Muslims, who were admitted to a tertiary care hospital over the past 10 years., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)