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BACKGROUND: Pretreatment computed tomography perfusion parameter relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) lesion volume has been shown to predict 90-day modified Rankin Scale score in small-core strokes with Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score ≥5, including those with medium-vessel occlusions (mid and distal M2 segment occlusions). Hence, in this study we aim to assess the performance of different rCBV lesion volume thresholds (rCBV

Pretreatment CT Perfusion (CTP) parameter rCBV < 42% lesion volume has recently been shown to predict 90-day mRS. In this study, we aim to assess the relationship between rCBV < 42% and a radiographic follow-up infarct volume delineated on FLAIR images. In this retrospective evaluation of our prospectively collected database, we included acute stroke patients triaged by multimodal CT imaging, including CT angiography and perfusion imaging, with confirmed anterior circulation large vessel occlusion between 9 January 2017 and 10 January 2023. Follow-up FLAIR imaging was used to determine the final infarct volume. Student t, Mann-Whitney-U, and Chi-Square tests were used to assess differences. Spearmans rank correlation and linear regression analysis were used to assess associations between rCBV < 42% and follow-up infarct volume on FLAIR. In total, 158 patients (median age: 68 years, 52.5% female) met our inclusion criteria. rCBV < 42% (ρ = 0.56, p < 0.001) significantly correlated with follow-up-FLAIR infarct volume. On multivariable linear regression analysis, rCBV < 42% lesion volume (beta = 0.60, p < 0.001), ASPECTS (beta = -0.214, p < 0.01), mTICI (beta = -0.277, p < 0.001), and diabetes (beta = 0.16, p < 0.05) were independently associated with follow-up infarct volume. The rCBV < 42% lesion volume is independently associated with FLAIR follow-up infarct volume.

Background: The pretreatment CT perfusion (CTP) marker the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) < 42% lesion volume has recently been shown to predict 90-day functional outcomes; however, studies assessing correlations of the rCBV < 42% lesion volume with other outcomes remain sparse. Here, we aim to assess the relationship between the rCBV < 42% lesion volume and the reference standard digital subtraction angiography (DSA)-derived American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology (ASITN) collateral score, hereby referred as the DSA CS. Methods: In this retrospective evaluation of our prospectively collected database, we included acute stroke patients triaged by multimodal CT imaging, including CT angiography and perfusion imaging, with confirmed anterior circulation large vessel occlusion between 1 September 2017 and 1 October 2023. Group differences were assessed using the Students t test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-Square test. Spearmans rank correlation and logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations between rCBV < 42% and DSA CS. Results: In total, 222 patients (median age: 69 years, 56.3% female) met our inclusion criteria. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, taking into account age, sex, race, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, the admission National Institute of Health stroke scale, the premorbid modified Rankin score, the Alberta stroke program early CT score (ASPECTS), and segment occlusion, the rCBV < 42% lesion volume (adjusted OR: 0.98, p < 0.05) was independently associated with the DSA CS. Conclusion: The rCBV < 42% lesion volume is independently associated with the DSA CS.

Purpose of Review: To describe patient experiences of transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and review recent advances in enhancing clinical outcomes. Recent Findings: High rates of recurrence and progression of non-muscle invasive bladder tumors expose patients to multiple TURBT procedures throughout their disease process. Understanding the impact of TURBT on quality of life and patient experiences is crucial for shared decision-making, thus enhanced recovery protocol trials are being explored to improve patient outcomes. The variability in TURBT practices worldwide contributes to differing bladder tumor recurrence rates, prompting efforts to standardize practices by evaluating the impact of patient, hospital, and surgeon factors. For select cases, less intensive surveillance regimens have reduced toxicities and costs without compromising oncologic outcomes. New innovative approaches such as en bloc- and stratified resection techniques may reduce perioperative complications and improve clinical outcomes. Finally, neoadjuvant and ablative treatments have shown to be promising alternatives to TURBT, necessitating further investigation in this setting. Summary: TURBT is essential for diagnosing and treating bladder cancer. Reducing associated morbidities and improving surgical outcomes involve multifaceted approaches, including standardizing surgical practices, exploring innovative techniques, and optimizing surveillance regimens, all while promoting patient quality of life. Neoadjuvant therapies as alternative treatments are on the horizon and may ultimately change the landscape of bladder cancer care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The variation in quality and quantity of collateral status (CS) is in part responsible for a wide variability in extent of neural damage following acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO). Single-phase CTA based clot burden score (CBS) is a promising marker in estimating CS. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship of pretreatment CTA based CBS with the reference standard Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) based American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (ASITN) CS. Methods In this retrospective study, inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Anterior circulation LVO confirmed on CTA from January 9, 2017 to January 10, 2023; (2) diagnostic CTA; and (3) underwent mechanical thrombectomy with documented DSA CS. Spearman's rank correlation analysis, multivariate logistic regression and ROC analysis was performed to assess the correlation of CTA CBS with DSA CS. P  ≤ .05 was considered significant. Results 292 consecutive patients (median age = 68 years; 56.2% female) met our inclusion criteria. CTA CBS and DSA CS showed significant positive correlation (ρ  = 0.51, P  < .001). On multivariate logistic regression analysis CBS was found to be independently associated with DSA CS (adjusted OR = 1.83, P  < .001, 95% CI: 1.54-2.19), after adjusting for age, sex, race, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, atrial fibrillation, premorbid mRS, admission NIH stroke scale, and ASPECTS. ROC analysis of CBS in predicting good DSA CS showed AUC of 0.76 (P  < .001; 95% CI: 0.68-0.82). CBS threshold of > 6 has 84.6% sensitivity and 42.3% specificity in predicting good DSA CS. Conclusion CTA CBS is independently associated with DSA CS and serves as a valuable supplementary tool for CS estimation. Further research is necessary to enhance our understanding of the role of CTA CBS in clinical decision-making for patients with AIS-LVO. Advances in knowledge CBS by indirectly estimating CS has shown to predict outcomes in AIS-LVO patients. No studies report association of CBS with reference standard DSA. In this study we further establish CBS as an independent marker of CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relative level of functional impairment in stroke patients is a significant determinant of post-acute care. The Activity Measure for Post Acute Care 6-Clicks (AM-PAC) scores for basic mobility and daily activity are rapid standardized assessments whose utilities in predicting long-term stroke outcomes have not yet been studied. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of acute ischemic stroke patients and their outcomes. We evaluated the distribution of outcomes using the chi-square test. We then compared the proportions of patients with good stroke outcomes for different combinations of favorable scores. We performed two-proportion z-tests to determine the significance, and p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 282 patients met all of the inclusion criteria between 12 January 2017 and 19 March 2023 (M age = 66.4, 59.9% female). After dichotomizing the scores as "favorable" vs. "unfavorable", we found that 128/155 (82.6%) patients with favorable basic mobility had good stroke outcomes vs. 20/127 (15.7%) with unfavorable basic mobility (p < 0.0001). Similarly, for favorable daily activity, it was 103/113 (91.2%) vs. 45/169 (26.6%), for both favorable, it was 100/109 (91.7%) vs. 48/173 (27.7%), and for neither favorable, it was 17/123 (13.8%) vs. 131/159 (82.4%), all with p < 0.0001. When comparing among groups, both favorable patients differed significantly from those with favorable basic mobility alone (p = 0.033) but not those with favorable daily activity alone (p = 0.875). Even after adjusting for age, the odds ratios of favorable scores were greater than 20 for any combination (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Basic mobility and daily activity AM-PAC scores at discharge are independent predictors of anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke outcomes at 90 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Collateral status (CS) is an important biomarker of functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke secondary to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO). Pretreatment CT perfusion (CTP) parameters serve as reliable surrogates of collateral status (CS). In this study, we aim to assess the relationship between the relative cerebral blood flow less than 38% (rCBF <38%), with the reference standard American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (ASITN) collateral score (CS) on DSA. Methods: In this prospectively collected, retrospectively reviewed analysis, inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) CT angiography (CTA) confirmed anterior circulation large vessel occlusion from 9/1/2017 to 10/01/2023; (b) diagnostic CT perfusion; and (c) underwent mechanical thrombectomy with documented ASITN CS. The ratios of the CTP-derived CBF values were calculated by dividing the values of the ischemic lesion by the corresponding values of the contralateral normal region (which were defined as rCBF). Spearman's rank correlation and logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the relationship of rCBF <38% lesion volume with DSA ASITN CS. p ≤.05 was considered significant. Results: In total, 223 patients [mean age: 67.77 ± 15.76 years, 56.1% (n = 125) female] met our inclusion criteria. Significant negative correlation was noted between rCBF <38% volume and DSA CS (ρ = −0.37, p <.001). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, rCBF <38% volume was found to be independently associated with worse ASITN CS (unadjusted OR: 3.03, 95% CI: 1.60–5.69, p <.001, and adjusted OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.34–5.50, p <.01). Conclusion: Greater volume of tissue with rCBF <38% is independently associated with better DSA CS. rCBF <38% is a useful adjunct tool in collateralization-based prognostication. Future studies are needed to expand our understanding of the role of rCBF <38% within the decision-making in patients with AIS-LVO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating ongoing exploration of its pathophysiology and treatment strategies. This comprehensive review integrates various aspects of ischemic stroke research, emphasizing crucial mechanisms, therapeutic approaches, and the role of clinical imaging in disease management. It discusses the multifaceted role of Netrin-1, highlighting its potential in promoting neurovascular repair and mitigating post-stroke neurological decline. It also examines the impact of blood–brain barrier permeability on stroke outcomes and explores alternative therapeutic targets such as statins and sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling. Neurocardiology investigations underscore the contribution of cardiac factors to post-stroke mortality, emphasizing the importance of understanding the brain–heart axis for targeted interventions. Additionally, the review advocates for early reperfusion and neuroprotective agents to counter-time-dependent excitotoxicity and inflammation, aiming to preserve tissue viability. Advanced imaging techniques, including DWI, PI, and MR angiography, are discussed for their role in evaluating ischemic penumbra evolution and guiding therapeutic decisions. By integrating molecular insights with imaging modalities, this interdisciplinary approach enhances our understanding of ischemic stroke and offers promising avenues for future research and clinical interventions to improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the treatment standard in eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) secondary to large vessel occlusions (LVO). Studies have shown that good collateral status is a strong predictor of MT efficacy, thus making collateral status important to quickly assess. The Los Angeles Motor Scale is a clinically validated tool for identifying LVO in the field. The aim of this study is to investigate whether admission LAMS score is also associated with the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (ASITN) collateral score on digital subtraction angiography (DSA).We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients presenting with AIS caused by LVO from 9/1/2017 to 10/1/2023 with diagnostically adequate DSA imaging. Demographic, clinical, and imaging data was collected through manual chart review. Both univariate and multivariate analysis were applied to assess associations. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.A total of 308 patients (median age: 68, IQR: 57.5–77) were included in the study. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that lower admission LAMS score (adjusted OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68–0.98, p < 0.05) and higher ASPECTS score (adjusted OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02–1.42, p < 0.05) were independently associated with good DSA ASITN collateral score of 3-4.Admission LAMS and ASPECTS score are both independently associated with DSA ASITN collateral score. This demonstrates the capability of LAMS to act as a surrogate marker of CS in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the treatment standard for large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke. Under current guidelines, only patients with smaller ischemic core volumes (ICV) are eligible for MT. Thus, it is of interest to quickly estimate ICV in stroke patients. The Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS) is a validated tool used to assess stroke severity directly in the field. This study aims to determine whether LAMS score is also associated with ICV, as defined by the CBF <30% volume on CT perfusion imaging., Methods: We performed a retrospective, multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients presenting with LVO stroke from 9/1/2017 to 10/1/2023. The inclusion criteria were patients with (1) stroke caused by large vessel occlusion confirmed on CTA and (2) diagnostically adequate, multimodal pretreatment CT imaging. Demographic, clinical, and imaging data was collected through manual chart review. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to assess associations. A p -value <.05 was considered significant., Results: A total of 283 patients (median age: 69, IQR: 61-78) were included in the study. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that lower admission LAMS score (adjusted OR: 0.511, 95% CI: 0.313-0.834, p = .007) was independently associated with a CBF <30% volume of less than 50cc., Conclusions: Admission LAMS is an independent predictor of a CBF <30% volume of less than 50cc. This demonstrates that LAMS can be used to estimate ICV, which will aid in the early triaging of LVO patients to thrombectomy-capable centers., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The authors do not have any conflict of interest to disclose except for Dr Vivek Yedavalli, who serves as a consultant for MRIOnline (Cincinnati, OH, USA), RAPID (iSchemaView, Menlo Park, CA, USA), and editorial board of Frontiers in Radiology.