Management and Surgical Treatment of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

The advantages, methods and results of surgical intracranial obliteration of aneurysms in conjunction with the use of intracranial or neck ligation of arteries were studied in 177 patients made up of the following groups: (a) internal carotid aneurysms-48, (b) anterior cerebral-anterior communicating-37, (c) middle cerebral-20, (b) basilar-two, (e) posterior cerebral-one. The overall mortality rate was 23%. Following conservative treatment, 69 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage without demonstrated aneurysms had a mortality rate of 30%. In this seven-year study the value of team work involving a second neurosurgeon, well-trained nursing personnel and expert anesthetists was amply demonstrated.     

Retreatment and Outcomes of Recurrent Intracranial Vertebral Artery Dissecting Aneurysms after Stent Assisted Coiling: A Single Center Experience

Background and purpose

The retreatment of recurrent intracranial vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (VADAs) after stent assisted coiling (SAC) has not yet been studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the strategies and outcomes for retreatment of recurrent VADAs after SAC.

Methods

Between September 2009 and November 2013, six consecutive patients presenting with recurrent intracranial VADAs after SAC were enrolled in this study. They were all male with age ranging from 29 to 54 years (mean age, 46.2 years). The procedures of treatments and angiographic and clinical follow-up were reviewed retrospectively. Retreatment modalities were selected individually according to the characteristics of recurrence. The outcomes of retreatment were evaluated by angiographic and clinical follow-up.

Results

Six patients with recurrent intracranial VADAs after SAC were retreated, with second SAC in three patients, coil embolization, double overlapping stents placement and endovascular occlusion with aneurysm trapping in one patient, respectively. Immediate angiographic outcomes of retreatment were: complete occlusion in three patients, nearly complete occlusion in two patients, and contrast medium retention in dissecting aneurysm in one patient. All cases were technically successful. No complications related to endovascular procedures occurred. Angiographic follow-up was available in all five patients treated with second SAC or double overlapping stents, which was complete occlusion in four patients, obliteration of parent artery in one patient, showing no recurrence at 4–11 months (mean: 8.6 months). Clinical follow-up was performed in all six patients at 11–51 months after initial endovascular treatment and at 9–43 months after retreatment. The mRS of last clinical follow-up was excellent in five patients and mild disability in only one patient.

Conclusions

Endovascular retreatment is feasible and effective for recurrent intracranial VADAs after SAC. Individualized strategies of retreatment should be enacted according to the characteristics and reasons for the recurrence.     

The Genetics of Primary Haemorrhagic Stroke,Subarachnoid Haemorrhage and Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in Adults

Background

The genetic basis of haemorrhagic stroke has proved difficult to unravel, partly hampered by the small numbers of subjects in any single study. A meta-analysis of all candidate gene association studies of haemorrhagic stroke (including ruptured subarachnoid haemorrhage and amyloid angiopathy-related haemorrhage) was performed, allowing more reliable estimates of risk.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis of all genetic studies in haemorrhagic stroke was conducted. Electronic databases were searched until and including March 2007 for any candidate gene in haemorrhagic stroke. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined for each gene disease association using fixed and random effect models.

Results

Our meta-analyses included 6,359 cases and 13,805 controls derived from 55 case-control studies, which included 12 genes (13 polymorphisms). Statistically significant associations with haemorrhagic stroke were identified for those homozygous for the ACE/I allele (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.20–1.83; p = 0.0003) and for the 5G allele in the SERPINE1 4G/5G polymorphism (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.03–1.96; p = 0.03). In addition, both &b.epsi;2 and &b.epsi;4 alleles of APOE were significantly associated with lobar haemorrhage (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.26–2.62; p = 0.002 and OR, 1.49; 95% 1.08–2.05; p = 0.01 respectively). Furthermore, a significant protective association against haemorrhagic stroke was found for the factor V Leiden mutation (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.10–0.87; p = 0.03).

Conclusion

Our data suggests a genetic contribution to some types of haemorrhagic stroke, with no overall responsible single gene but rather supporting a polygenic aetiology . However, the evidence base is smaller compared to ischaemic stroke. Importantly, for several alleles previously found to be associated with protection from ischaemic stroke, there was a trend towards an increased risk of haemorrhagic stroke.     

Use of Pulmonary Artery Catheter in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. Costs and Long-Term Outcomes

BackgroundPulmonary artery catheters (PAC) are used widely to monitor hemodynamics in patients undergoing coronary bypass graft (CABG) surgery. However, recent studies have raised concerns regarding both the effectiveness and safety of PAC. Therefore, our aim was to determine the effects of the use of PAC on the short- and long-term health and economic outcomes of patients undergoing CABG.Methods1361 Chinese patients who consecutively underwent isolated, primary CABG at the Cardiovascular Institute of Fuwai Hospital from June 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 were included in this study. Of all the patients, 453 received PAC during operation (PAC group) and 908 received no PAC therapy (control group). Short-term and long-term mortality and major complications were analyzed with multivariate regression analysis and propensity score matched-pair analysis was used to yield two well-matched groups for further comparison.ResultsThe patients who were managed with PAC more often received intraoperative vasoactive drugs dopamine (70.9% vs. 45.5%; P<0.001) and epinephrine (7.7% vs. 2.6%; P<0.001). In addition, costs for initial hospitalization were higher for PAC patients ($14,535 vs. $13,873, respectively, p = 0.004). PAC use was neither associated with the perioperative mortality or major complications, nor was it associated with long-term mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. In addition, comparison between two well-matched groups showed no significant differences either in baseline characteristics or in short-term and long-term outcomes.ConclusionsThere is no clear indication of any benefit or harm in managing CABG patients with PAC. However, use of PAC in CABG is more expensive. That is, PAC use increased costs without benefit and thus appears unjustified for routine use in CABG surgery.     

不同手术时机治疗颅内前循环动脉瘤破裂疗效及预后分析

目的:比较不同手术时机治疗颅内前循环动脉瘤破裂患者的疗效及对患者远期预后的影响。方法:回顾性分析我院2010年3月~2015年10月收治的120例颅内前循环动脉瘤破裂患者的临床资料,所有患者均接受显微手术夹闭治疗,按手术时机分为超早期组(24 h,n=43)、早期组(24-72 h,n=36)、延期组(≥10 d,n=41),比较各组术后颅内动脉栓塞改善程度,统计各组术中及术后并发症发生情况,采用格拉斯哥量表(GOC)评定患者术后恢复情况,采用改良Rankin(m RS)表评定患者远期预后。结果:超早期组完全栓塞率略高于早期组、延期组,但对比差异无统计学意义(P0.05);超早期组术中、术后各并发症发生率略低于早期组、延期组,但对比差异无统计学意义(P0.05);术后6、12、24个月,超早期组、延期组GOS评分高于早期组、m RS评分低于早期组,超早期组GOS评分高于延期组,m RS评分低于延期组(P0.05)。结论:不同手术时机治疗颅内前循环动脉瘤破裂手术效果无明显差异,但超早期、延期手术患者术后恢复及预后评分稍优于早期手术。     

栓塞治疗颅内动脉瘤的并发症及处理方法分析

目的:分析栓塞治疗颅内动脉瘤过程中并发症的发生原因及处理方法。方法:回顾性分析微弹簧圈栓塞治疗的97例颅内动脉瘤患者的临床资料,包括性别、年龄、Hunt-Hess分级,对住院患者进行术前整体状况评估。影像学检查主要记录动脉瘤的位置、瘤体长度和瘤颈宽度,测量其长宽比例。血管内介入手术治疗观察各种介入治疗方法以及相关并发症。结果:本组97例颅内动脉瘤患者中,男44例、女53例,男性平均年龄51.3岁,女性平均年龄46.7岁,男女共同平均年龄48.7岁。颈内动脉-后交通支及其附近动脉瘤51个,前交通动脉和大脑前动脉29个,大脑中动脉11个,椎-基底动脉系统6个,所用到的栓塞材料包括各种弹簧圈、颅内支架、不可脱球囊等。97例中15例出现并发症(15.5%),动脉瘤破裂出血4例,术中发生血管痉挛3例,血栓形成或血栓性栓塞5例,3例死亡。结论:栓塞治疗颅内动脉瘤过程中最主要并发症包括动脉瘤破裂、栓塞和血栓形成、血管痉挛等,术前评估、术中谨慎操作以及正确及时的处理能够降低栓塞治疗颅内动脉瘤的并发症。     

Intracranial Ependymoma: Long-Term Results in a Series of 21 Patients Treated with Stereotactic 125Iodine Brachytherapy

Background

We evaluated the long-term outcome in patients harboring intracranial ependymomas treated with interstitial brachytherapy (IBT).

Methods

Twenty-one patients (M/F = 9/12; median age: 29 years; range: 8–70 years), diagnosed with intracranial ependymoma (1 WHO I, 11 WHO II, 9 WHO III) were treated with IBT using stereotactically implanted ¹²⁵Iodine seeds between 1987 and 2010, either primarily, as adjuvant therapy following incomplete resection, or as salvage treatment upon tumor recurrence. Sixteen of 21 patients underwent microsurgical resection prior to IBT; in 5 patients, IBT was performed primarily after stereotactic biopsy for histological diagnosis. The cumulative tumor surface dose ranged from 50–65 Gy treating a median tumor volume of 3.6 ml (range, 0.3–11.6 ml). A median follow-up period of 105.3 months (range, 12.7–286.2 months) was evaluated.

Results

Actuarial 2-, 5- and 10-years overall- and disease-specific survival rates after IBT were each 90% and 100% at all times for ependymomas WHO I/II, for anaplastic ependymomas WHO III 100%, 100%, 70% and 100%, 100%, 86%, respectively. The neurological status of seven patients improved, while there was no change in 12 and deterioration in 2 patients, respectively. Follow-up MR images disclosed a complete tumor remission in 3, a partial remission in 12 and a stable disease in 6 patients. Treatment-associated morbidity only occurred in a single patient.

Conclusions

This study shows that stereotactic IBT for intracranial ependymomas is safe and can provide a high degree of local tumor control. Due to the low rate of side effects, IBT may evolve into an attractive alternative to microsurgery in ependymomas located in eloquent areas or as a salvage treatment.     

Results of Vertebral Augmentation Treatment for Patients of Painful Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Meta-Analysis of Eight Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

In 2009 two RCTs were publicated to question the efficacy of vertebroplasty comparing with sham treatment (ST) in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), which provoked an academic debate on the efficacy of PVA. The purposes of our study were to compare clinical differences in pain relief, spinal functional outcomes, and overall quality of life between PVA and CT for painful osteoporotic VCFs.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Knowledge from January 1980 to June 2013 with Medical Subject Headings terms and keywords. Risk of bias in the included studies was assessed in accordance with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. In this Meta-analysis dichotomous and continuous variables were calculated using the risk ratio (RR) and standardized mean difference (SMD), respectively.

Results

Eight studies involving 987 patients met the criteria for inclusion. The VAS SMD was favoring the experimental group significantly (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis suggested that the patients performed PVA with mean fracture age less than 3 months would got pain relief earlier and more durable than the control group (P <0.05). The SMD of spinal function assessed with RDQ and Oswestry LBP data was in favor of the experimental groups. QOL outcome improvement was demonstrated statistically significant at early, middle and late-term follow-up for PVA than the control group (P <0.05).

Conclusions

In conclusion, this meta-analysis, which evaluated PVA for osteoporotic VCFs, demonstrated significant improvement regarding VAS, spinal function and QOL outcomes. The optimal fracture age was less than 12 weeks.     

Radiologic Predictors for Clinical Stage IA Lung Adenocarcinoma with Ground Glass Components: A Multi-Center Study of Long-Term Outcomes

Objective

This study was to define preoperative predictors from radiologic findings for the pathologic risk groups based on long-term surgical outcomes, in the aim to help guide individualized patient management.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 321 consecutive patients with clinical stage IA lung adenocarcinoma with ground glass component on computed tomography (CT) scanning. Pathologic diagnosis for resection specimens was based on the 2011 IASLC/ATS/ERS classification of lung adenocarcinoma. Patients were classified into different pathologic risk grading groups based on their lymph node status, local regional recurrence and overall survival. Radiologic characteristics of the pulmonary nodules were re-evaluated by reconstructed three-dimension CT (3D-CT). Univariate and multivariate analysis identifies independent radiologic predictors from tumor diameter, total volume (TV), average CT value (AVG), and solid-to-tumor (S/T) ratio. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) studies were carried out to determine the cutoff value(s) for the predictor(s). Univariate cox regression model was used to determine the clinical significance of the above findings.

Results

A total of 321 patients with clinical stage IA lung adenocarcinoma with ground glass components were included in our study. Patients were classified into two pathologic low- and high- risk groups based on their distinguished surgical outcomes. A total of 134 patients fell into the low-risk group. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified AVG (HR: 32.210, 95% CI: 3.020–79.689, P<0.001) and S/T ratio (HR: 12.212, 95% CI: 5.441–27.408, P<0.001) as independent predictors for pathologic risk grading. ROC curves studies suggested the optimal cut-off values for AVG and S/T ratio were-198 (area under the curve [AUC] 0.921), 2.9 (AUC 0.996) and 54% (AUC 0.907), respectively. The tumor diameter and TV were excluded for the low AUCs (0.778 and 0.767). Both the cutoff values of AVG and S/T ratio were correlated with pathologic risk classification (p<0.001). Univariate Cox regression model identified clinical risk classification (RR: 3.011, 95%CI: 0.796–7.882, P = 0.095) as a good predictor for recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with clinical stage IA lung adenocarcinoma. Statistical significance of 5-year OS and RFS was noted among clinical low-, moderate- and high-risk groups (log-rank, p = 0.024 and 0.010).

Conclusions

The AVG and the S/T ratio by reconstructed 3D-CT are important preoperative radiologic predictors for pathologic risk grading. The two cutoff values of AVG and S/T ratio are recommended in decision-making for patients with clinical stage IA lung adenocarcinoma with ground glass components.     

The Impact of Body Mass Index on Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Graft Bypass

Objective

This study was designed to investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on short- and long-term outcomes after initial revascularization with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Methods

4916 Chinese who consecutively underwent isolated, primary CABG at the Cardiovascular Institute of Fuwai Hospital from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2005 were included in this study. They were classified based on BMI as follows: underweight: <18.5 kg/m², normal weight: 18.5 to 23.9 kg/m², overweight: 24 to 27.9 kg/m², obesity: 28 to 32 kg/m², and severe obesity: >32 kg/m². Short (in-hospital) and long-term (5-years) major post-operative complications and mortalities were compared among various BMI groups after initial revascularization.

Results

Multiple regression analysis of five years follow-up of clinical end points indicated that various BMI groups were not associated with significant differences in 5 years mortality and MACCE, however, old age, smoking, hypertension, myocardial infarction and heart failure were the risk factor for the mortality.

Conclusions

In this large-scale study with long term follow-up after primary CABG in an exclusively ethnic Chinese population, we found that different BMI groups were not significantly associated with 5-years mortality and MACCE, however, old age, smoking, hypertension, myocardial infarction and heart failure were the risk factors of post-operative mortality, and old age, hypertension and heart failure increased the rate of MACCE.     

Factors Associated with Unfavorable Treatment Outcomes in New and Previously Treated TB Patients in Uzbekistan: A Five Year Countrywide Study

Background

TB is one of the main health priorities in Uzbekistan and relatively high rates of unfavorable treatment outcomes have recently been reported. This requires closer analysis to explain the reasons and recommend interventions to improve the situation. Thus, by using countrywide data this study sought to determine trends in unfavorable outcomes (lost-to-follow-ups, deaths and treatment failures) and describe their associations with socio-demographic and clinical factors.

Method

A countrywide retrospective cohort study of all new and previously treated TB patients registered in the National Tuberculosis programme between January 2006 and December 2010.

Results

Among 107,380 registered patients, 67% were adults, with smaller proportions of children (10%), adolescents (4%) and elderly patients (19%). Sixty per cent were male, 66% lived in rural areas, 1% were HIV-infected and 1% had a history of imprisonment. Pulmonary TB (PTB) was present in 77%, of which 43% were smear-positive and 53% were smear-negative. Overall, 83% of patients were successfully treated, 6% died, 6% were lost-to-follow-up, 3% failed treatment and 2% transferred out. Factors associated with death included being above 55 years of age, HIV-positive, sputum smear positive, previously treated, jobless and living in certain provinces. Factors associated with lost-to-follow-up were being male, previously treated, jobless, living in an urban area, and living in certain provinces. Having smear-positive PTB, being an adolescent, being urban population, being HIV-negative, previously treated, jobless and residing in particular provinces were associated with treatment failure.

Conclusion

Overall, 83% treatment success rate was achieved. However, our study findings highlight the need to improve TB services for certain vulnerable groups and in specific areas of the country. They also emphasize the need to develop unified monitoring and evaluation tools for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB, and call for better TB surveillance and coordination between provinces and neighbouring countries.     

血管内介入治疗颈动脉、椎动脉狭窄的临床疗效和安全性

目的:研究血管内介入治疗颈动脉、椎动脉狭窄的临床疗效和安全性。方法:选择2011年3月~2016年3月在我院进行诊治的210例颈动脉和椎动脉狭窄患者狭窄程度在70%~99%之间,颈、椎动脉直径狭窄率超过70%,所有患者均进行了血管内介入治疗,观察患者的临床表现、DSA和血管超声检查结果和围手术期并发症,并进行随访。结果:经颈部血管听诊发现,有163例(77.62%)患者出现血管杂音,合并高血压103例(49.05%)、高脂血症123例(58.57%)、吸烟76例(36.19%)、糖尿病98例(46.67%)、高同型半胱氨酸血症13例(6.19%);DSA检查发现有126例患者为单纯颅外段颈动脉狭窄,51例患者为单纯椎动脉起始部狭窄,22例患者为颅外段颈动脉合并椎动脉狭窄;术后的颈、椎动脉平均狭窄率为(4.15±7.26)%,明显低于术前的(79.25±6.34)%(P0.05);所有患者均未出现严重神经系统并发症和手术期死亡;术后随访8~36个月,均未出现与支架相关的短暂性脑缺血和新发脑梗死。结论:血管内介入治疗颈动脉、椎动脉狭窄安全有效,具有较高的临床应用价值。     

Effect of Treatment Modality on Long-Term Outcomes in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review

BackgroundEvaluation of treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) previously focused on symptom control, but attention has shifted to functional outcomes. The effect of different ADHD treatment periods and modalities (pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and combination) on long-term outcomes needs to be more comprehensively understood.MethodsA systematic search of 12 literature databases using Cochrane’s guidelines yielded 403 English-language peer-reviewed, primary studies reporting long-term outcomes (≥2 years). We evaluated relative effects of treatment modalities and durations and effect sizes of outcomes reported as statistically significantly improved with treatment.ResultsThe highest proportion of improved outcomes was reported with combination treatment (83% of outcomes). Among significantly improved outcomes, the largest effect sizes were found for combination treatment. The greatest improvements were associated with academic, self-esteem, or social function outcomes. A majority of outcomes improved regardless of age of treatment initiation (60%–75%) or treatment duration (62%–72%). Studies with short treatment duration had shorter follow-up times (mean 3.2 years total study length) than those with longer treatment durations (mean 7.1 years total study length). Studies with follow-up times <3 years reported benefit with treatment for 93% of outcomes, whereas those with follow-up times ≥3 years reported treatment benefit for 57% of outcomes. Post-hoc analysis indicated that this result was related to the measurement of outcomes at longer periods (3.2 versus 0.4 years) after treatment cessation in studies with longer total study length.ConclusionsWhile the majority of long-term outcomes of ADHD improve with all treatment modalities, the combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment was most consistently associated with improved long-term outcomes and large effect sizes. Older treatment initiation age or longer durations did not markedly affect proportion of improved outcomes reported, but measurement of outcomes long periods after treatment cessation may attenuate results.     

椎动脉夹层致脑梗死4例病例报道并文献复习*

目的:分析椎动脉夹层(VAD)的临床特点,探讨其与脑梗死的关系。方法:回顾性分析4例VAD致脑梗死患者的临床资料,并结合文献复习。结果:本组4例VAD患者中,2例患者有高血压病史,1例有高血压病相关家族史,1例无相关病史或家族史;3例患者有10年以上的吸烟史;4例患者均表现为头晕、恶心呕吐、行走不稳等后循环缺血症状,其中2例有显著的头枕部痛;4例患者均经DSA确诊为VAD。3例患者行抗血小板药物治疗,1例行血管内介入治疗。3例患者康复出院;1例治疗后仍有显著的头枕部痛症状,拒绝进一步治疗予出院。结论:脑梗死患者有高血压病及长期吸烟史,表现为头晕、头枕痛等后循环缺血症状,应考虑VAD的可能。DSA是目前诊断VAD的金标准,及时规范的治疗可改善VAD患者的预后。     

Outcomes in Adenomyosis Treated with Uterine Artery Embolization Are Associated with Lesion Vascularity: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study of 252 Cases

PurposeTo study the therapeutic effects of uterine artery embolization (UAE) on adenomyosis and to investigate the association between uterine blood supply and artery embolization treatment outcomes.MethodsUsing digital subtraction angiography (DSA) imaging data, we retrospectively evaluated the vascular features of 252 adenomyosis patients treated with UAE. The cases were classified based on the equality of uterine blood supply (equal and unequal subgroups) and the degree of vascularity at the adenomyosis lesion site (hypervascular, isovascular and hypovascular subgroups). Patients were followed-up for 5 years after UAE. Improvements in dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia were evaluated based on the relief of the patients’ symptoms. The improvement rates among the different subgroups were analyzed and compared.ResultsThe improvement rates of dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia were 74.0% and 70.9%, respectively, at the short-term (12-month) follow-up and 70.4% and 68.8%, respectively, at the long-term (5-year) follow-up. No statistically significant differences were observed in the improvement rates for dysmenorrhea or menorrhagia between the equal and unequal blood supply subgroups at either the short- or long-term follow-up. The improvement rates for dysmenorrhea among the hypervascular, isovascular and hypovascular subgroups were 86.5%, 71.8% and 58.8%, respectively, at the short-term follow-up (p = 0.002) and 83.6%, 67.3% and 52.8%, respectively, at the long-term follow-up (p = 0.005). The improvement rates for menorrhagia in the hypervascular, isovascular and hypovascular subgroups were 81.0%, 68.3% and 60.7%, respectively, at the short-term follow-up (p = 0.024) and 79.4%, 61.4% and 62.2%, respectively, at the long-term follow-up (p = 0.052).ConclusionUAE is effective in treating patients with adenomyosis in both the short and long term. The outcomes of patients with adenomyosis were significantly correlated with lesion vascularity.     

Long-Term Survival in a Large Cohort of Patients with Venous Thrombosis: Incidence and Predictors

Background

Venous thrombosis is a common disease with a high mortality rate shortly after the event. However, details on long-term mortality in these patients are lacking. The aim of this study was to determine long-term mortality in a large cohort of patients with venous thrombosis.

Methods and Findings

4,947 patients from the Multiple Environmental and Genetic Assessment study of risk factors for venous thrombosis (MEGA study) with a first nonfatal venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism and 6,154 control individuals without venous thrombosis, aged 18 to 70 years, were followed up for 8 years. Death and causes of death were retrieved from the Dutch death registration. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for patients compared with control individuals. Several subgroups were studied as well.736 participants (601 patients and 135 controls) died over a follow-up of 54,948 person-years. The overall mortality rate was 22.7 per 1,000 person-years (95% CI 21.0–24.6) for patients and 4.7 per 1,000 person-years (95% CI 4.0–5.6) for controls. Patients with venous thrombosis had a 4.0-fold (95% CI 3.7–4.3) increased risk of death compared with controls. The risk remained increased up to 8 years after the thrombotic event, even when no additional comorbidities were present. The highest risk of death was found for patients with additional malignancies (SMR 5.5, 95% CI 5.0–6.1). Main causes of death were diseases of the circulatory system, venous thrombosis, and malignancies. Main limitation was a maximum age of 70 at time of inclusion for the first event. Therefore results can not be generalized to those in the highest age categories.

Conclusions

Patients who experienced a first venous thrombosis had an increased risk of death which lasted up to 8 years after the event, even when no comorbidities were present at time of thrombosis. Future long-term clinical follow-up could be beneficial in these patients. Please see later in the article for the Editors'' Summary     

Seizure Outcomes and Predictors of Recurrent Post-Stroke Seizure: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study

Background

Seizure is a common complication after stroke (termed “post-stroke seizure,” PSS). Although many studies have assessed outcomes and risk factors of PSS, no reliable predictors are currently available to determine PSS recurrence. We compared baseline clinical characteristics and post-stroke treatment regimens between recurrent and non-recurrent PSS patients to identify factors predictive of recurrence.

Methods

Consecutive PSS patients admitted to our stroke center between January 2011 and July 2013 were monitored until February 2014 (median 357 days; IQR, 160–552) and retrospectively evaluated for baseline clinical characteristics and PSS recurrence. Cumulative recurrence rates at 90, 180, and 360 days post-stroke were estimated by Kaplan—Meier analysis. Independent predictors of recurrent PSS were identified by Cox proportional-hazards analysis.

Results

A total of 104 patients (71 men; mean age, 72.1 ± 11.2 years) were analyzed. PSS recurred in 31 patients (30%) during the follow-up. Factors significantly associated with PSS recurrence by log-rank analysis included previous PSS, valproic acid (VPA) monotherapy, polytherapy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), frontal cortical lesion, and higher modified Rankin Scale score at discharge (all p < 0.05). Independent predictors of recurrent PSS were age <74 years (HR 2.38, 95% CI 1.02–5.90), VPA monotherapy (HR 3.86, 95% CI 1.30–12.62), and convulsions on admission (HR 3.87, 95% CI 1.35–12.76).

Conclusions

Approximately one-third of PSS patients experienced seizure recurrence within one year. The predictors of recurrent PSS were younger age, presence of convulsions and VPA monotherapy. Our findings should be interpreted cautiously in countries where monotherapy with second-generation AEDs has been approved because this study was conducted while second-generation AEDs had not been officially approved for monotherapy in Japan.     

Different Long-Term Outcomes of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Intracranial Aneurysm Models: Hemodynamic Change may also Play an Essential Role in the Initiation and Progression of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Rabbits

Self-healing phenomenon was found in the periarterial elastase-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in rabbit. This kind of aneurysm model does not progress and heals spontaneously in the long term, which is quite different from the performance of AAA disease in human. In order to better mimic human AAA and overcome this shortcoming of traditional AAA model in rabbit, we studied the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysm (CA) model in small animal, which shows an excellent long-term patency and progressive enlargement. We found that hemodynamic conditions, such as turbulence flow, high blood flow, and shear stress, play an important role in the formation and progression of CA. So, we hypothesize that hemodynamic change may also play an essential role in the initiation and progression of rabbit AAA, and self-healing will be overcome if hemodynamic condition changes by coarctation of infra-renal aorta after elastase incubation.