Comparison of Balloon Guide Catheters and Standard Guide Catheters for Acute Ischemic Stroke: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to update our 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis which reported that balloon guide catheters (BGC) are associated with superior clinical and angiographic outcomes compared to standard guide catheters for treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of 7 electronic databases to identify literature published between January 2010 and September 2023 reporting BGC versus non-BGC approaches. Primary outcomes were final modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) ≥2b, first-pass effect (mTICI ≥2c on first pass), and modified Rankin scale 0-2 at 90 days.

Hypoperfusion intensity ratio as a predictor of outcomes after thrombectomy triage: A call for data homogeneity.

Background: Collateral blood flow markers have been associated with outcomes after thrombectomy in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO). Hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR), a metric reflecting tissue level collaterals, is one such marker with the potential to delineate patients who do and do not do well after thrombectomy. We determined if HIR correlated with successful reperfusion after thrombectomy.

Common Design and Data Elements Reported on Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Trials: A Systematic Review.

Background: There are an increasing number of controlled clinical trials and prospective studies, ongoing and recently completed, regarding management options for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We present a Common Design and Data Element (CDDE) analysis of controlled and prospective IIH studies with the aim of aligning essential design and recommending data elements in future trials and enhancing data synthesis potential in IIH trials.

Methods: We used PubMed and ClinicalTrials.

Predictors of aneurysm occlusion after treatment with flow diverters: a systematic literature review.

Background: Flow diverters (FDs) have become an integral part of treatment for brain aneurysms.

Aim: To summarize available evidence of factors associated with aneurysm occlusion (AO) after treatment with a FD.

Methods: References were identified using the Nested Knowledge AutoLit semi-automated review platform between January 1, 2008 and August 26, 2022.

MASTRO I: Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of thrombectomy stent retriever outcomes: comparing functional, safety and recanalization outcomes between EmboTrap, Solitaire and Trevo in acute ischemic stroke.

Stent-retriever (SR) thrombectomy has demonstrated superior outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke compared with medical management alone, but differences among SRs remain unexplored. We conducted a Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis to compare outcomes between three SRs: EmboTrap, Solitaire™, and Trevo. We conducted a PRISMA-compliant Systematic Review among English-language studies published after 2014 in PubMed/MEDLINE that reported SRs in ≥25 patients.

Mortality of COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancies versus solid tumors: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Cancer patients are more vulnerable to COVID-19 compared to the general population, but it remains unclear which types of cancer have the highest risk of COVID-19-related mortality. This study examines mortality rates for those with hematological malignancies (Hem) versus solid tumors (Tumor). PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for relevant articles using Nested Knowledge software (Nested Knowledge, St Paul, MN).

The diagnostic performance of artificial intelligence algorithms for identifying M2 segment middle cerebral artery occlusions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithms have been developed to facilitate rapid and accurate computed tomography angiography (CTA) assessment in proximal large vessel occlusion (LVO) acute ischemic stroke, including internal carotid artery and M1 occlusions. In clinical practice, however, the detection of medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) represents an ongoing diagnostic challenge in which the added value of AI remains unclear.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic performance of AI platforms for detecting M2 occlusions.

Comparing Tigertriever 13 to other thrombectomy devices for distal medium vessel occlusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is limited evidence on the optimal endovascular strategy for treatment of distal medium-vessel occlusions (DMVO). The low-profile Tigertriever 13 stent-triever shows early promise as an adaptable device that can navigate the distal vasculature without increasing complication risk in DMVO.

Methods: Using Nested Knowledge, we screened literature for RCTs and cohort studies on the endovascular treatment of DMVO.

Endovascular thrombectomy after acute ischemic stroke of the basilar artery: a meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials.

Background: Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses were underpowered to demonstrate the superiority of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) over medical therapy (MEDT) in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion of the posterior circulation (PC-LVO). We performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis after the publication of the BAOCHE and ATTENTION trials to determine whether EVT can benefit patients presenting with PC-LVO.

Methods: Using Nested Knowledge, we screened literature for RCTs on EVT in PC-LVO.

Carotid endarterectomy versus carotid stenting for asymptomatic carotid stenosis: Evaluating the overlapping meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Asymptomatic carotid stenosis is associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke. The management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis ranges from open surgical approaches, minimally invasive endovascular interventions, and medical therapeutics. However, the research synthesis comparing these interventions, as shown by the scattered and overlapping published meta-analysis, has been inconsistent and non-comprehensive.

Common Data Elements Reported in Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review of Active Clinical Trials.

Background: New trials are planned regularly to provide the highest quality of evidence and invade new occlusion territories, which requires a pre-defined reporting strategy with consistent, common data elements for more straightforward collective evidence synthesis. We sought to review all active endovascular thrombectomy trials to investigate their patient selection criteria, intervention description, and reported outcomes.

Methods: A literature search was systematically conducted on clinicaltrials.

Common Data Elements Analysis of Mechanical Thrombectomy Clinical Trials for Acute Ischemic Stroke with Large Core Infarct.

Background: Clinical trials addressing large core acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are ongoing across multiple international groups. Future development of clinical guidelines depends on meta-analyses of these trials calling for a degree of homogeneity of elements across the studies. This common data element study aims to provide an overview of key features of pertinent large core infarct trials.

Correction: Web-Based Software Tools for Systematic Literature Review in Medicine: Systematic Search and Feature Analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/33219.].

The prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with traumatic brain injury: A systematic review.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) places a heavy load on healthcare systems worldwide. Despite significant advancements in care, the TBI-related mortality is 30-50% and in most cases involves adolescents or young adults. Previous literature has suggested that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) may serve as a sensitive biomarker in predicting clinical outcomes following TBI.

First-line thrombectomy strategy for distal and medium vessel occlusions: a systematic review.

Background: The benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and efficacy of different first-line MT techniques remain unclear for distal and medium vessel occlusions (DMVOs). In this systematic review, we aimed to compare the performance of three first-line MT techniques in DMVOs.

Methods: The PubMed database was searched for studies examining the utility of MT in DMVOs (middle cerebral artery M2-3-4, anterior cerebral artery, and posterior cerebral artery).

Aspiration thrombectomy versus stent retriever thrombectomy alone for acute ischemic stroke: evaluating the overlapping meta-analyses.

Background: Previous studies comparing a direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT) and stent retrievers have inconsistent methodologies and data reporting, limiting the ability to accurately assimilate data from different studies that would inform treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treatment.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review to discuss and compare the findings of all relevant meta-analysis studies comparing the efficacy of the ADAPT and stent retriever techniques.

Methods: The study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), where meta-analyses comparing the efficacy of the ADAPT technique and stent retrievers in the treatment of AIS were included.

Mechanical thrombectomy in anterior vs. posterior circulation stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: High-quality evidence exists for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation (AC-LVO). The evidence for MT treatment of posterior circulation large vessel occlusion (PC-LVO) is weaker, largely drawn from lower quality studies specific to PC-LVO and extrapolated from findings in AC-LVO, and ambiguous with regards to technical success. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the technical success and functional outcomes of MT in PC-LVO versus AC-LVO patients.

Web-Based Software Tools for Systematic Literature Review in Medicine: Systematic Search and Feature Analysis.

Background: Systematic reviews (SRs) are central to evaluating therapies but have high costs in terms of both time and money. Many software tools exist to assist with SRs, but most tools do not support the full process, and transparency and replicability of SR depend on performing and presenting evidence according to established best practices.

Objective: This study aims to provide a basis for comparing and selecting between web-based software tools that support SR, by conducting a feature-by-feature comparison of SR tools.

Midline Shift in Chronic Subdural Hematoma : Interrater Reliability of Different Measuring Methods and Implications for Standardized Rating in Embolization Trials.

Objective: Evaluation of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) treatment success relies on radiologic measures, in particular hematoma volume, width and midline shift (MLS). Nevertheless, there are no validated standards for MLS measurement in cSDH. Aim of this study was to identify the most reliable measurement location and technique for MLS.

Common data elements reported on middle meningeal artery embolization in chronic subdural hematoma: an interactive systematic review of recent trials.

Cross study heterogeneity has limited the evidence based evaluation of middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) as a treatment for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Ongoing trials and prospective studies suggest that heterogeneity in upcoming publications may detract from subsequent meta-analyses and systemic reviews. This study aims to describe this data heterogeneity to promote harmonization with common data elements (CDEs) in publications.

Efficacy of antiviral therapies for COVID-19: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to pose a significant threat to public health worldwide. The purpose of this study was to review current evidence obtained from randomized clinical trials on the efficacy of antivirals for COVID-19 treatment.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed to identify randomized controlled trials published up to September 4, 2021 that examined the efficacy of antivirals for COVID-19 treatment.

Physical activity level and stroke risk in US population: A matched case-control study of 102,578 individuals.

Background: Stroke has been linked to a lack of physical activity; however, the extent of the association between inactive lifestyles and stroke risk has yet to be characterized across large populations.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the association between activity-related behaviors and stroke incidence.

Methods: Data from 1999 to 2018 waves of the concurrent cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were extracted.