Publications by authors named "Oana M Mereuta"

Background: Aneurysm treatments are crucial to minimize the rupture risk. The underlying molecular processes mediating cellular remodeling, endothelialization, and aneurysm healing following endovascular treatment are poorly understood. The current study aims to explore circulating miRNA as a treatment and outcome-associated biomarkers in patients undergoing endovascular treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Fibrin deposition is integral to thrombus formation and wound healing. The role of fibrin deposition and subsequent metabolism following flow diversion for aneurysm treatment remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the role of fibrin in early thrombus organization after flow diverter treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the histological composition of thrombi in acute ischemic stroke cases among patients with high estrogen levels, including those who are pregnant or on oral contraceptives.
  • It was found that patients in high estrogen states had higher levels of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and lower platelet content in their thrombi compared to male control subjects.
  • Additionally, patients with high estrogen states experienced longer recanalization times and required more passes during mechanical thrombectomy procedures than the control group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Formalin-fixed retrieved clots from mechanical thrombectomy (MT) are now routinely studied using both conventional histopathologic techniques and immunohistochemistry (IHC). However, the effects of prolonged formalin fixation on the histological results of clot analysis remain unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of prolonged formalin fixation on quality of histopathologic stainings of thrombus tissues retrieved by MT.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The presence of an outer shell has been recently described as a common feature of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) thrombi. We performed a systematic review of the current literature on shell genesis, structure, and clinical significance.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies reporting the composition and structure of AIS thrombi and clot analogs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Metabolites are reliable biomarkers for many diseases. However, their role in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) pathogenesis is not well understood. In this systematic review we aim to evaluate the current literature on the presence of metabolites in thrombi retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy from AIS patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has become standard for large vessel occlusions, but rates of complete recanalization are suboptimal. Previous reports correlated radiographic signs with clot composition and a better response to specific techniques. Therefore, understanding clot composition may allow improved outcomes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study examined the relationship between platelet (CD42b) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels in emboli from acute ischemic stroke patients to understand their impact on stroke causes and procedures.
  • CD42b/vWF expression was evaluated in a total of 288 emboli samples, revealing that higher vWF levels were linked to certain stroke causes while platelet levels correlated with treatment success.
  • The findings indicate that the distribution patterns of CD42b and vWF in clots are associated with the etiology of strokes and outcomes from thrombolysis, particularly showing variations based on the type of embolism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aims: Besides the crucial role in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), mechanical thrombectomy represents a unique opportunity for researchers to study the retrieved clots, with the possibility of unveiling biological patterns linked to stroke pathophysiology and etiology. We aimed to develop a shotgun proteomic approach to study and compare the proteome of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cardioembolic and large artery atherosclerotic (LAA) clots.

Methods: We used 16 cardioembolic and 15 LAA FFPE thrombi from 31 AIS patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Extracellular DNA traps (ETs) have important implications in both thrombosis and thrombolysis. Thus, developing benchtop thrombus analogs that recapitulate clinical ETs is potentially of great value for preclinical development and testing of thrombolytic agents and thrombectomy devices. In this study, we aimed to develop ETs-rich thrombus analogs for preclinical testing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Preclinical testing platforms that accurately replicate complex human cerebral vasculature are critical to advance neurointerventional knowledge, tools, and techniques. Here, we introduced and validated a human "live cadaveric" head-and-neck neurovascular model optimized for proximal and distal vascular occlusion and recanalization techniques.

Methods: Human cadaveric head-and-neck specimens were cannulated bilaterally in the jugular veins, carotid, and vertebral arteries.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Purpose: Given recent evidence suggesting the clot composition may be associated with revascularization outcomes and stroke etiology, clot composition research has been a topic of growing interest. It is currently unclear what effect, if any, pre-thrombectomy thrombolysis has on clot composition. Understanding this association is important as it is a potential confounding variable in clot composition research.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Compositional and structural features of retrieved clots by thrombectomy can provide insight into improving the endovascular treatment of ischemic stroke. Currently, histological analysis is limited to quantification of compositions and qualitative description of the clot structure. We hypothesized that heterogeneous clots would be prone to poorer recanalization rates and performed a quantitative analysis to test this hypothesis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: We assessed the correlation between thrombus size before and after mechanical thrombectomy, measured as length by Computed Tomography Angiography/Non-Contrast Computed Tomography (CTA/NCCT) and Extracted Clot Area, ECA, respectively. We also assessed the influence of thrombus size on the number of passes required for clot removal and final recanalization outcome.

Materials And Methods: Acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) thrombi retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy from 500 patients and data of clot length by CTA/NCCT were collected from three hospitals in Europe.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Most clots retrieved from patients with acute ischemic stroke are 'red' in color. 'White' clots represent a less common entity and their histological composition is less known. Our aim was to investigate the composition, imaging and procedural characteristics of 'white' clots retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated the effects of bridging-therapy (IVT before mechanical thrombectomy) on clot characteristics in acute ischemic stroke patients.
  • Clots from patients receiving IVT were found to be significantly smaller compared to those from patients who only underwent thrombectomy, despite no differences in histological composition (RBCs, fibrin, platelets).
  • Bridging-therapy clots had lower amounts of RBCs, fibrin, and platelets per clot area than MT-only clots, suggesting IVT may influence clot size and composition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Several animal studies have demonstrated that mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) may cause vessel wall injury (VWI). However, the histological changes in human cerebral arteries following MT are difficult to determine.

Objective: To investigate the occurrence of VWI during MT by histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of AIS clots.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aim: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion often requires multiple passes to retrieve the entire thrombus load. In this multi-institutional study we sought to examine the composition of thrombus fragments retrieved with each pass during MT.

Methods: Patients who required multiple passes during thrombectomy were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: We retrospectively evaluated the composition of retrieved clots from ischemic stroke patients to study the association between histological composition and stroke etiology METHODS: Consecutive patients enrolled in the Stroke Thromboembolism Registry of Imaging and Pathology (STRIP) were included in this study. All patients underwent mechanical thrombectomy and retrieved clots were sent to a central core lab for processing. Histological analysis was performed using martius scarlet blue (MSB) staining, and quantification for red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), fibrin and platelets was performed using Orbit Image Software.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: First pass effect (FPE) in mechanical thrombectomy is thought to be associated with good clinical outcomes.

Objective: To determine FPE rates as a function of thrombectomy technique and to compare clinical outcomes between patients with and without FPE.

Methods: In July 2020, a literature search on FPE (defined as modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2c-3 after a single pass) and modified FPE (mFPE, defined as TICI 2b-3 after a single pass) and mechanical thrombectomy for stroke was performed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to investigate the three-dimensional (3D) structure of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) clots, moving beyond traditional two-dimensional analysis.
  • Researchers analyzed ten AIS emboli collected from patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy using histological methods and serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) to evaluate the composition and microstructure of the clots.
  • Results revealed that fibrin and red blood cells were the primary components, with varying 3D organization indicating distinct structural patterns, providing insights that could enhance thrombolytic treatment and medical device development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Initial studies investigating correlations between stroke etiology and clot composition are conflicting and do not account for clot size as determined by area. Radiological studies have shown that cardioembolic strokes are associated with shorter clot lengths and lower clot burden than non-cardioembolic clots.

Objective: To report the relationship between stroke etiology, extracted clot area, and histological composition at each procedural pass.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: There is a paucity of knowledge in the literature relating to the extent of clot burden and stroke etiology. In this study, we measured the Extracted Clot Area (ECA) retrieved during endovascular treatment (EVT) and investigated relationships with suspected etiology, administration of intravenous thrombolysis and recanalization.

Materials And Methods: As part of the multi-institutional RESTORE registry, the ECA retrieved during mechanical thrombectomy was quantified using ImageJ.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Both intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) are evidence-based treatments for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in selected cases. Recanalization may occur following IVT without the necessity of further interventions or requiring a subsequent MT procedure. IVT prior to MT (bridging-therapy) may be associated with benefits or hazards.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF