The Usefulness of Outpatient Cardiac Telemetry in Patients with Cryptogenic Stroke.

: Atrial fibrillation (AF), apart from non-stenotic supracardiac atherosclerosis and neoplastic disease, is the leading cause of cryptogenic stroke, including embolic stroke of un-determined source (ESUS). The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of AF in ESUS patients based on 30-day telemetric heart rate monitoring initiated within three months after stroke onset. Another aim was to identify factors that increase the likelihood of detecting subsequent AF among ESUS patients.

Direct Exposure to Outdoor Air Pollution Worsens the Functional Status of Stroke Patients Treated with Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Background The effect of air pollutants on the functional status of stroke patients in short-term follow-up is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of air pollution occurring in the stroke period and during hospitalization on the functional status of patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Methods Our study included stroke patients for which the individual-level exposure to ambient levels of O, CO, SO, NO, PM2.

Analysis of seroconversion following COVID-19 vaccination among multiple sclerosis patients treated with disease-modifying therapies in Poland.

Clinical Rationale For The Study: The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 throughout the world has highlighted the importance of vaccinations to control the pandemic and to protect people at risk for severe disease courses. Disease-modifying therapies (DMT) in multiple sclerosis (MS), whether immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive, may affect the immune response. Therefore, the question arose as to whether these vaccinations would be effective.

Cladribine tablets for highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in Poland: a real-world, multi-centre, retrospective, cohort study during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Treatment with cladribine tablets is indicated in highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Cladribine tablets proved safe and effective in the pivotal CLARITY trial, but that trial included primarily treatment-naïve patients. In clinical practice however, cladribine tablets are often given to patients who have failed other treatments.

The effect of atrial fibrillation on the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with stroke.

Introduction: The association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and the outcome of mechanical throm‑bectomy (MT) in patients with stroke has not been determined so far.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effect of AF on the efficacy and safety of MT in patients with stroke and to investigate the association between prior anticoagulation and symptomatic intracranial bleeding (ICB).

Patients And Methods: Patients who underwent MT for stroke were enrolled.

Symptoms after COVID-19 Infection in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis in Poland.

(1) Background: To report and analyze the presence of residual symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection among Polish patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with different disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). (2) Methods: The study included 426 individuals with MS treated with DMTs and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from 12 Polish MS centers. The data were collected through to 31 May 2021.

Clinical and Non-Clinical Determinants of the Effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy and Post-Stroke Functional Status of Patients in Short and Long-Term Follow-Up.

Unlabelled: To date, inconsistent results evaluating the effect of parameters on mechanical thrombectomy (MT) outcomes in stroke-patients have been published. This study aimed to identify the key parameters for functional status after MT in stroke-patients in short and long-term follow-up.

Method: The study analysis focused on the relevance of selected clinical and non-clinical parameters to the functional status of the patients after MT.

Prognostic Role of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the relevance of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) CT features to the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: This study included 311 patients qualified for MT in whom the CRS features were assessed based on a CT scan, according to the Lund-Mackay (L-M) score. Clinical, inflammatory parameters, patients neurological (NIHSS) and functional status (mRS), and recanalisation efficacy (TICI) were compared between patients with mild lesions (L-M score 0-3 points)-group 1, and patients with more severe lesions (L-M score 4-24)-group 2.

Modified Rio Score with Platform Therapy Predicts Treatment Success with Fingolimod and Natalizumab in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Background: Reliable markers of disease outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) would help to predict the response to treatment in patients treated with high efficacy drugs. No evidence of disease activity (NEDA) has become a treatment goal whereas the modified Rio score (MRS) predicts future suboptimal responders to treatment. The aim of our study was to identify factors that would predict poor response to treatment with natalizumab and fingolimod.

Clinical course and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in multiple sclerosis patients treated with disease-modifying therapies - the Polish experience.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to report the course and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in Poland. A major concern for neurologists worldwide is the course and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with MS treated with different DMTs. Although initial studies do not suggest an unfavourable course of infection in this group of patients, the data is limited.

Cerebral microembolism during atrial fibrillation ablation can result from the technical aspects and mostly does not cause permanent neurological deficit.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation ablation can be associated with microembolism detected in the intracranial arteries and risk of neurological incidents. The aims of this study were to evaluate microembolic signals (MES) during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and establish the potential significance of MES for damage of the brain in radiological investigation and neurological state.

Material And Methods: In the prospective study we included patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous pulmonary vein isolation (radiofrequency ablation/balloon cryoablation) with ultrasound monitoring of microembolisms in the middle cerebral artery.

Plasma Levels of Occludin and Claudin-5 in Acute Stroke Are Correlated with the Type and Location of Stroke but Not with the Neurological State of Patients-Preliminary Data.

Unlabelled: The blood-brain barrier is the structure (BBB), which isolates the central nervous system from the external environmental. During a stroke, the BBB gets damaged, which is accompanied by changes in the concentrations and distributions of claudin-5, occludin, ZO-1, and other building blocks of the BBB. The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations of selected components of the BBB-occludin, claudin-5, and zonulin (ZO-1)-and to define a potential relationship between the concentrations of these three substances and the type of stroke, the location and extent of the infarct focus, the neurological/functional status in the acute phase of the disease, and the patient's clinical profile.

Factors associated with the symptomatic status of carotid artery stenosis: identification in a cross-sectional study and development of a scoring system.

Introduction: The identification of asymptomatic patients at high risk of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis destabilization and symptom occurrence is crucial for prognosis estimation.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine differences between patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic ICA stenosis and to develop a predictive model for the risk of symptomatic stenosis based on data collected in routine clinical practice.

Patients And Methods: The study included 163 patients with asymptomatic and 182 patients with symptomatic ICA stenosis greater than 70%.

Prevalence of atherosclerotic stenosis of the carotid and cerebral arteries in patients with stable or unstable coronary artery disease.

Introduction: Carotid artery atherosclerosis is a recognized predictor of cardiovascular events. The coexistence of coronary atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular disease is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hemodynamically and clinically significant carotid and / or cerebral artery stenosis in patients with stable and unstable coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Association of SNPs Located in the CDKN2B-AS1 and LPA Genes With Carotid Artery Stenosis and Atherogenic Stroke.

The aim of this project was to assess the prevalence of four selected SNPs rs4977574 and rs7857345 (CDKN2B-AS1 gene) and rs3798220 and rs10455872 polymorphisms (the LPA gene) in the subpopulation of patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis. This study included 623 individuals (244 patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, 176 patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and 203 healthy people. All the participants underwent neurological examination, duplex Doppler ultrasound examination and molecular procedures.

Risk factor profile in patients with stroke at a young age.

Background The distribution of risk factors for stroke is related to gender and age. The main objective of study was to determine the type and frequency of stroke risk factors in patients with first-in-life stroke before the age of 50. Methods Our study included patients under the age of 50 with first-in-life stroke.

Effect of comorbidities on the course of multiple sclerosis.

Objective: The clinical condition of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients depends not only on the course of MS but also on their lifestyle and comorbidities. This study aimed to assess the effect of selected comorbidities, lifestyle-related factors and clinical data available at the time of MS diagnosis, on the disease activity and the disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Patients And Methods: Based on clinical relapses over a period of 12 months of observation and the results of MRI scans, 138 patients with RRMS were qualified into two groups: 'active' or 'stable' course of the disease.

Diagnostic methods used in searching for markers of atrophy in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Unlabelled: The results of available studies on assessment of neurodegenerative lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using different approaches have not been conclusive. Currently, clinical assessment is the most commonly used (involving primarily mobility assessment), along with magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological testing. In this review we describe available clinical, neuroimaging, electrophysiological and laboratory tests used to assess the neurodegeneration in MS.

The importance of atrial fibrillation and selected echocardiographic parameters for the effectiveness and safety of thrombolytic therapy in patients with stroke.

Background: The efficacy and safety of thrombolytic therapy in stroke depend on multiple factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of atrial fibrillation the prognosis in terms of the functional status in patients with stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis. An additional aim was also to assess the potential significance of reduced ejection fraction (EF) and enlarged left atrium (LA) of the heart for the prognosis in patients with stroke who underwent thrombolytic therapy.

Mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke - Five years of experience in Poland.

Objectives: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is not reimbursed by the Polish public health system. We present a description of 5 years of experience with MT in acute stroke in Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSCs) in Poland.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively analyzed the results of a structured questionnaire from 23 out of 25 identified CSCs and 22 data sets that include 61 clinical, radiological and outcome measures.

Repeated measurements of serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 in the evaluation of internal carotid artery stenosis progression.

Background And Aims: The inflammatory process (with TNFα, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 involvement) plays a key role in the development, progression and destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. The aim of this study was to assess the importance of double-checked measurements of TNFα, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (Il-10) serum levels in patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis to determine the dynamics of changes in the stenosis degree and in the ultrasound plaque morphology.

Methods: The study included 65 patients with ICA stenosis.

Efficacy and safety of mitoxantrone use in primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis - study site experience based on the therapy of 104 patients.

Unlabelled: Mitoxantrone (MX) is used in patients with primary and secondary progressive as well as relapsing-remitting type of multiple sclerosis (PPMS, SPMS, RRMS). The objective of our project was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MX use in patients with PPMS and SPMS.

Methods: The retrospective study included 104 patients (mean age 54.

Safety and Efficacy of Fingolimod and Natalizumab in Multiple Sclerosis After the Failure of First-Line Therapy: Single Center Experience Based on the Treatment of Forty-Four Patients.

BACKGROUND In Poland, natalizumab or fingolimod treatment can be delivered as a second-line therapy to those patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who demonstrated no response to interferon or glatiramer acetate treatment for a minimum of one year. MATERIAL AND METHODS Analysis covered 44 RRMS patients switched from first- to second-line therapy. The annualized relapse rate, disability progression (assessed with Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS) and MRI results (new or enlarged T2 lesions and new Gd-positive lesions) before and after switching were compared.