Rete anomaly of the middle cerebral artery: case series of 13 patients from the Northeastern United States.

Background: Rete middle cerebral artery (MCA) is a rare anomaly of the intracranial circulation that mimics congenital Moyamoya disease (MMD). Similar to MMD, it is reported almost exclusively in East-Asian ethnicities. Here, we report 13 patients with rete MCA anomaly from a predominantly non-Asian background in the USA.

Stroke-Heart Syndrome: Does Sex Matter?

Background Cardiovascular complications after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) can be related to chronic/comorbid cardiac conditions or acute disruption of the brain-heart autonomic axis (stroke-heart syndrome). Women are known to be more vulnerable to certain stress-induced cardiac complications, such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. We investigated sex differences in cardiac troponin (cTn) elevation, cardiac events, and outcomes after AIS.

Spectrum of Cerebrovascular Disease in Scleroderma: A Case Series and Systematic Review.

Introduction: Central nervous system involvement in scleroderma has traditionally been considered uncommon. Recent studies suggest that scleroderma might be associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease (CBVD), independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors. We present a case series and a systematic review to capture the spectrum of CBVD in scleroderma, through a detailed description of clinical, demographic, laboratory, and radiographical findings.

Memory-efficient low-compute segmentation algorithms for bladder-monitoring smart ultrasound devices.

Post-operative urinary retention is a medical condition where patients cannot urinate despite having a full bladder. Ultrasound imaging of the bladder is used to estimate urine volume for early diagnosis and management of urine retention. Moreover, the use of bladder ultrasound can reduce the need for an indwelling urinary catheter and the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infection.

User-Centered Mobile Applications for Stroke Survivors (MAPPS): A Mixed-Methods Study of Patient Preferences.

Objective: Investigate stroke survivors' (SS) preferences for a hypothetical mHealth app for post-stroke care and to study the influence of demographic variables on these preferences.

Design: Mixed-methods, sequential, observational study.

Setting: Focus groups (phase 1) were conducted to identify SS perceptions and knowledge of mHealth applications (apps).

Brain Enlarged Perivascular Spaces as Imaging Biomarkers of Cerebrovascular Disease: A Clinical Narrative Review.

Perivascular spaces or Virchow-Robin spaces form pathways along the subarachnoid spaces that facilitate the effective clearance of brain metabolic by-products through intracellular exchange and drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. Best seen on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVSs) are increasingly recognized as potential imaging biomarkers of neurological conditions. EPVSs are an established subtype of cerebral small-vessel disease; however, their associations with other cerebrovascular disorders are yet to be fully understood.

Including Distal Motor Function within the NIHSS: Correlation with Motor Arm Function and IV rt-PA Treatment Response.

Objectives: The Distal Motor Function (DMF) sub-score of the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was measured in the NINDS rt-PA Stroke Trials but is currently not included in the NIHSS. The correlation of DMF with the NIHSS Motor Arm Function (MAF) sub-score, the effect of IV tPA treatment on DMF, and whether adding DMF changes the utility of the NIHSS have not been analyzed.

Materials And Methods: MAF and DMF sub-scores were retrieved from the original NINDS rt-PA Stroke Trials for both sides of the body at baseline, 2 hours, 24 hours, 7-10 days, and 3 months after IV tPA treatment.

Isolated Third Cranial Nerve Palsy in Pituitary Apoplexy: Case Report and Systematic Review.

Objectives: To report a case of isolated third nerve palsy from pituitary apoplexy and perform a systematic literature review.

Materials And Methods: MEDLINE/EMBASE databases were searched up to September 2020.

Inclusion Criteria: Age≥18, isolated third nerve palsy from pituitary apoplexy.

Body Lateropulsion in Stroke: Case Report and Systematic Review of Stroke Topography and Outcome.

Introduction: Body lateropulsion (BLP) is seen in neurological lesions involving the pathways responsible for body position and verticality. We report a case of isolated body lateropulsion (iBLP) as the presentation of lateral medullary infarction and conducted a systematic literature review.

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched up to December 3, 2020.

Classification of Covert Brain Infarct Subtype and Risk of Death and Vascular Events.

Background and Purpose- To test the hypothesis that covert brain infarcts (CBIs) are more likely to be located in noneloquent brain areas compared with clinical strokes and that CBI etiological subtypes carry a differential risk of vascular events compared with people without CBI. Methods- We used brain magnetic resonance imaging from 1290 stroke-free participants in the NOMAS (Northern Manhattan Study) to evaluate for CBI. We classified CBI as cardioembolic (ie, known atrial fibrillation), large artery atherosclerosis (extracranial and intracranial), penetrating artery disease, and cryptogenic (no apparent cause).

Identifying an Optimal Cutoff of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment to Predict Amyloid-PET Positivity in a Referral Memory Clinic.

Background: Brain amyloid- positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is highly sensitive for identifying Alzheimer disease. Currently, there is a lack of insight on the association between amyloid-PET status and the widely used Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). Studying this relationship may optimize the clinical use of amyloid-PET imaging.

Waveform reconstruction with a Cs based free-induction-decay magnetometer.

We demonstrate an optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) operated in a free-induction-decay (FID) configuration that is capable of tracking oscillating magnetic signals in the presence of a 50 μT static field. Excellent waveform reconstruction is demonstrated for low frequency modulations with respect to the Nyquist limited bandwidth. A 100 pT oscillation was successfully reconstructed using signal averaging, and an optimum sensitivity of 3.

Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia (Waldmann's Disease) Presenting with Chylous Effusions in a 15-Year-Old.

Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a rare disease of unknown aetiology which presents in the paediatric age group with anasarca, diarrhoea, hypoproteinaemia, lymphoedema and chylous effusions. Tuberculosis, filariasis, chest trauma, malignancies and haematological disorders usually contribute to most cases of secondary lymphangiectasia and chylous effusions. We hereby describe a case of PIL presenting with chylous effusions which remained undiagnosed for eight years.