A comparative analysis of microsurgical resection versus stereotactic radiosurgery for Spetzler-Martin grade III arteriovenous malformations: A multicenter propensity score matched study.

Background: Spetzler-Martin (SM) Grade III brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs) represent a transitional risk zone between low- and high-grade BAVMs, characterized by diverse angioarchitecture. The primary treatment options are endovascular embolization, microsurgical resection (MS), and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). This study compares the efficacy and outcomes of MS and SRS.

Comparing stand-alone endovascular embolization versus stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of arteriovenous malformations with Spetzler-Martin grades I-III: a propensity score matched study.

Background: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are uncommon cerebral lesions that can cause significant neurological complications. Surgical resection is the gold standard for treatment, but endovascular embolization and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are viable alternatives.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of endovascular embolization versus SRS in the treatment of AVMs with Spetzler-Martin grades I-III.

Sub-Internship Academy: Implementation and Evaluation of Single-Day Resident-Driven Focused Sub-Internship Preparation Course.

Objective: Strong performance in neurosurgical sub-internships is a vital component of a successful residency application and requires adequate familiarity with clinical knowledge and technical skills that may not be covered in standard medical school curricula. Accordingly, a need exists for immersive and comprehensive sub-internship preparation programs that respect time and resource limitations, are optimized based on longitudinal student feedback, provide opportunities for mentorship, and foster enthusiasm for neurosurgery. Therefore, residents at a single institution designed and implemented a comprehensive curriculum for a 1-day sub-internship academy.

Building the PharmD Pipeline With a Pre-Pharmacy Track for Working Adults Marketed to Pharmacy Technicians.

Objective: To describe the activities undertaken at Mercer University (MU) to establish a complete pre-pharmacy curriculum for working adults and market the program to pharmacy technicians in metropolitan Atlanta. To document post-implementation, the yield of students to the pre-pharmacy program and subsequent yield of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students to the MU College of Pharmacy.

Methods: The level of retrospective interest in the pre-pharmacy program was measured by a survey questionnaire administered to MU PharmD students who had completed their pre-pharmacy courses in metropolitan Atlanta colleges and universities.

The quality of reporting in randomized controlled trials investigating exercise for individuals with whiplash-associated disorders; a systematic review.

Background: Whiplash-associated disorders are a common sequela of road traffic accidents. Exercise therapy is considered an effective intervention, and it is recommended for the management of such condition. However, the application of research findings to everyday clinical practice is dependent on sufficient details being reported.

Impact and determinants of door in-door out time for stroke thrombectomy transfers in a large hub-and-spoke network.

Introduction: The mantra "time is brain" cannot be overstated for patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke. This is especially true for those with large vessel occlusions (LVOs) requiring transfer to an endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) capable center. We sought to evaluate the spoke hospital door in-door out (DIDO) times for patients transferred to our hub center for EVT.

Outcomes with General Anesthesia Compared to Conscious Sedation for Endovascular Treatment of Medium Vessel Occlusions: Results of an International Multicentric Study.

Background: Optimal anesthetic strategy for the endovascular treatment of stroke is still under debate. Despite scarce data concerning anesthetic management for medium and distal vessel occlusions (MeVOs) some centers empirically support a general anesthesia (GA) strategy in these patients.

Methods: We conducted an international retrospective study of MeVO cases.

The Impact of Preprocedural Platelet Function Testing on Periprocedural Complication Rates Associated With Pipeline Flow Diversion: An International Multicenter Study.

Background And Objectives: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is necessary to minimize the risk of periprocedural thromboembolic complications associated with aneurysm embolization using pipeline embolization device (PED). We aimed to assess the impact of platelet function testing (PFT) on reducing periprocedural thromboembolic complications associated with PED flow diversion in patients receiving aspirin and clopidogrel.

Methods: Patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms requiring PED flow diversion were identified from 13 centers for retrospective evaluation.

Political Self-Confidence and Affective Polarization.

Even among those who share the same partisan commitments, some people say they despise the opposing party while others report far less animosity. Why are some people more likely to express hostility toward the opposing political party? We explore how individual-level differences in feelings of self-confidence fuel out-party animosities. Drawing on responses to a module of the 2020 Cooperative Election Study, we show that higher levels of internal political efficacy are associated with greater affective polarization.

Deconstructive repair of a direct carotid-cavernous fistula via a posterior circulation retrograde approach.

We report a case of a 24-year-old patient who presented after a head trauma with a traumatic occlusion of his left internal carotid artery. He underwent diagnostic cerebral angiogram and was found to have a direct left carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) with retrograde filling from the posterior circulation across the posterior communicating artery. Because of the severe injury to the left internal carotid artery (ICA), reconstructive repair of the ICA was not possible.

Dual Layer vs Single Layer Woven EndoBridge Device in the Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Background: The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) devices have been used for treating wide neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs) with several generational enhancements to improve clinical outcomes. The original device dual-layer (WEB DL) was replaced by a single-layer (WEB SL) device in 2013. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of these devices in managing intracranial aneurysms.

Incidence and clinical outcomes of perforations during mechanical thrombectomy for medium vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke: A retrospective, multicenter, and multinational study.

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has revolutionized the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO), but its efficacy and safety in medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) remain less explored. This multicenter, retrospective study aims to investigate the incidence and clinical outcomes of vessel perforations (confirmed by extravasation during an angiographic series) during MT for AIS caused by MeVO.

Methods: Data were collected from 37 academic centers across North America, Asia, and Europe between September 2017 and July 2021.

Characterizing coma in large vessel occlusion stroke.

Background: Coma is an unresponsive state of disordered consciousness characterized by impaired arousal and awareness. The epidemiology and pathophysiology of coma in ischemic stroke has been underexplored. We sought to characterize the incidence and clinical features of coma as a presentation of large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke.