Idiopathic Ventral Spinal Cord Hernia—A Single-Center Case Series of 11 Patients

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic spinal cord herniations (ISCH) are rare defects of the ventromedial or mediolateral dura mater with herniation of the spinal cord through the defect with approximately 350 described cases worldwide. Patients usually become symptomatic with motor or sensory neurological deficits and gait disturbances. OBJECTIVE: To describe characteristic symptoms and clinical findings and to evaluate the postoperative course and outcomes of ISCH. METHODS: We present a single-center data analysis of a case series of 11 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with ISCH and underwent surgery in our department between 2009 and 2021. RESULTS: All herniations were located in the thoracic spine between T2 and T9. In most cases, gait ataxia and dysesthesia led to further workup and subsequently to the diagnosis of ISCH. A “far-enough” posterior-lateral surgical approach, hemilaminectomy or laminectomy with a transdural approach, was performed under intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring which was followed by adhesiolysis, repositioning of the spinal cord and sealing using a dura patch. After surgery, clinical symptoms improved in 9 of 11 patients (81.8%), while only 1 patient experienced deterioration of symptoms (9.1%) and 1 patient remained equal (9.1%). The median preoperative McCormick grade was 3 (±0.70), while the median postoperative grade was 2 (±0.98) (P = .0047). CONCLUSION: In our case series of ISCH, we found that in most patients, neurological deficits improved postoperatively. This indicates that surgery in ISCH should not be delayed in symptomatic patients

The impact of spontaneous intracranial hypotension on social life and health-related quality of life

Objective Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), which is often caused by a spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, is an important cause of disabling headaches. Many patients report devastating changes in their quality of life because of their symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of SIH on patients' social/ working life and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods We included consecutive patients with proven SIH treated at our institution from January 2013 to May 2020. Patients were contacted and asked to complete the 15D questionnaire for the collection of HRQoL data and to provide additional information on their social life status. Results Of 112 patients, 79 (70.5%) returned the questionnaire and were included in the analysis. Of those, 69 were treated surgically (87.3%), and 10 were managed non-operatively (12.7%). Twenty-five (31.6%) patients reported a severe impact on their partnership, 32 (41.5%) reported a moderate or severe impact on their social life. Forty (54.8%) patients reported sick leave for more than 3 months. The mean 15D score was 0.890 (+/- 0.114) and significantly impaired compared to an age- and sex-matched general population (p = 0.001), despite treatment. Patients with residual SIH-symptoms (36, 45.6%) had significantly impaired HRQoL compared to those without any residual symptoms (41, 51.9%) (p < 0.001). Conclusion SIH had a notable impact on the patients' social life and HRQoL. It caused long periods of incapacity for work, and is therefore, associated with high economic costs. Although all patients were appropriately treated, reduced HRQoL persisted after treatment, underlining the chronic character of this disease.Peer reviewe

Patient-reported symptomatology and its course in spontaneous intracranial hypotension - Beware of a chameleon.

OBJECTIVE Although orthostatic headache is the hallmark symptom of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), patients can present with a wide range of different complaints and thereby pose a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Our aim was to describe and group the different symptoms associated with SIH and their course over time. METHODS We retrospectively surveyed consecutive patients diagnosed and treated for SIH at our institution from January 2013 to May 2020 with a specifically designed questionnaire to find out about their symptomatology and its course. RESULTS Of 112 eligible patients, 79 (70.5%) returned the questionnaire and were included in the analysis. Of those, 67 (84.8%) reported initial orthostatic headaches, whereas 12 (15.2%) denied having this initial symptom. All except one (98.7%) patients reported additional symptoms: most frequently cephalic pressure (69.6%), neck pain (68.4%), auditory disturbances (59.5%), nausea (57%), visual disturbances (40.5%), gait disturbance (20.3%), confusion (10.1%) or sensorimotor deficits (21.5%). Fifty-seven (72.2%) patients reported a development of the initial symptoms predominantly in the first three months after symptom onset. Age and sex were not associated with the symptomatology or its course (p > 0.1). CONCLUSION Although characteristic of SIH, a relevant amount of patients present without orthostatic headaches. In addition, SIH can manifest with non-orthostatic headaches at disease onset or during the course of the disease. Most patients report a wide range of associated complaints. A high degree of suspicion is crucial for an early diagnosis and targeted treatment

Epidural Blood Patching in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension-Do we Really Seal the Leak?

PURPOSE Epidural blood patch (EBP) is a minimally invasive treatment for spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). Follow-up after EBP primarily relies on clinical presentation and data demonstrating successful sealing of the underlying spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak are lacking. Our aim was to evaluate the rate of successfully sealed spinal CSF leaks in SIH patients after non-targeted EBP. METHODS Patients with SIH and a confirmed spinal CSF leak who had been treated with non-targeted EBP were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcome was persistence of CSF leak on spine MRI or intraoperatively. Secondary outcome was change in clinical symptoms after EBP. RESULTS In this study 51 SIH patients (mean age, 47 ± 13 years; 33/51, 65% female) treated with non-targeted EBP (mean, 1.3 EBPs per person; range, 1-4) were analyzed. Overall, 36/51 (71%) patients had a persistent spinal CSF leak after EBP on postinterventional imaging and/or intraoperatively. In a best-case scenario accounting for missing data, the success rate of sealing a spinal CSF leak with an EBP was 29%. Complete or substantial symptom improvement in the short term was reported in 45/51 (88%), and in the long term in 17/51 (33%) patients. CONCLUSION Non-targeted EBP is an effective symptomatic treatment providing short-term relief in a substantial number of SIH patients; however, successful sealing of the underlying spinal CSF leak by EBP is rare, which might explain the high rate of delayed symptom recurrence. The potentially irreversible and severe morbidity associated with long-standing intracranial hypotension supports permanent closure of the leak

Effect of Pre- and In-Hospital Delay on Reperfusion in Acute Ischemic Stroke Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Post hoc analyses of randomized controlled clinical trials evaluating mechanical thrombectomy have suggested that admission-to-groin-puncture (ATG) delays are associated with reduced reperfusion rates. Purpose of this analysis was to validate this association in a real-world cohort and to find associated factors and confounders for prolonged ATG intervals. Patients included into the BEYOND-SWIFT cohort (Bernese-European Registry for Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated Outside Current Guidelines With Neurothrombectomy Devices Using the Solitaire FR With the Intention for Thrombectomy; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03496064) were analyzed (n=2386). Association between baseline characteristics and ATG was evaluated using mixed linear regression analysis. The effect of increasing symptom-onset-to-admission and ATG intervals on successful reperfusion (defined as Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [TICI] 2b-3) was evaluated using logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders. Median ATG was 73 minutes. Prolonged ATG intervals were associated with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (+19.1 [95% CI, +9.1 to +29.1] minutes), general anesthesia (+12.1 [95% CI, +3.7 to +20.4] minutes), and borderline indication criteria, such as lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, late presentations, or not meeting top-tier early time window eligibility criteria (+13.8 [95% CI, +6.1 to +21.6] minutes). There was a 13% relative odds reduction for TICI 2b-3 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.87 [95% CI, 0.79-0.96]) and TICI 2c/3 (aOR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.79-0.95]) per hour ATG delay, while the reduction of TICI 2b-3 per hour increase symptom-onset-to-admission was minor (aOR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.94-0.99]) and inconsistent regarding TICI 2c/3 (aOR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.97-1.02]). After adjusting for identified factors associated with prolonged ATG intervals, the association of ATG delay and lower rates of TICI 2b-3 remained tangible (aOR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.76-0.99]). There is a great potential to reduce ATG, and potential targets for improvement can be deduced from observational data. The association between in-hospital delay and reduced reperfusion rates is evident in real-world clinical data, underscoring the need to optimize in-hospital workflows. Given the only minor association between symptom-onset-to-admission intervals and reperfusion rates, the causal relationship of this association warrants further research. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03496064

Safety and efficacy of intra-arterial fibrinolytics as adjunct to mechanical thrombectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational data

Background: Achieving the best possible reperfusion is a key determinant of clinical outcome after mechanical thrombectomy (MT). However, data on the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial (IA) fibrinolytics as an adjunct to MT with the intention to improve reperfusion are sparse. Methods: We performed a PROSPERO-registered (CRD42020149124) systematic review and meta-analysis accessing MEDLINE, PubMed, and Embase from January 1, 2000 to January 1, 2020. A random-effect estimate (Mantel-Haenszel) was computed and summary OR with 95% CI were used as a measure of added IA fibrinolytics versus control on the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and secondary endpoints (modified Rankin Scale ≤2, mortality at 90 days). Results: The search identified six observational cohort studies and three observational datasets of MT randomized-controlled trial data reporting on IA fibrinolytics with MT as compared with MT alone, including 2797 patients (405 with additional IA fibrinolytics (100 urokinase (uPA), 305 tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)) and 2392 patients without IA fibrinolytics). Of 405 MT patients treated with additional IA fibrinolytics, 209 (51.6%) received prior intravenous tPA. We did not observe an increased risk of sICH after administration of IA fibrinolytics as adjunct to MT (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.76), nor excess mortality (0.81, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.08). Although the mode of reporting was heterogeneous, some studies observed improved reperfusion after IA fibrinolytics. Conclusion: The quality of evidence regarding peri-interventional administration of IA fibrinolytics in MT is low and limited to observational data. In highly selected patients, no increase in sICH was observed, but there is large uncertainty

Multicast Connections in Wireless Sensor Networks with Topology Control

The article explores the quality of multicast trees constructed by heuristic routing algorithms in wireless sensor networks where topology control protocols operate. Network topology planning and performance analysis are crucial challenges for wire and wireless network designers. They are also involved in the research on routing algorithms, and protocols for these networks. In addition, it is worth to emphasize that the generation of realistic network topologies makes it possible to construct and study routing algorithms, protocols and traffic characteristics for WSN networks

Effect of soy whey on fermentation properties of wheat and rye flours

Celem pracy było określenie wpływu dodatku serwatki sojowej na właściwości fermentacyjne mąki pszennej typu 750 i żytniej typu 720. Serwatkę sojową stosowano jako zamiennik wody w ilości 50 i 100 % w stosunku do ilości wody używanej w próbie kontrolnej, prowadzonej bez serwatki. Zaobserwowano korzystny wpływ dodatku serwatki na właściwości fermentacyjne mąki. Pozytywne efekty uzyskano zwłaszcza w przypadku mieszaniny serwatki sojowej i wody w stosunku 1 : 1. Stwierdzono wówczas wzrost ogólnej ilości ditlenku węgla wydzielonego podczas fermentacji ciasta pszennego o 9 %, a żytniego – o 10 % oraz wzrost ilości gazu zatrzymanego przez badane ciasta odpowiednio: o 4 i 9 %. Całkowite zastąpienie wody serwatką sojową pozwoliło istotnie zmniejszyć czas fermentacji ciasta pszennego do rozrostu optymalnego o 38 %, natomiast ciasta żytniego – o 11 %. Nie zaobserwowano wyraźnych zmian pod względem jakości badanych kleików pszennych i żytnich po wprowadzeniu serwatki sojowej. Odnotowano tylko nieznaczny wzrost początkowej temperatury kleikowania w przypadku wszystkich zawiesin sporządzonych z jej udziałem. Dodatek do mąki 50-procentowego roztworu serwatki spowodował zwiększenie aktywności amylolitycznej danej próby, co znalazło wyraz w postaci obniżenia liczby opadania mąki pszennej średnio o 3 %, a mąki żytniej – o 13 %. Przeprowadzone badania wskazują, że serwatka sojowa może być stosowana jako naturalny regulator zdolności gazotwórczej mąki, zwłaszcza żytniej.The objective of the research study was to determine the effect of soy whey on fermentation properties of wheat flour of type 750 and rye flour of type 720. Soy whey was added as a substitute of water and its amount was 50 % and 100 % by weight of water used in the control sample prepared without soy whey. I was found that the soy whey added had a favourable effect on the fermentation properties of flour. In particular, positive results were obtained for the 1: 1 mixture of soy whey and water. In the latter case, it was found that the total quantity of carbon dioxide released during fermentation of wheat flour dough increased by 9 % and that of rye flour dough by 10 %, and the quantity of gas trapped in the doughs analysed increased by 4 and 9 %, respectively. In the case of replacing 100 % of water with soy whey, it was possible to significantly reduce the fermentation time of wheat flour to the optimum growth of 38 % and that of the rye flour dough to 11 %. No apparent changes were found in the quality of the wheat and rye gruels with the soy whey added. Only a slight increase in the initial gelatinization temperature was reported for all the suspensions made with the soy whey added. A 50 % solution of whey added to the flour caused the amylolytic activity in the sample to increase, and the result thereof was a reduction in the falling number of wheat flour by 3 % on average, and that of rye flour by ca. 13 %. The research study performed suggests that the soy whey can be used as a natural regulator of the gas-generating ability of flours, especially of rye flour

Renal Pelvis Opacification on Postmyelography Computed Tomography as an Indicator for Cerebrospinal Fluid Loss in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.

PURPOSE To assess early renal pelvis opacification on postmyelography computed tomography (CT) as a marker for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) loss in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). METHODS The SIH patients referred to our hospital between January 2012 and May 2018 were retrospectively reviewed and divided into 2 groups based on the presence of spinal longitudinal extrathecal CSF collection (SLEC): (1) SLEC(+) with, and (2) SLEC(-) without proof of SLEC on multimodal imaging. Non-SIH patients (n = 20) undergoing CT myelography served as controls. The renal pelvis density on postmyelography CT was measured in all patients. Mean difference in renal pelvis density between the groups was calculated. RESULTS In total, 111 SIH patients (mean age 48 ± 13 years; 60% female) were included, 71 (64%) SLEC(+) and 40 (36%) SLEC(-). The adjusted renal pelvis density in the SLEC(+), SLEC(-), and the non-SIH group was 108 Hounsfield unit (HU), 83 HU, and 32 HU, respectively, resulting in a significant difference between SLEC(+) vs. control group 1 (75 HU, p < 0.001), SLEC(-) vs. control group 1 (50 HU, p < 0.001), and a tendency for higher density in SLEC(+) than SLEC(-) (25 HU, p = 0.16). CONCLUSION Increased renal pelvis opacification on postmyelography CT was observed in SIH patients, even in the absence of a CSF leak or a CSF venous fistula, when compared to non-SIH patients. Although the provenance of early renal opacification in SLEC (-) SIH patients remains unclear, our results suggest that it may be a surrogate for increased spinal CSF resorption via spinal arachnoid granulations and along spinal nerve sheaths occult to direct imaging