Perioperative stroke constitutes a major subset of in-hospital stroke. Evidence is lacking on whether procedure-specific risk profiles exist and how they influence functional recovery. We aimed to identify distinct clinical features and procedure-specific risk factors associated with perioperative stroke. We retrospectively analyzed a 4-year cohort of patients with in-hospital stroke from 5 tertiary hospitals across China. Clinical data were systematically extracted through electronic medical record review. Ninety-day functional outcomes were assessed. Multivariate linear regression was performed to identify factors associated with 90-day outcomes in perioperative stroke. Out of 1,048,566 hospitalized patients, 166 (0.02%) patients developed in-hospital stroke. Among them, 158 patients completed the 90-day follow-up, with 100 males (63.29%) and a median age of 69 years (IQR: 61-76). Sixty-three (39.87%) had perioperative stroke, with the highest proportion (13.92%) occurring in the cardiology/cardiothoracic surgery departments. Delayed recognition (4 h [IQR: 1.58-24.00] vs. 2 h [IQR: 1.00-5.50], p = 0.020), higher NIHSS scores (12 [IQR: 5-30] vs. 9 [IQR: 4-16], p = 0.045), and lower proportion of reperfusion therapy (5.56% vs. 28.21%, p = 0.003) were observed in patients with perioperative ischemic stroke compared to those with non-perioperative stroke. In subgroup analysis, cardiovascular surgery-related ischemic stroke patients had higher NIHSS scores (20 [IQR: 8-35] vs. 8 [IQR: 5-20], p = 0.035) and 90-day modified Rankin scale scores (4 [IQR: 2-6] vs. 2 [IQR: 1-4], p = 0.039) than those non-cardiovascular surgical counterparts. Additionally, they exhibited a trend toward a higher 90-day mortality rate (33.33% vs. 10.71%; OR, 4.17 [95% CI: 1.07 to 20.83]; p = 0.052). Perioperative in-hospital stroke exhibits distinct clinical characteristics. Cardiovascular-related surgery is associated with worse functional outcomes.

Introduction: This study investigates the impact of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) on recurrent cerebral infarction in minor ischaemic stroke (MIS). Methods: A rat model was used, with dietary choline levels adjusted to vary TMAO levels. TMAO was quantified via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and histological changes in brain and aortic tissues were analysed using HE staining. Results: Data analysis showed that TMAO levels and neurological deficit scores increased progressively across groups, correlating positively with the severity of cerebral and arterial pathology. High choline diets significantly elevated TMAO levels, aggravating infarction and atherosclerosis, while low choline diets reduced these effects. Conclusions: TMAO demonstrated medium-high diagnostic value for neurological deficits, infarction size, and arterial damage. These findings suggest that elevated TMAO levels are linked to worse outcomes in MIS, highlighting the potential of TMAO as a biomarker for diagnosis and prevention of recurrent cerebral infarction.

Introduction: Understanding sex differences in the clinical presentation of patients with suspected stroke is important to reduce sex-related disparities and improve care. We aimed to characterize presenting symptoms in women and men with suspected stroke evaluated at our comprehensive stroke center. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with suspected stroke treated at the University Hospital Essen between January 2017 and December 2021. Patient characteristics, signs and symptoms as well as final diagnoses in women and men were compared. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association of individual symptoms with a diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease. Results: We included 6,069 patients in our analysis. Cerebrovascular disease was diagnosed in 85.2% (2,576/3,022) of women and 88.0% (2,681/3,047) of men (p = 0.002). Aphasia (31.4% vs. 27.7%, p = 0.002), neglect (15.5% vs. 12.8%, p = 0.003), gaze deviation (21.0% vs. 18.8%, p = 0.034), as well as nonfocal symptoms including impairments in consciousness (17.0% vs 14.6%, p = 0.012), orientation (42.5 vs. 36.4%, p < 0.001), and completion of tasks (31.2% vs. 26.0%, p < 0.001) were more common among women. Limb ataxia (8.1% vs. 11.2%, p < 0.001) and dysarthria (44.0% vs. 46.8%, p = 0.030) were less frequent in women. Neglect and gaze deviation were independent positive predictors of cerebrovascular disease in women but not in men. Conclusion: Although clinical presentation was similar in both sexes, cortical and nonfocal symptoms were more common among women with suspected stroke. Awareness of sex differences and acknowledgment of the full clinical picture are important to ensure optimal management for women and men with suspected stroke. Our findings might serve as a target for educational programs in order to improve preclinical stroke detection in patients with predominantly nonfocal or subtle symptoms.

Introduction: In emergency rooms (ERs), 5% of patients experiencing an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) receive an alternative diagnosis; these cases are known as stroke chameleons (SC). The percentage of SC treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and the characteristics have not been well described. We aimed at investigating the variables associated with the probability receiving IVT. Methods: In this prospective study, we included consecutive patients with SC admitted at the ER of Clínica Alemana between September 2014 and October 2023. Results: Among 1,193 stroke patients; sixty-three (5.2%) corresponded to SC. Ten of these cases (15.8%, 95% CI: 8.8–26.8) were treated with IVT, mean door-to-needle (DTN) time of 85.7 (SD 35) min, median of 73.5 (IQR 62–113) min. SCs who underwent IVT were younger (p = 0.01), with higher NIHSS (p = 0.05). They presented more frequently with altered level of consciousness in the NIHSS (p = 0.01), language abnormities (p = 0.001), and dysarthria (p = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, none of the variables were significantly associated with IVT. A secondary analysis showed that only time to brain imaging was significantly associated with IVT (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98–0.99; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Almost 1 out of every 7 SC could be treated with IVT but with a prolonged DTN time; the chance of being treated is associated with time to brain imaging. Introduction: In emergency rooms (ERs), 5% of patients experiencing an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) receive an alternative diagnosis; these cases are known as stroke chameleons (SC). The percentage of SC treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and the characteristics have not been well described. We aimed at investigating the variables associated with the probability receiving IVT. Methods: In this prospective study, we included consecutive patients with SC admitted at the ER of Clínica Alemana between September 2014 and October 2023. Results: Among 1,193 stroke patients; sixty-three (5.2%) corresponded to SC. Ten of these cases (15.8%, 95% CI: 8.8–26.8) were treated with IVT, mean door-to-needle (DTN) time of 85.7 (SD 35) min, median of 73.5 (IQR 62–113) min. SCs who underwent IVT were younger (p = 0.01), with higher NIHSS (p = 0.05). They presented more frequently with altered level of consciousness in the NIHSS (p = 0.01), language abnormities (p = 0.001), and dysarthria (p = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, none of the variables were significantly associated with IVT. A secondary analysis showed that only time to brain imaging was significantly associated with IVT (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98–0.99; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Almost 1 out of every 7 SC could be treated with IVT but with a prolonged DTN time; the chance of being treated is associated with time to brain imaging.

Introduction: Stroke burden is largely due to long-term impairments requiring prolonged care and loss of productivity. We aim to identify and assess studies of different registered pharmacological therapies as treatments for improving post-stroke impairments and/or disabilities. Methods: In a systematic search and review (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022376973), studies of treatments that have been investigated as recovery-enhancing or recovery-promoting treatments in adult patients who had suffered a stroke will be searched for, screened, and reviewed based on the following: participants (P): adult humans, aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with stroke; interventions (I): registered or marketed pharmacological therapies that have been investigated as recovery-enhancing or recovery-promoting treatments in stroke; comparators (C): active or placebo or no comparator; outcomes (O): stroke-related neurological impairments and functional/disability assessments. Data will be extracted from included papers, including patient demographics, study methods, keystroke inclusion criteria, details of intervention and control, and the reported outcomes. Result: “The best available studies” based on study design, study size, and/or date of publication for different therapies and stroke subtypes will be selected and graded for level of evidence by consensus. Conclusion: There are conflicting study results of pharmacological interventions after an acute stroke to enhance recovery. This systematic search and review will identify the best evidence and knowledge gaps in the pharmacological treatment of post-stroke patients as well as guide clinical decision-making and planning of future studies.

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability globally, and even more-so in Asia [1]. Stroke in Asian countries have different epidemiological patterns compared to other parts of the world. In the spectrum of cerebrovascular diseases, there is evidence of higher frequencies of spontaneous intraparenchymal haemorrhage, intracranial atherosclerosis, radiation vasculopathy, moyamoya disease, strokes related to infectious aetiologies and central nervous system infections as well as cerebral venous thrombosis. As such, the educational emphasis differs in Asia [2].While there are rapid advances in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of each of these conditions, this information is not readily available in an easily accessible educational resource. Having this knowledge readily available would have a significant impact on the understanding and management of these conditions by clinicians who are caring for patients with stroke in Asia while offering refreshing perspectives for those working beyond Asia.The Asian Stroke Advisory Panel (ASAP) was formed in 1999 by a group of key opinion leaders in stroke and cerebrovascular neurology. The group was unified by the shared vision of increasing the level of public awareness about stroke, sharing best practices, and spearheading research initiatives of stroke from diagnosis to treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention [3]. The panel has produced public education materials for wide distribution in multiple languages spoken in Asia on stroke risk factors, symptoms, and actions to be taken as soon as possible (ASAP), in the form of posters, brochures, bookmarks, and cards. The Panel has organised continuing medical education webinars covering topics of practical and clinical value to the busy clinician such as thrombolysis, thrombectomy, radiation vasculopathy, cerebral venous thrombosis, neurosonology, heart and brain, intracerebral haemorrhage, intracranial large artery disease, anti-thrombotic failure, and most recently, cerebral small vessel disease. Research publications by the group cover a range of topics from early stroke mortality, stroke complications, young stroke, systems of stroke care, consensus statement on stroke care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and most recently, pharmacological therapies to improve neuro-recovery after a stroke [4‒9]. The Panel has also published two hand-books on Stroke in Asia [10, 11], as well as a journal supplement-cum-book of interesting case reports in stroke in Asian countries [12]. The core activities, publications and resources are collectively represented in the website of the ASAP; https://www.asianstrokeadvisory.com [3].This new initiative in the form of a supplement has taken another significant step, by covering a range of clinically important topics – up-to-date reviews of topics that have been covered in our webinars including but not limited to stroke epidemiology in Asia, intracranial haemorrhage, intracranial stenosis, moyamoya disease and syndrome, radiation vasculopathy, stroke from infection, cerebral venous thrombosis, bites and stings as causes of stroke, and stroke in the young; a systematic review on anti-platelet treatment in moyamoya disease; a protocol for a systematic search and review of pharmacological therapies to improve outcomes after stroke; original research papers on pre-hospital RACE scale for prediction of large vessel occlusion, alteplase, and tenecteplase in suspected large vessel occlusion, perfusion-imaging guided thrombectomy in the 6–16 h window, polymorphism in RNF213rs112735431 gene and CYP2C19, hub-and-spoke acute care and 1-year outcomes in large artery intracranial stenosis; and three interesting case reports.This focused supplement will arm the clinician with contemporary knowledge and be acquainted with perspectives on stroke relevant to Asia and Asians. It may also spark new research ideas that would help fill the gaps in stroke knowledge and stroke care in our part of the world. Happy reading!N.V.: Moleac via the CHIMES Society has provided funding through the institution for the CHIMES and CHIMES-E trials.The editors wish to thank Moleac Pte Ltd for providing an unrestricted educational grant for the publication of this supplement. The funder had no role in the design, data collection, data analysis, and reporting of this editorial.N.V. wrote the editorial; J.N., J.P., K.S.T., and T.H.L. provided critical review and approved the final manuscript for submission for publication.

Introduction: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) stands as a leading cause of death and disability globally. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and relevance linked with AIS in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and to create and validate nomogram models. Methods: We examined the medical records of 314 patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD 5) undergoing MHD, who sought neurology outpatient department consultation for suspected AIS symptoms between January 2018 and December 2023. These 314 patients were randomly divided into the training cohort (n = 222) and validation cohort (n = 92). The least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) regression model was employed for optimal feature selection in the AIS risk model. Subsequently, multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to construct a predictive model incorporating the features selected through LASSO. This predictive model’s performance was assessed using the C-index and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Additionally, calibration and clinical utility were evaluated through calibration plots and decision curve analysis (DCA). The model’s internal validation was conducted using the validation cohort. Results: Predictors integrated into the prediction nomogram encompassed cardiovascular disease (CVD) (odds ratio [OR] 7.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.400–29.979), smoking (OR 5.7, 95% CI: 1.661–21.955), dialysis time (OR: 5.91, 95% CI: 5.866–29.979), low-density lipoprotein (OR: 2.99, 95% CI: 0.751–13.007), and fibrin degradation products (OR: 5.47, 95% CI: 1.563–23.162). The model exhibited robust discrimination, with a C-index of 0.877 and 0.915 in the internal training and validation cohorts, respectively. The AUC for the training set was 0.857, and a similar AUC of 0.905 was achieved in the validation cohort. DCA demonstrated a positive net benefit within a threshold risk range of 2–96%. Conclusion: The proposed nomogram effectively identifies MHD patients at high risk of AIS at an early stage. This model holds the potential to aid clinicians in making preventive recommendations.

Introduction: Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) are considered early manifestations of impaired clearance mechanisms in the brain; however, it is unclear whether EPVS are associated with the development of malignant cerebral edema (MCE) after large hemispheric infarction (LHI). Therefore, we investigated the predictive value of EPVS in predicting MCE in LHI. Methods: Patients suffering from acute LHI were consecutively enrolled. EPVS were rated after the stroke with validated rating scales from magnetic resonance images. Patients were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of MCE. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between EPVS and MCE in the basal ganglia (BG) and centrum semiovale (CS) regions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves assessed the ability of EPVS individually and with other factors in predicting MCE. Results: We included a total of 255 patients, of whom 98 were MCE patients (58 [59.2%] males, aged 70 [range = 61.75–78] years) and found that atrial fibrillation, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, infarct volume, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and moderate-to-severe CS-EPVS were positively associated with MCE. After adjusting for confounds, moderate-to-severe CS-EPVS remained independent risk factor of MCE (odds ratio = 16.212, p < 0.001). According to the ROC analysis, MCE was highly suspected when CS-EPVS >14 (sensitivity = 0.82, specificity = 0.48), and the guiding value was higher when CS-EPVS combined with other MCE predictors (area under the curve = 0.90, sensitivity = 0.74, specificity = 0.90). Conclusion: CS-EPVS were important risk factor for MEC in patients with acute LHI and can help identify patients at risk for MCE.

Introduction: Acute mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the preferred treatment for large vessel occlusion-related stroke. Histopathological research on the obtained occlusive embolic thrombus may provide information regarding the aetiology and pathology of the lesion to predict prognosis and propose possible future acute ischaemic stroke therapy. Methods: A total of 75 consecutive patients who presented to the Amphia Hospital with acute large vessel occlusion-related stroke and underwent MT were included in the study. The obtained thrombus materials were subjected to standard histopathological examination. Based on histological criteria, they were considered fresh (<1 day old) or old (>1 day old). Patients were followed for 2 years for documentation of all-cause mortality. Results: Thrombi were classified as fresh in 40 patients (53%) and as older in 35 patients (47%). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that thrombus age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at hospital admission, and patient age were associated with long-term mortality (p < 0.1). Multivariable Cox hazards and Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that after extensive adjustment for clinical and procedural variables, thrombus age persisted in being independently associated with higher long-term mortality (hazard ratio: 3.34; p = 0.038, log-rank p = 0.013). Conclusion: In this study, older thromboemboli are responsible for almost half of acute large ischaemic strokes. Moreover, the presence of an old thrombus is an independent predictor of mortality in acute large vessel occlusion-related stroke. More research is warranted regarding future therapies based on thrombus composition.

Background/Objective: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) has been increasingly reported in patients with COVID-19. Most published literature is descriptive and focuses only on CVT in COVID-19 patients. The objective of our study was to compare CVT patients’ characteristics with and without an associated COVID-19 infection. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. All adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CVT admitted to our hospital over a period of 30 months, from January 2019 to June 2021, were included. They were further divided into two groups, with and without COVID-19 infection. Results: A total of 115 CVT patients were included, 93 in non-COVID-CVT and 22 in COVID-CVT group. COVID-CVT patients were male predominant and of older age, with longer hospital stay, and higher inpatient mortality. COVID-CVT patients presented with a higher frequency of headache (82% vs. 63%), seizures (64% vs. 37%, p = 0.03), hemiparesis (41% vs. 24%), and visual changes (36% vs. 19%) as compared to non-COVID-CVT patients. Venogram showed a higher frequency of superior sagittal sinus (64% vs. 42%) and internal jugular vein (23% vs. 12%) involvement in the COVID-CVT cohort. More than 90% of patients in both groups received therapeutic anticoagulation. Mortality rates were higher in COVID-CVT group (18% vs. 11%). Conclusion: COVID-CVT patients were male predominant and of older age, with higher hospital stay, and higher inpatient mortality as compared to non-COVID-CVT patients.