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Background Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by distal medium vessel occlusions (DMVOs) represents a significant proportion of overall stroke cases. While intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) has been a primary treatment, advancements in endovascular procedures have led to increased use of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in DMVO stroke patients. However, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) remains a critical complication of AIS, particularly after undergoing intervention. This study aims to identify factors associated with sICH in DMVO stroke patients undergoing MT. Methods This retrospective analysis utilized data from the Multicenter Analysis of Distal Medium Vessel Occlusions: Effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy (MAD-MT) registry, involving 37 centers across North America, Asia, and Europe. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) DMVO stroke patients were included. The primary outcome measured was sICH, as defined per the Heidelberg Bleeding Classification. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors independently associated with sICH. Results Among 1708 DMVO stroke patients, 148 (8.7%) developed sICH. Factors associated with sICH in DMVO patients treated with MT included older age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.00 to 1.03, P=0.048), distal occlusion site (M3, M4) compared with medium occlusions (M2) (aOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.74, P=0.026), prior use of antiplatelet drugs (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.99, P<0.001), lower Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Scores (ASPECTS) (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.84, P<0.001), higher preoperative blood glucose level (aOR 1.00, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.01, P=0.012), number of passes (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.39, P<0.001), and successful recanalization (Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2b-3) (aOR 0.43, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.66, P<0.001). Conclusion This study provides novel insight into factors associated with sICH in patients undergoing MT for DMVO, emphasizing the importance of age, distal occlusion site, prior use of antiplatelet drugs, lower ASPECTS, higher preoperative blood glucose level, and procedural factors such as the number of passes and successful recanalization. Pending confirmation, consideration of these factors may improve personalized treatment strategies.

3053 Background: Recently, early studies have identified circulating stromal cells (CStCs), i.e. Cancer Associated Macrophage-Like cells (CAMLs), in patients (pts) with newly diagnosed invasive cancers, which are phagocytic myeloid immune cells emanating from primary tumors. However, no study has evaluated CAMLs as a pan solid tumor screening tool nor their clinical impact on pt outcomes. We analyzed the blood of untreated newly diagnosed cancer pts (n=441), or in non-malignant conditions (i.e. pancreatic cysts, n=77), or healthy controls (n=100). We found that CAMLs are prevalent (82%) in cancer pt blood, absent in healthy controls (0%) and less common in non-malignant conditions (36%), with correlations to worse clinical outcomes. Methods: Anonymized peripheral blood was taken from n=441 pts before or after confirmation of invasive malignancy [stage I (n=105), stage II (n=125), stage III (n=114), stage IV (n=97) with pathologically confirmed lung (n=84), pancreas (n=61), breast (n=73), prostate (n=65), esophageal (n=34), Renal Cell (n=29), Sarcoma (n=27), or Other (n=68). In addition, anonymized blood was taken from pts with untreated non-malignant conditions including benign breast masses (n=19), Lupus (n=11), liver Cirrhosis (n=6), rising PSA (n=24), or other benign mass (n=17); and from healthy control volunteers (n=100). CAMLs were isolated by CellSieve microfiltration, defined as enlarged polyploid cells with cytokeratin+ and/or CD45/CD14+. Pts were monitored for 0-8 years (median=2.6) for progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: CAMLs were found in 82% of all cancer pts averaging 5.4 CAMLs, specifically, in 66% of Stage I, 85% Stage II, 84% Stage III, and 92% Stage IV. No CAMLs were found in any healthy controls, but were in 36% of non-malignant pts. CAML sensitivity in cancer vs healthy was 82% (CI95% 78-85%), specificity=100% (CI95% 96-100%), PPV=100% (CI95% 99-100%), NPV=55% (CI95% 50-60%). CAML sensitivity in cancer vs benign was 82% (CI95% 78-85%), specificity=64% (CI95% 32-44%), PPV=93% (CI95% 90-95%), NPV=38% (CI95% 32-44%). CAML presence was significantly associated with worse PFS (HR=2.0, 95%CI 1.4-2.9, p<0.0001) & OS (HR=2.2, 95%CI 1.4-3.3, p=0.0004), with engorged phagocytic CAMLs (>50um), highly significant for worse PFS (HR=3.3, 95%CI 2.5-4.5, p<0.0001) & OS (HR=3.0, 95%CI 2.1-4.3, p<0.0001). Further, in benign pts positive for CAMLs, 2 pts were in situ, 16 had histologies with increased cancer risk (i.e. IPMN, atypical hyperplasia), and 5 pts died within 3 years. Conclusions: CAMLs appear to be a highly sensitive blood based biomarker that can identify invasive carcinoma in all stages of cancer regardless of subtype, but are not found in healthy controls & rare in non-malignant conditions. Further, enlarged phagocytic CAMLs appeared to correlate with shorter PFS and OS prior to treatment induction.

Abstract Background: Stroke remains a major health concern globally, with oral anticoagulants widely prescribed for stroke prevention. The efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in anticoagulated patients with distal medium vessel occlusions (DMVO) are not well understood. Methods: This retrospective analysis involved 1282 acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who underwent MT in 37 centers across North America, Asia, and Europe from September 2017 to July 2023. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, treatment specifics, and outcomes were collected. The primary outcomes were functional outcomes at 90 days post-MT, measured by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. Secondary outcomes included reperfusion rates, mortality, and hemorrhagic complications. Results: Of the patients, 223 (34%) were on anticoagulation therapy. Anticoagulated patients were older (median age 78 vs 74 years; p &lt; 0.001) and had a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (77% vs 26%; p &lt; 0.001). Their baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were also higher (median 12 vs 9; p = 0.002). Before propensity score matching (PSM), anticoagulated patients had similar rates of favorable 90-day outcomes (mRS 0–1: 30% vs 37%, p = 0.1; mRS 0–2: 47% vs 50%, p = 0.41) but higher mortality (26% vs 17%, p = 0.008). After PSM, there were no significant differences in outcomes between the two groups. Conclusion: Anticoagulated patients undergoing MT for AIS due to DMVO did not show significant differences in 90-day mRS outcomes, reperfusion, or hemorrhage compared to non-anticoagulated patients after adjustment for covariates.

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to investigate the impact of antiplatelet administration in the periprocedural period on the occurrence of thromboembolic complications (TECs) in patients undergoing treatment using the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device for intracranial wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. The primary objective was to assess whether the use of antiplatelets in the pre- and postprocedural phases reduces the likelihood of developing TECs, considering various covariates. METHODS A retrospective multicenter observational study was conducted within the WorldWideWEB Consortium and comprised 38 academic centers with endovascular treatment capabilities. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between antiplatelet use and TECs, adjusting for covariates. Missing predictor data were addressed using multiple imputation. RESULTS The study comprised two cohorts: one addressing general thromboembolic events and consisting of 1412 patients, among whom 103 experienced TECs, and another focusing on symptomatic thromboembolic events and comprising 1395 patients, of whom 50 experienced symptomatic TECs. Preprocedural antiplatelet use was associated with a reduced likelihood of overall TECs (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.19–0.53, p < 0.001) and symptomatic TECs (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.25–0.95, p = 0.036), whereas postprocedural antiplatelet use showed no significant association with TECs. The study also revealed additional predictors of TECs, including stent use (overall: OR 4.96, 95% CI 2.38–10.3, p < 0.001; symptomatic: OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.26–8.36, p = 0.015), WEB single-layer sphere (SLS) type (overall: OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04–0.74, p = 0.017), and posterior circulation aneurysm location (symptomatic: OR 18.43, 95% CI 1.48–230, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study suggest that the preprocedural administration of antiplatelets is associated with a reduced likelihood of TECs in patients undergoing treatment with the WEB device for wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. However, postprocedural antiplatelet use did not show a significant impact on TEC occurrence.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The impact of race on outcomes in the treatment of intracranial aneurysm (IA) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between race classified into White, Black, Hispanic, and other and treatment outcomes in patients with ruptured and unruptured IAs. METHODS: The study population consisted of 2836 patients with IA with endovascular treatment or microsurgical treatment (MST) from 16 centers in the United States and Asia, all participating in the observational “STAR” registry. The primary outcome was a 90-day modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 2. Secondary outcomes included periprocedural cerebral infarction and intracranial hemorrhage, perioperative symptomatic cerebral vasospasm in ruptured IA and mortality, and all causes of mortality within 90 days. RESULTS: One thousand fifty-three patients were White (37.1%), 350 were Black (12.3%), 264 were Hispanic (9.3%), and 1169 were other (41.2%). Compared with White patients, Hispanic patients had a significantly lower proportion of primary outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.36, 95% CI, 0.23-0.56) and higher proportion of the periprocedural cerebral infarction, perioperative mortality, and all causes of mortality (aOR 2.53, 95% CI, 1.40-4.58, aOR 1.84, 95% CI, 1.00-3.38, aOR 1.83, 95% CI, 1.06-3.17, respectively). Outcomes were not significantly different in Black and other patients. The subgroup analysis showed that Hispanic patients with age ≥65 years (aOR 0.19, 95% CI, 0.10-0.38, interaction P = .048), Hunt-Hess grades 0 to 3 (aOR 0.29, 95% CI, 0.19-0.46, interaction P = .03), and MST (aOR 0.24, 95% CI, 0.13-0.44, interaction P = .04) had a significantly low proportion of primary outcome. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that Hispanic patients with IA are more likely to have a poor outcome at 90 days after endovascular treatment or MST than White patients. Physicians have to pay attention to the selection of treatment modalities, especially for Hispanic patients with specific factors to reduce racial discrepancies.

Background and importance Neurointervention is a very competitive specialty in the United States due to the limited number of training spots and the larger pool of applicants. The training standards are continuously updated to ensure solid training experiences. Factors affecting candidate(s) selection have not been fully established yet. Our study aims to investigate the factors influencing the selection process. Methods A 52-question survey was distributed to 93 program directors (PDs). The survey consisted of six categories: (a) Program characteristics, (b) Candidate demographics, (c) Educational credentials, (d) Personal traits, (e) Research and extracurricular activities, and (f) Overall final set of characteristics. The response rate was 59.1%. As per the programs’ characteristics, neurosurgery was the most involved specialty in running the training programs (69%). Regarding demographics, the need for visa sponsorship held the greatest prominence with a mean score of 5.9 [standard deviation (SD) 2.9]. For the educational credentials, being a graduate from a neurosurgical residency and the institution where the candidate's residency training is/was scored the highest [5.4 (SD = 2.9), 5.4 (SD = 2.5), respectively]. Regarding the personal traits, assessment by faculty members achieved the highest score [8.9 (SD = 1)]. In terms of research/extracurricular activities, fluency in English had the highest score [7.2 (SD = 1.9)] followed by peer-reviewed/PubMed-indexed publications [6.4 (SD = 2.2)]. Conclusion Our survey investigated the factors influencing the final decision when choosing the future neurointerventional trainee, including demographic, educational, research, and extracurricular activities, which might serve as valuable guidance for both applicants and programs to refine the selection process.

Introduction: Impact of race on outcomes in the treatment of intracranial aneurysm (IA) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between race classified into White, Black, Hispanic, and other ("other" includes Native American or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, and other race) and treatment outcomes in patients with ruptured and unruptured IAs. Methods: Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR) was a retrospective observational study. Data from 9 centers in the United States, Europe, and Asia for IA patients who undertook endovascular treatment (EVT) or microsurgical treatment (MST) between January 2016 and December 2020 were included for analysis. The primary outcome was 90-day mRS 0-2. Secondary outcomes included periprocedural cerebral infarction and intracranial hemorrhage, perioperative symptomatic cerebral vasospasm in ruptured IA and mortality, and all causes of mortality within 90 days. Results: 2,836 IA patients treated with EVT or MST were included. Among these 2,836 patients, 1,053 patients were White, 350 were Black, 264 were Hispanic, and 1,169 were other. The primary outcome in Hispanic patients was significantly lower than White patients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.36, 95% CI, 0.23-0.56, P < .001). The periprocedural cerebral infarction, perioperative mortality, and all causes of mortality in Hispanic patients were significantly higher than White patients (aOR 2.53, 95% CI, 1.40-4.58, P = .002, aOR 1.84, 95% CI, 1.00-3.38, P = .049, aOR 1.83, 95% CI, 1.06-3.17, P = .03, respectively). However, these outcomes were not significantly different in Black and other patients compared to White patients. Conclusions: This study demonstrates Hispanic IA patients are more likely to have a poor outcome at 90 days following EVT or MST than White patients.

Introduction Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and can be used as a potential predictor of stress-related cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to assess whether physical and mental strain during the performance of cerebral endovascular procedure influence time-domain HRV parameters in operating surgeon. Materials and Methods Heart rate (HR) and HRV metrics were measured using a HR sensor chest strap before, during, and after neuroendovascular interventions performed by a single neurosurgeon. Three consecutive data series were reported by recording time domain: before procedure, during and after performing endovascular procedures. HR and HRV parameters were recorded during diagnostic and interventional neuroendovascular procedures. HR and HRV measures were analyzed by procedure type and recording time domain. Results HRV measures of a single endovascular neurosurgeon were recorded during 50 procedures. The median intraprocedural HRV score was the lowest and the median HR was the highest (HRV: 52, HR: 89 bpm) compared to preprocedural (HRV: 59, HR: 70 bpm) and postprocedural cardiovascular measures (HRV: 53, HR: 79, bpm, p < 0.001). On univariate linear regression, a negative association of interventional procedures with lower intraprocedural (β = −0.905, p = 0.001) and postprocedural (β = −1.12, p < 0.001) HRV scores compared to the diagnostic procedures was noted. Conclusions HRV is a reliable tool to measure cardiovascular and mental stress. Interventional neuro-endovascular procedures seem to negatively impact the cardiovascular measures of neurointerventionalists. Further longitudinal studies utilizing HRV are warranted to address their long-term effects on the mental health of physicians.

ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical outcomes of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) using population‐level data from the United States.MethodsWeighted discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample were queried to identify adult patients with acute BAO during the period of 2015 to 2019 treated with EVT or medical management only. Complex samples statistical methods and propensity‐score adjustment using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were performed to assess clinical endpoints.ResultsAmong 3,950 BAO patients identified, 1,425 (36.1%) were treated with EVT [mean age 66.7 years, median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 22]. On unadjusted analysis, 155 (10.9%) EVT patients achieved favorable functional outcomes (discharge disposition to home without services), while 515 (36.1%) experienced in‐hospital mortality, and 20 (1.4%) developed symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Following propensity‐score adjustment by IPTW accounting for age, stroke severity, and comorbidity burden, EVT was independently associated with favorable functional outcome [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07, 1.46; p = 0.004], but not with in‐hospital mortality or sICH. In an IPTW‐adjusted sub‐group analysis of patients with NIHSS scores >20, EVT was associated with both favorable functional outcome (discharge disposition to home or to acute rehabilitation) (aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.24, 1.94; p < 0.001) and decreased mortality (aOR 0.78, 95% CI 0.69, 0.89; p < 0.001), but not with sICH.InterpretationThis retrospective population‐based analysis using a large national registry provides real‐world evidence of a potential benefit of EVT in acute BAO patients. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:55–60

Abstract Purpose: The role of immune-oncologic mechanisms of racial disparities in prostate cancer remains understudied. Limited research exists to evaluate the molecular underpinnings of immune differences in African American men (AAM) and European American men (EAM) prostate tumor microenvironment (TME). Experimental Design: A total of 1,173 radiation-naïve radical prostatectomy samples with whole transcriptome data from the Decipher GRID registry were used. Transcriptomic expressions of 1,260 immune-specific genes were selected to assess immune-oncologic differences between AAM and EAM prostate tumors. Race-specific differential expression of genes was assessed using a rank test, and intergene correlational matrix and gene set enrichment was used for pathway analysis. Results: AAM prostate tumors have significant enrichment of major immune-oncologic pathways, including proinflammatory cytokines, IFNα, IFNγ, TNFα signaling, ILs, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. AAM TME has higher total immune content score (ICSHIGH) compared with 0 (37.8% vs. 21.9%, P = 0.003). AAM tumors also have lower DNA damage repair and are genomically radiosensitive as compared with EAM. IFITM3 (IFN-inducible transmembrane protein 3) was one of the major proinflammatory genes overexpressed in AAM that predicted increased risk of biochemical recurrence selectively for AAM in both discovery [HRAAM = 2.30; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.21–4.34; P = 0.01] and validation (HRAAM = 2.42; 95% CI, 1.52–3.86; P = 0.0001) but not in EAM. Conclusions: Prostate tumors of AAM manifest a unique immune repertoire and have significant enrichment of proinflammatory immune pathways that are associated with poorer outcomes. Observed immune-oncologic differences can aid in a genomically adaptive approach to treating prostate cancer in AAM.