Suchergebnisse

Abstract
Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are most commonly found at the branch points of large arteries that form the circle of Willis. The prevalence of IAs in the adult population is 1–5%. IAs rupture is associated with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in 6–8 cases per 100 000 population, causing mortality in 40–50%. Aneurysm treatment is used to prevent rupture or rebleeding (for ruptured IAs). Randomised trials demonstrated the superiority of endovascular treatment (EVT) of ruptured aneurysms with coil systems over surgery. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Barricade coil system in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Detachable platinum coils, since their introduction 25 years ago, have become the first choice EVT method for ruptured and unruptured IAs and have shown acceptable mortality (~2%). The retrospective study of intracranial aneurysms treated with the Barricade coil system at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital (Rīga, Latvia) conducted in a 20-month period included 95 patients and 97 IAs. Thirty-one (32.6%) males and 64 (67.4%) females with median age 56 ± 15 years underwent endovascular treatment. The minority, 22 (23.16%) patients, were asymptomatic, while 73 (76.84%) patients had neurological symptoms directly associated with aneurysm progression and SAH development. Preoperatively, 52 (53.6%) aneurysms were ruptured, causing SAH, and 24 (25.26%) patients with unruptured IAs had neurological symptoms. Sixty-four (66.0%) IAs were treated using coils without neurovascular stent implantation or balloon assistance, 22 (22.7%) — with coils and stent implantation, and 11(11.3%) aneurysms were embolised with balloon-assisted coiling. The immediate anatomical result of endovascular treatment of IAs and technical success of aneurysm coiling was evaluated using the simplified Raymond scale. In the majority of cases, complete occlusion of the aneurysm was achieved while residual neck of the aneurysm or aneurysm remnant was uncommon. Immediate clinical results were evaluated using the modified Rankin scale (mRs). The majority of patients had favourable immediate clinical outcome (mRs 0–2), but four (4.21%) patients died in 1–6 days after the procedure as a consequence of SAH. In 72 (75.79%), patients no new neurological pathological symptoms developed 2–3 days after endovascular procedure and they were discharged from the hospital. Intraprocedural complications occurred in 4 (4.21%) cases. Technical issues occurred in two (2.1%) patients. In 19 (20%) patients, neurological symptoms remained even after the procedure, six (6.32%) patients had clinical worsening, and we had one case of procedural related mortality. Six-month follow-up evaluation was performed for 58 (61.0%) patients (59 IAs). In the majority of cases, complete occlusion of the aneurysm and favourable clinical outcome (mRs 0–2) was observed. Our experience showed that the treatment of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms with the Barricade coil system is feasible, effective, clinically safe and has a low risk of intraprocedural complications.

Abstract
Mechanical thrombectomy as an active treatment method has recently been chosen for patients with large artery occlusions and thrombolysis beyond a time window. The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of endovascular treatment in patients with proximal vessel occlusion, compare this group with the intravenous thrombolysis group, and to identify possible criteria of active treatment. The prospective study included 81 patients hospitalised in the Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital due to acute ischemic stroke; 48 of them received mechanical thrombectomy and 33 - intravenous thrombolysis. Thrombectomy (TE) was performed using Solitaire FR stent retrievers. The NIHSS score was used for evaluation of early therapy results and mRS (modified Rankin Scale) was used for late therapy results. ASPECTS was used to define the lesion size using imaging on admission and after treatment. Median NIHSS on admission was higher in the TE group - 16 (range 12 to 19) than in the TL group - 12 (range 8 to 15) (p < 0.05). Ninety days after treatment, mRS (0-2) was seen in 67% of patients in the TE group (n = 29), and 34% of patients in the TL group (n = 9) patients (p < 0.05). Median ASPECTS was lower in TE group - 5, in comparison to the TL group - 7 (p < 0.01) Mortality frequency was higher in the TL group (p > 0.05). Frequency of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhages was similar in the groups. Mechanical thrombectomy can achieve better late functional outcome than thrombolysis in a selected patients group.

Abstract
Due to increasing changes in demographics, maintaining cognitive functioning later in life has become both economic and social concerns, and thus finding a cost-effective solution is one of the priorities in research. Factors like physical and intellectual activities have been associated with better cognitive performance in later life. While several studies have considered the impact of short-term physical activity interventions on cognitive functioning, retrospective research focusing on life-time physical activity experience has been sparse. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between memory performance and whole brain matter integrity in seniors with different regular life-long physical activity experience. Fifty-three Latvian seniors aged 65–85 (M = 72.25, SD = 5.03, 83% female) with no self-reported chronic disease participated in the study. Measures of memory, physical activity and whole brain matter integrity were obtained and analysed. The obtained results indicated no significant relationship between physical activity experience and short and long-term memory and whole brain matter integrity; however, brain matter integrity was significantly correlated with demographic factors like age and education. These results might be related to inadequate physical activity measures, as well as unequal physical activity experience in participants. In the future, more detailed assessment of physical activity experience should be considered.