Yeu-Jhy Chang

Background and purpose: to investigate the frequency of cervical–cranial vascular complications soon after radiation therapy (RT) and identify differences among patients with various types of head and neck cancer (HNC). Methods: We enrolled 496 patients with HNC who had received their final RT dose in our hospital. These patients underwent carotid duplex ultrasound (CDU) for monitoring significant carotid artery stenosis (CAS). Brain imaging were reviewed to detect vertebral, intracranial artery stenosis, or preexisted CAS before RT. Primary outcome was significant CAS at the internal or common carotid artery within first 5 years after RT. We categorized the patients into nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and non-NPC groups and compared the cumulative occurrence of significant CAS between the groups using Kaplan–Meier and Cox-regression analyses. Results: Compared to the NPC group, the non-NPC group had a higher frequency of significant CAS (12.7% vs. 2.0%) and were more commonly associated with significant CAS after adjusting the covariates (Adjusted hazard ratio: 0.17, 95% confident interval: 0.05–0.57) during the follow-up period. All the non-NPC subtypes (oral cancer/oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers) were associated with higher risks of significant CAS than the NPC group (p < 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Significant CAS was more frequently noted within 5 years of RT among the patients with non-NPC HNC than among the patients with NPC. Scheduled carotid artery surveillance and vascular risk monitoring should be commenced earlier for patients with non-NPC HNC. By contrast, vascular surveillance could be deferred to 5 years after RT completion in NPC patients.

Background: To identify predictors of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) progression in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients after radiation therapy (RT). Methods: We included 217 stroke-naïve HNC patients with mild carotid artery stenosis after RT in our hospital. These patients underwent annual carotid duplex ultrasound (CDU) studies to monitor CAS progression. CAS progression was defined as the presence of ≥50% stenosis of the internal/common carotid artery on follow-up CDU. We recorded total plaque score (TPS) and determined the cut-off TPS to predict CAS progression. We categorized patients into high (HP) and low plaque (LP) score groups based on their TPS at enrolment. We analyzed the cumulative events of CAS progression in the two groups. Results: The TPS of the CDU study at enrolment was a significant predictor for CAS progression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.69, p = 0.002). The cut-off TPS was 7 (area under the curve: 0.800), and a TPS ≥ 7 strongly predicted upcoming CAS progression (aOR = 41.106, p = 0.002). The HP group had a higher risk of CAS progression during follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio = 6.15; 95% confident interval: 2.29–16.53) in multivariable Cox analysis, and also a higher trend of upcoming ischemic stroke (HP vs. LP: 8.3% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.09). Conclusions: HNC patients with a TPS ≥ 7 in any CDU study after RT are susceptible to CAS progression and should receive close monitoring within the following 2 years.

Background: Hypothyroidism (HT) and carotid artery stenosis (CAS) are complications of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). The impact of post-RT HT on CAS progression remains unclear. Methods: Between 2013 and 2014, HNC patients who had ever received RT and were under regular follow-up in our hospital were initially screened. Patients were categorized into euthyroid (EU) and HT groups. Details of RT and HNC were recorded. Total plaque scores and degrees of CAS were measured during annual extracranial duplex follow-up. Patients were monitored for CAS progression to > 50 % stenosis or ischemic stroke (IS). Cumulative time to CAS progression and IS between the 2 groups were compared. Data were further analyzed based on the use or nonuse of thyroxine of the HT group. Results: 333 HNC patients with RT history were screened. Finally, 216 patients were recruited (94 and 122 patients in the EU and HT groups). Patients of the HT group received higher mean RT doses (HT vs. EU; 7021.55 ± 401.67 vs. 6869.69 ± 425.32 centi-grays, p = 0.02). Multivariate Cox models showed comparable CAS progression (p = 0.24) and IS occurrence (p = 0.51) between the 2 groups. Moreover, no significant difference was observed in time to CAS progression (p = 0.49) or IS (p = 0.31) among patients with EU and HT using and not using thyroxine supplement. Conclusions: Our results did not demonstrate significant effects of HT and thyroxine supplementation on CAS progression and IS incidence in patients with HNC after RT.

Background: Few systematic methods prioritize the image education in medical students (MS). We hope to develop a checklist of brain computerized tomography (CT) reading in patients with suspected acute ischemic stroke (AIS) for MS and primary care (PC) physicians.Methods: Our pilot group generated the items indicating specific structures or signs for the checklist of brain CT reading in suspected AIS patients for MS and PC physicians. These items were used in a modified web-based Delphi process using the online software “SurveyMonkey”. In total 15 panelists including neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, and emergency department physicians participated in the modified Delphi process. Each panelist was encouraged to express feedback, agreement or disagreement on the inclusion of each item using a 9-point Likert scale. Items with median scores of 7–9 were included in our final checklist.Results: Fifty-two items were initially provided for the first round of the Delphi process. Of these, 35 achieved general agreement of being an essential item for the MS and PC physicians. The other 17 of the 52 items in this round and another two added items suggested by the panelists were further rated in the next round. Finally, 38 items were included in the essential checklist items of brain CT reading in suspected AIS patients for MS and PC physicians.Conclusions: We established a reference regarding the essential items of brain CT reading in suspected AIS patients. We hope this helps to minimize malpractice and a delayed diagnosis, and to improve competency-based medical education for MS and PC physicians.

Background: We hypothesized the inflammatory markers (IM) could be independent predictors of carotid stenosis progression (CSP) after carotid artery stenting (CAS). Methods: Between 2010 and 2012, 122 patients undergoing cervicocranial revascularization in our hospital were prospectively recruited. Patients undergoing revascularizations other than CAS were excluded. Carotid duplex ultrasonography was performed before and at 1 week, 6 months (6M), 1 year, and 2 years after CAS. IMs levels were recorded before CAS and were followed up immediately and 6M after CAS. The data was analyzed retrospectively. Patients were categorized into the progression group (PG) and nonprogression group (NPG) based on the presence or absence of CSP, including in-stent restenosis (ISR) and worsening contralateral carotid stenosis. Receiver operating characteristic and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: Totally 77 patients were enrolled. The frequency of CSP was 24.7% (ISR: 14.3%; worsening contralateral carotid stenosis: 14.3%). Compared with the NPG, the PG had lower E-selectin levels before CAS [PG vs. NPG, 47.90 (42.80, 64.90) vs. 68.25 (52.08, 92.30); p = .01] and a nonreduced E-selectin levels at 6M after CAS [PG vs. NPG, 7.65 (?2.45, 25.75) vs. ?16.10 (?33.45, 1.65); p = .002]. The E-selectin changes between 6M after and before CAS had highest predictive accuracy on CSP (area under the curve = 0.74, p = .002). The optimal cut-off level was a 2.95 ng/mL decrease and the adjusted odds ratio for CSP was 10.16 (p = .001). Conclusions: The E-selectin changes between 6M after and before CAS are independent predictors of CSP.

With the evolution of treatments for neurological diseases, the contents of core neurological examinations (NEs) for medical students may need to be modified. We aimed to establish a consensus on the core NE items for neurology clerks and compare viewpoints between different groups of panelists. First, a pilot group proposed the core contents of NEs for neurology clerks. The proposed core NE items were then subject to a modified web-based Delphi process using the online software “SurveyMonkey”. A total of 30 panelists from different backgrounds (tutors or learners, neurologists or non-neurologists, community hospitals or medical centers, and different academic positions) participated in the modified Delphi process. Each panelist was asked to agree or disagree on the inclusion of each item using a 9-point Likert scale and was encouraged to provide feedback. We also compared viewpoints between different groups of panelists using the Mann-Whitney U test. Eighty-three items were used for the first round of the Delphi process. Of them, 18 without consensus of being a core NE item for the neurology clerks in the first round and another 14 items suggested by the panelists were further discussed in the second round. Finally, 75 items with different grades were included in the recommended NE items for neurology clerks. Our findings provide a reference regarding the core NE items for milestone development for neurology clerkships. We hope that prioritizing the NE items in this order can help medical students to learn NE more efficiently.

Critical stroke causes high morbidity and mortality. We examined if variables in the early stage of critical stroke could predict in-hospital mortality. We recruited 611 ischemic and 805 hemorrhagic stroke patients who were admitted within 24 h after the symptom onset. Data were analyzed with independent t test and Chi square test, and then with multivariate logistic regression analysis. In ischemic stroke, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR 1.08; 95 % CI 1.06–1.11; P < 0.01), white blood cell count (OR 1.11; 95 % CI 1.05–1.18; P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (BP) (OR 0.49; 95 % CI 0.26–0.90; P = 0.02) and age (OR 1.03; 95 % CI 1.00–1.05; P = 0.03) were associated with in-hospital mortality. In hemorrhagic stroke, NIHSS score (OR 1.12; 95 % CI 1.09–1.14; P < 0.01), systolic BP (OR 0.25; 95 % CI 0.15–0.41; P < 0.01), heart disease (OR 1.94; 95 % CI 1.11–3.39; P = 0.02) and creatinine (OR 1.16; 95 % CI 1.01–1.34; P = 0.04) were related to in-hospital mortality. Nomograms using these significant predictors were constructed for easy and quick evaluation of in-hospital mortality. Variables in acute stroke can predict in-hospital mortality and help decision-making in clinical practice using nomogram.