F o r S t r o k Background and PurposeThe pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) has a deleterious role in cerebral ischemia, which is attenuated by IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). IL-1 induces peripheral inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), which are associated with worse prognosis after ischemic stroke. We investigated whether subcutaneous (SC) IL-1Ra reduces the peripheral inflammatory response in acute ischemic stroke. MethodsSCIL-STROKE was a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of SC IL-1Ra (100mg administered twice daily for three days) in patients presenting within 5h of ischemic stroke onset. Randomization was stratified for baseline NIHSS score and thrombolysis. Measurement of plasma IL-6 and other peripheral inflammatory markers was undertaken at five time points. The primary outcome was difference in concentration of log(IL-6) as area under the curve to Day 3. Secondary outcomes included exploratory effect of IL-1Ra on three month outcome with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). ResultsWe recruited 80 patients (mean age 72, median NIHSS 12) of whom 73% received intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase. IL-1Ra significantly reduced plasma and plasma C-reactive protein (p<0.001). IL-1Ra was well-tolerated with no safety concerns.Allocation to IL-1Ra was not associated with a favorable outcome on mRS: OR (95% CI) = 0.67 (0.29 to 1.52); p=0.34. Exploratory mediation analysis suggested that IL-1Ra improved clinical outcome by reducing inflammation, but there was a statistically significant, alternative mechanism countering this benefit. ConclusionsIL-1Ra reduced plasma inflammatory markers which are known to be associated with worse clinical outcome in ischemic stroke. SC IL-1Ra is safe and well-tolerated. Further 3

Background: Depression and anxiety in cardiovascular disease are significant, contributing to poor prognosis. Unfortunately, current psychological treatments offer mixed, usually small improvements in these symptoms. The present trial tested for the first time the effects of group metacognitive therapy (MCT; 6 sessions) on anxiety and depressive symptoms when delivered alongside cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Methods: A total of 332 CR patients recruited from 5 National Health Service Trusts across the North-West of England were randomly allocated to MCT+CR (n=163, 49.1%) or usual CR alone (n=169, 50.9%). Randomization was 1:1 via minimization balancing arms on sex and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores within hospital site. The primary outcome was Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale total after treatment (4-month follow-up). Secondary outcomes were individual Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales, traumatic stress symptoms, and psychological mechanisms including metacognitive beliefs and repetitive negative thinking. Analysis was intention to treat. Results: The adjusted group difference on the primary outcome, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale total score at 4 months, significantly favored the MCT+CR arm (–3.24 [95% CI, –4.67 to –1.81], P <0.001; standardized effect size, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.291 to 0.750]). The significant difference was maintained at 12 months (–2.19 [95% CI, –3.72 to –0.66], P =0.005; standardized effect size, 0.33 [95% CI, 0.101 to 0.568]). The intervention improved outcomes significantly for both depression and anxiety symptoms when assessed separately compared with usual care. Sensitivity analysis using multiple imputation of missing values supported these findings. Most secondary outcomes favored MCT+CR, with medium to high effect sizes for psychological mechanisms of metacognitive beliefs and repetitive negative thinking. No adverse treatment-related events were reported. Conclusions: Group MCT+CR significantly improved depression and anxiety compared with usual care and led to greater reductions in unhelpful metacognitions and repetitive negative thinking. Most gains remained significant at 12 months. Study strengths include a large sample, a theory-based intervention, use of longer-term follow-up, broad inclusion criteria, and involvement of a trials unit. Limitations include no control for additional contact as part of MCT to estimate nonspecific effects, and the trial was not intended to assess cardiac outcomes. Nonetheless, results demonstrated that addition of the MCT intervention had broad and significant beneficial effects on mental health symptoms. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: ISRCTN74643496.

Non-pharmacological interventions for spatial neglect or inattention following stroke and other non-progressive brain injury (Review)