Background and objectives: The time interval between stroke onset and hospital arrival is a major barrier for reperfusion therapies in acute ischemic stroke and usually accounts for most of the onset-to-treatment delay. The present study aimed to analyze the pre-hospital delays for patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to a tertiary stroke center in Romania and to identify the factors associated with a late hospital arrival. Material and methods: The study population consisted of 770 patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke in the University Emergency Hospital Bucharest during a 6-month period, between 1 January and 30 June 2018. Data regarding pre-hospital delays were prospectively collected and analyzed together with the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. Results: In total, 31.6% of patients arrived at the hospital within 4.5 h from stroke onset and 4.4% in time intervals between 4.5 and 6 h from the onset, and 28.7% of the patients reached the hospital more than 24 h after onset of symptoms. Transport to hospital by own means was the only factor positively associated with arrival to hospital > 4.5 h from stroke onset and more than doubled the odds of late arrival. Factors negatively associated with hospital arrival > 4.5 h after stroke onset were prior diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥ 16 points, presence of hemianopsia, facial palsy and sensory disturbance. Factors increasing the odds of hospital arrival after 24 h from stroke onset were living alone and living in rural areas. Conclusions: Almost one in three ischemic stroke patients presenting to our center reaches hospital more than 24 h after onset of symptoms. These findings highlight the need for urgent measures to improve not only stroke awareness but also pre-hospital protocols in order to provide timely and appropriate care for our stroke patients.

Background and Objectives: In this critical review, we explore the potential use of MRI measurements as prognostic biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, for both conventional measurements and more novel techniques such as magnetization transfer, diffusion tensor, and proton spectroscopy MRI. Materials and Methods: All authors individually and comprehensively reviewed each of the aspects listed below in PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar. Results: There are numerous MRI metrics that have been proven by clinical studies to hold important prognostic value for MS patients, most of which can be readily obtained from standard 1.5T MRI scans. Conclusions: While some of these parameters have passed the test of time and seem to be associated with a reliable predictive power, some are still better interpreted with caution. We hope this will serve as a reminder of how vast a resource we have on our hands in this versatile tool—it is up to us to make use of it.

Cardiac abnormalities are frequently reported in acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. However, frank ST-elevation and myocardial dysfunction mimicking acute coronary syndrome is a rare occurrence. Systemic and local catecholamine release mediate myocardial injury and may explain raised troponin levels, concordant regional wall motion abnormalities and systolic dysfunction. These findings can pose a significant problem in the acute setting where “time-is-muscle” paradigm can rush clinicians towards a “rule - in” diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.We present the case of a 60-year-old male who presented to a regional emergency department with loss of consciousness, chest pain and headache. His ECG showed ST-elevation in precordial leads with corresponding region wall motion abnormalities and dynamically elevated troponin levels which supported a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Percutaneous coronary intervention was attempted but found no hemodynamically significant lesions and the patient was managed conservatively with antithrombotic treatment. Further work-up for his headache led to the diagnosis of aneurysmal SAH and subsequent endovascular coiling. The patient was discharged with a good clinical outcome. We discuss the potential catastrophic consequences of interpreting neurologic myocardial stunning as STEMI. Use of potent antithrombotic therapies, like bridging thrombolysis, in this setting can lead to dismal consequences. Clinical history should still be carefully obtained in the acute setting in this era of sensitive biomarkers.

(1) Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) begins early in the evolution of multiple sclerosis (MS) but may only become obvious in the later stages of the disease. Little data is available regarding predictive biomarkers for early, active cognitive decline in relapse remitting MS (RRMS) patients. (2) Methods: 50 RRMS patients in the first 6 months following diagnosis were included. The minimum follow-up was one year. Biomarker samples were collected at baseline, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline and 12-month follow-up; (3) Results: Statistically significant differences were found for patients undergoing active cognitive decline for sNfL z-scores at baseline and 3 months, CSF NfL baseline values, CSF Aβ42 and the Bremso score as well. The logistic regression model based on these 5 variables was statistically significant, χ2(4) = 22.335, p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.671, with a sensitivity of 57.1%, specificity of 97.4%, a positive predictive value of 80% and a negative predictive value of 92.6%. (4) Conclusions: Our study shows that serum biomarkers (adjusted sNfL z-scores at baseline and 3 months) and CSF biomarkers (CSF NfL baseline values, CSF Aβ42), combined with a clinical score (BREMSO), can accurately predict an early cognitive decline for RRMS patients at the moment of diagnosis.