Few studies have assessed the performance of stroke prevention clinics. In particular, limited information exists on patient compliance, achievement of therapeutic targets, and related occurrence of vascular events.

We compared our clinical practice to recommendations from published guidelines in newly referred patients for transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke between 2008 and 2010. We monitored our cohort for at least 1 year and assessed for adequacy of vascular risk factor management, drug adherence, and occurrence of nonlethal vascular outcomes.

Of 408 patients, 57.8% had a stroke and 42.2% a TIA. The mean age was 68±13 years, and 52% male. Average follow-up was 15.8 months. During follow-up, 253 patients (70.3%) completely achieved their blood pressure target, 151 (45.5%) achieved their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol target, and 407 (99.8%) were on antithrombotics. Eighty-nine patients (21.8%) attained optimal therapy status, defined as reaching targets for LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and antithrombotic use. Adherence to drug therapy was associated with attainment of optimal therapy status (p=0.01). Diabetes was associated with lower probability of attaining optimal therapy status (odds ratio [OR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.66) and blood pressure targets (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.05-0.17). During follow-up, 52 (12.7%) patients had a nonlethal vascular event.

Our study shows good attainment of therapeutic goals associated with adherence to drug therapy. However, optimal therapy status and blood pressure targets were more difficult to attain in patients with diabetes; therefore, more intensive preventive efforts may be required for these individuals.

Epilepsy is a common medical condition for which physicians perform driver fitness assessments. The Canadian Medical association (CMA) and the Canadian Council of Motor transportation administrators (CCMTA) publish documents to guide Canadian physicians’ driver fitness assessments.

We aimed to measure the consistency of driver fitness counseling among epileptologists in Canada, and to determine whether inconsistencies between national guidelines are associated with greater variability in counseling instructions.

We surveyed 35 epileptologists in Canada (response rate 71%) using a questionnaire that explored physicians’ philosophies about driver fitness assessments and counseling practices of seizure patients in common clinical scenarios. Of the nine scenarios, CCMTA and CMA recommendations were concordant for only two. Cumulative agreement for all scenarios was calculated using Kappa statistic. Agreement for concordant (two) vs. discordant (seven) scenarios were split at the median and analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test.

Overall the agreement between respondents for the clinical scenarios was not acceptable (Kappa=0.28). For the two scenarios where CMa and CCMta guidelines were concordant, specialists had high levels of agreement with recommendations (89% each). A majority of specialists disagreed with CMa recommendations in three of seven discordant scenarios. The lack of consistency in respondents’ agreement attained statistical significance (p<0.001).

Canadian epileptologists have variable counseling practices about driving, and this may be attributable to inconsistencies between CMa and CCMta medical fitness guidelines. This study highlights the need to harmonize driving recommendations in order to prevent physician and patient confusion about driving fitness in Canada.

transient ischemic attack (tIA) and minor stroke have a high risk of early neurological deterioration, and patients who experience early improvement are at risk of deterioration. We generated a score for quantifying the worst reported motor and speech deficits and assessed whether this predicted outcome.

510 tIA or minor stroke (NIHSS>4) patients were included. the Historical Stroke Severity Score (HSSS) prospectively quantified the patient's description of the worst motor or speech deficits. the HSSS was rated at the time of first assessment with more severe deficits scoring higher. Motor HSSS included assessments of arm and leg motor power (score total 0-5). Speech HSSS assessed severity of dysarthria and aphasia (total 0-3). the association between motor and speech HSSS and symptom progression was assessed during the 90-day follow-up period.

the proportion of patients in each category of the motor HSSS was 0: 43% (216/510), 1: 22%(110/510), 2: 17% (89/510), 3: 7% (37/510), 4: 5% (28/510) and 5: 6% (30/510). Motor HSSS was associated with symptom progression (p=0.004) but not recurrent stroke. Speech HSSS was not associated with either progression or recurrent stroke. Motor HSSS predicted disability (p=0.002) and intracranial occlusion (p=0.012). Disability increased with increasing motor HSSS.

taking a detailed history about the severity of motor deficits, but not speech, predicted outcome in tIA and minor stroke patients. A score based on the patient's description of the severity of motor symptoms predicted symptom progression, intracranial occlusion and functional outcome, but not recurrent stroke in a tIA and minor stroke population.

We wanted to examine the extent to which “neurophobia” exists among medical students and determine if students’ perceptions of neurology differ by year of study while exploring the factors that contribute to the development of “neurophobia”.

We used a two-phase, sequential, mixed-methods explanatory design in this single centre study. Phase 1 involved the collection and analysis of a questionnaire administered to students in the first three years of medical school. Phase 2 involved focus groups of a subgroup of students who demonstrated evidence of neurophobia in Phase 1.

In total, 187 (39 %) undergraduate medical trainees responded to the questionnaire (response rates of 37%, 44% and 19% for first-, second- and third-year students, respectively). 24% of respondents indicated that they were afraid of clinical neurology and 32% were afraid of the academic neurosciences. Additionally, 46% of respondents thought that clinical neurology is one of the most difficult disciplines in medicine. Phase 2 findings revealed that many students reported negative preconceptions about neurology and commented on neurology’s difficulty. Some experienced changes in these conceptions following their neurology block. Past clinical, educational, and personal experiences in neurology impacted their comfort level.

This study shows that the level of comfort towards clinical neurology increases following students’ participation in second-year neurology blocks, but that third-year students continue to show signs of neurophobia with lower comfort levels. It provides insight into why neurophobia exists amongst medical students and sheds light on pre-existing and emerging factors contributing to this sense of neurophobia.

This retrospective study addresses for the first time the differences in clinical features and outcomes between those individuals with a cerebellar infarct who were correctly diagnosed on initial presentation compared to those who experienced delayed diagnosis.

A retrospective review was conducted of our stroke registry from 09/2003 to 02/2011. Forty seven patients had an isolated cerebellar infarction confirmed by MRI. Misdiagnosis was defined as the diagnosis given by the first physician.

Among 47 patients identified, 59.6% had delayed diagnosis. Five patients in the correct diagnosis group received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, compared to none in the delayed diagnosis group. Complaints of weakness were protective from delayed diagnosis (OR 0.087, 95% CI 0.019-0.393, p=0.001).

Patients with an isolated cerebellar infarction need to be considered when patients present with acute non-specific symptoms. Critical components of the neurological examination are omitted which are imperative to diagnose cerebellar infarcts. A thorough neurological examination may increase clinical suspicion of an ischemic stroke.

Identification of the underlying cause of intellectual disability (ID) is important as it improves genetic counselling, management, adaptation; yet its etiologic heterogeneity is challenging and often leads to an expensive work-up.

To improve this diagnostic trajectory, the multidisciplinary Complex Diagnostic Clinic (CDC) was established for ID patients with unexplained complex systemic and/or neurologic features that were referred to the CDC and evaluated by three medical specialists followed by multi-disciplinary rounds. Analyses included surveys and interviews, (retrospective) chart review, costs calculations and comparison.

24 children (9 male) were evaluated during seven clinics held over 16 months. The average patient age was 7 years 11 months (range 9 months-18 years). All the children had previously been seen by 2–10 specialist services. The diagnostic yield of the CDC was higher than expected with confirmed and working diagnoses in 11 (46%) and 9 (38%) children respectively. Cost-savings included fewer trips to hospital and fewer tests via more streamlined evaluations. Positive feedback was received from both families and medical professionals.

The CDC represents an innovative model of personalized care. Specialist collaboration in the interpretation of relevant clinical, biochemical and genomic data resulted in diagnoses, where none had previously been possible.

the goal of this study was to identify important prognostic variables affecting placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (Peg) tube after acute stroke.

We retrospectively reviewed our patient database to identify acute ischemic stroke patients who placed Peg or nasogastric tube (Ngt) tube, but were free of other confounding conditions affecting swallowing. A total of 340 patients were involved in our study. We assessed the influence of age, National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHss) score, infarct volume, stroke subtype based on the toAst criteria, swallowing disorders, bilateral lesions in cerebrum and length of stay (los) in a logistic regression analysis.

In univariate analysis, age (p=0.048), NIHss score (p<0.0001), lesion volume (p<0.0001), los (p<0.0001), stroke location (p=0.045), and swallowing disorders (p<0.0001) were found to be the primary predictors of placing Peg. the presence of lesions in bilateral cerebral was included in the final model based on clinical considerations. After multivariate adjustment, only NIHss score (odds ratio [oR], 4.055; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.398-6.857; p=0.0001), lesion volume (oR, 1.69; 95%CI, 1.09–4.39; p=0.014), swallowing disorders (oR, 1.151; 95% CI, 1.02-1.294; p=0.047), los (oR, 0.955; 95% CI, 0.914-0.998; p=0.0415) and bilateral lesions (oR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.666-4.705; p=0.0001) remained significant.

our data shows that NIHss score, lesion volume, swallowing disorders, los and bilateral lesions in cerebrum can predict the requiring of Peg tube insertion in patients after stroke.