Outcome and Risk of Poststroke Pneumonia in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke After Endovascular Thrombectomy: A Post Hoc Analysis of the DIRECT-MT Trial.

Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the risk factors and impact of poststroke pneumonia (PSP) on mortality and functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).

Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of a prospective randomized trial (Direct intraarterial thrombectomy in order to revascularize AIS patients with large-vessel occlusion efficiently in Chinese tertiary hospitals: a multicenter randomized clinical trial). Patients with AIS who completed EVT were evaluated for the occurrence of PSP during the hospitalization period and their modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 90 days after AIS.

Naoxintong Capsule for Secondary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke: A Multicenter, Randomized, and Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: To examine whether the combination of Naoxintong Capsule with standard care could further reduce the recurrence of ischemic stroke without increasing the risk of severe bleeding.

Methods: A total of 23 Chinese medical centers participated in this trial. Adult patients with a history of ischemic stroke were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio using a block design to receive either Naoxintong Capsule (1.

Patient-Reported Anxiety/Depression After Endovascular Thrombectomy: A Analysis of Direct-MT Trial.

Objective: To analyze the effect of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) alone vs. EVT after an intravenous (IV) alteplase of ischemic stroke on a patient-reported anxiety/depression, and to identify predictors of patient-reported anxiety/depression by analyzing data from Direct Intraarterial Thrombectomy in Order to Revascularize the patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke with a Large Vessel Occlusion Efficiently in Chinese Tertiary Hospitals: a Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial (DIRECT-MT).

Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), triggered by a large-vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation, were randomly allocated to undergo an EVT after IV alteplase (combination-therapy group) or an EVT alone (EVT-alone group) at a 1:1 ratio in DIRECT-MT.

Higher Baseline Cortical Score Predicts Good Outcome in Patients With Low Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score Treated with Endovascular Treatment.

Background: Patients with large vessel occlusion and noncontrast computed tomography (CT) Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) <6 may benefit from endovascular treatment (EVT). There is uncertainty about who will benefit from it.

Objective: To explore the predicting factors for good outcome in patients with ASPECTS <6 treated with EVT.

Pentraxin-3 in Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: No Relation with Curative Effect and Prognosis.

BACKGROUND Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is considered a high quality inflammatory marker of the severity and prognosis of several diseases, however, the value of PTX3 in thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke remains unclear and PTX3 is still controversial in evaluating the prognosis of stroke patients. In this study, we investigated the association of PTX3 with thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty-seven stroke patients who received thrombolytic therapy within 4.

Clinical Study of Intracranial and Extracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage Patients.

Background And Purpose: Nowadays, researchers had begun to focus on the use of antiplatelet and statins in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), but atherosclerosis treatment remains uncertain in these patients. We aimed to investigate the incidence and characteristics of intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis in these patients and analyze its related risk factors.

Methods: Intracranial and extracranial arteries of consecutive patients with sICH were studied retrospectively with computed tomography angiography of head and neck.

Effect of Baseline Characteristics on the Outcome of Stent Retriever-Based Thrombectomy in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusions: A Single-Center Experience and Pooled Data Analysis.

Objectives: To explore the association of baseline characteristics and the outcome of patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) after stent retriever-based thrombectomy (SRT).

Methods: Clinical and imaging information of consecutive SRT-treated patients with BAO from a comprehensive stroke center and up-to-date literature were reviewed respectively. The impact of baseline variables toward favorable outcome was evaluated using subgroup analysis and odds ratio (OR) extracted from published data together with single-center records using pooled analysis.

Association of CYP2J2 gene polymorphisms with ischemic stroke and stroke subtypes in Chinese population.

Background And Purpose: Ischemic stroke (IS) is the main cause of mortality and disability among the old people in China and is a multifactorial disease influenced by many factors including genetic factors like the allele for CYP 2J2. It has been demonstrated that CYP2J2 polymorphisms alter the transcriptional activity. However, studies on the association between CYP2J2-50G/T polymorphism and IS have reported conflicting results.

Reconstructive Treatment of Ruptured Intracranial Spontaneous Vertebral Artery Dissection Aneurysms: Long-Term Results and Predictors of Unfavorable Outcomes.

Introduction: Few studies focused on predictors of unfavorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale, 2-6) after reconstructive treatment of the ruptured intracranial spontaneous vertebral artery dissection aneurysms (ris-VADAs), which was evaluated based on 57 reconstructed lesions in this study.

Methods: Results of 57 consecutive patients (M:F = 29∶28; median age, 48 years; range, 27 to 69 years) harboring 57 ris-VADAs, which were treated with coils combined with single stent(n = 32), double overlapping stents (n = 16), and triple overlapping stents (n = 9) between October 2000 to March 2011, were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

Results: The available (n = 54) mean durations of angiographic and clinical follow-ups were 27 months (range, 12 to 78) and 62 months (range, 12 to 132), respectively.

Decreased levels and function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in unruptured intracranial saccular aneurysm patients.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a critical role in maintaining endothelial integrity and keeping vascular homeostasis. Previously, we reported that EPCs were involved in repair and remodeling of aneurismal wall. In the present study, we verified this hypothesis by investigating the proliferative ability and count of EPCs in peripheral blood of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs).

CD40 ligand as a potential biomarker for atherosclerotic instability.

Objective: The signaling protein CD40 and its ligand, CD40L, are thought to contribute to atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture. We sought to determine their utility as markers of cerebral atherosclerosis and neurological dysfunction.

Methods: We recruited 82 patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and classified each as having large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA, 30), small-artery occlusion (36), or cardioaortic embolism (16).

[Flavonoids of puerarin versus tanshinone II A for ischemic stroke: a randomized controlled trial].

Background: Flavonoids are widely used today in the treatment of ischemic stroke. The therapeutic effects and functions of flavonoids are, therefore, generating more and more interest.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects and functions of flavonoids of puerarin in treating patients with ischemic stroke.

Hemichorea-hemiballismus associated with nonketotic hyperglycemia: a possible role of inflammation.

Three cases of hemichorea-hemiballismus (HC-HB) associated with nonketotic hyperglycemia were reported. Of them two patients presented as HC-HB and the remaining one as generalized chorea-ballismus (CB). Brain MRI showed characteristic T1-weighted high-intensity lesions in the contralateral or bilateral striatum without edema or mass effect.

[Endovascular stent-assisted angioplasty for atherosclerotic intracranial stenosis, a clinical analysis of 39 cases].

Objective: To assess the preliminary outcome of endovascular stent-assisted angioplasty for intracranial stenosis.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients with atherosclerotic intracranial stenosis (19 cases in posterior circulation and 20 in anterior circulation) were treated with endovascular angioplasty using balloon-expandable coronary stents. Follow-up was made for 4 - 24 months.