Association between iron content in grey matter nuclei and functional outcome in patients with acute ischaemic stroke: A quantitative susceptibility mapping study.

Background And Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between iron content in grey matter (GM) nuclei and functional outcome in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients utilizing quantitative susceptibility mapping.

Methods: Forty AIS patients and 40 age-, sex- and education-matched healthy controls underwent quantitative susceptibility mapping to assess susceptibility values, which are positively correlated with iron content, in the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus, red nucleus and substantia nigra. The nuclei on the contralateral side were measured in AIS patients to minimize confounding due to oedema or haemorrhage.

Association between metabolic syndrome and outcomes of large-artery atherosclerosis stroke treated with reperfusion therapy.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the outcomes of stroke patients with large-artery atherosclerosis who underwent reperfusion therapy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on patients receiving reperfusion therapy for atherothrombotic stroke between January 2019 and May 2021. MetS was diagnosed according to the AHA/NHLBI criteria.

Association of the COL4A2 Gene Polymorphisms with Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage Risk and Outcome in Chinese Han Population.

The relationship of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in COL4A2 gene with risk and outcome of primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the Chinese Han population remains unclear, which was investigated in this study. Primary ICH patients and non-stroke controls of Chinese Han ethnicity were enrolled. The genotypes of 8 tag-SNPs were determined using a custom-by-design 48-Plex SNPscan Kit.

Serum heme oxygenase-1 level predicts clinical outcome after acute ischemic stroke.

Aims: The relationship between heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and human ischemic stroke outcome remains unclear, which was investigated in this study.

Methods: Acute ischemic stroke patients admitted within 24 h were enrolled. Serum HO-1 levels at baseline were measured via ELISA.

Prognostic value of the systemic inflammatory index (SII) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.

Purpose: The overwhelming inflammatory response plays a critical role in the secondary injury cascade of traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). The systemic immune inflammatory index (SII) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) are two novel inflammatory biomarkers. The SII was calculated based on lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts, while the SIRI was calculated based on lymphocyte, neutrophil, and monocyte counts.

Comparison of Characteristics and Outcomes Between Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Different Types of Heart Failure.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) can be complicated by heart failure involving preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and whether or not the prognosis differs between the 2 types of patients remains unclear. We compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the 2 types of patients at 3 months after the stroke.We retrospectively analyzed patients who, between 1 January 2018 and 1 January 2021, experienced AIS that was complicated by HFrEF or HFpEF.

The attitudes of postgraduate medical students towards the curriculum by degree type: a large-scale questionnaire survey.

Background: Chinese medical schools have offered both professional and academic degrees for postgraduate students. However, there is limited information about the attitudes of professional-degree and academic-degree students. We aimed to examine the attitudes of full-time postgraduate students towards the curriculum, stratified by degree type.

The association between hypertensive angiopathy and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in primary intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: To determine the association between the burden of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) due to hypertensive angiopathy (HA) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) on MRI in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: Patients with primary ICH admitted to our center from March 2012 to November 2021 were consecutively enrolled. We used multivariate binary and ordinal regression analyses to assess the association between HA-CSVD burden and CAA-CSVD burden.

Pathological Changes of Small Vessel Disease in Intracerebral Hemorrhage: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

In intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with pathology-proven etiology, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to elucidate the association between cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and arteriolosclerosis, and directly compared MRI and pathological changes of markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Studies enrolling primary ICH who had received an etiological diagnosis through biopsy or autopsy were searched using Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception to June 8, 2022. We extracted pathological changes of CSVD for each patient whenever available.

DL-3-n-butylphthalide for acute ischemic stroke: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

DL -3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) is widely used as a neuroprotective drug in stroke patients in China. A systematic review in 2010 suggested NBP to be safe and effective at promoting neurological recovery, but could not conclude whether it decreased risk of long-term death or disability. Since numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted on NBP since 2010, we performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of safety and efficacy data.

Circle of Willis Morphology in Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

We aimed to study the distribution of Circle of Willis (CoW) morphology and its association with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) etiology and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) burden. Patients with primary ICH who had brain MRIs were consecutively enrolled between March 2012 and January 2021. CoW morphology, CSVD features and the combined CSVD burden (including global CSVD burden, total hypertensive arteriopathy [HA] burden, and total cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA] burden) were assessed.

Liver fibrosis indices associated with substantial hematoma expansion in Chinese patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: Whether liver fibrosis is associated with increased risk for substantial hematoma expansion (HE) after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is still uncertain. We evaluated the association between various liver fibrosis indices and substantial HE in a Chinese population with primary ICH.

Methods: Primary ICH patients admitted to West China Hospital within 24 h of onset between January 2015 and June 2018 were consecutively enrolled.

Association between admission blood fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio and clinical outcomes after acute lacunar stroke.

We aimed to investigate the influence of admission fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) on 3-month outcomes after acute lacunar stroke. Consecutive patients with acute lacunar stroke were included and classified into two groups according to an optimized FAR cut-off value determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Compared with those with low FAR (<0.

Impaired consciousness at stroke onset in large hemisphere infarction: incidence, risk factors and outcome.

Impaired consciousness (IC) at stroke onset in large hemispheric infarctions (LHI) patients is common in clinical practice. However, little is known about the incidence and risk factors of IC at stroke onset in LHI. Besides, stroke-related complications and clinical outcomes in relation to the development of IC has not been systematically examined.

Serum Albumin as a Potential Predictor of Pneumonia after an Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Serum albumin level is associated with infection after stroke, but whether albumin predicts post-stroke pneumonia is unclear. The potential relationship between albumin level and pneumonia in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) was evaluated in this study.

Methods: A consecutive sample of 798 AIS patients who were admitted to West China Hospital within 24 h after onset, from the year 2017 to 2018, were retrospectively analyzed.

Overview of Cochrane reviews on Chinese herbal medicine for stroke.

Background: Stroke is a major health issue worldwide. Since Chinese herbal medicine is widely used for the treatment of stroke, there is a need to evaluate its efficacy as an alternative treatment option. The aim of this paper is to carry out an overview of Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of stroke by summarizing and evaluating all existing Cochrane reviews.

Trends in Outcomes of Patients With Ischemic Stroke Treated Between 2002 and 2016: Insights From a Chinese Cohort.

Background: Little is known about long-term trends in outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke in China. We aimed to assess longitudinal trends in these outcomes over the past 15 years in China and explore possible factors behind the trends.

Methods And Results: Patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology at West China Hospital were prospectively and consecutively enrolled in a central registry since 2002, and the present study analyzed data from those admitted to hospital within 7 days of stroke during the period 2002 to 2016.

MMP-9-Related microRNAs as Prognostic Markers for Hemorrhagic Transformation in Cardioembolic Stroke Patients.

Studies suggest that microRNAs that regulate expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 may be involved in hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after cardioembolic stroke, so we examined whether such microRNAs could predict HT in acute cardioembolic stroke patients. Blood samples were prospectively collected from patients who later experienced HT ( = 29) or did not ( = 29), and the samples were assayed for eight microRNAs identified as related to MMP-9 based on three microRNA databases. Expression levels of these microRNAs were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 28 of the 58 patients, 14 of whom suffered HT and 14 of whom did not.

Sex-Specific Differences in Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes Among Patients with Vascular Abnormality-Related Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background: Results are conflicting as to whether sex has an impact on the outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), especially when etiologies differ. In this study, we investigated whether sex differences exist in patients with vascular abnormality-related ICH.

Methods: Patients (age ≥18 years) diagnosed with ICH within 7 days of symptom onset were admitted consecutively between January 2012 and February 2014 from 50 hospitals across mainland China.

Progression of White Matter Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Background: White matter injury (WMI) has been observed after experimental intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The supporting clinical data have been sparse. We assessed the presence, extent, and progression of WMI in patients with ICH.

Comparison of Four Food and Drug Administration-Approved Mechanical Thrombectomy Devices for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: The use of mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is rapidly increasing. However, there are limited data on the comparative effects of the various devices approved by the U.S.

Prior Antithrombotic Therapy Is Associated With Cerebral Microbleeds in Ischemic Stroke Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and/or Rheumatic Heart Disease.

Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) could contribute to an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with antithrombotic therapy (antiplatelets or anticoagulants). Antithrombotic agents are commonly prescribed to the patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and/or rheumatic heart disease (RHD) for preventing ischemic stroke. However, the impact of antithrombotic therapy on CMBs remained controversial.

Predictive value of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations for spontaneous haemorrhagic transformation in patients with acute ischaemic stroke: A cohort study in Chinese patients.

Whether matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) concentrations in plasma predict risk of spontaneous haemorrhagic transformation (sHT) in acute ischaemic stroke is unclear. From 1 March 2003 to 27 February 2006, patients with acute ischaemic stroke admitted to West China Hospital within 24 h of onset and healthy controls were enrolled and blood samples obtained. Plasma MMP-9 concentrations were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and sHT was diagnosed based on brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance performed 3-14 d after stroke onset.

Efficacy and tolerability of pharmacotherapy for post-stroke depression: a network meta-analysis.

Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) occurs in approximately one third of stroke survivors, leading to great disability and mortality. As there is no consensus on the optimal pharmacological treatment for PSD, we aimed to evaluate the relative efficacy and tolerability of the available pharmacological interventions.

Materials And Methods: We did a network meta-analysis to incorporate evidence from relevant trials providing direct and indirect comparisons.