Assessing the causal relationship between frailty and sex hormone-binding globulin or insulin-like growth factor-1 levels: A sex-stratified bidirectional Mendelian Randomization study.

Background: The association between frailty and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) or insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) levels demonstrates sex differences with inconsistent conclusions. This study aims to explore the causal relationship between frailty and SHBG or IGF-1 levels through bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods: We conducted two-sample bidirectional sex-stratified MR analyses using summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) to examine the causal relationship between frailty and IGF-1 or SHBG levels, as measured by frailty index (FI) and frailty phenotype (FP).

Intrinsic Wave Velocity Propagation: A Novel Parameter for Assessing the Effect of Anthracycline Chemotherapy Agents on Cardiac Diastolic Function in Breast Cancer Patients.

Objective: Anthracycline chemotherapeutic agents have significant cardiotoxicity. The present study emphasized the effect of anthracycline chemotherapy drugs on left ventricular (LV) myocardial stiffness in breast cancer patients by measuring the intrinsic wave velocity propagation (IVP), and evaluating the potential clinical value of IVP in detecting early LV diastolic function impairment.

Methods: A total of 68 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, who were treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy, were analyzed.

Association between liver fibrosis and stroke recurrence in young patients with ischemic stroke.

Background And Aim: Stroke incidence rates are rising among young adults. Liver fibrosis has recently been recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular events and stroke in the general population. It remains unclear whether liver fibrosis influences the prognosis of stroke.

Exploring the prospect of intrinsic wave propagation in evaluating myocardial stiffness among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Diabetes predisposes affected individuals to impaired myocardial perfusion and ischemia, leading to cardiac dysfunction. Increased myocardial stiffness is an independent and significant risk factor in diastolic dysfunction. This study sought to estimate myocardial stiffness in Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients using the intrinsic wave velocity propagation (IVP) along the longitudinal wall motion during late diastole and evaluate the value of IVP in assessing cardiac function and structure.

Quantitative Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Using the Novel Non-invasive Pressure-Strain Loop.

Objective: Current echocardiography evaluation of right ventricular (RV) function, which heralds the prognosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is of limited utility. The non-invasive pressure-strain loop (PSL), an emerging technique, has been found to feasible, sensitive and accurate in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate, using the non-invasive PSL, the right ventricular myocardial work (RVMW) in SLE patients.

Caliber of Intracranial Arteries as a Marker for Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

The dilation of intracranial large arteries caliber, may transfer more hemodynamic burden to the downstream brain capillaries, which, in the long run, results in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between intracranial artery calibers and small vessel disease. Patients with first-ever ischemic stroke of lacunar infarction subtype were enrolled via Nanjing Stroke Registry Program.

Endovascular treatment versus standard medical treatment for vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (BEST): an open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Previous randomised trials have shown an overwhelming benefit of mechanical thrombectomy for treating patients with stroke caused by large vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation. Whether endovascular treatment is beneficial for vertebrobasilar artery occlusion remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment of acute strokes due to vertebrobasilar artery occlusion.

The Impacts of Peptic Ulcer on Stroke Recurrence.

Background: Peptic ulcer has been associated with an increased risk of stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of peptic ulcer on stroke recurrence and mortality.

Subjects And Methods: Patients with first-ever ischemic stroke were retrospectively confirmed with or without a history of peptic ulcer.

A Study of GWAS-Supported Variants of rs9943582 in a Chinese Han Population with Ischemic Stroke: No Associations with Disease Onset and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: The variant rs9943582 of APLNR (apelin receptor) was identified by a large-scale study to be associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke in a Japanese population. We conducted this study to investigate the association between the variant and age of onset and clinical outcomes of ischemic stroke in a Chinese population.

Methods: Improved multiple ligase detection reaction was used to genotype the variant.

Prediction of favorable outcome by percent improvement in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with endovascular stent thrombectomy.

Our objective was to investigate a method for assessing early improvement and its predictive value for 3-month functional outcome in patients treated with EST. A total of 97 consecutive AIS patients undergoing EST were prospectively collected and retrospective reviewed. Data on demographics, vascular risk factors, admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, 24-h NIHSS score, reperfusion and collateral formation were collected.

Hypertension unawareness among Chinese patients with first-ever stroke.

Background: The low rates of hypertension treatment and control, partly due to its unawareness, are the main causes of the high stroke incidence in China. The purpose of this study was to evaluate hypertension unawareness amongst patients with first-ever stroke and to detect factors associated with its unawareness.

Methods: We selected those diagnosed with hypertension from patients with first-ever stroke registered in the Nanjing Stroke Registry Program between 2004 and 2014.

Reconfiguration of the Carotid Artery after Angioplasty and Stenting: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Severe carotid stenosis or occlusion may cause insufficient blood flow and lead to distal artery wall collapse and extensive lumen contraction. Whether this 'adaptive narrowing' can restitute after carotid recanalization is unclear. We report a patient with global ischemia due to occlusions of bilateral carotid and right vertebral arteries.

Association of C7673T polymorphism in apolipoprotein B gene with ischemic stroke in the Chinese population: a meta-analysis.

Background: Epidemiological studies have evaluated the association between the C7673T polymorphism in apolipoprotein B (apoB) gene and ischemic stroke (IS), but the results are still debatable even in the Chinese population. This meta-analysis was therefore designed to clarify these controversies.

Methods: All of the relevant studies were identified from PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure database and Chinese Wanfang database up to 31 October 2014.

Telephone-based cognitive screening for stroke patients in China.

Background: Valid telephone assessment for cognitive impairment is lacking in stroke settings. We investigated the feasibility and validity of the 5-minute National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Canadian Stroke Network (NINDS-CSN) protocol and six-item screener (SIS) in stroke patients by telephone administration.

Methods: Patients were assessed with a comprehensive face-to-face neuropsychological assessment after three months of stroke onset, followed by the 5-minute NINDS-CSN protocol (30 points) and SIS (6 points) at least one month later.

Chromosome 9p21.3 Variants Are Associated with Cerebral Infarction in Chinese Population.

Common variants of chromosome 9p21.3 associated with coronary disease have been established, but the association of 9p21.3 and cerebral infarction (CI) is not consistent.

Variant recurrent risk among stroke patients with different CYP2C19 phenotypes and treated with clopidogrel.

Polymorphisms of CYP2C19 have been associated with variant risk of subsequent cardiovascular events in survivors of myocardial infarction (MI) receiving clopidogrel. This study evaluated the impacts of CYP2C19 polymorphisms on stroke recurrence and other vascular events in a cohort of Chinese patients receiving clopidogrel. From Nanjing Stroke Registry Program, 625 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled between May 2008 and April 2010.

Chinese guidelines for endovascular management of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.

Endovascular technology was initially applied in treating peripheral vascular disease and was further developed in managing coronary artery disease. During the latest two decades, it has been introduced into the arena of cerebrovascular diseases, which has garnered attention and research interests.

Argatroban for preventing occlusion and restenosis after extracranial artery stenting.

Background/aims: Restenosis following extracranial artery stenting is a limitation that affects long-term outcomes. Effective and satisfying pharmacological strategies in preventing restenosis have not been established. This study aimed to evaluate whether argatroban, a direct thrombin inhibitor, could reduce the risk of in-stent restenosis after extracranial artery stenting.

Keep warm and get success: the role of postischemic temperature in the mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion model.

Intraluminal suture middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model is the most frequently used model for ischemic stroke. However, the success rate of this model is variable among different research studies. This study aimed to investigate the effect of postischemic temperature on the success rate.

Cell based therapies for ischemic stroke: from basic science to bedside.

Cell therapy is emerging as a viable therapy to restore neurological function after stroke. Many types of stem/progenitor cells from different sources have been explored for their feasibility and efficacy for the treatment of stroke. Transplanted cells not only have the potential to replace the lost circuitry, but also produce growth and trophic factors, or stimulate the release of such factors from host brain cells, thereby enhancing endogenous brain repair processes.

Co-culturing improves the OGD-injured neuron repairing and NSCs differentiation via Notch pathway activation.

Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation for ischemic stroke is expected to repair the neuronal injury and replace the lost neurons through cell-cell cross talk between injured neurons and the transplanted NSCs. Here, we set up an in vitro co-culturing system of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injured neurons and NSCs to investigate the neuronal repairing effect and effects on NSCs differentiation. We focused on the Notch1 pathway as a possible mediator of these effects.

Dietary fiber consumption and risk of stroke.

Observational studies suggest an association between dietary fiber consumption and risk of stroke, but the results are inconclusive. The authors conducted a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to evaluate the relation between dietary fiber consumption and stroke risk and mortality. Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Science through February 2013.

Intranasal delivery of nerve growth factor attenuates aquaporins-4-induced edema following traumatic brain injury in rats.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains the leading cause of injury-related death and disability. Brain edema, one of the most major complications of TBI, contributes to elevated intracranial pressure, and poor prognosis following TBI. Nerve growth factor (NGF) appears to be a viable strategy to treat brain edema and TBI.

[Intranasal dosing of nerve growth factor protects brain from poisoning of organophosphorus compounds in rats].

Objective: To explore the protective effects of intranasal (IN) dosing of nerve growth factor (NGF) on brain injury induced by organophosphorus compounds (OP) in rats.

Methods: The OP-treated Sprague-Dawley rats received an intraperitoneal injection of atropine sulphate and pralidoxime at 1 min after intoxication. Then NGF or saline was dosed via the olfactory pathway.