Inflammation and the Silent Sequelae of Stroke

Effect of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation among late-subacute and chronic stroke survivors with fatigue: A randomized-controlled crossover trial protocol

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a commonly overlooked symptom that impacts daily functioning and quality of life. It is caused by altered functional connectivity within the brain networks, which can potentially be influenced by neuromodulation. Multiple cortical regions have been targeted to reduce PSF, but the most efficient ones remain uncertain. Therefore, we aim to identify the most appropriate cortical stimulation site to reduce PSF. Twenty participants with PSF will be included in this cross-over trial. Each participant will receive one session of active anodal high definition- transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) over three different cortical areas and one session of sham tDCS in a cross-over manner, with a two-week of washout period in between. Pre- and post- fatigue will be assessed using Fatigue Severity Scale and fatigability using electromyography by determining the time to task failure. Resting-state electroencephalography will be performed before and after each stimulation session to determine the functional connectivity of the cortical areas stimulated.

Top-Down and Bottom-Up Mechanisms of Motor Recovery Poststroke

Stroke remains a leading cause of disability. Motor recovery requires the interaction of top-down and bottom-up mechanisms, which reinforce each other. Injury to the brain initiates a biphasic neuroimmune process, which opens a window for spontaneous recovery during which the brain is particularly sensitive to activity. Physical activity during this sensitive period can lead to rapid recovery by potentiating anti-inflammatory and neuroplastic processes. On the other hand, lack of physical activity can lead to early closure of the sensitive period and downstream changes in muscles, such as sarcopenia, muscle stiffness, and reduced cardiovascular capacity, and blood flow that impede recovery.

Qingda granule alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling in microglia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Qingda granule (QDG) is effective for treating hypertension and neuronal damage after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. However, the anti-neuroinflammatory effect of QDG on injury due to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion is unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and action of QDG in treating neuroinflammation resulting from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology was used to predict targets and pathways of QDG. An in vivo rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) as well as an in vitro model of LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells were established. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to quantify the area of cerebral infarction, with morphological changes in the brain being assessed by histology. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess levels of the microglial marker IBA-1 in brain tissue. Bioplex analysis was used to measure TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1 in sera and in BV-2 cell culture supernatants. Simultaneously, mRNA levels of these factors were examined using RT-qPCR analysis. Proteins of the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis were examined using IHC in vivo and Western blot in vitro, respectively. While NF-κB translocation was assessed using immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

The core targets of QDG included TNF, NF-κB1, MAPK1, MAPK3, JUN, and TLR4. QDG suppressed inflammation via modulation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling. In addition, our in vivo experiments using MCAO/R rats demonstrated the therapeutic effect of QDG in reducing brain tissue infarction, improving neurological function, and ameliorating cerebral histopathological damage. Furthermore, QDG reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1 in both sera from MCAO/R rats and supernatants from LPS-induced BV-2 cells, along with a reduction in the expression of the microglia biomarker IBA-1, as well as that of TLR4, MyD88, p-IKK, p-IκBα, p-P65, and NLRP3 in MCAO/R rats. In LPS-treated BV-2 cells, QDG downregulated the expression of proinflammatory factors and TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling-related proteins. Additionally, QDG reduced translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus in both brains of MCAO/R rats and LPS-induced BV-2 cells. Moreover, the combined treatment of the TLR4 inhibitor TAK242 and QDG significantly reduced the levels of p-P65, NLRP3, and IL-6.

CONCLUSIONS

QDG significantly suppressed neuroinflammation by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis in microglia. This suggests potential for QDG in treating ischemia stroke.

Are central and systemic inflammation associated with fatigue in cerebral small vessel disease?

BACKGROUND

Fatigue is a common symptom in cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. It has been suggested that inflammation may play a role. We determined whether central (neuro) inflammation and peripheral inflammation were associated with fatigue in SVD.

METHODS

Notably, 36 patients with moderate-to-severe SVD underwent neuropsychometric testing, combined positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) scan, and blood draw for the analysis of inflammatory blood biomarkers. Microglial signal was taken as a proxy for neuroinflammation, assessed with radioligand 11C-PK11195. Of these, 30 subjects had full PET datasets for analysis. We assessed global 11C-PK11195 binding and hotspots of 11C-PK11195 binding in the normal-appearing white matter, lesioned tissue, and combined total white matter. Peripheral inflammation was assessed with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and using the Olink cardiovascular III proteomic panel comprising 92 biomarkers of cardiovascular inflammation and endothelial activation. Fatigue was assessed using the fatigue severity scale (FSS), the visual analog fatigue scale, and a subscale of the Geriatric Depression Scale.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) age was 68.7 (11.2) years, and 63.9% were male. Of these, 55.6% showed fatigue on the FSS. Fatigued participants had higher disability scores (p = 0.02), higher total GDS scores (p = 0.02), and more commonly reported a history of depression (p = 0.04). 11C-PK11195 ligand binding in the white matter was not associated with any measure of fatigue. Serum CRP was significantly associated with average fatigue score on FSS (ρ = 0.48, p = 0.004); this association persisted when controlling for age, sex, disability score, and depression (β = 0.49, 95% CI (0.17, 2.26), p = 0.03). Blood biomarkers from the Olink panel showed no association with fatigue.

CONCLUSION

In symptomatic SVD patients, neuroinflammation, assessed with microglial marker 11C-PK11195, was not associated with fatigue. We found some evidence for a role of systematic inflammation, evidenced by an association between fatigue severity and raised CRP, but further studies are required to understand this relationship and inform whether it could be therapeutically modified to reduce fatigue severity.

DATA ACCESS STATEMENT

Data for this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

The effect of stroke on the bone mineral density: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Stroke survivors frequently encounter physical complications. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of stroke on bone mineral density (BMD) and assess the risk of post-stroke osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

We systematically searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to identify longitudinal studies reporting the influence of stroke on BMD, osteoporosis, and osteoporotic fractures. Pooled analyses were performed utilizing random-effects models.

RESULTS

This study included 21 studies with 1,029,742 participants. The mean difference of BMD in the paretic femoral neck between follow-up and initial measurements was -0.07 g/cm2 (95% CI, -0.09 to -0.04), and -0.03 g/cm2 (95% CI, -0.05 to -0.01) in the non-paretic femoral neck. A follow-up length exceeding six months was associated with a more pronounced decrease compared to a follow-up of under six months (MD, -0.08; 95% CI, -0.11 to -0.05 vs MD, -0.04; 95% CI, -0.06 to -0.02; P =  0.03). No significant change in lumbar spine BMD was detected post-stroke (MD, -0.00; 95% CI, -0.03 to 0.02), nor was significant change observed in the non-paretic distal radius, proximal humerus, tibia, trochanter, and total hip. Stroke was not associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.95-2.13).

CONCLUSION

Stroke survivors undergo significant BMD loss in paralyzed limbs, most notably in the femoral neck. However, BMD in the lumbar spine does not exhibit a significant decrease post-stroke. The risk of post-stroke osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures should be interpreted with caution and needs further investigation.

To re-examine the intersection of microglial activation and neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases from the perspective of pyroptosis

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and motor neuron disease, are diseases characterized by neuronal damage and dysfunction. NDs are considered to be a multifactorial disease with diverse etiologies (immune, inflammatory, aging, genetic, etc.) and complex pathophysiological processes. Previous studies have found that neuroinflammation and typical microglial activation are important mechanisms of NDs, leading to neurological dysfunction and disease progression. Pyroptosis is a new mode involved in this process. As a form of programmed cell death, pyroptosis is characterized by the expansion of cells until the cell membrane bursts, resulting in the release of cell contents that activates a strong inflammatory response that promotes NDs by accelerating neuronal dysfunction and abnormal microglial activation. In this case, abnormally activated microglia release various pro-inflammatory factors, leading to the occurrence of neuroinflammation and exacerbating both microglial and neuronal pyroptosis, thus forming a vicious cycle. The recognition of the association between pyroptosis and microglia activation, as well as neuroinflammation, is of significant importance in understanding the pathogenesis of NDs and providing new targets and strategies for their prevention and treatment.

Machine learning models of plasma proteomic data predict mood in chronic stroke and tie it to aberrant peripheral immune responses

Post-stroke depression is common, long-lasting and associated with severe morbidity and death, but mechanisms are not well-understood. We used a broad proteomics panel and developed a machine learning algorithm to determine whether plasma protein data can predict mood in people with chronic stroke, and to identify proteins and pathways associated with mood. We used Olink to measure 1,196 plasma proteins in 85 participants aged 25 and older who were between 5 months and 9 years after ischemic stroke. Mood was assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale mood questionnaire (SIS3). Machine learning multivariable regression models were constructed to estimate SIS3 using proteomics data, age, and time since stroke. We also dichotomized participants into better mood (SIS3 > 63) or worse mood (SIS3 ≤ 63) and analyzed candidate proteins. Machine learning models verified that there is indeed a relationship between plasma proteomic data and mood in chronic stroke, with the most accurate prediction of mood occurring when we add age and time since stroke. At the individual protein level, no single protein or set of proteins predicts mood. But by using univariate analyses of the proteins most highly associated with mood we produced a model of chronic post-stroke depression. We utilized the fact that this list contained many proteins that are also implicated in major depression. Also, over 80% of immune proteins that correlate with mood were higher with worse mood, implicating a broadly overactive immune system in chronic post-stroke depression. Finally, we used a comprehensive literature review of major depression and acute post-stroke depression. We propose that in chronic post-stroke depression there is over-activation of the immune response that then triggers changes in serotonin activity and neuronal plasticity leading to depressed mood.

Exploring the bi-directional relationship and shared genes between depression and stroke via NHANES and bioinformatic analysis

Background: Stroke and depression are the two most common causes of disability worldwide. Growing evidence suggests a bi-directional relationship between stroke and depression, whereas the molecular mechanisms underlying stroke and depression are not well understood. The objectives of this study were to identify hub genes and biological pathways related to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS) and major depressive disorder (MDD) and to evaluate the infiltration of immune cells in both disorders. Methods: Participants from the United States National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018 were included to evaluate the association between stroke and MDD. Two differentially expressed genes (DEGs) sets extracted from GSE98793 and GSE16561 datasets were intersected to generate common DEGs, which were further screened out in cytoHubba to identify hub genes. GO, KEGG, Metascape, GeneMANIA, NetworkAnalyst, and DGIdb were used for functional enrichment, pathway analysis, regulatory network analysis, and candidate drugs analysis. ssGSEA algorithm was used to analyze the immune infiltration. Results: Among the 29706 participants from NHANES 2005-2018, stroke was significantly associated with MDD (OR = 2.79,95% CI:2.26-3.43, p < 0.0001). A total of 41 common upregulated genes and eight common downregulated genes were finally identified between IS and MDD. Enrichment analysis revealed that the shared genes were mainly involved in immune response and immune-related pathways. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) was constructed, from which ten (CD163, AEG1, IRAK3, S100A12, HP, PGLYRP1, CEACAM8, MPO, LCN2, and DEFA4) were screened. In addition, gene-miRNAs, transcription factor-gene interactions, and protein-drug interactions coregulatory networks with hub genes were also identified. Finally, we observed that the innate immunity was activated while acquired immunity was suppressed in both disorders. Conclusion: We successfully identified the ten hub shared genes linking the IS and MDD and constructed the regulatory networks for them that could serve as novel targeted therapy for the comorbidities.

Esketamine ameliorates post-stroke anxiety by modulating microglial HDAC3/NF-κB/COX1 inflammatory signaling in ischemic cortex

Post-stroke anxiety (PSA) is a kind of affective disorder occurring after a stroke, with anxiety as the primary clinical manifestation. PSA's mechanism is unclear, and there are few prevention and treatment measures. Our previous study found that HDAC3 could activate NF-κB signaling through mediated p65 deacetylation, which further influenced microglia activation. That implies HDAC3 may be the key mediator in ischemic stroke mice and modulates anxiety susceptibility to stress. This study established a PSA model in male C57BL/6 mice through photothrombotic stroke combined with chronic restrain stress. We focused on exploring whether esketamine administration can alleviate anxiety-like behavior and neuroinflammation, which may be associated with inhibiting HDAC3 expression and NF-κB pathway activation. The results showed that esketamine administration alleviated anxiety-like behavior in PSA mice. And the results showed that esketamine alleviated cortical microglial activation, altered microglial number, and kept morphology features. Furthermore, the results showed that the expression of HDAC3, phosphor-p65/p65, and COX1 significantly decreased in esketamine-treated PSA mice. Besides, we also found that esketamine reduced PGE2 expression, one of the primary regulators of negative emotions. Interestingly, our results indicate that esketamine reduced the perineuronal net (PNN) number in the pathological process of PSA. In conclusion, this study suggests esketamine could alleviate microglial activation, reduces inflammatory cytokine, and inhibits the expression of HDAC3 and NF-κB in the cortex of PSA mice to attenuate anxiety-like behavior. Our results provided a new potential therapeutic target for applying esketamine to PSA.

The Clinical Value of Systemic Inflammatory Response Index and Inflammatory Prognosis Index in Predicting 3-Month Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Intravenous Thrombolysis

Purpose

Systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) was an independent predictor of the prognosis of many diseases. Inflammatory prognostic index (IPI) was a new inflammatory prognostic marker with certain clinical significance. We aimed to explore the association between SIRI, IPI and early stage severity of stroke as well as 3-month outcome of AIS patients.

Patients and Methods

A total of 63 AIS patients who treated with alteplase were selected. The patients were divided into mild group and moderate to severe group according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. According to the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score, patients were divided into the good prognosis group and the poor prognosis group. Spearman correlation statistically analyzed the correlation between SIRI, IPI and NIHSS score. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyzed the risk factors of 3-month prognosis. ROC curve was adopted to predict the effect of SIRI and IPI levels on poor prognosis in AIS patients.

Results

Spearman analysis showed that there was positively correlated with NIHSS score and IPI in mild AIS group (r=0.541, P<0.05). Compared with the mild group, SIRI and IPI in the moderate to severe group was significantly higher (P<0.05). The SIRI and IPI in the poor prognosis group were significantly higher than those in the good prognosis group (P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SIRI and IPI were independent prognostic factors for the 3-month prognosis of AIS patients (P< 0.05). The ROC curve showed that the areas under the 3-month prognosis curve predicted by SIRI and IPI were 0.685, 0.774 respectively.

Conclusion

IPI is correlated with stroke severity at admission. SIRI and IPI are independent predictors of short-term prognosis in AIS patients. SIRI and IPI can be a novel the good short-term prognostic biomarker for AIS patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

No add-on effect of tDCS on fatigue and depression in chronic stroke patients: A randomized sham-controlled trial combining tDCS with computerized cognitive training

BACKGROUND

Fatigue and emotional distress rank high among self-reported unmet needs in life after stroke. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may have the potential to alleviate these symptoms for some patients, but the acceptability and effects for chronic stroke survivors need to be explored in randomized controlled trials.

METHODS

Using a randomized sham-controlled parallel design, we evaluated whether six sessions of 1 mA tDCS (anodal over F3, cathodal over O2) combined with computerized cognitive training reduced self-reported symptoms of fatigue and depression. Among the 74 chronic stroke patients enrolled at baseline, 54 patients completed the intervention. Measures of fatigue and depression were collected at five time points spanning a 2 months period.

RESULTS

While symptoms of fatigue and depression were reduced during the course of the intervention, Bayesian analyses provided evidence for no added beneficial effect of tDCS. Less severe baseline symptoms were associated with higher performance improvement in select cognitive tasks, and study withdrawal was higher in patients with more fatigue and younger age. Time-resolved symptom analyses by a network approach suggested higher centrality of fatigue items (except item 1 and 2) than depression items.

CONCLUSION

The results reveal no add-on effect of tDCS on fatigue or depression but support the notion of fatigue as a relevant clinical symptom with possible implications for treatment adherence and response.

Development of the Korean Medicine Core Outcome Set for Stroke Sequelae: Herbal Medicine Treatment of Elderly Patients With Stroke Sequelae in Primary Clinics

Objectives: We developed a Korean medicine core outcome set for stroke sequelae (COS-SS-KM) to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine (HM) for stroke sequelae, especially for elderly stroke patients in primary clinics.

Methods: We identified previously reported outcomes from a literature review and defined the list of outcomes and effect modifiers for the core outcome set (COS) questionnaire. Three rounds of modified Delphi consensus exercises with experts were conducted online for suitability assessment, and one round of a modified Delphi consensus exercise with primary clinicians was conducted for feasibility assessment.

Results: The review identified 17 outcomes and 16 effect modifiers; moreover, six outcomes and one effect modifier were suggested by the experts. The final COS comprised 8 outcomes and 12 effect modifiers for history taking, and experts listed 13 major symptoms of stroke sequelae for symptom assessment. The clinicians agreed on the feasibility of the COS.

Conclusion: This COS will help primary care researchers assess the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy, including HM, for elderly patients with stroke sequelae. Future studies should focus on reflecting the opinions of all stakeholders.

Evaluation of an online intervention for improving stroke survivors' health-related quality of life: A randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of an online health behaviour change intervention-Prevent 2nd Stroke (P2S)-at improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) amongst stroke survivors at 6 months of follow-up.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

A prospective, blinded-endpoint randomised controlled trial, with stroke survivors as the unit of randomisation, was conducted between March 2018 and November 2019. Adult stroke survivors between 6 and 36 months post-stroke with capacity to use the intervention (determined by a score of ≥4 on the Modified Rankin Scale) and who had access and willingness to use the internet were recruited via mail-out invitations from 1 national and 1 regional stroke registry. Participants completed baseline (n = 399) and 6-month follow-up (n = 356; 89%) outcome assessments via computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). At baseline the sample had an average age of 66 years (SD 12), and 65% were male. Randomisation occurred at the end of the baseline survey; CATI assessors and independent statisticians were blind to group allocation. The intervention group received remote access for a 12-week period to the online-only P2S program (n = 199; n = 28 lost at follow-up). The control group were emailed and posted a list of internet addresses of generic health websites (n = 200; n = 15 lost at follow-up). The primary outcome was HRQoL as measured by the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS; self-rated global health); the outcome was assessed for differences between treatment groups at follow-up, adjusting for baseline measures. Secondary outcomes were HRQoL as measured by the EQ-5D (descriptive health state), diet quality, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking status, mood, physical functioning, and independent living. All outcomes included the variable 'stroke event (stroke/transient ischaemic attack/other)' as a covariate, and analysis was intention-to-treat. At 6 months, median EQ-VAS HRQoL score was significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group (85 vs 80, difference 5, 95% CI 0.79-9.21, p = 0.020). The results were robust to the assumption the data were missing at random; however, the results were not robust to the assumption that the difference in HRQoL between those with complete versus missing data was at least 3 points. Significantly higher proportions of people in the intervention group reported no problems with personal care (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.05-4.48, p = 0.0359) and usual activities (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.06-2.60, p = 0.0256) than in the control group. There were no significant differences between groups on all other secondary outcomes. The main limitation of the study is that the sample comprises mostly 'well' stroke survivors with limited to no disability.

CONCLUSIONS

The P2S online healthy lifestyle program improved stroke survivors' self-reported global ratings of HRQoL (as measured by EQ-VAS) at 6-month follow-up. Online platforms represent a promising tool to engage and support some stroke survivors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12617001205325.

Exploring the relationship between fatigue and circulating levels of the pro-inflammatory biomarkers interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein in the chronic stage of stroke recovery: A cross-sectional study

Background

The precise mechanisms underlying the aetiology of post-stroke fatigue remain poorly understood. Inflammation has been associated with clinically significant fatigue across a number of neurological disorders; however, at present there is a lack of evidence regarding the association of fatigue and inflammation in the chronic phase of stroke recovery.

Aims

The aim of this study was to examine fatigue in a cohort of stroke survivors in the chronic phase of stroke, compared with matched controls, and to explore associations between the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive Protein and fatigue.

Methods

We performed an exploratory cross-sectional study of 70 people in the chronic phase of stroke recovery, and 70 age matched controls. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Assessment Scale. Interleukin-6 was measured in serum using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay kit. Both outcome measures were assessed contemporaneously.

Results

Clinically significant fatigue, defined as a score ≥24 on the Fatigue Assessment Scale, was reported by 60% of stroke survivors, and 15.7% of controls. The odds of experiencing clinically significant fatigue was 8.04 times higher among stroke survivors compared to control participants (odds ratio 8.045; 95% CI: 3.608, 17.939; P ​< ​0.001). The fatigue score was significantly correlated with the level of both interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein, however once entered into a linear regression model with cardiovascular covariables, this relationship was no longer statistically significant.

Conclusions

This study shows that fatigue may be associated with systemic inflammation in the chronic phase of stroke. The pathological mechanisms underlying post-stroke fatigue and its clinical implications require further study.

Post-stroke recrudescence-a possible connection to autoimmunity?

Early recanalization of the occluded vessel is the only efficient intervention that improves outcome after ischemic stroke. In contrast, interventions for chronic issues facing stroke patients are limited. Recent clinical and preclinical studies have shown a correlation between upregulated immune responses to brain antigens and post-stroke recrudescence (PSR), post-stroke fatigue (PSF), and dementia (PSD); all of which are associated with poor long-term stroke outcome. Recent retrospective studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between the onset of PSR and acute infection during acute stroke, suggesting some adaptive immune system mediated pathology. This review will discuss the mechanisms and epidemiology of PSR based on the current clinical and pre-clinical evidence. Accordingly, PSR does appear correlated with populations that are prone to autoimmunity, infection, and subsequent triggers, which corroborate autoimmune responses to self-brain antigens as an underlying mechanism. Moreover, PSR as well as PSF and PSD seem to be partly explained by the development of a neuro-inflammatory response to brain antigens. Therefore, the future of improving long-term stroke outcome could be bright with more accurate pre-clinical models focusing on the role of adaptive immune-mediated post stroke neuroinflammation and more clinical studies of PSR.

Mechanism of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome Intervention in Cerebral Infarction: A Research Based on Chemoinformatics and Systematic Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE

To explore the therapeutic targets, network modules, and coexpressed genes of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome intervention in cerebral infarction (CI), and to predict significant biological processes and pathways through network pharmacology. To explore the differential proteins of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome intervention in CI, conduct bioinformatics verification, and initially explain the possible therapeutic mechanism of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome intervention in CI through proteomics.

METHODS

The TCM database was used to predict the potential compounds of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome, and the PharmMapper was used to predict its potential targets. GeneCards and OMIM were used to search for CI-related genes. Cytoscape was used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and to screen out core genes and detection network modules. Then, DAVID and Metascape were used for enrichment analysis. After that, in-depth analysis of the proteomics data was carried out to further explore the mechanism of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome intervention in CI.

RESULTS

(1) A total of 14 Radix Rhei Et Rhizome potential components and 425 potential targets were obtained. The core components include sennoside A, palmidin A, emodin, toralactone, and so on. The potential targets were combined with 297 CI genes to construct a PPI network. The targets shared by Radix Rhei Et Rhizome and CI include ALB, AKT1, MMP9, IGF1, CASP3, etc. The biological processes that Radix Rhei Et Rhizome may treat CI include platelet degranulation, cell migration, fibrinolysis, platelet activation, hypoxia, angiogenesis, endothelial cell apoptosis, coagulation, and neuronal apoptosis. The signaling pathways include Ras, PI3K-Akt, TNF, FoxO, HIF-1, and Rap1 signaling pathways. (2) Proteomics shows that the top 20 proteins in the differential protein PPI network were Syp, Syn1, Mbp, Gap43, Aif1, Camk2a, Syt1, Calm1, Calb1, Nsf, Nefl, Hspa5, Nefh, Ncam1, Dcx, Unc13a, Mapk1, Syt2, Dnm1, and Cltc. Differential protein enrichment results show that these proteins may be related to synaptic vesicle cycle, vesicle-mediated transport in synapse, presynaptic endocytosis, synaptic vesicle endocytosis, axon guidance, calcium signaling pathway, and so on.

CONCLUSION

This study combined network pharmacology and proteomics to explore the main material basis of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome for the treatment of CI such as sennoside A, palmidin A, emodin, and toralactone. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of biological processes (such as synaptic vesicle cycle, vesicle-mediated transport in synapse, presynaptic endocytosis, and synaptic vesicle endocytosis) and signaling pathways (such as Ras, PI3K-Akt, TNF, FoxO, HIF-1, Rap1, and axon guidance).

Muscle changes after stroke and their impact on recovery: time for a paradigm shift? Review and commentary

In stroke rehabilitation there is a growing body of evidence that not all patients have the same potential to recover. Understanding the processes that give rise to the heterogeneous treatment responses in stroke survivors will lay foundations for any conceivable advance in future rehabilitation interventions. This review was set out to shine new light on the debate of biomarkers in stroke rehabilitation by linking fundamental insights from biogerontological sciences to neurorehabilitation sciences. In particular, skeletal muscle changes and inflammation are addressed as two potential constructs from which biomarkers for stroke rehabilitation can be derived. Understanding the interplay between these constructs as well as their relation to recovery could enhance stroke rehabilitation in the future. The rationale for the selection of these constructs is three-fold: first, recent stroke literature emphasizes the importance of identifying muscle wasting (also called stroke-induced muscle wasting) in stroke patients, a concept that is widely investigated in geriatrics but less in the stroke population. Second, insights from transdisciplinary research domains such as gerontology have shown that inflammation has severe catabolic effects on muscles, which may impede rehabilitation outcomes such as gait recovery. Last, it has been proven that (high-intensity) muscle strengthening exercises have strong anti-inflammatory effects in a non-stroke population. Therefore, an evidence-based rationale is presented for developing research on individual changes of muscle and inflammation after a stroke.

Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios predict post-stroke depression with acute ischemic stroke

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most prevalent psychiatric complication of acute ischemic stroke. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are indicators of inflammation and are associated with stroke and depression. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between NLR/PLR and PSD. Retrospective analysis was carried out in 376 patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke in the First Affiliated Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College between March 2015 and September 2017. Patients were divided into PSD (n=104; 27.7%) and non-PSD (n=272; 72.3%) groups according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria at 6 months after stroke. Clinical data were collected retrospectively. NLR and PLR were acquired retrospectively from the routine blood tests performed at admission. A total of 120 healthy volunteers from the physical examination center in the First Affiliated Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College were recruited as controls. Using logistic regression analysis, NLR (≥4.02) and PLR (≥203.74) were independently associated with PSD. NLR, odds ratio (OR) 3.926, 95% confidence intervals (CI, 2.365-7.947), P<0.001; PLR, OR 3.853, 95% CI (2.214-6.632), P=0.002. The ability of the combined index [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.701; 95% CI (0.622-0.780); P<0.001] to diagnose PSD was greater than that of either ratio alone. Higher NLRs and PLRs (≥4^th quartile) were associated with PSD with a 5.79-fold (P<0.001) increase compared with lower levels of both. Higher NLRs and PLRs were found to be associated with depression 6 months after stroke, and the combined index was more meaningful than either alone in the early clinical detection of PSD.

Blood glutamate scavenging as a novel glutamate-based therapeutic approach for post-stroke depression

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a major complication of stroke that significantly impacts functional recovery and quality of life. While the exact mechanism of PSD is unknown, recent attention has focused on the association of the glutamatergic system in its etiology and treatment. Minimizing secondary brain damage and neuropsychiatric consequences associated with excess glutamate concentrations is a vital part of stroke management. The blood glutamate scavengers, oxaloacetate and pyruvate, degrade glutamate in the blood to its inactive metabolite, 2-ketoglutarate, by the coenzymes glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), respectively. This reduction in blood glutamate concentrations leads to a subsequent shift of glutamate down its concentration gradient from the blood to the brain, thereby decreasing brain glutamate levels. Although there are not yet any human trials that support blood glutamate scavengers for clinical use, there is increasing evidence from animal research of their efficacy as a promising new therapeutic approach for PSD. In this review, we present recent evidence in the literature of the potential therapeutic benefits of blood glutamate scavengers for reducing PSD and other related neuropsychiatric conditions. The evidence reviewed here should be useful in guiding future clinical trials.

Stroke Induces Prolonged Changes in Lipid Metabolism, the Liver and Body Composition in Mice

During recovery, stroke patients are at risk of developing long-term complications that impact quality of life, including changes in body weight and composition, depression and anxiety, as well as an increased risk of subsequent vascular events. The aetiologies and time-course of these post-stroke complications have not been extensively studied and are poorly understood. Therefore, we assessed long-term changes in body composition, metabolic markers and behaviour after middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice. These outcomes were also studied in the context of obesity, a common stroke co-morbidity proposed to protect against post-stroke weight loss in patients. We found that stroke induced long-term changes in body composition, characterised by a sustained loss of fat mass with a recovery of lean weight loss. These global changes in response to stroke were accompanied by an altered lipid profile (increased plasma free fatty acids and triglycerides) and increased adipokine release at 60 days. After stroke, the liver also showed histological changes indicative of liver damage and a decrease in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was observed. Stroke induced depression and anxiety-like behaviours in mice, illustrated by deficits in exploration, nest building and burrowing behaviours. When initial infarct volumes were matched between mice with and without comorbid obesity, these outcomes were not drastically altered. Overall, we found that stroke induced long-term changes in depressive/anxiety-like behaviours, and changes in plasma lipids, adipokines and the liver that may impact negatively on future vascular health.

Minocycline treatment prevents depression and anxiety-like behaviors and promotes neuroprotection after experimental ischemic stroke

Depression and anxiety have been reported as the major neuropsychiatric consequences following stroke. Minocycline, a neuroprotective drug has minimized depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorders and anxiety-like symptoms. In addition, minocycline demonstrated efficacy and seemed a promising neuroprotective agent in acute stroke patients. The present studied evaluated the effects of minocycline treatment on the depression and anxiety-like behaviors, brain damage and expression of inflammatory and neuroprotective mediators after transient global cerebral ischemia in C57BL/6 mice. Brain ischemia was induced by bilateral occlusion of the common carotids (BCCAo) for 25 min and subsequent reperfusion. Sham and BCCAo animals received minocycline at a dose of 30 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection during 14 days. The locomotor activity, depression and anxiety-like behaviors were assessed by open field, forced swim and elevated plus maze tests, respectively. Then, the brains were removed and processed to evaluate brain damage by histological and morphometric analysis, hippocampal neurodegeneration using Fluoro-Jade C histochemistry, microglial activity using iba-1 immunohistochemistry, brain levels of TNF, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70 and CCL2 by CBA, CX3CL1 and BDNF by ELISA assays. The animals developed depression and anxiety-like behaviors post-stroke and minocycline treatment prevented those neurobehavioral changes. Moreover, minocycline-treated BCCAo animals showed less intense brain damage in the cerebral cortex, brainstem and cerebellum as well as significantly reduced hippocampal neurodegeneration. BCCAo groups exhibited up-regulation of some cytokines at day 14 after ischemia and brain levels of CX3CL1 and BDNF remained unaltered. Our data indicate that the depression and anxiety-like behavioral improvements promoted by minocycline treatment might be related to its neuroprotective effect after brain ischemia in mice.

[Predictive value of inflammatory indicators for post-stroke depression in patients with ischemic stroke]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of venous blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and IL-6 at 2 weeks after admission with the occurrence of post-stroke depression (PSD) in patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

The hospitalized patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke were recruited consecutively from the Department of Neurology of Yijishan Hospital from March, 2015 to September, 2017. The demographic and baseline clinical data on admission and the imaging data were collected. The diagnosis of PSD was established in line with DSM-IV (SCID-I-R) at 3 months during the follow-up. The severity of PSD was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the correlation of NLR, PLR, IL-17, and IL-6 with PSD in these patients.

RESULTS

A total of 376 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled, including 224 male patients (59.57%) and 152 female patients (40.43%), whose mean age was 61.37±10.34 years. Of these patients 104 (27.66%) were found to have PSD. Univariate analysis showed that gender, years of education, BMI, widowhood, NIHSS score, MMSE score, mRS score, and laboratory indexes (NLR, PLR, IL-17, and IL-6) were all significantly correlated with PSD (all P &lt; 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for the compounding factors, the third quartile of NLR (P &lt; 0.001), the third quartile of PLR (P=0.002), IL-17 (P=0.025) and IL-6 (P=0.016) were independent factors that predicted the occurrence of PSD.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated NLR and PLR at admission and levels of IL-17 and IL-6 at 2 weeks after admission are all independent predictors of the occurrence of PSD at 3 months after stroke.

Baseline Body Mass Predicts Average Depressive Symptoms over the Next Two Decades for White but Not Black Older Adults

Background: Although obesity and depression have a bidirectional association, this link may vary based on race. The current study tested racial variation in bidirectional links between depressive symptoms and body mass index (BMI) over 24 years of follow-up in older adults over the age of 50 in the United States. We hypothesized weaker bidirectional links in Blacks compared to Whites. Methods: Data came from waves 1 to 12 (1990 to 2014) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), an ongoing state-of-the-art national cohort. The study followed a representative sample of Americans (n = 15,194; 2,200 Blacks and 12,994 Whites) over the age of 50. Dependent variables were average depressive symptoms and BMI over 24 years, based on measurements every other year, from 1990 to 2014. Independent variables included baseline depressive symptoms and BMI. Covariates included age, gender, marital status, veteran status, and activities of daily living. Structural equation models were fitted to the data for data analysis. Results: In the pooled sample, bidirectional associations were found between BMI and depressive symptoms as baseline BMI predicted average depressive symptoms over time and baseline depressive symptoms predicted average BMI over 24 years. Racial differences were found in the bidirectional association between BMI and depressive symptoms, with both directions of the associations being absent for Blacks. For Whites, baseline BMI predicted average depressive symptoms over the next 24 years. Conclusion: Reciprocal associations between BMI and depressive symptoms over a 24-year period among individuals over the age of 50 vary for Blacks and Whites. As these associations are stronger for Whites than Blacks, clinical and public health programs that simultaneously target comorbid obesity and depression may be more appropriate for Whites than Blacks.

Gelatin-Coated Polycaprolactone Nanoparticle-Mediated Naringenin Delivery Rescue Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Oxygen Glucose Deprivation-Induced Inflammatory Stress

Ischemic stroke involves pro-inflammatory species, which implicates inflammation in the disease mechanism. Recent studies indicate that the prevalence of therapeutic choice such as stem cell transplantation has seen an upsurge in ischemic stroke. However, after transplantation the fate of transplanted cells is largely unknown. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), due to their robust survival rate upon transplantation in brain tissue, are being widely employed to treat ischemic stroke. In the present study, we have evaluated naringenin-loaded gelatin-coated polycaprolactone nanoparticles (nar-gel-c-PCL NPs) to rescue MSCs against oxygen glucose deprived insult. Naringenin, due to its strong anti-inflammatory effects, remains a therapeutic choice in neurological disorders. Though, the low solubility and inefficient delivery remain challenges in using naringenin as a therapeutic drug. The present study showed that inflammation occurred in MSCs during their treatment with oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) and was well overturned by treatment with nar-gel-c-PCL NPs. In brief, the results indicated that nar-gel-c-PCL NPs were able to protect the loss of cell membrane integrity and restored neuronal morphology. Then nar-gel-c-PCL NPs successfully protected the human MSCs against OGD-induced inflammation as evident by reduced level of pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β) and other inflammatory biomarkers (COX2, iNOS, and MPO activity). Therefore, the modulation of inflammation by treatment with nar-gel-c-PCL NPs in MSCs could provide a novel strategy to improve MSC-based therapy, and thus, our nanoformulation may find a wide therapeutic application in ischemic stroke and other neuro-inflammatory diseases.

Increased serum exosomal miR-134 expression in the acute ischemic stroke patients

BACKGROUND

The exosomal miRNAs have been emerged as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for various diseases, however, the function of exosomal miRNAs in stroke remains largely unknown.

METHODS

The blood samples from acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients and normal controls were collected. The exosomes were isolated from the blood samples, which were confirmed by electron microscopy and western blot with the specific exosomes biomarker CD9, CD63 and Tsg101.

RESULTS

RT-qPCR analysis showed that exosomal miR-134 was significantly increased in AIS patients within 24 h after stroke onset compared with that of control group. Highly expressed exosomal miR-134 was correlated with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, infarct volume and positively associated with the worse prognosis of the stroke patients. Additionally, the exosomal miR-134 was strong positively correlated with the expression of serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) and plasma high-sensitivity C relative protein (hs-CRP). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve suggested that miR-134 might be a potential factor to discriminate AIS patients from non-stroke controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The exosomal miR-134 as a possible novel biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of stroke.

Predicting Motor and Cognitive Improvement Through Machine Learning Algorithm in Human Subject that Underwent a Rehabilitation Treatment in the Early Stage of Stroke

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to investigate, in subject with stroke, the exact role as prognostic factor of common inflammatory biomarkers and other markers in predicting motor and/or cognitive improvement after rehabilitation treatment from early stage of stroke.

METHODS

In this longitudinal cohort study on stroke patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation, data from 55 participants were analyzed. Functional and clinical data were collected after admission to the rehabilitation unit. Biochemical and hematological parameters were obtained from peripheral venous blood samples on all individuals who participated in the study within 24hours from the admission at the rehabilitative treatment. Data regarding the health status were collected at the end of rehabilitative treatment. First, a feature selection has been performed to estimate the mutual dependence between input and output variables. More specifically, the so called Mutual Information criterion has been exploited. In the second stage of the analysis, the Support Vector Machines (SVMs), a non-probabilistic binary machine learning algorithm widely used for classification and regression, has been used to predict the output of the rehabilitation process. Performances of the linear SVM regression algorithm have been evaluated considering a different number of input features (ranging from 4 to 14). The performance evaluation of the model proposed has been investigated in terms of correlation, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Deviation Percentage (MADP).

RESULTS

Results on the test samples show a good correlation between all the predicted and measured outputs (i.e. T1 Barthel Index (BI), T1 Motor Functional Independence Measure (FIM), T1 Cognitive FIM and T1 Total FIM) ranging from 0.75 to 0.81. While the MADP is high (i.e., 83.96%) for T1 BI, the other predicted responses (i.e., T1 Motor FIM, T1 Cognitive FIM, T1 Total FIM) disclose a smaller MADP of 30%. Accordingly, the RMSE ranges from 4.28 for T1 Cognitive FIM to 22.6 for T1 BI.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the authors developed a new predictive model using SVM regression starting from common inflammatory biomarkers and other ratio markers. The main efforts of our model have been accomplished in regard to the evidence that the type of stroke has not shown itself to be a critical input variable to predict the discharge data, furthermore, among the four selected indicators, Barthel at T1 is the less predictable (MADP > 80%), while it is possible to predict T1 Cognitive FIM with an MADP less than 18%.

Poststroke Depression Biomarkers: A Narrative Review

Poststroke depression (PSD) is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder after stroke, which is independently correlated with negative clinical outcome. The identification of specific biomarkers could help to increase the sensitivity of PSD diagnosis and elucidate its pathophysiological mechanisms. The aim of current study was to review and summarize literature exploring potential biomarkers for PSD diagnosis. The PubMed database was searched for papers published in English from October 1977 to December 2017, 90 of which met inclusion criteria for clinical studies related to PSD biomarkers. PSD biomarkers were subdivided into neuroimaging, molecular, and neurophysiological. Some of them could be recommended to support PSD diagnosing. According to the data, lesions affecting the frontal-subcortical circles of mood regulation (prefrontal cortex, basal nuclei, and thalamus) predominantly in the left hemisphere can be considered as neuroimaging markers and predictors for PSD for at least 1 year after stroke. Additional pontine and lobar cerebral microbleeds in acute stroke patients, as well as severe microvascular lesions of the brain, increase the likelihood of PSD. The following molecular candidates can help to differentiate PSD patients from non-depressed stroke subjects: decreased serum BDNF concentrations; increased early markers of inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, ferritin, neopterin, and glutamate), serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, IFN-γ), as well as pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory ratios (TNF-α/IL-10, IL-1β/IL-10, IL-6/IL-10, IL-18/IL-10, IFN-γ/IL-10); lowered complement expression; decreased serum vitamin D levels; hypercortisolemia and blunted cortisol awakening response; S/S 5-HTTLPR, STin2 9/12, and 12/12 genotypes of the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4, 5-HTR2a 1438 A/A, and BDNF met/met genotypes; higher SLC6A4 promoter and BDNF promoter methylation status. Neurophysiological markers of PSD, that reflect a violation of perception and cognitive processing, are the elongation of the latency of N200, P300, and N400, as well as the decrease in the P300 and N400 amplitude of the event-related potentials. The selected panel of biomarkers may be useful for paraclinical underpinning of PSD diagnosis, clarifying various aspects of its multifactorial pathogenesis, optimizing therapeutic interventions, and assessing treatment effectiveness.

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden Is Associated With Poststroke Depressive Symptoms: A 15-Month Prospective Study

Objective: All types of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) markers including lacune, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebral microbleeds, and perivascular spaces were found to be associated with poststroke depressive symptoms (PDS). This study explored whether the combination of the four markers constituting an overall SVD burden was associated with PDS. Methods: A cohort of 563 patients with acute ischemic stroke were followed over a 15-month period after the index stroke. A score of ≥7 on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was defined as clinically significant PDS. Scores of the four SVD markers ascertained on magnetic resonance imaging were summed up to represent total SVD burden. The association between SVD burden and PDS was assessed with generalized estimating equation models. Results: The study sample had a mean age of 67.0 ± 10.2 years and mild-moderate stroke [National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score: 3, interquartile, 1-5]. PDS were found in 18.3%, 11.6%, and 12.3% of the sample at 3, 9, and 15 months after stroke, respectively. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, vascular risk factors, social support, stroke severity, physical and cognitive functions, and size and locations of stroke, the SVD burden was associated with an increased risk of PDS [odds ratio = 1.30; 95% confidence interval = 1.07-1.58; p = 0.010]. Other significant predictors of PDS were time of assessment, female sex, smoking, number of acute infarcts, functional independence, and social support. Conclusion: SVD burden was associated with PDS examined over a 15-month follow-up in patients with mild to moderate acute ischemic stroke.

Altered Connectivity of the Anterior Cingulate and the Posterior Superior Temporal Gyrus in a Longitudinal Study of Later-life Depression

Patients with later-life depression (LLD) show abnormal gray matter (GM) volume, white matter (WM) integrity and functional connectivity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG), but it remains unclear whether these abnormalities persist over time. We examined whether structural and functional abnormalities in these two regions are present within the same subjects during depressed vs. remitted phases. Sixteen patients with LLD and 30 healthy subjects were studied over a period of 1.5 years. Brain images obtained with a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system were analyzed by voxel-based morphometry of the GM volume, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI were used to assess ACC–pSTG connectivity. Patients with LLD in the depressed and remitted phases showed significantly smaller GM volume in the left ACC and left pSTG than healthy subjects. Both patients with LLD in the depressed and remitted phases had significantly higher diffusivities in the WM tract of the left ACC–pSTG than healthy subjects. Remitted patients with LLD showed lower functional ACC–pSTG connectivity compared to healthy subjects. No difference was found in the two regions between depressed and remitted patients in GM volume, structural or functional connectivity. Functional ACC–pSTG connectivity was positively correlated with lower global function during remission. Our preliminary data show that structural and functional abnormalities of the ACC and pSTG occur during LLD remission. Our findings tentatively reveal the brain pathophysiology involved in LLD and may aid in developing neuroanatomical biomarkers for this condition.

Post-stroke Fatigue and Depressive Symptoms Are Differentially Related to Mobility and Cognitive Performance

Background: Fatigue and depressive symptoms are common and often inter-related stroke sequelae. This study investigates how they are related, directly or indirectly, to mobility and cognitive outcomes within 6 months of stroke.

Methods: Participants were recruited from 4 stroke centers in Ontario, Canada. Post-stroke fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). Depressive symptoms were screened using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Scale for Depression (CES-D). Factor analyses were used to construct scores from mobility (distance traveled during a 2-min walk test, Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment leg score, and Berg Balance Scale total score) and cognitive (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Trail-Making Tests A and B, and five-word free recall) tests. Direct associations were assessed in linear regression models and indirect effects were assessed in path models. Covariates were age, sex, education, antidepressant use, days since stroke, and stroke severity (National Institute of Health Stroke Severity Scale score).

Results: Fatigue and depressive symptoms were highly correlated (r > 0.51, p < 0.0001). Depressive symptoms were associated with cognition (β = −0.184, p = 0.04) and indirectly with mobility, mediated by fatigue (indirect effect = −0.0142, 95% CI: −0.0277 to −0.0033). Fatigue was associated with mobility (β = −0.253, p = 0.01), and indirectly with cognition, mediated by depressive symptoms (indirect effect = −0.0113, 95% CI: −0.0242 to −0.0023).

Conclusions: Fatigue and depressive symptoms are related distinctly to cognitive and mobility impairments post-stroke. Fatigue was associated with poorer lower limb motor function, and with cognition indirectly via depressive symptoms.

Age-Related Frontal Periventricular White Matter Hyperintensities and miR-92a-3p Are Associated with Early-Onset Post-Stroke Depression

Objective: To explore the correlationship among white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), miR-92a-3p and early-onset post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods: We recruited consecutively 238 patients with acute cerebral infarction and MRI examination in the Department of neurology, Ruijin hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. The diagnosis of early-onset PSD was made in accordance with DSM-IV criteria for depression in 2 weeks after stroke. Clinical information and assessments of stroke severity were recorded on admission. The analysis of plasma miR-92a-3p was performed using quantitative PCR at the same time. WMHs were evaluated by the Fazekas and Scheltens visual rating scales. The relationship among WMHs, miR-92a-3p and PSD were analyzed by SPSS 22.0 software. Results: Logistic regression demonstrated that periventricular WMHs (PVWMHs) in frontal caps was an independent risk factor with early-onset PSD (OR = 1.579, 95% CI: 1.040-2.397, p = 0.032). The age and numbers of lacunes were related to frontal PVWMHs. Plasma miR-92a-3p in the PSD group was higher compared with the non-depressed group. Receiver operating curve analysis revealed that miR-92a-3p could predict early-onset PSD with 90% sensitivity and 90% specificity. The higher miR-92a-3p trended toward association with greater frontal PVWMHs. Conclusion: Acute ischemic stroke patients with frontal PVWMHs or a high plasma miR-92a-3p at baseline were more likely to develop early-onset PSD. MiR-92a-3p might be involved in the white matter impairment and post-stroke depression.

Poststroke Fatigue: Emerging Evidence and Approaches to Management: A Scientific Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association

At least half of all stroke survivors experience fatigue; thus, it is a common cause of concern for patients, caregivers, and clinicians after stroke. This scientific statement provides an international perspective on the emerging evidence surrounding the incidence, prevalence, quality of life, and complex pathogenesis of poststroke fatigue. Evidence for pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for management are reviewed, as well as the effects of poststroke fatigue on both stroke survivors and caregivers.