Cholesterol Levels Are Associated with 30-day Mortality from Ischemic Stroke in Dialysis Patients

Biomarkers Predictive of Long-Term Outcome After Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to systematically review the utility of serum biomarkers in the setting of ischemic stroke (IS) to predict long-term outcome.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed using the PubMed and MEDLINE databases for studies published between 1986-2018. All studies assessing long-term functional outcome (defined as 30 days or greater) following IS with respect to serum biomarkers were included. Data were extracted and pooled using a meta-analysis of odds ratios.

RESULTS

Of the total 2928 articles in the original literature search, 183 studies were ultimately selected. A total of 127 serum biomarkers were included. Biomarkers were grouped into several categories: inflammatory (32), peptide/enzymatic (30), oxidative/metabolic (28), hormone/steroid based (23), and hematologic/vascular (14). The most commonly studied biomarkers in each category were found to be CRP, S100β, albumin, copeptin, and D-dimer. With the exception of S100β, all were found to be statistically associated with >30-day outcome after ischemic stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum-based biomarkers have the potential to predict functional outcome in IS patients. This meta-analysis has identified CRP, albumin, copeptin, and D-dimer to be significantly associated with long-term outcome after IS. These biomarkers have the potential to serve as a platform for prognosticating stroke outcomes after 30 days. These serum biomarkers, some of which are routinely ordered, can be combined with imaging biomarkers and used in artificial intelligence algorithms to provide refined predictive outcomes after injury. Ultimately these tools will assist physicians in providing guidance to families with regards to long-term independence of patients.

Smoking Status and Functional Outcomes in Young Stroke

Objective: Stroke in young adults is uncommon, and the etiologies and risk factors of stroke in young adults differ from those in older populations. Smoker's paradox is an unexpected favorable outcome, and age difference is used to explain the association between smoking and the favorable functional outcome. This study aimed to investigate the existence of this phenomenon in young stroke patients. Methods: We analyzed a total of 9,087 young stroke cases registered in the nationwide stroke registry system of Taiwan between 2006 and 2016. Smoking criteria included having a current history of smoking more than one cigarette per day for more than 6 months. After matching for sex and age, a Cox model was used to compare mortality and function outcomes between smokers and non-smokers. Results: Compared with the non-smoker group, smoking was associated with older age, higher comorbidities, and higher alcohol consumption. Patients who report smoking with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores of 11-15 had a worse functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.76 - 0.87). Conclusion: Smokers had a higher risk of unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months after stroke, and therefore, we continue to strongly advocate the importance of smoking cessation.

Smoking Paradox in Stroke Survivors?: Uncovering the Truth by Interpreting 2 Sets of Data

Background and Purpose- The observation that smokers with stroke could have better outcome than nonsmokers led to the term "smoking paradox." The controversy of such a complex claim has not been fully settled, even though different case mix was noted. Analyses were conducted on 2 independent data sets to evaluate and determine whether such a paradox truly exists. Methods- Taiwan Stroke Registry with 88 925 stroke cases, and MJ cohort with 541 047 adults participating in a medical screening program with 1630 stroke deaths developed during 15 years of follow-up (1994-2008). Primary outcome for stroke registry was functional independence at 3 months by modified Rankin Scale score ≤2, for individuals classified by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission. For MJ cohort, mortality risk by smoking status or by stroke history was assessed by hazard ratio. Results- A >11-year age difference in stroke incidence was found between smokers and nonsmokers, with a median age of 60.2 years for current smokers and 71.6 years for nonsmokers. For smokers, favorable outcome in mortality and in functional assessment in 3 months with modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 stratified by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was present but disappeared when age and sex were matched. Smokers without stroke history had a ≈2-fold increase in stroke deaths (2.05 for ischemic stroke and 1.53 for hemorrhagic stroke) but smokers with stroke history, 7.83-fold increase, overshadowing smoking risk. Quitting smoking at earlier age reversed or improved outcome. Conclusions- "The more you smoke, the earlier you stroke, and the longer sufferings you have to cope." Smokers had 2-fold mortality from stroke but endured stroke disability 11 years longer. Quitting early reduced or reversed the harms.

CYP3A4 and CYP11A1 variants are risk factors for ischemic stroke: a case control study

Background

This study aimed to investigate the roles of CYP3A4 and CYP11A1 variants in ischemic stroke (IS) susceptibility among the Han Chinese population.

Methods

Four hundred seventy-seven patients with IS and 493 healthy controls were enrolled. Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CYP3A4 and CYP11A1 were genotyped by Agena MassARRAY. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by logistic regression adjusted for age and gender.

Results

We found that CYP3A4 rs3735451 (OR = 0.81, p = 0.039) and rs4646440 (OR = 0.72, p = 0.021) polymorphisms decreased the risk of IS. CYP3A4 rs4646440 (OR = 0.74, p = 0.038) and CYP11A1 rs12912592 (OR = 1.58, p = 0.034) polymorphisms were correlated with IS risk in males. CYP3A4 rs3735451 (OR = 0.63, p = 0.031) and rs4646440 (OR = 0.57, p = 0.012) possibly weaken the IS susceptibility at age > 61 years. Besides, CYP3A4 rs4646437 (OR = 0.59, p = 0.029), CYP11A1 rs12912592 (OR = 1.84, p = 0.017) and rs28681535 (OR = 0.66, p = 0.038) were associated with IS risk at age ≤ 61 years. CYP11A1 rs28681535 TT genotype was higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level than the GT and GG genotype (p = 0.027).

Conclusions

Our findings indicated that rs3735451, rs4646440, rs4646437 in CYP3A4 and rs28681535 in CYP11A1 might be protective factors for IS, while CYP11A1 rs12912592 polymorphism be a risk factor for IS in Chinese Han population.

[Risk factors for recurrence of large atherosclerotic cerebral infarction]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the risk factors for recurrence of large atherosclerotic cerebral infarction in first?episode patients.

METHODS

The consecutive patients with acute cerebral infarction diagnosed in the Department of Neurology were screened for large atherosclerotic cerebral infarction by CTA/MRA examination, and all the confirmed patients were followed up for 1 year. The patients were divided into recurrent ischemic stroke group and non?recurrent group according to occurrence of cerebrovascular events during the follow?up.

RESULTS

A total of 256 eligible patients were included in this study, and all of them completed the follow?up. During the 1?year follow?up, 30 (11.7%) patients had ischemic cerebrovascular stroke events. Univariate analysis showed significant differences in alcohol drinking (P=0.028), smoking (P=0.007), high?density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL; P=0.045), ischemic heart disease (P=0.002), antihypertensive agents (P=0.036) and statin use (P=0.016) between the recurrent group and non?recurrent group. Cox regression analysis showed that irregular use of statins (RR=0.410, P=0.043), smoking (RR=2.253, P=0.043), HDL (RR=0.327, P=0.029), and ischemic heart disease (RR=8.566, P<0.001) were correlated with recurrent ischemic stroke.

CONCLUSION

The first?episode patients with irregular use of statins, low HDL levels, smoking and ischemic heart disease are at higher risks for having ischemic stroke recurrence.