Development and validation of a risk prediction model for aspiration in patients with acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Aspiration is a frequently observed complication in individuals diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke, leading to potentially severe consequences. However, the availability of predictive tools for assessing aspiration probabilities remains limited. Hence, our study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram for accurately predicting aspiration probability in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

We analyzed 30 potential risk factors associated with aspiration in 359 adult patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke. Advanced statistical techniques, such as Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Multivariate Logistic regression, were employed to identify independent predictors. Subsequently, we developed a nomogram prediction model based on these predictors, which underwent internal validation through 1000 bootstrap resampling. Two additional cohorts (Cohort A n = 64; Cohort B, n = 105) were included for external validation. The discriminatory power and calibration performance of the nomogram were assessed using rigorous methods, including the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve analyses, and decision curve analyses (DCA).

RESULTS

The nomogram was established based on four variables: sputum suction, brain stem infarction, temporal lobe infarction, and Barthel Index score. The predictive model exhibited satisfactory discriminative ability, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.853 (95 % confidence interval, 0.795-0.910), which remained consistent at 0.852 (95 % confidence interval, 0.794-0.912) during the internal validation. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test (P = 0.394) and calibration curve demonstrated favorable consistency between the predicted and observed outcomes in the development cohort. The AUC was 0.872 (95 % confidence interval, 0.783-0.962) in validation cohort A and 0.877 (95 % confidence interval, 0.764-0.989) in validation cohort B, demonstrating sustained accuracy. DCA showed a good net clinical benefit of the nomogram.

CONCLUSIONS

A nomogram for predicting the probability of aspiration in patients with acute ischemia has been successfully developed and validated.

Optimizing early neurological deterioration prediction in acute ischemic stroke patients following intravenous thrombolysis: a LASSO regression model approach

Background

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains a leading cause of disability and mortality globally among adults. Despite Intravenous Thrombolysis (IVT) with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) emerging as the standard treatment for AIS, approximately 6-40% of patients undergoing IVT experience Early Neurological Deterioration (END), significantly impacting treatment efficacy and patient prognosis.

Objective

This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for END in AIS patients post rt-PA administration using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression approach.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, data from 531 AIS patients treated with intravenous alteplase across two hospitals were analyzed. LASSO regression was employed to identify significant predictors of END, leading to the construction of a multivariate predictive model.

Results

Six key predictors significantly associated with END were identified through LASSO regression analysis: previous stroke history, Body Mass Index (BMI), age, Onset to Treatment Time (OTT), lymphocyte count, and glucose levels. A predictive nomogram incorporating these factors was developed, effectively estimating the probability of END post-IVT. The model demonstrated robust predictive performance, with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.867 in the training set and 0.880 in the validation set.

Conclusion

The LASSO regression-based predictive model accurately identifies critical risk factors leading to END in AIS patients following IVT. This model facilitates timely identification of high-risk patients by clinicians, enabling more personalized treatment strategies and optimizing patient management and outcomes.

Predicting long-term outcomes for acute ischemic stroke using multi-model MRI radiomics and clinical variables

Purpose

The objective of this study was to create and validate a novel prediction model that incorporated both multi-modal radiomics features and multi-clinical features, with the aim of accurately identifying acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who faced a higher risk of poor outcomes.

Methods

A cohort of 461 patients diagnosed with AIS from four centers was divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort. Radiomics features were extracted and selected from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) images to create a radiomic signature. Prediction models were developed using multi-clinical and selected radiomics features from DWI and ADC.

Results

A total of 49 radiomics features were selected from DWI and ADC images by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Additionally, 20 variables were collected as multi-clinical features. In terms of predicting poor outcomes in validation set, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.727 for the DWI radiomics model, 0.821 for the ADC radiomics model, 0.825 for the DWI + ADC radiomics model, and 0.808 for the multi-clinical model. Furthermore, a prediction model was built using all selected features, the AUC for predicting poor outcomes increased to 0.86.

Conclusion

Radiomics features extracted from DWI and ADC images can serve as valuable biomarkers for predicting poor clinical outcomes in patients with AIS. Furthermore, when these radiomics features were combined with multi-clinical features, the predictive performance was enhanced. The prediction model has the potential to provide guidance for tailoring rehabilitation therapies based on individual patient risks for poor outcomes.

Application of a nomogram model for the prediction of 90-day poor outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion

Background

The past decade has witnessed advancements in mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute large-vessel occlusions (LVOs). However, only approximately half of the patients with LVO undergoing MT show the best/independent 90-day favorable outcome. This study aimed to develop a nomogram for predicting 90-day poor outcomes in patients with LVO treated with MT.

Methods

A total of 187 patients who received MT were retrospectively analyzed. Factors associated with 90-day poor outcomes (defined as mRS of 4-6) were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyzes. One best-fit nomogram was established to predict the risk of a 90-day poor outcome, and a concordance index was utilized to evaluate the performance of the model. Additionally, 145 patients from a single stroke center were retrospectively recruited as the validation cohort to test the newly established nomogram.

Results

The overall incidence of 90-day poor outcomes was 45.16%, affecting 84 of 186 patients in the training set. Moreover, five variables, namely, age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.049, 95% CI [1.016-1.083]; p = 0.003), glucose level (OR: 1.163, 95% CI [1.038-1.303]; p = 0.009), baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR: 1.066, 95% CI [0.995-1.142]; p = 0.069), unsuccessful recanalization (defined as a TICI grade of 0 to 2a) (OR: 3.730, 95% CI [1.688-8.245]; p = 0.001), and early neurological deterioration (END, defined as an increase of ≥4 points between the baseline NIHSS score and the NIHSS score at 24 h after MT) (OR: 3.383, 95% CI [1.411-8.106]; p = 0.006), were included in the nomogram to predict the potential risk of poor outcomes at 90 days following MT in LVO patients, with a C-index of 0.763 (0.693-0.832) in the training set and 0.804 (0.719-0.889) in the validation set.

Conclusion

The proposed nomogram provided clinical evidence for the effective control of these risk factors before or during the process of MT surgery in LVO patients.

The value of a deep learning image reconstruction algorithm in whole-brain computed tomography perfusion in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Background

Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) are valuable tools for diagnosing acute ischemic stroke (AIS). It is essential to obtain high-quality CTP and CTA images in short time. This study aimed to evaluate the image quality and diagnostic performance of brain CTP and CTA images generated from CTP reconstructed by a deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm on patients with AIS.

Methods

The study prospectively enrolled 54 patients with suspected AIS undergoing non-contrast CT and CTP within 24 hours. CTP datasets were reconstructed with three levels of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo algorithm [ASIR-V 0% with filtered back projection (FBP), ASIR-V 40%, and ASIR-V 80%] and three levels of DLIR, including low (DLIR-L), medium (DLIR-M), and high (DLIR-H). CTA images were generated using the CTP datasets at the peak arterial phase. Objective parameters including signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and noise reduction rate. Subjective evaluation was assessed according to Abels scoring system. Perfusion parameters and detection accuracy for infarction core lesions were evaluated. The objective and subjective image quality of CTA images were also evaluated.

Results

All reconstructions produced similar CT values (P>0.05). With the increase of ASIR-V and DLIR reconstruction strength, image noise decreased, while SNR and CNR increased for CTP images, especially in white matter. DLIR-H, DLIR-M, and ASIR-V80% yielded higher subjective scores than did ASIR-V40% and FBP. DLIR-H provided the highest noise reduction rate and detection accuracy. No significant difference was found in conventional parameters, the volume of infarct core, or ischemic penumbra among the 6 groups (P>0.05). The objective evaluation of reconstructed CTA images was comparable in DLIR-H, DLIR-M, and ASIR-V80% (P>0.05). The subjective scores of the DLIR-H and DLIR-M images were higher than those of the other groups, especially ASIR-V40% and FBP (P<0.05).

Conclusions

Compared with FBP and ASIR-V40%, DLIR-H, DLIR-M, and ASIR-V80% improved the overall image quality of CTP and CTA images to varying degrees. Furthermore, DLIR-H and DLIR-M showed the best performance. DLIR-H is the best choice in diagnosing AIS with improved detection accuracy for cerebral infarction. Reconstructing CTA images using CTP datasets could reduce contrast agent and radiation dose.

Mechanical thrombectomy for AIS from large vessel occlusion - current trends and future perspectives

Stroke is found to be one of the global top causes of mortality and the major factor in years of life with a handicap (DALYs). Ischemic strokes contributed to nearly 70% of all strokes worldwide. For endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke with large vessel obstruction (AIS-LVO), using stent retrievers and/or reperfusion catheters has become the gold standard of therapy. The methodology involved keyword-based search in databases like PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar for recent publications on mechanical thrombectomy (MT), AIS, large vessel occlusion (Large Vessel Occlusion (LVO)), screening relevant articles, retrieving full texts, and synthesizing key findings on procedural advancements, patient selection, COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) impact, delay effects, effectiveness, clinical outcomes, and future perspectives. Only people with substantial cerebral artery obstruction may do well from MT. This includes the distal carotid artery and the proximal middle cerebral artery (segment M1). The size of a blocked vessel and NIHSS (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale) score are directly connected. Both the 2018 and 2019 versions of the AHA/ASA (American Heart Association/American Stroke Association) Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke contained the recommendations that cases with AIS-LVO get endovascular therapy when administered during the time frame of 0-6 h after onset (Grade IA evidence). It is questionable whether this group of patients can be managed without the need for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator at the onset. When functional independence [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 2] was present at long-term follow-up, the endovascular intervention was favored. Tenecteplase, which differs from alteplase in terms of genetic variation, has a greater half-life and a higher level of fibrin selectivity, enabling bolus infusion. Studies have also demonstrated its efficacy and safety, as well as its long-term cost-effectiveness.

Corrigendum: Serum cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) levels as a prognostic indicator in patients with acute ischemic stroke

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1211108.].

Low-to-moderate dose statins improve the functional outcome of acute ischemic stroke with conventional medication treatment

Background

Low-to-moderate dose statins (LMDSs) are more commonly used among Asian acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients in clinical practice. However, the correlation between the LMDS use and prognosis has not been evaluated in AIS patients with conventional medication treatment alone. This study aimed to investigate the influence of LMDS on the prognosis of AIS patients and how prognosis and potential prognostic factors interact with different statin doses.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included AIS patients who were admitted within 7 days after symptom onset and received conventional medication treatment alone from November 2019 to November 2020 in the Neurology, Department of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. From a total of 782 initial patients, a final cohort of 327 patients was included in the study. These patients were divided into three groups based on statin doses: non-statin (48 patients), LMDS (152 patients), and high-dose statin (HDS) (127 patients). The follow-up period was 3 months after the onset of stroke and the primary outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 0 to 2 at 3 months, secondary outcomes were hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and death within 3 months. Stratified analysis was also conducted to test the robustness of the relationship between the use of different statin doses and functional outcomes in various subgroups.

Results

Compared with non-statin therapy, both LMDS therapy and HDS therapy were associated with good functional outcomes [odds ratio (OR) =3.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-12.01, P=0.0309; OR =3.45, 95% CI: 1.06-11.26, P=0.0402, respectively] and a lower risk of HT (OR =0.30, 95% CI: 0.11-0.86, P=0.0253; OR =0.36, 95% CI: 0.13-0.99, P=0.0488, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in all-cause death within 3 months among the three groups (OR =0.84, 95% CI: 0.29-2.46, P=0.7468; OR =0.76, 95% CI: 0.26-2.22, P=0.6104). Additionally, no significant differences were observed between LMDS therapy and HDS therapy regarding good functional outcomes at 3 months (OR =0.94, 95% CI: 0.50-1.77, P=0.8411) and the occurrence of HT (OR =1.19, 95% CI: 0.47-3.02, P=0.7093). The results of the relationship between different statin doses and 3-month good functional outcome were consistent after interaction tests.

Conclusions

Our findings provide evidence for the benefit and safety of LMDS therapy in AIS patients with medication treatment alone. LMDS therapy is associated with favorable impacts on 3-month functional outcomes and a reduced risk of HT compared to non-statin therapy. There were no significant differences in achieving 3-month good functional outcome, the risk of HT or death within 3 months were observed between LMDS and HDS therapy in our study. Further studies with prospective design and larger sample sizes are necessary to validate our results.

Serum cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) levels as a prognostic indicator in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Background

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among cerebrovascular diseases. While animal studies have suggested a correlation between cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) serum levels and the severity and prognosis of cerebral infarction, there has been a lack of research exploring this association in humans with cerebral infarction.

Materials and methods

A total of 148 patients diagnosed with AIS within 7 days from symptom onset were included in this study. Comprehensive information regarding the patients' basic demographics, medical history, clinical parameters, the severity of cerebral infarction, and serum CIRP levels was collected. Follow-up data were obtained through telephonic interviews or by reviewing clinical notes for 3 months after the patients were discharged to assess the functional outcomes of treatment.

Results

The findings of this study demonstrated a significant increase in serum CIRP levels during the early stages of AIS, followed by a gradual decline after 3 days. Significant differences were observed in the serum CIRP levels between the 1-day group and the 4-7 day group (P < 0.0047), as well as between the 2-3 day group and the 4-7 day group (P < 0.0006). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between the serum CIRP levels and the severity of cerebral infarction. Higher serum CIRP levels were associated with more severe National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (P < 0.05) and larger cerebral infarction volumes (P < 0.05). Furthermore, patients with higher serum CIRP levels exhibited poorer modified Rankin scale scores (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that serum CIRP serves as an essential pro-inflammatory mediator and a valuable biomarker for assessing brain injury in patients with AIS.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest an elevation in serum CIRP levels among patients with AIS. These levels are positively correlated with the severity of AIS and serve as indicators of a poor prognosis. Therefore, CIRP could serve as a target for early clinical intervention while managing AIS, and further research should explore serum CIRP levels as prognostic indicators in AIS.

Case report: Flow changes in routes of collateral circulation in patients with LVO and low NIHSS: a point favor to treat

The effectiveness of endovascular thrombectomy in patients presenting low National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores remains controversial, and the acquisition of additional evidence is required to refine the selection of candidates who may benefit the most from this therapeutic modality. In this study, we present the case of a 62-year-old individual, with left internal carotid occlusion stroke and low NIHSS, who had compensatory collateral flow from Willis polygon via the anterior communicating artery. The patient subsequently exhibited neurological deterioration and collateral flow failure from Willis polygon, indicating the need for urgent intervention. The study of collaterals in patients with large vessel occlusion stroke has garnered considerable attention, with research suggesting that individuals with low NIHSS scores and poor collateral profiles may be at a heightened risk of early neurological deterioration. We postulate that such patients may derive significant benefits from endovascular thrombectomy, and may posit that an intensive transcranial Doppler monitoring protocol could facilitate the identification of suitable candidates for such intervention.

Comparison of two computed tomography perfusion post-processing software to assess infarct volume in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Objectives

We used two automated software commonly employed in clinical practice-Olea Sphere (Olea) and Shukun-PerfusionGo (PerfusionGo)-to compare the diagnostic utility and volumetric agreement of computed tomography perfusion (CTP)-predicted final infarct volume (FIV) with true FIV in patients with anterior-circulation acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods

In all, 122 patients with anterior-circulation AIS who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were retrospectively enrolled and divided into two groups: intervention group (n = 52) and conservative group (n = 70), according to recanalization of blood vessels and clinical outcome (NIHSS) after different treatments. Patients in both groups underwent one-stop 4D-CT angiography (CTA)/CTP, and the raw CTP data were processed on a workstation using Olea and PerfusionGo post-processing software, to calculate and obtain the ischemic core (IC) and hypoperfusion (IC plus penumbra) volumes, hypoperfusion in the conservative group and IC in the intervention group were used to define the predicted FIV. The ITK-SNAP software was used to manually outline and measure true FIV on the follow-up non-enhanced CT or MRI-DWI images. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland-Altman, and Kappa analysis were used to compare the differences in IC and penumbra volumes calculated by the Olea and PerfusionGo software to investigate the relationship between their predicted FIV and true FIV.

Results

The IC and penumbra difference between Olea and PerfusionGo within the same group (p < 0.001) was statistically significant. Olea obtained larger IC and smaller penumbra than PerfusionGo. Both software partially overestimated the infarct volume, but Olea significantly overestimated it by a larger percentage. ICC analysis showed that Olea performed better than PerfusionGo (intervention-Olea: ICC 0.633, 95%CI 0.439-0.771; intervention-PerfusionGo: ICC 0.526, 95%CI 0.299-0.696; conservative-Olea: ICC 0.623, 95%CI 0.457-0.747; conservative-PerfusionGo: ICC 0.507, 95%CI 0.312-0.662). Olea and PerfusionGo had the same capacity in accurately diagnosing and classifying patients with infarct volume <70 ml.

Conclusion

Both software had differences in the evaluation of the IC and penumbra. Olea's predicted FIV was more closely correlated with the true FIV than PerfusionGo's prediction. Accurate assessment of infarction on CTP post-processing software remains challenging. Our results may have important practice implications for the clinical use of perfusion post-processing software.

Efficacy and Prognosis of Adjuvant Argatroban Treatment in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Early Neurological Deterioration

BACKGROUND

The therapeutic outcomes for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with early neurological deterioration (END) are adverse. Argatroban is a novel direct thrombin inhibitor, which is safe in the treatment of AIS, but its efficacy is controversial. This study sought to assess the therapeutic effect of argatroban as an adjunct to aspirin in the treatment of AIS patients with END. Patients' prognosis for the presence of END was also evaluated.

METHODS

Overall, 166 AIS patients with END were included in the study from June 2018 to June 2021 in The Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University. Patients were divided in the control group (aspirin alone) and the study group (aspirin combined with argatroban). General data of the patients were collected. Clinical indexes such as the modified Edinburgh-Scandinavian stroke scale (MESSS), and the serum fibrinogen (FIB) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels before and after treatment were also collected. Correlations between prognosis and general data, and FIB and NPY levels in AIS patients with END were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. The performance of FIB and NPY levels in predicting patients' prognosis was further analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the general data, such as sex, age, course of disease and basic diseases between the 2 groups. After treatment, the MESSS score (13.08 ± 3.24 vs. 16.48 ± 3.32, p < 0.001), serum FIB level (2.72 ± 0.81 vs. 3.52 ± 0.71, p < 0.001), and NPY level (121.28 ± 17.34 vs. 152.09 ± 18.25, p < 0.001) of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group. A further analysis revealed that the serum FIB (OR, odds ratio = 2.296, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.437-3.669, p = 0.001) and NPY (OR = 1.020, 95% CI: 1.002-1.039, p = 0.031) levels were independent risk factors of patients' prognosis for the presence of END.

CONCLUSIONS

Aspirin combined with argatroban significantly improved neurological impairment of AIS patients with END, which is worthy of clinical application.

A multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial of intracranial hemorrhage risk of intensive statin therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke combined with cerebral microbleeds (CHRISTMAS): Study protocol

Background

Low serum levels of major lipid markers have been proved to be significantly associated with increased risks of hemorrhagic stroke (HS) and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs). However, there is no lipid modification guideline telling us how to maintain a balance between the prevention of ischemic stroke recurrence and the prevention of hemorrhagic events, especially in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and CMBs.

Aim

The Intracranial Hemorrhage Risk of Intensive Statin Therapy in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke combined with Cerebral Microbleeds (CHRISTMAS) trial evaluates the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (i.e., HS and CMBs) of high-dose statin therapy in patients with AIS combined with CMBs.

Methods and design

This is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial design. Up to 344 eligible patients will be consecutively randomized to receive high-dose or low-dose atorvastatin in 1:1 ratio in 5 stroke centers in China.

Outcomes

CHRISTMAS trial has co-primary outcomes, namely, hemorrhage risk: the incidence of HS and the changes in degree of CMBs until the end of 36-month follow-up.

Discussion

The primary hypothesis of this study is that an excessive reduction in serum lipid levels by an intensive statin therapy in AIS patients with CMBs can increase the risk of intracranial hemorrhage. This study will shed light on new clinical decisions regarding the long-term serum lipid management in these patients with dilemma in clinical practice.

Clinical trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT05589454.

Gut microbiota, a hidden protagonist of traditional Chinese medicine for acute ischemic stroke

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is one of the leading diseases causing death and disability worldwide, and treatment options remain very limited. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used for thousands of years to treat ischemic stroke and has been proven to have significant efficacy, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. As research related to the brain-gut-microbe axis progresses, there is increasing evidence that the gut microbiota plays an important role during AIS. The interaction between TCM and the gut microbiota has been suggested as a possible key link to the therapeutic effects of TCM. We have compiled and reviewed recent studies on the relationship between AIS, TCM, and gut microbiota, with the expectation of providing more ideas to elucidate the mechanism of action of TCM in the treatment of AIS.

Correlation of the characteristics of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic plaques with stroke types and risk of stroke recurrence: a cohort study

Background

Symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (sICAS) patients had a higher risk of stroke recurrence, and the risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) was higher than transient ischemic attack (TIA). Therefore, it is important to explore the risk factors associated with sICAS clinical subtypes and the risk of stroke recurrence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between intracranial arterial culprit plaque characteristics with sICAS clinical subtypes and the risk of stroke recurrence.

Methods

A total of 206 patients with sICAS were included. Baseline demographic data and relevant serologic indices were collected from all participants. All participants were assessed by high-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) for culprit vessel and culprit plaque characteristics. The follow-up method was outpatient or telephone follow-up. Associated factors for sICAS clinical subtypes were analyzed by binary logistic regression. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were used to analysis the independent risk factors for recurrent stroke.

Results

In this group, there were 154 patients with AIS, 52 patients with TIA, 124 patients with anterior circulation ischemic symptom (ACiS), and 82 patients with posterior circulation ischemic symptom (PCiS). Male gender [odds ratio (OR) =5.575, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.120 to 14.658], history of previous statin use (OR =0.309, 95% CI: 0.113 to 0.843) and serum apolipoprotein A/B values (OR =0.363, 95% CI: 0.139 to 0.948) were associated factors for AIS. A total of 24 patients (11.7%) experienced stroke recurrence during the 1-year follow-up period. Hyperintensity on T1 weighted imaging (T1WI) in the culprit plaque [hazard ratio (HR) =3.798, 95% CI: 1.433 to 10.062] was an independent risk factor for stroke recurrence. The incidence of significant enhancement (62.2% vs. 39.5%, χ²=9.681, P=0.002), positive remodeling (69.5% vs. 52.4%, χ²=5.661, P=0.020), and hyperintensity on T1WI (42.7% vs. 22.6%, χ²=16.472, P=0.003) was higher in the posterior circulation than in the anterior circulation.

Conclusions

The characteristics of intracranial arterial culprit plaques were independent risk factors for recurrent stroke, and there were differences in the plaque characteristics of anterior and posterior circulation. Early HR-VWI examination for sICAS patients is of great significance for patient risk stratification and personalized management.

Efficacy and Safety of Tirofiban in Clinical Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background

Intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy have been approved for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, only a minority of patients received these treatments in China. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban in patients with AIS who were not undergoing early recanalization treatments.

Methods

Patients with mild-to-moderate stroke [National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, 4–15] were enrolled in this study. Patients due to cardiogenic embolism were excluded. Eligible patients within 12 h from symptom onset were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive tirofiban (a loading dose of 0.4 μg/kg/min over 30 min and a maintenance dose of 0.1 μg/kg/min up to 48 h) followed by regular treatment or to receive regular treatment (aspirin at a dose of 100 mg per day for 90 days) (control). The primary outcome was the proportion of favorable functional outcomes at 90 days [defined as the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2]. The secondary outcomes included a shift in the distribution of the mRS scores at 90 days and the NIHSS score at 24 h and 7 days. The primary safety outcome was symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) within 7 days after tirofiban treatment.

Results

A total of 380 eligible patients were randomly assigned to the tirofiban group (n = 190) or the control group (n = 190). The proportion of favorable functional outcomes was higher in the tirofiban group (79.1%) than that in the control group (67.8%) at 90 days [odds ratio (OR), 1.80; 95% CI, 1.12–2.90; p = 0.0155]. An improvement was also observed in the overall distribution of the 90-day mRS scores (adjusted common OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.58–3.39; p < 0.0001). Additionally, the median NIHSS score was lower in the tirofiban group than in the control group at 7 days (3 vs. 5, p < 0.0001). Next, we observed that the occurrence of sICH did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusion

Our trial supports that tirofiban was safe and effective and might be a remedial treatment for patients with AIS who did not receive recanalization treatments.

Clinical Trial Registration

http://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier: ChiCTR2000031297.

Platelet, Plasma, Urinary Tryptophan-Serotonin-Kynurenine Axis Markers in Hyperacute Brain Ischemia Patients: A Prospective Study

Background and Purpose: Ischemic stroke is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality and has numerous clinical mimics. Previous studies have suggested a potential role of the tryptophan-serotonin (5-HT)-kynurenine (TSK) axis in ischemic stroke. Studies assessing this axis in the hyperacute phase of ischemic stroke (<4.5 h) are lacking. This prospective study thus evaluates the TSK axis in transient ischemic attack (TIA) and hyperacute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

Methods: This study included 28 patients (24 AIS and 4 TIA) and 29 controls. The blood and urine samples of patient were collected within 4.5 h of symptoms onset (day 0, D0), then at 24 h and 3 months. Control blood and urine samples were collected once (D0). The TSK axis markers measured were platelet serotonin transporter (SERT) and 5-HT_2A receptor (5-HT_2AR) densities and platelet, plasma, and urinary 5-HT, plasma and urinary 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), and plasma kynurenine and tryptophan (TRP) levels.

Results: At D0, patients exhibited a lower (p = 10⁻⁵) platelet SERT density, higher (p < 10⁻⁶) platelet 5-HT_2AR density, higher (p = 10⁻⁵) plasma kynurenine/tryptophan (K/T) ratio, and higher urinary 5-HT (p = 0.011) and 5-HIAA (p = 0.003) levels than controls.

Conclusions: We observed, for the first time, a hyperacute dysregulation of the serotonergic axis, and hyperacute and long-lasting activation of the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway in brain ischemia.

Discrete-Event Simulation to Model the Thrombolysis Process for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients at Urban and Rural Hospitals

Background: Effective treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) critically relies on rapid treatment. Door-to-needle time (DNT) is a key measure of hospital efficiency linked to patient outcomes. Numerous changes can reduce DNT, but they are difficult to trial and implement. Discrete-event simulation (DES) provides a way to model and determine the impact of process improvements.

Methods: A conceptual framework was developed to illustrate the thrombolysis process; allowing for treatment processes to be replicated using a DES model developed in ARENA. Activity time duration distributions from three sites (one urban and two rural) were used. Five scenarios, three process changes, and two reductions in activity durations, were simulated and tested. Scenarios were tested individually and in combinations. The primary outcome measure is median DNT. The study goal is to determine the largest improvement in DNT at each site.

Results: Administration of tPA in the imaging area resulted in the largest median DNT reduction for Site 1 and Site 2 for individual test scenarios (12.6%, 95% CI 12.4–12.8%, and 8.2%, 95% CI 7.5–9.0%, respectively). Ensuring that patients arriving via emergency medical services (EMS) remain on the EMS stretcher to imaging resulted in the largest median DNT improvement for Site 3 (9.2%, 95% CI 7.9–10.5%). Reducing both the treatment decision time and tPA preparation time by 35% resulted in a 11.0% (95% CI 10.0–12.0%) maximum reduction in median DNT. The lowest median and 90^th percentile DNTs were achieved by combining all test scenarios, with a maximum reduction of 26.7% (95% CI 24.5–28.9%) and 17.1% (95% CI 12.5–21.7%), respectively.

Conclusions: The detailed conceptual framework clarifies the intra-hospital logistics of the thrombolysis process. The most significant median DNT improvement at rural hospitals resulted from ensuring patients arriving via EMS remain on the EMS stretcher to imaging, while urban sites benefit more from administering tPA in the imaging area. Reducing the durations of activities on the critical path will provide further DNT improvements. Significant DNT improvements are achievable in urban and rural settings by combining process changes with reducing activity durations.

Ultra-high b value DWI in distinguishing fresh gray matter ischemic lesions from white matter ones: a comparative study with routine and high b value DWI

Background

Fresh ischemic lesions (FILs) can occur in both the brain's gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM), with each location signifying a different prognosis for patients. This study aims to investigate the application of ultra-high b value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in distinguishing FILs in these two areas via a comparative study with routine and high b value DWI.

Methods

Multiple b value DWI (b=0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8,000, 10,000 s/mm²) was performed on 47 patients with suspected acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, including ADC₅₀₀, ADC_1,000, ADC_2,000, ADC_4,000, ADC_6,000, ADC_8,000, and ADC_10,000, were calculated, and the mean ADC value of the FILs in the GM and WM on each map was obtained by referring to the structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ADC value differences of the FILs in the GM and WM were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves evaluated the diagnostic efficiency of each ADC value in distinguishing FILs in the two areas.

Results

In the enrolled 34 patients, 145 FILs were identified, of which 42 involved the GM, 87 the WM, and 16 both the GM and WM. A total of 161 regions were delineated, 58 in the GM and 103 in the WM. The values of FILs in the WM on ADC_2,000, ADC_4,000, ADC_6,000, ADC_8,000, and ADC_10,000 maps were significantly lower than those in the GM (P=0.007, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively), while no significant differences were found on ADC₅₀₀ and ADC_1,000 maps (P=0.427 and P=0.225, respectively). ROC curves demonstrated that the area under the curve (AUC) paralleled the increasing b value, ascending from ADC₅₀₀ to ADC_10,000 (0.538, 0.558, 0.629, 0.766, 0.827, 0.859, 0.872, in that order).

Conclusions

Ultra-high b value DWI is extremely sensitive to the slight diffusion difference between FILs in the GM and the WM. Its sensitivity parallels the increasing b value, indicating its clinical advantage in identifying the microstructure of FILs.

High lactate dehydrogenase was associated with adverse outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack

BACKGROUND

Previous studies found that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels predicted poor outcomes in hemorrhagic stroke, but the prognostic role of LDH in ischemic stroke (IS) remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between LDH and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

METHODS

All patients were enrolled from the Third China National Stroke Registry (CNSR-III). Adverse outcomes included all-cause death and poor functional outcomes [defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 3-6 and 2-6] at 3 months and 1 year. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association of LDH with risk of all-cause death and poor functional outcomes, respectively.

RESULTS

Among 9,796 included patients, the median [interquartile range (IQR)] of LDH was 175.00 (151.00-205.40) U/L. After adjustment for confounding factors, patients in the highest LDH quartile had a higher risk of all-cause death [hazard ratio (HR), 2.23; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27-3.90], and a higher proportion of mRS score 3-6 [odds ratio (OR), 1.54; 95% CI, 1.26-1.90] and mRS score 2-6 (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.32-1.84) at 3 months. We also observed a J-shaped association between LDH and risk of each outcome. Consistent results were found at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher LDH levels are independently associated with adverse outcomes in patients with AIS or TIA.

Enlarged perivascular spaces and hemorrhagic transformation after acute ischemic stroke

Background

Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) are considered to be neuroimaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). It remains unknown whether EPVS are associated with hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We performed this retrospective cohort study to explore the associations of EPVS with clinical risk factors and other CSVD imaging features, and to investigate the relationship between EPVS and HT in patients with AIS.

Methods

AIS patients admitted within 24 hours of stroke onset between January 2016 and December 2017 were consecutively enrolled. EPVS, lacunes, and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) were rated with validated rating scales on magnetic resonance images after the stroke. HT was defined as hemorrhage determined by follow-up brain imaging during the patients' hospital stay. Logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors and associations with other CSVD markers of EPVS in the basal ganglia (BG) and centrum semiovale (CS) regions, and the impact of EPVS on HT was further explored.

Results

Among 494 included patients (mean age 66.4 years, 58.1% male), 81 (16.4%) experienced HT. In the multivariate logistic analyses, increasing age [odd ratio (OR) 1.041, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.017-1.066], hypertension (OR 2.174, 95% CI, 1.338-3.532), lacunar stroke (OR 1.968, 95% CI, 1.169-3.314), CS-EPVS (OR 2.474, 95% CI, 1.796-3.407), and periventricular WMH (OR 2.140, 95% CI, 1.441-3.176) were significantly associated with BG-EPVS; whereas only BG-EPVS (OR 4.349, 95% CI, 2.281-8.291) were independently related to CS-EPVS. After adjustment for potential variables, neither BG-EPVS (OR 0.674, 95% CI, 0.336-1.350) nor CS-EPVS (OR 0.792, 95% CI, 0.334-1.879) was significantly associated with the occurrence of HT.

Conclusions

Our data showed that EPVS in the BG and CS regions were interrelated and had different risk factors in ischemic stroke patients. EPVS (particularly that in BG) were independently related to other CSVD markers. The presence or burden of EPVS was not significantly associated with HT after AIS.

Electrolytes and clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack

Background

Abnormal electrolytes were closely related to the prognosis of various diseases, the prognostic role of electrolytes in stroke has not been investigated well. We aimed to investigate the association between electrolytes and clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Methods

Data were recruited from the China National Stroke Registry III study. Patients were classified into three groups according to tertiles and the normal range of each electrolyte. Multivariable logistic and Cox proportional hazards regressions were adopted to explore the associations of electrolytes with poor functional outcomes [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 3–6/2–6] and all-cause death at 3 months and 1 year.

Results

A total of 10,299 eligible patients were enrolled. After adjusted for confounding factors, the first tertile electrolytes were associated with increased risk of poor functional outcome (mRS score 3–6) at 1 year, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.33 (1.14–1.55) for potassium, 1.41 (1.20–1.60) for sodium, 1.27 (1.08–1.48) for chloride, compared with the second tertile. Similar results were found when poor functional outcome was defined as mRS score 2–6 and all-cause death. However, almost no significant association was present of calcium with these outcomes. All results were consistent when each electrolyte was classified into three groups according to the normal range and the outcomes timepoint was set at 3 months.

Conclusions

Lower levels of potassium, sodium, chloride but not calcium were associated with higher risk of poor functional outcomes and death in patients with AIS or TIA.

The middle cerebral artery (MCA) dot sign

The middle cerebral artery (MCA) dot sign is an important radiological sign in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). If identified and intervened early, a good clinical outcome may be achieved.

Artery and venous sinus occlusion image score (AVOIS): A novel method to evaluate occlusive cerebral arteries and venous diseases

AIM

To establish an artery and venous sinus occlusion image score (AVOIS) which is compatible in both cerebral arteries and venous system diseases.

METHODS

A total of 188 consecutive patients with the final diagnosis of anterior circulation infarct (ACI) and 56 consecutive patients with cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST) were retrospectively studied. The AVOIS was developed based on the severity of occlusive changes of main intracranial arteries and venous sinuses (present = 0, partial occlusion = 1, absent = 2), and divided into four groups (CVST group: 0, 1-5, 6-10, >10. ACI group: 0, 1-5, 6-10, >10) arbitrarily. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to discover the sensitivity and specificity of AVOIS. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Clot Burden Score (CBS) were set as the reference. Logistic regression models were developed to adjust for baseline clinical variables and AVOIS. Length of hospital stay (LOS) was also evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier estimator.

RESULTS

For the CVST group, a positive correlation between AVOIS and NIHSS was discovered (Spearman's ρ = 0.54, p < 0.001). For the ACI group, ROC showed relatively high sensitivity (84.8%) and specificity (81.8%). Besides, the probability of time to discharge was significantly different among the AVOIS subgroups as well (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The AVOIS can be used to evaluate the treatment of patients with acute stroke caused by cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and anterior circulation large vessel occlusion. It is a reliable and convenient method that may help prompt prognosis and guide the treatment of individual patients.

Proteomic Characterization of the Dynamics of Ischemic Stroke in Mice

Novel therapies and biomarkers are needed for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to provide comprehensive insights into the dynamic proteome changes and underlying molecular mechanisms post-ischemic stroke. TMT-coupled proteomic analysis was conducted on mouse brain cortex tissue from five time points up to 4 weeks poststroke in the distal hypoxic-middle cerebral artery occlusion (DH-MCAO) model. We found that nearly half of the detected proteome was altered following stroke, but only ∼8.6% of the changes were at relatively large scales. Clustering on the changed proteome defined four distinct expression patterns characterized by temporal and quantitative changes in innate and adaptive immune response pathways and cytoskeletal and neuronal remodeling. Further analysis on a subset of 309 “top hits”, which temporally responded to stroke with relatively large and sustained changes, revealed that they were mostly secreted proteins, highly correlated to different cortical cytokines, and thereby potential pharmacodynamic biomarker candidates for inflammation-targeting therapies. Closer examination of the top enriched neurophysiologic pathways identified 57 proteins potentially associated with poststroke recovery. Altogether, our study generated a rich dataset with candidate proteins worthy of further validation as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for stroke. The proteomics data are available in the PRIDE Archive with identifier PXD025077.

Effect of upper gastrointestinal bleeding on prognosis of middle-aged patients with acute ischemic stroke: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common complication of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), but the effect of UGIB on the prognosis of middle-aged AIS patients is not clear.

METHODS

Patients with AIS admitted to our hospital from January 2011 to December 2015 were eligible to be included in this study. All included patients were divided into UGIB and non-UGIB groups. Some clinical characteristics were retrospectively collected. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality within 1, 3, and 5 years, as well as the incidence of stroke recurrence. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to determine the effect of UGIB on 5-year mortality and the incidence of stroke recurrence. Logistic regression was also used to identify the predictors of UGIB in AIS patients.

RESULTS

A total of 405 AIS patients were included in this study and then divided into UGIB and non-UGIB groups. The mean age of the UGIB group and non-UGIB group was 61.5±9.6 and 53.1±14.0 years, respectively (P<0.001). The baseline score of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was significantly higher in the UGIB group than in the non-UGIB group (P<0.001). AIS patients in the UGIB group had a higher 1-, 3-, and 5-year mortality and a higher incidence of stroke recurrence (all P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that AIS patients with UGIB had a higher 5-year mortality and a higher incidence of stroke recurrence (both P<0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression models indicated that the occurrence of UGIB, older age, a high NIHSS score, and stroke recurrence were related to a higher 5-year mortality. Similarly, the occurrence of UGIB, older age, a high NIHSS score, and hypertension increased the incidence of stroke recurrence. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, older age, a high NIHSS score, and previous anticoagulant use were identified as predictors of UGIB.

CONCLUSIONS

UGIB has important effects on the prognosis of AIS patients. The incidence of UGIB increases with older age, a high NIHSS score, and previous anticoagulant use, which provides important evidence for the treatment and nursing of AIS patients.

Remote Ischemic Conditioning With Exercise (RICE)-Rehabilitative Strategy in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: Rationale, Design, and Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Study

Objective: Exercise rehabilitation is an effective therapy in reducing the disability rate after stroke and should be carried out as early as possible. However, very early rehabilitation exercise exacerbates brain injury and is difficult to conduct in stroke patients due to their weakened and potentially disabled state. It is valuable to explore additional early rehabilitation strategies. Remote Ischemic Conditioning (RIC) is a novel therapy designed to protect vital organs from severe lethal ischemic injury by transient sublethal blood flow to non-vital organs, including the distal limbs, in order to induce endogenous protection. RIC has previously been conducted post-stroke for neuroprotection. However, whether combined early RIC and exercise (RICE) therapy enhances stroke rehabilitation remains to be determined.

Methods: This is a single-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial that will enroll acute ischemic stroke patients within 24 h of symptom onset or symptom exacerbation. All enrolled patients will be randomly assigned to either the RICE group (exercise with RIC) or the control group (exercise with sham RIC) at a ratio of 1:1, with 20 patients in each group. Both groups will receive RIC or sham RIC within 24 h after stroke onset or symptom exacerbation, once a day, for 14 days. All patients will begin exercise training on the fourth day, twice a day, for 11 days. Their neurological function [Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, Barthel Index, and walking ability], infarct volume (nuclear magnetic resonance, MRI), and adverse events will be evaluated at different time points in their post-stroke care.

Results: The primary outcome is safety, measured by the incidence of any serious RICE-related adverse events and decreased adverse events during hospitalization. The secondary outcome is a favorable prognosis within 90 days (mRS score < 2), determined by improvements in the mRS score, NIHSS score, Barthel Index, walking ability after 90 days, and infarct volume after 12 ± 2 days.

Conclusion: This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial to determine the rehabilitative effect of early RIC followed by exercise on patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Trial Registration:www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2000041042

Rapid Intervention of Chlorpromazine and Promethazine for Hibernation-Like Effect in Stroke: Rationale, Design, and Protocol for a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Following an acute ischemic stroke (AIS), rapidly initiated reperfusion therapies [i. e., intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular treatment (EVT)] demonstrate robust clinical efficacy. However, only a subset of these patients can benefit from these therapies due to their short treatment windows and potential complications. In addition, many patients despite successful reperfusion still have unfavorable outcomes. Thus, neuroprotection strategies are urgently needed for AIS patients. Chlorpromazine and promethazine (C+P) have been employed in clinical practice for antipsychotic and sedative purposes. A clinical study has also shown a neuroprotective effect of C+P on patients with cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of intravenous administration of C+P in AIS patients within 24 h of onset will be elucidated.

Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial is proposed with AIS patients. Participants will be randomly allocated to an intervention group and a control group with a 1:1 ratio (n = 30) and will be treated with standard therapies according to the current stroke guidelines. Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive intravenous administration of C+P (chlorpromazine 50 mg and promethazine 50 mg) within 24 h of symptom onset. The primary outcome is safety (mainly hypotension), while the secondary outcomes include changes in functional outcome and infarction volume.

Discussions: This study on Rapid Intervention of Chlorpromazine and Promethazine for Hibernation-like Effect in Stroke (RICHES) will be the first prospective randomized controlled trial to ascertain the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of intravenous C+P as a neuroprotection strategy in AIS patients. These results will provide parameters for future studies, provide insights into treatment effects, and neuroprotection with phenothiazine in AIS.

Clinical Trial Registration:www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2000038727.

Parallel guidewire technique in acute ischemic stroke secondary to carotid artery dissection

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of endovascular therapy (EVT) on the acute ischemic stroke (AIS) secondary to carotid artery dissection (CAD).

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study enrolled 17 patients admitted with AIS secondary to CAD from January 2018 to November 2019 in the Department of Neurology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University where patients received EVT with guidewire or parallel guidewire. Outcomes including postoperative complications were recorded, the prognostic factors of patients were explored, and the effectiveness of single guidewire versus parallel guidewire on EVT was compared.

RESULTS

Before treatment, the mean National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) was 14.4 in 10 cases (58.8%) of CAD complicated with intracranial artery embolism. All patients underwent EVT, and the success rate of operation was 100%. After all interventions, modified thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia (mTICI) 3 reperfusion was achieved in 14 patients (82.4%), and mTICI 2b reperfusion was achieved in 3 (17.6%). One patient had cerebral infarction and edema complicated with cerebral hernia, one patient had cerebral hemorrhage, one patient had complicated subarachnoid hemorrhage, and five cases had asymptomatic cerebral hemorrhage. Three months after treatment, 14 cases (82.3%) achieved a good clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale, mRS: 0-2). Puncture-to-reperfusion time in the parallel guidewire group was significantly shorter than that of the single guidewire group. However, the differences in NIHSS score, postoperative mTICI, and mRS score between both groups did not reach significance.

CONCLUSIONS

CAD patients receiving EVT have a good prognosis, and application of a parallel guidewire can reduce operation time.

Reperfusion Into Severely Damaged Brain Tissue Is Associated With Occurrence of Parenchymal Hemorrhage for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose: This study aims to quantify the reperfusion status within severely damaged brain tissue and to evaluate its relationship with high grade of hemorrhagic transformation (HT).

Methods: Pseudo-continuous ASL was performed along with DWI in 102 patients within 24 h post-treatments. The infarction core was identified using ADC values <550 × 10⁻⁶ mm²/s. CBF within the infarction core and its contralateral counterpart were acquired. CBF at the 25th, median, and 75th percentiles of the contralateral counterpart were used as thresholds and the ASL reperfusion volume above the threshold was labeled as vol-25, -50, and -75, respectively. Recanalization was defined according to Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) criteria.

Results: Quantified reperfusion within the infarction core differed significantly in patients with complete and incomplete recanalization. In the ROC analysis for the prediction of parenchymal hematoma (PH), ASL reperfusion vol-25 had the highest area under the curve (AUC) when compared with ASL vol-50 and ASL vol-75. ASL reperfusion vol-25 had significantly higher AUC compared with ADC threshold volume in the prediction of PH (0.783 vs. 0.685, P = 0.0036) and PH-2 (0.844 vs. 0.754, P = 0.0035). In stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis, only ASL reperfusion vol-25 emerged as an independent predictor of PH (OR = 3.51, 95% CI: 1.65–7.45, P < 0.001) and PH-2 (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.13–4.76, P = 0.022).

Conclusions: Increased reperfusion volume within severely damaged brain tissue is associated with the occurrence of higher grade of HT.

The PLAN score can predict poor outcomes of intracerebral hemorrhage

Background

For patients hospitalized after acute ischemic stroke (AIS), the preadmission comorbidities, level of consciousness (LOC), age and neurologic deficit (PLAN) score can help to identify those who may have a poor outcome. Implementing the PLAN score in other types of stroke may also have predictive value. Our study aimed to evaluate the PLAN score's prognostic accuracy in predicting 1-year mortality and severe disability after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods

We analyzed data found in the China National Stroke Registry (CNSR) of 2,453 hospitalized patients in 132 urban Chinese hospitals, diagnosed with ICH from September 2007 to August 2008. The outcomes analysis included 30-day mortality, modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) of 5-6 at discharge, and 1-year mortality. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed, and we calculated consistency statistics (C statistic). We evaluated the PLAN score performance using area under the curve (AUC) calculations.

Results

We found that the 30-day mortality was 12.6%, the frequency of a mRS 5-6 at discharge was 20.6%, and 1-year mortality was 21.9%. The PLAN score had good predictive value in 30-day mortality (C statistic, 0.82), death or severe dependence at discharge (0.84), and 1-year mortality (0.82).

Conclusions

In patients hospitalized for ICH, the 30-day mortality, death or severe dependence at discharge and 1-year mortality can be predicted by the PLAN score. Similarly to patients hospitalized after AIS, the PLAN score can help to identify patients likely to have poor outcomes following hospitalization for ICH.

There Is Selective Increase in Pro-thrombotic Circulating Extracellular Vesicles in Acute Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Study of Patients From the Middle East and Southeast Asia

Stroke attacks were found to be present at a younger age in patients from Southeast Asia (SE) and the Middle East (ME) resident in the state of Qatar. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are small membrane vesicles with pro-thrombotic properties, may contribute to the high risk of stroke in this population. Thus, total and cell-specific medium size EVs were counted by flow cytometry in platelet-free plasma from healthy volunteers and patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) from SE and ME. Acutely, within 48 h of attacks, there was an increase in total endothelial EVs in TIA (6.73 ± 1.77; P = 0.0156; n = 21) and AIS (11.23 ± 1.95; P = 0.0007; n = 66) patients compared to controls (2.04 ± 0.78; n = 24). Similar increases were also evident in EVs originating from platelets, erythrocytes, granulocytes, and leukocytes. Compared to controls, there was also an increase in EVs derived from activated endothelial cells, platelets, granulocytes, leukocytes, and pro-coagulant EVs (Annexin V⁺) at 5 and 30-days following the acute events, while a decrease was observed in erythrocyte-derived EVs. This is the first study characterizing EVs in TIA and AIS patients from ME and SE showing an increase in EVs associated with endothelial and platelet cell activation, which may contribute to the elevated risk of stroke at a younger age in this population.

Association of hepatitis B virus infection with decreased ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVES

Inflammatory processes (both infections and autoimmune diseases) may cause endothelial dysfunction and arterial atherosclerosis, subsequently increasing the risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In this investigation, we analyzed the association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and AIS risk.

METHODS

A Taiwan national insurance claims data set of 1,000,000 patients was used to extract 22,303 patients with HBV and 89,212 randomly selected sex- and age-matched controls from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2006. Both groups were followed up until the appearance of AIS or the end of 2011. AIS risk was measured using the Cox proportional regression model.

RESULTS

After adjusting for the relevant covariates, the HBV group exhibited a lower AIS risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66-0.89) compared with the controls at the end of follow-up. Under the condition of no comorbidities, patients with HBV had a lower AIS risk compared with the controls (aHR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.48-0.87). In 3 age-stratified subgroups, HBV was correlated with a significantly diminished risk of AIS (age ≤ 49 years: aHR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.82; age 50-64 years: aHR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.53-0.80; age ≥ 65 years: aHR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.76-1.23).

CONCLUSION

HBV was correlated with a reduced risk of AIS development. Although a decrease in AIS risk was noted in the patients with HBV, preventing the development of AIS in this population warrants further attention.

Molecular mechanisms underlying application of serum procalcitonin and stool miR-637 in prognosis of acute ischemic stroke

We and others have reported that the serum procalcitonin (PCT) level has a demonstrative role in predicting the long-term mortality after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in Chinese population. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms remain ill-defined. In the current study, we further detected a close association of stool microRNA-637 (miR-637) levels with the long-term mortality after AIS in Chinese population. Moreover, the serum PCT and stool miR-637 levels appeared to be inversely correlated. AIS patients with lower levels of stool miR-637 appeared to predict more severe mortality in the long-term. Since PCT has been shown to be mainly produced by the neuroendocrine cells in the intestine, we used an intestine neuroendocrine cell line to study the relationship between miR-637 and PCT. Bioinformatics analyses showed that miR-637 targeted the 3'-UTR of PCT mRNA to inhibit its translation, and thus the levels of PCT protein production and secretion, which was proved by luciferase reporter assay. Together, our data reveal that the molecular mechanisms underlying application of serum PCT and stool miR-637 in prognosis of AIS, in which miR-637 in intestine neuroendocrine cells may be reduced during AIS to allow more PCT to be released into serum to be detected.

Apolipoprotein A1-Unique Peptide as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Clinically-informative biomarkers of ischemic stroke are needed for rapid diagnosis and timely treatment. In the present study, APOA1 unique peptide (APOA1-UP), a novel peptide biomarker, was identified and quantified by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using labeled reference peptide (LRP). Serum samples of 94 patients in the ischemic stroke group and 37 patients in the non-stroke group were analyzed for the levels of total APOA1-UP, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and total cholesterol (TC). Median ratio of total APOA1-UP/LRP was 2.14 (interquartile range, 0.40) in the non-stroke group and 1.32 (0.44) in the ischemic stroke group (p < 0.0001). The serum level of total APOA1-UP was independently correlated with the presence of ischemic stroke by multivariate logistic regression analysis (p < 0.0001). From the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.9750 and the optimal cutoff value of the serum APOA1-UP level was 1.80, which yielded a sensitivity of 90.63% and a specificity of 97.14%. The diagnostic efficiency of HDL-C was lower, with an AUC of 0.7488. Therefore, the serum level of APOA1-UP is a diagnostic biomarker candidate for ischemic stroke in the early stage.

FLAIR Vascular Hyperintensity is a Surrogate of Collateral Flow and Leukoaraiosis in Patients With Acute Stroke Due to Proximal Artery Occlusion

BACKGROUND

Fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensity (FVH) is a novel radiographic marker detected in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, which is linked to slow blood flow and potentially salvageable brain tissue. Poor leptomeningeal collateral status in AIS patients with proximal artery occlusion (PAO) is associated with larger final infarct and worse clinical outcomes, which are also affected by severity of white matter hyperintensity (WMH). We sought to evaluate FVH utility as a marker of acute collateral vessel status and its association with WMH burden in AIS patients.

METHODS

Consecutive AIS patients with PAO on baseline CT angiography (CTA) were retrospectively selected from a prospectively derived database. FVH was graded by its location, degree, and score on admission MRI obtained immediately after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator administration. Leptomeningeal collateral flow grade was ranked on admission CTA. WMH volume (WMHV) was assessed using a validated volumetric protocol. Relationship between FVH, collateral flow grade, and WMHV were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among 39 patients (mean age 70.5 ± 12.7 years; 56% women, mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 17.2 (± 4.4)), median WMHV was 6.0 cm(3). FVH score and collateral flow grade were significantly correlated (Spearman's ρ = .41, P = .009). In a univariate regression model, FVH degree was inversely associated with WMHV (β = -.33, P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

FVH score detected on acute MRI can be used as a surrogate of collateral flow grade in AIS patients. FVH degree is inversely associated with WMHV, possibly signifying diffuse disease of cerebral vasculature in patients with severe leukoaraiosis.