The hemodynamic assessment in ischemic stroke patients with intracranial artery stenosis by using 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and clinical value of 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating hemodynamics of ischemic stroke patients with intracranial artery stenosis.Methods:Ischemic stroke patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery stenosis admitted from March 2017 to June 2018 in Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital Stroke Center were prospectively enrolled. Time of flight magnetic resonance angiography was used to evaluate vascular stenosis, 4D flow MRI was used to measure net forward flow at the proximal of stenosis, and brain tissue perfusion was acquired simultaneously to validate flow.Results:A total of 33 patients with symptomatic middle cerebral artery stenosis were included [mean age: 56 years; male: 63.6% ( n=21)]. The flow rates among patients with stenosis of <30%, 30%-49%, 50%-69% and ≥70% were (3.56±1.08), (2.96±0.94), (3.72±0.60) and (2.50±1.03) ml/s individually, demonstrating a decreased flow in subjects with severe (≥70%) stenosis ( F=4.34, P=0.008). Further analysis about forward flow and brain tissue perfusion showed that the significant negative correlation between absolute flow rate or relative flow rate and relative time to peak could only be established in subjects with poor collateral (collateral score: 0-2), with r=-0.76 and -0.61 individually, both P<0.05. Conclusion:4D flow MRI could be used as a quantitative flow assessment in subjects with intracranial artery stenosis, and its association with distal brain tissue perfusion depends on collateral status.

Efficacy of revascularization in oldest-old patients with acute ischemic stroke / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective@#To analyze the efficacy of revascularization in oldest-old patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).@*Methods@#The clinical data of AIS patients receiving recanalization therapy in Beijing Hospital from January 2010 to July 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Among 141 patients, there were 34 cases aged ≥80 years (oldest-old group) and 107 cases aged<80 years (old group).The clinical characteristics and outcomes of two groups were analyzed and compared.@*Results@#The proportions of patients with atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease in oldest-old group were high than those in the old group [61.8% (21/34) vs. 33.6%(36/107), χ2=8.47, P<0.01; 58.8% (20/34) vs. 32.7% (35/107), P<0.01, respectively]; while there were no significant differences in other risk factors between two groups (P>0.05). The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Score (NIHSS) was higher in the oldest-old group than that in old group [16 (13,21) vs. 11 (6,16), Z=3.74, P<0.01]. In the etiological classification, cardiogenic embolism was the main cause in the oldest-old group (58.8%, 20/34), while large artery atherosclerosis was the main cause in the old group (46.7%, 50/107, χ2=12.11, P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the methods of recanalization [intravenous thrombolysis were 35.3% (12/34) and 48.6% (52/107); endovascular therapy were 52.9% (18/34) and 36.4% (39/107), bridging therapy were 11.8% (4/34) and 15.0% (16/107), respectively; χ2=2.93,P=0.23] and the time from onset to treatment [195(154, 269) min vs. 215 (153,280)min, Z=1.03, P>0.05]. The 3-month independent (modified Rankin score ≤2) rate was lower in the oldest-old group than that in the old group [35.3% (12/34) vs. 56.1%(60/107), χ2=4.46, P<0.05). The 3-month mortality was higher in the oldest-old group than that in the old group [29.4% (10/34) vs. 8.4%(9/107), χ2=9.76, P<0.01]. There was a tendency of increased incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) in the oldest-old patients compared to the old patients [11.8% (4/34) vs. 7.5% (8/107), P>0.05].@*Conclusion@#The conditions of AIS patients aged ≥80 years are more serious than those of patients aged<80 years, with higher mortality and lower functional improvement rate after recanalization treatment.

The Application of Multi-modal CT in Stent Embolectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】To explore the image evaluation value of multi-model CT in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke with Solitaire stent embolectomy. 【Methods】 A total of 62 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke from January 2015 to June 2016 in Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital were included in this study. Multi- model CT inspection，including CT scan（NCCT），CT angiography（CTA）and CT perfusion imaging（CTP），was performed in all patients within 3~8 h. The improved vascular TICI classification standard（mTICI）was used to assess vascular embolization，and we evaluated the responsible vessels and blood perfusion state by CTA and CTP blood vessels ，to determine the feasibility of embolectomy with Solitaire stent preliminarily. The patients underwent multi-mode CT examination 24 h after stent embolization to evaluate the responsible vessels. NIHSS was used to assess the neurological function at admission and 72 h after stent embolization.【Results】A total of 34 patients with indication of stent thrombus removal were selected by multi-mode CT examination from 62 patients. Re-examination of multi-mode CT after stent thrombus removal showed that 30 of the 34 cases（30/34，the successful rate was 88.2%）gained success in vascular recanalization. Before the stent thrombus removal of the 34 patients，CTP imaging showed ischemic penumbra（IP），and there was significant decrease in cerebral blood flow（CBF）and slight decrease in cerebral blood volume（CBV），significantly prolonged peak time （TTP） and mean transit time （MTT） compared with the contralateral image area. The difference is statistically significant（P < 0.01）. After the stent thrombus removal，the relative cerebral blood flow（rCBF）and relative cerebral blood volume（rCBV）were elevated，the relative peak time（rTTP）and relative mean transit time（rMTT）were shortened. The difference is statistically significant（P < 0.01）. Compared with admission，there is significant statistical difference in the NIHSS score of patients 72 h after operation（P < 0.01）.【Conclusion】Multi-model CT has guiding effect and important evaluation value in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients with Solitaire stent thrombolysis.

Relationship of uric acid levels with clinical outcomes in severe ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator / 中华全科医师杂志

One hundred and seventy six consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who received intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator ( rt-PA ) in 4.5 hours from symptom onset during February 2009 to July 2013 were included in the study.Modified Rankin Scale was used to evaluate the recovery of neurological functions.Patients were divided into good ( 0 -1 ) or poor ( 2 -6 ) outcome groups according modified Rankin Scale score.Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the differences of clinical data between the two groups.The age of patients with good outcome was significantly lower than that of poor outcome group [ ( 61.4 ±11.5 ) vs.( 69.0 ± 13.2) years,P =0.000].Compared to patients with poor outcomes, patients with good outcome group showed lower rate of diabetes [ 13%( 12/93 ) vs.29%( 24/83 ) , P =0.009 ] , lower blood glucose level [(5.05 ±0.97) vs.(5.83 ±1.72) mmol/L,P=0.020], higher uric acid level[(404.4 ±151.7) vs.(345.6 ±107.5) μmol/L,P=0.028],shorter onset to treatment time [(1.92 ±0.94) vs.(2.30 ±1.01) h, P=0.019],lower baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score [(14.0 ±5.2) vs.(16.0 ± 6.2),P=0.025],lower systolic blood pressure level at 2 h[(140.8 ±18.3) vs.(149.0 ±18.9) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),P=0.005]and 24 h [(137.6 ±21.9) vs.(147.1 ±17.4) mmHg,P=0.009] after thrombolysis.Logistic regression analysis showed that uric acid levels were not related to hemorrhagic transformation independently (P =0.172,OR =0.965,95%CI:0.917 -1.016), but were related to outcome independently (P=0.047,OR=0.957,95%CI:0.916-0.999).

Biomarkers for Stroke / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND: Major stroke clinical trials have failed during the past decades. The failures suggest the presence of heterogeneity among stroke patients. Biomarkers refer to indicators found in the blood, other body fluids or tissues that predicts physiologic or disease states, increased disease risk, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention. Stroke biomarkers could be used as a guiding tool for more effective personalized therapy. MAIN CONTENTS: Three aspects of stroke biomarkers are explored in detail. First, the possible role of biomarkers in patients with stroke is discussed. Second, the limitations of conventional biomarkers (especially protein biomarkers) in the area of stroke research are presented with the reasons. Lastly, various types of biomarkers including traditional and novel genetic, microvesicle, and metabolomics-associated biomarkers are introduced with their advantages and disadvantages. We especially focus on the importance of comprehensive approaches using a variety of stroke biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Although biomarkers are not recommended in practice guidelines for use in the diagnosis or treatment of stroke, many efforts have been made to overcome the limitations of biomarkers. The studies reviewed herein suggest that comprehensive analysis of different types of stroke biomarkers will improve the understanding of individual pathophysiologies and further promote the development of screening tools for of high-risk patients, and predicting models of stroke outcome and rational stroke therapy tailored to the characteristics of each case.

Association between mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 gene promoter -866G＞A polymorphism and ischemic stroke in diabetic patients / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To investigate the association of uncoupling protein 2 ( UCP-2 ) gene promoter -866G＞A polymorphism and ischemic stroke in diabetic patients.Methods A total of 844 type 2 diabetic patients including 404 cases with ischemic stroke and 440 cases without ischemic stroke were selected for the 4 year prospective study,Genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood samples of subjects,UCP-2 gene promoter -866G ＞ A polymorphism was detected by TaqMan MGB probe method,and then the genotype and allele gene frequencies were compared.Results The risk of ischemic stroke in type 2 diabetic female patients with AA+GA genotypes of UCP-2 was higher than that with GG genotype (P＜0.05),but there was no difference among male patients with three genotypes.Conclusions UCP-2 gene promoter -866G ＞ A polymorphism increases the risk of ischemic stroke in Chinese diabetic women.