Ischemic insular damage and stress ulcer in patients of acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Stress ulcer (SU) is a common complication in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The relationship of infarction location and the incidence of SU was unclear. Herein, we aim to investigate the association between ischemic insular damage and the development of SU. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the SPARK study (Effect of Cardiac Function on Short-Term Functional Prognosis in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke). We included the patients who had experienced an ischemic stroke within 7 days. The diagnosis of SU was based on clinical manifestations, including hematemesis, bloody nasogastric tube aspirate, or hematochezia. Evaluation of ischemic insular damage was conducted through magnetic resonance imaging. Cyclo-oxygenase regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to assess the relationship between ischemic insular damage and the occurrence of SU. RESULTS: Among the 1357 patients analyzed, 110 (8.1%) developed SUs during hospitalization, with 69 (6.7%) experiencing infarctions in the anterior circulation. After adjusting for potential confounders, patients with ischemic insular damage exhibited a 2.16-fold higher risk of developing SUs compared to those without insular damage (p = .0206). Notably, among patients with infarctions in the anterior circulation, those with insular damage had a 2.21-fold increased risk of SUs (p = .0387). Moreover, right insular damage was associated with a higher risk of SUs compared to left insular damage or no insular damage (p for trend = .0117). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated early separation among groups, persisting throughout the follow-up period (all p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a significant independent correlation between ischemic insular damage, particularly on the right side, and the development of SU during hospitalization, indicating the need to consider prophylactic acid-suppressive treatment for patients with ischemic insular damage.

Prediction model for asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis using retinal microvascular intelligent analysis: A retrospective study.

IMPORTANCE: Early detection and timely diagnosis of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis significantly assist in the prevention of ischemic stroke for them. OBJECTIVE: This observational study aimed to develop and validate a novel prediction model to assist in the early diagnosis of carotid atherosclerosis based on new characteristic variables screened by retinal microvascular intelligence analysis. MAIN OUTCOME(S) AND METHOD (S): The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) combined with 10-fold cross-validation were screened for characteristic variables, and nomograms were plotted to demonstrate the prediction model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC), calibration plots and brier score (BS), and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the risk model's discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability. RESULTS: Age, gender, diabetes mellitus (DM), drinking history, vascular branching angle, mean vascular diameter within 0.5-1.0 papillary diameter (PD), curvature tortuosity arteriole in the inferior region of the optic disc, and vascular density in the nasal region of the optic disc were identified as characteristic variables for carotid atherosclerosis with retinal microvascular intelligence analysis. The predictive nomogram model presented good discrimination with AUCs of 0.790 (0.774-0.806), and the calibration curve displayed high consistency between predicted and actual probability. The DCA demonstrated that this nomogram model led to net benefits in a threshold probability range of 20 %-94 % and could be adapted for clinical decision-making. The results of the 100-bootstrap resampling strategy for internal validation also show that the risk model is well discriminated with an AUC of 0.789 and excellent calibration. External validation showed good discrimination with AUCs of 0.703 (0.627 - 0.779) and good calibration, the risk threshold is 10 %-92 % in terms of DCA. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The novel prediction model based on retinal microvascular intelligence analysis constructed in this study could be effective prognoses for predicting the risk of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis in a Chinese screening population.

Left ventricular ejection fraction <60 % is associated with short-term functional disability in patients of acute ischemic stroke.

Background and objective: The association between cardiac dysfunction and functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is not clear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the routinely assessed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and functional outcomes in patients with AIS. Methods: Data came from a prospective, observational, single-center study (Effect of Cardiac Function on Short-term Functional Prognosis in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke, SPARK). The LVEF was assessed with transthoracic echocardiography within 7 days of stroke onset. The primary outcome was functional disability, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 3-6 at 90 days (range: 0-6, with higher scores indicating greater disability). We also investigated the association of the LVEF with mortality, early neurological deterioration, hospital stay, and costs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and 2:1 propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to compare the differences in outcomes. Results: A total of 1181 patients were included in this analysis, of which 87 (7.4 %) patients were found to have LVEF of <60 %. In the entire study population, LVEF<60 % was significantly associated with functional disability at 90 days (odds ratio [OR]: 1.85, 95 % confidence intervals (CI): 1.01-3.40) after adjusting for all confounders. After PSM, the association was consistently significant (OR: 5.32, 95 % CI: 3.04-9.30). However, associations of the LVEF with mortality, early neurological deterioration, hospital stay, and costs were not consistently significant across all analyses. In the subgroup analysis, the association of LVEF of <60 % with functional disability was statistically significant in patients with non-cardioembolic stroke, but not in patients with cardioembolic stroke (P for interaction = 0.872). Conclusions: An LVEF of <60 % will likely increase the risk of functional disability in patients with AIS. Future strategies to prevent cardiac dysfunction in the acute phase are needed.

Emotional contagion in rodents: A comprehensive exploration of mechanisms and multimodal perspectives.

Emotional contagion, a fundamental aspect of empathy, is an automatic and unconscious process in which individuals mimic and synchronize with the emotions of others. Extensively studied in rodents, this phenomenon is mediated through a range of sensory pathways, each contributing distinct insights. The olfactory pathway, marked by two types of pheromones modulated by oxytocin, plays a crucial role in transmitting emotional states. The auditory pathway, involving both squeaks and specific ultrasonic vocalizations, correlates with various emotional states and is essential for expression and communication in rodents. The visual pathway, though less relied upon, encompasses observational motions and facial expressions. The tactile pathway, a more recent focus, underscores the significance of physical interactions such as allogrooming and socio-affective touch in modulating emotional states. This comprehensive review not only highlights plausible neural mechanisms but also poses key questions for future research. It underscores the complexity of multimodal integration in emotional contagion, offering valuable insights for human psychology, neuroscience, animal welfare, and the burgeoning field of animal-human-AI interactions, thereby contributing to the development of a more empathetic intelligent future.

Decoding the language of fear: Unveiling objective and subjective indicators in rodent models through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

While rodent models are vital for studying mental disorders, the underestimation of construct validity of fear indicators has led to limitations in translating to effective clinical treatments. Addressing this gap, we systematically reviewed 5054 articles from the 1960 s, understanding underlying theoretical advancement, and selected 68 articles with at least two fear indicators for a three-level meta-analysis. We hypothesized correlations between different indicators would elucidate similar functions, while magnitude differences could reveal distinct neural or behavioral mechanisms. Our findings reveal a shift towards using freezing behavior as the primary fear indicator in rodent models, and strong, moderate, and weak correlations between freezing and conditioned suppression ratios, 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, and autonomic nervous system responses, respectively. Using freezing as a reference, moderator analysis shows treatment types and fear stages significantly influenced differences in magnitudes between two indicators. Our analysis supports a two-system model of fear in rodents, where objective and subjective fears could operate on a threshold-based mechanism.

The Association Between Child Maltreatment and Pathological Narcissism: A Three-Level Meta-Analytic Review.

Emerging evidence has documented the positive association between child maltreatment and both phenotypes of pathological narcissism (i.e., vulnerable and grandiose narcissism). However, results across these studies are inconsistent. Therefore, the present meta-analysis aimed to examine the extent to which child maltreatment is associated with vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, and whether these associations differed by study or sample characteristics. A systematic literature review was conducted in Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Three-level meta-analyses were performed in R to synthesize the effect sizes. A total of 15 studies (N = 9,141 participants) producing 129 effect sizes were included. Results showed that child maltreatment was positively related to both vulnerable narcissism (mean r = .198; p < .001) and grandiose narcissism (mean r = .087; p < .001), but only to a small extent. Further, the association between child maltreatment and vulnerable narcissism was stronger for neglect (r = .278) than for physical abuse (r = .130). The strength of the association between child maltreatment and grandiose narcissism was larger for samples that were on average younger than 18 years (r = .187) than for samples that were on average older than 18 years (r = .068). Also, the strength of the association was stronger for females than for males. Child maltreatment is a risk factor for developing both vulnerable and grandiose narcissism. Interventions targeting pathological narcissism should be aware of potential trauma resulting from victimization of child maltreatment.

Cognitive reappraisal and empathy chain-mediate the association between relative deprivation and prosocial behavior in adolescents.

Background: Relative deprivation is one of the factors that influences the development of personality and behavior. However, it is still unclear whether and how relative deprivation decreases the prosocial behavior in adolescents. This study aimed to examine the association between relative deprivation and adolescent prosocial behavior and the role of emotion regulation strategies and empathy in modifying this association. Methods: The present study included 609 secondary school students (M = 15.42 years, SD = 0.653) in Fujian Province, China. All participants completed the Relative Deprivation Questionnaire, Emotion Regulation Scale, the Basic Empathy Scale, and Prosocial Behavior Scale. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and Mplus 7.4. Results: Relative deprivation was negatively correlated with cognitive reappraisal, but positively correlated with expressive suppression. Cognitive reappraisal was positively correlated with empathy and prosocial behavior, but expressive suppression was not. Empathy was positively correlated with prosocial behavior. Relative deprivation decreased prosocial behavior through (a) cognitive reappraisal, (b) empathy, and (c) chain mediation of cognitive reappraisal and empathy. No significant mediating effect of expressive suppression was found. Conclusion: The results indicate that relative deprivation decreases adolescent prosocial behavior, and that cognitive reappraisal and empathy are the potential psychological mechanisms that affect the association between relative deprivation and adolescent prosocial behavior.

Unveiling the bioelectrocatalyzing behaviors and microbial ecological mechanisms behind caproate production without exogenous electron donor.

Bioelectrochemical systems were proposed as a promising approach for the efficient valorization of biomass into 6-8 carbon atom medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), the precursors for high value-added chemicals or renewable energy, via acetyl-CoA-mediated chain elongation (CE). To achieve CE processes, exogenous electron donors (EDs), e.g., ethanol or lactic acid, were normally prerequisites. This research built a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) for MCFAs biosynthesis from acetate without exogenous EDs addition. A wide range of applied voltages (0.6-1.2 V) was first employed to investigate the bioelectrocatalyzing response. The results show that caproate and butyrate were the main products formed from acetate under different applied voltages. Maximum caproate concentration (501 ± 12 mg COD/L) was reached at 0.8 V on day 3. Under this applied voltage, hydrogen partial pressure stabilized at about 0.1 bar, beneficial for MCFA production. Electron and carbon balances revealed that the electron-accepting capacity achieved 32% at 0.8 V, showing the highest interspecies electron transfer efficiency. Most of the carbon was recovered in the form of caproate (carbon loss was 9%). MiSeq sequencing revealed Rhodobacter and Clostridium_sensu_stricto playing the crucial role in the biosynthesis of caproate, while Acetobacterium, Acetoanaerobium, and Acetobacter represented the main ED contributors. Four available flora, i.e., homo-acetogen, anaerobic fermentation bacteria, electrode active bacteria, and nitrate-reducing bacteria, interacted and promoted caproate synthesis by molecular ecological network analysis.

Diagnostic efficacy of physical examination, preoperative ultrasound, and/or computed tomography in detecting lymph node metastasis: A single-center retrospective analysis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic efficacy of physical examination, ultrasound, and computed tomography for the detection of lymph node metastasis (LNM). STUDY DESIGN: Patients with pathologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and who were not planned for surgery underwent preoperative physical examinations, ultrasound (US) scans, and computed tomography (CT) scans to detect LNM. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytopathology was the reference standard for calculating the diagnostic parameters. RESULTS: US examination yielded fewer false-negative LNM (P = 0.0125) and higher sensitivity (P = 0.0313), specificity (P = 0.0078), and Youden index (P < 0.0001) than CT examination. The likelihood of detecting LNM with US, CT, and the combination of US and CT as measured in diagnostic confidence/lymph node was >0.718, >0.768, and >0.552, respectively. The combination of US and CT had the least risk of underdiagnosis and higher measures of diagnostic efficacy and predicting outcomes than all other index tests. CONCLUSIONS: US has greater diagnostic efficacy than CT in detecting LNM for patients who have no clinical indication for surgery or decline surgical treatment. The combination of US and CT examinations may be a reliable noninvasive method.

The value of color Doppler sonography in diagnosis and hemodynamic analysis of innominate artery occlusion.

The occlusion of the innominate artery caused a significant decrease in the distal end of the right subclavian artery and the right common carotid artery, internal carotid artery, and external carotid artery (ECA). Due to the different pressure and the abundant communicating arteries between the ECA and the bilateral vertebral artery (VA), different paths of blood steal in the anterior and posterior circulation occurred.

Huge Free-Floating Thrombus in the Internal Carotid Artery Under Duplex Ultrasound Surveillance: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Carotid free-floating thrombus (FFT) is an unusual finding in acute ischemic stroke. Atherosclerosis is the most common etiology of FFT formation. CASE REPORT: Here we report a 42-year-old male patient admitted to our department with left temporal and parietal lobe ischemic stroke with normal magnetic resonance angiography. A huge FFT in the left internal carotid artery were found by duplex ultrasound. Acute thrombosis based on atherosclerotic plaque were considered as the reason of this embolization. The thrombus shrunk significantly under anticoagulation and antiplatelet treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of the intracranial vessel in the emergency is not enough and early carotid duplex ultrasound can help find of the FFT in time, which help to choose the early intervene by neurosurgeon. Early antithrombotic treatment can be a safe treatment option for reducing huge thrombus based on the nature of thrombus formation. Computed tomography angiography and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging to certify the character of the plaque are recommended for plaque evaluation.

ß-Sitosterol Attenuates the Intracranial Aneurysm Growth by Suppressing TNF-α-Mediated Mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Onset of inflammation associated with increased extracellular matrix degradation of vascular walls in the neuronal area is the pathophysiology of cerebral aneurysms. It has been documented well that ß-sitosterol has protective effects on various brain-related diseases independent of their lipid-lowering effects; the current work was framed to examine the effect of ß-sitosterol on CA progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To study whether ß-sitosterol has a suppressive effect on the growth of CA, ß-sitosterol administration started prior to aneurysm induction. CA was induced in Wistar male rats with or without oral administration of ß-sitosterol. The expression of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1ß, IL-17, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and -9, was elucidated by ELISA and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Rats treated with ß-sitosterol exhibited a significant reduction in aneurysmal size compared with control rats. In addition, ß-sitosterol administration reduced the expression of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines, while gelatin zymography data revealed declined activity of MMP-2 and -9 in aneurismal walls. Furthermore, the levels of cytokines were significantly reduced in ß-sitosterol-administered rats compared to CA rats. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with ß-sitosterol suppresses the development of CA by inhibiting inflammatory reactions including TNF-α and thus ß-sitosterol can be a suggestive candidate for the prevention of CA treatment and progression.

The Characteristics of Human Resources and Related Research Activities among Basic Stem Cell Research Groups in China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of faculty and research activities of basic stem cell research groups in China. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to persons who knew the information among 46 basic stem cell research groups in China. Multiple linear regression models and repeated-measures analyses of variance were used. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used. RESULTS: Of the 46 groups, 39.1% did not have any faculty recruited from abroad from 2009 to 2013, 37.0% did not have any faculty with junior-level title, 34.8% had ≤25.0% faculty with either M.D. or Ph.D. degree. Papers published in SCI journals per faculty and having faculty recruited from abroad were positively associated with research funding per faculty. The groups with faculty recruited from abroad had significantly higher research funding per faculty over time compared with the group without faculty recruited from abroad. Repeated-measures analyses of variance showed the group with faculty recruited from abroad had significantly higher research funding per faculty over time compared with the group without faculty recruited from abroad. CONCLUSION: To increase the development of basic stem cell research, some characteristics of human resources should be improved, and the groups should recruit more faculty with overseas experience.

Distribution Pattern of Atherosclerotic Stenosis in Chinese Patients with Stroke: A Multicenter Registry Study.

The aim of this multicenter study was to demonstrate the distribution pattern of atherosclerotic stenosis and its trend with aging between extracranial and intracranial arteries and its distribution between the anterior and posterior circulations in Chinese patients hospitalized with ischemic stroke. In addition, the risk factors for the distribution pattern were illustrated. From June 2015 to May 2016, 9,346 patients with ischemic stroke from 20 hospitals were enrolled. Carotid artery ultrasonography and transcranial color-coded sonography/transcranial Doppler were used to evaluate the extracranial and intracranial arteries. The distribution pattern of atherosclerotic stenosis and its trend with aging were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for the distribution pattern. Among the 9,346 patients, 2,882 patients (30.8%) had at least one artery with a degree of stenosis ≥50%. Among patients with arterial stenosis, the proportion of patients with intracranial artery stenosis was higher than those with extracranial artery stenosis (52.6% vs. 27.6%), and the proportion of anterior circulation artery stenosis was higher than that in the posterior circulation (52.2% vs.26.2%). With aging, the proportion of intracranial artery stenosis alone decreased; at the same time, the proportion of extracranial artery stenosis and extracranial plus intracranial artery stenosis increased (trend χ2=6.698, P=0.001). Hypertension (OR 1.416, P=0.008) and family history of stroke (OR 1.479, P=0.014) were risk factors for intracranial artery stenosis. Male, aging, and smoking were factors more related to extracranial artery stenosis. Aging (OR 1.022, P<0.001) and hypertension (OR 1.392, P=0.019) were related to posterior circulation artery stenosis. Intracranial arteries and anterior circulation arteries were susceptible to stenosis in Chinese patients with ischemic stroke. However, the distribution pattern of atherosclerotic stenosis was dynamic and varied with aging. Aging and different risk factors contribute to this distribution pattern.

Association between HLA class II locus and the susceptibility to Artemisia pollen-induced allergic rhinitis in Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether susceptibility or resistance to Artemisia pollen-induced allergic rhinitis was associated with HLA class II DQA1, DQB1 loci. Study design and setting Forty-one subjects with allergic rhinitis and 41 healthy controls from Beijing were genotyped at HLA class II DQA1, DQB1 alleles by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence-specific primers-based technique. RESULTS: The allele frequencies of HLA-DQA1*0201, DQB1*0602 were lower in patients with allergic rhinitis compared with the controls (24.39% versus 46.34%, P = 0.038; 4.88% versus 26.83%, P = 0.007), and the frequency of DQA1*0302 was higher among patients than the controls (58.54% versus 14.63%, P = 0.00004, Pc = 0.0004). CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 genes may be involved in the development of Artemisia pollen-induced allergic rhinitis. HLA-DQA1*0201, DQB1*0602 alleles may be a protective factor and DQA1*0302 may be a susceptible factor for Artemisia pollen-induced allergic rhinitis.

[The relationship between the density of house dust mite allergens in bedroom and the attacks of allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the density of house dust mites allergens in bedroom and the attacks of allergic rhinitis in patients sensitive to mite. METHOD: Seventy-five houses (35 patients with allergic rhinitis and 30 healthy controls) were visited for dust sampling from mattresses, sofas, beddings and pillows. Der p1 and Der f1 levels were measured by ELISAs. RESULT: Der p1 and Der f1 levels in healthy control group were significantly higher than levels in patient group(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The amount of mite allergens might not be the determining factor for allergic rhinitis sensitization.

A common IL-13 Arg130Gln single nucleotide polymorphism among Chinese atopy patients with allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis is a major public health problem and has seen its prevalence increase during the past few decades. Interleukin 13 (IL-13) has been implicated in the pathogenesis and in the regulation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) production. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been found in both the coding sequence and the promoter region of IL-13, and such SNPs have been associated with allergic asthma. We have investigated whether IL-13 SNPs are associated with allergic rhinitis. Among 188 Chinese adult patients with allergic rhinitis and 87 normal controls, no significant difference was found in either allele or haplotype frequency of the SNPs between the two groups. Within patients, there was a significant association of the IL-13 Arg130Gln SNP, but not of the IL-13 promoter -1112(C/T) SNP, with serum total IgE levels. Patients with a Gln/Gln genotype showed much higher serum total IgE than those with an Arg/Arg genotype. When tested for serum-specific IgE, patients allergic to Derp 1, but not those allergic to Artemisia pollen, showed a significant association with the IL-13 promoter SNP. Thus, our results suggest a possible involvement of IL-13 SNPs in the regulation of IgE production in response to allergens in this Chinese population.

[Clinical observation of allergic fungal sinusitis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnosis and treatment of allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS). METHOD: Eight cases of AFS were analysed. The cardinal symptom is the symptom of allergic rhinitis and bone erosion of sinus. All cases were treated with the endoscopic sinus surgery, steroids and topical antifungal therapy. RESULT: In follow-up of 13 months to 40 months, no recurrence occured with 6 cases, recurrence with 2 cases then were given the same treatment again and are in follow-up now. CONCLUSION: The cardinal symptom of AFS is the symptom of allergic rhinitis and bone erosion of sinus. The comprehensive treatment with the endoscopic sinus surgery, steroids and topical antifungal therapy is needed. AFS is easily recurrent. The long-term follow-up is very important.

[Association of hypersensitivity to wormwood pollen in patients with allergic rhinitis with HLA alleles polymorphism].

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether alleles at one or more HLA loci are associated with hypersensitivity to wormwood pollen in patients with allergic rhinitis. METHOD: By using PCR-SSP(sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction), we tested the frequency distribution of HLA-DQA1, DQB alleles in 41 patients with allergic rhinitis(AR) and 41 healthy controls from Beijing. RESULT: The frequency of HLA-DQA1* 0201, DQB1 * 0602 was lower in AR than in controls(24.39%, 4.88% vs 46.34%, 26.83%), and the frequency of DQA1 * 0302 was increased among patients(58.54% vs 14.63%). CONCLUSION: HLA-DQA1 * 0201, DQB1 * 0602 alleles might confer protection against AR, and DQA1 * 0302 may be a susceptibility factor for hypersensitivity to wormwood pollen.