Fibrinogen to albumin ratio's prognostic value in ischemic stroke patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy.

Background and purpose:

Fibrinogen to albumin ratio (FAR) is thought to have a predictive effect in diseases such as cancer and myocardial infarction. We aimed to elucidate the prognostic value of FAR in ischemic stroke patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy.

A total of 103 patients hospita­lized for acute stroke who underwent me­cha­nical thrombectomy within 6 hours of symp­toms’ outset have been analyzed retro­spectively. Stroke severity was interpreted via the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score during the neurological examination. Recanalization success after mechanical thrombectomy was evaluated with the TICI score (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale), and 2b – 3 patients were recorded as those with recanalization. The patients’ modified Rankin scale (mRS) at discharge and at the end of the third month were recorded. 

 Statistically significant differen­ces were observed in age, admission blood glucose, glomerular filtration rate and FAR according to the mRS scores of the patients in the third month (p<0.05). Significant va­riab­les in the risk factor analysis were re-evaluated in the multivariate model. The best model was determined using the backward Wald method in the multivariate model, and it was determined that differences in age, admission blood glucose, and FAR were significant.

FAR can be used as a novel, effective, economical, and practical biomarker in patient with acute ischemic stroke who underwent mechanical thrombectomy.

Correlation of TyG-BMI and TyG-WC with severity and short-term outcome in new-onset acute ischemic stroke.

Objectives: To research the connection between the indexes of the indexes of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) combined with obesity indices and the initial neurological severity and short-term outcome of new-onset acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Data of patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Stroke Ward of the Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University from November 2021 to October 2023, were collected. The two indexes were calculated by combining TyG and obesity indices: TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI) and TyG-waist circumference (TyG-WC). The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to assess and group patients with neurological deficits within 24 hours of admission: mild stroke (NIHSS ≤5) and moderate-severe stroke (NIHSS >5). Short-term prognosis was evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge or 14 days after onset of the disease and grouped: good outcome (mRS ≤2) and poor outcome (mRS >2). According to the quartiles of TyG-BMI and TyG-WC, the patients were placed into four groups: Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4. Multi-factor logistic regression analysis was utilized to evaluate the correlation of TyG-BMI and TyG-WC with the severity and short-term outcome. Results: The study included 456 patients. After adjusting for multiple variables, the results showed that compared with the quartile 1, patients in quartile 4 of TyG-BMI had a reduced risk of moderate-severe stroke [Q4: OR: 0.407, 95%CI (0.185-0.894), P = 0.025]; Patients in quartiles 2, 3 and 4 of TyG-BMI had sequentially lower risk of short-term adverse outcomes [Q2: OR: 0.394, 95%CI (0.215-0.722), P = 0.003; Q3: OR: 0.324, 95%CI (0.163-0.642), P = 0.001; Q4: OR: 0.158, 95%CI (0.027-0.349), P <0.001]; Patients in quartiles 3 and 4 of TyG-WC had sequentially lower risk of moderate-severe stroke [Q3: OR: 0.355, 95%CI (0.173-0.728), P = 0.005; Q4: OR: 0.140, 95%CI (0.056-0.351), P <0.001]; Patients in quartiles 3 and 4 of TyG-WC had sequentially lower risk of short-term adverse outcomes [Q3: OR: 0.350, 95%CI (0.175-0.700), P = 0.003; Q4: OR: 0.178, 95%CI (0.071-0.451), P <0.001]. Conclusions: TyG-WC and TyG-BMI were correlated with the severity and short-term outcome of new-onset acute ischemic stroke. As TyG-WC and TyG-BMI increased, stroke severity decreased and short-term outcome was better.

Flow cytometry-based peripheral blood analysis as an easily friendly tool for prognostic monitoring of acute ischemic stroke: a multicenter study.

Background and objective: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a leading cause of mortality, severe neurological and long-term disability world-wide. Blood-based indicators may provide valuable information on identified prognostic factors. However, currently, there is still a lack of peripheral blood indicators for the prognosis of AIS. We aimed to identify the most promising prognostic indicators and establish prognostic models for AIS. Methods: 484 subjects enrolled from four centers were analyzed immunophenotypic indicators of peripheral blood by flow cytometry. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was applied to minimize the potential collinearity and over-fitting of variables measured from the same subject and over-fitting of variables. Univariate and multivariable Cox survival analysis of differences between and within cohorts was performed by log-rank test. The areas under the receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the selection accuracy of immunophenotypic indicators in identifying AIS subjects with survival risk. The prognostic model was constructed using a multivariate Cox model, consisting of 402 subjects as a training cohort and 82 subjects as a testing cohort. Results: In the prospective study, 7 immunophenotypic indicators of distinct significance were screened out of 72 peripheral blood immunophenotypic indicators by LASSO. In multivariate cox regression, CTL (%) [HR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.03-1.33], monocytes/µl [HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05-1.21], non-classical monocytes/µl [HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.16] and CD56high NK cells/µl [HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05-1.21] were detected to decrease the survival probability of AIS, while Tregs/µl [HR:0.97, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99, p=0.004], BM/µl [HR:0.90, 95% CI: 0.85-0.95, p=0.023] and CD16+NK cells/µl [HR:0.93, 95% CI: 0.88-0.98, p=0.034] may have the protective effect. As for indicators' discriminative ability, the AUC for CD56highNK cells/µl attained the highest of 0.912. In stratification analysis, the survival probability for AIS subjects with a higher level of Tregs/µl, BM/µl, CD16+NK cells/µl, or lower levels of CD56highNK cells/µl, CTL (%), non-classical monocytes/µl, Monocytes/µl were more likely to survive after AIS. The multivariate Cox model showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.805, 0.781 and 0.819 and 0.961, 0.924 and 0.982 in the training and testing cohort, respectively. Conclusion: Our study identified 7 immunophenotypic indicators in peripheral blood may have great clinical significance in monitoring the prognosis of AIS and provide a convenient and valuable predictive model for AIS.

Elevated serum levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies in patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection and ischemic stroke: a prospective multicenter study.

Introduction: Spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD) is a rare vasculopathy whose trigger is still unknown. We hypothesized that autoimmunity against components of the vascular wall might play a critical role in sCAD and examined anti-collagen type I antibodies in patients with sCAD, acute ischemic stroke, patients with thromboendarterectomy, and controls. Methods: Fifty-seven patients with sCAD (age 45.7 ± 10.2 years, female 18 (31.6%)) were prospectively enrolled in four German stroke centers. Blood samples were collected at baseline, at day 10 ± 3, and after 6 ± 1 months. Patients with ischemic stroke not related to CAD (n=54, age 56.7 ± 13.7 years, female 15 (27.8%)), healthy probands (n=80, age 57.4 ± 12.9 years, female 56 (70%)), and patients undergoing thromboendarterectomy of the carotid artery (n=9, age 70.7 ± 9.3 years, female 2 (22.2%)) served as controls. Anti-collagen type I antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Results: Patients with acute sCAD had higher serum levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies (33.9 ± 24.6 µg/ml) than probands (18.5 ± 11.0 µg/ml; p <0.001) but lower levels than patients with ischemic stroke not related to sCAD (47.8 ± 28.4 µg/ml; p=0.003). In patients with sCAD, serum levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies were similar in the acute, subacute, and chronic phase. Levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies significantly correlated with circulating collagen type I (rho=0.207, p=0.003). Conclusion: Anti-collagen type I antibodies seem not to represent a trigger for acute sCAD or ischemic stroke but may rather be linked to the metabolism and turnover of collagen type I.

A combined observational and Mendelian randomization investigation reveals NMR-measured analytes to be risk factors of major cardiovascular diseases.

Dyslipidaemias is the leading risk factor of several major cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but there is still a lack of sufficient evidence supporting a causal role of lipoprotein subspecies in CVDs. In this study, we comprehensively investigated several lipoproteins and their subspecies, as well as other metabolites, in relation to coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF) and ischemic stroke (IS) longitudinally and by Mendelian randomization (MR) leveraging NMR-measured metabolomic data from 118,012 UK Biobank participants. We found that 123, 110 and 36 analytes were longitudinally associated with myocardial infarction, HF and IS (FDR < 0.05), respectively, and 25 of those were associated with all three outcomes. MR analysis suggested that genetically predicted levels of 70, 58 and 7 analytes were associated with CHD, HF and IS (FDR < 0.05), respectively. Two analytes, ApoB/ApoA1 and M-HDL-C were associated with all three CVD outcomes in the MR analyses, and the results for M-HDL-C were concordant in both observational and MR analyses. Our results implied that the apoB/apoA1 ratio and cholesterol in medium size HDL were particularly of importance to understand the shared pathophysiology of CHD, HF and IS and thus should be further investigated for the prevention of all three CVDs.

Relationship between remnant cholesterol and short-term prognosis in acute ischemic stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have illustrated that elevated RC levels are related to a heightened risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Our research aimed to explore the correlation between RC levels and poor prognosis after a 90-day interval in AIS patients. METHODS: A total of 287 individuals were enrolled in the study, the primary outcome was defined as poor prognosis. RC was derived by the exclusion of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) from total cholesterol (TC). RESULTS: Following the screening process, 253 AIS patients were included in the study, presenting a median age of 66[57, 75] years. Upon stratifying RC levels into quartiles, those in the top quartile faced a greater likelihood of diabetes diagnosis (42.86%, p = .014) and experienced a higher rate of unfavorable outcomes after 90 days (36.51%, p = .001). After accounting for confounding factors, the correlation between the fourth quartile of RC levels and the amplified likelihood of poor prognosis remained significant (odds ratio (OR) 8.471, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.841, 38.985); p = .006). Analysis of subgroups unveiled a notable correlation between higher RC levels and poor 90-day prognosis, particularly in individuals with elevated NIHSS scores (p = .044). A progressively increasing 90-day risk of poor prognosis after an RC greater than 0.38 mmol/L was visualized by restricted cubic spline plots (p-overall = .011). CONCLUSIONS: Including RC as a contributing element may refine the prediction of poor 90-day prognosis for AIS patients. Integrating RC with traditional risk factors can potentially enhance the predictive value for cerebrovascular disease.

Homocysteine thiolactone and other sulfur-containing amino acid metabolites are associated with fibrin clot properties and the risk of ischemic stroke.

Homocysteine (Hcy) and Hcy-thiolactone (HTL) affect fibrin clot properties and are linked to cardiovascular disease. Factors that influence fibrin clot properties and stroke are not fully understood. To study sulfur-containing amino acid metabolites, fibrin clot lysis time (CLT) and maximum absorbance (Absmax) in relation to stroke, we analyzed plasma and urine from 191 stroke patients (45.0% women, age 68 ± 12 years) and 291 healthy individuals (59.7% women, age 50 ± 17 years). Plasma and urinary levels of sulfur-containing amino acid metabolites and fibrin clot properties were significantly different in stroke patients compared to healthy individuals. Fibrin CLT correlated with fibrin Absmax in healthy males (R2 = 0.439, P = 0.000), females (R2 = 0.245, P = 0.000), female stroke patients (R2 = 0.187, P = 0.000), but not in male stroke patients (R2 = 0.008, P = ns). Fibrin CLT correlated with age in healthy females but not males while fibrin Absmax correlated with age in both sexes; these correlations were absent in stroke patients. In multiple regression analysis in stroke patients, plasma (p)CysGly, pMet, and MTHFR A1298C polymorphism were associated with fibrin Absmax, while urinary (u)HTL, uCysGly, and pCysGly were significantly associated with fibrin CLT. In healthy individuals, uHTL and uGSH were significantly associated with fibrin Absmax, while pGSH, and CBS T833C 844ins68 polymorphism were associated with fibrin CLT. In logistic regression, uHTL, uHcy, pCysGly, pGSH, MTHFR C677T polymorphism, and Absmax were independently associated with stroke. Our findings suggest that HTL and other sulfur-containing amino acid metabolites influence fibrin clot properties and the risk of stroke.

Water content for clot composition prediction in acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has become the gold standard care for treating acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion. Emerging evidence suggests that understanding the composition of clots prior to intervention could be useful for the selection of neuroendovascular techniques, potentially improving the efficacy of treatments. However, current imaging modalities lack the ability to distinguish clot composition accurately and reliably. Since water content can influence signal intensity on CT and MRI scans, its assessment may provide indirect clues about clot composition. This study aimed to elucidate the correlation between water content and clot composition using human clots retrieved from stroke patients and experimentally generated ovine clots. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved an analysis of ten clots retrieved from patients with AIS undergoing MT. Additionally, we created ten red blood cells (RBC)-rich and ten fibrin-rich ovine blood clots, which were placed in a human intracranial vascular model under realistic flow conditions. The water content and compositions of these clots were evaluated, and linear regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between clot composition and water content. RESULTS: The regression analysis in human stroke clots revealed a significant negative association between RBC concentration and water content. We also observed a positive correlation between water content and both fibrin and platelets in ovine blood clots. Conclusion.

Nonlinear association of fibrinogen levels with functional prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Fibrinogen, essential in primary hemostasis, platelet aggregation, and leukocyte-endothelial interactions, is also associated with a heightened risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, its influence on AIS patient outcomes is unclear. This study examines the correlation between fibrinogen levels and the risk of unfavorable outcomes three months post-AIS. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study conducted in Korea. The sample consisted of 1851 AIS patients who received treatment at a Korean hospital between January 2010 and December 2016. Statistical models were established to understand the relationship between fibrinogen levels(mg/dL) and unfavorable outcomes(mRs ≥ 3), including logistic regression models, Generalized Additive Models (GAM), and smooth curve fitting (penalized splines). The log-likelihood ratio test has been utilized to evaluate the best fit. To ensure the robustness of the results, sensitivity analyses were conducted by reanalyzing the relationship after excluding participants with TG > 200 mg/dl and BMI > 25 kg/m2. Subgroup analyses were also performed to assess whether influencing factors modify the association between fibrinogen levels and unfavorable outcomes. RESULTS: After adjusting for multiple covariates including age, BMI, sex, LDL-c, TG, HGB, HDL-c, BUN, FPG, ALB, PLT, AF, hypertension, smoking, DM, mRs score at admission, the binary logistic regression model demonstrated revealed a significant positive association between fibrinogen levels and the risk of unfavorable outcomes in AIS patients (OR = 1.215, 95% CI: 1.032-1.429, p = 0.019). Sensitivity analyses supported these findings, with similar ORs observed in subsets of patients with TG < 200 mg/dL (OR = 1.221, 95% CI: 1.036-1.440) and BMI < 25 kg/m2 (OR = 1.259, 95% CI: 1.051-1.509). Additionally, the relationship between fibrinogen levels and outcomes was nonlinear, with a critical threshold of 2.74 g/L. Below the inflection point, the OR for unfavorable outcomes was 0.666 ((95% CI: 0.360, 1.233, p = 0.196), whereas above it, the OR increased to 1.374 (95% CI: 1.138, 1.659). CONCLUSIONS: This study has provided evidence of a positive and nonlinear correlation between fibrinogen levels and 3-month poor functional outcomes in patients with AIS. When fibrinogen levels exceeded 2.74 g/L, a significant and positive association was observed with the risk of poor outcomes. This study provides a further reference for optimizing rehabilitation exercises and facilitating clinical counseling in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Triglyceride-Glucose Index Predicts Major Adverse Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

This study aimed to explore the relationship between the trajectory of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).This prospective study included 1979 patients with AF, who were initially selected from the Kailuan study. Patients of AF were split into four groups according to the value of TyG index. The clinical endpoint was MACCE, including myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to examine the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for MACCE in various trajectory groups.The mean age of all patients with AF was 67.65 ± 11.15 years, and 1752 (88.53%) were male. Over a median follow-up duration of 5.31 years, in total 227 MACCE were recorded. MACCE cumulative incidence in Quartile 4 (26.96%) was significantly higher than those in other quartiles (P = 0.023). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that a higher TyG index (Quartile 4) was significantly and positively linked to MACCE in patients with AF (P = 0.023, HR: 2.103; 95% CI: 1.107-3.994).The evaluated TyG index is significantly associated with an increased risk of MACCE in patients with AF.

The prognostic value of combined uric acid and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND: Serum uric acid (UA) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have been reported to be associated with outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, whether UA is related to the prognosis of AIS patients undergoing intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) remains inconclusive. We sought to explore the combined effect of UA and NLR on the prognosis of AIS treated with IVT. METHODS: A total of 555 AIS patients receiving IVT treatment were enrolled. Patients were categorized into four groups according to the levels of UA and NLR: LNNU (low NLR and normal UA), LNHU (low NLR and high UA), HNNU (high NLR and normal UA), and HNHU (high NLR and high UA). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the value of serum UA level and NLR in predicting prognosis. The primary outcomes were major disability (modified Rankin scale (mRS) score 3-5) and death within 3 months. RESULTS: After multivariate adjustment, a high NLR (≥ 3.94) increased the risk of 3-month death or major disability (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.42 to 3.55, p < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant association between a high UA level (≥ 313.00 µmol/L) and clinical outcome. HNHU was associated with a 5.09-fold increase in the risk of death (OR, 5.09; 95% CI, 1.31-19.83; P value = 0.019) and a 1.98-fold increase in the risk of major disability (OR, 1.98; 95% CI 1.07-3.68; P value = 0.030) in comparison to LNNU. CONCLUSIONS: High serum UA levels combined with high NLR were independently associated with 3-month death and major disability in AIS patients after IVT.

Genetically predicted type 2 diabetes mellitus mediates the causal association between plasma uric acid and ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: This study conducts a systematic investigation into the causal relationships between plasma uric acid levels and subtypes of ischemic stroke (IS), as well as the extent to which Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mediates this relationship. BACKGROUND: There is a known association between Uric acid and IS but whether they have a causal relationship remains unclear. This study aims to determine whether a genetic predisposition to uric acid is causally linked to IS, including three subtypes, and to determine the mediating role of T2DM. METHODS: Bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses was initially used to explore the causal relationship between uric acid and three subtypes of IS. Two-step MR methods were then used to investigate the role of T2DM in mediating the effect of uric acid and IS with its subtypes. RESULTS: A primary analysis showed uric acid had a markedly causal association with IS (IVW, OR 1.23; 95 % CI, 1.13 - 1.34; p = 6.39 × 10-9), and two subtypes of IS, Large-vessel atherosclerotic stroke LAS (IVW, OR 1.25; 95 % CI, 1.03 - 1.53; p = 0.026) and small vessel stroke (SVS) (IVW, OR 1.20; 95 % CI, 1.00 - 1.43; p = 0.049), but not with cardioembolic stroke (CES)(IVW, OR 1.00; 95 % CI, 0.87 - 1.15; p = 0.993). Two-step MR results showed that T2DM mediated the association between uric acid and LAS and SVS, accounting for 13.85 % (p = 0.025) and 13.57 % (p = 0.028), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that genetic predisposition to uric acid is linked to a greater risk of IS, especially LAS and SVS. T2DM might mediate a significant proportion of the associations between uric acid and LAS as well as SVS.

Impact of homocysteine on acute ischemic stroke severity: possible role of aminothiols redox status.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is one of the most common cerebrovascular diseases which accompanied by a disruption of aminothiols homeostasis. To explore the relationship of aminothiols with neurologic impairment severity, we investigated four aminothiols, homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), cysteinylglycine (CG) and glutathione (GSH) in plasma and its influence on ischemic stroke severity in AIS patients. METHODS: A total of 150 clinical samples from AIS patients were selected for our study. The concentrations of free reduced Hcy (Hcy), own oxidized Hcy (HHcy), free reduced Cys (Cys), own oxidized Cys (cysteine, Cyss), free reduced CG (CG) and free reduced GSH (GSH) were measured by our previously developed hollow fiber centrifugal ultrafiltration (HFCF-UF) method coupled with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The concentration ratio of Hcy to HHcy (Hcy/HHcy), Cys to Cyss (Cys/Cyss) were also calculated. The neurologic impairment severity of AIS was evaluated using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The Spearman correlation coefficient and logistic regression analysis was used to estimate and perform the correlation between Hcy, HHcy, Cys, Cyss, CG, GSH, Hcy/HHcy, Cys/Cyss and total Hcy with NIHSS score. RESULTS: The reduced Hcy and Hcy/HHcy was both negatively correlated with NIHSS score in AIS patients with P = 0.008, r=-0.215 and P = 0.002, r=-0.249, respectively. There was no significant correlation of Cys, CG, GSH, HHcy, Cyss, Cys/Cyss and total Hcy with NIHSS score in AIS patients with P value > 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced Hcy and Hcy/HHcy, not total Hcy concentration should be used to evaluate neurologic impairment severity of AIS patient.

Relationship between ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and atrial fibrillation in acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Some ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are said to demonstrate a dose-related risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), conversely, some ω6 PUFAs might have AF protective potential. However, few investigated the relation among ischemic strokes. Primarily, we aimed to examine a relation between ω3 and ω6 PUFAs and the presence of AF in ischemic strokes. Further, since, some PUFAs are said to affect the cardiac load, we secondarily aimed to investigate the association between ω3 and ω6 PUFAs and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the occurrence of cerebral large vessel occlusion (LVO) in ischemic strokes with AF. METHODS: Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke admitted between 2012 and 2022 were retrospectively screened. Plasma levels of PUFAs, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) and arachidonic acid (AA), were assayed. Data were analyzed using a Poisson regression analysis with a robust variance estimator and a multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: We screened 2112 consecutive ischemic strokes, including 1574 (1119 [71%] males, median age 69 years). Lower DGLA (prevalence ratio (PR) 0.885, 95% CI 0.811-0.966, p = 0.006), lower AA (PR 0.797, 95% CI 0.649-0.978, p = 0.030), and higher EPA/AA ratio (PR 1.353, 95% CI 1.036-1.767, p = 0.026) were associated with AF. Checking the linearity between AF and PUFAs, negative linear trends were observed between DGLA quartiles (Q1: PR 1.901, Q2: PR 1.550, Q3: PR 1.423, Q4: 1.000, p < 0.001 for trend) and AA quartiles (Q1: PR 1.499, Q2: PR 1.204, Q3: PR 1.125, Q4: 1.000, p = 0.004 for trend), with positive linear trends between EPA/AA ratio quartiles (Q1: 1.000, Q2: PR 1.555, Q3: PR 1.612, Q4: PR 1.797, p = 0.001 for trend). Among patients with AF, a negative association between AA and BNP (unstandardized coefficient -1.316, 95% CI -2.290∼-0.342, p = 0.008) was observed, and lower AA was associated with LVO (PR 0.707, 95% CI 0.527-0.950, p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Lower DGLA and AA and a higher EPA/AA ratio might be related to the development of AF in ischemic strokes. Further, AA might have a cardio-cerebrovascular protective role in ischemic strokes with AF.

Peripheral inflammatory response in people after acute ischaemic stroke and isolated spontaneous cervical artery dissection.

The systemic inflammatory response following acute ischaemic stroke remains incompletely understood. We characterised the circulating inflammatory profile in 173 acute ischaemic stroke patients by measuring 65 cytokines and chemokines in plasma. Participants were grouped based on their inflammatory response, determined by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in the acute phase. We compared stroke patients' profiles with 42 people experiencing spontaneous cervical artery dissection without stroke. Furthermore, variations in cytokine levels among stroke aetiologies were analysed. Follow-up samples were collected in a subgroup of ischaemic stroke patients at three and twelve months. Ischaemic stroke patients had elevated plasma levels of HGF and SDF-1α, and lower IL-4 levels, compared to spontaneous cervical artery dissection patients without stroke. Aetiology-subgroup analysis revealed reduced levels of nine cytokines/chemokines (HGF, SDF-1α, IL-2R, CD30, TNF-RII, IL-16, MIF, APRIL, SCF), and elevated levels of IL-4 and MIP-1ß, in spontaneous cervical artery dissection (with or without ischaemic stroke as levels were comparable between both groups) compared to other aetiologies. The majority of cytokine/chemokine levels remained stable across the study period. Our research indicates that stroke due to large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, and small vessel occlusion triggers a stronger inflammatory response than spontaneous cervical artery dissection.

Serum Albumin and Post-Stroke Outcomes: Analysis of UK Regional Registry Data, Systematic Review, and Meta-Analysis.

Hypoalbuminemia associates with poor acute ischemic stroke (AIS) outcomes. We hypothesised a non-linear relationship and aimed to systematically assess this association using prospective stroke data from the Norfolk and Norwich Stroke and TIA Register. Consecutive AIS patients aged ≥40 years admitted December 2003-December 2016 were included. Outcomes: In-hospital mortality, poor discharge, functional outcome (modified Rankin score 3-6), prolonged length of stay (PLoS) > 4 days, and long-term mortality. Restricted cubic spline regressions investigated the albumin-outcome relationship. We updated a systematic review (PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases, January 2020-June 2023) and undertook a meta-analysis. A total of 9979 patients were included; mean age (standard deviation) = 78.3 (11.2) years; mean serum albumin 36.69 g/L (5.38). Compared to the cohort median, albumin < 37 g/L associated with up to two-fold higher long-term mortality (HRmax; 95% CI = 2.01; 1.61-2.49) and in-hospital mortality (RRmax; 95% CI = 1.48; 1.21-1.80). Albumin > 44 g/L associated with up to 12% higher long-term mortality (HRmax1.12; 1.06-1.19). Nine studies met our inclusion criteria totalling 23,597 patients. Low albumin associated with increased risk of long-term mortality (two studies; relative risk 1.57 (95% CI 1.11-2.22; I2 = 81.28)), as did low-normal albumin (RR 1.10 (95% CI 1.01-1.20; I2 = 0.00)). Strong evidence indicates increased long-term mortality in AIS patients with low or low-normal albumin on admission.

Correlation of LP-PLA2 and MMP-9 with the occurrence of early neurological deterioration in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Early neurological deterioration is a common complication of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), which aggravates symptoms, worsens the condition, and counteracts the benefits of clinical treatment. The aim of this paper was to analyze the correlation between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and the occurrence of early neurological deterioration (END) in patients with AIS and to explore the clinical prediction of END by the combination of the 2 assays for the clinical prediction of END. A total of 500 AIS patients admitted to our hospital from October 2022 to October 2023 were included as study subjects, and the clinical data of all AIS patients were collected and organized to detect the levels of Lp-PLA2 and MMP-9. Categorized into END and non-END groups according to whether END occurred within 7 days of the onset of AIS, and comparing the clinical baseline data and laboratory index levels of the 2 groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent predictors of END, and the predictive effects of Lp-PLA2 and MMP-9 levels on END were assessed by subject work characteristics (ROC) curves. END occurred in 111 (22.2%) of 500 AIS patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes (OR 2.717, 95% CI:1.53-4.81, P < .001), baseline NIHSS score (OR 1.65, 95% CI:1.41-1.94, P < .001), Lp-PLA2 (OR 1.07, 95% CI:1.05-1.09, P < .001) and MMP-9 (OR 1.12, 95% CI:1.09-1.16, P < .001) levels were independent influences on the occurrence of END in patients with AIS after correcting for confounders. ROC curve analysis showed that Lp-PLA2, MMP-9, and a combination of both predicted END with an area under the curve was 0.730, 0.763, and 0.831, respectively, and the area under the curve for the combination of both predicting END was significantly higher than that for any of the inflammatory markers alone (P < .05). Both inflammatory markers, Lp-PLA2 and MMP-9, were independent predictors of the development of END in patients with AIS, and the combination of the two had a higher predictive value.

Red cell distribution width to total serum calcium ratio and in-hospital mortality risk in patients with acute ischemic stroke: A MIMIC-IV retrospective analysis.

We investigated the relationship among red cell distribution width (RDW), to total serum calcium (TSC) ratio (RCR), and in-hospital mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study was a retrospective analysis. The data of 2700 AIS patients was retrospectively analyzed from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database (version IV). The main outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine whether RCR was independently associated with in-hospital mortality. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the survival curves for RCR. Subgroup analyses were performed to measure the mortality across various subgroups. The area under curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was calculated to ascertain the quality of RCR as a predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with AIS. In the multivariate analysis, statistically significant differences were identified in age, ethnicity, length of ICU stay, mechanical ventilation, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, RDW, hemoglobin, RCR, whether taking anticoagulants, hyperlipidemia, and atrial fibrillation (P < .05). A threshold inflection point value of 1.83 was obtained through a two-piecewise regression model. There was a non-linear relationship between RCR and hospital mortality in patients with AIS. The hazard ratio (HR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) on the right and left of the inflection point were 0.93 (0.57-1.51; P = .7660) and 2.96 (1.37-6.42; P = .0060), respectively. The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated that survival rates were higher when RCR was ≤ 1.83 and lower when RDW was > 1.83 after adjustment for age, gender, BMI, ethnicity. The area under curve (AUC) of RCR was 0.715. A higher RCR was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with AIS.

Albumin levels and cerebral collateral circulation in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to intracranial arteriosclerotic: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Cerebral collateral circulation (CC) is associated with the recurrence and severity of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and early identification of poor CC is helpful for the prevention of AIS. In this study we evaluated the association between serum albumin levels and CC in AIS using logistic regression. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to eliminate the effect of confounders, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to explore potential nonlinear associations between albumin and CC. In unadjusted logistic regression analysis, lower albumin (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.79-0.92) was associated with poor CC, and after adjusting for covariates, the odds of lower albumin for poor CC compared to good CC were 0.86 (95% CI = 0.79-0.94). In the PS cohort, the association of albumin with CC was consistent with those of the original cohort. RCS results showed a linear relationship between albumin and CC (P values of .006 and .08 for overall and nonlinear associations, respectively). The results of this study suggest that lower serum albumin is independently associated with an increased risk of poor CC, which may serve as an effective predictive indicator for poor CC in patients with severe intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.

The role of the D-dimer to fibrinogen ratio in the classification of cardioembolism and atherosclerotic stroke.

BACKGROUND: The D-dimer-to-fibrinogen ratio (DFR) is a good indicator of thrombus activity in thrombotic diseases, but its clinical role in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients with different etiologies has not been studied. We evaluated the diagnostic value of the DFR for different subtypes of AIS. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective study of 269 patients with AIS who were referred to our stroke center within 4.5 h from Jan 2017 to Oct 2019. Coagulation data including DFRs were compared among the different stroke subtypes, and a separate retrospective validation sample was utilized to evaluate the prediction efficiency of the DFR for subtype diagnosis. RESULTS: A higher DFR was observed in patients with cardioembolism than in those with large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) (odds ratio (OR) per 0.1 increase of the DFR: 1.49 [1.01-2.18]) after we adjusted for vascular risk factors. The diagnostic value of the DFR for detecting cardioembolism (AUC = 0.722, 95 % CI = 0.623-0.820) exceeded that of isolated D-dimer or fibrinogen. The validation sample (n = 117) further supported the notion that a diagnosis of cardioembolism was more common in patients with a DFR > 0.11 (multivariable risk ratio = 3.11[1.33-7.31], P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: High DFRs were associated with cardioembolism in patients with AIS. The utilization of DFR can be beneficial for distinguishing a cardiac embolic source from atherosclerotic stroke.