Objectives
This study aims to examine the possible association between C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and cognitive impairment in patients with post-stroke epilepsy.
Methods
Patients with post-stroke epilepsy admitted to Western China Hospital from January 2010 to June 2016 were consecutively enrolled in our study. CRP levels were assessed within one week of stroke onset, and then correlated with cognitive status assessed two years after stroke using the Six-Item Screener.
Results
Among the 96 patients with post-stroke epilepsy who included in our study, 24 patients were found to have cognitive impairment during the two years follow-up period. Our data showed a significant association between CRP levels and cognitive performance in these patients (31.5±36.2 vs. 11.9±19.4, P=0.029). In addition, this association persisted even after adjusting for potential confounders［OR=1.021, 95%CI (0.997, 1.206), P=0.037］.
Conclusions
Following ischemic stroke, higher CRP levels is associated with subsequent cognitive decline in patients with epilepsy. Association and prospective studies in larger sample size are needed in order to validate our findings, especially studies in which baseline CRP level and CRP level during follow-up are closely monitored.
ObjectiveTo conduct an objective record of stroke patient’s retinal diseases by retinal photography, and analyze the incidence of various retinal diseases between different subtypes of stroke.MethodsFrom June to October 2007, the consecutive cases of stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University were prospectively registered. Ischemic stroke patients were classified into different subtypes by the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project criteria, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients were classified based on the clinical manifestation and neuroimaging. We collected other clinical data associated with the incidence of stroke. The retinal abnormalities including retinopathy, arteriovenous nicking and arteriolar narrowing were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to investigate the relationship between retinal abnormalities and stroke.ResultsThis study included 199 patients with ischemic stroke and 95 patients with ICH. Among the patients with ischemic stroke, 43 (21.6%) had retinopathy, 52 (26.1%) presented with arteriovenous nicking, and 43 (21.6%) developed arteriolar narrowing. Among the patients with ICH, retinopathy occurred in 23 (24.2%), arteriovenous nicking occurred in 14 (14.7%), and arteriolar narrowing occurred in 25 (26.3%). In multivariate analysis, retinopathy was independently associated with partial anterior circulation infarct (PACI) (P=0.029) and anterior ICH (P=0.041).ConclusionsRetinopathy is independently associated with PACI and anterior ICH. Further community-based study with large sample should be conducted to confirm the predictive value of retinal diseases on the incidence of anterior stroke.
Objective To explore the efficacy of endovascular therapy in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods The acute ischemic stroke patients who received endovascular therapy between January 2020 and January 2023 were retrospectively enrolled. According to age, patients were divided into the elderly group (≥ 80 years old) and other age groups (<80 years old). The baseline data, green channel data, nerve function deficit, recanalization and complication information were collected, and the patients were followed up. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to evaluate patients prognosis at 3 months after onset. Score less than or equal to 2 points was defined as good prognosis and over 2 points was defined as poor prognosis. Results A total of 138 patients were included, and 7 patients were lost to follow-up. Finally, 131 patients were included. Among them, there were 50 cases in the elderly group and 81 cases in the other age group. There were statistically significant differences in age, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and vascular recanalization between the elderly group and the other age group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the other baseline data, complications, 3-month prognosis, or mortality between the two groups (P>0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score at admission [odds ratio (OR)=1.150, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.033, 1.281), P=0.011], pulmonary infection [OR=2.933, 95%CI (1.109, 7.758), P=0.030], and hypoproteinemia [OR=3.716, 95%CI (1.226, 11.264), P=0.020] affected the mRS score at 3 months after onset. Conclusions Among the patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular therapy, there is no difference in the occurrence of complications or short-term prognosis between elderly patients and other age patients. However, the attention should still be paid to reducing the occurrence of complications in patients, strengthening their nutritional support, and thereby improving their prognosis.
ObjectiveTo observe the morphological characteristics of retinal vessels in patients with ischemic stroke, and to preliminary analyze the correlation between retinal vascular morphological parameters and ischemic stroke. MethodsA retrospective study. From May 2015 to May 2017, 73 patients with ischemic stroke (ischemic stroke group) confirmed by examination at the Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University were included in this study. In addition, 146 patients were included in the control group. A total of 146 patients with acute stroke who were excluded by head CT and/or magnetic resonance imaging were selected as the control group. Fundus images of patients were collected by nonmydriatic fundus camera. Retinal vascular parameters were measured by artificial intelligence fundus image analysis system, included retinal artery and vein caliber as well as vascular curvature, branching angle, fractal dimension, and density. The morphological characteristics of retinal vessels were compared between the control and ischemic stroke groups, and correlation between the retinal vascular parameters and ischemic stroke was analyzed using binary logistic regression. ResultsCompared with the control group, the ischemic stroke group had thinner retinal artery caliber, smaller retinal vascular fractal dimension, and lower retinal vascular density; moreover, these differences were statistically significant (t=3.232, 3.502, 3.280; P＜0.05). Vascular fractal dimension [odds ratio (OR)=0.291, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.160-0.528] and retinal artery caliber (OR=0.924, 95%CI 0.870-0.981) were strongly correlated with ischemic stroke (P＜0.01). ConclusionCompared with the control group, the retinal artery caliber, fractal dimension and retinal vascular density in ischemic stroke group are smaller; decreased retinal artery caliber and fractal dimension are correlated with ischemic stroke.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the correlation between atrial fibrillation and prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke after intravenous thrombolysis.
MethodsLiterature search was carried out in PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2014), CBM and WanFang Data up to April 2014 for the domestic and foreign cohort studies on atrial fibrillation and prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke after intravenous thrombolysis. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2.
ResultsA total of 7 cohort studies were finally included involving 69 017 cases. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with patients without atrial fibrillation, atrial fibrillation reduced 3-month favourable nerve function of patients with atrial fibrillation (OR=0.85, 95%CI 0.73 to 0.98, P=0.03) but did not influence the risk of death after intravenous thrombolysis (OR=1.47, 95%CI 0.75 to 2.86, P=0.26); and increased the risks of intracranial haemorrhagic transformation (OR=1.36, 95%CI 1.26 to 1.47, P < 0.001) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after intravenous thrombolysis (OR=1.43, 95%CI 1.02 to 1.99, P=0.04).
ConclusionFor patients with ischemic stroke, atrial fibrillation does not influence the risk of death, but it increases the risks of intracranial hemorrhage, and worsens 3-month favourable nerve function of after intravenous thrombolysis. For those patients, more assessment before intravenous thrombolysis and more monitoring after intravenous thrombolysis are necessary. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, the abovementioned conclusion still needs to be verified by conducting more high quality studies.
Good collateral circulation can effectively improve the prognosis of patients with severe stenosis or occlusion of cerebral blood supply artery. Studies have shown that CT angiography (CTA) can non-invasively and intuitively evaluate the degree of stenosis and collateral blood flow in diseased vessels. Rapid and accurate CTA collateral circulation score is of great significance for clinical decision-making and judging the prognosis of ischemic stroke. At present, there are many scoring scales based on CTA collateral circulation. This article will review the existing 7 CTA collateral circulation scoring scales, the advantages and disadvantages of clinical application and related research progress in predicting prognosis, aiming to provide a reference for clinicians to choose the collateral circulation score scale and the best treatment plan according to different situations.
Objective To systematically assess the clinical efficacy and safety of cilostazol for preventing ischemic stroke recurrence. Methods Such databases as PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, CNKI, CBM, and VIP were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of cilostazol to prevent ischemic stroke recurrence (up to November, 2010). Two researchers selected studies and extracted data independently using a designed extraction form. The quality of included trials was evaluated and RevMan 5.0 software was used for meta-analyses. Results Four RCTs involving 3 916 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that there were significant differences between cilostazol and aspirin in terms of hemorrhagic stroke occurrence (RR=0.39, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.61, Plt;0.000 1), headache occurrence (RR=1.99, 95%CI 1.16 to 3.43, P=0.01) and dizziness occurrence (RR=1.43, 95%CI 1.13 to 1.79, P=0.002). Whereas, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of ischemic stroke recurrence (RR=0.80, 95%CI 0.61 to 1.04, P=0.10) and transient ischemic attack occurrence (RR=0.93, 95%CI 0.45 to 1.92, P=0.85). Conclusion The current evidence indicates that cilostazol is as effective as aspirin in preventing ischemic stroke recurrence, but with less incidence of hemorrhagic stroke.
Objective To evaluate the risk factors for cognitive impairment and their interactions in acute ischemic stroke (IS) patients. Methods IS patients admitted to the Department of Neurology, the People’s Hospital of Mianyang between January 2019 and January 2022 were selected. Patients were divided into a cognitive impairment group and a cognitive normal group. The demographic characteristics and clinical data of the subjects were collected, and the traditional risk factors for cognitive impairment were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The multifactor dimensionality reduction test was used to detect the possible interactions between risk factors. Results A total of 255 patients were included. Among them, 88 cases (34.5%) in the cognitive impairment group and 167 cases (65.5%) in the cognitive normal group. The results of factor logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for covariates, big and medium infarction volume, severe IS, moderate to severe carotid artery stenosis as well as high hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were associated with post-IS cognitive impairment (P<0.05). The cognitive impairment increased by 22.632 times [odds ratio=22.632, 95% confidence interval (5.980, 85.652), P<0.001] in patients with big and medium infarction volume, severe IS and high hs-CRP. Conclusions The cognitive impairment is common in acute IS. Patients with big and medium infarction volume, non-mild stroke, carotid artery stenosis, high hs-CRP, and non-right sided infarction are prone to cognitive impairment, and there are complex interactions among these risk factors.
Objective A set of core index sets applicable to the treatment of ischemic stroke (IS) by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been constructed to IS as a basis for final determination of core index sets. Methods The exploratory sequence design of mixed methods research (MMR) was used to conduct qualitative research first and quantitative research, and the research model of quantitative research was determined based on the qualitative research results. In the qualitative research stage, focus groups composed of TCM encephalopathy and neurology experts, core indicator set methodology experts, clinical pharmacists of encephalopathy and researchers with more than 10 years of experience were selected by purpose sampling method, and focus group meetings were held around the theme of "indicator domain, indicator hierarchy and indicator attribution". Based on the discussion results, the meeting further designed the quantitative research questionnaire. A questionnaire survey was conducted among medical professionals with TCM background nationwide from September 11 to October 11, 2023, using convenient sampling method. Results In the qualitative research stage, 11 categories of IS index domain were successfully divided, including functional impairment evaluation, imaging index, daily living ability evaluation, TCM therapeutic characteristic index and TCM intervention advantage index. In the quantitative research part, 50 valid questionnaires were collected from 23 hospitals in 13 provinces, with a recovery rate of 76.92%. The recovery rate of the second round was 100%. In the end, the initial list of IS indicators in different stages of disease course was developed. The acute stage included 43 second-level evaluation indexes, 8 third-level evaluation indexes and 87 fourth-level evaluation indexes under 8 index domains. The recovery period includes 45 second-level evaluation indexes, 8 third-level evaluation indexes and 72 fourth-level evaluation indexes under 10 index domains. The sequelae stage included 33 second-level evaluation indicators, 8 third-level evaluation indicators and 70 fourth-level evaluation indicators in 9 indicator domains. Conclusion Based on the exploratory sequence design of MMR, this study successfully divide the index domain that IS scientific, in line with the characteristics of the disease and can reflect the characteristics of the intervention effect of TCM, ensuring the scientific and applicability of the initial IS index list, and laying a solid foundation for the construction of a comprehensive, objective and practical core index set.
Objective The baseline, clinical characteristics, and risk factors were analyzed in the stroke registry program of the Xinjiang Production Constraction Corp’s Hospital aimed to aid the clinical management and stroke prevention. Method A single center prospective method based on Lausanne Stroke Registry was used in this study. Patients generally, past history, living conditions, onset to treatment time, the stroke scale were collected with 1 year follow up. The investigators of follow up were single blinded. Result Eight hundred and ten ischemic stroke patients were included, of which 478 (59.01%) were male, 332 (40.99%) were female. The average age of these patients was 66.50±10.66 years. One year loss rate of follow up was 4.64%. Seven hundred and sixty-nine patients were diagnosis as acute cerebral infarction, 41 patients were TIA. The median time from onset to treatment was 15 hours. Lacunar infarction was the most common type with 334 (43.43%) patients. The average score of the National Institutes of Heath Stroke Scale was 5.55±7.24. The incidence of carotid artery plaque was 82.2%. Conclution Xinjiang region has its own characteristics of stroke with a higher carotid artery plaque rate and thrombolytic therapy ratio. Good stroke registration system could standardize the clinical behavior and promote the continuous improvement of medical quality.
