Objective To investigate the risk factors for leukoaraiosis (LA). Methods The clinical and imaging data in patients with stroke were collected retrospectively. LA was divided into periventricular LA and subcortical LA according to the findings of MRI, and they were scored and classified. Results A total of 113 patients with stroke were included. There were 39 women and 74 men (mean age 61.33 ± 1.32 years). The age (65.52 ± 12. 56 vs.47. 96 ±9. 23 years, t =5. 634, P =0. 000), hypertension (68. 60% vs. 29. 63% ,x2 = 12. 932,P =0. 000), diabetes (30. 23% vs. 3.70%, x2 = 7. 953, P = 0. 005), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (147. 42 ± 2. 78 mm Hg vs. 134. 00 ± 22. 45 mm Hg,t = 2. 862, P = 0. 004), glucose (6. 54 ± 3. 48 mmol/L vs. 5. 35 ± 1.37 mmol/L, t = 2. 808, P = 0. 005), and total cholesterol (TC) level (5. 17±0.89 mmol/L vs. 4.59±0.61 mmol/L, t=3. 152, P=0. 002) in patients with periventricular LA (n = 86) were significantly higher than those without periventricular LA (n =27). The age (66. 44 ± 11.33 vs. 47. 96 ±9. 23 years, t =4. 768, P =0. 000), hypertension (74. 29% vs. 34. 88%, x2 = 17. 134, P = 0. 000), SBP (85.46 ± 9. 80 mm Hg vs. 69. 81 ±8. 74 mm Hg, t =2. 999, P=0. 003), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (85.46 ±9. 80 mm Hg vs.69. 81 ±8.74 mm Hg, t =2. 999, P =0. 003), and TC level (5.22±0.99 mmol/L vs. 4.91 ±0. 75 mmol/L, t =3. 330, P =0. 001) in patients with subcortical LA (n =70) were significantly higher than those without subcortical LA (n =43). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the periventricular LA classification was significantly correlated with the age (rs = 0. 606, P =0. 000), drinking (rs = -0. 257, P = 0. 006), hypertension (rs = 0. 428, P = 0. 000), diabetes (rs =0. 236, P =0. 012), SBP (rs =0. 382, P =0. 000), and DBP (rs =0. 258, P =0. 006). The subcortical LA classification was significantly correlated with the age (rs = 0.488, P = 0. 000),hypertension (rs = 0. 416, P = 0. 000), SBP (rs = 0. 386, P = 0. 000), DBP (rs = 0. 326, P =0. 006), and TC level (rs =0. 231, P =0. 014). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age (odds ratio[OR] = 1.071, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.009-1. 137; P=O. 024), hypertension (OR =4. 106, 95% CI 1. 657-10. 174; P =0. 002), and SBP (OR =1. 049,95% CI 1. 162-7. 013; P = 0. 022) were independently correlated with LA. Conclusions The age, hypertension, and SBP are the independent risk factors for LA, in which the age is an uncontrollable factor, and the aggressive prevention and treatment of hypertension may reduce the occurrence of LA.

This study is to establish a simple and practical co-culture method of cortical neurons and astrocytes of rats. The cortex of the new-born SD rats was digested by 0.125% pancreatic enzyme, and the differential adherence was applied to obtain the mixed cell suspension of neurons and astrocytes. A low concentration of cytarabine was used to inhibit the astrocytes in a moderate way to get neuronal and astrocyte co-culture. The morphological characteristics of the cells in different times were observed under the inverted microscope. The cells began to adhere the wall 2 h after the inoculation. Neurons and astrocytes grew in a good condition under the inverted microscope 9 days after the inoculation. The results of the immunofluorescence staining and Rosenfeld's staining indicated that the co-culture of neurons and astrocytes was successful and the ratio of neurons and astrocytes was close to 1:1. A new neurons and astrocytes co-culture method, which is simple and convenient, was successfully established. It will be an efficient method for the related researches about neuronal and astrocyte co-culture in vitro.