Objective To compare the effects of intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering and guideline-recommended standard BP lowering on the early reperfusion and prognosis after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods This is a randomised controlled trial consisting of 118 consecutive patients who came from Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital from July 2012 to April 2016, accepting intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator thrombolysis with the systolic blood pressure (SBP) being 150-185 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The patients with ischemic stroke were diagnosed by multi-mode MRI and confirmed to have ischemic penumbra. The SBP of patients randomly assigned to intensive BP lowering group and guideline BP lowering group was maintained in 140-150 mmHg or below 180 mmHg respectively for 72 h and all patients needed to reexamine multi-mode MRI at 24 h. The primary endpoints were the neurologic function at early stage, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score and the mortality at 90 d;the secondary endpoints were the volume of infarction and hypoperfusion area, the rate of reperfusion, hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and syptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). Results Forty-nine cases in intensive BP lowering group and 56 cases in guideline BP lowering group acquired the available images. The volume of infarction was increased both in these two groups, and there was no statistically significant difference in the increased values ((13.21±9.51) cm3 vs (12.95±9.68) cm3). There were no statistically significant differences in the volume of hypoperfusion, reperfusion rate, neurologic function at early stage, the mRS scores and mortality at 90 d, the incidence of sICH except the rate of HT (9.4%, 5/53 vs 23.1%, 15/65, χ2=3.860, P=0.049) between the two groups.Conclusion Early intensive BP-lowering treatment has no adverse effects on the transformation of ischemic penumbra and prognosis after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke and may decrease the the rate of HT in some degree.

Objective: To compare the effects of modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score (mTICI) 2b and mTICI 3 reperfusion on lesions′ changes and prognosis in patients who underwent endovascular therapy within six hours after onset. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 94 patients with acute large intracranial artery occlusion of the anterior circulation who achieved reperfusion sucesssfully by endovascular therapy within 6 hours after onset in the Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital from October 2016 to March 2019. The effects of mTICI 2b and mTICI 3 reperfusion on lesions′ changes and prognosis of patients were compared. The primary endpoint was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days; the secondary endpoints were the early neurological deficit score, the mortality at 90 days, the volume of infarction at 24 hours, the changes in infarct volume for 24 hours and the rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) , reocclusion and hemorrhagic transformation. Results: In all patients, 35 cases received mTICI 2b reperfusion and 59 cases received mTICI 3 reperfusion. Compared with mTICI 2b group (10.00 (3.00, 16.00)), the early neurological deficit score at seven days of mTICI 3 group (6.00 (1.00,11.50)) was lower (Z=-2.004, P=0.045) . However, there were no statistically significant differences in mRS score at 90 days, early neurological deficit score at 24 hours and 3 days, mortality at 90 days, volume of infarction at 24 hours, the changes in infarct volume for 24 hours, and the rate of sICH, reocclusion, and hemorrhagic transformation between the two groups. Conclusion For patients with large intracranial artery occlusion of the anterior circulation within six hours after onset, achieving mTICI 3 reperfusion after endovascular therapy can improve the early neurological function more effectively, but the effects on 90-day functional outcome are similar to that of mTICI 2b reperfusion.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the time from onset to recanalization on the outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute stroke due to posterior circulation large vessel occlusion. Methods: From May 2015 to May 2019, patients with acute ischemic stroke due to posterior circulation large vessel occlusion receiving EVT in the Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University were enrolled retrospectively. According to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 d after procedure, they were divided into good outcome group (≤2) and poor outcome group (>2). Demographic and clinical data were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent correlation between the time from onset to recanalization and the outcomes. Results: A total of 64 patients with acute ischemic stroke due to posterior circulation large vessel occlusion treated by EVT were enrolled in this study. There were 50 males (78.0%) and 14 females (22.0%). The age was 67.52±10.30 years. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 22.04±4.17, and the time from onset to recanalization was 370.53±78.59 min. Thirty-one patients (48.0%) were in the good outcome group and 33 (52.0%) were in the poor outcome group. There were significant differences in baseline NIHSS score, systolic blood pressure, time from onset to revascularization, and the proportions of patients with tandem lesion and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage between the two groups (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the longer time from onset to recanalization (odds ratio [OR] 1.317, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.001-3.034; P=0.041) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR 4.207, 95% CI 1.931-10.761; P=0.004) were the independent predictors of poor outcomes, while the lower baseline NIHSS score (OR 0.302, 95% CI 0.056-0.743; P=0.047) was the independent protective factor of poor outcomes. Conclusions The longer time from onset to recanalization is an independent risk factor for poor outcomes after EVT in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by posterior circulation large vessel occlusion.

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of intravenous thrombolytic therapy in the endovascular treatment of acute anterior circulation vascular occlusive stroke.Methods The clinical data of 226 patients with acute anterior circulation vascular occlusive stroke who underwent endovascular treatment in Nanjing First Hospital,Nanjing Medical University from May 2015 to May 2018 were retrospectively collected.According to whether or not intravenous thrombolysis was performed,the patients were classified into simple thrombectomy group (n=112) and bridging treatment group (n=114).The modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction Score (mTICI) was used to evaluate the vascular opening effect,and the blood vessel recanalization time,mTICI,the symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rate,and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days after surgery were evaluated.Results There were no statistically significant differences in gender,age,past history and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score between the two groups (P＞0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in door-to-recanalization time between the two groups (P＞0.05).Excluding the patients with post-wake stroke and unexplained onset time,the simple thrombectomy group (n=63) and the bridging treatment group (n=1 11) showed statistically significant differences in onset-to-door time ((235.04± 182.64) min vs (102.48±60.51) min,t=7.01,P＜0.01)and onset-to-recanalization time ((405.31 ± 148.89) min vs (337.31 ± 117.65) min,t=3.32,P=0.01).The difference in number of thrombectomy between the simple thrombolysis group (2.55± 1.52) and the bridging treatment group (2.11± 1.48) was statistically significant (t=2.246,P=0.026).The total reperfusion (mTICI 2b/3) rate was 89.8％ (203/226),88.4％ (99/112) in the simple thrombectomy group and 91.2％ (104/114) in the bridging treatment group,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).The differences in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rate (8.93％ (10/112) vs 11.4％ (13/114)),mortality rate (12.5％ (12/112) vs 16.7％ (19/114)) and 90-day good functional outcome (mRS score 0-2;54.5％ (61/112) vs 55.8％ (63/114)) between the two groups were not statistically significant (P＞0.05).Conclusions In patients with acute anterior circulation vascular occlusive stroke undergoing endovascular treatment,intravenous thrombolysis can reduce the number of thrombectomy,not increase the door-to-recanalization time,the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality,and has similar good functional outcome as the simple thrombeetomy group.Therefore,intravenous thrombolysis is safe and effective for endovascular treatment of acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy for cardioembolic stroke (CES) due to atrial fibrillation.Methods Patients with CES admitted to Nanjing First Hospital from January 2015 to September 2017 were enrolled retrospectively.They were divided into the thrombectomy group and the intravenous thrombolysis alone group.The baseline data,the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at 24 h after treatment,rates of good outcome (defined as the modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) at 90 d after onset,hemorrhagic transformation and death between the two groups were compared.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent factors for the outcomes in patients with CES.Results A total of 117 patients with CES were enrolket,inchding 65 (55.6％) in the thrombectomy group and 52 (44.4％) in the intravenous thrombolysis alone group.Sixty-two patients (53.0％) had good outcome and 55 (47.0％) had poor outcome.The proportion of patients whose NIHSS score decreased ＞ 4 within 24 h after treatment (58.4％ vs.26.9％;x2 =6.254,P =0.007),rates of good recanalization (78.5％ vs.57.7％;x2 =5.850,P =0.016),and good outcome at 90 d (63.1％vs.40.4％;x2 =5.972,P=0.015) in the thrombectomy group were significantly higher than those in the intravenous thrombolysis alone group,while there were no significant differences in the incidences of hemorrhagic transformation,symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and gastrointestinal bleeding,as well as mortality at 90 d.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that good recanalization (odds ratio [OR] 0.371,95％ confidence interval [CI]0.157-0.876;P =0.024) and thrombectomy (OR 0.398,95％ CI 0.179-0.883;P =0.024) were the independent factors for good outcome,while diabetes (OR 6.572,95％ CI 1.684-25.641;P =0.007) was the independent factor for poor outcome.Conclusion The efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy for patients with CES due to atrial fibrillation is superior to intravenous thrombolysis alone,and it dose not increase the mortality and complications.Good recanalization and mechanical thrombectomy are the independent factors for good outcome,while diabetes is an independent factor for poor outcome in patients with CES due to atrial fibrillation.

Objective:To investigate the safety of the use of the intermediate catheter in the endovascular treatment (EVT) of patients with acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke and its impact on the outcomes.Methods:From May 2015 to September 2018, patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke received EVT in Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University were enrolled retrospectively. According to whether intermediate catheter was used during the procedure, they were divided into intermediate catheter group and non-intermediate catheter group. The demographics, clinical data and procedure related information were collected. The outcome evaluation indicators included secondary embolization, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, clinical outcome and death at 90 d after onset. A good outcome was defined as the modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictor of clinical outcome. Results:A total of 195 patients with anterior circulation large artery occlusive stroke received EVT were enrolled, including 161 in the intermediate catheter group and 34 in the non-intermediate catheter group. There were no significant differences in demographics and clinical characteristics between the intermediate catheter group and the non-intermediate catheter group. In terms of procedure related information, the number of mechanical thrombectomy passes in the intermediate catheter group was significantly decreased (2 [1-3] times vs. 2.5 [1.75-4] times; Z=2.218, P=0.017), the recanalization rate of one-pass thrombectomy was significantly higher (38.5% vs. 20.6%; χ2=3.943, P=0.047), and the rate of thrombus escape and secondary embolism was significantly lower (19.3% vs. 35.3%; χ2=4.202, P=0.041). In terms of clinical outcome, there were no significant differences in the incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, mortality and good outcome at 90 d between the intermediate catheter group and the non-intermediate catheter group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the use of intermediate catheter was an independent predictor of good outcome at 90 d (odds ratio 0.430, 95% confidence interval 0.196-0.947; P=0.036). Conclusion:In EVT of patients with acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke, the use of intermediate catheter can reduce the number of mechanical thrombectomy passes, improve recanalization rate of one-pass thrombectomy, reduce the rate of thrombus escape and second embolization, and then improve the outcome of patients.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensities (FVHs) and outcomes after endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (EMT) in patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke.Methods:Using " Nanjing First Hospital Stroke Database" , consecutive patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke received EMT treatment from June 2015 to December 2018 were enrolled retrospectively. Before EMT treatment, the distal FVH grade and the American Society of Intervention and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology (ASITN/SIR) collateral circulation grade were evaluated. The modified Rankin Scale was used to evaluate the functional outcome of patients at 3 months after onset, and 0-2 was defined as a good outcome. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the distal FVH grade and the ASITN/SIR collateral circulation grade. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of the outcomes. Results:A total of 117 patients with acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke were enrolled, aged 70.74±12.50 years, 72 (61.5%) were male. The baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 13.73±4.91. Seventy-four patients (63.2%) had a good outcome and 43 (36.8%) had a poor outcome. The distal FVH grade was grade 0 in 8 cases (6.84%), grade 1 in 34 cases (29.06%), and grade 2 in 75 cases (64.10%). Compared with the distal FVH low-grade group (grade 0-1), the high-grade group (grade 2) had a higher ASITN/SIR collateral circulation grade ( P<0.001) and lower baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ( P=0.026). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the distal FVH grade was significantly positively correlated with the ASITN/SIR collateral circulation grade ( r=0.620, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the high distal FVH grade (odds ratio [ OR] 0.336, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.128-0.879; P=0.026) was independently associated with the good outcomes, while the higher baseline NIHSS score ( OR 1.036, 95% CI 0.988-1.229; P=0.048) and symptomatic cerebral hemorrhage ( OR 5.597, 95% CI 1.052-29.761; P=0.043) were independently associated with the poor outcomes. Conclusion:The distal FVHs can reflect the state of collateral circulation. The high grade of distal FVHs is associated with the good outcomes after EMT in patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke.

Objective:To compare the effects of intensive and standard blood pressure control on the outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation who have successfully recanalized after endovascular therapy (EVT).Methods:A multicenter, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomized controlled design was used. Patients with anterior circulation stroke received EVT and successfully recanalized in Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University and several branch hospitals from July 2020 to October 2022 were prospectively included. They were randomly divided into the intensive blood pressure control group (target systolic blood pressure [SBP] 100-120 mmHg) or the standard blood pressure control group (target SBP 121-140 mmHg). The blood pressure of both groups needs to achieve the target within 1 h and maintain for 72 h. The primary outcome endpoint was outcome at 90 d, and the good outcome was defined as a score of 0-2 on the modified Rankin Scale. Secondary outcome endpoints included early neurological improvement, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) within 24 h, and death and serious adverse events within 90 d.Results:A total of 120 patients were included, including 63 in the intensive blood pressure control group and 57 in the standard blood pressure control group. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The SBP at 72 h after procedure was 122.7±8.1 mmHg in the intensive blood pressure control group and 130.2±7.4 mmHg in the standard blood pressure control group, respectively. There were no significantly differences in the good outcome rate (54.0% vs. 54.4%; χ2=0.002, P=0.963), the early neurological improvement rate (45.2% vs. 34.5%; χ2=1.367, P=0.242), the incidence of sICH (6.3% vs. 3.5%; P=0.682), mortality (7.9% vs. 14.0%; χ2=1.152, P=0.283) and the incidence of serious adverse events (12.7% vs. 15.8%; χ2=0.235, P=0.628) at 90 d between the intensive blood pressure control group and the standard blood pressure control group. Conclusion:In patients with anterior circulation stroke and successful revascularization of EVT, early intensive blood pressure control don’t improve clinical outcomes and reduce the incidence of sICH.

Transcranial magneto-acoustic electrical stimulation (TMAES) is a novel method of brain nerve regulation and research, which uses induction current generated by the coupling of ultrasound and magnetic field to regulate neural electrical activity in different brain regions. As the second special envoy of nerve signal, calcium plays a key role in nerve signal transmission. In order to investigate the effect of TMAES on prefrontal cortex electrical activity, 15 mice were divided into control group, ultrasound stimulation (TUS) group and TMAES group. The TMAES group received 2.6 W/cm ² and 0.3 T of magnetic induction intensity, the TUS group received only ultrasound stimulation, and the control group received no ultrasound and magnetic field for one week. The calcium ion concentration in the prefrontal cortex of mice was recorded in real time by optical fiber photometric detection technology. The new object recognition experiment was conducted to compare the behavioral differences and the time-frequency distribution of calcium signal in each group. The results showed that the mean value of calcium transient signal in the TMAES group was (4.84 ± 0.11)% within 10 s after the stimulation, which was higher than that in the TUS group (4.40 ± 0.10)% and the control group (4.22 ± 0.08)%, and the waveform of calcium transient signal was slower, suggesting that calcium metabolism was faster. The main energy band of the TMAES group was 0-20 Hz, that of the TUS group was 0-12 Hz and that of the control group was 0-8 Hz. The cognitive index was 0.71 in the TMAES group, 0.63 in the TUS group, and 0.58 in the control group, indicating that both ultrasonic and magneto-acoustic stimulation could improve the cognitive ability of mice, but the effect of the TMAES group was better than that of the TUS group. These results suggest that TMAES can change the calcium homeostasis of prefrontal cortex nerve clusters, regulate the discharge activity of prefrontal nerve clusters, and promote cognitive function. The results of this study provide data support and reference for further exploration of the deep neural mechanism of TMAES.
Acoustics ; Animals ; Brain ; Calcium ; Electric Stimulation ; Mice ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation