OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively analyze the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and ischemic cerebrovascular disease. DATA SOURCES: A computer-based search was conducted in Pubmed for literatures related to the expression, effect, and significance of IL-6 in ischemic cerebrovascular disease pblished between January 1994 and March 2006 with the of "interleukin-6, Ischemia Cerebrovascular Disease; Interleukin-6, Ichemia Stroke", and the language was limited to English. STUDY SELECTION: Retrieved data were arranged, and articles with strong aim were selected. Literatures published recently and those published in authorized journals of the same region were superior. DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 122 relevant articles were retrieved, and 23 of them were in accordance with the inclusion criteria. DATA SYNTHESIS: IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine with both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects. It highly expresses in the cerebral tissue, cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood serum after cerebral ischemia. IL-6 plays an important role in the pathophysicoloy and inflammatory response to the ischemia cerebrovascular disease of acute stage. CONCLUSION: IL-6 plays an important role in the pathophysicological mechanism and prognosis of ischemic cerebrovascular disease, which can be taken as a prediction index for evaluating the focus of infection and neurofutional defects.

Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia(VBD ) can increase the risk of stroke. Significant expansion, elongation and tortuosity of the vertebrobasilar arteries are the main morphology manifestations of VBD. However, there is no consensus on the quantitative imaging assessment of VBD. Many studies showed that some quantitative parameters, such as basilar artery length and bending length, basilar angulation, vertebral tortuosity index can be used for the quantitative imaging assessment of VBD.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in patients with acute posterior circulation ischemic stroke (PCIS) and its impact on outcomes.Methods:From July 2016 to October 2019, patients admitted to the Department of Neurology, the People's Hospital of Zhengzhou and diagnosed as PCIS were enrolled retrospectively. Their demography, clinical data, laboratory and imaging findings were collected. HT was defined as no intracranial hemorrhage detected by the first head CT/MRI after onset, and intracranial hemorrhage was found during head CT/MRI reexamination within 10 d after onset. Symptomatic HT was defined as intracranial hemorrhage indicated by imaging reexamination and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was higher than the baseline. The outcome was evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale at 3 months after onset, and >2 were defined as poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for HT, symptomatic HT, and poor outcomes. Results:A total of 242 patients with PCIS were enrolled. Their age was 68.02±12.0 years, and 111 were females (45.9%). The baseline median NIHSS score was 5.9 (interquartile range: 3.1-8.8). HT occurred in 19 patients (7.9%), and 14 of them (73.7%) were symptomatic HT. Follow-up at 3 months showed that 74 patients (30.58%) had poor outcomes, of which 12 died. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher baseline systolic blood pressure (odds ratio [ OR] 1.076, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.021-1.135, P=0.006; OR 1.161, 95% CI 1.087-1.240, P<0.001) and larger infarct volume ( OR 31.293, 95% CI 4.542-215.592, P<0.001; OR 2.084, 95% CI 1.414-3.073, P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for HT and symptomatic HT. The higher NIHSS score ( OR 1.511, 95% CI 1.307-1.746; P<0.001), diabetes mellitus ( OR 2.041, 95% CI 1.054-3.952; P=0.034) and symptomatic HT ( OR 4.514, 95% CI 1.458-13.979; P=0.009) were the independent risk factors for poor outcomes. Conclusions:HT is rare in patients with PCIS. Higher baseline systolic blood pressure and larger infarct volume are the independent risk factors for HT in patients with PCIS. Higher baseline NIHSS scores, diabetes mellitus, and symptomatic HT are the independent risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with PCIS.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and the predictive value of Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR).Methods:Consecutive patients with AIS received IVT in Zhengzhou People’s Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. HT was defined as no intracranial hemorrhage was found on the first imaging examination after admission, and new intracranial hemorrhage was found on the imaging examination 24 h after IVT or when symptoms worsened. sHT was defined as HT and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score increased by ≥4 compared to admission or required surgical treatment such as intubation and decompressive craniectomy. The baseline clinical and laboratory data of the patients were collected, and NLR, lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet to neutrophil ratio (PNR) were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of HT and sHT, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of NLR for HT and sHT after IVT. Results:A total of 196 patients were included (age 65.37±13.10 years, 124 males [63.3%]). The median baseline NIHSS score was 4 (interquartile range: 2-10). Twenty patients (10.2%) developed HT, and 12 (6.1%) developed sHT. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in age, baseline NIHSS score, creatinine, NLR, and stroke etiology type between the HT group and the non-HT group (all P<0.05); there were statistically significant differences in age, NLR, PNR, creatinine, baseline NIHSS score, and stroke etiological type between the sHT group and the non-sHT group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR was an independent predictor of HT (odds ratio [ OR] 1.375, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.132-1.670; P=0.001) and sHT ( OR 1.647, 95% CI 1.177-2.304; P=0.004) after IVT. The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for predicting HT by NLR was 0.683 (95% CI 0.533-0.833; P=0.007), the optimal cutoff value was 5.78, the sensitivity and specificity were 55.0% and 84.1%, respectively. The area under the curve for predicting sHT by NLR was 0.784 (95% CI 0.720-0.839; P=0.001), the optimal cutoff value was 5.94, the sensitivity and specificity were 66.67% and 84.24%, respectively. Conclusions:A higher baseline NLR is associated with an increased risk of HT and sHT after IVT in patients with AIS, and can serve as a biomarker for predicting HT and sHT after IVT.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the overall burden score of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and its severity.Methods:Patients with SSNHL admitted to Zhengzhou People’s Hospital from January 2019 to June 2022 were used as the case group, and age- and gender-matched patients with tension headache or benign positional vertigo were used as the control group. MRI was used to evaluate the phenotype of CSVD, including white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS), and lacune of presumed vascular origin, and then the total burden score of CSVD was calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent factors of SSNHL. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the overall burden of CSVD and the severity of hearing loss in patients with SSNHL. Results:A total of 86 patients with SSNHL and 90 age- and gender-matched controls were included. There were statistically significant differences in triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose levels, WMHs overall score classification, periventricular WMHs score classification, deep WMHs score classification, CMBs, moderate to severe EPVS, CSVD overall burden score and classification between the two groups (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose ≥6.1 mmol/L (odds ratio [ OR] 2.149, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.042-4.432; P=0.038), triglycerides ≥1.7 mmol/L ( OR 7.012, 95% CI 2.962-16.597; P=0.000), CSVD overall burden score >1 (compared to 0 point, 2 points: OR 4.095, 95% CI 1.364-12.291, P=0.012; 3 points: OR 5.776, 95% CI 1.888-17.614, P=0.002; 4 points: OR 7.900, 95% CI 2.526-24.706; P=0.000) were significantly independently correlated with SSNHL. Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age and fasting blood glucose, the flat decline type hearing loss ( OR 1.276, 95% CI 1.131-1.618; P=0.044) and total deafness type hearing loss ( OR 1.029, 95% CI 1.002-1.058; P=0.038), and the overall burden of CSVD being moderate ( OR 1.318, 95% CI 1.036-1.677; P=0.025) and severe ( OR 2.330, 95% CI 1.232-4.406; P=0.009) were significantly independent associated with the degree of hearing loss in patients with SSNHL. Conclusion:The CSVD total burden score of moderate to severe degree is independently associated with SSNHL and the degree of hearing loss.

Objective:To investigate associations of cerebral perfusion impairment with early neurological deterioration (END) and poor outcome in patients with acute small subcortical infarction (SSI).Methods:Patients with SSI in the perforator artery region admitted to the Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou People's Hospital between January 2020 and November 2022 were prospectively included. END was defined as an increase of ≥2 in the total score of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) or an increase of ≥1 in the motor function score within 72 h after admission. Poor outcome was defined as the modified Rankin Scale score of 2 at 90 d after onset. Cerebral perfusion impairment was defined according to MRI perfusion-weighted imaging parameters. The demographic, baseline clinical and imaging data were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations of cerebral perfusion impairment and END and poor outcome in patients with SSI. Results:A total of 100 patients with SSI were enrolled, including 56 males (56.0%), and aged 69.2±5.8 years. Among them, 19 patients (19.0%) developed END, 27 (27.0%) had poor outcome, and 51 (51.0%) had significant cerebral perfusion impairment. There were statistically significant differences in high sensitivity C-reactive protein, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in the basal ganglia, enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) in the basal ganglia, deep cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and cerebral perfusion impairment between the END group and the non-END group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher diastolic blood pressure (odds ratio [ OR] 1.070, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.003-1.141); P=0.040], deep WMHs ( OR 2.271, 95% CI 1.135-4.544; P=0.020), deep CMBs ( OR 5.047, 95% CI 1.240-20.549; P=0.024), and cerebral perfusion impairment ( OR 6.083, 95% CI 1.318-28.080; P=0.021) were independent risk factors for END in patients with SSI. There were statistically significant differences in hypersensitive C-reactive protein, NIHSS score at END, basal ganglia EPVS, END, and cerebral perfusion impairment between the poor outcome group and the good outcome group ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NIHSS score at END ( OR 1.485, 95% CI 1.034-2.133; P=0.032), basal ganglia EPVS ( OR 3.005, 95% CI 1.224-7.378; P=0.016), and cerebral perfusion impairment ( OR 9.234, 95% CI 1.994-42.765; P=0.004) were independent risk factors for the poor outcome at 90 d in patients with SSI, while anterior circulation infarction ( OR 0.066, 95% CI 0.013-0.334; P=0.001) was independently negatively correlated with the poor outcomes at 90 d after onset. Conclusion:Cerebral perfusion impairment is an independent risk factor for END and poor outcome at 90 d after onset in patients with SSI.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and collateral circulation in patients with stroke caused by anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (aLVO).Methods:Patients with stroke caused by aLVO treated with endovascular mechanical thrombectomy in the Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou People's Hospital from December 2017 to April 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. Their demography, vascular risk factors, baseline clinical data and Fazekas scale score were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent correlation between WMHs and the collateral circulation status in patients with aLVO. Results:During the study, 166 patients with aLVO were included (77 males, 46.39%; aged 69.62±5.91 years). Their baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 9.33±4.42. There were 120 patients (72.29%) in the good collateral circulation group and 46 (27.71%) in the poor collateral circulation group. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in baseline NIHSS score, total Fazekas score and periventricular Fazekas score between the good collateral circulation group and the poor collateral circulation group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that total Fazekas score (odds ratio 2.583, 95% confidence interval 1.445-4.619; P=0.001) and periventricular Fazekas score (odds ratio 2.190, 95% confidence interval 1.022-4.692; P=0.044) were the independent risk factors for the poor collateral circulation. Conclusion:The severity of WMHs is associated with the poor collateral circulation in patients with aLVO.

Objective　To investigate the etiology,clinical manifestations and neuroimaging features of the lesions of the middle cerebellar foot caused by different diseases.Methods　The general clinical data of 9 patients with bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle lesions admitted to our hospital from May 2016 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed,and the clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of different diseases were analyzed.Results　Abnormal lesions were seen in 9 patients with middle cerebellar feet,including case 1:Speech slurred,left limb weakness for 3 months,dizziness,walking instability for 10 days previous pontine infarction,diagnosed as Walle’s degeneration.Case 2:Dizziness and unstable walking for 1 year after pontine hemorrhage,diagnosed as pontine hemorrhage and Waller’s degeneration of the bridge arm.Case 3:Presented with dizziness and walking instability for 2 years and was diagnosed with mu-ltiple system atrophy.Case 4:Memory loss for 2 months,aggravation for 10 days,previous rheumatoid arthritis,diagnosed as lupus encephalopathy.Case 5:Seizures of limbs,loss of consciousness for 3 days,chronic renal insufficiency in the past,diagnosed as renal encephalopathy.Case 6:Left lower limb weakness for 4 months,dizziness,seppch impairment for 2 days,diagnosed as neuromyelitis optic specturum disease.Case 7:Dizziness,walking instability for 15 days,HIV positive,diagnosed as HIV encephalopathy.Case 8:Clumsy handholding for 4 years,involuntary shaking for 2 days,diagnosis of Wilsonl’s disease.Case 9:Dizziness,unstable walking for 3 months,previous history of Hodgkin’s lymphoma,diagnosed as Hodgkin’s lymphoma with central nervous system damage.Conclusion　The etiology of the lesions of middle cerebellar foot is complex,attentions are needed in order to reduce clinical misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

No case of moyamoya syndrome with bilateral posterior cerebral artery (PCA) occlusion has been reported in China so far as this disease is extremely rare. The case shown in this article is a middle-aged women who has a history of atrial fibrillation, hypertension and type 2 diabetes acutely attacked by this syndrome. The main clinical manifestations included binocular blindness, right limb weakness. Imaging findings showed bilateral acute cerebral infarction in the parietal occipital lobe, bilateral anterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery smoke angiogenesis, bilateral PCA occlusion with distal smoke angiogenesis. Considering the medical history of the patient, the cause of the disease was diagnosed as embolic stroke of undetermined source. The patient′s consciousness has been recovered and the limb weakness has been improved after active symptomatic treatment. However, the blindness did not see any improvements. This case report aims to improve clinicians′ understanding of bilateral PCA embolization in patients with moyamoya syndrome so the occurrence of cerebral infarction can be effectively prevented.

Objective　To investigate the difference in collateral circulation and clinical prognosis between cervical carotid atherosclerosis and cardioembolism.Methods　We enrolled 318 adult endovascular patients with acute ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation occlusion between January 2014 and November 2020.132 patients with cervical carotid atherosclerosis and 186 with cardioembolism were included.The collateral score,the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score,mortality at 90 days between patients with carotid artery stenosis and patients with cardiogenic embolism was compared.Results　Compared with stroke due to cardiac embolism,stroke due to carotid atherosclerosis had a higher incidence of the internal carotid artery end occlusion（P＜0.001）and a higher collateral-circulation score（OR=1.63）,a lower mRS scores before stroke（P＜0.001）,and a lower 90-day median MRS score（OR=1.93）.Conclusion　Compared with cardiogenic embolic stroke patients,carotid atherosclerotic stroke patients have better collateral circulation and slightly better median MRS at 90 days.