Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis. Methods By cluster sampling, adult Han people were recruited from residential communities. Medical history was documented and body height, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference and blood pressure were measured. Venous blood samples were collected to determine serum fasting glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis was diagnosed with transcranial Doppler. The SPSS 11.0 software package was used for data analysis. Results Among 1035 people conforming to the inclusion criteria, intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis was found in 58 (5.6%), 17 with left VA stenosis, 23 with right VA stenosis and 30 with BA stenosis.Univariate analysis showed that subjects with diabetes mellitus had a significantly higher prevalence ( 10. 3% ) of intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis (χ2 = 6. 221, P = 0. 013 ) and the mean systolic blood pressure (( 131.1 ± 25.5) mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0. 133 kPa) in the subjects with stenosis was significantly higher than those without (3.2%, ( 124. 1 ± 21.6) mm Hg) (t = 2. 228, P = 0. 026). Logistic regression indicated that diabetes mellitus and systolic blood pressure were independent risk factors for intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis ( diabetes mellitus: OR = 3. 305, P = 0. 023; elevated systolic blood pressure 1 mm Hg: OR = 1. 012, P =0. 047). Conclusions This study demonstrated a considerably high prevalence of intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis in a southern Chinese population. Diabetes mellitus and systolic blood pressure play potent roles in intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis.

Objective Toinvestigatetheriskoflong-termrecurrenceofstrokeanditspredictorsin youngpatientswithischemicstroke/transientischemicattack(TIA).Methods Theclinicaldataofthe consecutive young patients (18-45 years)with ischemic stroke/TIA (within 2 weeks after onset)admitted to the department of neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University between August 2008 and July 2013 were enrolled prospectively. All patients were regularly followed up for a long time (The patients were followed up at the 1 st,6 th,and 12 th month after onset;then they were followed up once for every 6 months)in order to investigate stroke recurrence. The Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze the cumulative stroke recurrence rate of all patients. The last contact time for patients lost to follow was used as censored data to be enrolled in the analysis. The univariate analysis of the related risk factors for stroke recurrence using Log-rank test. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression was used to detect the related risk factors associated with stroke recurrence (adjusting for age and sex). The variables of the results of Log-ranktestP≤0.1wasselectedandenrolledinthemultivariateregressionanalysis.Results Atotalof 312 patients were enrolled in the analysis,including 294 with ischemic stroke and 18 with TIA. Their mean follow-up time was 34 ± 19 months. Thirty-four patients had recurrent stroke,including 23 with ischemic stroke,7 with TIA,and 4 with cerebral hemorrhage. The cumulative recurrence rates of stroke at 1 ,3 , and 6 years after onset were 6. 2%,10. 3%,and 16. 4%,respectively. The results of multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that hypertension (risk ratio [RR]2. 159;95% confidence interval [CI]1. 048-4. 447,P=0. 037)and cardioembolism (RR,2. 869;95%CI 1. 119-7. 357,P=0.028)weretheindependentpredictorsforstrokerecurrence.Conclusion Theoverall6-yearriskof recurrent stroke is not high in the Chinese young patients with ischemic stroke/TIA,but the risk of stroke recurrence is relatively higher in the first year. Hypertension and cardioembolism are the potential predictors of stroke recurrence;therefore,attention should be paid in clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the risk factors, diagnostic evaluation, etiology, and treatment in young patients with ischemic stroke. Methods The clinical data of young patients (age range 18 - 45 years) with ischemic stroke (within 2 weeks of stroke onset) admitted to the Stroke Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from August 2008 to July 2013 were registered prospectively. Results A total of 300 patients were enroled, their age was 37. 8 ± 6. 8 years. There were 227 males (75. 7% ). The age of 84 patients (28. 0% ) was ≤35 years. The most common risk factors were smoking (43. 3% ), hypertension (38. 7% ), and hypercholesterolemia (38. 0% ). The positive result detection rates were lower in the antinuclear antibody (8/278), anticardiolipin antibody (34/250), 24-h Holter monitoring (2/60 ), and transthoracic echocardiography (38/232). According to the MRI findings, the detection rate of the white matter changes, old infarcts, single acute infarcts, and multiple acute cerebral infarcts were 40/282, 77/282, 145/282, and 137/282, respectively. The stroke subtypes of TOAST: large artery atherosclerosis (26. 7% ), smal artery occlusion (18. 0% ), cardioembolism (10. 0% ), other determined etiology (23. 0% ), and undetermined etiology (22. 3% ). Large artery atherosclerosis was mainly involved in anterior circulation (69/80) and intracranial arteries (75/80). In other definite causes, cerebral artery dissection was most common (36/69), and other causes included moyamoya disease (7/69) and infectious vasculitis (7/69), etc. The average length of hospital stay was 15. 4 d. The mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission was 7. 0, and the mean modified Rankin scale score at discharge was 2. 5. The complication rate during hospitalization was 9. 7% . 80. 3% and 48. 3% of patients received anti-platelet drugs and statins therapy during hospitalization.Conclusions This study used a prospective single-center method. It conducted a comprehensive analysis of risk factors, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and etiology in current Chinese young patients with ischemic stroke. Its research data wil provide useful information for establishing a diagnostic strategy of high performance cost ratio, in-depth understanding of its pathophysiological mechanisms, and improving treatment strategies in Chinese young patients with ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether A118G single nucleotide polymorphisms of the µ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) affects epidural patient-controlled analgesia with fentanyl after caesarean section.

METHODSA total of 100 pregnant women (ASA class I or II) scheduled for elective caesarean section were enrolled in this study. All the patients received spinal-epidural anesthesia and were screened for blood A118G polymorphism. Epidural patient-controlled analgesia with fentanyl was provided postoperatively. The pain scores, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and total self-administered epidural fentanyl dose within 48 h postoperatively were recorded.

RESULTSNinety-six patients were finally included in this study. The percentages of the genotypes AA, AG, and GG were 36.5% (35 cases), 46.9% (45 cases), and 16.7% (16 cases), respectively. At 12 and 24 h postoperatively, the pain scores and the total fentanyl dose administered were significantly higher in group GG than in groups AA and AG.

CONCLUSIONA118G single nucleotide polymorphism affects pain relief and total fentanyl dose administered in epidural patient-controlled analgesia after caesarean section. G118 homozygotes have a poorer response to fentanyl than A118 homozygotes or heterozygotes.

Adult ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; Genotype ; Humans ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, Opioid, mu ; genetics ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze the characteristics of clinical manifestations, risk factors, therapies and acute outcomes in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis complicated by cerebral hemorrhage. Methods Seventy-five patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis were included in the study. According to the radiological findings on the brain image, patients were divided into two subgroups:cerebral hemorrhage group and non-hemorrhage group. The demo?graphic data, potential risk factors, clinical manifestations, radiological features, therapeutic strategies and acute out?comes were compared between two subgroups, and high risk factors were also analyzed. Results There were seventy-five patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in the present study. Twenty-eight patients of them (37.2%) had cerebral hemorrhage whereas the remaining forty-seven patients (62.7%) did not have cerebral hemorrhage. Pregnancy/puerperi?um were significantly higher in patients with cerebral hemorrhage (with vs without;28.6%vs. 6.4%, P=0.015), while in?fection was markedly higher in patients without cerebral hemorrhage (with vs without;7.1% vs. 29.8%, P=0.021). Head?ache (92.9% vs. 70.2%, P=0.021), unconsciousness (25.0% vs. 6.4%,P=0.034), seizures (53.6% vs. 19.1%, P=0.002) and motor deficits (35.7% vs. 12.8%, P=0.019) were more common in patients with cerebral hemorrhage. Moreover, mul?tiple sinus involvement (1.4% vs. 44.7%, P=0.024) was significantly higher and the acute outcomes(mRS≥3: 46.4%vs.17.0%, P=0.006)were poorer in patients with cerebral hemorrhage. Binary Logistic analysis showed that pregnancy/pu?erperium (P=0.004) and multiple sinus involvement were positively, whereas infection was negatively correlated with cere?bral venous sinus thrombosis and hemorrhage ( P=0.007;P=0.03). Conclusions Pregnancy/puerperium, headache, uncon?sciousness, seizures, motor deficits and multiple sinus involvement are more frequently in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and hemorrhage, and the acute outcomes are poorer in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis complicated by cerebral hemorrhage.