Objective To observe the effectiveness and safety of endovascular stent assisted angioplasty for symptomatic intracranial arteriostenosis.Methods 4 patients with symptomatic intracranial arteriostenosis were treated with endovascular angioplasty using balloon expandable stents. Therapeutic effects were evaluated by clinical manifestations, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and transcranial Dopple (TCD) before and after the operation. Follow up was made for 7~10 months.Results Technical success was achieved in all patients, with no complication of cerebral embolism and hemorrhage except one of transient seizure during operation. Angiographic results immediately after stenting suggested that the residual postoperation stenosis was 8%(0%~17%), with significant reduction from preoperation stenosis of 75%(70%~80.7%). No recurrent TIA and stroke occurred and no restenosis was found with serial TCD in all 4 patients during follow up of 7~10 months.Conclusions Endovascular stenting is a safe and effective therapeutic tool for symptomatic intracranial arteriostenosis.

Objective To investigate the influence of Batroxobin on plasma level of lysophosphatidic acid(LPA) in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 61 patients with acute cerebral infarction were selecued randomly to Batroxobin group ( n=31) or control group ( n=30). Aspirin and Danshen root were used in both groups as basic treatment. Batroxobin was used in Batroxobin group for one course of treatment. The plasma levels of LPA were measured before treatment and 5th, 7th, 10th, and 14th day after treatment in both acute cerebral infraction groups, and compared with health volunteers(normal group).Results The plasma levels of LPA in both Batroxobin group and control group were remarkably higher than that in normal group(all P0.05). In Batroxobin group the plasma levels of LPA were significantly lower than that in control group at 5th, 7th, 10th, 14th day after treatment(all P

Phytoestrogen is a kind of plant element which is similar to animal estrogen. Phytoestrogens can prevent progreator system cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Recently more and more researches are reported on the protection of phytoestrogens on central nerve system.

Objective To analyze the effect and safety of cerebral protection filter in carotid artery and stenting(CAS) for the treatment of severe symptomatic carotid artery stenosis.Methods Elective CAS with the use of cerebral protection filters were undergone in 26 consecutive patients with severe carotid artery stenosis.The filter devices were advanced through lesions and opened distal to the lesions followed by CAS.The incidence of cerebral ischemic events and the debris collected in the filters were observed and analyzed.Results In all the patients,it was feasible and successful to position the filters devices in the internal carotid artery.After the filter devices were positioned,CAS were performed successfully in all the 26 patients.Thrombus or plague debris were found in 14 out of 26 retrieved filters(54%).There was no death or symptomatic cerebral thromboembolic event during the CAS procedure.Asymptomatic cerebral embolization lesions were detected in 3 patients by the means of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging after 1-6 days of the CAS.No major cerebral or cardiovascular ischemic events were recorded in all patients during their follow up period of 6-12 months.Conclusion Carotid artery stenting is an effective microinvasive therapy for severe carotid artery stenosis which effect and safety can be enhanced with the use of cerebral protection filter.

Frailty is an important geriatric syndrome and has gradually become one of the major focuses in geriatric research.Frailty is the result of interaction between multiple factors working on multiple systems,and is closely related to adverse health consequences.Therefore,early identification and assessment of frailty is very important for effective management of high risk individuals.This article reviews the current frailty assessment tools and examines their advantages and disadvantages.