Objective To investigate the clinical and imaging characteristics of isolated pontine infarction as well as the influencing factors for early progressive motor deficits (PMD) and short-term prognosis.Methods A total of 86 patients with isolated pontine infarction who admitted in hospital within 24 hours of symptom onset were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into paramedian pontine infarction (PPI) and lacunar pontine infarction (LPI) according to the maximal diameter of the lesions and the locations of infarction.They were divided into either a PMD group or a non-PMD group according to the early status of PMD.They were also divided into a poor outcome group (mRS score ＞ 2) and a good outcome group (mRS score ≤ 2) according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at discharge.The clinical and imaging features of the different patient groups were compared.Results The patients' constituent ratios of hyperlipidemia (57.14％ vs.33.33％;x2 =4.80,P=0.028),hemiplegia (97.14％ vs.72.55％;x2 =8.718,P=0.003),basilar artery stenosis (45.71％ vs.17.65％;x2=7.930,P=0.005) and poor outcome at discharge (54.29％ vs.31.37％ ; x2 =4.515,P =0.034),and the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (6.00 ± 2.39 vs.4.61 ± 3.41; t =2.087,P =0.040) in the PPI group (n =35) were significantly higher than those in the LPI group (n =51).The constituent ratios of the baseline diastolic blood pressure levels (97.82 ± 15.61 mm Hg vs.89.55 ± 12.23 mm Hg,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa; t =2.258,P =0.031),PPI (63.64％ vs.32.81％ ;x2 =6.445,P =0.011) and basilar artery stenosis (59.10％ vs.18.75％ ;x2 =12.922,P =0.000) in the PMD group (n =22) were significantly higher than those in the non-PMD group (n =64).The baseline NIHSS scores (6.80 ± 2.63 vs.3.73 ± 2.55; t =5.426,P =0.000),fasting blood glucose levels (9.40 ±5.15 mmol/L vs.6.56 ±2.69 mmol/L; t =2.985,P=0.004) and the constituent ratios of PPI patients (54.29％ vs.31.37％ ;x2 =4.515,P =0.034) in the poor outcome group (n =35) were significantly higher than those in the good outcome group (n =51).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that basilar artery stenosis was an independent risk factor for the onset of PPI (odds ratio [OR] 3.801,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.357-10.646; P =0.011) and the early PMD of isolated pontine infarction (OR 4.571,95％ CI 1.214-17.214; P=0.025).The baseline NIHSS score ≥ 5 was its independent predictor for poor outcome (OR 4.277,95％ OR 1.505-12.151; P =0.006).Conelusions PPI is mainly associated with the lesions in the branches of basilar artery.The baseline NIHSS score ≥ 5 may be an independent predictor for short-term poor outcome of isolated pontine infarction.Its early PMD and short-term poor outcome may be associated with the basilar artery lesions.

Objective To evaluate the function of clinical-diffusion mismatch (CDM) in intraarterial thrombolysis treatment for acute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and to evaluate specialty of CDM in predicting the putative penumbra.Methods All 106 acute MCAO patients within 6 hours after onset and examined by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were assigned into two groups:the intraartery thrombolysis group (n =36) and without thrombolysis group ( n =70).Both groups were subdivided into CDM sub-group and non-CDM sub-group based on the criteria of CDM:National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥8 and ischemic volume on DWI ≤25 ml upon admission.NIHSS scores at the day 30 and 3 month after onset,and infarct volumes on T2 weighted imaging (T2 WI)at day 14 after onset were analyzed and compared between each sub-groups.Results The NIHSS scores in the CDM sub-group at both day 30 and the 3 month were significantly lower than the scores in the non-CDM sub-group among the patients having thrombolysis(3.20 ± 2.40 vs 6.76 ± 4.00,t =- 3.330,P =0.002 ; 2.20 ± 1.70 vs 6.05 ± 4.06,t =3.895,P =0.001 ),but not among the non-thrombolysis patients (5.22 ± 2.95 vs 5.66 ± 3.21,t =- 1.756,P =0.084 ;4.34 ± 2.53 vs 5.34 ± 3.42,t =1.234,P =0.353 ).Among the patients having CDM,the thrombolysis group resulted significant lower NIHSS scores at both day 30 and 3 month follow-up than non-thrombolysis group did (3.20 ±2.40 vs 5.22 ±2.95,t =- 2.210,P =0.034;2.20 ± 1.70 vs 4.34 ± 2.53,t =-3.128,P =0.003 ).However,among the patients of non-CDM,there was no difference in the NIHSS score between the thrombolysis group and the non-thrombolysis group at day 30 and 3 month (6.76±4.00 vs 5.66±3.21,t=1.209,P=0.231;6.05 ± 4.06 vs 5.34 ± 3.42,t =1.234,P=0.460).Among the CDM patients,the T2 WI infarct volume in the thrombolysis group was significantly smaller than that in the non-thrombolysis at day 14 onset ( ( 6.29 ± 4.41 ) ml vs ( 60.25 ± 49.23 ) ml,Z =- 4.848,P =0.001 ).Conclusion CDM may predict the putative penumbra with high specificity and can be applied in the therapy of intra-artery thrombolytic for acute MCAO patients.

Objective To investigate the clinical and imaging differences in acute thrombotic and embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion.Methods The cerebral infarction patients with acute middle cerebral artery trtmk occlusion confirmed by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) within 24 hours of onset were divided into large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) group and the cardioembolism (CE) group according to the TOAST classification criteria.Under the circumstances of not receiving thrombolytic therapy,the infarct volume on DWI,morphological characteristics and the changes of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores both at admission and day 14 were compared.Results A total of 102 cerebral infarction patients with acute middle cerebral artery trunk occlusion were included.The age of the CE group was significantly older than that of the LAA group (67.60 ± 9.62 years vs.62.57 ± 10.18 years,P =0.017),and more patients with coronary heart disease (27.27％ vs.2.90％,P=0.001 ).The infarct volume (31.96 ±39.20 ml vs.65.66 ±84.74 ml,P =0.005),the NIHSS score at admission (6.42 ± 3.38 vs.11.67 ±8.50,P=0.007),and the improvement of the disease (i.e.the difference of NIHSS scores between admission and day 14) (1.55 ± 6.43 vs.5.75 ± 9.28,P =0.027) in LAA group were significantly lower than those in the CE group.However,there was no significant difference in the NIHSS score between the 2 groups at day 14 (4.87 ± 6.61 vs.5.97 ± 3.60,P =0.324).The infarct volume was significantly correlated with the NIHSS scores at day 14 (CE group:r=0.625,P=0.001; LAA group:r=0.295,P=0.014).The LAA group was mostly the multiple lesions (71.01％),and the CE group was mostly the single lesions (54.55％) (P =0.016).Conclusion There were differences in morphology of cerebral lesion between the LAA and CE groups.In the early stage after onset,CE caused middle cerebral artery trunk occlusion was more serious and had larger infarct volume,but some patients could naturally significantly improve within a short time after onset.

Objective To assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of balloon disruption of thrombus by using a deflated balloon catheter combined with intraarterial thrombolysis for the treatment of acute middle cerebral artery(MCA) occlusion. Methods Five consecutive patients with acute MCA occlusion underwent balloon disruption combined with intra-arterial thrombolysis. The microballoon was inflated in the distal carotid artery and then deflated and advanced just distal to the occlusion site in the MCA. Thereafter, intra-arterial thrombolysis of the MCA was applied and the maximum dosage of urokinase was 500,000 U. Results Complete recanalization was achieved in 3 patients and partial recanalization in 2. All patients got favourable clinical outcome. There was no major intracerebral hemorrhage. Conclusion The penetration of the MCA with a deflated balloon catheter combined with an intra-arterial thrombolysis may be a safe and effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of early diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for early neurological deterioration (END) after acute isolated basal ganglia infarct.Methods Patients with acute isolated basal ganglia infarct in middle cerebral artery perforators completed head MRI examination at 24 h after onset were analyzed retrospectively.According to the axial DWI revealed lesion size,the maximum diameters were divided into ＜ 15 mm,15-30 mm,and ＞ 30 mm.END was defined as an increase in the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥2 or the motor score of NIHSS ≥ 1 at any time within the first 72 h after admission compare with the baseline scores.Results A total of 336 patients were enrolled,including 126 patients (37.5％) with END.There were significant differences in the constituent ratios of the sex (P =0.044),maximum diameter of the lesion (P =0.001),and guilty artery stenosis (P =0.006),as well as baseline NIHSS score (P =0.001),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P =0.033),and C-reactive protein (P =0.039) between the END group and the non-END group.Multiple logistic regression showed that the maximum diameter of the lesions 15-30 mm (odds ratio [OR] 2.360,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.370-4.066;P =0.002),female (OR 1.660,95％ CI 1.024-2.691;P =0.040),and guilty large artery stenosis (OR 1.713,95％ CI 1.036-2.833;P =0.036) were the independent risk factors for patients occurring END,while the high HDL-C (OR 0.355,95％ CI 0.141-0.894;P =0.028) was an independent protective factor of occurring END.Conclusion Early DWI revealed that the maximum diameter of the lesions may have certain clinical value for prediction of the occurrence of END in patients with acute isolated basal ganglia infarct.

Objective To investigate the correlation between early blood pressure variability and early neurological deterioration (END) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods Inpatients with acute ischemic stroke were collected prospectively.The blood pressure values of the enrolled patients were recorded continuously for 72 h after admission.The mean value (mean),maximum value (max),differences betw een the maximum and minimum (max-min),standard deviation (SD),and coefficient of variation (CV) for the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were calculated.END was as an increase of at least 2 in the highest score of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) compared to the baseline.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent correlation between the different blood pressure variability parameters and END following acute ischemic stroke after adjusting the confounding factors.Results A total of 128 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled,including 53 females and 75 males,and their mean age was 63.30 ± 11.82 years.After standard treatment,35 patients (27.34％) developed END within 72 h after admission.There were significant differences in age,sex,diabetes mellitus,baseline NIHSS,C-reactive protein and SBPmax,SBP in,SBPSD,SBPCv,DBPmax,DBP max-min,DBPsD,and DBPCv between END group and non-END group (all P ＜0.05).Multivariate logisticregression analysis showed that SBPmax-min(odds ratio [OR] 1.040,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.014-1.067,SBPsD(OR 1.191,95％ CI 1.052-1.347),SBPCv(OR 1.317,95％ CI 1.100-1.578),DBP max-min(OR 1.076,95％ CI 1.018-1.138),DBPsD(OR 1.508,95％ CI 1.128-2.016),and DBPCv(OR 1.338,95％ CI 1.093-1.638) in blood pressure variability indices were the independent risk factors for END in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Conclusion Blood pressure variability is significantly associated with END within 72 h after admission in patients with acute ischemic stroke.