BACKGROUND: There is yet no evidence about whether internal carotid artery stenting with cerebral protection devices is beneficial to reducing neurological complications. OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and efficacy of carotid angioplasty and stenting with cerebral protection devices for carotid stenosis. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Non-randomized concurrent control trial was performed at Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force from June 2005 to January 2007. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-four patients with carotid artery stenosis underwent stenting, including 21 with cerebral protection devices (16 males and 5 females; average age of 66.4 years, range 50-79 years), and 53 with no protection devices (36 males and 17 females; average age of 69.2 years, range 52-83 years). METHODS: Size of cerebral protection devices was confirmed according to the diameter of normal vessel at distal carotid artery stenosis. The guide wire was sent into distal stenosis under guidance of pathway picture followed by cerebral protection device release. The stent passed over the stenosis and released to appropriate site. The protection device was removed when the stenosis was relieved confirmed by routine angiography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Features of stenting process; frequency of stroke attack perioperatively and during 12-month follow-up. All of them took periprocedual anticoagulation treatment, cerebral vascular angiograpgy. RESULTS: Seventy-six self-expandable stents were delivered in 74 patients with carotid stenosis. Twenty-one cerebral protection devices were employed including 8 Angioguard and 13 Filterwire. The patients without cerebral protection devices were predilated 20 times (37.7%) with the balloons, and all were postdilated; 3 cases (5.6%) developed brief decreased heart rate and hypotension after stent release. The patients with cerebral protection devices were predilated 6 times (28.5%) with balloons, and all were postdilated; 2 cased (9.5%) developed brief decreased heart rate and hypotension after stent release and 2 (9.5%) developed angiospasm. One patient (4.7%) with cerebral protection devices had cerebral infarction (4.7%) perioperatively and another had cerebral infarction (4.7%) during the follow up. While four patients in the group without cerebral protection devices had cerebral infarction (7.5%) perioperatively, and five had cerebral infarction (9.4%) during the follow up. There were no significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSION: The results of the study show that cerebral protection devices are not helpful to reduce neurological complications in patients with carotid artery stenosis after stenting.

Objective To investigate pathogenic bacteria distribution and its effect on the expression of apoptosis protein in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) complicated with pulmonary infection. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted. From January 2014 to October 2017, the clinical data of 178 patients suffered from ACI hospitalized in Department of Neuromedical Center of Affiliated Hospital of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force Logistics Academy were collected, including 86 cases with ACI complicated with pulmonary infection selected as the observation group, and 92 cases with ACI without pulmonary infection assigned in the control group. The identification and classification of pathogenic bacteria were carried out by using the French BioMieux microorganism fully automatic identification instrument; the contents of serum interleukins (IL-8, IL-17), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and B type lymphocyte tumor-2 related X protein (Bax), B lymphocyte tumor-2 protein (Bcl-2) in two groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pearson correlation analysis was used to observe the correlations between sICAM-1 and Bax, Bcl-2 protein expression. Results From the bacterial cultures of 86 patients with ACI complicated with pulmonary infection, 86 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated, including 41 strains of gram positive (G+) bacteria (47.67%), mainly Staphylococcus aureus (25.58%); 37 strains of gram negative (G-) bacteria (43.02%), mainly Acinetobacter baumannii (11.63%); 8 strains of fungi (9.30%). The serum levels of IL-8 (μg/L: 0.72±0.15 vs. 0.68±0.09), IL-17 (μg/L: 9.31±3.58 vs. 8.12±2.76), sICAM-1 (ng/L: 421.36±39.74 vs. 385.13±28.59) and Bax (μg/L: 4.52±0.47 vs. 3.86±0.34) in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the level of Bcl-2 in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (μg/L: 0.84±0.26 vs. 1.13±0.31), all the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05). In the observation group, sICAM-1 was significantly positively correlated with Bax protein (r = 0.401, P ＜ 0.001), while sICAM-1 was significantly negatively correlated with Bcl-2 (r = -0.447, P ＜ 0.001). Conclusion The pathogenic bacteria of ACI patients complicated with pulmonary infection is mainly G+bacteria, the infection can induce elevation of serum pro-inflammatory factors and sICAM-1 levels in the patients, and the mechanisms may be related to the up-regulation of Bax protein expression and down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of treatment of primary orbital varix via venous embolization therapy approach. Methods From January 2007 to January 2015,the clinical data of 12 patients with primary orbital varix were analyzed retrospectively. All the micro-catheters were implanted via the inferior petrosal sinus approach. The microcoils and Onyx18 were used to embolize the primary orbital varix. Four patients were embolized with micro-coils only, three were embolized with Onyx, and five were embolized with microcoil + Onyx. Results After successful catheterization, the lesions were totally embolized in 12 patients. The symptoms of postural exophthalmos disappeared and the pain was relieved,the depressed symptom of eyeball disappeared in 10 cases, and two patients were relieved partially ( single material embolization) . Nine patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months. The orbital DSA,MRI or CT re-examination was performed. The thrombosis of orbital varices within the lesions was observed and no cavity was found. One of the patients suffered from limited lateral eyeball abduction. Another three were lost to follow up. Conclusion The embolization treatment of primary orbital varix is safe, effective, and convenient via inferior petrosal sinus approach.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of embolization with Scepter balloonassisted coils and Onyx glue in treatment of traumatic carotid cavernous fistula (TCCF).Methods A retrospective case series study was conducted on the clinical data of 24 patients with TCCF managed with embolization with Scepter balloon-assisted coils and Onyx glue from February 2012 to February 2017.There were 20 males and 4 females,aged 21-65 years [(42.6 ± 6.8) years],with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of 15 points.All patients were with unilateral lesions,with 13 on the right and 11 on the left.Among TCCF patients,23 patients were with cranial bruit,22 with pulsating exophthalmos and bulbar conjunctiva congestion edema,19 with orbital symptoms,and 9 with visual impairment.A micro-catheter was sent into the cavernous sinus of lesion side,and the location of traumatic carotid cavernous fistula and draining characteristics were identified by micro catheter contrast.With a balloon inflated to cover the fistula and protect the interual carotid artery,Onyx was injected into the cavernous sinus after several coils were deployed adjacent to the fistula until the complete occlusion of fistula.Cranial bruit,pulsating exophthalmos,visual impairment,and orbital symptoms before operation and 2 weeks after operation were observed.Six months after operation,digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was reviewed to evaluate the carotid artery patency and TCCF recurrence.Results The cranial bruit,pulsating exophthalmos,and bulbar conjunctiva congestion edema in all TCCF patients disappeared 2 weeks after operation.No obvious improvement was seen in 2 out of 9 patients with visual impairments and 2 out of 19 patients with orbital symptoms,but there was significant improvement after operation (P ＜ 0.05).Onyx glue adhering to the surface of the protective balloon occurred in one patient.The balloon and catheter were delivered to the external carotid artery and then removed,with no complication seen.Follow-up found no recurrence or operative complications in 6-12 months.Complete occlusion of fistula was seen in all patients,and the internal carotid artery showed good patency.Conclusion Embolization with Scepter balloon-assisted coils and Onyx glue can occlude fistula,eliminate ocular symptoms,and maintain internal carotid artery patency and hence is an effective and safe treatment option for TCCF.