Rete middle cerebral artery is an abnormal process of embryonic development, which results in the normal middle cerebral artery trunk being replaced by plexiform vascular network. The main clinical manifestations are intracranial hemorrhage or ischemic cerebrovascular events. Clinicians generally do not know enough about it. This article reviews the generative mechanism, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis and treatment of the rete middle cerebral artery.

Objective To compare the effects of 2 vascular accesses via arteriovenous fistula(AVF)and tunnel-cuffed catheter(TCC)in elderly patients with maintenance hemodialysis(MHD).Methods A total of 103 elderly MHD patients were selected and divided into the AVF group(43 cases)and the TCC group(60 cases)according to different vascular pathways.Laboratory indexes of serum creatinine,uric acid,parathyroid hormone(PTH),serum calcium,blood phosphorus,hemoglobin,triglyceride and total cholesterol were compared between the two groups on dialysis day after receiving regular hemodialysis treatment for 1 year.Blood flow and urea clearance in vascular pathway were also compared between the two groups.The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDd),the left ventricular posterior end-diastolic thickness(LVPWT),the ventricular septal end-diastolic thickness(IVSTd),ejection fraction(EF),the maximum flow velocity ratio(E/A)of the left atrial ventricle at the early and late diastolic stages and pulmonary artery pressure were examined by echocardiography after regular hemodialysis treatment for 1 year.The occurrence rates of left ventricular systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction were recorded.Hemodialysis access associated infection,mechanical injury and heart failure during dialysis were also recorded.Results There were no significant differences in laboratory indexes between the two groups(P＞0.05).LVEDd,IVSTd,LVPWT,incidence rates of left ventricular systolic dysfunction,diastolic dysfunction,blood flow through vascular channels,Kt/V and mechanical injury were higher in the AVF group than those in the TCC group,while the ratio of hemodialysis access associated infection,E/A and EF values were lower in the AVF group than those in the TCC group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in incidence rates of pulmonary arterial pressure and heart failure between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion For elderly MHD patients,the appropriate dialysis access should be determined after evaluating underlying diseases and vascular conditions.

Objective To observe the value of the ratio of cerebral hyperdensities(PCHD)/venous sinus maximum density for predicting hemorrhagic transformation(HT)after endovascular treatment(EVT)in patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS).Methods Data of 79 AIS patients with PCHD immediately after EVT were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into HT group(n=41)or non-HT group(n=38)based on the presence of HT or not.Clinical data and CT parameters were compared between groups.The value of the ratio of PCHD/venous sinus maximum density for predicting HT was evaluated.Results The maximum density of PCHD and the ratio of PCHD/venous sinus maximum density in HT group were both higher than those in non-HT group(both P＜0.001).Taken 87 HU as the best cut-off value of the maximum density of PCHD,the sensitivity,specificity and area under the curve(AUC)for predicting HT after EVT in AIS patients was 90.24%,71.05%and 0.79,respectively.Taken 0.94 as the best cut-off value of the ratio of PCHD/venous sinus maximum density,the sensitivity,specificity and AUC was 97.56%,71.05%and 0.81,respectively.No significant difference of AUC was found between the former and the latter(P＞0.05).Conclusion The ratio of PCHD/venous sinus maximum density immediately after EVT could be used to predict HT in AIS patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of pretreatment with Xuebijing injection on renal tubular injury in rats with contrast-induced acute kidney injury(CI-AKI).Methods Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were selected and divided into normal group,model group,control group,and treatment group according to the random number table method,with 6 rats in each group.The animal model of CI-AKI was prepared by adopting iohexol,and the normal group was not subjected to any treatment.The rats in the treatment group were injected with Xuebijing injection via the tail vein 15 hours before modeling until 24 hours after modeling.The injection volume was 10 mL/kg for every 6 hours.The control group was injected with normal saline at the same time point.After 24 hours of modeling,the urine of rats in each group was collected to determine the levels of blood urea nitrogen(BUN)and urine N-acetyl-β-D-gluco-aminidase(uNAG),and the blood was collected to determine the levels of serum creatinine(SCr).Then the rats were killed and the kidney tissues were extracted,and then stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE),and the pathological changes of the kidney tissues were observed under the light microscope.Results BUN,SCr and uNAG were significantly higher in the model group than those in the normal group[BUN(μmol/L):37.29±6.18 vs.6.37±1.19,SCr(mmol/L):30.43±4.44 vs.14.90±1.61,uNAG(U/L):47.77±4.71 vs.11.32±3.62,all P<0.01];BUN,SCr and uNAG levels were obviously decreased in the treatment group compared to the model group[BUN(μmol/L):9.45±3.04 vs.37.29±6.18,SCr(mmol/L):19.83±2.16 vs.30.43±4.44,uNAG(U/L):21.70±6.21 vs.47.77±4.71,all P<0.05],however,BUN and uNAG in the treatment group were still significantly higher than those in the normal group[BUN(μmol/L):9.45±3.04 vs.6.37±1.19,uNAG(U/L):21.70±6.21 vs.11.32±3.62,P<0.05 or P<0.01];SCr in the treatment group was not statistically significant compared to the normal group(μmol/L:19.83±2.16 vs.14.90±1.61,P>0.05).Under the light microscope,the renal tubular epithelial cells at the junction of cortex and dermatomedulla in the kidneys of the model group were obviously vacuolated,accompanied by cell detachment and necrosis,and the tubules were dilated,with no obvious lesions in the glomeruli.The degree of damage in the control group and the treatment group was reduced compared with that in the model group.The degree of renal tubular damage in the model group was higher than that in the normal group;while the degree of renal tubular damage in the control group was significantly lower than that in the model group;and the degree of renal tubular damage in the treatment group was lower than that in the model group.There was no statistically significant difference in the degree of renal tubular damage between the treatment group and the control group.Conclusion Xuebijing injection may exert a protective effect on renal function in rats with CI-AKI by attenuating renal tubular injury.