OBJECTIVES: Atrial fibrillation (AF) contributes to stroke development and progression. We aimed to quantify the mediating role of AF in the causal associations between a wide range of risk factors and stroke via a Mendelian randomization (MR) framework. METHODS: We assessed the associations of 108 traits with stroke and its subtypes in a 2-sample univariable MR approach, then conducted a bidirectional MR analysis between these 108 traits and AF to evaluate the presence and direction of their causal associations. Finally, to further investigate the extent to which AF mediated the effects of eligible traits on stroke, we applied multivariable and 2-step MR techniques in a mediation analysis where outcomes were restricted to stroke types causally affected by AF (any stroke [AS], any ischemic stroke [AIS], and cardioembolic stroke [CES]). RESULTS: Among 108 traits, 42 were putatively causal for at least 1 stroke type; of these 42 traits, 20 that had no bidirectional relationship with AF were retained. Finally, 33 associations of 15 eligible traits were examined in the mediation analysis. The mediation analyses for AS, AIS, and CES each included 11 eligible traits. After AF adjustment, the direct effects of all traits on CES were attenuated to null (all p>0.05), while the associations with AS and AIS persisted for most traits (AF-mediated proportion: from 6.6% [95% confidence interval, 2.7 to 0.6] to 52.0% [95% confidence interval, 39.8 to 64.3]). CONCLUSIONS The causal associations between all eligible traits and CES were largely mediated through AF, while most traits affected AS and AIS independently of AF.

ABSTRACT:In recent years ,there has been high prevalence of murine typhus in Yunnan Province ,People's Republic of China .A large outbreak of murine typhus occurred in Xishuangbanna Prefecture ,Yunnan Province in 2010 .However ,not all cases were confirmed by laboratory assays ;therefore ,field epidemiologic and laboratory investigations of murine typhus in Xishuangbanna Prefecture were conducted in 2011 .Blood samples were collected from clinical diagnostic cases at the acute and convalescence stages of murine typhus in Xishuangbanna Prefecture ,Yunnan Province ,from June to September of 2011 ,and blood and spleen samples were collected from mice sharing the same habitats as the patients .Immunofluorescence assays were used to test for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against Rickettsia typhi in sera from patients and mice .Real‐time PCR was used to detect the groEL gene of R .typhi in blood clots from patients at the acute stage and in spleen tissue from mice .A total of 1 157 clinically diagnosed murine typhus cases occurred in Xishuangbanna Prefecture ,Yunnan Province in 2011 ,with an incidence of 102 .10/100 000 .Of these cases ,80 were investigated by laboratory assays and 74 of 80 patients were confirmed to have murine typhus .The coincidence rate between the clinical diagnosis and laboratory detection was 92 .50% .The positivi‐ty rate for IgG antibodies against R .typhi was 14 .0% (14/100) for Rattus f lavipectus ,while the rate by PCR was 9 .0%(9/100) .That laboratory diagnoses confirmed that the severity of the murine typhus outbreak in Xishuangbanna cannot be ig‐nored .The distribution of host animals transmitting R .typhi underscores this conclusion .

Objective:To explore the prognostic prediction value of quantitative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) parameters in patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy, and whether the clinical values vary by stroke etiology.Methods:This study was a post hoc analysis of the Multicenter Prospective Captor Trial. Patients with acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion and successful recanalization from April 2018 to July 2019 were screened. Post-processing analysis was performed on the DSA imaging sequence after recanalization, and 4 regions of interest (ROI) were selected in the target vessel: ROI1 (the proximal of the internal carotid artery-C2 segment), ROI2 (the starting point of the internal carotid artery-C7 segment), ROI3 (the end of the middle cerebral artery-M1 segment), and ROI4 (the end of the middle cerebral artery-M2 segment). Time to peak (TTP) was defined as the time at contrast concentration of selected ROI reached its maximum. Relative TTP (rTTP) was calculated by subtracting the TTP of ROI1 from the TTP of distalis ROIs. Successful recanalization was defined as modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) grade≥2b. Favorable outcomes at 3 months were defined as the modified Rankin Scale score≤2. According to the modified Rankin Scale score, the patients were divided into good prognosis group and poor prognosis group. The differences in clinical characteristics, postoperative hemodynamic parameters, and other data were compared between patients with good and poor prognoses. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze factors related to a good prognosis. Finally, the prognostic prediction value of hemodynamic parameters was analyzed in patients with different Trial of Org10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment etiological classifications.Results:A total of 245 patients were collected, of which 161 patients [age 69 (60, 76) years, 92 (57.1%) male] were finally included in the analysis, including 36 cases of large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) stroke, 76 cases of cardiogenic embolism (CE), and 49 cases of other causes of stroke. Seventy-one (44.1%) patients had favorable outcomes at 3 months. The post-operative hemodynamic analysis indicated that patients with favorable outcomes ( n=71) had a higher proportion of mTICI grade 3 [54/71 (76.1%) vs 41/90 (45.6%),χ 2=15.26, P<0.001] and lower rTTP 31 [means TTP ROI3-TTP ROI1;0.33 (0.23, 0.54) s vs 0.47 (0.31, 0.65) s, Z=-2.71, P=0.007] than patients with unfavorable outcomes ( n=90). The mTICI score and rTTP 31 were respectively included in multivariate Logistic regression models. It was shown that mTICI grade 3 (adjusted OR=5.97, 95% CI 2.49-14.27, P<0.001) and rTTP 31 (adjusted OR=0.24, 95% CI 0.06-0.99, P=0.048) were significantly associated with favorable outcomes, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the models had no statistically significant difference ( P=0.170). Subgroup analysis showed that rTTP 31 was significantly associated with the prognosis of patients with LAA stroke ( OR=0, 95% CI 0-0.25, P=0.014), while mTICI grade was associated with the prognosis of patients with CE ( OR=3.91, 95% CI 1.40-10.91, P=0.009) and other etiologies ( OR=7.35, 95% CI 1.92-28.14, P=0.004). Conclusions:In patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke and successful recanalization, both mTICI score and rTTP 31 had significant predictive value for favorable outcomes at 3 months. Moreover, rTTP 31 was significantly associated with the prognosis of patients with LAA stroke, while mTICI score was significantly related to the prognosis of patients with CE and other causes of stroke.

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of different polar parts of 5 kinds of Alpinia on the function of sympathetic-adrenal system in gastric ulcer model rats with cold syndrome， such as the root of Alpinia officinarum， the rhizome and fruit of Alpinia galangal， the seed of Alpinia katsumadai， and the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla. METHODS： SD rats were given Anemarrhena asphodeloides decoction at 4 ℃ and Glacial acetic acid solution intragastrically to induce gastric ulcer model with cold syndrome； the model rats were randomly divided into model group， Fuzi lizhong pills group （positive control， 9.0 g/kg）， cimetidine group （positive control， 0.003 3 g/kg）， low-dose and high-dose groups of petroleum ether， ethyl acetate， n-butanol and water extraction parts from 5 medicinal materials （hereinafter referred to as “gaoshidi” “gaoshigao” “dashidi” “dashigao” “hongshidi” “hongshigao” “caoshidi” “caoshigao” “yishidi” “yishigao” “gaoyidi” “gaoyigao” “dayidi” “dayigao” “hongyidi” “hongyigao” “caoyidi” “caoyigao” “yiyidi” “yiyigao” “gaozhengdi” “gaozhenggao” “dazhengdi” “dazhenggao” “hongzhengdi” “hongzhenggao” “caozhengdi” “caozhenggao” “yizhengdi” “yizhenggao” “gaoshuidi” “gaoshuigao” “dashuidi” “dashuigao” “hongshuidi” “hongshuigao” “caoshuidi” “caoshuigao” “yishuidi” “yishuigao”， 0.064/0.256， 0.032/ 0.128， 0.008/0.032， 0.075/0.3， 0.1/0.4， 0.064/0.256， 0.108/0.432， 0.16/0.64， 0.064/0.25， 0.125/0.5， 0.056/0.224， 0.108/0.432， 0.08/0.32， 0.2/0.8， 0.3/1.2， 0.14/0.56， 0.032/0.128， 0.028/0.112， 0.05/0.2， 0.087/0.348 g/kg， by mass of extraction parts）， with 10 rats in each group； and the blank group （normal temperature water） was set up. Next day after modeling， blank group and model group were given constant volume of normal temperature water intragastrically； administration group was given relevant solution 2 mL/100 g intragastrically， q12 h， 4 times in total. After last medication， urine contents of 17-OHCS， CAs substances （A， NE， DA） and serum contents of ACTH and D-β-H were determined by ELISA. RESULTS： Compared with blank group， the contents of 17-OHCS， A， NE and DA in urine， the contents of ACTH and D-β-H in serum were decreased significantly in model group （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， the contents of 17-OHCS （Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， gaoshidi， gaoshigao， dashigao， hongshigao， caoshigao and yishigao groups， ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials， dazhenggao， hongzhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， gaoshuigao， dashuigao and hongshuigao groups）， A （Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， gaoshigao， dashigao， hongshidi， hongshigao， caoshidi， caoshigao and yishigao groups， ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials， gaozhenggao， dazhenggao， hongzhengdi， hongzhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， hongshuigao group）， NE （Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， petroleum ether part， ethyl acetate part and n-butanol part groups of 5 medicinal materials， gaoshuigao， dashuigao and hongshuigao groups）， DA [Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， petroleum ether part （except for gaoshidi group） and ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials， gaozhenggao， dazhenggao， hongzhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， hongshuigao group] in urine， serum contents of ACTH [Fuzi lizhong pills group， petroleum ether part （except for gaoshidi， dashidi and caoshidi groups） and ethyl acetate part （except for dayidi and hongyidi groups） groups of 5 medicinal materials， hongzhenggao group， dashuigao group]， and D-β-H [Fuzi lizhong pills group， gaoshigao， dashigao， hongshidi， hongshigao and yishigao groups， ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials （except for dayidi， hongyidi and yiyidi groups）， dazhenggao and hongzhenggao groups， hongshuigao group] were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The contents of 17-OHCS and D-β-H in dashigao group， the contents of ACTH and D-β-H in caoshigao group and the contents of D-β-H in gaoshigao and yishigao groups were significantly lower than hongshigao group. The contents of DA in gaoyigao， caoyigao and yiyigao groups as well as the contents of D-β-H in gaoyigao， hongyigao， caoyigao and yiyigao groups were significantly lower than dayigao group； the contents of DA in gaoyigao and caoyigao groups were significantly lower than hongyigao group， the contents of ACTH in gaoyigao， dayigao， caoyigao and yiyigao groups were significantly higher than hongyigao group. The contents of 17-OHCS， DA and ACTH in gaozhenggao， dazhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， the contents of A in dazhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups as well as the contents of D-β-H in gaozhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups were significantly lower than hongzhenggao group. The contents of 17-OHCS and D-β-H in caoshuigao and yishuigao groups were significantly lower than dashuigao group. The contents of 17-OHCS， DA and D-β-H in caoshuigao and yishuigao groups as well as the contents of DA and D-β-H in gaoshuigao groups were significantly lower than hongshuigao group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： Different polar parts of 5 kinds of Alpinia can improve gastric ulcer model rats with cold syndrome to different extents； among them， the fruit of A. galangal is the best， followed by the root of A. officinarum. Above medicinal materials can regulate the function of sympathetic-adrenal system by increasing the contents of 17-OHCS， CAs and D-β-H.