Objective Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP-9 ) and serum level of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected to investigate their distributions between patients with stable stroke and those with asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis and to explore their clinical significance. Methods The mean level of the serum hs-CRP of the group with recurrent stroke (2.34 mg/L)was the highest, followed by that of the group with the stable stroke( 1.45 mg/L),asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis ( 1.31 mg/L) and control group (0.96 mg/L) ( P = 0.001 ). The level of the MMP-9 was in sequence of recurrent stroke group ( 121.82 ± 72.99 ) μg/L ＞ asymptomaticintracranial artery stenosis group ( 119.18 ± 80.01 ) μg/L ＞ stable stroke group( 112.76 ± 59.66) μg/L,while no statistical significance was found among groups( P = 0.947 ). However, the level of MMP-9 of three patient groups( 118.08 ± 71.06 ) μg/L was significant higher than control group( 57.55 ± 10.44 )μg/L (P ＜0.001 ). The spearman analysis for the relationship showed that the concentration of MMP-9 was positively associated with that of hs-CRP ( r = 0.337, P ＜ 0.001 ). Conclusions The hs-CRP maintained a high level in stable stage of stroke. The MMP-9 level in the patients group was significant higher than control group and the level of MMP-9 was positively associated with that of hs-CRP which suggested MMP-9 might be correlated with atherosclerosis other than stroke occurrence.

Objective To investigate the clinical feactures of patients with numerous dilated Virchow-Robin space in basal gangalia.Methods Eight patients with cribriform state in striatum in brain MRI at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from March 2013 to October 2013 were enrolled.The clinical data including age,gender,common vascular risk factors and clinical manifestations were analyzed.Cognitive functions,balance and gait disturbance,as well as activity of daily living were assessed.Results All of the eight patients are male,aged from 69 to 80.All the patients had a history of hyperlipidemia,while 7 of them had hypertension.The primary complaint was either gradual motor function decline or memory impairments (3/8),or dizziness (1/8).The other 4 of them were diagnosed as stroke or transient ischemic attack.Among the 8 patients,four had mild deterioration in activity of daily living function (Barthel index 65-85).Cognitive impairment was common (8/8,the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores 19-27),while word recall was the mostly affected cognitive domain (8/8).Gait and balance dysfunction were found in three patients (3/8,Tinetti scores ≤ 24).Conclusions Man is more likely to have predisposition to cribriform state in striatum.Mild cognitive impairments and gait abnormality are common clinical manifestations of the disease.

Objective To investigate current situation of prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for acute stroke patients.Methods From June 2008 to October 2010,with simple cluster sampling,48 centers were randomly assigned to the intervention group receiving a standardized treatment strategy,and the usual care group without specific recommendations for treatment.No specific recommendations or restrictions of TCM were proposed for both groups.Consecutive hospitalized patients with acute ischemic stroke were recruited in this study.Clinical data and treatment strategy (including TCM) were recorded by trained investigators.The prescription of TCM three months prior to admission and at discharge was recorded and analyzed.The chi-square test was used for analysis of qualitative data.Results Totally 3 664 patients were included in the analysis (1 709 patients in standard care group and 1 955 patients in the usual care group) with male to female ratio 2∶ 1.The difference of distribution of age,sex and education level between the two groups was not statistically significant.One hundred and eighty-seven patients (5.10％) had taken TCM three months prior to admission,81.28％ of them only taking one type of TCM,without significant difference between the two groups.The percentage of patients taking TCM at discharge was significantly increased to 30.65％ for all the patients with higher percentage (38.16％) in the usual care group than that in the standard care group (22.06％).The percentage of using more than one type of TCM was also higher in the usual care group (x2 =141.43,P ＜ 0.01).Totally,112 types of TCM were prescribed at discharge.Conclusions Nearly one third of hospitalized patients with acute stroke were prescribed TCM at discharge,with mostly monotherapy and a great variety.

Objective Mini presentation is a new teaching model, which is performed by interns based on a typical case or disease at the medical ward.The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of mini presentation on clinical neurologic teaching actions, according to a survey results in the interns.Methods A total of eighty-nine clinical medical students in Peking Union Medical College finally responded to the survey questionnaire, including ten questions regarding the mini presentation.Results 69.23% of the interns and 22.3% of the probationers have performed mini presentation at the neurological wards.Conclusion 43.82% of the students agreed that mini presentation was very necessary.80.9% of the students supported that mini presentation was helpful to their clinical reasoning of the neurology.ConclusionsMini presentation could motivate the independent learning interests of the students, and could improve the teaching quality in neurology.It is worth to practice and popularize further.

Objective To integrate research training into clinical teaching effectively, the essential steps are understanding the students` demand and mastery, factors hindering learning and how to learn effectively.MethodsStudents in 7th grade in Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), graduate students and residents under clinical training, trained doctors for advanced studies from primary hospitals were surveyed with questionnaire by collecting educational background, the demand of learning medical research methodology, factors hindering learning, specific issues need in medical research methodology, learning model and assessment approaches.Results Totally 69 people were surveyed.92.75% of the respondents said they had studied medical research methodology and related courses before.However, 51 people (73.91%) answer they cannot read literatures with critical thinking.52 people (75.37%) indicated that they had difficulty in conducting research.58 (84.06%) people said it is very necessary to study the medical research methodology.No learning opportunities and enough time were the main hinders forlearning relevant knowledge.The top three high-demanding issues are sample size calculation and statistical knowledge, study design, and how to use the statistical software.44 (63.77%) people suggest e-learning with case based learning.Conclusions Integrate medical research methodology teaching into clinical teaching is in high-demand for students.E-learning is suggested with case based learning.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and cardiovascular risk factors of silent brain infarct (SBI) in Shunyi Cohort.Methods This study was based on the population based Shunyi Study in China.One thousand and twenty-seven stroke-free participants older than 35 years,who completed cerebral MRI,were included.Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed by interview,physical examination and blood sample tests.SBI was evaluated on 3D-T1WI,T2WI and FLAIR sequences.Associations between risk factors and SBI were analyzed by Logistic regression and adjusted for age,sex,and relevant confounders.Results One thousand and twenty-seven participants,aged (55.9 ± 9.4) years,37.7％ male,were assessed.One hundred sixty-four participants(16.0％) had SBI on MRI.The prevalence of SBI increased by age (every 10 years,OR=2.12,95％ CI 1.74-2.58,P＜0.01).Hypertension(OR =2.67,95％ CI 1.77-4.04,P＜0.01),diabetes(OR=2.48,95％ CI 1.64-3.76,P＜0.01) and smoking(OR=1.98,95％ CI 1.08-3.62,P =0.028) were significantly associated with SBI.Conclusions The prevalence of SBI in this Chinese population is 16.0％,which increases with age.Hypertension,diabetes and smoking are associated with SBI.

Objective:To explore whether there were changes in midbrain morphology related to motor function in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).Methods:The study was conducted on a subset of patients with CSVD registered at the Department of Neurology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2010 to 2018. All magnetic resonance imaging images were taken with a 3.0 T nuclear magnetic resonance imager. The measurement of anteroposterior diameter of the mesencephalon and the tegmentum of mesencephalon was performed on a personal computer with the image processing software RadiAnt DICOM Viewer. Several clinical manifestations of dyspraxia, dysphagia, dysarthria and dysuria were evaluated by interviewing the patient and family members living with the patient. Kinect depth camera combined with self-developed software platform was used to conduct quantitative evaluation of patients′ motor function. Three parameters, namely walking speed, walking time of three meters and time of standing up and sitting down, were selected from the obtained parameters. SPSS 17.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 176 patients were included, aged 30-88 (64.16±11.57) years. One hundred and fifteen patients were males, accounting for 65.34%. In patients with CSVD, anteroposterior diameter of the mesencephalon and the tegmentum of mesencephalon were negatively correlated with age ( B=-0.032, P<0.001; B=-0.020, P=0.006). The anteroposterior diameter of the mesencephalon was negatively correlated with symptoms of dyskinesia ( OR=0.006, 95% CI 0-0.135, P=0.001), even when the age and gender were adjusted ( OR=0.014,95% CI 0-0.416, P=0.013). The anteroposterior diameter of the mesencephalon was negatively correlated with symptoms of dysuria ( OR=0.046,95% CI 0.002-0.936, P=0.045), but no longer correlated when the age and gender were adjusted. The anteroposterior diameter of tegmentum of mesencephalo was also negatively correlated with symptoms of dyskinesia ( OR=0.035,95% CI 0.002-0.684, P=0.027), but no longer correlated after adjusting for age and gender. Video recording and evaluation of motor function were performed on 87 patients. Spearman correlation analysis showed that none of the three motor function scores was correlated with age or gender. The anteroposteric diameter of the midbrain was positively correlated with walking speed ( r=0.231 ,P=0.040) and negatively correlated with walking time of three meters ( r=-0.304, P=0.005), but not with standing up and sitting down time, while the anteroposteric diameter of tegmentum of mesencephalo was not correlated with all of them. Conclusion:There are changes in mesencephalon morphology in patients with CSVD, structural parameters of mesencephalon are related to motor function and urination function, and mesencephalon atrophy may be an independent related factor for symptoms of dyskinesia in patients with CSVD.

Objective To investigate the clinical,therapeutic and prognostic features of patients with lateral sinus stenosis and isolated intracranial hypertension,and further explore the possible mechanisms of their coexistence.Methods We retrospectively enrolled 16 patients with neurosurgery in our hospital from January 2009 to December 2016,who were clinically diagnosed as simple intracranial hypertension with bilateral or predominant lateral sinus stenosis and lateral stenting.These 16 patients were recorded surgical procedures and postoperative outcomes,and followed-up to understand the long-term prognosis of them.Results There were 14 females in the 16 patients,with an average age of (32.4 ± 10.1) years,a mean duration of (10.9 ± 7.3) months,and an average body mass index of (28.9 ± 3.6) kg/m2.In terms of clinical manifestions,majority of the patients presented with headache (n =15) and visual symptoms (n =14),and all with papilledema by fundus examination.The elevated opening cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure was noticed:five cases between 25-33 cmH2O (1 cmH2O =0.098 kPa),11 cases more than 33 cmH2O.The mean pressure difference in the proximal and distal sinus of the anterior chamber was (36.3 ± 9.4) cmH2O in the range of 15-91 cmH2O.The pressure difference between the two ends of the stenosis disappeared immediately after the operation in 12 cases and the pressure difference less than 15 (2-12) cmH2O in four cases.Thirteen patients underwent lumbar puncture at one week after operation.The CSF pressure of them decreased significantly,of which eight were in the normal range.Six months after the operation,11 patients underwent DSA/MRV,none of which had serious surgical complications.With the average follow-up of (35.4 ± 9.8) months,the overall prognosis of these patients was good.Headaches in 14 of 15 patients were improved,out of which 12 were free of headache,two with only mild headache and a slight intracranial hypertension (19 and 23 cmH2O,respectively);visual complaints were reversed in nine out of 14 cases;10 patients underwent fundus examination,and nine of them were observed the improvement of papilledema.During the follow-up period,the symptoms of other patients were improved (headache relief and visual improvement) except one,the overall effective ratio being 15/16.Conclusions The interventional treatment of lateral sinus stenting is effective in patients with sinus stenosis associated with simple intracranial hypertension.The stenosis of the lateral sinus may be the main mechanism of increased intracranial pressure.

0.05).There was excellent correlation between the lesion size on EC Ⅲ-60 enhanced T_1-weighted MR images and histomorphometry(r=0.999,P

Cell death plays important roles in living organisms and is a hallmark of numerous disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, sepsis and acute pancreatitis. Moreover, cell death also plays a pivotal role in the treatment of certain diseases, for example, cancer. Noninvasive visualization of cell death contributes to gained insight into diseases, development of individualized treatment plans, evaluation of treatment responses, and prediction of patient prognosis. On the other hand, cell death can also be targeted for the treatment of diseases. Although there are many ways for a cell to die, only apoptosis and necrosis have been extensively studied in terms of cell death related theranostics. This review mainly focuses on molecular imaging and therapeutic strategies directed against necrosis. Necrosis shares common morphological characteristics including the rupture of cell membrane integrity and release of cellular contents, which provide potential biomarkers for visualization of necrosis and necrosis targeted therapy. In the present review, we summarize the updated joint efforts to develop molecular imaging probes and therapeutic strategies targeting the biomarkers exposed by necrotic cells. Moreover, we also discuss the challenges in developing necrosis imaging probes and propose several biomarkers of necrosis that deserve to be explored in future imaging and therapy research.