BACKGROUND: Severe stroke has high rates of mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course, causes of worsening, and outcomes of severe ischemic stroke. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter cohort study enrolled adult patients admitted ≤30 days after ischemic stroke from nine hospitals in China between September 2017 and December 2019. Severe stroke was defined as a score of ≥15 on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Clinical worsening was defined as an increase of 4 in the NIHSS score from baseline. Unfavorable functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score ≥3 at 3 months and 1 year after stroke onset, respectively. We performed Logistic regression to explore baseline features and reperfusion therapies associated with clinical worsening and functional outcomes. RESULTS: Among 4201 patients enrolled, 854 patients (20.33%) had severe stroke on admission. Of 3347 patients without severe stroke on admission, 142 (4.24%) patients developed severe stroke in hospital. Of 854 patients with severe stroke on admission, 33.95% (290/854) experienced clinical worsening (median time from stroke onset: 43 h, Q1-Q3: 20-88 h), with brain edema (54.83% [159/290]) as the leading cause; 24.59% (210/854) of these patients died by 30 days, and 81.47% (677/831) and 78.44% (633/807) had unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months and 1 year respectively. Reperfusion reduced the risk of worsening (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.12-0.49, P  <0.01), 30-day death (adjusted OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.11-0.41, P  <0.01), and unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months (adjusted OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08-0.68, P <0.01) and 1 year (adjusted OR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06-0.50, P  <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-fifth of patients with ischemic stroke had severe neurological deficits on admission. Clinical worsening mainly occurred in the first 3 to 4 days after stroke onset, with brain edema as the leading cause of worsening. Reperfusion reduced the risk of clinical worsening and improved functional outcomes. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03222024.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Ischemic Stroke/mortality* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Stroke ; Brain Ischemia

Objective To investigate the effect of triglyceride-glucose index(TyG)on the short-term prognosis of patients with initial acute ischemic stroke.Methods A total of 391 patients with initial acute ischemic stroke who were hospitalized in Kunshan Second People's Hospital and The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from Jun.2020 to Jun.2023 were retrospectively included.According to the modified Rankin scale(mRS)scores at 90 d follow-up,they were assigned to good prognosis group(286 cases)or poor prognosis group(105 cases).Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve were used to evaluate the effect of TyG on the short-term prognosis of patients with initial acute ischemic stroke.Results Compared with the good prognosis group,the patients of poor prognosis group had older age,higher proportion of atrial fibrillation,higher levels of homocysteine,triglyceride,total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein,and TyG,and higher National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score(all P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age,homocysteine,TyG and NIHSS score were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with initial acute ischemic stroke(all P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that TyG combined with NIHSS score had good predictive value for poor prognosis of patients with initial acute ischemic stroke,and the area under curve value was 0.795.Conclusion The combination of TyG and NIHSS score is an independent influencing factor for poor short-term prognosis in patients with initial acute ischemic stroke.

As an essential trace element in organisms,Zn2+is involved in the formation of protein structure and as a coenzyme factor affects cell homeostasis.The imbalance of Zn2+homeostasis is closely related to the occurrence and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.Zn2+homeostasis is regulated by two zinc transporter families,ZIP and ZnT,which mediate the processes of cell proliferation,differentiation and death.The ZIP protein family is mainly involved in DNA damage repair,cellular immunity,exosome secretion,and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)processes through RAS/RREB1 and cAMP/JAK/STAT signaling pathways,thereby affecting pancreatic cancer.The ZnT protein family mainly promotes the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer through ERK,p38MAPK,NF-κB,and mTOR pathways.This review aims to provide some theoretical basis for the prevention,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

Objective　To analyze the effects and mechanism of cichoric acid (CA) on neuronal apoptosis and inflammatory response in ischemic stroke rats.Methods　The ischemic stroke rat model was prepared by the modified suture method.The rats were grouped into sham operation group,model group,CA group (10 mg/kg),and CA+p38 MAPK activator (Anisomycin) group (10 mg/kg CA+2 mg/kg Anisomycin).Each group received corresponding intervention for 2 weeks,the Zea Longa score were performed and volume percentage of cerebral infarction were detected on rats,Nissl staining was used to detect neuronal damage in rat hippocampal tissue.TUNEL method was used to detect neuronal apoptosis in rat hippocampal tissue,the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in rat hippocampal tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,the expression of phosphorylated p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK),p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK),phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65),nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65),nucleotide binding oligomerization domain like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) protein in rat hippocampal tissue was detected by Western blot.Results　Compared with the sham operation group,the morphology of neurons in the model group was irregular,the staining was shallow,the number of Nissl bodies decreased significantly,and the Zea Longa score,the volume percentage of cerebral infarction,the rate of neuronal apoptosis and the TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK,p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65,NLRP3 protein expression leves in hippocampal tissue increased significantly (P<0.05);compared with the model group,the morphology of neurons in CA group was significantly improved,the morphology was plump,the staining was uniform,the Nissl body was dense,and the Zea Longa score,the volume percentage of cerebral infarction,the rate of neuronal apoptosis and the TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK,p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65,NLRP3 protein expression leves in hippocampal tissue decreased significantly (P<0.05);Anisomycin can reverse the above-mentioned improvement effect of CA on ischemic stroke rats.Conclusion　CA can inhibit the inflammatory response,reduce neuronal apoptosis,and alleviate the brain injury of rats caused by ischemic stroke by inhibiting the p38 MAPK/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) exerts multiple effects such as regulating bone remodeling, promoting angiogenesis, etc., and it is an active factor with great application potential for bone repair. In recent years, with the development of scaffold material loading strategies and parathyroid hormone-related peptides (PTHrPs), in situ loading of PTH or PTHrPs on scaffold materials to promote bone defect healing gradually becomes possible. Based on the current status and challenges of intermittent PTH (iPTH) for bone tissue engineering, the review summarizes the in-situ application strategies of PTH and the construction of PTHrPs as well as current problems and further directions in this field, with a view to propel the clinical application of scaffold materials loaded with PTH or PTHrPs
Bone and Bones ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Wound Healing

Objective:To explore the clinical strategies for preservation of the exposed implant in chronic wounds and wound repair.Methods:From January 2016 to January 2019, totally 8 patients (4 males and 4 females, aged 10 to 73 years) sustaining postoperative chronic wounds with exposed implants were admitted to the Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital. There were 2 cases of abdominal patch exposure after abdominal trauma surgery, 2 cases of titanium plate exposure post craniocerebral surgery, 3 cases of internal fixator exposure post orthopedic surgery, and 1 case of cerebrospinal fluid drainage tube exposure after craniocerebral surgery. The wound exudate was collected for bacterial culture on admission. On the basis of glycemic control and correction of anemia and hypoproteinemia, thorough wound debridement was performed as soon as possible and the wound area after debridement ranged from 2.0 cm×0.5 cm to 6.0 cm×5.0 cm. The wounds of 4 patients were immediately closed after debridement, including 1 case by primary closure, 1 case by primary closure after local filling of platelet rich plasma gel, and 2 cases by local flap transplantation, with flap size of 10.0 cm×8.0 cm and 12.0 cm×8.0 cm, respectively. The donor sites of flaps were sutured directly and all the incisions were treated with continuous vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) after surgery. The other 4 patients were treated with continuous VSD after debridement to improve the wound bed. The wound of 1 case healed gradually, 1 case received direct wound suturing, and the wounds of 2 cases were repaired with thin split-thickness skin grafts from the thigh or the head. The results of bacterial culture of wound exudate on admission, wound healing post surgery, and follow-up were observed and recorded.Results:The bacterial culture of wound exudate on admission was positive in 6 patients, and 10 strains of bacteria were isolated with Staphylococcus epidermidis as the main pathogen. All the skin grafts or flaps of patients survived post surgery, with the incisions and wounds healed and all the implants preserved. After 1 to 3 years of follow-up, no recurrence of wound was found in any patient. Conclusions:The postoperative chronic wounds with exposed implants can be closed in primary stage by direct suturing or flap transplantation if it is clean enough on the basis of thorough debridement. The wounds with large defects or serious infection can be treated with continuous VSD firstly and then closed with direct suturing or skin grafting for delayed wound closure, thereby to reach the treatment goal of preserving the implants and repairing the wounds simultaneously.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of drug-eluding beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in treatment of unrecectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).The clinical data of 42 consecutive HCC patients undergoing TACE were retrospectively analyzed, including 20 cases received conventional TACE (cTACE group) and 22 cases received TACE with epirubicine-loaded microspheres (CalliSpheres) (DEB-TACE group). MRI scans were performed 1 week before and 1, 3 and 6 months after initial therapy. The response to treatment, disease recurrence, complications and adverse effects were documented and compared between two groups.There were no significant differences in 1-month, 3-month and 6-month objective response rate (CR+PR) and disease control rate (CR+PR+SD), disease recurrence, complications and adverse effects of interventional therapy between cTACE group and DEB-TACE group. Additionally, there were no significant differences about locoregional biliary injuries, intrahepatic biloma, and newly detected intra- or extrahepatic HCC on MRI between cTACE group and DEB-TACE group.There were no statistically significant differences between cTACE group and DEB-TACE group with regard to the short-term response, disease recurrence, complications and side effects. Hepatic-locoregional complications may be more frequent in DEB-TACE group than those in cTACE group.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Comparative Effectiveness Research ; Drug Delivery Systems ; instrumentation ; methods ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microspheres ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Currently, the morphologic characteristics of the torn discoid lateral meniscus remain unclear, andmorphological indexes used to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscus tears still need to be explored. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the specificity and sensitivity of discoid lateral meniscal tears in children using morphological indexes. METHODS: Seventy-three patients (seventy-six knees) with torn discoid lateral meniscus underwentarthroscopy and MRI data of knee examinations were retrospectively reviewed. All MR images were double-blinded, independently, retrospectively analyzed by attending radiologist (doctor A) and sports physician (doctor B). The following morphological signs of discoid lateral meniscus, such as a internal displaced free edge sign, a hypertrophic free edge sign and a hypertrophied-horn sign, were selected to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscus tears. The likelihood of the discoid lateral meniscus tears was analyzed on basis of arthroscopic findings constituted the gold standard. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI diagnosis of the discoid lateral meniscus tears by two physicians were calculated, and the consistency of diagnosis results by two physicians was evaluated using the Kappa statistics.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscustears by internal displaced free edge sign for doctor A were 19%, 94% and 53%, respectively, and for doctor B were 21%, 97% and 55%. (2) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus tears by hypertrophic free edge sign for doctor A were 52%, 100% and 74%, respectively, and for doctor B were 57%, 97% and 75%. (3) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus tears by hypertrophied-horn sign for doctor A were 26%, 97% and 58%, respectively, and for doctor B were 24%, 100% and 58%. (4) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus tears by binding morphological index for doctor A were 86%, 91% and 87%, respectively, and for doctor B were 88%, 94% and 91%. (5) The Kappa statistics for discoid lateral meniscus tears respectively demonstrated a good inter-observer agreement (K > 0.75, P < 0.001). (6) These findings suggest that single morphological index used to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscus tears shows a good specificity, but which also shows a low sensitivity, while a binding morphological index can significantly improve the diagnostic sensitivity. Morphological characteristics may be reliable indexes to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscal tears in children.

BACKGROUND:Currently, the morphologic changes of the discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) remain unclear, and morphological indexes used to evaluate the injuries of DLM stil need to be explored. OBJECTIVE:To compare the MR imaging difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic DLM in adults, and to select reliablemorphologicalparametersfor assessing DLM. METHODS:A total of 36 patients (36 knees) with a symptomatic DLM (study group)and 34 patients (34 knees) with an asymptomatic DLM (control group) were included in this study. GE Healthcare Centricity RIS/PACKS System was used to measure the primary morphological parameters of two patients with DLM on coronal MR imaging. Intergroup comparison was performed with the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:On the coronal MR imaging, the width of the body portion and height of the free edge of the DLM was significantly increased in the study group compared with the control group (P< 0.001), while the height of the peripheral portion which connects with the capsule of the DLM was significantly decreased in the study group compared with the control group (P= 0.002). The heightof the middle of the DLM and the width of the lateral femoral condyle showed no significant differences between the both groups (P> 0.05). The width ratio of the body of the DLM to the lateral femoral condyle and the height ratio of height of the free edge to the middle of the DLM were significantly increased in thestudy group compared with the control group (P< 0.001), while the height ratio of the peripheral portion to the middle for the DLM was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P< 0.001). These findings suggest that compared with asymptomatic discoid lateral meniscus, the width of the body portion and the height of the free edge for the DLM are increased;however,the height of the peripheral portion which connects with the capsule of the DLM is decreased. The width ratio of the body portion of the DLM to the lateral femoral condyle and the height ratio of the free edge to the middle for the DLM may be reliable morphological parameters for the assessment of the DLM in adults.

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on patients with sternal osteomyelitis and sinus tract after thoracotomy.

METHODSSixty-two patients with sternal osteomyelitis and sinus tract after thoracotomy, hospitalized from March 2011 to June 2015, were retrospectively analyzed. Based on whether receiving PRP or not, patients were divided into two groups, group NPWT ( 22 patients hospitalized from March 2011 to December 2012) and combination treatment group (CT, 40 patients hospitalized from January 2013 to June 2015). After debridement, patients in group NPWT were treated with continuous NPWT (negative pressure values from -15.96 to -13.30 kPa), while those in group CT were treated with PRP gel (blood platelet counts in PRP ranged from 1 450×10(9)/L to 1 800×10(9)/L, with 10-15 mL in each dosage) made on the surgery day to fill the sinus tract and wound, followed by NPWT. Negative pressure materials were changed every 5 days until 20 days after surgery in patients of both groups. PRP gel was replenished before changing of negative pressure materials in patients of group CT. The sinus tract sealing time, wound healing time, number of patients who had secondary repair surgery, number of patients who had recurrence of sinus tract within three months after wound healing, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Data were processed with t test, Fisher's exact test, and chi-square test.

RESULTSThe sinus tract sealing time, wound healing time, and length of hospital stay in patients of group CT were (16±8), (27±13), and (43±13) d respectively, which were all significantly shorter than those in group NPWT [(29±14), (41±17), and (60±20) d, with t values from 3.88 to 4.67, P values below 0.01]. The number of patients who had secondary repair surgery in group CT was less than that in group NPWT (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of patients who had recurrence of sinus tract between two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with NPWT only, PRP combined with NPWT has great curative effects on patients with sternal osteomyelitis and sinus tract after thoracotomy, for it shortens sinus tract sealing time, wound healing time, and length of hospital stay, and avoids the secondary repair surgery. This method is simple and safe with little injury.

Debridement ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Osteomyelitis ; surgery ; therapy ; Paranasal Sinuses ; pathology ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sternum ; surgery ; Thoracotomy ; Wound Healing