Objective To monitor the number of microembolic signals(MES)during endovascular recanalization of symptomatic non-acute internal carotid artery occlusion(NA-ICAO),to investigate the risk steps for MES during sur-gery,and to improve the safety of endovascular treatment(EVT).Methods A prospective study was conducted among 56 patients with symptomatic NA-ICAO who received EVT from April 1,2022 to June 30,2023.The number of MES was recorded during the seven steps of reperfusion treatment,and transcranial Doppler was used for statistical analysis.All pa-tients underwent magnetic resonance imaging before and after surgery.According to the results of MES and the presence or absence of new infarcts on diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)after surgery,the patients were divided into DWI(+)group and DWI(-)group.Results A relatively large number of MES was observed for both groups in the steps of searching for the true cavity through the occlusive segment with microguide wire(with a mean number of 21.81 and 17.75,respec-tively;P<0.05)and predilation for the first time(with a mean number of 23.29 and 17.43,respectively;P<0.05),and the number of new infarcts after surgery was significantly positively correlated with the total number of MES during surgery.Conclusion The steps of searching for the true cavity through the occlusive segment with microguide wire and predilation for the first time may easily induce MES,and the number of MES during surgery is correlated with infarcts after surgery.It is speculated that intraoperative MES is associated with new infarcts after surgery.

Objective:To explore the factors associated with vascular luminal dilatational remodeling (VLDR) following balloon angioplasty for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS).Methods:A case-control study was conducted to analyze the data of symptomatic severe ICAS patients who received either paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty (PCBA) or plain balloon angioplasty (POBA) at our center from January 2019 to January 2022 and completed the six-month follow-up. The patients were divided into VLDR group and non-VLDR group according to whether VLDR occurred on follow-up digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The baseline data, preoperative and postoperative lesion characteristics (DSA), and perioperative related information were collected. The definition of VLDR was a decrease in luminal stenosis rate by more than 10% at the time of follow-up compared to the immediate postoperative period. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze possible factors affecting VLDR such as balloon type, balloon length, and expansion time.Results:A total of 88 patients were included in this study, with 16 in the VLDR group and 72 in the non-VLDR group. The follow-up time for all included patients was 6.00 (5.00, 7.00) months. VLDR occurred in 18.2% (16/88) of cases, with a VLDR incidence of 30.4% (14/46) after PCBA and 4.8% (2/42) after POBA. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that treatment balloon type, balloon length, inflated time, immediate postoperative stenosis rate, follow-up time and Mori classification may affect the occurrence of VLDR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the use of paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) ( OR=9.82, 95% CI 1.99-48.49, P=0.005) and postoperative immediate stenosis rate ( OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.00-1.14, P=0.042) were independently associated with VLDR. Conclusion:The occurrence of VLDR following balloon angioplasty in ICAS was associated with the use of PCB and immediate postoperative stenosis rates, which will provide guidance for the clinical application of PCB.

Objective:To report single-center clinical experience with endovascular recanalization for non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion, to assess the feasibility and safety of endovascular recanalization and to propose the benefit group for selected patients.Methods:From January 2019 to December 2021, 92 patients with non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion who underwent endovascular recanalization were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups (low, medium and high-risk group) according to occlusion length, occlusion duration, occlusion nature, calcification of the occlusion segment, and occlusion angulation, and the indicators of patients in each group were analyzed, including the general baseline data of the patients, surgical status and follow-up results. The technical success and perioperative complication rates of low, medium and high-risk groups were calculated. Meanwhile, the differences between three groups were evaluated using the χ2 test for trend or ANOVA analysis. Results:The overall technical success rate of endovascular recanalization was 83.7% (77/92), and the perioperative complication rate was 10.9% (10/92). Among the 3 classification groups, the recanalization success rate from the low-risk group to the high-risk group was 100%, 93.3%, 27.8%( P=0.047), and gradually decreased; while the overall perioperative complication rate was 0, 10.0%, 38.9% ( P=0.001), and gradually increased; the proportion of 90-day mRS score 0-2 was 100%, 83.3%, 22.2% ( P=0.026), and progressively decreased; 77 patients with successful recanalization were followed up, the rate of restenosis/reocclusion was 0, 17.9%, 80.0%( P=0.001), and progressively increased. Patients in the low-and intermediate-risk groups performed well with endovascular recanalization. In 88 patients (4 patients lost to follow-up), a median clinical follow-up of 13 (7, 16) months, stroke or death beyond 30 days was 17.4% (16/92). Conclusions:Endovascular recanalization is safe and feasible for reasonably selected patients with non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion, especially in low-and medium-risk groups, and it also provides an alternative to conservative therapy for patients with non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of the Post-stroke Depression Prediction Scale (DePreS) combined with the Early Symptom Measurement of Post-Stroke Depression-Short Form (ESMPSD-SF) in predicting post stroke depression (PSD).Methods:This study was a cross-sectional survey, using convenience sampling method to select 185 stroke patients admitted to Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from June 2019 to May 2021 as the research subjects. The DePreS, ESMPSD-SF, and general information questionnaire were used to investigate them.Results:The incidence of PSD was 36.76% (68/185). The DePreS and ESMPSD-SF scores in the PSD patients were (6.29 ± 8.77), (33.83 ± 6.78) points, respectively, significantly higher than those in the non-PSD patients (-2.05 ± 5.70), (26.51 ± 5.56) points, with statistically significant differences ( t=7.06, 7.97, both P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that DePreS and ESMPSD-SF scores, marital status, and the number of comorbidities were predictive factors for PSD occurrence ( P<0.05). The AUC of DePreS for diagnosing PSD was 0.777, with an optimal diagnostic point of 2 points, a sensitivity of 59.42%, and a specificity of 80.71%; the AUC of the ESMPSD-SF for diagnosing PSD was 0.792, with an optimal diagnostic point of 28 points, a sensitivity of 78.26%, and a specificity of 74.14%. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of DePreS combined with ESMPSD-SF in the diagnosis of PSD were 82.61%, 83.62%, and 0.886, respectively. The differences were statistically significant compared to the AUC evaluated separately by DePreS or ESMPSD-SF ( Z=3.21, 3.49, both P<0.05). Conclusions:The combination of DePreS and ESMPSD-SF had a higher detection efficiency for PSD, and the combination of the two is more suitable for assessing PSD risk in stroke patients.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of drug-coated balloon (DCB) in the treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.Methods:Forty-nine patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis treated with DCB in the People′s Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to August 2021 were retrospectively included. The location and number of lesions were as follows: 21 cases of the middle cerebral artery, 11 cases of the intracranial segment of vertebral artery, 12 cases of the basilar artery, and 5 cases of the intracranial segment of internal carotid artery. Pre-dilatation of the lesion with a normal balloon followed by DCB angioplasty. Clinical follow-up (outpatient or telephone) was carried out at 30 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after the operation. Imaging follow-up was carried out at 6 months postoperatively. The surgical success rate (defined as the proportion of patients with residual stenosis<50% after balloon dilatation), perioperative safety (any strokes, TIA, and deaths within 1 month), stroke recurrence, and restenosis were analyzed.Results:The operation was performed in all patients successfully. The median stenosis level was 80% (75%, 85%) preoperatively and 20% (15%, 30%) at the time after the operation. The success rate of the operation was 91.8% (45/49). Stenting was given in 11 cases (22.4%, 11/49) for severe flow-limiting vascular entrapment, or non-flow-limiting entrapment, owing to the concern of subsequent progression of the entrapment. Three cases (6.1%, 3/49) had significant vascular elastic retraction and implement stent implantation. One patient (2.0%, 1/49) developed symptomatic cerebral infarction during perioperative period, and the symptoms improved after treatment. No fatal or disabling stroke occurred. All patients were followed-up successfully. The median follow-up time was 12 months. Two patients (4.1%, 2/49) had a stroke in the responsible vascular area, and 1 (2.0%, 1/49) patient had a stroke in the non-responsible vascular area. Thirty-eight patients (77.6%, 38/49) had followed-up images. The median follow-up time of postoperative imaging was 6 months. Restenosis occurred in two cases (1 case had symptomatic restenosis), and the incidence of restenosis was 5.3% (2/38).Conclusions:DCB in the treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis has a high technical success rate, good perioperative safety, and low stroke recurrence rate in short-term follow-up, demonstrating the good feasibility, safety, and efficacy of DCB.

Objective:To evaluate the safety, feasibility and efficacy of drug-coated balloon (DCB) in the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) of the vertebrobasilar artery.Methods:Twenty-one patients with ISR of the vertebrobasilar artery treated with DCB at the Zhengzhou University People′s Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively included. There were 22 lesions with ISR, of which 8 were located in the initial segments of vertebral artery, 12 were located in the V4 segment of the vertebral artery, and 2 were located in the basilar artery. The clinical prognosis was evaluated by modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and the target vessel restenosis was evaluated by DSA, CTA or MRA. The safety, feasibility and effectiveness of DCB in the treatment of vertebrobasilar artery ISR were analyzed by perioperative complications, technical success rate and follow-up.Results:All 21 patients with ISR underwent successful interventional surgery. No stroke, TIA and death occurred in perioperative period. During the operation, two cases (9.5%) were treated with Apollo stent due to the residual stenosis>50% after DCB dilation. The technical success rate was 90.5%. The mean stenosis of the target vessel was improved immediately from preoperative (78.1±11.3)% to postoperative (22.1±8.3)%. All the 21 patients were followed up. As of the last follow-up in September 2021, the median clinical follow-up period was 19 (12, 33.5) months, and there were no stroke, TIA and death caused by the corresponding artery. The mRS score was 0 in 18 patients 1 in 2 patients and 2 in 1 patient. Imaging follow-up was available in 13 cases (61.9%) with a median follow-up time of 7(5.5, 19) months, and the target vessel restenosis rate was 7.7% (1/13).Conclusions:This preliminary study has shown that DCB in the treatment of ISR of the vertebrobasilar artery is safe and feasible, with a high technical success rate and low restenosis rate, which provides clinical application evidence, but the long-term effect needs further follow-up observation.

Objective:To investigate the pathogenesis, selection of endovascular treatment (EVT) strategies, and efficacies of acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (AVBAO) of different lesion sites.Methods:One hundred and five patients with AVBAO, admitted to and accepted EVT in our hospital from February 2017 to September 2019, were chosen in our study. The data of disease onset, imaging findings, EVT status, perioperative complications, and prognoses of these patients were collected. According to DSA results, the involved lesions were divided into 4 sites: the upper segment of basilar artery (BA), the middle segment of BA, the lower segment of BA, and the intracranial segment of vertebral artery (V4 segment), and patients with tandem lesions would be recorded as distal lesions. The risk factors, EVT strategies, and prognoses 90 d after follow-up (modified Rankin scale [mRS] scores≤3: good prognosis) were compared in patients with 4 different lesion sites.Results:There were significant differences in etiological classifications and percentage of patients combined with atrial fibrillation among patients with 4 different lesion sites ( P<0.05). There was significant difference in proportion of patients accepted emergency stent implantation among patients with 4 different lesion sites ( P<0.05): those with lesions at the V4 segment had the highest proportion of patients accepted emergency stent implantation (79.55%), followed by those with lesions at the lower segment of BA (50.00%). There was significant difference in EVT time (the time from arterial puncture to successful recanalization of occluded vessels) among patients with 4 different lesion sites ( P<0.05): the EVT time in patients with lesions at the middle segment of BA was the shortest (87.5 [58.5, 130.8] min), and the EVT time in patients with lesions at the lower segment of BA was the longest (115.0 [81.0, 163.0] min). There was no statistical difference among patients with different lesion sites in good prognosis rate 90 d after follow-up ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The pathogenesis of patients with different AVBAO lesion sites is different, so different EVT strategies should be adopted.

Objective:To assess the role of arterial spin labeling (ASL) in detecting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of cerebral infarction lesions in patients with anterior circulation subacute ischemic stroke (SIS), and to evaluate the value of ASL in predicting hemorrhagic transformation (HT) of SIS patients after endovascular recanalization.Methods:A prospective analysis was performed. Patients with anterior circulation SIS who received endovascular treatment (EVT) in our hospital from January 2021 to September 2021 were enrolled. At 24 h before EVT and immediately after EVT, MRI scans of ASL sequences and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DCE) sequence were completed, and Xper CT was performed; accordingly, imaging typing was performed. Head CT scan was performed 24-48 h after EVT to observe HT; according to the presence or absence of HT, these patients were divided into HT group and non-HT group; the relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) values of ASL sequence parameters, volume transfer constant (K trans) of DCE sequence parameters and the differences of ASL, DCE and Xper CT imaging types between the two groups were compared. The weighted Kappa coefficient was used to test the consistency among ASL, DCE and Xper CT imaging types. Results:Among 22 eligible patients, 5 patients occurred HT (5/22, 22.72%). As compared with those in the non-HT group (1.14±0.04; 0.032[0.024, 0.039]/min), patients in the HT group had significantly higher rCBF value (1.57±0.18) and K trans (0.072[0.0455, 0.117]/min, P<0.05). There were significant differences in the distribution of ASL, DCE and Xper CT imaging types between the two groups ( P<0.05); among them, 4 out of 6 patients with ASL imaging type III, 4 out of 6 patients with DCE imaging type III, and 4 out of 5 patients with Xper CT imaging type III had HT. ASL sequence and DCE sequence had a high consistency in the imaging types (Kappa coefficient=0.941, 95%CI: 0.862-1.020, P<0.001). Conclusion:ASL can effectively evaluate the BBB permeability of cerebral infarction lesions in patients with anterior circulation SIS; patients with ASL imaging type III have a relatively high risk of HT.

Objective:To assess the role of arterial spin labeling (ASL) in detecting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of cerebral infarction lesions in patients with anterior circulation subacute ischemic stroke (SIS), and to evaluate the value of ASL in predicting hemorrhagic transformation (HT) of SIS patients after endovascular recanalization.Methods:A prospective analysis was performed. Patients with anterior circulation SIS who received endovascular treatment (EVT) in our hospital from January 2021 to September 2021 were enrolled. At 24 h before EVT and immediately after EVT, MRI scans of ASL sequences and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DCE) sequence were completed, and Xper CT was performed; accordingly, imaging typing was performed. Head CT scan was performed 24-48 h after EVT to observe HT; according to the presence or absence of HT, these patients were divided into HT group and non-HT group; the relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) values of ASL sequence parameters, volume transfer constant (K trans) of DCE sequence parameters and the differences of ASL, DCE and Xper CT imaging types between the two groups were compared. The weighted Kappa coefficient was used to test the consistency among ASL, DCE and Xper CT imaging types. Results:Among 22 eligible patients, 5 patients occurred HT (5/22, 22.72%). As compared with those in the non-HT group (1.14±0.04; 0.032[0.024, 0.039]/min), patients in the HT group had significantly higher rCBF value (1.57±0.18) and K trans (0.072[0.0455, 0.117]/min, P<0.05). There were significant differences in the distribution of ASL, DCE and Xper CT imaging types between the two groups ( P<0.05); among them, 4 out of 6 patients with ASL imaging type III, 4 out of 6 patients with DCE imaging type III, and 4 out of 5 patients with Xper CT imaging type III had HT. ASL sequence and DCE sequence had a high consistency in the imaging types (Kappa coefficient=0.941, 95%CI: 0.862-1.020, P<0.001). Conclusion:ASL can effectively evaluate the BBB permeability of cerebral infarction lesions in patients with anterior circulation SIS; patients with ASL imaging type III have a relatively high risk of HT.

Stroke rescue features strong time sensitivity and high complexity. Minimizing the time of consumption in pre-hospital and in-hospital stroke rescue is key to improve stroke rescue efficiency and reduce the disability rate. In December 2017, a tertiary hospital launched the construction of a one-stop stroke rescue platform. This platform was centered on " multi-mode image fusion operating room" , operating as a one-stop rescue mode integrating emergency admission, imaging examination, intravenous thrombolytic therapy, mechanical thrombolytic therapy, postoperative evaluation, and so on. The seamless convergence workflow of pre-hospital, in-hospital and post-hospital could effectively optimize the physical rescue pathway. In order to ensure the efficient and orderly operation of the platform, the hospital adopted such measures as multidisciplinary integration, pre-hospital and in-hospital integration construction, and regional stroke care network. Since its operation in September 2019, the platform has treated more than 1 000 patients by December 2021. The application of the platform had effectively improved the efficiency of stroke rescue, led the development of regional stroke rescue system, and provided the reference for raising the stroke rescue capacity and management level in China.