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 value of net water uptake (NWU) for predicting early neurological improvement (ENI) after endovascular treatment in patients with acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke.Methods:A case-control study. A total of 132 patients (80 men, 52 women, median age 68 years) with acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke receiving endovascular treatment were retrospectively analyzed at Jinling Hospital from October 2014 to September 2019. Patients were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of ENI, which was defined as either an improvement of NIHSS score of ≥4 points, or an NIHSS score of 0 or 1 at 24 hours after endovascular treatment. The rank sum test, Chi square test, and other methods were used to compare differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate independent predictors of postoperative ENI. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis used to assess the capacity of NWU to predict ENI.Results:Of the 132 patients in the study, ENI occurred in 47 and did not occur in 85. In multivariate logistic regression analysis age [odds ratio ( OR)=0.940, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.903-0.979, P=0.003], time from stroke onset to puncture ( OR=0.995, 95% CI 0.991-0.999, P=0.025), time from puncture to recanalization/end of operation ( OR=0.985, 95% CI 0.974-0.996, P=0.007), NWU ( OR=0.762, 95% CI 0.620-0.937, P=0.010), and mTICI ( OR=1.644, 95% CI 1.043-2.590, P=0.032) were predictive factors for ENI. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that NWU could effectively predict ENI (area under the curve=0.642, 95% CI 0.543-0.741, P=0.007), and prediction accuracy was improved when it was combined with other clinical parameters. Conclusion:NWU is an independent predictor of ENI in patients with acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke undergoing endovascular treatment.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) level and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods:Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University from September 2021 to November 2021 and whose duration from onset to hospitalization <14 d were prospectively enrolled. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum LCN-2. Fazekas scale was used to assess the severity of periventricular and subcortical WMHs. A total WMHs score ≥3 was defined as severe WMHs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between serum LCN-2 level and WMHs. Results:A total of 179 patients were enrolled, including 122 males (68.2%), aged 64.7±11.6 years. The median serum LCN-2 level was 387.1 g/L, and 86 patients (48.0%) had severe WMHs. Serum LCN-2 in the severe WMH group was significantly higher than that in the non-severe WMH group (505.3±342.4 g/L vs. 367.8±224.5 g/L; t=3.110, P=0.002). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for the relevant confounding factors, there was a significant correlation between higher serum LCN-2 and severe WMHs (odds ratio 2.32, 95% confidence interval 1.17-4.63; P=0.017) and higher total WMHs score (odds ratio 1.62, 95% confidence interval 1.12-2.35; P=0.011). Conclusion:Higher serum LCN-2 level is associated with severe WMHs in patients with ischemic stroke.

【Objective】 To explore the recruitment and retention strategy of blood donors by investigating the age composition of blood donors in some areas of China, so as to promote blood donation and enhance clinical blood supply. 【Methods】 Through the working platform of Practice Comparison Working Group of China’s Mainland Blood Collection and Supply Institutions, the average age and age composition of blood donors from 22 blood centers were collected, and statistical analysis was conducted after eliminating invalid data. 【Results】 The median average age of blood donors during the survey year was 30.02.The median age in 2.89% of the blood centers was lower than 25. The average age of different genders was statistically significant only in 2018(P<0.05). Fot first-time blood donors, the median constituent ratio of donors <25 and ≥25 years old was 54.53% and 44.28%, with median retention rate at 10.30% and 9.61%, respectively. The median overall participation rate of blood donors was 2.7%, with median participation rate of blood donors <25 years old at 5.1%. 【Conclusion】 The recruitment and retention of blood donor is crucial to enhance clinical blood supply. Blood donors <25 years old, with a longer period for future donation, should be the main target of blood donation recruitment. Meanwhile, the revision of upper age limit for blood donation is another important initiative to grow the blood donor pool.

Objective:To evaluate the characteristics of carotid plaque and the immediate outcomes after carotid artery stenting (CAS) in diabetic and non-diabetic patients by optical coherence tomography (OCT).Methods:Patients underwent CAS and OCT before and after operation in the Department of Neurology, Jinling Hospital from January 2014 to March 2019 were enrolled retrospectively. The clinical features, the characteristics of carotid plaque on OCT and the immediate outcomes after CAS were compared between diabetic group and non-diabetic group. The risk factors of stent malapposition were analyzed.Results:A total of 46 patients were enrolled. Their age was 64.02±8.32 years and 41 were males (89.1%). There were 20 patients (43.5%) in the diabetes group and 26 (56.5%) in the non-diabetes group. The proportions of atherosclerotic plaque with thin fibrous cap (40.0% vs. 7.7%; χ2=5.166, P=0.023), plaque rupture (55.0% vs. 23.1%; χ2=4.945, P=0.026) and macrophage infiltration (60.0% vs. 30.8%; χ2=3.930, P=0.047) in the diabetic group were significantly higher than those in the non-diabetic group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that older age (odds ratio [ OR] 1.208, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.033-1.413; P=0.018), coronary heart disease ( OR 15.953, 95% CI 1.142-222.952; P=0.040), alcohol consumption ( OR 6.192, 95% CI 1.098-34.923; P=0.039) and lower systolic blood pressure ( OR 0.944, 95% CI 0.894-0.997; P=0.037) were independently associated with stent malaposition. Conclusion:Compared with the non-diabetic patients, carotid plaque in diabetic patients may be more unstable. Older age, coronary heart disease, alcohol consumption and lower systolic blood pressure were associated with stent malaposition after carotid stenting. OCT can reveal the characteristics of carotid plaque and the immediate outcomes after CAS, which can provide strong evidence for treatment decision.

Objective To investigate the effect of butylphthalide and sodium chloride injection on patients who received endovascular treatment for acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke.Methods A total of 173 patients were identified from February 2015 to December 2017 in the Department of Neurology of Jingling Hospital in this retrospective observational study.Propensity score-matching analysis was performed to balance differences in baseline characteristics between patients who received butylphthalide injection (butylphthalide group) and those who did not (control group).The modified Rankin Scale scores at 90 days were compared between the butylphthalide and control groups.Results A total of 144 patients who received endovascular treatment for acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke were finally analyzed,54 cases in the butylphthalide group and 90 cases in the control group.The proportion of good functional outcome at 90 days in the butylphthalide group was higher than that in the control group (63.0％ (34/54) vs 44.4％ (40/90);x2=4.633,P=0.031).Thirty-six pairs were matched successfully by the propensity score matching,36 patients in the butylphthalide group and 36 in the control group.There was no statistically significant difference in the 90-day functional outcome between the two groups (66.7％ (24/36) vs 44.4％ (16/36);x2=3.600,P=0.058).One hundred and fifteen patients were recanalized,47 cases in the butylphthalide group and 68 cases in the control group,and after the propensity score matching,30 pairs were analyzed.The proportion of good functional outcome at 90 days in the butylphthalide group was higher than that in the control group (73.3％ (22/30) vs 46.7％ (14/30);x2=4.444,P=0.035).Conclusion After propensity score-matching,butylphthalide and sodium chloride injection could improve 90-day functional outcome in patients with acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke and obtained recanalization by endovascular treatment while could not before propensity score-matching.

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiological process of ischemic stroke.This article elaborates the inflammatory response process after ischemic stroke in order to improve the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of ischemic stroke.

Objective To evaluate the value of stroke prognostication using age and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale index (SPAN) for outcome after early endovascular treatment for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion.Methods The patients who underwent early endovascular treatment were prospectively,sequentially collected in Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College from December 2014 to September 2017 and Jinling Hospital from March 2014 to March 2017.Individuals whose age in years plus NIHSS score was greater than or equal to 100 were designated as SPAN-100-positive patients,while those with a score less than 100 were designated as SPAN-100-negative patients.We compared the baseline data and perioperative data between the two groups.The 90 days modified Rankin Scale score≤2 was regarded as favorable outcome.Single factor and multivariable Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between SPAN-100 and outcomes.Results One hundred and ninety patients were enrolled,20 (10.5％) of which were SPAN-100 positive,and 170(89.5％) were SPAN-100 negative.There were no significant differences between the two groups on postoperative intracerebral hemorrhage and 90 days mortality.Ninety days independence rates were higher in SPAN-100-negative patients (77/170,45.3％) than in SPAN-100 positive patients (4/20,20.0％;x2 =4.681,P =0.030).Multi-factor Logistic regression analysis showed that the higher preoperation systolic pressure (OR =1.030,95％ CI 1.008-1.052,P =0.007),the lower Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (OR =1.609,95％ CI 1.056-2.453,P =0.027) and poor collateral circulation(OR =5.714,95％ CI 1.668-19.570,P =0.006) were the independent risk factors of outcomes.Conclusion SPAN-100 is not an independent predictor of favorable outcome after adjusting for factors of outcomes in patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion.

As an emerging intravascular imaging technology, intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been recognized for its clinical application value in the continuous exploration of the past decade. With its high resolution, OCT can clearly display the subtle morphological features of arterial stenosis lesions, help select treatment options, guide stent placement, and evaluate stent-vessel relationship and neo-intimal coverage after stent implantation for timely detecting early and late complications after stent placement. In recent years, a series of studies have also explored the value of OCT in the evaluation of cerebral angiography and intracranial and extracranial artery stent placement. We made a review of this topic.