Background: and Purpose Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute posterior circulation tandem lesion (PCTL). This study aimed to explore the role of extracranial vertebral artery (VA) stenting in patients with PCTL stroke undergoing EVT. Methods: Individual patient data were pooled from the BASILAR (EVT for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Study) and PERSIST (Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke) registries. Patients with PCTLs who underwent EVT were included in the present cohort and divided into the stenting and nonstenting groups based on the placement of extracranial VA stents. The primary efficacy outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 90 days and 1 year. Safety outcomes included 24-hour symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and all-cause mortality at 90 days and 1 year post-surgery. Results: A combined dataset of 1,320 patients with posterior circulation artery occlusion, including 263 (19.9%) with tandem lesions, of whom 217 (median age, 65 years; 82.9% male) met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The stenting group had 84 (38.7%) patients, while the non-stenting group had 133 (61.3%). After adjustment for the potential confounders, extracranial VA stenting was associated with favorable shifts in mRS scores at both 90 days (adjusted common odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–4.28; P<0.01) and 1 year (adjusted OR [aOR], 2.04; 95% CI [1.05–3.97]; P=0.04), along with lower rate of mortality at both 90 days (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI [0.21–0.93]; P=0.01) and 1 year (aOR, 0.36; 95% CI [0.16–0.79]; P=0.01), with no significant difference in sICH incidence (aOR, 0.35; 95% CI [0.06–1.98]; P=0.24). Conclusion Extracranial VA stenting during EVT may improve functional outcomes and reduce mortality in patients with PCTL strokes.

Background: and Purpose Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute posterior circulation tandem lesion (PCTL). This study aimed to explore the role of extracranial vertebral artery (VA) stenting in patients with PCTL stroke undergoing EVT. Methods: Individual patient data were pooled from the BASILAR (EVT for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Study) and PERSIST (Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke) registries. Patients with PCTLs who underwent EVT were included in the present cohort and divided into the stenting and nonstenting groups based on the placement of extracranial VA stents. The primary efficacy outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 90 days and 1 year. Safety outcomes included 24-hour symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and all-cause mortality at 90 days and 1 year post-surgery. Results: A combined dataset of 1,320 patients with posterior circulation artery occlusion, including 263 (19.9%) with tandem lesions, of whom 217 (median age, 65 years; 82.9% male) met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The stenting group had 84 (38.7%) patients, while the non-stenting group had 133 (61.3%). After adjustment for the potential confounders, extracranial VA stenting was associated with favorable shifts in mRS scores at both 90 days (adjusted common odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–4.28; P<0.01) and 1 year (adjusted OR [aOR], 2.04; 95% CI [1.05–3.97]; P=0.04), along with lower rate of mortality at both 90 days (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI [0.21–0.93]; P=0.01) and 1 year (aOR, 0.36; 95% CI [0.16–0.79]; P=0.01), with no significant difference in sICH incidence (aOR, 0.35; 95% CI [0.06–1.98]; P=0.24). Conclusion Extracranial VA stenting during EVT may improve functional outcomes and reduce mortality in patients with PCTL strokes.

Background: and Purpose Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute posterior circulation tandem lesion (PCTL). This study aimed to explore the role of extracranial vertebral artery (VA) stenting in patients with PCTL stroke undergoing EVT. Methods: Individual patient data were pooled from the BASILAR (EVT for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Study) and PERSIST (Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke) registries. Patients with PCTLs who underwent EVT were included in the present cohort and divided into the stenting and nonstenting groups based on the placement of extracranial VA stents. The primary efficacy outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 90 days and 1 year. Safety outcomes included 24-hour symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and all-cause mortality at 90 days and 1 year post-surgery. Results: A combined dataset of 1,320 patients with posterior circulation artery occlusion, including 263 (19.9%) with tandem lesions, of whom 217 (median age, 65 years; 82.9% male) met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The stenting group had 84 (38.7%) patients, while the non-stenting group had 133 (61.3%). After adjustment for the potential confounders, extracranial VA stenting was associated with favorable shifts in mRS scores at both 90 days (adjusted common odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–4.28; P<0.01) and 1 year (adjusted OR [aOR], 2.04; 95% CI [1.05–3.97]; P=0.04), along with lower rate of mortality at both 90 days (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI [0.21–0.93]; P=0.01) and 1 year (aOR, 0.36; 95% CI [0.16–0.79]; P=0.01), with no significant difference in sICH incidence (aOR, 0.35; 95% CI [0.06–1.98]; P=0.24). Conclusion Extracranial VA stenting during EVT may improve functional outcomes and reduce mortality in patients with PCTL strokes.

Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (aCAS) is one of the important causes of ischemic stroke. The imaging evaluation of carotid artery plaques is of great significance for selecting the best treatment in patients with aCAS. This article reviews the plaque composition, plaque morphology, and hemodynamic evaluation of aCAS, aiming to provide a basis for developing personalized medical strategies.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the longitudinal change trajectory of white blood cell (WBC) and new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods:It was a prospective cohort study. A total of 2 792 people who underwent health examinations at the Health Management Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2019 to December 2023 for five consecutive years and met the research standards were selected as the study subjects. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was established. The target population was divided into three groups based on the longitudinal change trajectory of WBC: low-stable group, medium-stable group and high-stable group. The cumulative incidence of T2DM in the three groups were analyzed. Multivariate Cox proportional risk regression models were used to analyze the correlation between different WBC trajectory groups and the risk of T2DM in total population, males and females. A restricted cubic spline regression (RCS) model was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between baseline WBC and risk of T2DM.Results:The cumulative incidence rate of T2DM in low-stable group, medium-stable group and high-stable group increased gradually, which was 2.5%, 5.3% and 6.9%, respectively ( χ2=19.024, P<0.001). After adjusting for multiple confounding factors in the Cox proportional hazards regression model, no significant difference in the incidence risk of T2DM among the three WBC trajectory groups in males; While the hazard ratios in the high-stable and medium-stable group in women was 2.852(95% CI: 1.067-7.628) and 2.588 (95% CI: 1.133-5.912), respectively, when compared with that in the low-stable group (both P<0.05). RCS curve analysis showed a linear relationship between WBC and the risk of T2DM in female ( Pnon-linear=0.956), when the WBC count was>5.53×10 9/L, the risk of T2DM increased with the rise of WBC. Conclusion:Higher WBC trajectory is positively correlated with the risk of new-onset T2DM in female health examination population.

ObjectiveTo study the effect of Qizhu Kang'ai prescription （QZAP） on the gluconeogenesis enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 （PCK1） in the liver of mouse model of liver cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine （DEN） combined with carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄） and Huh7 cells of human liver cancer， so as to explore the mechanism on regulating metabolic reprogramming and inhibiting cell proliferation of liver cancer cells. MethodDEN combined with CCl₄ was used to construct a mouse model of liver cancer via intraperitoneal injection. A normal group， a model group， and a QZAP group were set up， in which QZAP （3.51 g·kg^-1） or an equal volume of normal saline was administered daily by gavage， respectively. Serum and liver samples were collected after eight weeks of intervention. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， γ-glutamyltransferase （γ-GT）， and alpha-fetoprotein （AFP） in mice were detected to evaluate liver function changes of mice in each group. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Sirius red staining were used to observe pathological changes in liver tissue. In the cell experiment， Huh7 cells were divided into blank group， QZAP low， medium， and high dose groups and/or PCK1 inhibitor （SKF-34288 hydrochloride） group， and Sorafenib group. The corresponding drug-containing serum and drug treatment were given， respectively. Cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） method， colony formation experiment， Edu fluorescent labeling detection， intracellular adenosine triphosphate （ATP） content detection， and cell cycle flow cytometry detection were used to evaluate the proliferation ability， energy metabolism changes， and change in the cell cycle of Huh7 cells in each group. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of PCK1， serine/threonine kinase （Akt）， phosphorylated Akt （p-Akt）， and cell cycle-dependent protein kinase inhibitor 1A （p21）. ResultCompared with the model group， the pathological changes such as cell atypia， necrosis， and collagen fiber deposition in liver cancer tissue of mice in the QZAP group were alleviated， and the number of liver tumors was reduced （P<0.01）. The serum ALT， AST， γ-GT， and AFP levels were reduced （P<0.01）. At the cell level， compared with the blank group， low， medium， and high-dose groups of QZAP-containing serum and the Sorafenib group could significantly reduce the survival rate of Huh7 cells （P<0.01） and the number of positive cells with Edu labeling （P<0.01） and inhibit clonal proliferation ability （P<0.01）. The QZAP groups could also reduce the intracellular ATP content （P<0.05） and increase the distribution ratio of the G₀/G₁ phase of the cell cycle （P<0.05） in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the model group and blank group， PCK1 and p21 protein levels of mouse liver cancer tissue and Huh7 cells in the QZAP groups were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and the p-Akt protein level was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the ATP content and cell survival rate of Huh7 cells in the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group were significantly increased （P<0.05）， but there was no statistical difference in the ratio of Edu-positive cells and the proportion of G₀/G₁ phase distribution. Compared with the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group， the QZAP combined with the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group significantly reduced the ATP content， cell survival rate， and Edu-positive cell ratio of Huh7 cells （P<0.05） and significantly increased the G₀/G₁ phase distribution proportion （P<0.05）. ConclusionQZAP may induce the metabolic reprogramming of liver cancer cells by activating PCK1 to promote Akt/p21-mediated tumor suppression， thereby exerting an anti-hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation mechanism.

Objective:To investigate and analyze the psychological stress status and influencing factors of medical staff in comprehensive grade A hospitals.Methods:This was a cross-sectional survey using a convenient sampling method. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 2 048 staff members of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from February 25 to June 16, 2022. The questionnaires included the Self-rating Stress Questionnaire (SSQ-53), the Self-rating Anxiety Scale, and the Self-rating Depression Scale. A total of 2 048 questionnaires were distributed and 2 048 were collected. Among them, 2 006 (97.95%) were valid questionnaires, and 2 006 medical staff were ultimately included in the analysis. According to the results of the scale, they were divided into the increased psychological stress group and the non increased psychological stress group. Descriptive analysis, independent sample t-test/chi-square test, correlation analysis, and other methods were used to analyze the psychological stress status of medical staff and the distribution of related factors, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze their influencing factors. Results:A total of 310 (15.5%) out of 2 006 study subjects showed increased psychological stress. Women had a statistically significant increase in physical (14.7% vs 8.0%, χ2=12.40, P<0.001) and emotional dimensions (18.2% vs 13.5%, χ2=5.04, P=0.025) of stress compared to men. The level of psychological stress was positively correlated with anxiety and depression ( r=0.810, 0.749, respectively, P<0.001). Univariate analysis showed that those who were women ( χ2=6.76, P=0.009), with low education backgrounds ( Z=-2.50, P=0.012), nurses ( χ2=15.72, P<0.001), or working in emergency departments ( χ2=13.64, P=0.009) had a higher rate of increased psychological stress, while the serum calcium level in the increased psychological stress group was lower than that in the non increased psychological stress group ( t=2.82, P=0.005). Multivariate analysis showed that low educational backgrounds ( OR=2.238, 95% CI: 1.090-4.597, P=0.028) and working in emergency department ( OR=1.589, 95% CI: 1.012-2.493, P=0.044) were independent risk factors for increased psychological stress of medical staff. Working in administrative and logistics departments ( OR=0.466, 95% CI: 0.229-0.950, P=0.036) and serum calcium level ( OR=0.213, 95% CI: 0.059-0.760, P=0.017) were negatively correlated with increased psychological stress. Conclusions:In comprehensive grade A hospitals, medical staff working in the emergency department or with lower educational backgrounds face greater psychological stress. Serum calcium level is negatively correlated with increased psychological stress, but the causal relationship needs further study.