1.A diffusion weighted imaging radiomics and clinical characteristics-based prediction model for prognosis of mechanical thrombectomy in acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke
Dong YANG ; Weihe YAO ; Wusheng ZHU ; Xinfeng LIU
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(9):587-600
Objective Build a predictive model integrating radiomics features with clinical characteristics for the prognosis prediction of acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion(LVO)stroke patients after mechanical thrombectomy(MT),and explore its predictive value.Methods Patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent endovascular treatment for LVO of the anterior circulation were enrolled consecutively from the endovascular treatment registry database for acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke(ACTUAL)and the Nanjing stroke registry system from January 2014 to January 2025 retrospectively.Baseline,clinical and imaging data were collected from enrolled patients,including gender,age,medical history(atrial fibrillation,hypertension,diabetes),smoke history,admission blood pressure,blood glucose,National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score,Alberta stroke program early CT score(ASPECTS),occluded blood vessels(internal carotid artery,middle cerebral artery),trial of Org 10172 in acute stroke treatment(TOAST)classification(atherosclerotic,cardiogenic embolism,others),collateral status(American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology[ASITN/SIR]classification),the onset-to-door time,the time from onset to puncture,the operation time,the time from onset to recanalization,recanalization status(modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction[mTICI]score),symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage(sICH)within 72 hours after MT and functional outcome at 90 days post-MT(modified Rankin scale[mRS]score).Divide all patients into a training set and a validation set in a ratio of 7∶3.The training set is used to build the predictive model,and the validation set is used to verify the predictive model.In the training set,patients were divided into a good prognosis group(mRS score 0-2)and a poor prognosis group(mRS score 3-6),the variables with P<0.05 from the univariate Logistic regression analysis were enrolled into the multivariate Logistic regression analysis to screen the clinical risk factors affecting prognosis.The preoperative head MR axial diffusion weighted imaging sequence images of patients in the training set were selected.The Pyradiomics toolkit of the Python 3.6 platform was used to implement radiomics feature extraction.After conducting consistency analysis on the extracted features,standardization processing was performed.In the training set,feature dimension reduction is carried out on the radiomics feature values obtained after extraction and processing.The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)model was used to screen the features.The support vector machine(SVM),k-nearest neighbor,lightweight gradient boosting algorithm,random forest method and extreme gradient boosting algorithm are used to respectively construct models based on the screened radiomics features,use grid search with cross validation(GridSearchCV)to gain specific parameters in each model.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze and compare the area under the curve(AUC)of each radiomics model,screen the most suitable radiomics model,and verify it in the validation set.The predicted probability value of prognosis calculated by this model is taken as the radiomics score.In the training set,the radiomics scores and the screened clinical risk factors were taken as independent variables,and a multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted.A nomogram was used to construct a comprehensive prediction model of radiomics plus clinical factors for predicting the prognosis of MT in acute stroke patients of LVO.The AUC of the clinical factor prediction model,the radiomics prediction model,and the radiomics plus clinical factor comprehensive prediction model were compared in the training set and the validation set,respectively.Results A total of 107 acute anterior LVO patients who underwent MT were included,comprising 72 males and 35 females,aged 27 to 87 years,with a median age of 64(56,71)years.There were 74 cases in the training set,among which 48 cases had a good prognosis and 26 cases had a poor prognosis.There were 33 cases in the validation set,among which 24 cases had a good prognosis and 9 cases had a poor prognosis.The NIHSS score of patients in the training set was lower than that of patients in the validation set(12[8,19]points vs.15[11,21]points,P=0.03),while there were no statistically significant differences in the remaining baseline,clinical and imaging data compared with the validation set(all P>0.05).(1)Included the variables with P<0.05 from the univariate Logistic regression analysis into the multivariate Logistic regression analysis.The results showed that age(OR,1.066,95%CI 1.003-1.133,P=0.039)and admission NIHSS score(OR,1.126,95%CI 1.028-1.233,P=0.011)were independent risk factors for poor prognosis of MT in patients with acute anterior circulation LVO stroke.(2)A total of 725 radiomics features were extracted.The results of intra-observer consistency analysis showed that the median intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)of radiomics features was 0.75(0.56,0.87),and there were 424 features with ICC>0.7 and 127 features with ICC>0.9.The results of the inter-observer consistency analysis showed that the median ICC of radiomics features was 0.73(0.53,0.86).After dimensionality reduction using the LASSO,12 most relevant features were selected and incorporated into the radiomics-based prognostic model.The AUCs of the radiomics prediction models constructed by applying SVM,k-nearest neighbor,lightweight gradient boosting algorithm,random forest method and extreme gradient boosting algorithm were 0.803,0.890,0.969,1.000 and 1.000,respectively.The AUCs in the validation set were 0.769,0.743,0.817,0.792 and 0.799,respectively.SVM was selected as the final algorithm for the construction of the radiomics model.The radiomics data were input into SVM to obtain the radiomics score of each patient.(3)A comprehensive predictive nomogram model combining radiomics and clinical factors was constructed based on radiomics score,age,and the NIHSS score at admission.In the validation group,the integrated model demonstrated a significantly higher AUC-ROC(0.918,95%CI 0.831-0.969)compared to the radiomics model(AUC 0.803,95%CI0.694-0.886,P=0.026)and the clinical-feature model(AUC 0.784,95%CI0.674-0.872,P=0.009).In the validation set,there were no statistically significant difference among the integrated model(AUC 0.935,95%CI 0.792-0.991),radiomics model(AUC 0.769,95%CI 0.589-0.897,P=0.111)and the clinical-feature model(AUC 0.894,95%CI 0.737-0.974,P=0.602).The integrated model exhibited good calibration in both the training set and the validation set(Hosmer-Lemeshow test,P values were respectively 0.350,0.580).Conclusion The integrated radiomics-clinical model can provide effective prediction of MT on outcomes in acute anterior circulation LVO stroke patients,and it may offer an objective basis for clinical decision-making.
2.Influence of irregular shape of hematoma on postoperative re-bleeding and prognosis in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage undergoing craniotomy for hematoma evacuation
Yuanyuan FU ; Li LUO ; Jinhua YANG ; Likun WANG ; Lian HE ; Guofeng WU ; Siying REN ; Shiqi LIN
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(9):601-611
Objective To explore the impact of irregular shape of head CT hematomas on postoperative re-bleeding and prognosis of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH)who undergo craniotomy for hematoma evacuation.Methods We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients with ICH who underwent craniotomy for hematoma evacuation in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Second People's Hospital of Guiyang Affiliated to Guizhou Medical University from January 2019 to June 2024.Baseline and clinical data were collected form the patients,including age,gender,smoking history,drinking history,hypertension,diabetes,history of anticoagulant use,admission systolic and diastolic blood pressure,admission National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score,Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score,time from onset to the first head CT,neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR).Admission head CT scans were used to assess hematoma shape(regular or irregular),hematoma location(basal ganglia,lobar,multifocal),hematoma volume,perihematomal edema volume,the presence of midline shift,and intraventricular extension.Volume of the hematoma was assessed 2 days after surgery.Postoperative re-bleeding is defined as an increase in the volume of the hematoma by 12.5 ml compared to the previous postoperative CT scan within 2 weeks after surgery,or the reappearance of high-density areas in the focal area of the head CT scan during follow-up after complete hematoma clearance.Conduct patients follow-ups via telephone at 6 months postoperatively to assess their modified Rankin scale(mRS)scores.The sliding dichotomy method was applied to define prognosis based on the patients' baseline characteristics and disease severity.The prognostic score was calculated using formula:10 × admission GCS score-age-0.64 × admission hematoma volume.A prognostic score>27.672 was considered potentially favorable,while a score ≤ 27.672 was considered potentially unfavorable.For patients with a potentially favorable prognosis,an mRS score of 0-2 was defined as a good outcome,and a score of 3-6 as a poor outcome.For those with a potentially unfavorable prognosis,an mRS score of 0-3 was defined as a good outcome,and a score of 4-6 as a poor outcome.In the comparison of baseline and clinical data between patients with regular and irregular hematoma shapes,factors with P<0.05 were included in propensity score matching(PSM)to adjust for confounding variables.A 1∶1 matching was performed using the nearest neighbor method with a caliper value set to 0.25.Variables with statistically significant differences between groups after PSM matching were included in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis to identify influencing factors for postoperative re-bleeding and poor prognosis in ICH patients undergoing craniotomy hematoma evacuation.The predictive value of irregular hematoma shape for postoperative rebleeding and poor prognosis in ICH patients was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results(1)A total of 440 ICH patients were enrolled,including 342 males and 98 females,aged from 20 to 84 years with a mean age of(56±12)years.Statistically significant differences were observed in baseline and clinical data between patients with regular and irregular hematoma shapes before PSM,including age,admission GCS score,NIHSS score,NLR,proportion of patients with hematoma rupture into ventricles,preoperative hematoma volume,proportion of patients with midline shift,preoperative volume of hematoma surrounding edema,proportion of patients with hematoma located in multiple sites,and postoperative 2-day hematoma volume(all P<0.05).After propensity score matching of these factors,298 ICH patients were included in the statistical analysis,comprising 228 males and 70 females,with an age range of 20 to 84 years and a mean age of(57±12)years.Following PSM,no statistically significant differences were observed in the baseline and clinical characteristics between patients with irregular and regular hematoma shapes(all P>0.05).(2)After propensity score matching,28 patients experienced postoperative re-bleeding while 270 did not.Significant differences were observed between the two groups in the following factors:proportion of patients with a history of anticoagulant use,admission PLR,NLR,irregular hematoma shape,and hematoma volume at 2 days after operation(all P<0.05).No statistically significant differences were found in the remaining baseline and clinical characteristics(all P>0.05).Using postoperative re-bleeding as the dependent variable and incorporating factors with P<0.05 from the univariate analysis as independent variables,multivariate Logistic regression analysis identified irregular hematoma shape(OR,2.821,95%CI 1.142-6.968,P=0.025)and larger hematoma volume at 2 days post-operation(OR,1.062,95%CI 1.026-1.099,P<0.01)as independent risk factors for re-bleeding following intracranial hematoma evacuation in ICH patients.ROC curve analysis demonstrated that irregular hematoma shape predicted postoperative re-bleeding with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.62,showing a sensitivity of 71.4%and a specificity of 52.2%.(3)After propensity score matching,174 patients had poor prognosis while 124 had good prognosis.Significant intergroup differences were observed in age,admission GCS score,NIHSS score,irregular hematoma shape,proportion of patients with hematomas located in the basal ganglia and cerebral lobes,and hematoma volume at 2 days post-operation(all P<0.05).No statistically significant differences were found in the remaining baseline and clinical characteristics(all P>0.05).Using poor prognosis as the dependent variable and incorporating factors with P<0.05 from univariate analysis as independent variables,multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that advanced age(OR,1.039,95%CI 1.015-1.064,P=0.002),high admission NIHSS score(OR,1.068,95%CI 1.025-1.113,P=0.002),irregular hematoma shape(OR,2.675,95%CI 1.582-4.524,P<0.01),and larger hematoma volume at 2 days post-operation(OR,1.033,95%CI 1.002-1.064,P=0.038)were independent risk factors for poor prognosis.Conversely,lobar hematoma location(OR,0.192,95%CI 0.073-0.504,P<0.01)was identified as a protective factor.ROC curve analysis showed that irregular hematoma shape predicted poor prognosis after intracranial hematoma evacuation with an AUC of 0.61,demonstrating a sensitivity of 59.2%and specificity of 62.9%.Conclusion Irregular hematoma shape on head CT is an independent risk factor for both postoperative re-bleeding and poor prognosis in ICH patients undergoing craniotomy for hematoma evacuation.
3.Clinical study on the effect of brain-computer interface robot combined with task-oriented training on hand dysfunction after stroke
Han QIN ; Yongmei ZHU ; Qianhui TIAN ; Tianning ZHANG ; Shiwei XU ; Xiaoyan ZHAO ; Heng ZHANG ; Xuan SUN ; Hui ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(9):612-621
Objective To observe the impact of brain-computer interface(BCI)robot combined with task-oriented training(TOT)on hand function and activities of daily living in stroke patients.Methods A total of 40 patients with subacute stroke who were hospitalized in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Anhui No.2 Province People's Hospital from December 2022 to December 2024 were prospectively and consecutively included in this study.The stroke patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group using the random number table method,with 20 cases in each group.Baseline data were collected from all patients,including gender,age,personal history(smoking,drinking),past medical history(hypertension,diabetes),stroke type(hemorrhagic stroke,ischemic stroke),hemiplegia side(left,right),disease course,stroke location(basal ganglia,internal capsule),and admission assessment indicators(including kinesthetic and visual imagery questionnaire[KVIQ-20]score,mini-mental state examination[MMSE]score and National Institutes of Health stroke scale[NIHSS]score).Both groups of patients received conventional rehabilitation training and TOT.The experimental group then underwent BCI robot training combined with TOT on this basis.Both groups received treatments for 4 weeks,and the upper limb and hand functions of all patients were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer upper extremity function assessment scale(FMA-UE),the wrist-hand part of the FMA-UE scale(FMA-WH),the Wolf motor function test(WMFT),and the modified Ashworth scale(MAS)before and after the treatment;the hand function related part(feeding[10 score],bathing[5 score],dressing[10 score],grooming[5 score],and toilet using[10 score])of modified Barthel index(MBI)was used to assess the patients'hand dexterity to perform daily activities.Results(1)No statistically significant differences were found in the baseline data between the two groups of patients(all P>0.05).(2)Before treatment,the scores of FMA-UE,FMA-WH,WMFT,MAS and hand function related score of MBI in the experimental group were(18.75±7.38),(2.95±1.54),(26.90±8.69),(1.10±0.66),and(15.45±1.82)respectively,while those in the control group were(15.90±5.39),(2.25±1.12),(24.15±6.78),(1.25±0.60),and(15.65±3.12)respectively.There were no statistically significant differences in the scores of FMA-UE,FMA-WH,WMFT,MAS and hand function related score of MBI between the two groups before treatment(all P>0.05).After 4 weeks of treatment,the scores of FMA-UE,FMA-WH,WMFT,MAS and hand function related score of MBI in the experimental group were(27.10±7.76),(5.75±2.97),(40.85±10.19),(0.73±0.57),and(21.15±2.66)respectively,while those in the control group were(21.25±5.29),(4.00±1.49),(31.85±7.60),(0.73±0.64),and(17.40±3.14)respectively.The time main effects(Ftime values were 925.061,138.138,624.635 and 405.986 respectively,all P<0.01),group main effects(Fgroup values were 4.460,4.562,5.011 and 4.411 respectively,all P<0.05),and the interaction effects of time and group(Ftime×group values were 44.358,7.356,52.506 and 114.128 respectively,all P<0.05)of FMA-UE,FMA-WH,WMFT and hand function related score of MBI scores were all significant.The time main effect of MAS scores was significant(Ftime value was 59.478,P<0.01),while the group main effect(Fgroup value was 0.162,P>0.05),the interaction effects of time and group(Ftime×group value was 1.652,P>0.05)were not significant.Conclusion The combined task-oriented training with BCI robots can improve the upper limb and hand functions of stroke patients,enhance their ability to perform daily activities,and the effect is superior to that of single task-oriented training.
4.Precision endovascular treatment of subacute internal carotid artery occlusion under the guidance of intravascular ultrasound:a case report and literature review
Xusheng ZHAO ; Di LI ; Jinjie LIU ; Chunyu YU
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(9):622-626
Internal carotid artery(ICA)occlusion is one of the main causes of ischemic stroke.Endovascular treatment is one of the main surgical methods for symptomatic non-acute ICA occlusion.However,how to optimize the surgical strategy to improve the success rate of recanalization of occluded vessels require further exploration.The authors reported a case of subacute ICA occlusion treated with endovascular treatment.During the operation,intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)was used for high-resolution and precise assessment of the lumen morphology,plaque characteristics and vessel wall structure in the occluded segment.The surgical strategy was individualized,ultimately achieving successful recanalization of the occluded vessel.Combined with literature review of the clinical characteristics of subacute ICA occlusion and the application of IVUS in this type of lesion,in order to provide reference and inspiration for further optimization of interventional surgical strategies.
5.Mechanical thrombectomy for top-of-the-basilar artery embolism related to Percheron artery infarction:a case report
Ping YAN ; Zhenyang LIAO ; Yingqiu JU ; Shengdong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(9):627-630
Artery of Percheron(AOP)embolization or occlusion is a rare cerebrovascular disease that can lead to bilateral thalamic infarction with or without involvement of the upper midbrain.Due to its clinical rarity,lack of typical signs of cerebral infarction,and the diversity of patient symptoms,AOP occlusion-induced cerebral infarction is often misdiagnosed or overlooked,which delays the treatment.This article reported a case of a patient who presented with impaired consciousness as the primary symptom and was initially diagnosed with acute top-of-the-basilar artery embolism related cerebral infarction and underwent emergency endovascular thrombectomy,while the emergency angiography revealed an AOP occlusion.This article also analyzed the clinical features,diagnostic challenges,and treatment strategies of AOP occlusion in combination with the literature,with the aim of providing a reference for clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of such cases.
6.A case report of recurrent posterior circulation infarction caused by bilateral bow hunter's syndrome
Jun ZHANG ; Huan ZHANG ; Pingping WANG ; Yuan WANG ; Ting YANG ; Qingfeng MA ; Longfei WU
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(9):631-635
Bow hunter's syndrome,also referred to as rotational vertebral artery occlusion syndrome,is a rare etiological factor of posterior circulation infarction.This article reported a case of a young male patient who experienced recurrent posterior circulation infarctions caused by bilateral bow hunter's syndrome.Carotid ultrasonography confirmed a marked reduction in blood flow velocity in both vertebral arteries during neck rotation.High-resolution MR angiography and CT angiography of the head and neck revealed dissection involving the V3 segment of the left vertebral artery.The findings suggested that bow hunter's syndrome may be associated with thrombus formation secondary to repetitive mechanical compression of the vertebral artery intima,which could potentially lead to arterial embolism and subsequent cerebral infarction.This paper presents the patient's diagnostic and therapeutic course and includes a review of relevant literature aimed to enhance clinical awareness and understanding of this uncommon condition.
7.Research advances in risk factors and prediction of stroke-associated pneumonia
Yu SUN ; Lei SONG ; Xiaoming QIU ; Fengyin JIANG ; Xuelian DONG ; Yufei FU
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(9):636-643
Stroke-associated pneumonia(SAP),a frequent complication of stroke,adversely affects clinical outcomes and functional recovery.Identifying SAP risk factors and developing robust predictive models are critical for improving patient management.This article reviews recent research advances in SAP risk factors and risk prediction,emphasizes emerging risk factors-including sarcopenia epidemiology,gut microbiota dysbiosis,and thyroid dysfunction-and novel predictive approaches such as risk stratification scores,neuroimaging,biomarkers,and artificial intelligence.We aim to enhance clinical recognition of SAP to facilitate early intervention,reduce incidence,and optimize stroke prognosis.
8.Research progress on the relationship between triglyceride-glucose-body mass index and atherosclerotic ischemic stroke and its predictive value
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(9):644-649
Atherosclerotic ischemic stroke is a leading global cause of stroke-related disability and mortality,its pathogenesis is closely linked to insulin resistance(IR).The triglyceride-glucose-body mass index(TyG-BMI),a composite metabolic marker integrating,fasting triglycerides(TG),fasting blood glucose(FBG),and body mass index(BMI),comprehensively reflects IR status through lipotoxicity,glucotoxicity,and obesity.Compared to individual biomarkers(e.g.,TG or FBG alone),TyG-BMI demonstrates superior sensitivity in assessing IR and exhibits strong associations with carotid plaque instability and multisite atherosclerosis.Elevated TyG-BMI levels are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic ischemic stroke and are more efficient predictors in Asian populations.This metric offers a novel approach for early risk stratification and personalized management of atherosclerotic ischemic stroke.However,multicenter prospective studies are required to validate causal relationships and elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying its connection with plaque stability and cerebral hemodynamics.Such efforts will refine stroke prevention and treatment strategies based on metabolic biomarkers.This review systematically examines the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications of TyG-BMI in atherosclerotic ischemic stroke.
9.Research progress on the relationship of obesity and its indicators with stroke
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(9):650-657
Obesity is one of the risk factors of stroke onset and poor prognosis,with the burden of obesity-related stroke increases worldwide annually.In 2025,a research introduced the concept of"clinical obesity",subdivided into"pre-clinical obesity"and"clinical obesity",emphasizing obesity's impact on organ and tissue function and highlighting the limitations of using traditional body mass index to assess individual disease status.This article reviewed the epidemiological evidence linking obesity to ischemic stroke.This article reviewed the research progress on the relationship between obesity,related measurement indicators,and ischemic stroke from the perspectives of preclinical and clinical obesity.And explored the clinical significance of the"obesity paradox",aiming to provide new insights and evidence for the prevention and treatment of clinical ischemic stroke.
10.Preprocedural evaluation for endovascular treatment in non-acute symptomatic intracranial artery occlusion:current status and future perspectives
Yingkun HE ; Zhengpeng ZHU ; Yanyan HE ; Tianxiao LI
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(10):659-664
Non-acute symptomatic intracranial artery occlusion carries a high risk of stroke recurrence and can lead to severe neurological deficits.Although endovascular treatment is a pivotal treatment modality,optimal surgical patient selection criteria remain controversial and as its postoperative outcome varies substantially among individuals.This article addressed these critical issues by exploring imaging-based strategies to identify patients who may benefit from endovascular revascularization,analyzing factors influencing technical success and procedural risks and emphasizing the necessity of individualized treatment approaches.Furthermore,this article discussed the current limitations in endovascular treatment and proposed future research directions to standardize and optimize the clinical application of this technology for non-acute symptomatic intracranial artery occlusion.

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