Objective To explore the influencing factors for ischemic stroke in patients with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial internal carotid artery(ICA)stenosis and to construct a nomogram prediction model.Methods This study retrospectively and consecutively enrolled patients diagnosed with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis and exhibited indications for carotid endarterectomy(CEA)hospitalized in the Department of Neurosurgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University,between August 2019 and September 2024.The patients were divided into a stroke group and a non-stroke group,based on their clinical presentation and head MRI results.Baseline characteristics and clinical data including age,sex,body mass index,blood pressure(systolic and diastolic pressure[＜140 mmHg,140-＜160 mmHg,≥160 mmHg]),hypertension,diabetes,smoking and alcohol consumption history,use of statin and antiplatelet medication,fasting blood glucose,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC)were collected and ratios between LDL-C/HDL-C,TG/HDL-C,non-HDL-C(calculated according to equation:non-HDL-C=TC-HDL-C),and non-HDL-C/HDL-C(nHHR)were calculated based on aforementioned data.The clinical and baseline data were then compared between two groups.Imaging data included side of carotid artery stenosis(identified through neck vascular ultrasound,CT angiography and/or DSA),degree of carotid stenosis(with 50％-69％categorized as moderate stenosis,and,70％-99％as severe stenosis),plaque echogenicity(predominantly low,medium or high),plaque calcification(surface and basal calcification),plaque ulceration(exists or not),bilateral middle cerebral artery(MCA)hemodynamic parameters measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasound(including,mean flow velocity[Vm],peak systolic velocity[Vs],end-diastolic velocity[Vd]),and the pulsatility index(PI,calculated via formula:PI=[Vs-Vd]/Vm).The hemodynamic parameter differences(△Vm,△Vs,△Vd,△PI)between the healthy and affected MCA were calculated.The baseline,clinical and imaging data with P＜0.05 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate Logistic regression analysis using forward stepwise selection to identify influencing factors for ischemic stroke in patients with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis,and a nomogram prediction model was then constructed base on the analyzed results.Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the predictive performance of the nomogram.Delong's test was used to compare AUC differences between single indicators and the combined model.Results A total of 166 patients with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis and CEA indication were included.In which,99 patients were in the stroke group and 67 patients were in the non-stroke group.The stroke group had a significantly higher proportion of hypertension patients(78.8％[78/99]vs.59.7％[40/67],P=0.008),higher systolic blood pressure([152±15]mmHg vs.[137±18]mmHg,P＜0.01),higher diastolic blood pressure([84±10]mmHg vs.[80±10]mmHg,P=0.042),higher TG(1.33[0.95,1.77]mmol/L vs.1.10[0.87,1.48]mmol/L,P=0.019),higher TG/HDL-C(1.35[0.97,2.08]vs.1.07[0.81,1.52],P=0.003),and higher nHHR(2.89[2.25,3.61]vs.2.48[1.93,3.27],P=0.027)than the non-stroke group.The HDL-C was significantly lower in the stroke group(0.96[0.80,1.15]mmol/L vs.1.03[0.91,1.16]mmol/L,P=0.014).Statistically significant differences were also observed in the distribution of systolic blood pressure between the groups(P＜0.01).No significant differences were found in other clinical data(all P＞0.05).The proportion of patients with carotid plaque ulceration was higher in the stroke group(35.4％[35/99]vs.16.4％[11/67],P=0.007),while stenosis side,stenosis degree,plaque echogenicity,and plaque calcification type showed no significant differences between the groups(all P＞0.05).△Vm(19[4,32]cm/s vs.10[-3,21]cm/s,P=0.001),△Vs(32[9,55]cm/s vs.24[3,40]cm/s,P=0.005),and △Vd(10[-1,19]cm/s vs.6[-3,12]cm/s,P=0.006)were significantly higher in the stroke group.No significant difference was found in △PI(P=0.076).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis identified high systolic blood pressure(OR,1.063,95％CI 1.036-1.090,P＜0.01),high TG/HDL-C(OR,2.802,95％CI 1.551-5.061,P=0.001),high △Vm(OR,1.032,95％CI 1.010-1.055,P=0.004),and plaque ulceration(OR,2.777,95％CI 1.123-6.871,P=0.027)as independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in patients with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis.Systolic blood pressure,TG/HDL-C,△Vm and plaque ulceration were involved in the construction of a combined predictive model for ischemic stroke in the targeted patient group(with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis).The AUC of the combined prediction model was 0.828(95％CI 0.765-0.892,P＜0.01),which was significantly higher than the predictive efficacy of any single factor(all P＜0.01).Conclusions High systolic blood pressure,high TG/HDL-C ratio,high △Vm,and plaque ulceration are independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in patients with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis.The nomogram prediction model based on these factors demonstrates good predictive value for assessing ischemic stroke risk in this patient population.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of early fluid balance combined with daily average fluid intake on the prognosis of patients who received hematoma evacuation for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(sICH).Methods This study retrospectively and consecutively enrolled patients who underwent hematoma evacuation for sICH admitted to the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit of North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital between January 2023 and January 2025.Patients'baseline and clinical data were collected,including gender,age,admission vital signs(body temperature,respiratory rate,heart rate,systolic and diastolic blood pressure),medical history(hypertension,diabetes mellitus,coronary heart disease),admission Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score,admission laboratory parameters(including white blood cell count,red blood cell count,platelet count,urine bacterial levels,urine ketones,urine pH,homocysteine),hemorrhage location,hemorrhage volume,time from ictus to surgery,and hematoma evacuation rate(hematoma evacuation rate[％]=[preoperative hematoma volume-postoperative hematoma volume]/preoperative hematoma volume × 100％).Fluid intake,output,balance,daily average intake,and cumulative fluid balance during the early postoperative period(the first to seventh 24-hour periods)were assessed and recorded.Fluid intake comprised the sum of intravenously administered fluids(crystalloids,hypertonic fluids,colloids,blood products,and parenteral nutrition),enteral nutrition(nasogastric feeding solutions and water),and renal replacement therapy fluids.Fluid output comprised the sum of urine volume,vomitus,drainage fluid,and dialysis fluid losses.Fluid balance was defined as the difference between fluid intake and output.Daily average intake was calculated as the average of the fluid intake over the first seven postoperative 24-hour periods.Cumulative fluid balance was the sum of the fluid balances over the first seven postoperative 24-hour periods.Patient outcomes were assessed at 30 days postoperatively.Discharged patients underwent outpatient review or telephone follow-up,while inpatients were evaluated by neurosurgeons.Prognosis was evaluated using the 30-day modified Rankin scale(mRS)score:mRS scores 0-3 were classified as favorable prognosis,and mRS scores 4-6 as poor prognosis.Patients were subsequently divided into favorable prognosis and poor prognosis groups based on mRS scores.Factors with P＜0.05 in univariate comparisons and without collinearity(multicollinearity was defined by:tolerance＜0.1 and variance inflation factor＞10)were included in multivariate Logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for poor 30-day prognosis after hematoma evacuation in sICH patients.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was employed to evaluate the predictive value of relevant factors for poor 30-day prognosis after hematoma evacuation in sICH patients.Results A total of 320 patients who underwent hematoma evacuation for sICH were enrolled,including 192 males and 128 females,with an age range of 20-91 years(median age 62[53,68]years).Among them,144 patients were assigned to the favorable prognosis group and 176 to the poor prognosis group.The poor prognosis group exhibited significantly higher hemorrhage volume,homocysteine level,fluid intake at the 3rd,5th,6th,and 7th 24-hour periods,fluid balance at the 3rd,5th,6th,and 7th 24-hour periods,daily average intake,and cumulative fluid balance compared to the favorable prognosis group(all P＜0.05).The favorable prognosis group had a significantly higher hematoma evacuation rate,GCS score,proportion of supratentorial hemorrhage and negative urine ketones than the poor prognosis group(all P＜0.05).No significant differences were found in other clinical data(all P＞0.05).Fluid balance over the first seven postoperative 24-hour periods displayed a rise-decline-rise pattern in the poor prognosis group and a rise-decline pattern in the favorable prognosis group.Both groups peaked at the 3rd 24-hour period.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis identified fluid balance at the 3rd 24-hour period(OR,2.013,95％CI 1.386-2.922,P＜0.01)and daily average intake(OR,3.583,95％CI 1.793-7.161,P＜0.01)as independent influencing factors for poor 30-day prognosis after hematoma evacuation in sICH patients.ROC curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve(AUC)for fluid balance at the 3rd 24-hour period and daily average intake in predicting poor 30-day prognosis were 0.699(95％CI 0.642-0.757)and 0.765(95％CI 0.712-0.819),respectively.The combined model of fluid balance at the 3rd 24-hour period and daily average intake achieved an AUC of 0.804(95％CI 0.756-0.853),demonstrating significantly superior predictive performance compared to either variable alone(both P＜0.05).Conclusions The combination of fluid balance at the 3rd 24-hour period and daily average intake demonstrates modest predictive value for poor 30-day prognosis after hematoma evacuation in sICH patients.These findings require validation through multicenter,large-scale,prospective studies.

Objective To compare and analyze the predictive value of a variety of novel blood inflammation composite indicators in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(sICH)patients'prognosis.Methods This retrospective study consecutively enrolled 329 sICH patients admitted to the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit of North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital between September 2022 and December 2024.Patients were categorized into favorable(with modified Rankin scale[mRS]score ≤2)or unfavorable(mRS score ≥ 3)prognosis groups based on 90-day post-onset assessments.Baseline and imaging data,included age,gender,smoking history,alcohol consumption history,admission systolic/diastolic blood pressure,medical history(diabetes,coronary heart disease,stroke),24-hour laboratory parameters after admission(albumin,hemoglobin,blood glucose,potassium,platelets,lymphocytes,monocytes,neutrophils,homocysteine,red cell distribution width[RDW]),site of hemorrhage(basil ganglia,lobes,cerebellum,brain stem),hemorrhage volume,the National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score.Systemic complications during hospitalization(pulmonary/urinary tract/bloodstream infections)were recorded.Head CT and CT angiography(CTA)were performed at 24 h after admission to measure hematoma volume.Calculate and analyze the comprised inflammatory indices including systemic immune-inflammation index(SII;platelets × neutrophils/lymphocytes),platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR),RDW to albumin ratio(RAR;RDW/albumin),hemoglobin to RDW ratio(HRR,hemoglobin/RDW),systemic inflammation response index(SIRI;neutrophils × monocytes/lymphocytes),lymphocyte-neutrophil-albumin ratio(LANR;lymphocytes × albumin/neutrophils),neutrophil-to-albumin ratio(NPAR;neutrophil％/albumin),glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio(GLR;glucose/lymphocytes),and glucose-to-potassium ratio(GPR,glucose/potassium).Variables with P＜0.05 in univariate analysis were included in a collinearity analysis(a tolerance＜0.1 or variance inflation factor[VIF]＞10 indicating collinearity).Significant non-collinear variables with P＜0.05 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate Logistic regression to identify factors influencing prognosis in sICH patients.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves was utilized to compare the predictive power of each indictors through net reclassification improvement(NRI)and integrated discrimination improvement(IDI).With NRI/IDI＞0 indicated superiority of new models over the old ones(higher values denote greater improvement).Delong's test was performed to evaluate the area under the curve(AUC)differences.Results Among the 329 sICH patients enrolled(185 males,144 females;mean age[68±6]years,ranged 36-91),138 were categorized into the favorable prognosis group(mRS score≤ 2)and 191 into the unfavorable prognosis group(mRS score ≥ 3),all patients had received a standardized treatment.Significant differences were observed in alcohol consumption history,diabetes,prior stroke,albumin,hemoglobin,blood glucose,platelets,lymphocytes,monocytes,neutrophils,homocysteine,RDW,hematoma volume,lung infection,and NIHSS score between two groups(all P＜0.05).While no significant differences were observed in the rest baseline/imaging data between the two groups(all P＞0.05).The favorable prognosis group exhibited significantly lower GLR(4.67[3.76,5.92]vs.6.67[4.66,10.32]),SIRI(1.92[1.12,3.24]v.s.4.43[2.25,8.33]),PLR(125.11[105.11,156.20]vs.164.46[122.42,232.63]),RAR(0.28[0.27,0.29]vs.0.32[0.30,0.35]),and NPAR(0.18[0.13,0.21]vs.0.22[0.16,0.33];all P＜0.01);and significantly higher SII(1 632.90[882.18,2 429.78]vs.967.93[702.83,1 290.51]),LANR(9.63[7.75,13.10]vs.5.49[3.25,9.77]),and HRR(11.73[10.97,12.62]vs.10.89[10.00,11.82];all P＜0.01).No significant differences were found in GPR(2.15[1.80,2.65]vs.2.28[1.83,3.31])between the favorable and unfavorable prognosis groups(P=0.094).After excluding factors with multicollinearity(including,lymphocytes,platelets,neutrophils,monocytes,albumin,RDW and hemoglobin),the other factors were included in a multivariate analysis,which identified SIRI(OR,1.312,95％CI1.043-1.650,P=0.020),RAR(OR,1.578,95％CI 1.376-1.810,P＜0.01),and HRR(OR,0.641,95％CI 0.480-0.854,P=0.002)as independent predictors of poor 90-day prognosis for sICH patients.ROC analysis showed that the AUC of RAR,SIRI,and HRR were 0.862,0.739 and 0.683 respectively,with RAR demonstrating superior sensitivity(82.20％vs.SIRI 68.06％vs.HRR 51.83％)and specificity(78.26％vs.SIRI 69.57％vs.HRR 76.81％).IDI confirmed RAR's significantly greater predictive ability versus SIRI(IDI=0.210,P＜0.01)and HRR(IDI=0.263,P＜0.01),and SIRI have superior predictive ability over HRR(IDI=0.053,P=0.040).Delong test showed that RAR had significantly greater predictive power than both SIRI and HRR(both P＜0.01),while the predictive power of SIRI and HRR did not differ significantly(P=0.138).Conclusions The three blood inflammatory indicators(RAR,SIRI,HRR)are effective predictors of poor prognosis in sICH patients at 90 d from onset,and among the three composite inflammatory parameters,RAR is significantly more effective than SIRI and HRR indicators.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of pan-immune-inflammation value(PIV),blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio(BAR),collateral circulation and National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score for disease progression and short-term prognosis in patients with acute perforating artery cerebral infarction(APACI).Methods Patients with APACI admitted to the Neurology Department of Anhui NO.2 Provincial People's Hospital from January 2019 to October 2024 were retrospectively enrolled in this study.General and clinical data,including age,gender,previous history(hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,coronary heart disease,atrial fibrillation),smoking history,drinking history,NIHSS scores at admission were collected.Fasting venous blood samples were collected from the patients within 24 h after admission to detect levels of neutrophils,lymphocytes,monocytes,platelets,blood urea nitrogen,and serum albumin.PIV(PIV=neutrophils × platelets × monocytes/lymphocytes)and BAR were calculated.The location of lesions and Fazekas classification of white matter lesions were evaluated using head MRI and MR angiography at admission.Collateral circulation status was assessed based on CT angiography upon admission.Disease progression was defined through comparing the NIHSS score at 72-hour after admission to the score at admission(an increase of 2 or more points in NIHSS score indicating disease progression).The patients were divided into a progression group and a non-progression group based on the increase in NIHSS score,as aforementioned.Patients follow-up was conducted through phone call or outpatient visits at 90 d after discharge.The modified Rankin scale(mRS)was used to evaluate the prognosis,with a mRS score of 0-2 indicates good prognosis,and a 3-6 indicates poor prognosis.Factors with statistically significant differences in univariate analysis were included in a multivariate Logistic regression analysis to explore the influencing factors of disease progression and poor prognosis in patients with APACI.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of each indicator for disease progression and poor prognosis in patients with APACI.Results A total of 165 patients with APACI were enrolled in this study,including 121 males and 44 females,aged 27-86 years,with an average of(61±11)years.Among all patients enrolled,56 patients were included in the progression group and 109 patients in the non-progression group,124 patients showed good prognosis and 41 patients had poor prognosis.No statistically significant differences were found in age,gender,smoking history,drinking history,hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,coronary heart disease,atrial fibrillation,lesion location,and Fazekas classification of white matter lesions between the progression group and the non-progression group(all P＞0.05).While the NIHSS score at admission,proportion of poor collateral circulation,PIV and BAR in the progression group were significantly higher than those in the non-progression group(all P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that high NIHSS score at admission(OR,1.177,95％CI 1.001-1.384,P=0.049),poor collateral circulation(OR,3.107,95％CI 1.216-7.939,P=0.018),high PIV(OR,1.006,95％CI 1.003-1.009,P=0.001),and high BAR(OR,1.610 × 109,95％CI 5.769 × 104-4.494 × 1013,P＜0.01)were independent risk factors of disease progression in patients with APACI.ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of combination of PIV,BAR,collateral circulation and NIHSS score at admission for predicting disease progression in patients with APACI was 0.914(95％ CI0.861-0.952,P＜0.01),which was greater than that of each indicator(all P＜0.05).No statistically significant differences were found in smoking,drinking,hypertension,hyperlipidemia,coronary heart disease,atrial fibrillation,lesion location,and BAR between the poor prognosis and the good prognosis group(all P＞0.05).Compared with the good prognosis group,the poor prognosis group had significantly older age and higher proportion of patients with diabetes,NIHSS score at admission,proportion of patients with poor collateral circulation,and PIV(all P＜0.05).Moreover,the proportion of men in the poor prognosis group was lower than that in the good prognosis group(P=0.039).There was a statistically significant difference between the good prognosis group and the poor prognosis group in the Fazekas classification of white matter lesions(P＜0.01).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that high NIHSS score at admission(OR,1.345,95％CI 1.081-1.674,P=0.008),poor collateral circulation(OR,3.903,95％CI 1.061-14.355,P=0.040),and high PIV(OR,1.011,95％CI 1.005-1.017,P＜0.01)were independent risk factors of poor prognosis in patients with APACI.The AUC for predicting poor prognosis in patients with APACI through combining PIV,collateral circulation and NIHSS score at admission was 0.911(95％CI 0.857-0.950,P＜0.01),which is greater than using poor collateral circulation or NIHSS score at admission alone(both P＜0.05).However,there was no statistically significant difference in AUC between the PIV,collateral circulation and NIHSS score combined predictive model and the PIV(alone)predictive model(P＞0.05).Conclusions High PIV,high BAR,poor collateral circulation,and high NIHSS score at admission were independent risk factors of disease progression in patients with APACI.Combination of these four indices demonstrates relatively high predictive value for disease progression.In addition,high PIV,poor collateral circulation,and high NIHSS score at admission are independent risk factors of poor prognosis in patients with APACI.Joint detection of the three indices may assist in short-term prognosis evaluation of patients with APACI.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of infarct core resection combined with decompressive craniectomy(DC)based on corticospinal tract(CST)protection in the treatment of massive cerebral infarction(MCI)with malignant brain edema.Methods This study retrospectively enrolled MCI patients with malignant brain edema who underwent internal decompression combined with DC at Xingtai Central Hospital from January 2021 to June 2024.The enrolled patients were divided into a control group and an experimental group base on the intracranial internal decompression method used.All patients underwent CT perfusion(CTP),CT angiography(CTA),diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI),and diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)within 24 h of admission.Preoperative imaging data was automatically processed using an artificial intelligence diagnostic system.For the experimental group,the imaging data was fused within a neuro-navigation system preoperatively to visualize the spatial relationships between the infarct core,ischemic penumbra,and CST and infarct core resection combined with DC was performed while protecting the CST through neuro-navigation.The control group underwent anterior temporal lobectomy combined with DC.Baseline and clinical data were collected from both groups,including gender,age,smoking history,alcohol consumption history,diabetes,hypertension,hyperlipidemia,hyperhomocysteinemia,atrial fibrillation history,responsible occluded vessel(internal carotid artery,middle cerebral artery),preoperative infarct volume on DWI,preoperative ischemic penumbra volume,preoperative the National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score,time from onset to surgery,intraoperative procedure duration,intraoperative blood loss,preoperative and 1-month postoperative fraction anisotropy(FA)values of the CST on the affected side,modified Rankin scale(mRS)score at 6 months postoperatively,and surgery-related complications within 1 month postoperatively(intracranial hemorrhage[operative site oozing,hemorrhagic transformation]and intracranial infection[surgical incision site infection,empyema,brain abscess,meningitis]).6-month follow-up after surgery were conducted through outpatient visit or telephone calls and prognosis of patients was evaluated using the mRS(with mRS of 0-3 defined as good prognosis,4-6 as poor prognosis,and 6 indicating death).The effectiveness indicators included FA value of the affected CST at 1 month postoperatively,good prognosis rate after surgery at 6 months,and 6-month mortality rate after surgery.The safety indicators included the incidence rates of surgical complications(intracranial hemorrhage and infection)within 1 month postoperatively.Based on preoperative DTI images,all patients were further divided into a CST-intact(infarct core did not invade CST,CST morphology intact or deformed/shifted)and a CST-damaged(infarct core invaded CST,CST disrupted or interrupted)subgroup for analysis.Results A total of 62patients(37 males,25 females,age 49-60 years,mean[55±4]years)were enrolled in this study.With 28 patients in the experimental group and 34 in the control group.(1)No significant differences were found in baseline or clinical data between the experimental and control groups(all P＞0.05),and the reoperative FA values of the affected CST were showed no significant differences(P=0.588).(2)The efficacy and safety metrics were evaluated.For the efficacy indices,at 1 month after the surgery,FA values of the affected CST increased significantly compared to preoperative values in both groups(0.409±0.051 vs.0.312±0.052 in the experimental group,and,0.381±0.048 vs.0.319±0.049 in control group;both P＜0.05),and the FA value was significantly higher in the experimental group than that in the control group(0.409±0.051 vs.0.381±0.048,P=0.030).At the 6-month follow-ups,the good prognosis rate was significantly higher in the experimental group than that in the control group(39.3％[11/28]vs.14.7％[5/34],P=0.028).No significant difference in the 6-month mortality rate were observed between the two groups(P=0.787).For the safety indices,no significant differences were found in the incidence rates of intracranial hemorrhage or intracranial infection within 1 month postoperatively between the two groups(both P＞0.05).(3)For further subgroup analysis,no significant differences were found in baseline or clinical data between the CST-damaged subgroup and the CST-intact subgroup in both the experimental and control groups(all P＞0.05).In CST-intact subgroup,FA values of the affected CST increased significantly at 1 month postoperatively compared to preoperatively in the study group(0.428±0.047 vs.0.342±0.045,P＜0.05)and the control group(0.401±0.051 vs.0.347±0.048,P＜0.05).While in the CST-damaged subgroup,no significant differences were found in FA value of the affected CST 1 month postoperatively compared with that preoperatively in both the experimental and control groups(bothP＞0.05).A significantly higher FA values 1 month postoperatively(0.428±0.047 vs.0.401±0.051,P=0.036)and good prognosis rate(9/12 vs.4/16,P=0.020)were observed in the CST-intact subgroup of the experimental group comparing with that of the control group,while there was no statistically significant difference in the 6-month mortality rate between the groups within the CST-intact subgroup(P=1.000).There were no statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in both efficacy and safety indices within the CST-damaged subgroup(all P＞0.05).Conclusions Infarct core resection combining DC with CST protection demonstrates superior neurological functional improvement in comparison with anterior temporal lobectomy combining DC in treating MCI with malignant brain edema,particularly for patients with an intact CST before surgery(as indicated in patients'preoperative imaging results).This(infarct core resection combining DC with CST protection)approach does not increase the incidence of surgical complications.Prospective large sample controlled studies are required for further validation.

Objective To investigate the value of adjusting antiplatelet treatment regimens guided by thromboelastography(TEG)in predicting cerebral ischemic events after stent-assisted embolization of intracranial aneurysms.Methods This study retrospectively and consecutively enrolled patients with intracranial aneurysms who underwent stent-assisted coil embolization admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery of the General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command,from March 2022 to May 2024.Baseline and clinical data of the patients,including gender,age,hypertension,diabetes,dyslipidemia,smoking history,drinking history,and intraoperative use of tirofiban were collected.Antiplatelet therapy(conventional dose aspirin[100 mg once daily]+clopidogrel[75 mg once daily])was initiated immediately after the diagnosis of intracranial aneurysm,and TEG was performed 3 days later.According to the platelet inhibition rate in TEG parameters(platelet inhibition rate induced by arachidonic acid[AA]pathway[AA inhibition rate]or adenosine diphosphate[ADP]pathway[ADP inhibition rate],AA inhibition rate ≥ 50％indicated aspirin effectiveness,AA inhibition rate＜50％indicated aspirin resistance;ADP inhibition rate ≥ 30％indicated clopidogrel effectiveness,ADP inhibition rate＜30％indicated clopidogrel resistance),the patients were divided into the control group(TEG test results met the criteria,i.e.,AA inhibition rate ≥ 50％and ADP inhibition rate ≥ 30％),the conventional dual antiplatelet therapy group(TEG test results did not meet the criteria but were not adjusted for antiplatelet therapy,i.e.,AA inhibition rate＜50％and/or ADP inhibition rate＜30％,but with complex aneurysm morphology[such as irregular shape,daughter sac formation]or high bleeding risk,continuing conventional dual antiplatelet therapy),and the intensified group(TEG test results did not meet the criteria and the antiplatelet therapy regimen was adjusted,i.e.,AA inhibition rate＜50％and/or ADP inhibition rate＜30％,adjusting the antiplatelet therapy regimen).All patients underwent stent-assisted coil embolization after TEG testing.From 0 to 3 months after the operation,all three groups maintained the above antiplatelet therapy.At 3 months after the operation,routine head MRI,CT and other examinations were performed.If no cerebral ischemic events occurred and the imaging results were satisfactory(good stent position,no aneurysm occlusion residual or slight residual at the neck[neck width of the aneurysm 2mm]),the treatment could be adjusted to single antiplatelet therapy(aspirin 100 mg once daily).If a patient experienced a cerebral ischemic event during the follow-up period,regardless of the stage after the operation,dual antiplatelet therapy(aspirin[100mg once daily]+clopidogrel[75 mg once daily])was immediately restarted or maintained and continued for at least 6 months.The primary endpoint was intraoperative and 6-months postoperative cerebral ischemic events(including DSA-confirmed intraoperative acute thrombosis and infarction foci confirmed by head CT or MRI).Baseline and clinical data of the three groups were compared.All patients were divided into groups with ischemic stroke event and without according to the primary endpoint,univariate Logistic regression analysis was then performed on both groups.Variables with P＜0.1 in the univariate Logistic regression analysis were included in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis to explore the influencing factors of cerebral ischemic events after stent-assisted coil embolization for intracranial aneurysms.Results A total of 499 patients were included,including 178 males and 321 females,with a median age of 59(53,68)years.Among them,there were 341 patients in the control group,42 in the conventional dual antiplatelet therapy group,and 116 in the intensified group.There were 47 cases of cerebral ischemic events and 452 cases without cerebral ischemic events.There was a statistically significant difference in the intraoperative use rate of tirofiban across the control group,the conventional dual antiplatelet therapy group,and the intensified group(20.2％[69/341]vs.26.2％[11/42]vs.42.2％[49/116],P＜0.01);no statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups in terms of age,gender composition,the proportion of patients with hypertension,diabetes,dyslipidemia,smoking history,drinking history,and the incidence of cerebral ischemic events(all P＞0.05).The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension(OR,2.924,95％CI 1.416-6.037,P=0.004)and intraoperative use of tirofiban(OR,3.638,95％CI 1.892-6.996,P＜0.01)were independent risk factors for intraoperative and 6-months postoperative cerebral ischemic events after stent-assisted coil embolization in patients with intracranial aneurysms.In comparison with the control group,the intensified group has reduced the risk of cerebral ischemic events(OR,0.238,95％CI 0.088-0.646,P=0.005),while there was no statistically significant difference between the conventional dual antiplatelet therapy group and the control group(OR,0.521,95％CI 0.149-1.826,P=0.308).Conclusions This study demonstrates that adjusting the antiplatelet therapy regimens in patients with intracranial aneurysms who did not meet the platelet inhibition rate based on TEG results can significantly reduce the risk of intraoperative and 6-months postoperative cerebral ischemic events.These finding may require validation through further,large-scaled,prospective studies.

Mechanical thrombectomy,which improves the successful vascular recanalization rate and neurological functional prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS)caused by anterior circulation large vessel occlusion,has become one of the primary therapeutic strategies.Among the pharmacologic adjuvant therapies for mechanical thrombectomy,tirofiban(a platelet glycoprotein Ⅱ b/Ⅲ a receptor antagonist)has attracted significant attention due to its antithrombotic mechanism.This article summarized the research progress of tirofiban in the mechanical thrombectomy treatment of AIS patients from the perspectives of pharmacological mechanisms,administration timing,selection of eligible populations,and dosage regimens.It also analyzed the clinical application value and existing controversies of tirofiban,aiming to provide a scientific basis for optimizing the AIS treatment system.

Mechanical thrombectomy has established efficacy in treating acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion.However,for acute ischemic stroke associated with distal medium vessel occlusion(MeVO),endovascular recanalization remains challenging due to small vessel diameter,tortuous anatomy,and limited distal perfusion territory.As there is insufficient evidence to support application of mechanical thrombectomy for distal MeVO,it is not currently established as a standard indication for endovascular therapy.With advancements in the miniaturization and navigability of interventional devices,distal MeVO is gradually emerging as a potential target for mechanical thrombectomy.Nevertheless,occlusion of perforating arteries remains unsuitable for this technique due to their excessively small vessel caliber.This article reviewed the anatomical features and classification,imaging diagnosis,relevant clinical research,and novel materials and technologies pertaining to distal MeVO,aiming to provide reference for recanalization strategies in patients with this condition.

Objective To observe the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)combined with music therapy on cognitive function and activities of daily living in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment(PSCI).Methods This prospective study enrolled subacute stroke(2 weeks to 6 months after onset)patients with cognitive impairment admitted to the Rehabilitation Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China(Anhui Provincial Hospital)from January 2023 to December 2024.Using the random number table,patients in the subacute early stage(2 weeks to＜3 months after stroke)and subacute late stage(3 months to 6 months after stroke)were respectively assigned to the experimental group and the control group.Baseline clinical data were collected,including gender,age,stroke type(intracerebral hemorrhage,cerebral infarction),lesion side(left,right),disease course,educational attainment,history of smoking and alcohol consumption,stroke area(basal ganglia,temporal lobe,frontal lobe),and National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score at admission.Both groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment.The experimental group additionally received tDCS treatment combined with music therapy intervention,which included active and passive music therapy.In contrast,the control group received only tDCS treatment in conjunction of conventional rehabilitation intervention.Both groups received treatment for 2 weeks.The Montreal cognitive assessment scale(MoCA),Rivermead behavioural memory test(RBMT),and digit span test(DST)were used to evaluate the overall cognitive function,memory,and attention of PSCI patients before and after treatment.The modified Barthel index(MBI)was used to evaluate the daily living activity ability of PSCI patients 2 weeks post-treatment.Results A total of 40 PSCI patients were included in this study,with 20 cases in each group.Among the participants,17 in the experimental group and 18 in the control group were in early stage of subacute stroke,while 3 in the experimental group and 2 in the control group were in the late stage of subacute stroke.(1)There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline clinical data of the two groups(all P＞0.05).(2)Before treatment,the MoCA,RBMT,and DST scores in the experimental group were(15.00±3.71),(2.90±1.07),and(4.05±1.47)points,respectively,while the corresponding scores in the control group were(13.45±2.61),(2.75±0.77),and(3.35±0.99)points.There were no statistically significant differences in the MoCA,RBMT,and DST scores between the two groups before treatment(all P＞0.05).Two weeks after treatment,the MoCA,RBMT,and DST scores in the experimental group were(19.05±4.35),(5.15±1.50),and(5.85±1.66)points,respectively,compared to(15.90±2.73),(3.45±1.15),and(4.35±1.18)points in the control group.The interaction effect of time and group(Ftime×group)was 15.716,45.762 and 14.140,respectively,all of which were statistically significant(all P＜0.01);the group main effect(Fgroup)was 4.876,7.140,and 7.074,respectively,all of which were statistically significant(all P＜0.05);the time main effect(Ftime)was 259.370,165.762,and 173.209,respectively,all of which were statistically significant(all P＜0.01).(3)Before treatment,the MBI scores of the experimental group and control group were(56.00±7.18)and(55.25±5.73)points,respectively,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).Two weeks after the treatment,the MBI scores of the experimental group and control group were(63.00±6.77)and(60.50±5.36)points,respectively.No statistically significant differences were observed in the interaction effect of time and group,or the main effect of group between the two groups after treatment(Ftime ×group=1.677,P＞0.05;Fgroup=0.751,P＞0.05).While a statistically significant difference was found in the main effect of time on the MBI scores between the experimental group and control group(Ftime=82.196,P＜0.01).Conclusion The combination of tDCS and music therapy can improve the cognitive function and daily living activity ability in patients with PSCI,and offering superior outcomes compared to tDCS treatment alone.

Branch atheromatous disease(BAD)is a type of ischemic stroke that is prone to early neurological deterioration(END),which profoundly impacts patient prognosis and remains a focus of clinical research and practice.This article reviews the diagnosis,risk factors,risk prediction,along with imaging and prevention strategies of END in BAD patients,aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the early clinical identification and intervention of END to improve the prognosis of patients with BAD.