Cognitive impairment caused by cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) can affect the quality of life of patients and impose a huge economic burden on the families and society. Inflammation is an important pathological mechanism of cognitive impairment in CSVD and its associated cognitive impairment. This article reviews the peripheral blood inflammatory markers of cognitive impairment in patients with CSVD.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of three-dimensional arterial spin labeling (3D-ASL) for posterior circulation ischemia (PCI) and posterior circulation stroke (PCS) in patients with isolated vertigo.Methods:Patients with isolated vertigo underwent 3D-ASL imaging at Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University School of Medicine from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 were included retrospectively. According to the imaging findings, the patients with isolated vertigo were divided into PCI group and non-PCI group. The PCI group was further divided into PCS group and non-PCS group. The baseline clinical data and laboratory examination data were collected. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) in different brain regions of the posterior circulation was obtained through 3D-ASL related parameters to evaluate the posterior circulation perfusion, including CBF at two post-labeling delay times (PLD) (1.5 s and 2.5 s), delayed perfusion CBF (ΔCBF), multisequence PLD (Multi-PLD) CBF, and CBF under arterial transit time (ATT). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association of different CBF values with PCI and PCS in patients with isolated vertigo. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of different CBF values for PCI and PCS. Results:A total of 81 patients with isolated vertigo were included, aged 63.0±12.1 years, 44 were males (54.3%); 58 (71.6%) had PCI and 27 (25.9%) had PCS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PLD 1.5 s-CBF (odds ratio [ OR] 1.372, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.169-1.611; P<0.001), ΔCBF ( OR 1.197, 95% CI 1.072-1.336; P=0.001), and Multi-PLD-CBF ( OR 2.099, 95% CI 1.257-3.504; P=0.005) were the independent predictive factors of PCI. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for predicting PCI using the above three parameters alone and in combination were 0.962 (95% CI 0.915-1.000), 0.683 (95% CI 0.543-0.823), 0.944 (95% CI 0.985-1.000), and 0.999 (95% CI 0.997-1.000), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the PLD 1.5 s-CBF ( OR 1.246, 95% CI 1.030-2.089; P=0.002), ΔCBF ( OR 1.153, 95% CI 1.038-1.281; P=0.008), and multi-PLD-CBF ( OR 1.388, 95% CI 1.219-1.689; P=0.001) in cerebellar region were the independent predictors of PCS. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for predicting PCS using the above three parameters alone and in combination were 0.956 (95% CI 0.911-1.00), 0.802 (95% CI 0.685-0.920), 0.972 (95% CI 0.923-1.000), and 0.977 (95% CI 0.937-1.00), respectively. Conclusion:3D-ASL can predict PCI and PCS early, and combining multiple parameters can improve the predictive ability for PCI and PCS.

Diabetes is an important risk factor for ischemic stroke, and stress hyperglycemia after ischemic stroke will aggravate ischemic brain damage. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, as newly developed hypoglycemic drugs in recent years, have become one of the important research directions of type 2 diabetes drugs. Although the existing clinical trial data have not clearly confirmed the effectiveness of DPP-4 inhibitors in preventing ischemic stroke in patients with diabetes, animal model studies have shown that DPP-4 inhibitors can exert protective effects during ischemic brain injury through mechanisms such as anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and promoting neurogenesis and angiogenesis. This article reviews the role and possible mechanisms of DPP-4 inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke.

Objectives:To investigate associations of triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and remnant cholesterol (RC) with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in non-diabetes population, and to evaluate the predictive value of TyG combined with RC for cIMT.Methods:Non-diabetes adult subjects underwent physical examination in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from January 2021 to December 2021 were included retrospectively. According to the findings of carotid ultrasound examination, they were divided into cIMT thickening group (≥1 mm) and non-cIMT thickening group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for cIMT thickening. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of TyG index combined with RC for cIMT thickening. Results:A total of 1 109 subjects were enrolled, including 640 males (57.7%), aged 56.44±14.58 years, and 626 (56.4%) had cIMT thickening. The age and male proportion of the cIMT thickening group were significantly higher than those of the non-cIMT thickening group, and there were significant differences in the quartiles distribution of RC and TyG index between the two groups (all P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RC (odds ratio 1.601, 95% confidence interval 1.162-2.207; P=0.004) and TyG index (odds ratio 1.807, 95% confidence interval 1.302-2.508; P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for cIMT thickening. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of TyG index combined with RC to predict cIMT thickening was 0.717 (95% confidence interval, 0.687-0.747), indicating higher diagnostic efficacy than TyG index and RC alone. Conclusion:TyG index and RC are associated with cIMT thickening in the non-diabetes population, and the combination of them had good predictive value for cIMT thickening.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is one of the common complications of stroke, which seriously affects the quality of life and survival rate of patients, and imposes a heavy burden on families and society. More and more studies have shown that blood biomarkers are closely associated with PSCI. This article reviews the peripheral blood neuronal function related biomarkers in PSCI.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between residual cholesterol (RC) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in non-diabetic population.Methods:Non-diabetes population received health examination in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021 were retrospectively included. According to the carotid ultrasound results, they were divided into cIMT thickening group (≥1 mm) and non-thickening group (<1 mm). The RC level was calculated according to total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between RC and cIMT. Results:A total of 1 803 non-diabetes subjects, aged 58.3±15.6 years, including 1 100 males (61.0%), were enrolled. There were 916 patients (50.8%) in the cIMT thickening group and 887 (49.2%) in the non-cIMT thickening group. Compared with the non-cIMT thickening group, cIMT thickening group had significantly higher proportion of male, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, past stroke history, smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as significantly higher age, blood glucose, triglyceride, RC, TC and LDL-C, and significantly lower HDL-C (all P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RC was independently associated with cIMT thickening ( Ptrend<0.001). Conclusion:RC is associated with cIMT thickening in non-diabetes population.

Ischemic stroke is a common disease of the nervous system, which is characterized by high incidence, recurrence, disability and mortality rate. The pathological mechanism of ischemic brain injury is complex. Synaptic plasticity injury is considered to be the earliest pathological change after cerebral ischemia, and regulating synaptic plasticity is one of the important mechanisms to promote the recovery of neurological function after stroke. This article reviews the advances in synaptic plasticity after ischemic brain injury, which provides theoretical basis for the development of neuroprotective drugs in the future.

Objective:To investigate the predictors of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).Methods:Patients with CVST treated in Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University from January 2008 to March 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. The risk factors, clinical manifestations, imaging examination and 90 d follow-up data were collected. The complicated intracranial hemorrhage group and non-intracranial hemorrhage group were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with CVST. Results:A total of 104 patients with CVST were enrolled, including 42 males and 62 females. Their age was 35.24 ± 10.92 years old (range 22-68 years). Thirty-eight patients (36.84%) were complicated with intracranial hemorrhage, including 34 hemorrhagic cerebral infarction and 4 complicated subarachnoid hemorrhage. Univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-intracerebral hemorrhage group, the intracranial hemorrhage group was more common in puerperal/pregnant patients (60.52% vs. 48.48%; P=0.012), with more acute onset (57.89% vs. 48.48%; P=0.004), focal neurological signs (47.37% vs. 19.70%; P=0.003) and seizure (39.47% vs. 18.18%; P=0.017), and the site of thrombosis was more common in the superior sagittal sinus (57.89% vs. 36.36%; P=0.033). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that puerperium/pregnancy (odds ratio 2.857, 95% confidence interval 1.095-7.453; P=0.031) and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (odds ratio 2.847, 95% confidence interval 1.110-7.302; P=0.027) were the independent predictors of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with CVST. The analysis at 90 d after onset showed that there was no significant difference in the good outcome rate between the intracranial hemorrhage group and the non-intracranial hemorrhage group (86.84% vs. 89.39%; P=0.695). Conclusions:Puerperium/pregnancy and superior sagittalsinus thrombosis are the independent risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage in patients with CVST. However, complicated with intracranial hemorrhage is not associated with 90-day clinical outcomes.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in delayed perihematomal edema (dPHE) after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH).Methods:Patients with sICH admitted to Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University Medical School within 24 h of onset from January 2018 to June 2020 were enrolled retrospectively. Serum MMP-9 levels and peripheral blood cell counts were detected, and NLR were calculated within 24 h of onset. dPHE was defined as an increase of 3 ml in absolute edema volume at 10-21 d after onset of sICH compared with that at 5-9 d. The demographic and baseline clinical and imaging data of the dPHE group and the non-dPHE group were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of dPHE. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive values of MMP-9 and NLR for dPHE. Results:A total of 195 patients with sICH (61.88±10.60 years old) were enrolled in the study. One hundred and forty-eight patients were males (75.9%). There were 53 patients (27.2%) in the dPHE group and 142 (72.8%) in the non-dPHE group. Univariate analysis showed that age, baseline hematoma volume, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, fasting blood glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, MMP-9, neutrophil count, NLR and the proportion of irregular hematoma in the dPHE group were significantly higher than those in the non-dPHE group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, higher MMP-9 (odds ratio [ OR] 4.291, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 2.041-6.590; P=0.007) and higher NLR ( OR 2.530, 95% CI 1.157-4.022; P=0.011) were all the independent predictors of dPHE. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of MMP-9 for predicting dPHE was 0.819 (95% CI 0.756-0.884; P<0.001), the optimal cut-off value was 164.0 μg/L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 86.79% and 66.90% respectively. The area under the curve of NLR for predicting dPHE was 0.788 (95% CI 0.719-0.856; P<0.001), the optimal cut-off value was 5.683, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 77.36% and 71.13% respectively. Conclusions:sICH patients with higher baseline MMP-9 and NLR are more likely to develop dPHE. Early detection of MMP-9 and NLR in peripheral blood after admission can predict dPHE.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of tranexamic acid in the treatment of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.Methods:Patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to the Departments of Emergency and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from December 2015 to December 2018 were enrolled prospectively. The patients were randomly divided into two groups according to a random number table: tranexamic acid group and control group. All patients received conventional treatment. On this basis, 1 g of tranexamic acid injection was given to the tranexamic acid group, dissolved in 100 ml of normal saline, intravenous injection for 10 min; then 1 g of tranexamic acid was given, dissolved in 250 ml of normal saline, intravenous drip for 8 h. The control group was given an equal volume of normal saline. The main outcome measures were good outcome (defined as modified Rankin Scale score0-2) and mortality at 90 d after treatment. The secondary outcome was hematoma enlargement at 24 h after treatment and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at 7 and 30 days after treatment. Platelet count and fibrinogen level were measured before treatment and 4 h after the infusion of tranexamic acid. Various adverse events were monitored.Results:A total of 150 patients were included, including 83 males (55.3%). There were 73 patients in the tranexamic acid group and 77 in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline data between the two groups. The rate of good outcome in the tranexamic acid group at 90 d was significantly higher than that in the control group (57.5% vs. 40.3%; χ2=4.476, P=0.034), while there were no significant differences in mortality rate (0% vs. 1.3%; Fisher's exact test P=1.000) and the proportion of patients with hematoma enlargement at 24 h (6.8% vs. 15.6%; χ2=2.845, P=0.092). The NIHSS score at 7 d (9.26±3.35 vs. 11.68±4.25; t=3.859, P<0.001) and at 30 d (5.45±2.52 vs. 7.38±3.28; t=4.030, P<0.001) in the tranexamic acid group were significantly lower than those of the control group. Fibrinogen in the tranexamic acid group increased significantly after treatment compared with baseline (4.20±0.56 g/L vs. 3.33±0.60 g/L; t=8.997, P<0.001), and was significantly higher than that in the control group after treatment (4.20±0.56 g/L vs. 3.30±0.55 g/L; t=9.906, P<0.001). No adverse events such as venous thromboembolism, ischemic events, and seizures were observed. Conclusion:Tranexamic acid can promote the recovery of neurological function, and improve the outcome of patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, and the safety is good.