1.Flavonoids Intervene in Diabetic Nephropathy by Regulating TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathway: A Review
Qihui QIU ; Chang LIU ; Xiaotong YAN ; Jinwei HAN ; Hui SUN ; Fengting YIN ; Yuhang WANG ; Mengmeng WANG ; Xijun WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):300-309
Diabetic nephropathy (DKD), as a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), is a major cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Its clinical manifestations include increased urinary protein excretion, thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, and renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The pathogenesis of DKD is complex and involves multiple factors, including disordered glucose metabolism, hemodynamic alterations, and oxidative stress. Although modern medical approaches can alleviate certain symptoms, they still have limitations such as insufficient therapeutic targeting and prominent adverse effects. The transforming growth factor-β/Smad (TGF-β/Smad) signaling pathway is not only a tissue fibrosis pathway that has attracted considerable attention in recent years, but also regulates multiple protein molecules, including the glomerular podocyte slit diaphragm protein Podocin, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), thereby participating in various pathological processes and ultimately mediating renal injury. Flavonoid compounds, owing to their sustained pharmacological effects, broad spectrum of action, and high safety profile, have become ideal candidates for targeted therapy research in DKD. Existing studies have shown that these compounds can exert inhibitory effects on renal fibrosis, alleviate inflammatory responses, protect podocytes, and reduce oxidative stress by regulating the interactions between the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and the aforementioned protein molecules, thereby maintaining renal structure and function, reducing proteinuria, and significantly improving DKD lesions. This review briefly outlines the composition and functions of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, elucidates the mechanisms by which this pathway regulates DKD, and focuses on summarizing major studies from the past decade on flavonoid-based interventions in DKD through targeted inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Furthermore, it discusses the considerable therapeutic potential of flavonoids in the treatment of this disease, aiming to provide a scientific basis for future clinical prevention and treatment of DKD and to promote the development of targeted drugs.
2.Translation of the Quality of Life Tool for Patients with Aplastic Anaemia and the test of its reliability and validity
Yu ZHANG ; Jinsong YAN ; Ding DING ; Zhijie KANG ; Xiaotong GUO ; Yue WEI ; Yingying REN ; Junfeng CHEN
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(2):135-141
Objective:To translate the quality of life tool for patients with aplastic anaemia and paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (QLQ-AA/PNH) into Chinese, and to test its reliability and validity.Methods:According to the scale translation principle, the Chinese version of QLQ-AA/PNH was formed through translation, back translation and cross-cultural adaptation. A cross-sectional survey method was used to conveniently select 58 patients with aplastic anemia who were treated in the hematology department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 2018 to September 2023 for investigation, and to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale.Results:The Chinese version of QLQ-AA/PNH retains 36 items, and 5 common factors (psychological status dimension, life burden dimension, physical condition dimension, illness anxiety dimension and other symptom dimension) were extracted through exploratory factor analysis. The cumulative variance contribution rate reached 71.33%, and the factor load of each entry was greater than 0.5 on corresponding common factors. The Cronbach α coefficient of the scale as a whole was 0.971, the broken half reliability coefficient was 0.985, the Cronbach α coefficient of each common factor was 0.637 to 0.954, and the broken half reliability coefficient was 0.637 to 0.930. Conclusions:The Chinese version of QLQ-AA/PNH has been proved to be valid and reliable. It is a valuable tool for evaluating the quality of life among patients with aplastic anaemia.
3.Acute phase neurovascular coupling function in patients with minor ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack due to intracranial large artery moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion and its correlation with quality of life
Gezhi YAN ; Meiling SHANG ; Lu QUAN ; Ling MA ; Xiaotong CHI ; Bingbing GUO ; Zepeng TIAN ; Shiliang JIANG ; Fude LIU ; Jianfeng HAN ; Wanghuan DUN ; Jia YU
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(11):744-754,776
Objective To investigate the neurovascular coupling(NVC)status in the acute phase of patients with minor ischemic stroke(MIS)or transient ischemic attack(TIA)due to intracranial large artery moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion using multimodal MRI techniques and to explore its correlation with quality of life(QoL).Methods This prospective,consecutive study enrolled patients with MIS or TIA due to intracranial large artery moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion form the Department of Neurology,the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,between June 2022 and October 2023.Recruit healthy subjects with matched age,sex,and handedness form the community during the same period.Patients were divided into left-sided involvement and right-sided involvement groups based on the affected side of the responsible vessel,while the healthy subjects were set as the healthy control group.Post-hoc power analysis was performed using G*Power 3.1 software.General characteristics(age,gender,body mass index,education level)were collected and compared across all three groups.Clinical data and QoL assessment were collected and compared between the two patient groups.Collected clinical data including type of cerebrovascular events(TIA,MIS),the National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score at admission,the responsible vessel(internal carotid artery,middle cerebral artery)and its side location,the degree of responsibility artery stenosis(moderate-severe stenosis[50%-99%stenosis rate],occlusion[100%stenosis rate]),the intracranial collateral circulation status(American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology[ASITN/SIR]collateral circulation grading),cerebrovascular risk factors(hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,smoking history),and the laboratory test indicators at admission(glycated hemoglobin,triglycerides,total cholesterol,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,blood uric acid,blood homocysteine).QoL was assessed using the stroke impact scale(SIS),covering eight functional domains and a patient-reported overall recovery item.Multimodal MR data were acquired for all subjects.Whole-brain cerebral blood flow(CBF)images were generated using statistics parameter mapping 12(SPM 12)software,while regional homogeneity(ReHo)images were generated using DPABI software.The voxel-wise ratio of CBF to ReHo(CBF/ReHo)was calculated as the regional NVC parameter.Differences in regional NVC characteristics were compared between patient groups and the healthy control group.Correlations between NVC parameters and SIS scores within patient groups were explored.Results(1)A total of 38 patients with MIS or TIA due to intracranial large artery moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion were included(26 males,12 females,aged 36-69 years,with mean age of[52±11]years),with 23 in the left-sided involvement group and 15 in the right-sided involvement group.Nineteen healthy subjects were included(10 males,9 females,aged 37-67 years,with mean age of[53±10]years).Post-hoc power analysis showed statistical power of 0.808 for comparing the left-sided involvement group with the healthy control group and 0.762 for comparing the right-sided involvement group with control group.(2)No statistically significant differences were found on gender,age,education level,or body mass index across the three groups(all P>0.05).No statistically significant differences were observed on the type of cerebrovascular event,cerebrovascular risk factors,distribution of the responsible vessel,degree of stenosis in the responsible vessel,admission NIHSS score,or laboratory test results between the two patient groups(all P>0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the total SIS score and the scores of subscales between the two patient groups(all P>0.05).(3)Compared with the healthy control group,the left-sided involvement group exhibited reduced CBF/ReHo values in the left superior and middle temporal gyri,supramarginal gyrus,middle and inferior frontal gyri,precentral gyrus,angular gyrus,postcentral gyrus,insula,and posterior cerebellar lobe(FDR-corrected,all P<0.05).In the right-sided involvement group,reduced CBF/ReHo values were observed in the right supramarginal gyrus,right postcentral gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus,and insula(FDR-corrected,all P<0.05).(4)Correlation analysis revealed that the SIS total score in the left-sided involvement group negatively correlated with CBF/ReHo values in the right inferior frontal gyrus(T=-5.91)and the right middle temporal gyrus(T=-6.65,FDR-corrected,both P<0.05).The SIS subscale score for activities of daily living in the left-sided involvement group showed negative correlations with CBF/ReHo values in the right angular gyrus(T=-7.36),right medial superior frontal gyrus(T=-6.97),right orbitofrontal cortex(T=-8.99),and left thalamus(T=-7.51,FDR-corrected,all P<0.05).No significant correlation was observed between the SIS total score and CBF/ReHo values in patients with right-sided involvement group.The SIS subscale for communication score in the right-sided involvement group correlated with CBF/ReHo in the left lingual gyrus(T=-12.15),left olfactory cortex(T=-7.68),and right anterior cingulate and paracingulate cortex(T=-9.46,FDR-corrected,all P<0.05).Conclusions Patients with MIS or TIA due to intracranial large artery moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion show abnormal NVC in the acute phase,especially those with left hemisphere involvement,who exhibit more extensive impairments.QoL in left-sided involvement patients is strongly linked to NVC in the right orbitofrontal cortex and right middle temporal gyrus.These findings require further validation in larger-scale studies.
4.A study on the preference of elderly cancer patients in a certain specialized cancer hospital for online hospital services based on discrete choice experiments
Quanbo HUO ; Xiaotong YANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Xuanyue YAN ; Yaxin FU ; Junqing LIU ; Ling YAN
Modern Hospital 2025;25(6):930-935
Objective To analyze the preferences of elderly cancer patients for internet hospital diagnosis and treatment services,providing a reference for the sustainable development of internet hospitals.Methods This study was based on the method of discrete choice experiments.By combining literature review and expert consultation,10 relevant attributes affecting the choice of internet hospitals by elderly cancer patients were determined.Through KANO questionnaires,6 key attributes were se-lected to form the final DCE questionnaire,consisting of 11 choice sets and 1"quality control"set.Using the convenience sam-pling method,elderly cancer patients visiting a certain tertiary hospital in Tianjin were selected to collect 318 valid question-naires.The obtained data were analyzed using mixed Logit regression.Results Patients visiting a certain specialized cancer hos-pital in Tianjin tend to prefer hospitals with a grade of Grade Ⅲ-A(β=0.661 6,P<0.05)and those offering out-of-hospital rehabilitation guidance for cancer patients(β=0.559 9,P<0.05).The page operation process(β=0.352 2,P<0.05)and the accessibility mode for the elderly(β=0.357 5,P<0.05)are the attributes with lower attention.In the subgroup analysis,for patients of different genders and different family incomes,hospital grade and out-of-hospital rehabilitation guidance for cancer patients remain the most influential factors,but male patients pay more attention to the page operation process(β=0.378 3,P<0.05)and the accessibility mode for the elderly(β=0.373 7,P<0.05),while female patients pay more attention to the cover-age of medical insurance reimbursement(β=0.435 9,P<0.05),which has a greater impact than that of male patients(β=0.394 7,P<0.05);patients with a monthly per capita income of less than 5 000 yuan pay more attention to the coverage of medical insurance reimbursement(β=0.423 0,P<0.05)and the self-appointment check function(β=0.467 0,P<0.05);while patients with a monthly per capita income of more than 5 000 yuan pay more attention to the page operation process(β=0.364 7,P<0.05)and the accessibility mode for the elderly(β=0.359 1,P<0.05).Conclusion Hospitals should en-hance elderly patients' awareness and trust in internet hospitals by providing comprehensive health education and support,simpli-fying operational processes,strengthening age-friendly design,and highlighting medical insurance coverage to address the diverse needs across genders and income levels.
5.Three-dimensional radiographic characteristics of 18 odontogenic myxoma
Liuyang QU ; Xiaotong LING ; Danni ZHENG ; Jing YANG ; Xuebing YAN ; Denggao LIU ; Yan GAO
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2025;41(5):680-684
Objective:To analyze the there-dimensional radiographic characteristics of odontogenic myxoma(OM).Methods:Clinical records,histopathological reports,SCT or CBCT images of 18 patients with OM were retrospectively collected,and radiograph-ic features including lesion site,shape,size,expansion,intralesional septa and relationship with surrounding tissues were analyzed.The lesions were classified into types by the forms of septa.Results:18 patients(8 males and 10 females,aged 9-39 years old)were included.Among them,12 lesions(66.7%)were round-like in shape,7(38.9%)were located in the posterior maxilla,and 8(44.4%)in the posterior mandible.According to the septa map,the lesions included 4(22.2%)without septum(unilocular type),4 with(22.2%)sporadic septum on the periphery of the tumor(peripheral type),4(22.2%)with the septum from the periphery towards the center of the tumor(centripetal type)and 6(16.7%)with multiple septa interwoven as grid-like trabeclations(criss-crossing tup).Labial/buccal cortex expansion was present in 11 lesions(61.1%),and palatal cortex expansion in 12 lesions(66.7%).Moreover,cortex discontinuity occurred in 14 lesions(77.8%),impacted tooth was present in 9 lesions(16.7%),and root resorption was present in 8 lesions(44.4%).Conclusion:Most OMs occur in the posterior jaw,with multilocular and discontinued cortex.OMs can be classified into unilocular,perpheral,centripetal and cirss-crossing type by the forms of septa in the lesion.
6.Correlation between cerebral perfusion and cognitive function in patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack caused by severe intracranial arterial stenosis or occlusion
Meiling SHANG ; Yanran CHEN ; Bingbing GUO ; Xiaotong CHI ; Lu QUAN ; Gezhi YAN ; Hui WANG ; Ling MA ; Fude LIU ; Jia YU ; Jianfeng HAN ; Ming ZHANG ; Wanghuan DUN ; Yujing WANG
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(10):701-711
Objective This study aimed to investigate the correlation of cerebral perfusion and cognitive function status in patients with minor stroke(MS)or transient ischemic attack(TIA)complicated by severe intracranial arterial stenosis or occlusion(hereafter referred to as ICAS-MSTIA).Methods Retrospectively enrol consecutive ICAS-MSTIA patients admitted to the Department of Neurology,the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,from June 2023 to May 2024.In the meantime,healthy controls were openly recruited.The ICAS-MSTIA patients were divided into two groups based on the side of intracranial large artery stenosis or occlusion:the left intracranial large artery involvement group and the right intracranial large artery involvement group.All patients with intracranial large artery stenosis or occlusion underwent MR scanning within 2 weeks after the first episode of TIA or MS,while there was no specific time requirement for MR examination in the healthy control group.On the day of MR scanning,the Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA)scale was used to evaluate the participants'global cognitive function and performance in various cognitive domains,including visuospatial/executive function,naming,attention,language,abstraction,delayed recall,and orientation.General information of all participants was collected,including age,sex,educational level,body mass index,and history of smoking and alcohol consumption.Clinical data were collected from both left and right intracranial large artery involvement groups,including cerebrovascular risk factors(such as,diabetes mellitus,hypertension,and hyperlipidemia),National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score at admission,responsible stenotic or occluded arteries(internal carotid artery,middle cerebral artery),degree of stenosis in the responsible vessel(severe stenosis[stenosis rate 70%-99%],occlusion[stenosis rate100%])and non-responsible vessel(no stenosis[0],mild stenosis[stenosis rate>0-49%]),collateral circulation compensation(American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology[ASTIN/SIR]collateral circulation classification),and responsible events(TIA,MS).General data and MoCA scale scores were compared across the three groups,while clinical data were compared between the left and right intracranial large artery involvement groups.Statistical parametric mapping 12(SPM 12)was used to perform voxel-wise independent samples t-tests on cerebral blood flow(CBF)differences among the left ICAS-MSTIA group,right ICAS-MSTIA group,and healthy control group,with cluster-level family-wise error(FWE)correction applied for adjustment.Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between global CBF values and total MoCA scores in ICAS-MSTIA patients with left or right intracranial large artery involvement.Results A total of 33 ICAS-MSTIA patients and 33 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.Among the ICAS-MSTIA patients,21 had left intracranial large artery involvement and 12 had right involvement.(1)Among the three groups,statistically significant differences were observed in the proportions of individuals with reported smoking history(P=0.024)and alcohol consumption history(P=0.011).The left intracranial large artery involvement group had a higher NIHSS score(0[0,2]vs.0[0,0],P=0.044)and a higher proportion of patients with internal carotid artery involvement(13/21 cases vs.2/12 cases,P=0.027)compared with the right side group.No statistically significant differences were observed in other general or clinical data across the three groups or between the two non-control groups(all P>0.05).(2)Statistically significant differences were found across the three groups in the MoCA scale total score and scores of visuospatial/executive function,attention,language,abstraction,delayed recall,and orientation cognitive domains(all P<0.05),while no significant difference was noted in the naming score(P=0.063).The left intracranial large artery involvement group had lower total MoCA score and lower scores in visuospatial/executive function,attention,language,abstraction,delayed recall,and orientation in comparison to the healthy control group(all P<0.016 7).The right intracranial large artery involvement group had significantly lower scores in language,abstraction,and orientation domains than the healthy control group(all P<0.016 7).Additionally,the left side group had a lower attention domain score than the right side group(P<0.016 7).No other statistically significant differences were found in pairwise comparisons(all P>0.016 7).(3)Patients in both the left and right intracranial large artery involvement groups exhibited a significant decrease in CBF in extensive regions on the affected side,including the temporal lobe,dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,and occipital lobe.Furthermore,after correction,in the left involvement group CBF was higher in the contralateral lingual gyrus,cuneus,and calcarine sulcus compared with the healthy control group(P<0.05).While in the right involvement group,no regions had increased CBF compared to the healthy control group.(4)Multiple linear regression showed positive correlation between CBF in ipsilateral precentral gyrus and superior temporal gyrus,and the total MoCA score in patients with left intracranial large artery involvement(FWE-corrected,P<0.05).In contrast,there was no correlation between CBF and total MoCA score in patients with right intracranial large artery involvement.Conclusions ICAS-MSTIA patients exhibited various degrees of impairment in cerebral perfusion and cognitive function.A significant positive correlation is observed between these two impairments in patients with left intracranial large artery involvement.
7.Expression of miR-340-5p and miR-155-5p in chronic hepatitis B patients and their relationship with Th1/Th2 factor levels
Huifang ZHOU ; Minrong KANG ; Xue'e DAI ; Tingxi YAN ; Xiaotong WANG ; Wei YAN
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(2):205-209
Objective To investigate the expression of serum microRNA(miR)-340-5p,miR-155-5p and their relationship with Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with chronic hepatitis B.Methods A total of 128 pa-tients with chronic hepatitis B in this hospital from October 2021 to October 2023 were selected as the study group,and 96 healthy subjects from the hospital during the same period were selected as the control group.The expression levels of serum miR-340-5p and miR-155-5p were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR(qPCR),and the expression levels of serum Th1/Th2 cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosor-bent assay(ELISA).The relationship between miR-340-5p,miR-155-5p and Th1/Th2 cytokines was analyzed by Pearson method,and the influence of serum miR-340-5p and miR-155-5p on the occurrence of chronic HPV infection was analyzed by Logistic regression.Results Compared with the reference group,the serum levels of miR-340-5p,miR-155-5p,IL-4,and IL-13 in the study group decreased(P<0.05),while the levels of IFN-γand IL-12 increased(P<0.05).Serum miR-340-5p was negatively correlated with IFN-γ and IL-12(r=-0.315,-0.293,both P<0.05),and positively correlated with IL-4 and IL-13(r=0.413,0.412,both P<0.05).Serum miR-155-5p was negatively correlated with IFN-γ and IL-12(r=-0.406,-0.375,both P<0.05),and positively correlated with IL-4 and IL-13(r=0.343,0.407,both P<0.05).Serum miR-340-5p(OR=0.735,95%CI:Increased expression levels of 0.590-0.915)and miR-155-5p(OR=0.612,95%CI:0.416-0.900)were protective factors for the occurrence of chronic hepatitis B.IFN-γ(OR=1.652,95%CI:1.170-2.333)and IL-12(OR=1.063,95%CI:1.012-1.116)were risk factors for chronic hepatitis B(P<0.05).Conclusion Serum miR-340-5p and miR-155-5p are usually low expressed in chronic hepatitis B patients,and they are negatively correlated with Th1 cytokine level and positively correlated with Th2 cytokine level.
8.Analysis of the genetic characteristics of varicella-zoster virus prevalent in Qinghai province from 2020 to 2024
Lixia FAN ; Jinyuan GUO ; Qianlan LI ; Yan ZHANG ; Xiaotong WANG ; Zhijian TANG ; Chunxiang WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2025;39(4):468-473
Objective:To understand the genetic characteristics of varicella-zoster virus(VZV)prevalent in Qinghai province,China since 2020.Methods:A total of 54 pharyngeal swab specimens were collected from sporadic suspected varicella cases in Qinghai province in 2020,2023,and 2024. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used for etiological screening of the specimens. Sequencing of three genes,namely ORF22,ORF38,and ORF62,and single-nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)analysis were performed on VZV nucleic acid-positive specimens.Results:All 54 suspected varicella cases were diagnosed with VZV infection,and three gene sequences were successfully obtained from 53 specimens. The results of genotype identification showed that all VZV infection case specimens obtained in this study in Qinghai province were wild strains. Among them,4 specimens in 2020 were of clade 2 type;among 14 specimens in 2023,7 were of clade 2 type and the remaining 7 were of clade 5 type;among 35 specimens in 2024,27 were of clade5 type,5 were of clade 2 type,and 3 were of clade 4 type. The SNP results showed that in 2023 and 2024,one specimen each had an A→G base mutation at position 37 990,and in 2024,3 specimens had a T→C base mutation at position 37946. Among them,the sequences containing the former mutation have been prevalent and spread in multiple regions of China,and the latter has not been reported in other regions of China.Conclusion:From 2020 to 2024 in Qinghai province,at least three genotypes of VZV,namely clade 2 type,clade 5 type,and clade 4 type,co-prevailed,and the clade 5 genotype of VZV may become the dominant prevalent strain.
9.Predictive value of blood inflammatory biomarkers for mortality risk in ECMO-supported patients following cardiac surgery
Tingting WU ; Yiwen WANG ; Yan WANG ; Xiaotong HOU ; Zhe DONG
Chinese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;41(7):421-426
Objective:To investigate the dynamic changes of inflammatory biomarkers in patients receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support after cardiac surgery, and evaluate their predictive value for in-hospital mortality.Methods:The retrospective study included 212 patients who underwent VA-ECMO support following cardiac surgery at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January 2021 to May 2024. Baseline characteristics and inflammatory markers during ECMO support including procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and fibrinogen (FBG) were collected. Univariate analysis, ROC curves, and multivariate logistic regression were performed to assess the association of these indicators with outcomes. Results:On day 3 post-ECMO, mean PCT and CRP levels were significantly higher in the deceased group (87 cases) than in the survival group (125 cases). PCT demonstrated an area under the curve ( AUC) of 0.750 (95% CI: 0.680-0.819) for predicting mortality, while CRP had an AUC of 0.701(95% CI: 0.625-0.778). No significant differences were observed in FBG, NLR, or PLR between the two groups. Lactate levels at 24 h post-ECMO ( AUC=0.723) and SOFA scores ( OR=2.511, AUC=0.713) were also significantly associated with mortality risk in the deceased group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Dynamic increases in PCT and CRP are independent predictors of in-hospital mortality in cardiac surgery patients supported by ECMO. Elevated lactate levels and SOFA scores, aligning with previous studies, reflect severe tissue hypoperfusion and multi-organ dysfunction in non-survivors, underscoring the necessity of dynamic monitoring of inflammatory and organ function markers for prognosis assessment.
10.Acute phase neurovascular coupling function in patients with minor ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack due to intracranial large artery moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion and its correlation with quality of life
Gezhi YAN ; Meiling SHANG ; Lu QUAN ; Ling MA ; Xiaotong CHI ; Bingbing GUO ; Zepeng TIAN ; Shiliang JIANG ; Fude LIU ; Jianfeng HAN ; Wanghuan DUN ; Jia YU
Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;22(11):744-754,776
Objective To investigate the neurovascular coupling(NVC)status in the acute phase of patients with minor ischemic stroke(MIS)or transient ischemic attack(TIA)due to intracranial large artery moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion using multimodal MRI techniques and to explore its correlation with quality of life(QoL).Methods This prospective,consecutive study enrolled patients with MIS or TIA due to intracranial large artery moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion form the Department of Neurology,the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,between June 2022 and October 2023.Recruit healthy subjects with matched age,sex,and handedness form the community during the same period.Patients were divided into left-sided involvement and right-sided involvement groups based on the affected side of the responsible vessel,while the healthy subjects were set as the healthy control group.Post-hoc power analysis was performed using G*Power 3.1 software.General characteristics(age,gender,body mass index,education level)were collected and compared across all three groups.Clinical data and QoL assessment were collected and compared between the two patient groups.Collected clinical data including type of cerebrovascular events(TIA,MIS),the National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score at admission,the responsible vessel(internal carotid artery,middle cerebral artery)and its side location,the degree of responsibility artery stenosis(moderate-severe stenosis[50%-99%stenosis rate],occlusion[100%stenosis rate]),the intracranial collateral circulation status(American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology[ASITN/SIR]collateral circulation grading),cerebrovascular risk factors(hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,smoking history),and the laboratory test indicators at admission(glycated hemoglobin,triglycerides,total cholesterol,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,blood uric acid,blood homocysteine).QoL was assessed using the stroke impact scale(SIS),covering eight functional domains and a patient-reported overall recovery item.Multimodal MR data were acquired for all subjects.Whole-brain cerebral blood flow(CBF)images were generated using statistics parameter mapping 12(SPM 12)software,while regional homogeneity(ReHo)images were generated using DPABI software.The voxel-wise ratio of CBF to ReHo(CBF/ReHo)was calculated as the regional NVC parameter.Differences in regional NVC characteristics were compared between patient groups and the healthy control group.Correlations between NVC parameters and SIS scores within patient groups were explored.Results(1)A total of 38 patients with MIS or TIA due to intracranial large artery moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion were included(26 males,12 females,aged 36-69 years,with mean age of[52±11]years),with 23 in the left-sided involvement group and 15 in the right-sided involvement group.Nineteen healthy subjects were included(10 males,9 females,aged 37-67 years,with mean age of[53±10]years).Post-hoc power analysis showed statistical power of 0.808 for comparing the left-sided involvement group with the healthy control group and 0.762 for comparing the right-sided involvement group with control group.(2)No statistically significant differences were found on gender,age,education level,or body mass index across the three groups(all P>0.05).No statistically significant differences were observed on the type of cerebrovascular event,cerebrovascular risk factors,distribution of the responsible vessel,degree of stenosis in the responsible vessel,admission NIHSS score,or laboratory test results between the two patient groups(all P>0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the total SIS score and the scores of subscales between the two patient groups(all P>0.05).(3)Compared with the healthy control group,the left-sided involvement group exhibited reduced CBF/ReHo values in the left superior and middle temporal gyri,supramarginal gyrus,middle and inferior frontal gyri,precentral gyrus,angular gyrus,postcentral gyrus,insula,and posterior cerebellar lobe(FDR-corrected,all P<0.05).In the right-sided involvement group,reduced CBF/ReHo values were observed in the right supramarginal gyrus,right postcentral gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus,and insula(FDR-corrected,all P<0.05).(4)Correlation analysis revealed that the SIS total score in the left-sided involvement group negatively correlated with CBF/ReHo values in the right inferior frontal gyrus(T=-5.91)and the right middle temporal gyrus(T=-6.65,FDR-corrected,both P<0.05).The SIS subscale score for activities of daily living in the left-sided involvement group showed negative correlations with CBF/ReHo values in the right angular gyrus(T=-7.36),right medial superior frontal gyrus(T=-6.97),right orbitofrontal cortex(T=-8.99),and left thalamus(T=-7.51,FDR-corrected,all P<0.05).No significant correlation was observed between the SIS total score and CBF/ReHo values in patients with right-sided involvement group.The SIS subscale for communication score in the right-sided involvement group correlated with CBF/ReHo in the left lingual gyrus(T=-12.15),left olfactory cortex(T=-7.68),and right anterior cingulate and paracingulate cortex(T=-9.46,FDR-corrected,all P<0.05).Conclusions Patients with MIS or TIA due to intracranial large artery moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion show abnormal NVC in the acute phase,especially those with left hemisphere involvement,who exhibit more extensive impairments.QoL in left-sided involvement patients is strongly linked to NVC in the right orbitofrontal cortex and right middle temporal gyrus.These findings require further validation in larger-scale studies.

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