Background Previous studies using meta-analysis to explore the relationship between air pollution exposure and ischemic stroke (IS) mostly focus on particulate matter-related themes, few include gaseous pollutants in the study, and subgroup analyses of factors such as different lag days, seasons, and genders are rarely been reported. Objective To quantitatively evaluate the relationships between short-term exposures to 6 common air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM₁₀), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone (O₃), and the incidence of IS. Methods A systematic search was conducted to collect literature studying the 6 common air pollutants and IS published up to May 1, 2022 in 6 databases (China Journal Full-text Database, China Biology Medicine Disc, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase). Literature quality evaluation was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Stata 16.0 software was used to conduct meta-analysis including heterogeneity test, combined effect size, meta-regression, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias test. Results A total of 33 articles were qualified for inclusion. The total number of samples included in the literature was 7195631. The meta-analysis results showed that short-term exposures to PM_2.5 (OR=1.0082, 95%CI: 1.0049−1.0116), PM₁₀ (OR=1.0017, 95%CI: 1.0008−1.0026), CO (OR=1.0328, 95%CI: 1.0231−1.0426), NO₂ (OR=1.0150, 95%CI: 1.0079−1.0222), SO₂ (OR=1.0158, 95%CI: 1.0078-1.0238), and O₃ (OR=1.0017, 95%CI: 1.0003−1.0032) were associated with an increased risk of IS. PM₁₀ and O₃ increased the risk of IS in both lag0 and lag1, while PM_2.5, CO, NO₂, and SO₂ all showed an associated increased risk of IS only in lag0. The results of sensitivity analysis showed stable results for all pollutants studied, and there was no publication bias in the literature on the association of the remaining five pollutants with IS incidence except for the PM_2.5-related literature. Conclusion Short-term exposures to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, CO, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ may increase the incidence of IS, with this risk showing the most significant level on the day of IS onset.

Stroke has become a major health issue worldwide, bringing a heavy burden to patients, families, and society. Effective reperfusion therapy can significantly improve the outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The secondary prevention guidelines in various countries recommend reducing stroke risk by strictly controlling blood pressure. With the widespread application of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the study of blood pressure variability (BPV) has gradually become a hot topic in the field of stroke prevention and treatment. However, the impact of BPV on the outcomes of patients with AIS receiving reperfusion therapy remains controversial. This article mainly reviews the concept and the related parameters of BPV, as well as the relationship and possible mechanisms between BPV and the outcomes of patients with AIS receiving reperfusion therapy.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism, treatment and prevention of brain edema after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and transvaginal ovarian puncture and oocyte retrieval.Methods:A retrospective clinical study and literature review were performed to analyze one patient who was diagnosed as having brain edema after COH and transvaginal ovarian puncture and oocyte retrieval.Results:After long acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-a) COH protocol, 30 oocytes were obtained. Hydroxyethyl starch 500 mL was given to treat ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) after oocyte retrieval. The patient had sudden irritability, blurred consciousness and vomiting at the 8th hour after oocyte retrieval. The examinations showed hyponatremia and brain edema. The patient relived after mannitol and hypertonic saline treatment. On the 5th day after oocyte retrieval, the patient performed paracentesis guided by ultrasound due to seroperitoneum. Low molecular weight heparin was applied to prevent thrombosis after the flare up of serum D-Dimer on the 7th day. The patient recovered and discharged after 2 weeks.Conclusion:The incidence of brain edema after COH and transvaginal ovarian puncture and oocyte retrieval was very low. However, the symptoms may be severe and may be life-threatening.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism, treatment and prevention of brain edema after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and transvaginal ovarian puncture and oocyte retrieval.Methods:A retrospective clinical study and literature review were performed to analyze one patient who was diagnosed as having brain edema after COH and transvaginal ovarian puncture and oocyte retrieval.Results:After long acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-a) COH protocol, 30 oocytes were obtained. Hydroxyethyl starch 500 mL was given to treat ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) after oocyte retrieval. The patient had sudden irritability, blurred consciousness and vomiting at the 8th hour after oocyte retrieval. The examinations showed hyponatremia and brain edema. The patient relived after mannitol and hypertonic saline treatment. On the 5th day after oocyte retrieval, the patient performed paracentesis guided by ultrasound due to seroperitoneum. Low molecular weight heparin was applied to prevent thrombosis after the flare up of serum D-Dimer on the 7th day. The patient recovered and discharged after 2 weeks.Conclusion:The incidence of brain edema after COH and transvaginal ovarian puncture and oocyte retrieval was very low. However, the symptoms may be severe and may be life-threatening.

Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE),as one of the common complications after stroke,often seriously affect the quality of life of the survivors.In recent years,more and more studies have found that statins can protect the integrity of blood-brain barrier,alleviate excitotoxic damage of neurotransmitters,reduce neuronal apoptosis,and reduce neuroinflammation,which play a role in brain protection,thereby reducing the risk of PSE.This article reviews the treatment of PSE and application of statins in PSE.

Objective To explore the imaging biomarker for early diagnosis and disease course monitoring of Parkinson disease (PD) in arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique. Methods Between July, 2014 and May, 2017, 23 patients with PD underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ASL examinations in our hospital, including 13 in the early stage and 10 in advanced stages. Voxel-based analysis (VBA) was used to observe the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) characteristics in PD patients in different stages and three-dimensional continuous arterial spin labeling (3D CASL) was used to analyze the mean cerebral blood flow (mCBF). Results No significant difference was found in mCBF among PD patients in the early stage, patients in advanced stages and normal control subjects (P=0.30). Compared with the normal control group, the patients with early-stage PD had decreased rCBF in resting state mainly in the right superior occipital gyrus and the right superior frontal gyrus as revealed by VBA (P<0.001);the patients with advanced PD showed decreased rCBF mainly in the left precentral gyrus and the postcentral gyrus (P<0.001). The patients with advanced PD exhibited lowered rCBF in the right substantia nigra and the bilateral corpus callosum as compared with the early-stage patients (P<0.001). Conclusions VBA of ASL reveals rCBF alterations in association with the disease progression in PD patients, suggesting that this technique might provide assistance in identification of potential markers for early PD diagnosis and for monitoring the disease course.

Objective To explore the imaging biomarker for early diagnosis and disease course monitoring of Parkinson disease (PD) in arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique. Methods Between July, 2014 and May, 2017, 23 patients with PD underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ASL examinations in our hospital, including 13 in the early stage and 10 in advanced stages. Voxel-based analysis (VBA) was used to observe the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) characteristics in PD patients in different stages and three-dimensional continuous arterial spin labeling (3D CASL) was used to analyze the mean cerebral blood flow (mCBF). Results No significant difference was found in mCBF among PD patients in the early stage, patients in advanced stages and normal control subjects (P=0.30). Compared with the normal control group, the patients with early-stage PD had decreased rCBF in resting state mainly in the right superior occipital gyrus and the right superior frontal gyrus as revealed by VBA (P<0.001);the patients with advanced PD showed decreased rCBF mainly in the left precentral gyrus and the postcentral gyrus (P<0.001). The patients with advanced PD exhibited lowered rCBF in the right substantia nigra and the bilateral corpus callosum as compared with the early-stage patients (P<0.001). Conclusions VBA of ASL reveals rCBF alterations in association with the disease progression in PD patients, suggesting that this technique might provide assistance in identification of potential markers for early PD diagnosis and for monitoring the disease course.

In recent years, the incidence of stroke increased year by year and the research on post-stroke epilepsy (PSD) is also increasing.In addition to the type, location, and severity of stroke, the occurrence of PSD is also associated with small vessel disease and genetic factors;however, the exact pathophysiological mechanisms are not very clear.This article reviews the risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms of PSD.

Objective To study the effect of allicin on the growth and radiosensitivity of human pancreatic carcinoma BXPC3 cells.Methods BXPC3 cells were exposed to X-rays in the presence or absence of allicin.Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay.Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry assay.Cell radiosensitivity and the influence of allicin on it was evaluated by colony formation assay.The expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were assayed by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results IC50 values of allicin on cell growth were 76.24,58.34 and 43.58 μmol/L under 12,24 and 48 h treatment,respectively.Treatment of cells with allicin obviously inhibited cell growth after irradiation and hence increased radiosensitivity (t =2.74,P ＜ 0.05).This treament also enhanced radiation-induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase (t =11.41,P ＜0.05),apoptosis induction (t =12.36,P ＜ 0.05),and Bax expression (t =4.83,P ＜ 0.05),but it decreased Bcl-2 expression (t =3.69,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Allicin could inhibit cell growth,induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via Bax/Bcl-2 pathway and hence increases radiosensitivity of BXPC3 cells.