Objective To explore the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) change and the prognosis of patients with stroke. Methods Individuals who were diagnosed with stroke from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) registry were included. The baseline characteristics in 2011, blood tests in 2011 and 2015, and follow-up data in 2018 were collected. The patients were divided into three groups according to their CPR change from 2011 to 2015, and the cut-off values of CRP change were 0 and 5 mg/L. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between CRP change and the risk of death after stroke. Results A total of 1065 participants diagnosed in 2011 were enrolled. There were 383 participants in the CRP decreased group (CRP change ranging from –74.30 to –0.01 mg/L), 584 participants in the CRP stable group (CRP change ranging from 0 to 4.98 mg/L), and 98 participants in the CRP increased group (CRP change ranging from 5.00 to 79.27 mg/L). By 2018, the numbers (rates) of deaths in CRP decreased group, CRP stable group, and CRP increased group were 25 (6.53%), 33 (5.65%), and 13 (13.27%), respectively, and the difference in the mortality among the three groups was statistically significant (P=0.020). Logistic regression analysis showed that the CRP change≥5 mg/L was associated with a higher risk of death after stroke [odds ratio=2.332, 95% confidence interval (1.099, 4.946), P=0.027]. Conclusions Increasing CRP levels over time may indicate an increased risk of death in stroke patients. A 4-year increase in CRP greater than 5 mg/L may be an independent predictor of the risk of long-term death in stroke patients.
Objective To systematically evaluate the effect of arm sling on shoulder subluxation in stroke patients with hemiplegia. METHODS CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, OVID, EBM Reviews, Best Practice, ACP Journal Club, and Practice Guidline were searched from establishment to March 2023. The literature on randomized controlled trials of arm sling on gait or balance in post-stroke patients with hemiplegia were included. RevMan 5.4.1 software was used for meta-analysis. Results A total of 13 articles were included, including 691 subjects, 343 in the experimental group, and 348 in the control group. The meta-analysis results showed that patients wearing the boom arm were effective in improving the recovery of upper extremity function [mean difference (MD)=8.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.39, 11.60), P＜0.000 01], relieving pain due to shoulder subluxation [MD=−1.13, 95%CI (−1.70, −0.56), P=0.000 1], and enhancement of patients’ quality of life in daily activities [MD=15.07, 95%CI (3.24, 26.90), P=0.01], all of which were superior to the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of Apnea-Hypopnea Index [MD=−1.86, 95%CI (−3.79, 0.06), P=0.06], 6 min walking test [MD=−0.51, 95%CI (−18.52, 17.49), P=0.96], 10 meter walk time [MD=0.00, 95%CI (−0.06, 0.06), P=0.91], heart rate [MD=−0.22, 95%CI (−5.10, 4.27), P=0.93], and Berg balance scale [MD=−2.53, 95%CI (−8.17, 3.10), P=0.38]. Conclusion The use of arm sling can effectively improve patients’ quality of life, functional recovery of the upper limbs and reduce pain, providing an evidence-based basis for healthcare professionals to treat patients with proven treatment modalities.
Objective To assess systematically the safety and ef fects of stem cell transplantation in stroke patients.Methods CENTRAL (April 2007), MEDLINE (1966 to April 2007), EMBASE (1980 to April 2007), and other databases were searched for RCT of the use of stem cell transplantation for patients with stroke. We critically appraised the quality of included studies according to Juny 2001. We assessed the effects of stem cell therapy on mortal ity, functional outcomes, cognitive functions, image changes, quality of life, and adverse effects by doing meta-analysis with The Cochrane Collaboration’ s Review Manager. Dichotomous outcomes were reported as relative risk and continuous outcome measures as weighted mean differences, with 95% confidence intervals.Results Three RCTs and one historical controlled trial were included involving a total of 69 participants. Only one trial reported the effect on mortality, but because of the small number of death it was not possible to detect any significant differences between stem cell transplantation and routine treatment (RR 0.11, 95%CI 0.01 to 2.31, P = 0.16). Three studies indicated a statistically significant improvement of some functional outcomes in patients treated by stem cell transplantation. Improvements of cognitive function were reported in another trial. One trial showed that the stem cell transplantation significantly improved qual ity of life compared with the control group. Conclusion The current evidence is insufficient to determine whether or not stem cell transplantation is a safe and effective therapy for stroke patients. High-quality, large-scale randomized trials are needed to assess the role of stem cell transplantation for stroke.
ObjectiveTo review the recent research progress of different types of stem cells in the treatment of ischemic stroke.MethodsBy searching the PubMed database, a systematic review had been carried out for the results of applying different types of stem cells in the treatment of ischemic stroke between 2000 and 2020.ResultsStem cells can be transplanted via intracranial, intravascular, cerebrospinal fluid, and intranasal route in the treatment of ischemic stroke. Paracrine and cell replacement are the two major mechanisms of the therapy. The researches have mainly focused on utilization of neural stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of capability of migration, survival rate, and safety. Certain stem cell therapies have completed phase one clinical trial.ConclusionStem cells transplantation is feasible and has a great potential for the treatment of ischemic stroke, albeit that certain obstacles, including the selection of stem cells, transplantation strategy, migration ability, survival rate, still wait to be solved.
ObjectiveTo analyze the pathogenic bacteria distribution, structure and characteristics of drug resistance in patients with acute stroke complicated with pulmonary infection, in order to provide reference for the prevention of hospital infection and rational use of antimicrobial agents. MethodsA total of 864 clinical specimens of acute stroke complicated with pulmonary infection were chosen for study between January 2012 and December 2014. Separation and cultivation were done in accordance with the operation procedures regulated by the Ministry of Health. Drug sensitivity examination was done by Kirby-Bauer (k-b). Super-extensive spectrum β lactamase (ESBL) and methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were detected to analyze the bacterial species and resistance transition. ResultsA total of 864 samples were cultivated, in which G-bacteria accounted for 61.2%. The main pathogenic bacteria was Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumanmii and Staphylococcus aureus. Imipenem had high antimicrobial activity to G-bacilli, especially to Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria. Linezolid, vancomycin and teicoplanin had high antibacterial activity to staphylococcus aureus. Vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was not found. Ciprofloxacin had high antibacterial activity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while imipenem had low antibacterial activity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Amikacin had high antibacterial activity to acinetobacter. ConclusionG-bacilli are predominant in acute stroke complicated with pulmonary infection. ESBLs and MRSA detection rate is high, and we should pay attention to the rational use of antibiotics to reduce drug resistance.
Objective To evaluate the predictive effect of three machine learning methods, namely support vector machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbor (KNN) and decision tree, on the daily number of new patients with ischemic stroke in Chengdu. Methods The numbers of daily new ischemic stroke patients from January 1st, 2019 to March 28th, 2021 were extracted from the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu. The weather and meteorological data and air quality data of Chengdu came from China Weather Network in the same period. Correlation analyses, multinominal logistic regression, and principal component analysis were used to explore the influencing factors for the level of daily number of new ischemic stroke patients in this hospital. Then, using R 4.1.2 software, the data were randomly divided in a ratio of 7∶3 (70% into train set and 30% into validation set), and were respectively used to train and certify the three machine learning methods, SVM, KNN and decision tree, and logistic regression model was used as the benchmark model. F1 score, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and accuracy of each model were calculated. The data dividing, training and validation were repeated for three times, and the average F1 scores, AUCs and accuracies of the three times were used to compare the prediction effects of the four models. Results According to the accuracies from high to low, the prediction effects of the four models were ranked as SVM (88.9%), logistic regression model (87.5%), decision tree (85.9%), and KNN (85.1%); according to the F1 scores, the models were ranked as SVM (66.9%), KNN (62.7%), decision tree (59.1%), and logistic regression model (57.7%); according to the AUCs, the order from high to low was SVM (88.5%), logistic regression model (87.7%), KNN (84.7%), and decision tree (71.5%). Conclusion The prediction result of SVM is better than the traditional logistic regression model and the other two machine learning models.
Objective To understand the quality of life of patients with acute mild to moderate ischemic stroke one year after stroke, analyze the factors affecting their quality of life, and provide a scientific basis for improving their health-related quality of life. Methods This study included patients who were diagnosed with acute mild to moderate ischemic stroke between March 2019 and March 2021 in four hospitals in Nanchang. Sociodemographic information and relevant clinical data were collected during hospitalization. The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire was administered to assess health-related quality of life one year after discharge. The Mann-Whitney U test (for two groups) and Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA (for multiple groups) were used to analyze differences in utility scores among various factors. A Tobit regression model was built to investigate the factors influencing quality of life one-year post-stroke. Results A total of 1 181 patients participated in the study, including 791 males (66.98%) and 390 females (33.02%), with an average age of 63.7±10.9 years. Health-related quality of life data collected one year after the stroke revealed that 22.69% of patients experienced pain/discomfort, 17.27% suffered anxiety/depression, 15.66% had mobility issues, 10.33% had difficulties with daily activities, and 8.64% had trouble with self-care. Tobit regression results showed that age (β=−0.263, 95%CI −0.327 to −0.198), gender (β=−0.134, 95%CI −0.189 to −0.080), previous hypertension (β=−0.068, 95%CI −0.120 to −0.016), previous dyslipidemia (β=−0.068, 95%CI −0.126 to −0.011), admission NIHSS score (β=−0.158, 95%CI −0.198 to −0.118), and discharge mRS score (β=−0.193, 95%CI −0.250 to −0.136) were negatively associated with health utility values. Current employment status (β=0.141, 95%CI 0.102 to 0.181) and admission GCS score (β=0.209, 95%CI 0.142 to 0.276) were positively correlated with health utility values. Conclusion One year after an acute mild to moderate ischemic stroke, patients commonly face pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Factors affecting overall quality of life include age, sex, current employment status, previous hypertension, previous dyslipidemia, admission NIHSS score, admission GCS score, and discharge mRS score. Clinically, developing scientifically sound and reasonable rehabilitation plans post-discharge is crucial for improving long-term quality of life.
目的 探索缺血性脑卒中患者溶栓前血压管理和预后的相关性，并分析溶栓前血压管理考虑颅内外血管状态的必要性。 方法 计算机检索PUBMED数据库，并辅以其他检索，对所有涉及溶栓前血压的文献进行整理，并根据“溶栓类型、是否进行溶栓前血压管理、是否进行溶栓前血管评估”对文献进行分类，对其溶栓后的症状性颅内出血率进行分析对比。 结果 大多数静脉溶栓文献无血管评估的数据，其出血率波动于较高水平；进行了血管评估，而未提及血压管理或虽未进行血压管理，但所有患者的血压符合指南中对于血压的要求的文献也呈现了较高的出血率；有1篇进行了血管评估的动脉溶栓文献没有症状性颅内出血事件发生。 结论 当前证据表明现有的溶栓前血压管理模式还不够完善，这也在一定程度上可以解释目前较高的溶栓后症状性出血率。合理的溶栓前血压管理模式有待进一步探索。溶栓前血压管理考虑颅内外血管状态，根据血管病变程度对溶栓前血压进行分级管理可能会成为一个较佳的血压管理模式。
Objective To investigate the relationship between age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (aCCI) and ischemic stroke in patients with ophthalmic artery occlusion (OAO) or retinal artery occlusion (RAO). MethodsA single center retrospective cohort study. Seventy-four patients with OAO or RAO diagnosed by ophthalmology examination in Shenzhen Second People's Hospital from June 2004 to December 2020 were included in the study. The baseline information of patients were collected and aCCI was used to score the patients’ comorbidity. The outcome was ischemic stroke. The median duration of follow-up was 1 796.5 days. According to the maximum likelihood ratio of the two-piecewise COX regression model and the recursive algorithm, the aCCI inflection point value was determined to be 6, and the patients were divided into low aCCI group (＜6 points) and high aCCI group (≥6 points). A Cox regression model was used to quantify the association between baseline aCCI and ischemic stroke. ResultsAmong the 74 patients, 53 were males and 21 were females, with the mean age of (55.22±14.18) (19-84) years. There were 9 patients of OAO and 65 patients of RAO. The aCCI value ranges from 1 to 10 points, with a median of 3 points. There were 63 patients (85.14%, 63/74) in the low aCCI group and 11 patients (14.86%, 11/74) in the high aCCI group. Since 2 patients could not determine the time from baseline to the occurrence of outcome events, 72 patients were included for Cox regression analysis. The results showed that 16 patients (22.22%, 16/72) had ischemic stroke in the future. The baseline aCCI in the low aCCI group was significantly associated with ischemic stroke [hazard ratio (HR)=1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-2.56, P=0.003], and for every 1 point increase in baseline aCCI, the risk of future ischemic stroke increased by 76% on average. The baseline aCCI in the high aCCI group had no significant correlation with the ischemic stroke (HR=0.66, 95%CI 0.33-1.33, P=0.247). ConclusionsaCCI score is an important prognostic information for patients with OAO or RAO. A higher baseline aCCI score predicts a higher risk of ischemic stroke, and the association has a saturation effect.
Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the important diseases threatening human health. The occurrence and development of IS can trigger a series of complex pathophysiological changes, including damage to the blood-brain barrier, ion imbalance, oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, which ultimately lead to the apoptosis and necrosis of nerve cells in the ischemic area. Impaired blood-brain barrier is a key factor for cerebral edema, hemorrhagic transformation and poor prognosis in patients with IS, and neuroinflammatory response plays an important role in the damage and repair of the blood-brain barrier. This article mainly focuses on the neuroinflammatory response mediated by glial cells, pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases and the related mechanisms of IS blood-brain barrier damage and repair, in order to provide new directions for the treatment of IS.