Objectives This study aims to examine the possible association between C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and cognitive impairment in patients with post-stroke epilepsy. Methods Patients with post-stroke epilepsy admitted to Western China Hospital from January 2010 to June 2016 were consecutively enrolled in our study. CRP levels were assessed within one week of stroke onset, and then correlated with cognitive status assessed two years after stroke using the Six-Item Screener. Results Among the 96 patients with post-stroke epilepsy who included in our study, 24 patients were found to have cognitive impairment during the two years follow-up period. Our data showed a significant association between CRP levels and cognitive performance in these patients (31.5±36.2 vs. 11.9±19.4, P=0.029). In addition, this association persisted even after adjusting for potential confounders［OR=1.021, 95%CI (0.997, 1.206), P=0.037］. Conclusions Following ischemic stroke, higher CRP levels is associated with subsequent cognitive decline in patients with epilepsy. Association and prospective studies in larger sample size are needed in order to validate our findings, especially studies in which baseline CRP level and CRP level during follow-up are closely monitored.
Cryptogenic stroke (CS) accounts for 25% of ischemic stroke. The etiology of undetermined stroke is unclear leading to untargeted secondary prevention, high recurrence rate, so the clinical burden of cryptogenic stroke is substantial. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging can identify more occult cardiac embolism that cannot be identified by standard cardiac assessment based on its excellent spatial resolution and contrast, three-dimensional imaging capacity and ability to depict soft tissues, to accelerate the initiation of optimal secondary prevention and improve the prognosis of patients. This review summarizes the application of CMR in the field of CS in recent years. Based on the latest evidence of diagnosis and management strategies, this paper proposes a cardiac diagnostic examination plan for CS patients, thereby improving the secondary prevention strategy of CS patients and improving their quality of life.
Objectives To assess the efficacy and safety of cytidine diphosphate choline for patients with acute stroke. Methods Such databases as PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP Database and Chinese Medical Association Journals were searched from the establishment to September of 2010, and the references of the included literatures were also searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of cytidine diphosphate choline for patients with acute stroke. The data were extracted by two reviewers independently in accordance with the inclusion criteria. The quality of included trials was evaluated according to the Jadad scale standard. RevMan5.0 software was used for data analyses. Results Thirteen RCTs involving 2837 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that, there was no significant difference in the mortality or the rate of dependency at the end of follow-up (OR=0.94, 95%CI 0.66 to 1.36, P=0.75) between the cytidine diphosphate choline group and the placebo group. But the total effective rate of the cytidine diphosphate choline group was higher than that of the placebo group with a significant difference (OR=1.72, 95%CI 1.41 to 2.10, Plt;0.000 01). Five trials reported the incidence of adverse reaction of cytidine diphosphate choline treatment which showed the adverse reaction was mild; no severe adverse events (SAEs) were reported and the clinical application was safe. Conclusion The cytidine diphosphate choline is effective and safe for acute stroke. However, it is invalid to reduce the mortality and the rate of dependency at the end of three months’ follow-up.
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 systematically review the effectiveness and safety of Wuling capsule for patients with depression after stroke. MethodsThe randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about Wuling capsule for treating the patients with post-stroke depression was searched in PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2013), EMbase, CBM, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP from the dates of their establishment to November 2013. Literature screening according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction and methodological quality assessment of the included studies were completed by two reviewers independently. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of eighteen RCTs involving 1 683 patients were finally enrolled. The results of meta-analysis indicated that:a) the Wuling capsule group was more effective in decreasing depression scores than the control group at 4, 8, 12 weeks (4 weeks:SMD=-0.87, 95%CI-1.25 to-0.5, P < 0.000 1; 8 weeks:SMD=-1.22, 95%CI-1.86 to-0.59, P=0.000 2; 12 weeks:SMD=-0.62, 95%CI-1.09 to-0.15, P=0.01). b) The effectiveness rate (92.7%) of the Wuling capsule group was significantly higher than that of the control group (77.2%) at the end of follow-up, with a significant difference (RR=1.20, 95%CI 1.14 to 1.27, P < 0.000 01). c) The two groups were alike in the incidence of palpitation. ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that, Wuling capsule improves the symptoms of stroke-stroke depression with less adverse reaction. However, due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more multicenter high quality RCTs with large sample size are needed to verify the above conclusion.
In 2014, the new concept of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) was first proposed by cryptogenic stroke/ESUS International Working Group. In the past 5 years, related clinical researches of ESUS have been deepened, and the results of many large clinical studies have been published. However, the guiding significance of this new concept to clinical practice is still controversial. By reviewing the background, diagnostic criteria, assessment, common emboli sources, anticoagulant therapy research advances and related limitations of ESUS, and analyzing the possible causes of negative anticoagulant therapy results, we explored the clinical value of this new classification.
ObjectiveTo conduct an objective record of stroke patient’s retinal diseases by retinal photography, and analyze the incidence of various retinal diseases between different subtypes of stroke.MethodsFrom June to October 2007, the consecutive cases of stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University were prospectively registered. Ischemic stroke patients were classified into different subtypes by the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project criteria, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients were classified based on the clinical manifestation and neuroimaging. We collected other clinical data associated with the incidence of stroke. The retinal abnormalities including retinopathy, arteriovenous nicking and arteriolar narrowing were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to investigate the relationship between retinal abnormalities and stroke.ResultsThis study included 199 patients with ischemic stroke and 95 patients with ICH. Among the patients with ischemic stroke, 43 (21.6%) had retinopathy, 52 (26.1%) presented with arteriovenous nicking, and 43 (21.6%) developed arteriolar narrowing. Among the patients with ICH, retinopathy occurred in 23 (24.2%), arteriovenous nicking occurred in 14 (14.7%), and arteriolar narrowing occurred in 25 (26.3%). In multivariate analysis, retinopathy was independently associated with partial anterior circulation infarct (PACI) (P=0.029) and anterior ICH (P=0.041).ConclusionsRetinopathy is independently associated with PACI and anterior ICH. Further community-based study with large sample should be conducted to confirm the predictive value of retinal diseases on the incidence of anterior stroke.
ObjectiveTo explore the risk factors of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in the patients with acute ischemic stroke, in order to provide effective guidance for clinical prevention and treatment.MethodsFrom November 2016 to November 2019, 330 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology of West China Hospital of Sichuan University and the Department of Neurology of the Sixth People’s Hospital of Chengdu were selected as the research object. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. According to whether SAP occurred, they were divided into infected group and non-infected group. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of SAP.ResultsA total of 71 cases of SAP occurred in patients with acute ischemic stroke, accounting for 21.52%. Logistic regression analysis showed that age≥70 years old [odds ratio (OR)=3.677, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.452, 9.311), P=0.006], chronic lung disease [OR=4.985, 95%CI (1.558, 15.952), P=0.007], disturbance of consciousness [OR=7.147, 95%CI (1.617, 31.587), P=0.009], bulbar palsy [OR=5.909, 95%CI (2.668, 13.089), P<0.001], the use of nasal feeding tube [OR=7.427, 95%CI (1.681, 32.812), P=0.008] were independent risk factors for SAP in patients with acute ischemic stroke.ConclusionsAge≥70 years old, chronic lung disease, disturbance of consciousness, bulbar paralysis and use of nasal feeding tube are independent risk factors for SAP. It is necessary to strengthen the management of these risk factors in order to identify high-risk patients with SAP early, and develop intervention strategies for risk factors, so as to improve the prognosis.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the risk factors of acute fatigue in patients with stroke.MethodsPubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect case-control studies, cohort studies and cross-sectional studies on the risk factors of acute fatigue in patients with stroke from inception to April, 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies, then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 14 studies involving 2 658 objects and 13 risk factors were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: female (OR=1.54, 95%CI 1.23 to 1.94, P=0.000 2), rural residence (OR=1.46, 95%CI 1.11 to 1.91, P=0.007), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.54, 95%CI 1.24 to 1.92, P<0.000 1), hyperlipidemia (OR=1.41, 95%CI 1.10 to 1.80, P=0.007), coronary heart disease (OR=1.94, 95%CI 1.30 to 2.89, P=0.001), previous stroke history (OR=1.54, 95%CI 1.07 to 2.23, P<0.000 01), pre-stroke fatigue (OR=4.51, 95%CI 3.33 to 6.09, P<0.000 01), basal ganglia stroke (OR=2.76, 95%CI 1.21 to 6.29, P<0.000 01), NIHSS >3 (OR=2.11, 95%CI 1.59 to 2.79, P<0.000 01), admission glucose level (OR=1.08, 95%CI 0.38 to 1.78, P=0.003), post-stroke sleep disorder (OR=2.40, 95%CI 1.87 to 3.07, P<0.000 01), post-stroke pain (OR=2.32, 95%CI 1.56 to 3.45, P<0.000 1) and post-stroke depression (OR=3.31, 95%CI 1.94 to 5.66, P<0.000 1) were risk factors of acute fatigue in patients with stroke.ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that female, rural residence, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, previous stroke history, pre-stroke fatigue, basal ganglia stroke, NIHSS>3, admission glucose level, post-stroke sleep disorder, post-stroke pain and post-stroke depression are the risk factors of acute fatigue in patients with stroke. Medical staff should strengthen targeted preventive care for high-risk patients with related risk factors in order to reduce the incidence of post-stroke fatigue and improve the clinical prognosis outcome of patients.
Objective To explore the efficacy of endovascular therapy in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods The acute ischemic stroke patients who received endovascular therapy between January 2020 and January 2023 were retrospectively enrolled. According to age, patients were divided into the elderly group (≥ 80 years old) and other age groups (<80 years old). The baseline data, green channel data, nerve function deficit, recanalization and complication information were collected, and the patients were followed up. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to evaluate patients prognosis at 3 months after onset. Score less than or equal to 2 points was defined as good prognosis and over 2 points was defined as poor prognosis. Results A total of 138 patients were included, and 7 patients were lost to follow-up. Finally, 131 patients were included. Among them, there were 50 cases in the elderly group and 81 cases in the other age group. There were statistically significant differences in age, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and vascular recanalization between the elderly group and the other age group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the other baseline data, complications, 3-month prognosis, or mortality between the two groups (P>0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score at admission [odds ratio (OR)=1.150, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.033, 1.281), P=0.011], pulmonary infection [OR=2.933, 95%CI (1.109, 7.758), P=0.030], and hypoproteinemia [OR=3.716, 95%CI (1.226, 11.264), P=0.020] affected the mRS score at 3 months after onset. Conclusions Among the patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular therapy, there is no difference in the occurrence of complications or short-term prognosis between elderly patients and other age patients. However, the attention should still be paid to reducing the occurrence of complications in patients, strengthening their nutritional support, and thereby improving their prognosis.