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OBJECTIVE: To explore the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with acute posterior circulation large vessel occlusion cerebral infarction (PCO) after mechanical thrombectomy. METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted on a total of 58 patients who received thrombectomy and presented within 24 h of onset with PCO from 31 September 2020 to 31 December 2022. They were divided into two groups based on a 90-day mRS score(The mRS score of 0-3 was defined as a good prognosis, and 4-6 was defined as a poor prognosis).A univariate analysis was conducted on baseline data such as age and patient past medical history, as well as extended cerebral infarction thrombolysis grade (eTICI grade) and incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) after surgery, for the groups with good prognosis and poor prognosis. Factors affecting the 90-day prognosis of patients were also analyzed in subgroups. RESULTS: The preoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS score)[21(12-35) vs 35(35-35)], postoperative 24-h NIHSS score[13(8-22) vs 35(35-35)], computed tomography (CT)[9(9-10) vs 6.5(6-7.75)] and computed tomography (CTP) brain blood volume (CBV)[9(8-10) vs 4(2-7.75)], cerebral blood flow (CBF)[7(4.5-9) vs 2(1-4)], time to peak (Tmax) [1(0.5-4) vs 0(0-1.75)] imaging of the posterior circulation Alberta stroke project early CT score (pc-ASPECTS score), Different locations of vascular occlusion, time from femoral artery puncture to vascular recanalization(64.96 ± 33.47 vs 92.68 ± 53.17). The differences in the conversion rate of postoperative intracranial hemorrhage(0 vs 16.1%) and the incidence of sICH(0 vs 12.9%) were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The subgroup analysis showed that vascular occlusion site, preoperative CBV pc-ASPECTS scores, and postoperative sICH occurrence were related to the 90-day prognosis of patients, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Some factors that can affect the prognosis of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute posterior circulation large vessel occlusion cerebral infarction. Preoperative clinical symptoms and imaging evaluation have certain evaluation values for prognosis.

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PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the correlation between fibrinogen levels and functional outcomes at 90 days after intravenous thrombolysis therapy (IVT) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: We identified patients with AIS who received IVT (alteplase 0.6 or 0.9 mg/kg) between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2022 in Yancheng 1st People's Hospital. Fibrinogen levels were measured before IVT, and the 90-day post-stroke functional outcome was evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). An mRS score of 0-2 indicated functional independence, whereas an mRS score of 3-6 indicated functional dependence. Potential outcome predictors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the performance of fibrinogen levels in predicting the 90-day outcome. RESULTS: A total of 276 patients with AIS who received IVT within 4.5 h of stroke onset were enrolled, of whom 165 and 111 were categorised into the functional independence and functional dependence groups, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the fibrinogen, homocysteine, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and D-dimer levels; age; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission; NIHSS score 24 h after IVT; and incidence of cardioembolism were higher in the functional dependence group than in the functional independence group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the thrombin time and the incidence of small-vessel occlusion in the functional dependence group were smaller than those in the functional independence group (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that fibrinogen and homocysteine levels were both independent risk factors for 90-day functional dependence in patients with AIS (odds ratio [OR] 2.822, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.214-6.558, P = 0.016 for fibrinogen; OR 1.048, 95 %CI: 1.002-1.096, P = 0.041 for homocysteine). The area under the ROC curve of fibrinogen levels before IVT for predicting poor functional outcomes was 0.664, with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 40.9%, 80.8%, 68.9%, and 64.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with AIS, fibrinogen levels have a certain predictive value for short-term functional outcomes after IVT.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The influence of cerebral large artery stenosis (CLAS) on ischemic leukoaraiosis (LA) remains elusive. Based on the proposed stages of the preinfarction period, this study aimed to adopt the staging system to assess the correlation between ischemic LA and CLAS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with unilateral CLAS ≥50% and without cerebral stroke were screened. The severity and distribution of stenosis were evaluated on computed tomography angiography images. The degree of regional cerebral perfusion was rated according to the stages of preinfarction period: 0=normal, 1=stage Ia, 2=stage Ib, 3=stage IIa, 4=stage IIb. Stage I included stage Ia and stage Ib. Stage II included stage IIa and stage IIb. LA was scored with Fazakas scale on T2-weighted image and/or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 212 patients (mean age, 66.89±11.39 y), including 145 (68.40%) males. CLAS severity and distribution did not differ between patients with and without LA (P>0.05). Normal, stage I, and stage II had significantly different incidences of LA and hemispheric LA scores in the left and right hemispheres (P<0.05). The degree of regional cerebral perfusion was independently associated with LA in the left (P=0.0094) and right hemispheres (P=0.0091). CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic LA is not directly related to CLAS but is independently associated with the degree of CLAS-induced cerebral hypoperfusion. The stages of the preinfarction period are helpful in identifying people at high risk of LA progression.

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BACKGROUND: A carotid web (CW), an atypical fibromuscular dysplasia, is rare and may cause ischemic stroke. It is challenging to recognize a CW promptly and treat it accordingly. We report a case of an initially misdiagnosed CW. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 48-year-old man with recurrent cerebral infarction was transferred to our hospital for bypass surgery. Imaging performed at our facility showed multiple old infarct lesions and cerebral tissue hypoperfusion in the occluded left middle cerebral artery territory. Bypass surgery was performed without perioperative complications. While searching for the cause of his stroke, we found a thin intraluminal filling defect along the posterior wall of the left carotid bulb just beyond the carotid bifurcation on sagittal maximal intensity projection images, axial thin-cut images, and volume rendering images. The defect was diagnosed as a CW. It was also detected on follow-up ultrasonography. Owing to our initial unawareness, we did not photograph the carotid bulb during preoperative digital subtraction angiography and postoperative computed tomography angiography. Although the patient was treated with bypass, the persistence of the factors underlying the CW may induce further thrombosis and subsequent occlusion of his ipsilateral anterior cerebral artery. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware of CW as a potential cause of ischemic stroke. Head and neck computed tomography angiography is a reliable imaging method to detect CWs.

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The present study was conducted to clarify whether treatment with L-serine can improve the brain repair and neurorestoration of rats after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). After pMCAO, the neurological functions, brain lesion volume, and cortical injury were determined. GDNF, NGF, NCAM L1, tenascin-C, and Nogo-A levels were measured. Proliferation and differentiation of the neural stem cells (NSCs) and proliferation of the microvessels in the ischemic boundary zone of the cortex were evaluated. Treatment with L-serine (168 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) began 3 h after pMCAO and was repeated every 12 h for 7 days or until the end of the experiment. L-Serine treatment: 1) reduced the lesion volume and neuronal loss; 2) improved the recovery of neurological functions; 3) elevated the expression of nerve growth-related factors; and 4) facilitated the proliferation of endogenous NSCs and microvessels activated after pMCAO and increased the number of new-born neurons. 5) D-cycloserine, an inhibitor of serine hydroxymethyltransferase, blunted the effects of L-serine on NSC proliferation, differentiation, microvascular proliferation. In conclusions, L-serine treatment in pMCAO rats can reduce brain injury and facilitate neurorestoration which is partly associated with the improvement of proliferation of NSCs and microvessels, reconstruction of neurovascular units and resultant neurorepair. The effects of L-serine on endogenous NSC proliferation and microvascular proliferation are partly mediated by the action of L-serine as a substrate for the production of one-carbon groups used for purine and pyrimidine synthesis and modulation of the expression of some nerve growth-related factors.

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To investigate the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of L-serine, permanent focal cerebral ischemia was induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery while monitoring cerebral blood flow (CBF). Rats were divided into control and L-serine-treated groups after middle cerebral artery occlusion. The neurological deficit score and brain infarct volume were assessed. Nissl staining was used to quantify the cortical injury. L-serine and D-serine levels in the ischemic cortex were analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography. We found that L-serine treatment: 1) reduced the neurological deficit score, infarct volume and cortical neuron loss in a dose-dependent manner; 2) improved CBF in the cortex, and this effect was inhibited in the presence of apamin plus charybdotoxin while the alleviation of both neurological deficit score and infarct volume was blocked; and 3) increased the amount of L-serine and D-serine in the cortex, and inhibition of the conversion of L-serine into D-serine by aminooxyacetic acid did not affect the reduction of neurological deficit score and infarct volume by L-serine. In conclusion, improvement in regional CBF by L-serine may contribute to its neuroprotective effect on the ischemic brain, potentially through vasodilation which is mediated by the small- and intermediate-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels on the cerebral blood vessel endothelium.

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