Intraluminal Thrombus and Outcomes of Patients With Acute Large Vessel Occlusive Stroke Undergoing Endovascular Treatment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intraluminal thrombus (ILT) is an emerging imaging marker in acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to investigate the association of ILT with outcomes of acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) patients receiving endovascular treatment. METHODS: Acute LVO stroke patients who underwent endovascular treatment within 24 hours, in a prospective, nationwide registry were enrolled. Pretreatment digital subtraction angiography was reviewed for the presence of ILT. The primary outcome was 90-day functional dependence (modified Rankin Scale scores, 3-6). Secondary outcomes included 24-hour LVO, 90-day death, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. RESULTS: Among 711 patients enrolled, 75 (10.5%) with ILT were less likely to have 90-day functional dependence compared with those without ILT (adjusted odds ratio, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.31-0.90]; P=0.021). The same trend was found among those with successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b-3; P=0.008) but not in those without successful reperfusion (P=0.107). Presence of ILT was also independently associated with a lower rate of 24-hour LVO (adjusted odds ratio 0.34 [95% CI, 0.13-0.89]; P=0.028). However, those with or without ILT had similar risks of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 90-day death. CONCLUSIONS: Among acute LVO patients receiving endovascular treatment, pretreatment ILT-positive patients may have a better 90-day functional outcome (versus ILT-negative) but similar risk of death and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. The possibly favorable effect of ILT patients remained in those with successful reperfusion. Registration: URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn; Unique identifier: ChiCTR1900022154.

An online forum exploring needs for help of patients with cancer: gender and ethnic differences.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To explore gender and ethnic differences in needs for help among patients with cancer. RESEARCH APPROACH: Qualitative. SETTING: Internet and community settings. PARTICIPANTS: 16 self-identified patients with cancer aged at least 18 years who could read and write English. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: Using six discussion topics on needs for help, an online forum was administered for one month. Data were analyzed with thematic analysis. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Need for help. FINDINGS: Four major themes emerged: (a) from side effects to racism, (b) same or double stress, (c) cultural hesitance and God, and (d) a family disease with mistrust. Depending on gender and ethnicity, the participants' concerns were various and ranged from a simple physical need to a social need for elimination of racism in United States society. Women tended to report double burden and stress as patients with cancer resulting from their gender. Ethnic minorities tended to be hesitant to talk about cancer or seek help because of the stigmatized nature of cancer. Ethnic minority patients perceived cancer as a family disease that they needed to go through as a family, and they tended to mistrust healthcare providers. CONCLUSIONS: The overriding theme was a marginalized experience for ethnic minority patients with cancer. INTERPRETATION: Researchers should include cultural needs as a separate category of needs and consider contextual factors influencing the needs of patients with cancer in their daily lives.

[Effects of fuel properties on the performance of a typical Euro IV diesel engine].

With the purpose of establishing diesel fuel standard for China National 4th Emission Standard, as one part of Beijing "Auto-Oil" programme, engine performance test has been done on a typical Euro IV diesel engine using eight diesel fuels with different fuel properties. Test results show that, fuel properties has little effect on power, fuel consumption, and in-cylinder combustion process of tested Euro IV diesel engine; sulfate in PM and gaseous SO2 emissions increase linearly with diesel sulfur content increase; cetane number increase cause BSFC and PM reduce and NOx increase; T90 decrease cause NOx reduce while PM shows trend of reduce. Prediction equations of tested Euro IV diesel engine's ESC cycle NOx and PM emissions before SCR response to diesel fuel sulfur content, cetane number, T90 and aromatics have been obtained using linear regression method on the base of test results.