A Long-Term Outcome of Symptomatic Middle Cerebral Artery Undergoing Intracranial Angioplasty or Stenting.

OBJECTIVE: For symptomatic stenosis in the middle cerebral artery (MCA), intracranial angioplasty and stenting are frequently employed. However, limited data exist regarding their long-term impact. Our study demonstrates the long-term advantages in preventing ischemic events through a 5-year follow-up period. METHODS: A set of 41 individuals with symptomatic stenosis in the MCA who underwent angioplasty or stenting procedures between October 2004 and April 2018 at various hospitals in Southwest China were prospectively enrolled in the study. The rates of successful revascularization, complications, imaging observations, and clinical outcomes were systematically assessed. RESULTS: A total of 41 individuals successfully underwent stenting, respectively. After stenting, the extent of stenosis was decreased from 71.8% (56-87.8%) to 24.9% (0-45%). The mean follow-up period is 36.9 ± 13.68 months (range, 11-67 months). There was no deterioration of neurological function or a new ischemic event. A DSA or CT angiography was conducted after the procedure and demonstrated no in-stent restenosis. No patient experienced restenosis below 50% during the mean follow-up period. The morbidity and mortality rates of the case series were 7.3% and 2.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of symptomatic MCA atherosclerotic stenoses, intracranial angioplasty and stenting are demonstrated to be technically feasible and safe. Its early and long-term efficacy on ischemic event prevention is acceptable, with a reduced level of restenosis, although the representative sample is tiny.

The relationship between the frequency of headaches associated with the personal protective equipment and its influencing factors is mediated by depression: A cross-sectional study.

Background: To evaluate the factors affecting personal protective equipment (PPE) associated with headaches in healthcare workers during the first hit of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China in order to provide evidence for improving the prevention and treatment of PPE-associated headaches in frontline medical personnel. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the baseline characteristics and the prevalence of the PPE-associated headaches among frontline healthcare workers at Wuhan Taikang Hospital were objectively evaluated by means of a questionnaire survey. We obtained predictors of PPE-associated headaches frequency by multiple regression analyses. The path analysis model was applied to determine the interrelationships between the variables related to PPE-associated headaches frequency. Results: Among the 520 participants, 436 (83.85 %) reported PPE-associated headaches during the anti-epidemic period. Compare with non-PPE-associated headache, age, PHQ-9 score >10, nurses, and PSQI>5were statistically significant found in participants with PPE-associated headaches. Multivariable linear regression showed that the occupation(nurse), pre-existing primary headache diagnosis, headache intensity and depression were risk factors for the frequency of PPE-associated headaches. The path analysis model observed that direct effects from occupation (nurse), pre-existing primary headache diagnosis, headache intensity and depression on the frequency of PPE-associated headaches. Depression indirectly mediated the effects of headache intensity and sleep quality on headache frequency. (All P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study provided a path analysis model that illustrates the relationships between PPE-associated headaches frequency and its related factors among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is crucial to the management of PPE-associated headaches to reduce its consequences for frontline healthcare workers.