Prevalence and Procedural Risk of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis Coexisting With Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: Coexistence of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) and unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) is increasingly encountered in clinical practice. This study aims to determine the prevalence of ICAS in patients with UIAs and procedural ischemic risk associated with ICAS when treating UIAs. METHODS: Based on the CAIASA study (Coexistence of Atherosclerotic Intracranial Arterial Stenosis With Intracranial Aneurysms), we prospectively included patients undergoing treatment procedures for UIAs from October 2015 to December 2020 at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, China. We used computed tomography angiography or digital subtraction angiography to diagnose ICAS (stenosis≥50%). Multivariable logistic regression and propensity-score matching were performed to evaluate the risk of procedure-related ischemic stroke and unfavorable outcome associated with ICAS. The ICAS score was used to explore the association between different burden of ICAS and procedure-related ischemic risk. RESULTS: Among 3949 patients who underwent endovascular or open surgical procedures for UIAs, 245 (6.2%) had ICAS. After exclusion, 15.7% (32/204) of patients with ICAS experienced procedure-related ischemic stroke compared with 5.0% (141/2825) of patients without ICAS. From the unmatched and matched cohort, ICAS was significantly associated with increased risk of procedure-related ischemic stroke (unmatched: adjusted odds ratio=3.11 [1.89-5.11]; and matched: adjusted odds ratio=2.99 [1.38-6.48]). This association became more evident among patients not receiving antiplatelet therapy (Pinteraction=0.022). For patients undergoing different treatment modalities, similar increased risks were observed (clipping: adjusted odds ratio=3.43 [1.73-6.79]; and coiling: adjusted odds ratio=3.59 [1.94-6.65]). Higher ICAS score was correlated with higher procedural ischemic risk (Ptrend<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of ICAS is not infrequent in patients with UIAs. ICAS confers an ~2-fold increased procedural ischemic risk, irrespective of clipping or coiling. Previous antiplatelet therapy may decrease the risk. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT02795078.

The prognostic nutrition index is a predictor for long-term outcomes after revascularization in adult moyamoya disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The prognostic nutrition index (PNI) has been associated with the prognosis of various medical disorders. This study aimed to explore the correlation between PNI and the long-term outcomes of adult patients afflicted with moyamoya disease (MMD). METHODS: This prospective study initially employed 138 adult patients diagnosed with MMD. After excluding 15 patients who did not meet the criteria, a total of 123 patients were included. Participants were divided into three groups based on the tertile of change in the PNI score. Statistical analysis compared clinical information and lab tests among the groups. The study was conducted between July 1 and December 31, 2019. RESULTS: After adjusting for multiple variables, patients in the upper two tertiles (tertiles 2-3) exhibited a significantly lower risk of adverse long-term outcomes compared to those in the lowest tertile (tertile 1) (OR, 0.089; 95% CI, 0.009-0.895; P = 0.040). Furthermore, adding PNI tertile to traditional risk factors substantially improved predicting adverse long-term outcomes (net reclassification improvement: 98.03%, P = 0.000; integrated discrimination improvement: 4.65%, P = 0.030). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the first PNI tertile (tertile 1) and the upper two tertiles (tertiles 2-3) in the Kaplan-Meier curve of stroke incidence (log-rank test, P = 0.244). CONCLUSIONS: A higher PNI level was significantly associated with a reduced risk of unfavorable long-term outcomes. Nevertheless, the PNI score did not predict stroke recurrence during extended follow-up. This study provides insights into a potential predictor of adverse long-term outcomes after revascularization in MMD patients. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2000031412.

Assessment of blood supply of the external carotid artery in moyamoya disease using super-selective pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling technique.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of super-selective pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (ss-pCASL) at depicting external carotid artery (ECA) perfusion territory in moyamoya disease (MMD). METHODS: In total, 103 patients with MMD who underwent both ss-pCASL and digital subtraction angiography (DSA, the reference standard) were included. There were 3, 184, and 19 normal, preoperative, and postoperative MMD hemispheres, respectively. The ss-pCASL results were interpreted by two different visual inspection criteria: presence or absence and definite or indefinite ECA perfusion territory. The performance of ss-pCASL at depiction of ECA perfusion territory was compared to that of DSA. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were calculated. The κ statistic was used to assess intermodality and inter-reader agreement. RESULTS: When interpreted as presence or absence, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of ss-pCASL for depicting ECA perfusion territory were 78.3 %, 79.6 %, 92.5 %, 53.4 %, and 78.6 %, respectively, and the intermodality and inter-reader agreement were κ = 0.49 (CI: 0.43 - 0.55, p < 0.01) and 0.71 (CI: 0.66 - 0.76, p < 0.01), respectively. When interpreted as definite or indefinite, the respective values were 61.1%, 100%, 100%, 44.5%, 70.4%, κ = 0.42 (CI: 0.37 - 0.47, p < 0.01), and 0.90 (CI: 0.87 - 0.93, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: ss-pCASL has substantial sensitivity and specificity compared with DSA for depicting the presence versus absence of ECA perfusion territory in MMD. As a noninvasive method in which no ion radiation or contrast medium is needed, ss-pCASL may potentially reduce the need for repeated DSA examination. KEY POINTS: • Super-selective pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (ss-pCASL) is a noninvasive vessel-selective MR technique to demonstrate perfusion territory of a single cerebral artery. • Compared with digital subtraction angiography, ss-pCASL has substantial sensitivity and specificity for depicting the perfusion territory of the external carotid artery in brain parenchyma in moyamoya disease. • ss-pCASL may potentially reduce the need for repeated DSA examination.

Treatment and prognostic factors of pituicytoma: a single-center experience and comprehensive literature review.

PURPOSE: Preoperative diagnosis of pituicytomas is difficult, and management and prognostic factors remain ambiguous. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the radiological characteristics of pituicytoma, to assess the risk factors affecting tumor progression, and to propose the optimal treatment regimen based on comprehensive analysis. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data of 22 patients with pituicytoma confirmed pathologically in our institution. In addition, 93 cases of pituicytoma in the previous literature were recruited. The individual data of 115 patients were analyzed to evaluate the adverse factors affecting pituicytoma progression. RESULTS: In the combined cohort, 3 of 61 patients who underwent gross-total resection (GTR) developed recurrence (4.9%); of the 54 patients who received non-GTR, 19 progressed (35.2%). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis verified male gender (HR 2.855, 95% CI 1.008-8.089; p = 0.048), TS (transsphenoidal surgery; HR 3.559, 95% CI 1.015-12.476; p = 0.047), and non-GTR (HR 4.388, 95%CI 1.240-15.521; p = 0.022) were independent unfavorable factors for pituicytoma progression. A multivariate logistic regression model verified that tumor diameter ≥ 1.85 cm (OR 4.859, 95% CI 1.335-17.691; p = 0.016) was independent adverse factors for GTR. Compared with TS, OT (open transcranial) is more likely to have postoperative complications (OR 3.185, 95% CI 1.020-9.944; p = 0.046), especially vision deterioration (OR 37.267, 95% CI 4.486-309.595; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, GTR was advocated as an optimal treatment for pituicytomas. However, in order to avoid damage to important structures, partial resection is acceptable. After that, adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended for male patients with high Ki-67 index, and the remaining patients can be followed up closely. When the tumor recurs or progresses, it is recommended to re-operate and remove the lesion completely as far as possible. If GTR is still not possible, postoperative radiotherapy for the residual tumor is recommended.

Modifiable Risk Factors Associated With Moyamoya Disease: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The cause of moyamoya disease (MMD) remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the association between modifiable risk factors and MMD in a prospective, case-control study. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory characteristics were evaluated in consecutively recruited adult patients with MMD and age-matched healthy control individuals. The potential risk factors for MMD were estimated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Our prospective study included 138 adult patients and 138 healthy control subjects. Logistic regression analyses showed that increased body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 1.121 [95% CI, 1.018-1.234]; P=0.020) and homocysteine (OR, 1.201 [95% CI, 1.081-1.334]; P=0.001) were associated with higher risk of MMD. Whereas increased albumin (OR, 1.043 [95% CI, 1.004-1.082]; P=0.028) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 1.043 [95% CI, 1.004-1.082]; P=0.028) were correlated with a lower risk of MMD. Furthermore, homocysteine (OR, 1.070 [95% CI, 1.010-1.134]; P=0.023) was significantly related to unilateral lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Increased body mass index and homocysteine were associated with a higher risk of MMD. In contrast, increased albumin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were correlated with a lower risk of MMD. Furthermore, increased homocysteine was related to a higher prevalence of unilateral MMD. More attention should be paid to the modifiable risk factors of MMD, as these might help us finding its cause and new therapeutic regimen. Registration: URL: http://www.chictr.org. Unique identifier: ChiCTR2000031412.

Different subtypes of collateral vessels in hemorrhagic moyamoya disease with p.R4810K variant.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the hemorrhgic sites and collateral vessels in hemorrhagic MMD with the p.R4810K variant. METHODS: Hemorrhage sites were classified as either anterior or posterior. Collateral vessels were classified into three subtypes according to origin: lenticulostriate anastomosis, thalamic anastomosis, and choroidal anastomosis. Hemorrhage sites and collateral vessels were compared between patients with wild-type p.R4810K variant (GG) and patients with heterozygous p.R4810K variant (GA) after 1:1 propensity score matching. RESULTS: A total of 130 hemorrhagic MMD patients were included in present study, 21 pairs (42 hemorrhagic hemispheres) were obtained after 1:1 propensity score. In GA group, 16 hemispheres (76.2%) presented anterior hemorrhage, and 5 hemispheres (23.8%) presented with posterior hemorrhage. In GG group, 13 hemispheres (61.9%) presented anterior hemorrhage, and 8 hemispheres (38.1%) presented with posterior hemorrhage. No significant differences were found in hemorrhagic sites between two matched groups (P > 0.05). Of 21 hemispheres in GA group, 10 (47.6%) exhibited lenticulostriate anastomosis, 6 (28.6%) thalamic anastomosis, and 6 (28.6%) choroidal anastomosis. Of 21 hemispheres in GG group, 3 (14.3%) exhibited lenticulostriate anastomosis, 5 (23.8%) thalamic anastomosis, and 9 (42.9%) choroidal anastomosis. There was significant difference in lenticulostriate anastomosis between two matched groups (P = 0.045). After adjustment the age, sex, and PCA involvement, we found that lenticulostriate anastomosis was associated with p.R4810K variant (OR, 5.995; 95% CI, 1.296-27.737; P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Lenticulostriate anastomosis might be associated with p.R4810K variant. Whereas hemorrhagic sites, thalamic anastomosis, and choroidal anastomosis might not be associted withp.R4810K variant.

Postoperative collateral formation after indirect bypass for hemorrhagic moyamoya disease.

BACKGROUND: The research on postoperative collateral formation for hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (MMD) evaluated by using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is limited. Our study objective was to investigate the postoperative collateral formation after indirect bypass for hemorrhagic MMD. METHODS: All consecutive inpatients with hemorrhagic MMD who received indirect bypass at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2010 through December 2018 were screened. The site of the hemorrhage was classified as either anterior or posterior. Postoperative collateral formation was evaluated on lateral views using the Matsushima scale. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the factors influencing postoperative collateral formation. RESULTS: Six-four patients (64 hemispheres) were included in this study. After a median 8.5 months DSA follow-up, 14 (21.9%) hemispheres had grade A collateral circulation, 13 (20.3%) had grade B, and 37 (57.8%) had grade C. Twenty-seven (42.2%) hemispheres had good postoperative collateral formation and 37 (57.8%) had poor postoperative collateral formation. The univariate logistic regression analyses showed that age at operation (OR, 0.954; 95% CI, 0.908-1.003; p = 0.066), hemorrhagic site (OR, 4.694; 95% CI, 1.582-13.923; p = 0.005), and PCA involvement (OR, 3.474; 95% CI, 0.922-13.086; p = 0.066) may effect postoperative collateral formation. The multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that only anterior hemorrhage (OR, 5.222; 95% CI, 1.605-16.987; p = 0.006) was significantly related to good postoperative collateral formation. CONCLUSION: Anterior hemorrhage was significantly related to good postoperative collateral formation after indirect bypass.

High variance of intraoperative blood pressure predicts early cerebral infarction after revascularization surgery in patients with Moyamoya disease.

Few studies focused on the intraoperative blood pressure in Moyamoya disease (MMD) patients. We aimed to clarify whether or not it relates to early cerebral infarction after revascularization. We reviewed a retrospective cohort of Moyamoya disease from 2011 to 2018 in Beijing Tiantan Hospital, and patients with radiologically confirmed early postoperative infarction were included in the analysis. Controls were matched based on age, sex, and revascularization modality at a ratio of 1:5. Perioperative clinical factors and intraoperative blood pressure data were collected and analyzed. A total of 52 patients out of 1497 revascularization surgeries (3.5%) who experienced CT or MRI confirmed early postoperatively cerebral infarction, aged 38.46 ± 11.70; 26 were male (50.0%). Average real variability (ARV)-systolic blood pressure (SBP) (OR 3.29, p = 0.003), ARV-diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (OR 4.10, p = 0.005), ARV-mean arterial pressure (MAP) (OR 4.08, p = 0.004), and the maximum drops of DBP (OR 1.08, p = 0.003) and MAP (OR 1.06, p = 0.004) were associated with early postoperative infarction. In patients who experienced massive cerebral infarction, the maximum drops of DBP (OR 1.11, p = 0.004) and MAP (OR 1.11, p = 0.003) are independent risk factors, whereas ARVs of SBP (OR 3.90, p < 0.001), DBP (OR 4.69, p = 0.008), and MAP (OR 4.72, p = 0.003) are significantly associated with regional infarction. High variance of intraoperative blood pressure and drastic blood pressure decline are independent risk factors for postoperative infarction in MMD patients who underwent revascularization surgery. Maintaining stable intraoperative blood pressure is suggested to prevent early postoperative cerebral infarction in MMD patients.

Combined STA-MCA Bypass and Encephalodurosynangiosis Versus Encephalodurosynangiosis Alone in Adult Hemorrhagic Moyamoya Disease: A 5 -Year Outcome Study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare the 5-year prognosis of combined superficial temporal artery- middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass and Encephalodurosynangiosis (EDAS) and EDAS alone in hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (MMD). METHODS: This study included 123 adult patients admitted to Beijing Tiantan Hospital with hemorrhagic MMD between 2010 and 2015. The surgical procedures included combined revascularization of STA-MCA anastomosis with EDAS (n = 79) or EDAS alone (n = 44). We recorded basic demographic data as well as several risks factors, and used multivariate regression analysis to evaluate the predictive factor of overall survival and rebleeding-free survival. RESULTS: Of the 123 patients with hemorrhagic MMD, the mean age was 37.97 ± 11.04 years old and the mean follow-up period was 65.9 months (ranging from 12 to 100 months). A total of 21 rebleeding events occurred in 19 patients, yielding an annual incidence of rebleeding of 3.1%. Of the 19 patients with rebleeding, 11 (57.8%) patients died of rebleeding and one patient experience 3 rebleeding events. In the combined revascularization group, 9 (11.3%) patients experienced rebleeding, of which 5 (6.3%) died. This incidence was lower than in the indirect group, where 22.7% of patients experienced rebleeding events and 13.6% died. However, no significant difference was found between these 2 groups. In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the combined revascularization group had a better prognosis than the EDAS alone group, and multivariate regression analysis revealed that the combined revascularization procedure was associated with a better outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Both combined revascularization and EDAS alone can reduce the risk of rebleeding in hemorrhagic MMD. Combined revascularization was found to be superior to EDAS alone in terms of preventing rebleeding events.

Natural Course of Moyamoya Disease in Patients With Prior Hemorrhagic Stroke.

Background and Purpose- Evidence on the natural history of hemorrhagic moyamoya disease is still insufficient. We investigated the incidence of recurrent intracranial bleeding, mortality, and risk factors for rebleeding in patients with moyamoya disease. Methods- A total of 128 conservatively managed patients with hemorrhagic presentation and complete follow-up data were included. Recurrent hemorrhages during long-term follow-up were documented. Annual and cumulative incidence rate of bleeding was generated via Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and risk factors were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results- The median follow-up time was 10.1 (1-27) years. During a total of 1300.7 patient-years, 47 (36.7%) patients experienced 59 occurrences of recurrent hemorrhages, rendering an average annual incidence of 4.5%. Among them, 9 patients (19.1%) died from rebleeding and 12 patients sustained severe disability (modified Rankin Scale score of ≥3). The cumulative risk of rebleeding was 7.8% at 5 years, 22.6% at 10 years, and 35.9% at 15 years. Only 4 (3.1%) patients experienced ischemic stroke, yielding an average annual incidence of 0.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that smoking (odds ratio, 4.85; P=0.04) was an independent risk factor of rebleeding. Rebleeding (hazard ratio, 11.04; P=0.02) and hypertension (hazard ratio, 4.16; P=0.04) were associated with increased mortality. Age, type of initial bleeding, digital subtraction angiography staging, family history, and coexisting cerebral aneurysms were not associated with increased risk of rebleeding. Conclusions- Rebleeding events were common and the main cause of death in patients with hemorrhagic moyamoya disease. The risk of rebleeding steadily increased during long-term follow-up. Smoking was a risk factor for rebleeding, and hypertension was associated with increased mortality.

Association between p.R4810K Variant and Postoperative Collateral Formation in Patients with Moyamoya Disease.

OBJECT: To investigate the association between p.R4810K variant and postoperative collateral formation (PCF) in patients with moyamoya disease. METHODS: The p.R4810K variant was detected in 254 Chinese moyamoya patients. Surgically treated 273 hemispheres with preoperative and postoperative digital subtraction angiography were included. PCF was evaluated on lateral and anteroposterior views using angiography. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the influence factors for PCF. RESULTS: Among 254 patients, 191 (75.2%) patients carried wild-type p.R4810K variant (GG) and 63 patients (24.8%) carried the heterozygous p.R4810K variant (GA). PCF was better in patients with GA than in patients with GG both on lateral views and anteroposterior views (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Over the median 7 months follow-up after discharge, good PCF was observed in 201 hemispheres (73.6%), and poor PCF was observed in 72 hemispheres (26.4%). The univariable logistic regression showed that patients with GA (OR 4.681; 95% CI 1.925-11.383; p = 0.001) was associated with good PCF. On the other hand, the increasing age (OR 0.971; 95% CI 0.952-0.989; p = 0.002) and the presence of hemorrhage (OR 0.189; 95% CI 0.096-0.374; p = 0.000) were associated with poor PCF. Multivariate logistic regression analyses of p.R4810K variant and clinical variables showed that GA (OR 3.671; 95% CI 1.452-9.283; p = 0.006) was associated with a good PCF, while the presence of hemorrhage (OR 0.258; 95% CI 0.065-0.362; p = 0.000) was identified as a predictor of poor PCF. CONCLUSIONS: The heterozygous p.R4810K variant was associated with better PCF.

A Novel Staging System to Evaluate Cerebral Hypoperfusion in Patients With Moyamoya Disease.

Background and Purpose- The study goal was to evaluate cerebral perfusion in moyamoya patients with a novel staging system and investigate the association between differences of perfusion status and clinical outcomes in patients treated with revascularization. Methods- About 506 consecutive patients from 2009 to 2015 were enrolled. The perfusion status was evaluated by a staging system-the stage of preinfarction period based on the result of computed tomography perfusion. Hemisphere in different perfusion stage was compared between hemorrhagic patients (n=155) and ischemic patients (n=351). The modified Rankin Scale was applied to evaluate the prognosis of patients. Results- In the enrolled 506 patients: 229 hemispheres (22.6%) with normal perfusion, 72 hemispheres (7.1%) in stage I, 205 hemispheres (20.3%) in stage II, 308 hemispheres (30.4%) in stage III, and 198 hemispheres (19.6%) in stage IV. Significant difference was observed in stage distribution between hemorrhagic patients and ischemic patients ( P<0.01). The ratio of hemispheres with normal perfusion in hemorrhagic group is more than the ischemic group ( P<0.05; odds ratio, 1.440; 95% CI, 1.144-1.811). The ratio of hemispheres in stage III in ischemic group is more than the hemorrhagic group ( P<0.01; odds ratio, 0.618, 95% CI, 0.487-0.783). In the prognosis-related analysis, the stage I group has the highest improved ratio (73.9%) and the normal perfusion group has the lowest improved ratio (33.3%). The improved ratio has a decreasing tendency from stage I to stage IV. Conclusions- The novel preinfarction staging system is a valuable assessment tool to evaluate cerebral perfusion status in moyamoya patients and predict the efficacy of revascularization. Ischemic patients suffer more from hypoperfusion. Patients in stage I and stage II are more likely to obtain improvement after revascularization. This is a retrospective study.

Risk Factors for Epilepsy Recurrence after Revascularization in Pediatric Patients with Moyamoya Disease.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the risk factors of seizure recurrence and the optimal surgical procedure for epileptic pediatric patients with moyamoya disease (MMD). METHODS: We reviewed 696 consecutive patients with MMD admitted to our hospital from 2009 to 2015. Pediatric patients with MMD who had seizures before revascularization were identified. We summarized the characteristics of seizures in pediatric patients with MMD and analyzed the predictive factors of recurrent seizure events. RESULTS: We identified 28 pediatric patients with MMD who had seizures before revascularization. During follow-up (median 42 months), 7 patients (25.0%) experienced recurrent seizures. In the multivariate analysis, the duration of epilepsy was an independent predictor for postoperative seizure recurrences (odds ratio 3.84, 95% confidence interval 1.54-24.34; P = .035). The 2 common surgical modalities of MMD (direct and indirect bypass) had no significant difference in future seizure prevention in pediatric patients with MMD with epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: We identified the duration of epilepsy as an independent risk factor for recurrent seizure after revascularization in pediatric patients with MMD.

Association of Ring Finger Protein 213 Gene P.R4810k Polymorphism with Intracranial Major Artery Stenosis/Occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial major artery stenosis/occlusion (ICASO) is a common cause of ischemic stroke worldwide. A number of studies have assessed the association of the p.R4810K polymorphism in the ring finger protein 213 (RNF213) gene with ICASO, but the results have not been entirely consistent. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study to estimate the association between the p.R4810K polymorphism and the risk of ICASO in a Chinese population. A total of 124 patients and 230 controls were enrolled. Moreover, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate this association in the East Asian populations. RESULTS: In our case-control study, the frequencies of the G/A genotype of p.R4810K were significantly higher in the ICASO patients than in the control group (4.03% versus .43%, P = .021, respectively). Moreover, in the meta-analysis, we assessed 7 case-control studies that included 1239 patients and 1377 controls. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) indicated significant association between the p.R4810K polymorphism and the ICASO risk in the dominant model (OR = 9.37, 95% confidence interval: 4.61-19.02, P = .000), the heterozygote comparison (OR = 8.97, 95% CI: 4.41-18.25, P = .000), and the allele comparison (OR = 9.50, 95% confidence interval: 4.71-19.19, P = .000) in the East Asian populations. Subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed that the risks in the Japanese and the Korean populations were higher than that in the Chinese population. CONCLUSIONS: The p.R4810K polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of ICASO in the East Asian populations. Further studies on the function of the RNF213 protein and the clinical features of this subtype of ICASO are needed.

[The clinical application of retractorless surgical technique in neurosurgical operation].

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of patients treated by retractorless surgery and explore the clinical feasibility and practical application of this strategy. METHODS: A total of 194 patients undergone retractorless surgery in Beijing Tiantan Hospital from Nov 2013 to Oct 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Complications related to microsurgical approaches, disease types, neurological function score and intraoperative compression or stretching were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 194 cases, there were 127 (65%) patients with cerebrovascular diseases and 67 (35%) patients with intracranial tumors. Sixty patients had anterior circulation aneurysms, of them, 21 aneurysms were accessed through frontal-lateral approaches and 39 reached via pterional approaches. Two patients with posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms were treated by far-lateral approaches. Fifteen patients with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors were treated by retrosigmoid approaches. Elven patients with supratentorial tumors were treated by anterior and posterior interhemispheric approaches. Twenty patients with posterior fossa tumors were treated by suboccipital posterior median and paramedian approaches. Two patients with petroclival region lesions were treated by subtemporal approaches. Damage of tissues surrounding the approach occurred in 4 cases (2%). One patient received secondary procedures (0.52%) and 2 patients died after operation (1%). No change of postoperative neurological function was seen in 62.3% of cases, improvement of postoperative neurological function was seen in 29.4% and neurological function deterioration 8.24%. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the retractor surgery, retractorless surgery does not increase the rate of damage of tissues surrounding the approach. With the proficiency in micro-neurosurgery methods, retractorless surgery can reduce the postoperative complications.

The dynamic changes of capillary permeability and upregulation of VEGF in rats following radiation-induced brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the dynamic changes of capillary permeability and the expression of VEGF in cerebral cortex after RIBI. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into the RIBI group and control group, and the RIBI group was randomly subdivided into five groups for analysis on day 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28, respectively. We established an RIBI model, and then evaluated BBB permeability by EB. We also measured the expression of VEGF with IHC stain and western blot. RESULTS: EB extravasation in injured cortex of RIBI group was increased at five time points compared with the control group. The western blot results and IHC revealed that the levels of VEGF expression in the RIBI groups was significantly increased at day 1 compared with the control group, then rose to a maximum at day 7, and subsequently the levels of expression recovered from day 14 to 28. CONCLUSIONS: The increases in both BBB permeability and VEGF expression in the brain cortex of RIBI groups at same time period confirmed the possibility of brain injury following irradiation of 6 Gy.

Negative correlation of CD34+ cells with blood-brain barrier permeability following traumatic brain injury in a rat model.

OBJECTIVE: TBI causes localized cerebral ischemia that, in turn, is accompanied by both changes in BBB permeability and recruitment of CD34(+) cells to the injured tissue. However, it remains unknown whether CD34(+) cell recruitment is linked to BBB permeability. This study is a preliminary investigation into possible correlations between CD34(+) cell recruitment and BBB permeability following TBI in a rat model. METHODS: Male SD rats were subjected to mild fluid percussion injury. BBB permeability was assessed by measuring extrinsic EB dye extravasation and endogenous EBA expression at days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 12 post injury. The number of CD34(+) cells in the damaged tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry at each time point. RESULTS: EB dye extravasation reached a peak at day 3 following TBI, while EBA expression displayed the reverse profile. Accumulation of CD34(+) cells in injured brain tissue was evident at five days post injury. It revealed a negative linear correlation between CD34(+) cell and BBB permeability. CONCLUSIONS: The negative linear correlation between CD34(+) cell recruitment and BBB permeability following TBI provides a support for further study of CD34(+) cell transplantation for BBB repair after TBI.

Design of a microbial contamination detector and analysis of error sources in its optical path.

Microbial contamination is a growing concern in the food safety today. To effectively control the types and degree of microbial contamination during food production, this paper introduces a design for a microbial contamination detector that can be used for quick in-situ examination. The designed detector can identify the category of microbial contamination by locating its characteristic absorption peak and then can calculate the concentration of the microbial contamination by fitting the absorbance vs. concentration lines of standard samples with gradient concentrations. Based on traditional scanning grating detection system, this design improves the light splitting unit to expand the scanning range and enhance the accuracy of output wavelength. The motor rotation angle φ is designed to have a linear relationship with the output wavelength angle λ, which simplifies the conversion of output spectral curves into wavelength vs. light intensity curves. In this study, we also derive the relationship between the device's major sources of errors and cumulative error of the output wavelengths, and suggest a simple correction for these errors. The proposed design was applied to test pigments and volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) which evaluated microbial contamination degrees of meats, and the deviations between the measured values and the pre-set values were only in a low range of 1.15% - 1.27%.

Effectiveness of indirect revascularization for adult hemorrhagic moyamoya disease: a 10-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal surgical approach for hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (hMMD) continues to be a topic of debate. The authors' prior research demonstrated that both combined and indirect revascularization were efficacious. However, questions remain regarding the long-term prognosis consistency between these two treatments. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the enduring effects of these surgical modalities on adult hMMD, extending the findings of the authors' previous studies. METHODS: The authors recruited patients diagnosed with hMMD between 2010 and 2015. The patients were categorized into two groups: those who underwent combined revascularization (superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass alongside dural reverse application) and those who underwent indirect revascularization (encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis [EDAS]). The primary and secondary endpoints of this study were instances of rebleeding, confirmed with CT scan, and death resulting from rebleeding, respectively. The authors estimated rebleeding-free and death-free survival rates by utilizing the Kaplan-Meier survival method. They used Cox regression to adjust for confounders and to evaluate the effects of the varying surgical modalities on the endpoints. RESULTS: After an average follow-up period of 114 months, 35 patients (28.6%) experienced 40 rebleeding events, yielding an average annual incidence of 3.5%. Of the 79 patients who received combined revascularization, 17 (21.5%) experienced rebleeding events. Similarly, of 43 patients who underwent EDAS, 18 (41.9%) experienced rebleeding events (p = 0.018). Most rebleeding instances occurred 61-120 months after surgery (21 patients [60%]), followed by 12-60 months (11 patients [31.4%]). Multivariate survival analysis highlighted significant differences in surgical outcomes (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.15-0.74, p = 0.007). The authors observed that 8 patients (10.1%) died of rebleeding events in the combined group, as well as 10 patients (23.3%) in the EDAS group. Despite the lack of a statistically significant difference in mortality (p = 0.051), multivariable survival analysis found a significant difference (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10-0.97, p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: High rebleeding rates persist in adult hMMD patients, even after revascularization. Combined revascularization proved superior to EDAS in preventing long-term rebleeding. In contrast, EDAS alone did not display a clear effect on reducing long-term rebleeding rates.

A novel system for evaluating collateralization of the external carotid artery after cerebral revascularization in moyamoya disease.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this retrospective study was to establish a novel system for evaluating collateralization of the external carotid artery in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) following direct and indirect revascularization surgeries. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 456 patients diagnosed with MMD who underwent direct and indirect revascularization procedures at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, between January 2015 and May 2023. Using a newly proposed digital subtraction angiography (DSA)-based evaluation system, the authors assessed collateralization angiogenesis objectively and in a standardized manner. RESULTS: The authors' findings indicated that there was no significant difference in collateralization angiogenesis between patients undergoing direct or indirect cerebral revascularization (p = 0.702). However, after cerebral revascularization, patients with ischemic MMD exhibited significantly higher collateralization angiogenesis compared with those with hemorrhagic MMD (p = 0.007). Children with MMD demonstrated higher angiogenesis levels than adults (p < 0.001), but subgroup analysis showed age-specific variations. In adults, collateralization angiogenesis was significantly greater in those with ischemic MMD (p = 0.006), whereas in children, no significant difference was noted between ischemic and hemorrhagic MMD (p = 0.962). Furthermore, regardless of MMD type, direct and indirect revascularization methods yielded similar collateralization angiogenesis (p = 0.962 and p = 0.963, respectively). Importantly, the Matsushima grading system revealed significant differences in angiogenesis in patients with ischemic MMD (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The newly introduced DSA-based evaluation system offers an objective and standardized method for assessing collateralization angiogenesis in MMD. This study supports the efficacy of both direct and indirect revascularization surgical procedures and highlights distinct pathophysiological processes of ischemic and hemorrhagic disease subtypes. These findings contribute to a better understanding of surgical outcomes and aid in the selection of appropriate treatment strategies for patients with MMD.