Polygenic scoring accuracy varies across the genetic ancestry continuum.

Polygenic scores (PGSs) have limited portability across different groupings of individuals (for example, by genetic ancestries and/or social determinants of health), preventing their equitable use1-3. PGS portability has typically been assessed using a single aggregate population-level statistic (for example, R2)4, ignoring inter-individual variation within the population. Here, using a large and diverse Los Angeles biobank5 (ATLAS, n = 36,778) along with the UK Biobank6 (UKBB, n = 487,409), we show that PGS accuracy decreases individual-to-individual along the continuum of genetic ancestries7 in all considered populations, even within traditionally labelled 'homogeneous' genetic ancestries. The decreasing trend is well captured by a continuous measure of genetic distance (GD) from the PGS training data: Pearson correlation of -0.95 between GD and PGS accuracy averaged across 84 traits. When applying PGS models trained on individuals labelled as white British in the UKBB to individuals with European ancestries in ATLAS, individuals in the furthest GD decile have 14% lower accuracy relative to the closest decile; notably, the closest GD decile of individuals with Hispanic Latino American ancestries show similar PGS performance to the furthest GD decile of individuals with European ancestries. GD is significantly correlated with PGS estimates themselves for 82 of 84 traits, further emphasizing the importance of incorporating the continuum of genetic ancestries in PGS interpretation. Our results highlight the need to move away from discrete genetic ancestry clusters towards the continuum of genetic ancestries when considering PGSs.

Enhanced adhesive and mechanically robust silicone-based coating with excellent marine anti-fouling and anti-corrosion performances.

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is widely used in marine antifouling coatings due to its low surface energy property. However, certain drawbacks of PDMS coatings such as poor surface adhesion, weak mechanical properties, and inadequate static antifouling performance have hindered its practical applications. Herein, condensation polymerization is utilized to prepare PDMS-based polythiamine ester (PTUBAF) coatings that consist of PDMS, polytetrahydrofuran (PTMG), 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrafluoro-1, 4-benzenedimethanol (TBD) as the main chains and isobornyl acrylate(IBA) as the antifouling group. The surface adhesion to the substrate is enhanced due to the hydrogen bond between the coated carbamate group and the hydroxyl group on the surface of the substrate. Mechanical properties of PTUBAF are significantly improved due to the benzene ring and six-membered ring biphase hard structure. The strong synergistic effect of bactericidal groups and low surface energy surface endows the PTUBAF coating with outstanding antifouling performance. Due to the low surface energy surface, the PTUBAF coatings are also found to possess excellent anti-corrosion. Furthermore, since the PTUBAF coatings exhibit a visible light transmittance of 91 %, they can applied as protective films for smartphones. The proposed method has the potential to boost the production and practical applications of silicone-based coatings.

Targeting programmed cell death in inflammatory bowel disease through natural products: New insights from molecular mechanisms to targeted therapies.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disorder primarily characterized by intestinal inflammation and recurrent ulceration, leading to a compromised intestinal barrier and inflammatory infiltration. This disorder's pathogenesis is mainly attributed to extensive damage or death of intestinal epithelial cells, along with abnormal activation or impaired death regulation of immune cells and the release of various inflammatory factors, which contribute to the inflammatory environment in the intestines. Thus, maintaining intestinal homeostasis hinges on balancing the survival and functionality of various cell types. Programmed cell death (PCD) pathways, including apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and neutrophil extracellular traps, are integral in the pathogenesis of IBD by mediating the death of intestinal epithelial and immune cells. Natural products derived from plants, fruits, and vegetables have shown potential in regulating PCD, offering preventive and therapeutic avenues for IBD. This article reviews the role of natural products in IBD treatment by focusing on targeting PCD pathways, opening new avenues for clinical IBD management.

Confinement in Dual-Chain-Locked DNA Origami Nanocages Programs Marker-Responsive Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 Ribonucleoproteins.

Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) offers a powerful tool for therapeutic genome editing. However, precise manipulation of CRISPR/Cas9 RNPs to switch the machinery on and off according to diverse disease microenvironments remains challenging. Here, we present dual-chain-locked DNA origami nanocages (DL-DONCs) that can confine Cas9 RNPs in the inner cavity for efficient cargo delivery and dual-marker-responsive genome editing in the specified pathological states. By engineering of ATP or miRNA-21-responsive dsDNAs as chain locks on the DONCs, the permeability of nanocages and accessibility of encapsulated Cas9 RNPs can be finely regulated. The resulting DL-DONCs enabled steric protection of bioactive Cas9 RNPs from premature release and deactivation during transportation while dismounting the dual chain locks in response to molecular triggers after internalization into tumor cells, facilitating the escape of Cas9 RNPs from the confinement for gene editing. Due to the dual-marker-dominated uncaging mechanism, the gene editing efficiency could be exclusively determined by the combined level of ATP and miRNA-21 in the target cellular environment. By targeting the tumor-associated PLK-1 gene, the DL-DONCs-enveloped Cas9 RNPs have demonstrated superior inhibitory effects on the proliferation of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. The developed DL-DONCs provide a custom-made platform for the precise manipulation of Cas9 RNPs, which can be potentially applied to on-demand gene editing for classified therapy in response to arbitrary disease-associated biomolecules.

Chirality-Dependent Angiogenic Activity of MoS2 Quantum Dots toward Regulatable Tissue Regeneration.

Despite great advances in understanding the biological behaviors of chiral materials, the effect of chirality-configured nanoparticles on tissue regeneration-related biological processes remains poorly understood. Herein, the chirality of MoS2 quantum dots (QDs) is tailored by functionalization with l-/d-penicillamine, and the profound chiral effects of MoS2 QDs on cellular activities, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration are thoroughly investigated. Specifically, d-MoS2 QDs show a positive effect in promoting the growth, proliferation, and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) in d-MoS2 QDs group is substantially up-regulated, resulting in enhanced tube formation activity. This distinct phenomenon is largely due to the higher internalization efficiency of d-MoS2 QDs than l-MoS2 QDs and chirality-dependent nano-bio interactions. In vivo angiogenic assay shows the expression level of angiogenic markers in newly-formed skin tissues of d-MoS2 QDs group is higher than that in l-MoS2 QDs group, leading to an accelerated re-epithelialization and improved skin regeneration. The findings of chirality-dependent angiogenesis activity of MoS2 QDs provide new insights into the biological activity of MoS2 nanomaterials, which also opens up a new path to the rational design of chiral nanomaterials for tissue regeneration application.

Dural arteriovenous fistula presenting with stroke-like symptoms and regional cerebral hyperperfusion: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Non-hemorrhagic focal neurological deficit is one of the clinical manifestations of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF). When symptoms appear suddenly, it is difficult to distinguish it from ischemic stroke in certain circumstances, which might easily lead to misdiagnosis. Here, we report a rare case of DAVF with sudden onset sensory aphasia mimicking hyperacute stroke but presented with unexpected regional hyperperfusion on the site corresponding to its symptoms. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old male with histories of atrial fibrillation and hypertension was admitted to the emergency department due to sudden sensory aphasia. The diagnosis of ischemic stroke was made based on clinical experience after non-contrast CT excluding hemorrhage. As in the absence of clear contraindication, the patient received intravenous thrombolysis. On the cerebral CT perfusion, the left temporal lobe, where the sensory speech center is located, was manifested as regional hyperperfusion. Thrombolysis was subsequently halted, but scheduled cranial imaging indicated hemorrhagic transformation. According to the radiological hint from cranial MRI, the patient was suspected of having DAVF, which was finally confirmed by cerebral digital subtraction angiography. CONCLUSION: When DAVF is presented as sudden onset focal neurological deficit, cranial CT perfusion at an early stage might reveal an abnormal hyperperfusion pattern. Clinicians should be aware of the diagnostic possibility of DAVF in this situation and double-review the CT angiography image to reduce missed diagnoses.

ZnO nanorods anchored on CNTs incorporating carbon cloth flexible electrode as a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor.

Monitoring glucose, uric acid (UA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration has emerged as a critical health care issue to prevent acute complications and to minimize the hazard of long-term complications. In this paper, a novel non-enzyme electrochemical sensor was proposed with nanorod-like zinc oxide anchored on carbon nanotubes using a direct precipitation method and then decorated onto carbon cloth (ZnO/CNTs/CC). The ZnO/CNTs composite was characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectrum, TEM microscope and electrochemistry. The sensing of UA, glucose and H2O2individually or simultaneously was done on a ZnO/CNTs/CC electrode, and the superior performance lies in its wide linear range, low detection limit and high selectivity, which is attributed to the synergistic effect of (a) the good electrocatalytic activity of ZnO nanorods, and (b) the large surface area with high conductivity offered by CNTs. Moreover, the ZnO/CNTs/CC electrode showed good reproducibility, stability and selectivity. Importantly, the developed sensor platform has been successfully applied to probe glucose, UA and H2O2in human serum with satisfactory recoveries. Our proposed approach is simple in fabrication and operation, which provides a straightforward assay for the reliable and cost-effective determination of glucose, UA and H2O2in clinical diagnosis and biomedical applications.

Recent insights into function, structure and modification of cytochrome P450 153 a family.

Cytochrome P450 153 A (CYP153A) is a versatile enzyme that can catalyze a wide range of oxidation reactions on various substrates. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on CYP153A, including its classification, structure, function, and potential applications in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The CYP153A family encompasses many enzymes with different functions on a variety of substrates. We also discuss the structural features that are responsible for the different substrate specificities. Additionally, the enzyme has been engineered to increase its catalytic activity and modifications have been made to enhance its properties further. Despite its potential, challenges and limitations associated with studying and exploiting CYP153A remain, such as low expression levels and substrate inhibition. Nonetheless, ongoing research is exploring new ways to harness the enzyme's capabilities, particularly in synthetic biology, biocatalysis, and drug discovery, making it an exciting target for future research.

Directional regulation and mechanism analysis of the surface properties of hydrothermal carbon by circulating liquid in the hydrothermal carbonization procedure.

The complexity of the chemistry behind the hydrothermal conversion is enormous. Components interact with their own physical and chemical structure, making it harsh to understand the conversion as a whole. Herein, the six-water recirculation and loading nano SiO2 experiment in a one-pot hydrothermal carbonization procedure was designed to elucidate the mechanism of regulating the functional groups and microporous structure of the hydrochar surface. The hydrochar prepared by the second circulating liquid and loading nano-SiO2 (HBC-R2/Si) was equipped most enriched functional groups (carboxyl = 11.48 µmol/g, phenolic hydroxyl = 52.98 µmol/g, lactone groups = 46.52 µmol/g) and suitable pore size (1.90 nm-1.93 nm) as a sorbent riched in hemicellulose. The sorption kinetics (equilibrium reached ≈ 480 min) are approximately evenly fitted by the pseudo-second-order, Weber and Morris, and Elovich models, indicating that membranes and particles diffusion, pore diffusion, and surface sorption coexisted in the sorption of methylene blue (MB) on the hydrochar materials. Simultaneously, all hydrochar materials achieved over 25% MB removal within 90 min (liquid membrane diffusion) and over 40% for HBC-R2 and HBC-R2/Si, suggesting that liquid membrane diffusion is the predominant rate-limiting step. Pearson's correlation analysis and Mantel's analysis announced that the cation exchange capacity (CEC), pore size, and carboxyl groups on the hemicellulose affect the sorption capacity by limiting the pore diffusion procedure. However, the CEC and the phenolic hydroxyl groups on the cellulose and hemicellulose affect the sorption rate by limiting membrane diffusion. Three consecutive sorption/desorption cycles confirmed the high stability and reusability of HBC-R2/Si composites.

Validation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation mortality prediction and severity of illness scores in an international COVID-19 cohort.

BACKGROUND: Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) is a lifesaving support modality for severe respiratory failure, but its resource-intensive nature led to significant controversy surrounding its use during the COVID-19 pandemic. We report the performance of several ECMO mortality prediction and severity of illness scores at discriminating survival in a large COVID-19 V-V ECMO cohort. METHODS: We validated ECMOnet, PRESET (PREdiction of Survival on ECMO Therapy-Score), Roch, SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment), APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation), 4C (Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium), and CURB-65 (Confusion, Urea nitrogen, Respiratory Rate, Blood Pressure, age >65 years) scores on the ISARIC (International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium) database. We report discrimination via Area Under the Receiver Operative Curve (AUROC) and Area under the Precision Recall Curve (AURPC) and calibration via Brier score. RESULTS: We included 1147 patients and scores were calculated on patients with sufficient variables. ECMO mortality scores had AUROC (0.58-0.62), AUPRC (0.62-0.74), and Brier score (0.286-0.303). Roch score had the highest accuracy (AUROC 0.62), precision (AUPRC 0.74) yet worst calibration (Brier score of 0.3) despite being calculated on the fewest patients (144). Severity of illness scores had AUROC (0.52-0.57), AURPC (0.59-0.64), and Brier Score (0.265-0.471). APACHE II had the highest accuracy (AUROC 0.58), precision (AUPRC 0.64), and best calibration (Brier score 0.26). CONCLUSION: Within a large international multicenter COVID-19 cohort, the evaluated ECMO mortality prediction and severity of illness scores demonstrated inconsistent discrimination and calibration highlighting the need for better clinically applicable decision support tools.

DNA Origami-Based Protein Manipulation Systems: From Function Regulation to Biological Application.

Proteins directly participate in tremendous physiological processes and mediate a variety of cellular functions. However, precise manipulation of proteins with predefined relative position and stoichiometry for understanding protein-protein interactions and guiding cellular behaviors is still challenging. With superior programmability of DNA molecules, DNA origami technology is able to construct arbitrary nanostructures that can accurately control the arrangement of proteins with various functionalities to solve these problems. Herein, starting from the classification of DNA origami nanostructures and the category of assembled proteins, we summarize the existing DNA origami-based protein manipulation systems (PMSs), review the advances on the regulation of their functions, and discuss their applications in cellular behavior modulation and disease therapy. Moreover, the limitations and potential directions of DNA origami-based PMSs are also presented, which may offer guidance for rational construction and ingenious application.

Endovascular recanalization of acute ischemic stroke patients exhibiting large vessel occlusion after pulmonary lobectomy: case series.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the outcomes of patients suffering acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with large vessel occlusion (LVO) soon after pulmonary lobectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomy to treat primary lung cancer. We retrieved clinical characteristics and the incidence of AIS with LVO. The clinical courses of patients who experienced AIS were reviewed. RESULTS: In 10 (0.3%) of 3406 patients, AIS with LVO developed soon (within 3 days) after pulmonary lobectomy. The lung resection site was on the left in eight patients (80%). All patients underwent thrombectomy and achieved complete recanalization (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [TICI] 3). The average time between symptom onset and recanalization was 165.5 min. Nine (90%) patients exhibited favorable outcomes (modified Rankin scale [mRS] score ≤ 2) at the 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Endovascular therapy effectively treats AIS with LVO that develops after lung surgery, and direct aspiration is a promising strategy. A large, multicenter study is warranted to further confirm these findings.

The catalytic effect of RuM-C catalyst attached to carbon- based support for hydrogen evolution reaction.

The potential of converting traditional biomass into low-cost HER catalysts has broad application prospects. In this paper, fungus is used as a carbon-based carrier. The bimetallic catalyst RuM-C (M = V, Mo, W, Zn, Cu) was synthesized under inert gas protection at high temperature. The order of electrocatalytic activity is RuV-C > RuZn-C > RuW-C > RuMo-C > Ru-C > RuCu-C > BF-C, which indicates that RuV-C exhibits excellent HER activity. Due to its irregular sheet structure, the specific surface area of the catalyst is increased. Impressively, it exhibits extremely high catalytic activity for HER in 1 M KOH due to favorable kinetics and excellent specific activity. Consequently, the prepared RuV-C exhibited excellent and stable HER activity compared Ru-C with a low overpotential of 65.78 mV at the current densities of 10 mA cm-2and Tafel slope of 45.26 mV dec-1. The potential only decreased by 88 mV after 24 h of continuous testing, which indicates that the catalyst has outstanding stability. This work will provide positive inspiration for the promotion of a new Ru-based biomass HER electrocatalyst.

Electrochemical fabrication of Co(OH)2 nanoparticles decorated carbon cloth for non-enzymatic glucose and uric acid detection.

Cobalt hydroxide nanoparticles (Co(OH)2 NPs) were uniformly deposited on flexible carbon cloth substrate (Co(OH)2@CC) rapidly by a facile one-step electrodeposition, which can act as an enzyme-free glucose and uric acid sensor in an alkaline electrolyte. Compositional and morphological characterization were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), which confirmed the deposited nanospheres were Co(OH)2 nanoparticles (NPs). The electrochemical oxidation of glucose and uric acid at Co(OH)2@CC electrode was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and chronoamperometry methods. The results revealed a remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward the single and simultaneous determination of glucose and uric acid at about 0.6 V and 0.3 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively, which is attributed to a noticeable synergy effect between Co(OH)2 NPs and CC with good repeatability, satisfactory reproducibility, considerable long-term stability, superior selectivity, outstanding sensitivity, and wide linear detection range from 1 uM to 2 mM and 25 nM to 1.5 uM for glucose and UA, respectively. The detection limits were 0.36 nM for UA and 0.24 µM for glucose (S/N = 3). Finally, the Co(OH)2@CC electrode was utilized for glucose and uric acid determination in human blood samples and satisfying results were obtained. The relative standard derivations (RSDs) for glucose and UA were in the range 6 to 14% and 0 to 3%, respectively. The recovery ranges for glucose an UA were 97 to 103% and 95 and 101%, respectively. These features make the novel Co(OH)2@CC sensor developed by a low-cost, efficient, and eco-friendly preparation method a potentially practical candidate for application to biosensors.

Interfacial-engineering enhanced performance and stability of ZnO nanowire-based perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted extensive attention due to their convenient fabrication and excellent photoelectric characteristics. The highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 25% has been realized. However, ZnO as electron transport layer based PSCs exhibit inferior PCE and stability because of the mismatched energy-band and undesirable interfacial recombination. Here, we introduce a thin layer of SnO2nanocrystals to construct an interfacial engineering with gradient energy band and interfacial passivation via a facile wet chemical process at a low temperature. The best PCE obtained in this study reaches 18.36%, and the stability is substantially improved and maintains a PCE of almost 100% over 500 h. The low-temperature fabrication process facilitates the future application of ZnO/SnO2-based PSCs in flexible and stretchable electronics.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health in the two largest economies in the world: a comparison between the United States and China.

The broad impact of the COVID-19 on self-reported daily behaviors and health in Chinese and US samples remains unknown. This study aimed to compare physical and mental health between people from the United States (U.S.) and China, and to correlate mental health parameters with variables relating to physical symptoms, knowledge about COVID-19, and precautionary health behaviors. To minimize risk of exposure, respondents were electronically invited by existing study respondents or by data sourcing software and surveys were completed via online survey platforms. Information was collected on demographics, physical symptoms, contact history, knowledge about COVID-19, psychologic parameters (i.e. IES-R; DASS-21), and health behaviors. The study included a total of 1445 respondents (584 U.S.; 861 China). Overall, Americans reported more physical symptoms, contact history, and perceived likelihood of contracting COVID-19. Americans reported more stress and depressive symptoms, while Chinese reported higher acute-traumatic stress symptoms. Differences were identified regarding face mask use and desires for COVID-19 related health information, with differential mental health implications. Physical symptoms that were possibly COVID-19 related were associated with adverse mental health. Overall, American and Chinese participants reported different mental and physical health parameters, health behaviors, precautionary measures, and knowledge of COVID-19; different risk and protective factors were also identified.

Association of Perforator Stroke After Basilar Artery Stenting With Negative Remodeling.

Background and Purpose- We try to evaluate whether plaque features and perforator stroke after intracranial stenting is associated with the arterial remodeling patterns in patients with severe basilar artery stenosis. Methods- We studied patients with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis who underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging from September 2014 to January 2017. Among them, patients with basilar artery stenosis underwent angioplasty and stenting were recruited. Arterial remodeling patterns were divided into negative or nonnegative remodeling. Plaque features were investigated by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, which includes plaque distribution, intraplaque hemorrhage, calcification, as well as enhancement patterns. Incidence of perforator strokes after intracranial stenting was recorded. Plaque features and incidence of poststenting perforator stroke were compared between negative and nonnegative remodeling. Results- Two hundred ninety-eight consecutive patients were enrolled. Among them, 30 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were 11 patients (36.7%) with negative remodeling and 19 (63.3%) with nonnegative remodeling. Twenty-six patients (86.7%) had diffuse distribution, 5 patients (16.7%) had intraplaque hemorrhage, 2 patients (6.7%) had calcification, and 17 patients (65.4%) had enhancement. Three patients had perforator stroke after stenting. Plaque features were similar between negative and nonnegative remodeling groups. Patients with negative remodeling were more likely to have perforator stroke after stenting comparing with patients with nonnegative remodeling (27.3% versus 0%, P=0.041). Conclusions- Perforator stroke after basilar artery stenting may be related to negative remodeling on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. The finding needs to be confirmed in future studies. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02705599.

Ultrasensitive Electrochemiluminescence Biosensor for Speedy Detection of microRNA Based on a DNA Rolling Machine and Target Recycling.

Intelligent DNA walking machines have become a great hot spot in biosensing, but the walking efficiency of DNA walking machines was still limited due to the low local concentration of substance DNA and the derail of leg DNA. Herein, a Zn2+-driven DNA rolling machine was proposed to overcome the above shortages and applied as a electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for speedy ultrasensitive detection of microRNA-21. First, the original DNA rolling machine was synthesized by numbers of leg DNA modified on Au nanoparticle which matched with the high concentration of track DNA on the sensing platform and could roll efficiently through Zn2+ driving. By this way the DNA rolling machine not only increased the local concentration of leg DNA and track DNA to improve walking efficiency but also changed the motion mode from step-by-step walking to high-speed rolling, weakening the derailment of leg DNA and shortening the moving time. Second, target-induced recycling and acid dissolution could convert a finite amount of target microRNA into a large amount of Zn2+, which greatly improved the sensitivity of biosensor and overcame the drawbacks of enzyme cleavage or polymerization in common nucleic acid amplification methods. Lastly, the obtained Zn2+ was employed to drive the DNA rolling machine through specific sites recognizing and track DNA cutting to remove a quencher of ferrocene, recovering ECL emission of CdS:Mn QDs for microRNA-21 detection with a detection limit of 0.28 fM. Besides, the biosensor was successfully applied in microRNA-21 analysis from human cancer cell lysates, offered a controllable and ultrasensitive strategy for speedy detection of microRNA, and revealed a new avenue for clinical analyses.

Submaximal primary angioplasty for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis: peri-procedural complications and long-term outcomes.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study is to report the peri-procedural complications and long-term stroke recurrent rate of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) patients who underwent submaximal primary angioplasty. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients in a single center who underwent submaximal primary angioplasty between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015. The peri-procedural complications and long-term outcomes are reported. RESULTS: Primary angioplasty was successfully performed in 129 patients (97.0%). The mean degree of pre-procedural stenosis was 81.9 ± 10.2%, and the degree of residual stenosis was 40.7 ± 19.1%. There were nine (6.8%) peri-procedural complications within 30 days, including seven ischemic strokes, one subarachnoid hemorrhage, and one asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. None of them resulted in death. One-year follow-up was available in 122 patients (91.7%). Three more ischemic strokes (2.3%) which were in the territory of the treated artery occurred between 30 days and 1 year. The 1-year stroke and death rate was 9.0%, including peri-procedural stroke. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a 3-year stroke-free survival of 87.2%. CONCLUSION: Submaximal primary angioplasty can be performed with a low peri-procedural complication rate and relatively good clinical outcome at long-term follow-up for symptomatic ICAS patients.

Association between basilar artery configuration and Vessel Wall features: a prospective high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between intracranial vessel configuration and wall features remains poorly investigated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the distal and proximal anatomical configuration of basilar artery (BA) and BA vessel wall features on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI). METHODS: From September 2014 to January 2017, patients with suspected symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis underwent HRMRI. Patients with severe BA stenosis were selected for this prospective study and divided into two groups corresponding to complete and incomplete BA configuration based on characteristics of the bilateral vertebral arteries and posterior cerebral arteries. Culprit blood vessel wall features on HRMRI included plaque enhancement, intraplaque hemorrhage, remodeling patterns, and plaque distribution. Culprit vessel wall features were compared between patients in the complete and incomplete BA configuration groups. RESULTS: Among the 298 consecutively enrolled patients, 34 had severe BA stenosis. Twenty patients had complete anatomical BA configuration and another 14 of them displayed incomplete configuration. There were no significant differences in vessel wall features between the complete and incomplete configuration patient groups. However, the proximal configuration of BA was associated with intraplaque hemorrhage (p = 0.002) while the distal configuration of BA correlated with strong enhancement of BA plaque (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: No association was found between the complete and incomplete BA configuration groups and blood vessel wall features. The proximal configuration of BA was related with intraplaque hemorrhage and the distal configuration of BA was associated with strong plaque enhancement. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: Unique identifier: NCT02705599 (March 10, 2016).