Intensive Versus Standard Blood Pressure Management after Endovascular Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Prospective clinical studies on blood pressure (BP) management targets after endovascular therapy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) have recently been published. Our objective was to assess the impact on clinical outcomes of BP management guided by established systolic BP (SBP) targets within the first 24 hours after successful EVT. Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 1556 participants across 5 SBP target settings identified from 5 databases up to September 6, 2023 were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. All the intensive SBP target groups in these RCTs were combined to facilitate head-to-head comparisons. Patients receiving intensive SBP management had lower risk of 90-day functional independence as assessed by the modified Rankin scale score (relative risk [RR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.91; I2, 12%), excellent outcomes (RR,0.86; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; I2, 7%), favorable outcomes (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.92; I2, 0%), and quality of life (standardized mean difference, -0.22; 95% CI, -0.35 to -0.10; I2,0%). There were no differences in the probability of any intracerebral hemorrhage (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.19; I2,0%), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.60; I2, 0%), stroke-related death (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.80 to 1.68; I2, 0%), or parenchymal hematoma (RR, 1.71; 95% CI, 0.74 to 3.98; I2, 47%) between SBP targets. This meta-analysis provides evidence from RCTs suggesting that intensive SBP control (target<160 mm Hg) may be detrimental to clinical outcomes in AIS patients with successful reperfusion after EVT.

Anesthesia on Clinical Outcomes in an Extended Time Window During Endovascular Stroke Therapy: Exploratory Analysis of the ANGEL-ACT Registry.

OBJECTIVE: Data on the impact of different anesthesia methods on clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT) in extended windows are limited. This study compared clinical outcomes in patients with stroke having general anesthesia (GA), conscious sedation (CS), or local anesthesia (LA) during EVT in extended (>6 h) time windows. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory analysis of data from the ANGEL-ACT registry. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included the proportions of patients with mRS scores of 0 to 1, 0 to 2, and 0 to 3, and safety outcomes were any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), symptomatic ICH, or mortality within 90 days. Multivariate analyses, inverse probability of treatment weighting, and coarsened exact matching were used to adjust for indication bias. RESULTS: A total of 646 patients were included in the analysis (GA,280; CS, 103; LA, 263). Patients having LA during EVT were more likely to have a favorable mRS score (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.28 to 2.40) and a lower incidence of symptomatic ICH (aOR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.76) than those having GA group. Similarly, CS was associated with greater odds of favorable 90-day mRS scores compared with GA (aOR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.11 to 2.56). Posterior circulation stroke was overrepresented in the GA group (29.6%) and may be a reason for the worse outcomes in the GA group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received LA or CS had better neurological outcomes than those who received GA within extended time windows in a real-world setting.

General anesthesia versus nongeneral anesthesia during endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the safety and efficacy of general anesthesia (GA) and nongeneral anesthesia (non-GA) on functional outcomes in patients receiving endovascular therapy for ischemic stroke. METHODS: All available studies on the anesthetic management of patients with acute ischemic stroke in PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase were included. We also compared the clinical outcomes in the studies with subgroup analyses of the occlusion site (anterior vs. posterior circulation) and preretriever group versus retriever group. Functional independence, mortality, successful recanalization, hemodynamic instability, intracerebral hemorrhage, and respiratory complications were considered primary or secondary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 24,606 patients in 60 studies were included. GA had a lower risk of 90-day functional independence (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.77), higher risk of 90-day mortality (OR = 1.29; 95% CI 1.15 to 1.45), and successful reperfusion (OR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.94 to 6.82). However, there were no differences in functional independence and mortality between GA and non-GA at 90 days after the procedure. CONCLUSION: The study shows poorer results in the GA group, which may be due to the inclusion of nonrandomized studies. However, analysis of the RCTs suggested that the outcomes do not differ between the two groups (GA vs. non-GA). Thus, general anesthesia is as safe as nongeneral anesthesia under standardized management.

Association of Admission Glucose and Outcomes After Endovascular Treatment for Acute Stroke: Data From the ANGEL-ACT Registry.

BACKGROUND: The association between admission glucose levels and clinical outcomes after stroke has not been effectively elucidated. This study assessed the association among admission glucose levels, admission hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, and 90-day neurological outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular therapy. METHODS: The ANGEL-ACT registry enrolled adults with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular therapy between 2017 and 2019 in China and patients with available admission glucose data were included. Restricted cubic spline regression was used to determine the knots of blood glucose levels. Binary or ordinal logistic regression models were used to examine the impact of different admission glucose levels on neurological outcomes and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: In total, 1684 participants with available admission glucose concentrations were evaluated. The admission glucose level was divided into 4 levels according to the restricted cubic spline curves: level 1 (<5.3 mmol/L), level 2 (5.3 to 7.0 mmol/L), level 3 (7.0 to 11.6 mmol/L), and level 4 (≥11.6 mmol/L). Level 4 admission glucose was associated with a decreased incidence of a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 2 (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40-0.87) and an increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.06-2.85). Levels 3 and 4, hyperglycemia, and diabetes mellitus independently predicted symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Admission glucose levels showed J-shaped relationships with sICH. CONCLUSIONS: Higher admission glucose levels (≥11.6 mmol/L) were associated with a decreased likelihood of a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 2 and an increased risk of mortality and sICH.

Pharmacokinetics of Nifedipine-Sustained Release Tablets in Healthy Subjects After a Single Oral Administration: Bioequivalence Analysis and Food Effects.

We compared newly developed delayed-release oral tablets (test) of 30-mg nifedipine (NFP) with its marketed counterpart (30 mg; reference) in healthy adult Chinese volunteers to assess the former's bioequivalence. This was a randomized, open-label, four-period, crossover trial study including fasting and fed trials. The participants were randomly administered test or reference formulations (1:1 ratio) throughout each period, with a 7-day washout period. In the next session, they were administered the alternate products. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and WinNonlin software were used to evaluate the bioequivalence of the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ) of NFP and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC). In total, 46 and 48 people participated in the fasting and postprandial trials. In both groups, the 90% confidence intervals of geometric mean ratios of Cmax , AUC from time zero to time t, and AUC from time zero to infinity were in the equivalence range (80%-125%). When NFP was administered concomitantly with a high-fat meal, time to maximum concentration was approximately twofold earlier, absorption was approximately 4.8% less, and Cmax exhibited a slight change relative to those under fasting conditions. Moreover, no serious adverse events were recorded in the participants. The present findings confirm the bioequivalence of test and reference formulations of NFP tablets under fasting and postprandial conditions.

GRN is a prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltration in glioma: A study based on TCGA data.

Background: Among primary brain tumors, gliomas are associated with a poor prognosis and a median survival that varies depending on the tumor grade and subtype. As the most malignant form of glioma, glioblastoma (GBM) constitutes a significant health concern. Alteration in granulin(GRN) has been proved to be accountable for several diseases. However, the relationship between GRN and GBM remains unclear. We evaluated the role of GRN in GBM through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Methods: First, we assessed the relationship between GRN and GBM through the GEPIA database. Next, the relationship between GRN and GBM prognosis was analyzed by logistic regression and multivariate cox methods. Using CIBERSORT and the GEPIA correlation module, we also investigated the link between GRN and immune infiltrates in cancer. Using the TCGA data, a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed. We also employed Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) to examine the data set of GRN expression and immune infiltration level in GBM and investigate the cumulative survival in GBM. We also validated tissues from GBM patients by Western blotting, RT-qPCR, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Increased GRN expression was shown to have a significant relationship to tumor grade in a univariate study utilizing logistic regression. Furthermore, multivariate analysis disclosed that GRN expression down-regulation is an independent predictive factor for a favorable outcome. GRN expression level positively correlates with the number of CD4+ T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs) that infiltrate a GBM. The GSEA also found that the high GRN expression phenotype pathway was enriched for genes involved in immune response molecular mediator production, lymphocyte-mediated immunity, cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, leukocyte proliferation, cell chemotaxis, and CD4+ alpha beta T cell activation. Differentially enriched pathways in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) include lysosome, apoptosis, primary immunodeficiency, chemokine signaling pathway, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and B cell receptor signaling pathway. Validated result showed that GRN was upregulated in GBM tissues. These results suggested that GRN was a potential indicator for the status of GBM. Conclusion: GRN is a prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltrates in GBM.

Early stellate ganglion block for improvement of postoperative cerebral blood flow velocity after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: results of a pilot randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a commonly used sympathetic nerve block technique that may have benefits for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) in the early stage. Cerebral vasospasm (CVS), one of the most common complications of aSAH, is accompanied by an abnormal increase in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and neurological dysfunction. In this pilot study the authors sought to determine the feasibility of early SGB for CVS in aSAH patients by observing the incidence of symptomatic CVS. METHODS: Prior to receiving surgical treatment, patients with aSAH were randomly assigned to the SGB group or the non-SGB group. The primary outcome was the incidence of symptomatic CVS within 14 ± 2 days after the onset of aSAH. As a higher CBFV is often associated with CVS and a poor prognosis, the mean CBFV of the middle cerebral artery was observed immediately after surgery and on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. Other secondary outcomes included transcranial Doppler (TCD)/CTA-type CVS, delayed cerebral ischemia during hospitalization, new cerebral infarction within 3 months, adverse events (AEs), and clinical prognosis. RESULTS: Symptomatic CVS occurred in 40% of patients in the non-SGB group and in 20% in the SGB group (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.22-1.16). Continuous TCD sonography revealed that the postoperative mean CBFV was lower in the SGB group than in the non-SGB group (F = 3.608, p = 0.02). In addition, the percentages of patients with CVS evaluated by TCD (TCD-CVS) and total new infarctions within 3 months were also significantly lower than those in patients with CVS (TCD-CVS 36.7% vs 70%, RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.31-0.89, and total new infarctions 26.7% vs 53.3%, RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.25-0.99). In terms of AEs and mortality, there were no significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrated for the first time, to the authors' knowledge, that early SGB is feasible and has the potential to reduce the risk of CVS and improve the prognosis of aSAH. This method may be a new treatment for patients with aSAH that may have more advantages than traditional therapeutic drugs and is worth further study. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT04691271 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Brain relaxation using desflurane anesthesia and total intravenous anesthesia in patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial tumors: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Satisfactory brain relaxation is essential in neurosurgery. Desflurane anesthesia and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) have different effects on cerebral hemodynamics, potentially contributing to discrepant brain relaxation. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of desflurane and TIVA on brain relaxation in patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial tumors. METHODS: In this randomized, controlled study, we enrolled patients aged 18-60 years, with ASA I-III, who were scheduled to undergo elective craniotomy for supratentorial tumors. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive desflurane anesthesia or TIVA. The primary outcome was the proportion of satisfactory brain relaxation. Secondary outcomes included emergence and extubation times, recovery of cognitive function and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Of 369 patients who were assessed for eligibility, 111 were randomized and 110 were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis (55 in the desflurane group and 55 in the TIVA group). The proportion of satisfactory brain relaxation was similar between the two groups: 69% in the desflurane group and 73% in the TIVA group (RR: 0.950, 95% CI: 0.748-1.207; P = 0.675). Patients assigned to the desflurane group had shorter emergence (10 [8-13] min vs. 13 [10-20] min, P < 0.001) and extubation times (13 [10-18] min vs. 17 [13-23] min, P < 0.001), and better recovery of cognitive function at 15 min after extubation (16 [0-24] vs. 0 [0-20], P = 0.003), but experienced increased postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (16 [29%] vs. 6 [11%] P = 0.017) and tachycardia (22 [40%] vs. 9 [16%], P = 0.006) during recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Desflurane anesthesia and TIVA provide similar brain relaxation in patients without intracranial hypertension undergoing elective craniotomy. Desflurane accelerates the recovery from anesthesia but is associated with increased PONV and tachycardia during the recovery period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrial.gov (NCT04691128). Date of registration: December 31, 2020.

General Anesthesia Versus Nongeneral Anesthesia for Patients With Acute Posterior Circulation Stroke Undergoing Endovascular Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

There is continued controversy regarding the optimal anesthetic technique for endovascular therapy in patients with acute posterior circulation ischemic stroke. To compare the clinical outcomes general anesthesia (GA) and non-GA, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies focused on the anesthetic management for endovascular therapy in patients with acute posterior circulation stroke, without language restriction. In addition, we compared clinical outcomes among the studies with different non-GA types (conscious sedation or local anesthesia). Outcome variables were functional independence, excellent outcomes, favorable outcomes, mortality, successful recanalization, hemodynamic instability, intracerebral hemorrhage, and respiratory or vascular complications. Eight studies including 1777 patients were identified. Although GA was associated with a lower odds of functional independence at 90 days (odds ratio [OR]: 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38 to 0.81; P =0.009), substantial heterogeneity was noted ( I2 =65%). Subgroup analysis showed that GA was associated with higher odds of mortality than conscious sedation (OR: 1.83; 95% CI, 1.30 to 2.57; I2 =0%), but there was no difference between GA and local anesthesia ( I2 =0%). Interestingly, subgroup analysis did not identify a relationship between functional independence and GA compared with local anesthesia (OR: 0.90; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.25; P =0.919; I2 =0%). This meta-analysis demonstrates that GA is associated with worse outcomes in patients with acute posterior circulation stroke undergoing endovascular therapy based on current studies.

General Anesthesia vs Conscious Sedation for Endovascular Treatment in Patients With Posterior Circulation Acute Ischemic Stroke: An Exploratory Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: No definitive conclusion can be made on the best choice of anesthesia for people with acute posterior circulation stroke during endovascular treatment. Only a few observational studies have focused on this topic in recent years, and they have differing conclusions. Objective: To examine whether conscious sedation (CS) is a feasible alternative to general anesthesia (GA) during endovascular treatment in patients with acute posterior circulation stroke. Design, Setting, and Participants: A randomized parallel-group exploratory trial with blinded end point evaluation (Choice of Anesthesia for Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke [CANVAS II]) enrolled adult patients from March 2018 to June 2021 at 2 comprehensive care hospitals in China. Patients with acute posterior circulation stroke were enrolled, randomized, and monitored for 3 months. Of 210 patients admitted with acute ischemic posterior circulation stroke, 93 were recruited and 87 were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis after exclusions, 43 were assigned to GA and 44 to CS. All analyses were unadjusted or adjusted with the ITT principle. Interventions: Participants were randomly assigned to CS or GA in a 1:1 ratio. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was functional independence at 90 days evaluated with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results: A total of 87 participants were included in the ITT study (mean [SD] age, 62 [12] years; 16 [18.4%] female and 71 [81.6%] male). Of these, 43 were in the GA group and 44 in the CS group. The overall baseline median (IQR) National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 15 (12-17). In the CS group, 13 people (29.5%) were ultimately transferred to GA. The CS group had a higher incidence of functional independence; however, no significant difference was found between the 2 groups (48.8% vs 54.5%; risk ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.58-1.38; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.91; 95% CI, 0.37-2.22). However, GA performed better in successful reperfusion (mTICI 2b-3) under ITT analysis (95.3% vs 77.3%; adjusted OR, 5.86; 95% CI, 1.16-29.53). Conclusion and Relevance: The findings in this study suggest that CS was not better than GA for the primary outcome of functional recovery and was perhaps worse for the secondary outcome of successful reperfusion. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03317535.

Effect of early stellate ganglion block in cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (BLOCK-CVS): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Stellate ganglion block has been reported to expand cerebral vessels and alleviate vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, the causal relationship between early stellate ganglion block and cerebral vasospasm prevention has not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness and safety of early stellate ganglion block as a preventive treatment for cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded endpoint assessment superiority trial. A total of 228 patients will be randomized within 48 h of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage onset in a 1:1 ratio into two groups, one group receiving an additional e-SGB and the other group receiving only a camouflaging action before anesthesia induction in the operating room. The primary outcome is the incidence of symptomatic vasospasm within 14 days after aSAH. Further safety and efficacy parameters include the incidence of radiographic vasospasm, new cerebral infarction, postoperative delirium, and complications up to 90 days after surgery; postoperative cerebral hemodynamics; Mini-Mental State Examination score; modified Rankin scale score; and all-cause mortality up to 90 days after surgery. DISCUSSION: This is a randomized controlled trial to explore the effectiveness and safety of early stellate ganglion block as a preventive treatment to reduce cerebral vasospasm in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. If the results are positive, it may provide a new direction for the prevention and treatment of cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on Clincaltrials.gov on December 13, 2020 (NCT04691271).

Dynamic reconfiguration of human brain networks across altered states of consciousness.

Consciousness is supported by rich neuronal dynamics to orchestrate behaviors and conscious processing can be disrupted by general anesthetics. Previous studies suggested that dynamic reconfiguration of large-scale functional network is critical for learning and higher-order cognitive function. During altered states of consciousness, how brain functional networks are dynamically changed and reconfigured at the whole-brain level is still unclear. To fill this gap, using multilayer network approach and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of 21 healthy subjects, we investigated the dynamic network reconfiguration in three different states of consciousness: wakefulness, dexmedetomidine-induced sedation, and recovery. Applying time-varying community detection algorithm, we constructed multilayer modularity networks to track and quantify dynamic interactions among brain areas that span time and space. We compared four high-level network features (i.e., switching, promiscuity, integration, and recruitment) derived from multilayer modularity across the three conditions. We found that sedation state is primarily characterized by increased switching rates as well as decreased integration, representing a whole-brain pattern with higher modular dynamics and more fragmented communication; such alteration can be mostly reversed after the recovery of consciousness. Thus, our work can provide additional insights to understand the modular network reconfiguration across different states of consciousness and may provide some clinical implications for disorders of consciousness.

Choice of ANaesthesia for EndoVAScular treatment of acute ischaemic stroke at posterior circulation (CANVAS II): protocol for an exploratory randomised controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: Observational and interventional studies indicate that the type of anaesthesia may be associated with the postprocedural neurological function in patients with anterior circulation acute ischaemic stroke undergoing endovascular treatment. Patients with acute posterior circulation ischaemic stroke may experience different physiological changes and result in severe neurological outcome. However, the effect of the type of anaesthesia on postprocedure neurological function remained unclear in this population. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is an exploratory randomised controlled trial that will be carried out at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University. Patients with acute posterior circulation ischaemic stroke and deemed suitable for emergency endovascular recanalisation will be recruited in this trial. Eighty-four patients will be randomised to receive either general anaesthesia or conscious sedation with 1:1 allocation ratio. The primary endpoint is the 90-day modified Rankin Scale. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been reviewed by and approved by Ethics Committee of Beijing Tiantan Hospital of Capital Medical University (KY2017-074-02). If the results are positive, the study will indicate whether the type of anaesthesia affects neurological outcome after endovascular treatment of posterior stroke. The findings of the study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national or international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03317535.

Choice of ANesthesia for EndoVAScular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke (CANVAS): Results of the CANVAS Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The effect of choice of anesthesia on clinical outcome for endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains unclear. METHODS: We conducted a pilot trial of 43 patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke having EVT. Patients were randomly allocated to receive general anesthesia or conscious sedation. We documented the rate of recruitment and rate of conversion from conscious sedation to general anesthesia. In addition, we recorded the change in National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) on day 7, the rate of successful reperfusion and measured neurological function by certified researchers using modified Rankin Score (mRS 0 to 2) at 90 days. RESULTS: The recruitment rate was 31.4% and majority of patients were excluded because of delay in hospital presentation and posterior circulation stroke. The rate of conversion from conscious sedation to general anesthesia was 18.2%. This was primarily related to excessive sedation and uncontrolled movement. Change in NIHSS score, rate of successful reperfusion and functional recovery were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: It was feasible to randomize AIS patients receiving either general anesthesia or conscious sedation for EVT.

Outcomes of Anesthesia Selection in Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: The association between anesthesia type and outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT) remains a subject of ongoing debate. METHODS: This prospective nonrandomized controlled trial included 149 consecutive patients with acute anterior circulation stroke who underwent EVT. The primary outcome was functional independence assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) after 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 105 (70.5%) and 44 (29.5%) patients undergoing EVT who received conscious sedation (CS) and general anesthesia (GA), respectively. The patients who received GA had similar demographics and basic National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores (17 vs. 16, P>0.05) as the patients who received CS. The recanalization time (304 vs. 311 min, P=0.940) and the recanalization rate (86.4% vs. 84.1%, P=0.170) did not differ between the patients receiving the different types of anesthesia. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale at 24 hours was lower in the patients who received CS than in those who received GA (ß=-2.26, 95% confidence interval, -5.30 to 0.79). The independence (modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 2) at 3 months was equal between patients who received GA and those who received CS (odds ratio=0.73, 95% confidence interval, 0.32-1.68). The mortality and the morbidity rates did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicated that the selection of GA or CS during EVT had no impact on the independent outcomes of patients with anterior circulation occlusion.

Treatment effects of tanshinone IIA against intracerebroventricular streptozotocin induced memory deficits in mice.

Our previous studies demonstrated that tanshinone IIA (tan IIA) has significant protective effects against the neurotoxicity induced by ß-amyloid protein (Aß) in cultured cortical neurons and PC12 cells. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of tan IIA against memory deficits induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in a model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). STZ was injected twice intracerebroventrically (3mg/kg ICV) on alternate days (day 1 and day 3) in mice. Daily treatment with tan IIA (20, 40, and 80mg/kg, i.g.) starting from the first dose of STZ for 28 days showed a dose dependent improvement in STZ induced memory deficits as assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) test. Nissl staining results confirmed the protective effects of tan IIA on cerebral cortical and hippocampal neurons damage induced by STZ. In addition, tan IIA markedly reduced STZ induced elevation in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and significantly inhibited STZ induced reduction in superoxide dismutases (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in the parietal cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, tan IIA attenuated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation in the parietal cortex and hippocampus. These findings demonstrate that tan IIA prevents STZ induced memory deficits may be attributed to ameliorating neuronal damage, restoring cholinergic function, attenuating oxidative stress and blocking p38 MAPK signal pathway activation. Based on our previous studies, the present study provides further support for the potential use of tan IIA in the treatment of AD.