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This study aimed to investigate the association between dynamic changes in fibrinogen and the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). We measured fibrinogen levels at admission and 24 h after IVT in 364 consecutively recruited AIS patients. The primary outcome was the composite measure of death or major disability (modified Rankin Scale score 3–6) at 3 months. During the 3-month follow-up, 127 (34.89%) patients experienced death or major disability. After multivariate adjustment, a ≥ 2.5% increase in fibrinogen was associated with an increased risk of the primary outcome (odds ratio [OR], 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–4.75; p trend = 0.030) when 2 extreme tertiles were compared. Each 1% increase in fibrinogen after IVT was associated with a 1% increase in the risk of the primary outcome (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.03). Multivariable-adjusted spline regression revealed a linear dose-response relationship between fibrinogen changes after IVT and the primary outcome (p for linearity = 0.032). The addition of fibrinogen changes to conventional risk factors improved the re-classification (but not discrimination) of the primary outcome (net reclassification index 27.6%, p = 0.011). These findings indicated that an increase in fibrinogen after IVT was associated with an increased risk of death or major disability in AIS patients, suggesting that monitoring the dynamic profile of fibrinogen levels may help neurologists improve stroke outcomes in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the prognostic value of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the effect of dynamic changes in the eGFR on mortality in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). We aim to investigate the association between the eGFR and dynamic changes in the eGFR after IVT with all-cause mortality in AIS patients. A total of 391 AIS patients treated with IVT between May 2010 and May 2017 were included in the final analysis. Serum creatinine was measured at admission and within 24 h after IVT. The main outcomes included 3-month all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). During the 3-month follow-up, 37 (9.5%) patients died from all causes. Mortality was associated with a reduced eGFR at admission (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 4.17; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.50-11.58; P trend = 0.016) and within 24 h after IVT (adjusted HR, 5.88; 95% CI, 1.41-24.52; P trend = 0.009). Mortality was negatively correlated with increased eGFR after IVT (adjusted HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51-0.96; P trend = 0.027). Additionally, a reduced eGFR after IVT was also associated with increased risk of MACCE (adjusted HR, 3.64; 95% CI, 1.41-9.39; P trend = 0.009). Using a multivariable Cox regression model with restricted cubic splines, we observed an L-shaped association between the eGFR and 3-month all-cause mortality and MACCE and observed a linear association between dynamic changes in the eGFR and 3-month all-cause mortality. A reduced eGFR and dynamic decreases in the eGFR after IVT independently predict 3-month all-cause mortality in AIS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of nano-crystalline ceria-based solid solution electrolyte, CeLaMgO ( x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.2), were synthesized via the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) assisted combustion method, and then characterized to the crystalline structure, powder morphology, sintering micro-structure, and electrical properties. Present study showed that CeLaMgO was exceedingly stable as a cubic phase in all temperature range and exhibited fine crystals ranging from 15 to 20 nm. After sintering at 1,400 °C, the as-prepared pellets exhibited a dense micro-structure with 96 % of theoretical density. The electrical conductivity was studied using AC impedance spectroscopy and it was observed that the composition CeLa MgO showed higher electrical conductivity of 0.020 S cm at 700 °C. The thermal expansion was measured using dilatometer technique in the temperature range 30-1,000 °C. The average thermal expansion coefficient of CeLa MgO was 12.37 × 10 K, which was higher than that of the commonly used SOFC electrolyte YSZ (~10.8 × 10 K). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]