Search

Background: Cardiometabolic Index (CMI) was associated with several risk factors for stroke; however, few studies assessed the role of CMI in stroke risk. Objective: This study aimed to assess the association between CMI and stroke in a population- based cross-sectional study. Methods: This study included 4445 general residents aged ≥40 years selected by multistage stratified random cluster sampling. CMI was calculated as the product of the ratio of waist circumference to height (WHtR) and the ratio of triglyceride levels to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (TG/HDL-C). Participants were categorized according to CMI quartiles: quartile 1 (Q1), quartile 2 (Q2), quartile 3 (Q3), and quartile 4 (Q4). Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the association between CMI and stroke. Results: A total of 4052 participants were included in the study, with an overall stroke prevalence of 7.2%. The prevalence of stroke increased with CMI quartiles, ranging from 4.4% to 9.2% (p for trend Conclusion: Although there was a strong and independent association between CMI and stroke in the general population, CMI had limited discriminating ability for stroke. Thus, new parameters should be developed.

Aims The canonical Wnt signaling pathway plays an essential role in blood‐brain barrier integrity and intracerebral hemorrhage in preclinical stroke models. Here, we sought to explore the association between canonical Wnt signaling and hemorrhagic transformation (HT) following intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients as well as to determine the underlying cellular mechanisms. Methods 355 consecutive AIS patients receiving IVT were included. Blood samples were collected on admission, and HT was detected at 24 hours after IVT. 117 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 28 Wnt signaling genes and exon sequences of 4 core cerebrovascular Wnt signaling components (GPR124, RECK, FZD4, and CTNNB1) were determined using a customized sequencing chip. The impact of identified genetic variants was further studied in HEK 293T cells using cellular and biochemical assays. Results During the study period, 80 patients experienced HT with 27 parenchymal hematoma (PH). Compared to the non‐PH patients, WNT7A SNPs (rs2163910, P = .001, OR 2.727; rs1124480, P = .002, OR 2.404) and GPR124 SNPs (rs61738775, P = .012, OR 4.883; rs146016051, P A) identified in the PH patients resulted in a single amino acid alteration (p.Cys1196Tyr) in the intracellular domain of GPR124. This variant substantially reduced the activity of WNT7B‐induced canonical Wnt signaling by decreasing the ability of GPR124 to recruit cytoplasmic DVL1 to the cellular membrane. Conclusion Variants of WNT7A and GPR124 are associated with increased risk of PH in patients with AIS after intravenous thrombolysis, likely through regulating the activity of canonical Wnt signaling.

ObjectivesLow levels of income and education are risk factors for metabolic syndrome in the population of Northeast China, which has a high incidence of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine sex-based differences associated with the prevalence of and risk factors for metabolic syndrome among people older than 40 years in Northeast China; this has not been previously investigated.DesignThis study analysed a portion of the large sample data of the national cross-sectional screening of China from 2016. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of any three of the following five risk factors: abnormal waist circumference; high levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or fasting plasma glucose; and elevated blood pressure. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate sex-based differences in the prevalence of, and risk factors for metabolic syndrome.SettingThe study was conducted in Dehui City, Jilin Province, China.ParticipantsA total of 4052 participants with complete questionnaire information and laboratory examination results were included.ResultsThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 50.1% overall (38.4% in men and 57.9% in women; p<0.001). High body mass index and hip circumference were associated with metabolic syndrome in both sexes. In addition, physical inactivity (OR and 95% CI 1.44 (1.06 to 1.97); p=0.022) in men and advanced age (OR and 95% CI 1.54 (1.15 to 2.04); p=0.003) in women were factors associated with metabolic syndrome. Women with junior high school education or above and living in rural areas were less likely to have metabolic syndrome. For men, education and rural or urban living had no association with metabolic syndrome.ConclusionsThe risk factors for metabolic syndrome have similarities and differences in different sexes; thus, the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome should be based on these sex differences.

Depression is one of the major risk factors for the development, progression and prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). Patients with depression and CHD have high mortality and morbidity. Conventional antidepressant therapies achieve limited success in CHD patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of a formulation of Chinese herbal medicine called the “Bu Xin Qi decoction (BXQD)” on the symptoms of depression and cardiac prognosis in patients with comorbid depression and CHD. Chinese patients with symptoms that fulfilled the diagnosis criteria were recruited. A total of 280 patients were eligible and randomized to receive escitalopram or BXQD for 8 weeks and follow-up for additional 4 weeks post-treatment. The primary endpoints included episodes of angina pectoris and duration, HAM-D score. Other outcome measures contained the incidence of cardiac events, the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adrenaline (NE) and 5-serotonin (5-HT). After 8-week treatment, BXQD significantly decreased episodes and duration of angina pectoris from baseline. HAM-D score was also remarkably decreased in both treatment group. Cardiac events were 11% in the BXQD-treated group and 22% in escitalopram group. Furthermore, treatment with BXQD strikingly decreased the levels of hs-CRP and IL-6, and increased 5-HT and NE levels. Our results showed that BXQD possessed a favorable improvement on symptoms of depression and cardiac prognosis, which could be used in combination with usual care for the treatment of patients with these comorbidities. (The name of the clinical registry: Efficient Traditional Chinese Medicine for Treating Coronary Heart Disease Accompanied by Depression. The registration number: ChiCTR-INC-17012872).

Gelatin sponge particles are commonly used in the conventional transarterial chemoembolization (c-TACE) as an adjuvant embolizing agent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there are few reports regarding the clinical applications of gelatin sponge microparticles (GSMs) as a main embolizing agent in the treatment of HCC. This retrospective study aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B HCC treated with intra-arterial injection of 350 to 560 μm GSMs mixed with anticancer agents.Twenty-four patients with unresectable BCLC stage B HCC without any prior treatment underwent transarterial chemoembolization with gelatin sponge microparticles (GSMs-TACE) of diameter 350 to 560 μm mixed with lobaplatin. The mixture was injected into tumor-feeding arteries until the sluggish flow in selective artery. Safety was measured by assessing complication rate, and efficacy was reflected by assessing response to mRECIST therapy and overall survival. The survival rate was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.All 24 BCLC stage B HCC patients showed good tolerance to the procedure. The mean follow-up period was 27 months and mean number of TACE treatments per patient was 3.7 sessions (range 1-10) during the follow-up period. Postprocedure complications were mild and treated by symptomatic treatment. Six months and 1 year overall survival rates were 100% and 87.5%, respectively. Overall median survival time was 25 months (95%CI: 21.06-28.95 months).GSMs-TACE is a safe and effective method for BCLC stage B HCC patients.