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Abstract Despite recent findings indicating a paradoxical association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, the impact of HDL-C on subsequent outcomes after ischemic stroke remains unclear. The study aims to investigate the relationships between HDL-C levels and post-stroke functional outcomes while examining the potential modifying influence of HDL-C-related single nucleotide polymorphisms identified through genome-wide association studies. This cohort study included 1,310 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), all of whom had their admission serum lipid profile and genotyping information. Participants were categorized into four groups based on gender and HDL-C level. Prognostic outcomes were assessed using a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 1, 3, and 12 months post-admission. Multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline regression analysis were used to assess the associations between HDL-C levels and outcomes. The mean age of patients was 61.17 ± 12.08 years, and 69.31% were men. After adjusting confounders, patients with the highest HDL-C level group had a significantly higher risk of poor functional outcomes at 1, 3, and 12 months following stroke compared to the reference group. Restricted cubic splines depicted a nonlinear association between HDL-C levels and poor prognosis in both men and women. The ABCA1 gene rs2575876 AA genotype combined with abnormal HDL-C levels exhibited a significantly heightened risk of post-stroke adverse outcomes at 1 and 3 months compared to patients with normal HDL-C levels and GG + GA genotype. These findings suggest that the combined effects of ABCA1 genetic variants with either low or high HDL-C levels could further heighten this risk.

BackgroundHyperglycemia affects the outcomes of endovascular therapy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study compares the predictive ability of diabetes status and glucose measures on EVT outcomes using nationwide registry data.MethodsThe study included 1,097 AIS patients who underwent EVT from the Taiwan Registry of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke. The variables analyzed included diabetes status, admission glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), admission glucose-to-HbA1c ratio (GAR), and outcomes such as 90-day poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 2) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH). Multivariable analyses investigated the independent effects of diabetes status and glucose measures on outcomes. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to compare their predictive abilities.ResultsThe multivariable analysis showed that individuals with known diabetes had a higher likelihood of poor functional outcomes (odds ratios [ORs] 2.10 to 2.58) and SICH (ORs 3.28 to 4.30) compared to those without diabetes. Higher quartiles of admission glucose and GAR were associated with poor functional outcomes and SICH. Higher quartiles of HbA1c were significantly associated with poor functional outcomes. However, patients in the second HbA1c quartile (5.6–5.8%) showed a non-significant tendency toward good functional outcomes compared to those in the lowest quartile (

Abstract Background Previous studies of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) or do-not-intubate (DNI) orders in stroke patients have primarily been conducted in North America or Europe. However, characteristics associated with DNR/DNI orders in stroke patients in Asia have not been reported. Methods Based on the Taiwan Stroke Registry, this nationwide cross-sectional study enrolled hospitalized stroke patients from 64 hospitals between 2006 and 2020. We identified characteristics associated with DNR/DNI orders using a two-level random effects model. Results Among the 114,825 patients, 5531 (4.82%) had DNR/DNI orders. Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) had the highest likelihood of having DNR/DNI orders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.61–1.93), followed by patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) had the lowest likelihood (aOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.43–0.66). From 2006 to 2020, DNR/DNI orders increased in all three types of stroke. In patients with AIS, women were significantly more likely to have DNR/DNI orders (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.15–1.32), while patients who received intravenous alteplase had a lower likelihood (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.65–0.84). Patients with AIS who were cared for by religious hospitals (aOR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35–0.87) and patients with SAH who were cared for by medical centers (aOR 0.40, 95% CI 0.17–0.96) were significantly less likely to have DNR/DNI orders. Conclusions In Taiwan, DNR/DNI orders increased in stroke patients between 2006 and 2020. Hospital characteristics were found to play a significant role in the use of DNR/DNI orders.

Background Research on the cardiovascular toxicity of angiogenesis inhibitors among patients with cancer in Taiwan is lacking. This observational study explored the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) associated with angiogenesis inhibitors in Taiwan. Methods and Results We conducted a nested case‐control study using the TCR (Taiwan Cancer Registry) linked with the Taiwan National Insurance Claim Database. We matched every case with 4 controls using risk‐set sampling by index date, age, sex, cancer type, and cancer diagnosis date. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the risks of MACEs and different cardiovascular events using propensity score adjustment or matching. Sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate the risks matched by cancer stages or exposure within 1 year. Among a cohort of 284 292 after the exclusion of prevalent cases, the incidences of MACEs among the overall cohort and those exposed to angiogenesis inhibitors were 22.5 and 32.5 events per 1000 person‐years, respectively. We matched 17 817 cases with 70 740 controls, with a mean age of 74.9 years, and 56.8% of patients were men. After propensity score adjustment, angiogenesis inhibitors were associated with increased risks of MACEs (odds ratio, 4.56; 95% CI, 1.78–11.59). Significantly increased risks were noted for heart failure hospitalization, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, and venous thromboembolism, but not for new‐onset atrial fibrillation. Similar results were observed after matching by cancer stage or restriction of 1‐year exposure. Conclusions Angiogenesis inhibitors were associated with increased risks of MACEs among patients with various malignancies in Taiwan but were not associated with new‐onset atrial fibrillation.

Background Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is the standard therapy for patients with acute ischemic stroke secondary to large‐artery occlusion. In January 2019, the Taiwan Stroke Society established a nationwide TREAT‐AIS (Taiwan Registry of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke). Here, we provide the study design, current progress, and baseline data of TREAT‐AIS. Methods TREAT‐AIS is a multicenter prospective registration program in Taiwan. Patients aged ≥20 years who underwent EVT for acute ischemic stroke were recruited. The key items on the registration form were divided into general stroke demographics and EVT‐related sections. The main outcome of effectiveness was functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) at 3 months. The influence of sex on post‐EVT outcomes was also analyzed in the presented study. Results By the end of June 2022, there were 10 medical centers and 9 community hospitals participating in the TREAT‐AIS and a total of 1522 patients (mean±SD age, 71.2±13.6 years; men, 55.6%) being enrolled. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission was 18 (interquartile range, 12–23). The major cause of stroke was cardioembolism (43.6%), followed by large‐artery atherosclerosis (36.8%) and an undetermined cause (15.4%). Functional independence at 3 months poststroke was achieved in 36.2% of the patients. Male patients were more likely to have functional independence at 3 months compared with female patients (40.4% versus 30.8%; P

Abstract Objective Mutations in the colony‐stimulating factor 1 receptor gene (CSF1R) were identified as a cause of adult‐onset inherited leukoencephalopathy. The present study aims at investigating the frequency, clinical characteristics, and functional effects of CSF1R mutations in Taiwanese patients with adult‐onset leukoencephalopathy. Methods Mutational analysis of CSF1R was performed in 149 unrelated individuals with leukoencephalopathy by a targeted resequencing panel covering the entire coding regions of CSF1R. In vitro analysis of the CSF1‐induced autophosphorylation activities of mutant CSF1R proteins was conducted to assess the pathogenicity of the CSF1R mutations. Results Among the eight CSF1R variants identified in this study, five mutations led to a loss of CSF1‐induced autophosphorylation of CSF1R proteins. Four mutations (p.K586*, p.G589R, p.R777Q, and p.R782C) located within the tyrosine kinase domain of CSF1R, whereas the p.T79M mutation resided in the immunoglobulin‐like domain. The five patients carrying the CSF1R mutations developed cognitive decline at age 41, 43, 50, 79, and 86 years, respectively. Psychiatric symptoms and behavior changes were observed in four of the five patients. The executive function and processing speed were severely impaired at an early stage, and their cognitive function deteriorated rapidly within 3–4 years. Diffusion‐restricted lesions at the subcortical regions and bilateral corticospinal tracts were found in three patients. Interpretation CSF1R mutations account for 3.5% (5/149) of the adult‐onset leukoencephalopathy in Taiwan. CSF1R mutations outside the tyrosine kinase domain may also disturb the CSF1R function and lead to the clinical phenotype. Molecular functional validation is important to determine the pathogenicity of novel CSF1R variants.

Cryptogenic stroke comprises about one-quarter of ischemic strokes with high recurrence rate; however, studies specifically investigating the features and treatment of this stroke subtype are rare. The concept of ‘embolic stroke of undetermined source’ (ESUS) may facilitate the development of a standardized approach to diagnose cryptogenic stroke and improve clinical trials. Since recent large randomized control trials failed to demonstrate a reduction in stroke recurrence with anticoagulants, anti-platelet agents remain the first-line treatment for ESUS patients. Nevertheless, patients with high risk of stroke recurrence (e.g., those with repeated embolic infarcts despite aspirin treatment) require a more extensive survey of stroke etiology, including cardiac imaging and prolonged cardiac rhythm monitoring. Anticoagulant treatments may still benefit some subgroups of high-risk ESUS patients, such as those with multiple infarcts at different arterial territories without aortic atheroma, the elderly, or patients with high CHA2D2-VASc or HOVAC scores, atrial cardiopathy or patent foramen ovale. Several important ESUS clinical trials are ongoing, and the results are anticipated. With rapid progress in our understanding of ESUS pathophysiology, new subcategorizations of ESUS and assignment of optimal treatments for each ESUS subgroup are expected in the near future.

BackgroundThe efficacy and safety of intravenous alteplase administered 3–4.5 h after acute ischemic stroke have been demonstrated. However, whether responses differ between low-dose and standard-dose alteplase during this time window and whether certain subgroups benefit more remain unknown.Patients and MethodsThe current analysis was based on a multicenter matched-cohort study conducted in Taiwan. The treatment group comprised 378 patients receiving intravenous alteplase 3–4.5 h after stroke onset, and the control group comprised 378 age- and sex-matched patients who did not receive alteplase treatment during the same period. Standard- and low-dose alteplase was administered to patients at the physician's discretion.ResultsOverall, patients receiving alteplase exhibited more favorable outcomes than did controls [34.0 vs. 22.7%; odds ratio (OR): 1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27–1.42], and the effectiveness was consistent in all subgroups. Although patients in the standard-dose group (n = 182) were younger than those in the low-dose (n = 192) group, the proportions of patients with favorable outcomes (36.3 vs. 31.8%; OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.80–1.88) and symptomatic hemorrhage (2.8 vs 4.2%; OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.21–2.02) were consistently comparable in a covariate-adjusted model and an age-matched cohort. In the subgroup analysis, patients with cardioembolism, atrial fibrillation, and hypercholesterolemia were more likely to achieve favorable outcomes after receiving standard-dose than low-dose alteplase.ConclusionIn the 3–4.5 h time window, the effectiveness and safety of standard-dose and low-dose alteplase may be comparable. A standard dose may be selected for patients with cardioembolism, atrial fibrillation, or hypercholesterolemia.

Objective: Lower serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are associated with increased intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) risk. However, reverse causality and residual confounding has not attracted public attention. Therefore, we assessed whether people with LDL-C have increased risk of mortality adjusting for potential confounders using two large Taiwan cohorts.Methods: The Mei-Jhao (MJ) cohort has 414,372 adults participating in a medical screening program with 378 ICH deaths within 15 years of follow-up (1994–2008). Cox proportional hazards regressions estimated hazard death ratios according to LDL-C levels. We identified 4,606 ICH patients from the Taiwan Stroke Registry (TSR) and analyzed the impact of LDL-C on 3-month mortality.Results: Low cholesterol (LDL-C

Despite the increasing health burden of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in aging populations, little is known about the course of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes. We aimed to assess individual-level longitudinal HRQoL changes in elderly patients with CHB and to examine their correlates. A prospective 5.1 years-cohort study was conducted in community-dwelling adults aged 55 years with hepatitis B surface antigen-positive. Participants underwent serial measurement of HRQoL using the short-form (12) health survey version 2. Of 503 participants, 82.7% remained in good physical health throughout the study period, whereas 9.1% had declining physical health and 8.2% were in poor physical health. We likewise identified three trajectories of mental health changes (“good mental health” [86.9%], “declining mental health” [6.8%], and “poor mental health” [6.4%]). Three baseline characteristics were independently associated with a lower likelihood of remaining physically or mentally healthy: sarcopenic obesity (odds ratio [OR] with 95% confidence interval [95% CI] of 7.5 [2.8–20.5] for poor physical health, 3.1 [1.1–8.4] for declining physical health, 4.3 [1.4–13.0] for poor mental health), a higher number of metabolic abnormalities (OR [95% CI] of 3.6 [1.6–8.0] for poor physical health) and depressed mood (OR [95% CI] of 21.7 [5.8–81.0] for poor physical health, 5.3 [1.4–19.9] for declining physical health, 83.1 [19.7–350.2] for poor mental health, 13.6 [2.9–64.8] for declining mental health). In conclusion, in a cohort of elderly patients with CHB, we demonstrated the heterogeneity and nonlinearity of HRQoL changes and their associations with variations in specific extrahepatic organs/systems.

Objective: Stroke in young adults is uncommon, and the etiologies and risk factors of stroke in young adults differ from those in older populations. Smoker's paradox is an unexpected favorable outcome, and age difference is used to explain the association between smoking and the favorable functional outcome. This study aimed to investigate the existence of this phenomenon in young stroke patients.Methods: We analyzed a total of 9,087 young stroke cases registered in the nationwide stroke registry system of Taiwan between 2006 and 2016. Smoking criteria included having a current history of smoking more than one cigarette per day for more than 6 months. After matching for sex and age, a Cox model was used to compare mortality and function outcomes between smokers and non-smokers.Results: Compared with the non-smoker group, smoking was associated with older age, higher comorbidities, and higher alcohol consumption. Patients who report smoking with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores of 11–15 had a worse functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.76 – 0.87).Conclusion: Smokers had a higher risk of unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months after stroke, and therefore, we continue to strongly advocate the importance of smoking cessation.

Under the time-based criteria, patients with unknown onset stroke (UOS) are ineligible for reperfusion therapies. However, previous studies suggest that some patients with UOS may benefit from reperfusion. Several imaging modalities have been suggested to select patients for intervention, but the optimal imaging criteria are still controversial. Herein we present a series of four cases using 10-point CT-ASPECTS to support our decision of reperfusion therapy. We decided based on history, symptoms, and the 10-point CT-ASPECTS alone. Each patient's history suggested that the stroke just took place. All four patients had apparent clinical symptoms, with 10-point CT-ASPECTS. All of them had a reduction in their NIHSS after the reperfusion therapy. 10-point CT-ASPECTS could be used to support the presumption that the stroke just happens in patients with UOS. Further study is warranted to elucidate the value of CT-ASPECTS for UOS patients. Keywords: ASPECTS, Unknown onset stroke, Intravenous thrombolysis, Mechanical thrombectomy, Reperfusion therapy

Vincristine is a clinically used antimicrotubule drug for treating patients with lymphoma. Due to its property of increasing platelet counts, vincristine is also used to treat patients with immune thrombocytopenia. Moreover, antiplatelet agents were reported to be beneficial in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Therefore, we investigated the detailed mechanisms underlying the antiplatelet effect of vincristine. Our results revealed that vincristine inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, but not by thrombin, arachidonic acid, and the thromboxane A2 analog U46619, suggesting that vincristine exerts higher inhibitory effects on collagen-mediated platelet aggregation. Vincristine also reduced collagen-mediated platelet granule release and calcium mobilization. In addition, vincristine inhibited glycoprotein VI (GPVI) signaling, including Syk, phospholipase Cγ2, protein kinase C, Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinases. In addition, the in vitro PFA-100 assay revealed that vincristine did not prolong the closure time, and the in vivo study tail bleeding assay showed that vincristine did not prolong the tail bleeding time; both findings suggested that vincristine may not affect normal hemostasis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that vincristine exerts antiplatelet effects at least in part through the suppression of GPVI signaling. Moreover, this property of antiplatelet activity of vincristine may provide additional benefits in the treatment of TTP.

Abstract Background Estrogen plays an important role as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agent in ischemic stroke. In this study, we analyzed the effect of a polygenic risk score (PRS) constructed using inflammatory genes and estradiol levels on the risk of ischemic stroke. Methods This case-control study was conducted with 624 ischemic stroke patients and 624 age- and gender-matched controls. The PRS estimated the polygenic contribution of inflammatory genes from ischemic stroke susceptibility loci. Estradiol levels were measured using a radioimmunoassay. High and low estradiol levels were defined according to the log-transformed median estradiol levels in female and male controls. Results Subjects in the fourth quartile of the PRS had a significant 1.57-fold risk of ischemic stroke (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 ~ 2.19), after adjusting for covariates compared to individuals in the lowest quartile. Compared to individuals with high estradiol levels and a low PRS as the reference group, those exposed to low estradiol levels and a high PRS had an increased risk of ischemic stroke (odds ratio, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.79 ~ 6.28). Similar results were also observed in males when the analysis was stratified by gender. Conclusions Our data suggest that the PRS can be useful in evaluating a high risk of ischemic stroke among patients, especially those exposed to low estradiol levels.

Background and Objectives: Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) has been approved for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) within 3 h after onset and the treatment was then extended to 4.5 h. However, the Food and Drug Administration did not approve the indication in the expanded time window. This retrospective, matched cohort study aims to investigate the effectiveness and safety of rt-PA in AIS at 3–4.5 h after onset.Materials and Methods: The treatment group included AIS patients receiving rt-PA at 3–4.5 h after onset, otherwise complying with the regulation, in the stroke registries in 16 hospitals between 2008 and 2017. The control group included age- and sex-matched patients not receiving intravenous thrombolysis from the same registries, excluding those with contraindications. The primary outcome was modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–1 at day 90. The safety outcomes were any intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), early neurological deterioration and 3-month mortality.Results: Each group had 374 patients. There were 34.0% of patients with 3-month mRS 0-1 in the treatment group vs. 22.7% in the control group with an odds ratio of 1.75 (95% confidence intervals, 1.27 to 2.42, P = 0.001). There was no difference in symptomatic ICH, early neurological deterioration and 3-month mortality rates between two groups. The 3-month mRS and symptomatic ICH did not differ significantly in patients receiving standard dose or low dose of rt-PA.Conclusions: Our results support the prescription of rt-PA in AIS patients 3–4.5 h after onset as an effective and tolerable treatment in their functional recovery.

Normal aging is associated with functional and structural alterations in the human brain. The effects of normal aging and gender on morphological changes in specific regions of the brain are unknown. The fractal dimension (FD) can be a quantitative measure of cerebral folding. In this study, we used 3D-FD analysis with the Desikan–Killiany (DK) atlas to assess subregional morphological changes in adulthood. A total of 258 participants (112 women and 146 men) aged 30–85 years participated in this study. Participants in the middle-age group exhibited a decreased FD in the lateral frontal lobes, which then spread to the temporal and parietal lobes. Men exhibited an earlier and more significant decrease in FD values, mainly in the right frontal and left parietal lobes. Men exhibited more of a decrease in FD values in the subregions on the left than those in the right, whereas women exhibited more of a decrease in the lateral subregions. Older men were at a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and exhibited age-related memory decline earlier than women. Our FD analysis using the DK atlas-based prediagnosis may provide a suitable tool for assessing normal aging and neurodegeneration between groups or in individual patients.

Background Clopidogrel was thought to be superior to aspirin for secondary prevention of vascular diseases in clinical trials. In this study we assessed the safety and efficacy of clopidogrel versus aspirin in real‐world practice by using the Taiwan Stroke Registry. Methods and Results Patients with ischemic stroke (2006–2016) on aspirin or clopidogrel for secondary stroke prevention were identified in the Taiwan Stroke Registry. Stroke recurrence and mortality rates in patients receiving aspirin (N=34 679) were compared with those receiving clopidogrel (N=7611) during a 12‐month follow‐up period. Propensity score matching and conditional Cox proportional hazards regression model were applied to control confounding factors with 6443 patients in each group. After propensity score matching, stroke recurrence rates were comparable between groups, with 223 patients in the aspirin (3.46%) and 244 in the clopidogrel group (3.79%) (hazard ratio=1.13, 95% confidence interval=0.89–1.43, P=0.311). However, the mortality rate was significantly higher in the clopidogrel group (362 patients, 5.62%) than in the aspirin group (302 patients, 4.69%) (hazard ratio=1.30, 95% confidence interval=1.07–1.58, P=0.008). Results were consistent before and after propensity score matching. Conclusions Clopidogrel was as effective as aspirin for prevention of recurrent stroke in real‐world practice. However, the mortality rate was significantly higher in the clopidogrel than in the aspirin group.

Xanthohumol is the major prenylated flavonoid in the hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.). The aim of our study was to determine the effects of xanthohumol on the U87 glioma cell line. In the present study, the U87 glioma cell line was treated with xanthohumol. Our results showed that xanthohumol reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis detected by the MTT assay and PI–Annexin V doubling staining, respectively, in glioma cells. In the acridine orange staining experiments, we also found that xanthohumol induced autophagy, as detected by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Western blot also showed that xanthohumol inhibited the Akt/mTOR/S6K pathway and promoted LC3-II formation and p62 degradation. Moreover, we found that the Erk inhibitor or JNK inhibitor could partially reversed the xanthohumol-induced LC3-II formation and cell death. Otherwise, autophagy inhibition by bafilomycin A1, Atg5 shRNA, or Atg7 shRNA partially protected xanthohumol-induced cell death. These findings indicated that xanthohumol may induce glioma cell death through induction of autophagy. In addition, we also demonstrated that xanthohumol inhibited tumour growth in a mouse xenograft model. In conclusion, xanthohumol may induce autophagy in glioma cells through both Akt/mTOR/S6K pathway and MAPK cascade and inhibit tumour growth in vivo. Our findings also support that autophagy induction may provide benefits to increasing therapeutic efficacy of anti-cancer drugs for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.

BackgroundPulse pressure (PP) is related to cardiac function, arterial stiffness, fluid status, and vascular events. This study aimed to explore the prognostic role of PP upon admission in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) based on a nation‐wide stroke registry. Methods and ResultsWe evaluated the association between PP upon admission and outcomes 3 months after a stroke in patients who had an AIS registered in the Taiwan Stroke Registry, including 56 academic and community hospitals between 2006 and 2013. Three months after the stroke, unfavorable outcomes were defined using a modified Rankin scale of 3 to 6. Of 33 530 patients (female, 40.6%; mean age, 68.8±13.3 years) who had an AIS, PP upon admission had a reverse J‐curve association with an unfavorable outcome. After adjusting for clinical variables, including AIS subtypes, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure upon admission, a PP of

BackgroundCumulative evidence has shown that low mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content is related to elevated oxidative stress and atherosclerosis, which play important roles in ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to explore the association between mtDNA content in peripheral blood leukocytes and ischemic stroke. Methods and ResultsA total of 350 patients with first‐ever ischemic stroke and 350 healthy controls were recruited in this case‐control study. The mtDNA content in peripheral blood leukocytes was determined by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The levels of oxidized glutathione, reduced glutathione, and 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine were measured by ELISA kits. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between mtDNA content in peripheral blood leukocytes and ischemic stroke. Our results show that mtDNA content of patients with ischemic stroke was notably lower compared with controls. A significant association was found between low mtDNA content and ischemic stroke. Furthermore, significant interactions were identified between low mtDNA and proven risk factors in patients with ischemic stroke. The levels of oxidized glutathione and 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine were significantly greater in patients with ischemic stroke compared with controls. ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that low mtDNA content in peripheral blood leukocytes is associated with ischemic stroke. The relationship of low mtDNA content and ischemic stroke was particularly notable in individuals who had low mtDNA content combined with diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, or cigarette smoking. Oxidative stress may be one of the contributory factors to decreased mtDNA content in patients with ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND:Asians have higher frequency of intracranial arterial stenosis. The present study aimed to compare the clinical features and outcomes of ischemic stroke patients with and without middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis, assessed by transcranial sonography (TCS), based on the Taiwan Stroke Registry (TSR). METHODS:Patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack registered in the TSR, and received both carotid duplex and TCS assessment were categorized into those with stenosis (≥50%) and without (

BackgroundMicroRNAs play an important role in cardiac remodeling. MicroRNA 499 (miR499) is highly enriched in cardiomyocytes and targets the gene for Calcineurin A (CnA), which is associated with mitochondrial fission and apoptosis. The mechanism regulating miR499 in stretched cardiomyocytes and in volume overloaded heart is unclear. We sought to investigate the mechanism regulating miR499 and CnA in stretched cardiomyocytes and in volume overload-induced heart failure.Methods & resultsRat cardiomyocytes grown on a flexible membrane base were stretched via vacuum to 20% of maximum elongation at 60 cycles/min. An in vivo model of volume overload with aorta-caval shunt in adult rats was used to study miR499 expression. Mechanical stretch downregulated miR499 expression, and enhanced the expression of CnA protein and mRNA after 12 hours of stretch. Expression of CnA and calcineurin activity was suppressed with miR499 overexpression; whereas, expression of dephosphorylated dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) was suppressed with miR499 overexpression and CnA siRNA. Adding p53 siRNA reversed the downregulation of miR499 when stretched. A gel shift assay and promoter-activity assay demonstrated that stretch increased p53 DNA binding activity but decreased miR499 promoter activity. When the miR499 promoter p53-binding site was mutated, the inhibition of miR499 promoter activity with stretch was reversed. The in vivo aorta-caval shunt also showed downregulated myocardial miR499 and overexpression of miR499 suppressed CnA and cellular apoptosis.ConclusionThe miR499-controlled apoptotic pathway involving CnA and Drp1 in stretched cardiomyocytes may be regulated by p53 through the transcriptional regulation of miR499.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148683.].

Chemerin, a novel adipokine, plays a role in the inflammation status of vascular endothelial cells. Hypoxia causes endothelial-cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. This study was aimed at evaluating the protein and mRNA expression of chemerin after exposure of human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) to hypoxia.Cultured HCAECs underwent hypoxia for different time points. Chemerin protein levels increased after 4 h of hypoxia at 2.5% O2, with a peak of expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) at 1 h. Both hypoxia and exogenously added TNF-alpha during normoxia stimulated chemerin expression, whereas an ERK inhibitor (PD98059), ERK small interfering RNA (siRNA), or an anti-TNF-alpha antibody attenuated the chemerin upregulation induced by hypoxia. A gel shift assay indicated that hypoxia induced an increase in DNA-protein binding between the chemerin promoter and transcription factor SP1. A luciferase assay confirmed an increase in transcriptional activity of SP1 on the chemerin promoter during hypoxia. Hypoxia significantly increased the tube formation and migration of HCAECs, whereas PD98059, the anti-TNF-alpha antibody, and chemerin siRNA each attenuated these effects.Hypoxia activates chemerin expression in cultured HCAECs. Hypoxia-induced chemerin expression is mediated by TNF-alpha and at least in part by the ERK pathway. Chemerin increases early processes of angiogenesis by HCAECs after hypoxic treatment.

In the management of acute ischemic stroke, guideline adherence is often suboptimal, particularly for intravenous thrombolysis or anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation. We sought to improve stroke care quality via a collaborative model, the Breakthrough Series (BTS)-Stroke activity, in a nationwide, multi-center activity in Taiwan. A BTS Collaborative, a short-term learning system for a large number of multidisciplinary teams from hospitals, was applied to enhance acute ischemic stroke care quality. Twenty-four hospitals participated in and submitted data for this stroke quality improvement campaign in 2010-2011. Totally, 14 stroke quality measures, adopted from the Get With The Guideline (GWTG)-Stroke program, were used to evaluate the performance and outcome of the ischemic stroke patients. Data for a one-year period from 24 hospitals with 13,181 acute ischemic stroke patients were analyzed. In 14 hospitals, most stroke quality measures improved significantly during the BTS-activity compared with a pre-BTS-Stroke activity period (2006-08). The rate of intravenous thrombolysis increased from 1.2% to 4.6%, door-to-needle time ≤60 minutes improved from 7.1% to 50.8%, symptomatic hemorrhage after intravenous thrombolysis decreased from 11.0% to 5.6%, and anticoagulation therapy for atrial fibrillation increased from 32.1% to 64.1%. The yearly composite measures of five stroke quality measures revealed significant improvements from 2006 to 2011 (75% to 86.3%, p

Background: Results from previous studies regarding relationships between age at menarche and cardiovascular disease remain controversial. This study investigated the association between endogenous estrogen exposure and ischemic stroke risk. Methods: A total of 189 ischemic stroke patients and 192 age-matched healthy postmenopausal women were recruited. Age at menarche and menopause and risk factors of ischemic stroke were recorded through structured questionnaires by well-trained research assistants. Lifetime estrogen exposure was calculated as the number of years between age of menarche and menopause. Results: Study subjects with a history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus have a 2.8- and 6.2-fold increased risk for ischemic stroke, respectively. In addition, study subjects with waist circumferences ≥ 80cm also have a 2.6-fold increased risk of ischemic stroke. Conversely, subjects who experienced menarche at an early age may have a significantly decreased risk of 0.3-fold for ischemic stroke. Moreover, there was a significant and joint protective effect for study subjects without any risk factors of ischemic stroke, including a history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, late age at menarche, and shorter lifetime estrogen exposure; these subjects were found to have the lowest risk (0.03-fold) for the development of ischemic stroke. Conclusion: Our study provides strong evidence that a significant joint protective effect was observed for patients who undergo early menarche, have longer estrogen exposure and no history of hypertension or diabetes mellitus on the risk of ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether gallstone disease (GD) increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a large population-based cohort. METHODS:A study population including 6,981 patients with GD was identified from The Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2004 and 2005. GD patients were defined as patients with principal discharge diagnoses of cholelithiasis using the ICD-9-CM code 574. 27,924 patients without GD were randomly selected and matched for age and gender. All patients were followed for 6 years or until diagnosis for CVD. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the risk of developing CVD with adjustment for age, gender and co-morbid conditions. RESULTS:During the six years follow-up period, 935 patients with GD and 2,758 patients without GD developed CVD. Patients with GD had an elevated risk of CVD (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.22-1.43) when compared with those without GD. Similar relationship was observed when CVD was categorized i.e. stroke (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.01-1.32), coronary heart disease (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.28-1.58) and heart failure (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.00-1.73). When GD was classified according to the level of severity, using patients without GD as reference, the risks of CVD were elevated in patients with non-severe GD (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24-1.46) as well as those with severe GD (HR, 1.20, 95% CI, 1.02-1.40), after adjusting for age, gender and comorbidities. In age-stratified analysis, patients aged 18-40 years with GD were at higher risk of developing CVD (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.09-1.84) than older GD patients. CONCLUSION:This study found an increased risk of CVD in patients diagnosed with GD. The excess risk was particularly high in younger GD patients. Prevention of GD could help reduce the risk of developing CVD, and the better effect could be achieved for the younger age groups.