The aim of the present study was to determine the association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and microRNA‑222 in the serum of patients with AD. The expression of microRNAs was detected and the results were verified using microarray analysis and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that there were 35 strips of microRNA in the mild AD group, in which the difference of expression signal was >500 IU/ml. There were 26 strips of microRNA with a difference in expression signal of >500 IU/ml in the mild and moderate AD groups. The downregulation of microRNA‑222 in the mild and moderate groups was statistically significant (P<0.01), and the expression of microRNA‑222 in the moderate group was significantly lower, compared with that in the mild AD group (P<0.05). It was concluded that microRNA‑222 may affect the occurrence and development of AD through a variety of mechanisms, and may serve as a biomarker for the early diagnosis of AD.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the recurrence and prognosis of patients with acute middle cerebral artery infarction, atherosclerotic brain infarction, and the existence of microemboli. We continuously enrolled patients with acute atherosclerotic thrombotic cerebral infarction artery stenosis. We performed transcranial Doppler color ultrasound micro emboli monitoring, color Doppler ultrasound carotid artery tests, intracranial Microemboli monitoring study and carotid artery magnetic resonance angiography, impairment evaluation of nerve function, and registration of stroke recurrence and stroke mortality. Of the 49 patients enrolled in the study, 123 main arteries presented atherosclerotic stenosis or formed plaques, and 33 patients had symptomatic stenosis. Patients with symptomatic stenosis have a higher incidence of microemboli than patients with asymptomatic stenosis (P = 0.009). The microembolus-positive rate increased in patients with unstable plaques (P = 0.001). Patients who were microembolus-negative were more likely to show a neural function deficient NIHSS (National Institutes of Stroke Scale) score improvement than patients who were microembolus-positive at one week (P = 0.026). However, we found no significant difference between mRS (modified rankin scale) score (P = 0.319), relapse, and death (P = 0.179). The rate of microembolus-positivity increased in patients with atherosclerotic thrombotic cerebral infarction and unstable plaques. Patients who were microembolus-negative were more likely to show an improvement of neural function deficiency than patients with microembolus-positivity at one week (P = 0.026).

Background and Purpose: Whether imaging parameters would independently predict stroke recurrence in low-risk minor ischemic stroke (MIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) according to traditional score system (such as ABCD 2 score, which was termed on the basis of the initials of the five factors: age, blood pressure, clinical features, duration, diabetes) remains unclear. We sought to evaluate the association between imaging parameters and 1-year stroke recurrence in patients with TIA or MIS in different risk stratum stratified by ABCD 2 score. Methods: We included patients with TIA and MIS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤3) with complete baseline vessel and brain imaging data from the Third China National Stroke Registry III. Patients were categorized into different risk groups based on ABCD 2 score (low risk, 0–3; moderate risk, 4–5; and high risk, 6–7). The primary outcome was stroke recurrence within 1 year. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to assess whether imaging parameters (large artery stenosis, infarction number) were independently associated with stroke recurrence. Results: Of the 7140 patients included, 584 patients experienced stroke recurrence within 1 year. According to the ABCD 2 score, large artery stenosis was associated with higher stroke recurrence in both low-risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.746 [95% CI, 1.200–2.540]) and moderate-risk group (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.326 [95% CI, 1.042–1.687]) but not in the high-risk group ( P >0.05). Patients with multiple acute infarctions or single acute infarction had a higher risk of recurrent stroke than those with no infarction in both low- and moderate-risk groups, but not in the high-risk group. Conclusions: Large artery stenosis and infarction number were independent predictors of 1-year stroke recurrence in low-moderate risk but not in high-risk patients with TIA or MIS stratified by ABCD 2 score. This finding emphasizes the importance of early brain and vascular imaging evaluation for risk stratification in patients with TIA or MIS.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of microembolic signals (MES) on post‑stroke neurological deficits, stroke recurrence and survival in patients with acute cerebral infarction (CI). Patients with acute CI were enrolled consecutively and classified etiologically into the following 4 subtypes using the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification: i) Cardioembolism (CE); ii) large‑artery atherosclerosis (LA); iii) small‑vessel disease (SVD); and iv) stroke of other etiology, including other and undetermined etiologies. The MES of cerebral arteries were monitored by transcranial doppler (TCD), carotid atherosclerotic lesions were detected by color Doppler sonography and extracranial and intracranial magnetic resonance angiography were performed. Next, the severity of neurological deficits was evaluated using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. Cases of stroke recurrence and post‑stroke mortality were recorded. A total of 135 patients were recruited, including 33 with CE, 49 with LA, 24 with SVD and 29 with stroke of other etiology. A significant difference in the incidence of MES was identified between the 4 subtypes (P=0.025). The occurrence of positive MES was found to markedly correlate with a history of coronary heart disease (P<0.001) and antithrombotic treatment (P=0.045) and increased levels low density lipoprotein (P=0.036). Compared with patients with negative MES, no significant changes in NIHSS scores were found in patients with positive MES on days 1 and 7 following admission. The incidence of recurrent stoke and post‑stroke mortality was elevated 3 months from the onset of CI. In conclusion, a significant difference in the occurrence of MES was identified between subtypes of patients with acute CI. The incidence of recurrent stroke and mortality was increased among patients with positive MES 3 months from onset.