Basilar artery (BA) dolichosis is not uncommon in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction. The effect of this abnormal BA geometrical form on the outcomes of pontine infarction has not been closely examined. This study aims to elucidate whether BA dolichosis contributes to a poor 90-day outcome in acute isolated pontine infarction. A total of 101 patients were enrolled with a median age of 65 years. the BA diameter (p = 0.026), basilar artery length (BAL) (p < 0.001), bending length (BL) (p < 0.001) and the proportion of BA bending (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the BA dolichosis group. A poor outcome was closely associated with the baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (p < 0.001), and BL (p = 0.042) as well as the proportions of BA dolichosis (p = 0.007) and BA bending (p = 0.010) in univariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis determined that BA dolichosis (adjusted oR = 4.724, 95% CI: 1.481~15.071, p = 0.009) and baseline NIHSS score (adjusted oR = 1.805, 95% CI: 1.296~2.513, p < 0.001) were independently associated with a poor outcome at 90 days. In conclusion, BA dolichosis may be a predictor of concern for a poor 90-day outcome in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction. ResultsClinical and demographic data of the study. In total, 131 patients with acute isolated pontine infarction were admitted during the study period between July 2015 and June 2018. Among these patients, 30 were excluded according to the exclusion criteria. There was no loss of follow-up or death during the 90-day follow-up. Therefore, 101 patients were finally enrolled in the present study (Fig. 1). All patients were Chinese Hans. Among the 101 patients, 60 (59.4%) were male and 41 (40.6%) were female with an age of 65 (20) (years, median (M) and interquartile range (IQR)). The infarct sites of 80 (79.2%) were located in the paramedian pontine area, 4 (4.0%) were in the anterior lateral pontine area, 9 (8.9%) were in the lateral pontine area and 8 (7.9%) were in multiple infarct areas. Patients with simple BA dolichosis accounted for 32.7% (33 cases), but no patients had simple BA ectasia. BADE patients accounted for only 1.0% (1 case). Of the 101 patients, 34 (33.7%) patients were divided into the BA dolichosis group, and the other 67 (66.3%) patients were divided into the non-BA dolichosis group. There were 81 (80.2%) patients with good outcomes versus 20 (19.8%) patients with a poor outcome at 90 days. The characteristics of the study population divided by group are summarized in Fig. 2 and Supplementary Table 1.

Background and purpose Previous studies have indicated that fibrinogen and low serum albumin levels are associated with poor outcomes of acute ischemic stroke. The role of the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) as a novel inflammatory and thrombotic biomarker in acute ischemic stroke is unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the FAR and 3-month outcomes of acute pontine infarction. Methods: Patients with acute pontine infarction were consecutively included. All patients were followed up at 3 months after onset, and the 3-month outcome was evaluated using modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. A score of 0 to 2 was defined as a good outcome, and a score ≥ 3 was defined as a poor outcome. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to calculate the optimal cutoff values for patients with acute pontine infarction. Then, a binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate the risk factors for a poor outcome after acute pontine infarction. Results: A total of 264 patients with acute pontine infarction were included. Eighty (30.3%) patients were included in the poor outcome group. The optimal cutoff value of the FAR for predicting the 3-month outcome of acute pontine infarction was 8.199. The FAR was independently associated with a poor outcome at 3 months in patients with acute pontine infarction (odds ratio [OR] = 1.293, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.150-1.453). Conclusions: We found that a high FAR predicted poor 3-month outcomes in patients with acute pontine infarction.

BackgroundNuclear auto-antigenic sperm protein (NASP) has been implicated in tumorigenesis. However, its role in melanoma is still unclear.Materials and methodsIn the present study, we detected the mRNA and protein level of NASP in melanoma cell lines and tissues. Then the role of NASP was investigated by transfecting with NASP siRNAs. Finally, the prognosis of NASP was analyzed in 100 melanoma patients through Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses.ResultsWe showed that NASP was significantly overexpressed in melanoma tissues, and unregulated NASP promoted melanoma cell proliferation via promoting cell cycle G1/S phase transition. Additionally, the expression of NASP was closely related to proliferating cell nuclear antigen, a widely accepted biomarker for cell proliferation. Clinically, we found that a high level of NASP predicated poor overall survival and high cumulative recurrence rates. Multivariate analysis revealed that NASP was a risk biomarker for predicting the prognosis of melanoma patients.ConclusionElevated NASP plays an important role in melanoma cell proliferation and tumor progression, and it can be used as an independent prognostic biomarker for melanoma patients.

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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease. A small proportion of discharged patients may become positive again for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA, even if they meet the discharge criteria. Herein, we report a rare COVID-19 patient with recurrent recurrence of positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Case presentation:A 68-year-old man was admitted due to fever, muscle pain, and fatigue. He was initially diagnosed with COVID-19 according to two consecutive positive results for SARS-CoV-2 RNA plus clinical symptoms and chest CT findings, and was discharged from hospital when meeting the discharge criteria, including two consecutive negative results. He was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA twice during the quarantine and was hospitalized again. He was asymptomatic then, but IgG and IgM were both positive. He was discharged in the context of four consecutive negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 RNA after antiviral treatment. However, he was tested positive once again on the 3rd and 4th day after the second discharge, although still asymptomatic. IgG and IgM were still positive. After antiviral treatment, the results of SARS-CoV-2 RNA were negative in three consecutive retests, and he was finally discharged and quarantined for further surveillance. Conclusion:This case suggests that a small proportion of convalescent patients may become positive again for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and be a virus carrier.