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Hospitals in China are classified into tiers (1, 2 or 3), with the largest (tier 3) having more equipment and specialist staff. Differential health insurance cost-sharing by hospital tier (lower deductibles and higher reimbursement rates in lower tiers) was introduced to reduce overcrowding in higher tier hospitals, promote use of lower tier hospitals, and limit escalating healthcare costs. However, little is known about the effects of differential cost-sharing in health insurance schemes on choice of hospital tiers.

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Background: Serum albumin level is associated with infection after stroke, but whether albumin predicts post-stroke pneumonia is unclear. The potential relationship between albumin level and pneumonia in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) was evaluated in this study. Methods: A consecutive sample of 798 AIS patients who were admitted to West China Hospital within 24 h after onset, from the year 2017 to 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. Blood was collected on admission and assayed for serum albumin. Univariate analyses, multivariate logistic regression, and stratified logistic regression were performed to identify the risk factors of post-stroke pneumonia. Results: Out of the 798 patients, 240 (30.2%) developed pneumonia at a median of 48 h after onset (interquartile range, 27-74 h). Patients with pneumonia had significantly lower serum albumin levels than those without pneumonia (40.6 vs. 42.9 g/l, p<0.001). After adjustment, the albumin level was still significantly associated with pneumonia in multivariate logistic regression (odds ratio [OR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81-0.94). The association between serum albumin and pneumonia tended to depend on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (p = 0.045), but this was significant only in patients with mild stroke (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.77-0.93). A dosedependent inverse relationship was found between albumin levels and the risk of pneumonia after AIS. Albumin values predicted pneumonia with an area under the curve of 0.661 (95% CI 0.620- 0.701), and the optimal cutoff was 42.6 g/L. Conclusion: Low serum albumin levels may be independent predictors of pneumonia in patients with AIS, especially in mild stroke. In fact, the risk of pneumonia may vary inversely with albumin level.

Background: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on admission was reported to be a predictor of pneumonia after stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the temporal change of NLR and post-stroke infection and whether infection modified the effect of NLR on the outcome. Methods: We enrolled patients with acute ischemic stroke within 24 h after onset. The blood was collected on admission, day 1, 3, 7 after admission to detect white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, and lymphocytes. Primary outcomes included pneumonia, urinary tract infection (UTI), other infection, and the secondary outcome was 3-month death. Results: Of 798 stroke patients, 299 (37.66%) developed infection with 240 (30.23%) pneumonia, 78 (9.82%) UTI, and 9 (1.13%) other infection. The median time of infection occurrence was 48 h (interquartile range 27-74 h) after onset. NLR reached to the peak at 36 h. For all outcomes, NLR at 36 h after stroke had the highest predictive value than WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte. NLR was independently associated with the presence of any infection (odds ratio [OR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.17), pneumonia (OR 1.12, 95%CI 1.05-1.19), but not UTI (OR 0.95, 95%CI 0.89-1.01). Adding infection or the interaction term did not substantially change the OR of NLR predicting 3-month death (OR 1.09, 95%CI 1.01, 1.17). Conclusion: Increased NLR around 36 h after stroke was a predictor of infection in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The increased NLR value was associated with a higher risk of 3-month death, which was independent of poststroke infection.

Background: Whether preoperative midline shift and its growing rate are associated with outcomes of decompressive craniectomy in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction is unknown. Methods: We retrospectively included patients: 1) who underwent decompressive craniectomy for malignant middle cerebral artery infarction in West China Hospital from August 2010 to December 2, 2018) who had at least two brain computed tomography scans before decompressive craniectomy. Midline shift was measured on the first and last preoperative computed tomography scans. Midline shift growing rate was calculated by dividing Δmidline shift value using Δ time. The primary outcome was inadequate decompression of the mass effect. Secondary outcomes were 3 month death and unfavorable outcomes. Results: Sixty-one patients (mean age 53.7 years, 57.4% (35/61) male) were included. Median time from onset to decompressive craniectomy was 51.8 h (interquartile range: 39.7-77.8). Rates of inadequate decompression, 3 month death, 3 month modified Rankin Scale 5-6 and 4-6 were 50.8% (31/61), 50.9% (29/57), 64.9% (37/57) and 84.2% (48/57), respectively. The inadequate decompression group had a higher midline shift growing rate than the adequate decompression group (median: 2.7 mm/8 h vs. 1.4 mm/8 h, P=0.041). No intergroup difference of 3 month outcomes was found in terms of preoperative midline shift growing rate. Conclusion: Higher preoperative midline shift growing rate was associated with inadequate decompression of decompressive craniectomy in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction.

AbstractTo evaluate whether genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy reduces the rates of cardiovascular events and bleeding events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We systematically searched Pubmed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (searched in September 2018) for controlled studies evaluating genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy in ACS with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or without PCI. The primary endpoint was a composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, targeted vessel revascularization and/or major bleeding. A total of five studies involving 2900 patients were included. Compared with the conventional group, the genotype-guided group had a decreased risk of primary composite outcomes (RR= 0.54; 95% CI: 0.41–0.72; I2= 30%), death (RR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.32–0.94; I2= 21%), MI (RR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.31–0.88; I2= 49%), targeted vessel revascularization (RR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.35–0.98; I2= 0%), but not for stroke (RR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.22–1.24; I2= 0%) and bleeding events (RR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.51–1.25; I2= 33%). Genotype-guided strategies could reduce the rates of cardiovascular events without increasing bleeding events compared with conventional treatment in ACS. Future multi-centre genotype-based randomized control trials are required to confirm these findings.

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a sporadically occurring neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by port-wine stain over the face, ocular abnormalities (glaucoma and choroidal hemangioma), and leptomeningeal angiomas. It is usually diagnosed in infancy, but it may occasionally present in adulthood with seizures or stroke-like episodes. Here, we report a 46-year-old male patient, having SWS coexisting with moyamoya disease, attending our hospital due to sudden loss of consciousness. We also searched PubMed (from its earliest date to August 2014) for case reports mentioning that SWS presents in adulthood. We identified 31 patients. The common clinical manifestation are seizures, stroke-like episodes, and migraine-like headaches.On the basis of our findings in this patient, we would recommend that patients with a port-wine nevus of the face should be given further investigation to rule out an intracranial vascular malformation, especially if seizures, stroke-like episodes, or migraine-like headaches are present.

The association between chronic kidney disease and spontaneous hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke is seldom reported. We performed this study to identify whether reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is associated with spontaneous HT in acute ischemic stroke patients, and examine whether the association depends on stroke etiology. Patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke whose serum creatinine levels at admission were available were consecutively and prospectively enrolled in the Chengdu Stroke Registry Database. All were analyzed on admission by cranial computed tomography (CT) scanning, followed by regular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 2-3 days later and afterwards CT scan if neurological symptoms deteriorated. HT was defined based on the MRI or later CT, and eGFR was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to determine whether reduced eGFR, defined as < 60 ml/min/1.73m2, was associated with spontaneous HT. The association was also assessed in subgroups of patients classified according to the criteria of the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST). Of the 1,645 patients enrolled, 123 (7.5%) developed spontaneous HT and 215 (13.1%) had reduced eGFR. Reduced eGFR was significantly associated with increased risk of spontaneous HT in all ischemic stroke patients (OR 1.821, 95% CI 1.081 to 3.06, P=0.024), and in the subgroup of large artery atherosclerosis, not in the cardio-embolism stroke group (OR 1.588, 95% CI 0.642 to 3.782, P=0.327). Reduced eGFR did not increase the risk of symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation (OR 0.937, 95%CI 0.247 to 3.577, P=0.924). In conclusion, reduced eGFR was significantly associated with increased risk of spontaneous HT in all ischemic stroke patients, and in large artery atherosclerosis, not in cardio-embolism stroke. Reduced eGFR did not increase the risk of symptomatic HT.

In recent years, acupuncture has increasingly being integrated into pediatric health care. It was used on ~150,000 children (0.2%). We aim to update the evidence for the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for children and evaluate the methodological qualities of these studies to improve future research in this area. We included 24 systematic reviews, comprising 142 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 12,787 participants. Only 25% (6/24) reviews were considered to be high quality (10.00?±?0.63). High-quality systematic reviews and Cochrane systematic reviews tend to yield neutral or negative results (P = 0.052, 0.009 respectively). The efficacy of acupuncture for five diseases (Cerebral Palsy (CP), nocturnal enuresis, tic disorders, amblyopia, and pain reduction) is promising. It was unclear for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mumps, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), asthma, nausea/vomiting, and myopia. Acupuncture is not effective for epilepsy. Only six reviews reported adverse events (AEs) and no fatal side effects were reported. The efficacy of acupuncture for some diseases is promising and there have been no fatal side effects reported. Further high-quality studies are justified, with five diseases in particular as research priorities.

Whether totaled health risks in vascular events (THRIVE) score can be used to predict clinical outcomes and risk of hemorrhagic transformation in patients with special subtypes of ischemic stroke remains an open question.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is an important risk factor for ischemic stroke in developing countries. Observational data on its characteristics and influence on outcome or recurrence of ischemic stroke are scarce. We aimed to investigate proportions, characteristics, functional outcome, and recurrence of acute ischemic stroke patients with RHD in a hospitalized Chinese population.

Widespread use of brain imaging in China has resulted in an increased prevalence of silent lacunar infarct (LACI) in addition to symptomatic LACI, but their clinical relevance is not fully understood.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the presence of various neuroimaging marker of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).

Decompressive hemicraniectomy with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction is effective but remains underutilized. The aim of this study was to observe the utilization of this intervention in mainland China.