Systemic low-grade inflammation and depressive symptomology at chronic phase of ischemic stroke: The chain mediating role of fibrinogen and neutrophil counts

Circulating Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Stroke-Associated Infection and Poststroke Fatigue Affecting Long-Term Neurological Outcomes in Stroke Patients

Background: Since peripheral leukocytes may contribute to the pathophysiology of stroke, the aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between leukocytes and stroke outcomes and identify which leukocyte subtypes most accurately predict functional outcomes and poststroke fatigue (PSF) in stroke patients. Methods: A total of 788 ischemic stroke patients within 72 h of onset of disease were admitted in our study. Stroke-associated infection (SAI) and PSF were evaluated according to diagnosis standards by a special neurologist. Analyses were performed using SPSS 23.0 and GraphPad Prism 10.0. Results: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has discriminative power in predicting stroke outcome, and the area under the curve (AUC) of NLR to distinguish stroke outcomes was 0.689 (95% confidence interval, 0.646-0.732). Positive correlation was found between NLR levels and NIHSS score on admission (r = 0.2786, p < 0.001). Risk model for predicting stroke outcome was constructed using age, NIHSS, previous stroke history, triglycerides, glucose and hemoglobin levels, thrombolysis treatment, and NLR, with an AUC of 0.865. Patients who developed SAI and PSF both had significantly higher NLR levels at admission than those patients not diagnosed with SAI and PSF (p < 0.0001). A risk model was constructed to predict PSF based on parameters including age, NIHSS score, lipoprotein(a) and NLR, and an AUC of 0.751. Conclusions: Higher NLR levels in the acute phase of stroke might indicate a higher incidence of SAI and PSF. Therefore, higher NLR is associated with a poor stroke prognosis.

Association Between Neutrophil Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio and Depression in Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults: A National Study

Background: The association between inflammatory markers and depression has garnered increasing attention. The neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) is an emerging inflammatory marker, but its association with depression in middle-aged and elderly adults was not previously explored. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association through a national study in the United States. Methods: All study data were weighted to ensure representativeness. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to explore the independent relationship of NPAR with depression in middle-aged and elderly adults. Restricted cubic splines were employed to examine potential nonlinear association, with turning points calculated using a recursive algorithm upon detecting nonlinearity. Stratified analyses and interaction tests were conducted to explore subgroup differences. Results: In the model adjusted for all confounding factors, no significant relationship was found between NPAR and depression in middle-aged and elderly adults [1.02 (0.92, 1.12)]. Further sensitivity analysis indicated a potential U-shaped relationship between NPAR and depression in middle-aged and elderly adults, with the OR (95% CI) of 0.74 (0.60, 0.92), 0.87 (0.70, 1.08), 0.92 (0.72, 1.19) for Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively, compared to Q1. The U-shaped association was confirmed by the restricted cubic spline. Subsequent analysis identified an inflection point at 14.05, revealing inverse relationships before and after this point. Subgroup analysis indicated sex differences in this association. Conclusion: This large-scale cross-sectional study identified a U-shaped association between NPAR and depression in American middle-aged and elderly adults.

From blood to brain: Exploring the role of fibrinogen in the pathophysiology of depression and other neurological disorders

Recent findings indicate that fibrinogen, a protein involved in blood clotting, plays a significant role in neuroinflammation and mood disorders. Elevated fibrinogen levels are consistently observed in individuals with depression, potentially contributing to microglial activation. This could impair fibrinolysis and contribute to a pro-inflammatory environment in the brain. This neuroinflammatory response can impair neuroplasticity, a key process for learning, memory, and mood regulation. Fibrinogen may also indirectly influence neurotransmitters like serotonin, which play a vital role in mood regulation. Furthermore, fibrinogen's interaction with astrocytes may trigger a cascade of events leading to demyelination, a process where the protective sheath around nerve fibers deteriorates. This can disrupt communication within the nervous system and contribute to depression symptoms. Intriguingly, targeting fibrinogen or related pathways holds promise for therapeutic interventions. For instance, modulating PAI-1 (Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) activity or inhibiting fibrinogen's interaction with brain cells could be potential strategies. This review explores the multifaceted relationship between fibrinogen and neurological disorders with a focus on depression highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. Further research is necessary to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association and develop effective therapeutic strategies targeting the fibrinolytic system for mood disorders.

Cardiovascular Disease, Genetic Susceptibility, and Risk of Psychiatric Disorders and Suicide Attempt: A Community-Based Matched Cohort Study Based on the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

The associations between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and multiple psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt, and whether different genetic susceptibilities affect such links, have not been investigated clearly.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Based on the UK Biobank, we conducted a matched cohort study involving 63 923 patients who were first hospitalized with a CVD diagnosis between 1997 and 2020, and their 127 845 matched unexposed individuals. Cox models were used to examine the subsequent risk of psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt (ie, anxiety, depression, stress-related disorder, substance misuse, psychotic disorder, and suicide behaviors) following CVD. We further performed stratified analyses by polygenic risk score for each studied psychiatric condition to detect the possible effects of genetic susceptibility on the observed associations. We found an increased risk of any psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt among CVD patients, compared with matched unexposed individuals, particularly within 1 year following the CVD (fully adjusted hazard ratio [HR] within 1 year, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.58-2.12]; HR after 1 year, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.16-1.32]). By subtype, the risk elevations existed for any psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt following most categories of CVDs. Analyses stratified by polygenic risk score revealed little impact of genetic predisposition to studied psychiatric conditions on these observed links.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients hospitalized for CVD were at increased subsequent risk of multiple types of psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt, especially in the first year after hospitalization, irrespective of their genetic susceptibilities to studied psychiatric conditions, and these findings underscore the necessity of developing timely psychological interventions for this vulnerable population.

Systemic immune inflammation index is a valuable marker for predicting hemodialysis patients with depression: a cross-sectional study

Objective

Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients suffer from enormous physical, mental stress and poor quality of life, so an increasing number of patients are in a long-term state of depression. A prominent feature of MHD patients is chronic persistent inflammation, which is also an important mechanism for the onset of depression. Therefore, finding economically convenient inflammatory markers to predict and diagnose the onset of depression in MHD patients is of great value. As a novel inflammatory marker, systemic immune inflammation index (SII) can more comprehensively reflect the inflammation and immunity level of patients. This study aims to explore the relationship between SII and depressive symptoms in MHD patients.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 206 MHD patients from three dialysis centers. Based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores, patients were divided into non-depression and depression groups. Inter group comparison and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to determine whether SII is an independent risk factor for depression in MHD patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of SII on depression symptoms in MHD patients.

Results

According to the HADS scale score, 38.83% of the included patients were in a state of depression. After adjusting for all confounding factors, MHD patients with SII>963.93 had a 4.709 times higher risk of depression than those with SII ≤ 478.32 (OR=4.709, 95% CI 1.821-12.178, P<0.01). ROC analysis showed that SII>685.11 was the best cutoff value for MHD depression patients, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.681.

Conclusions

High SII is an independent risk factor for depressed MHD patients and an ideal inflammatory marker for predicting and identifying depression in MHD patients as assessed by the HADS scale.

Higher homocysteine and fibrinogen are associated with early-onset post-stroke depression in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Background

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a well-established psychiatric complication following stroke. Nevertheless, the relationship between early-onset PSD and homocysteine (Hcy) or fibrinogen remains uncertain.

Methods

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who met the established criteria were enrolled in this study. Early-onset PSD was diagnosed two weeks after the stroke. The severity of depressive symptoms was assessed by the Hamilton Depression Scale-17 items (HAMD-17), with patients scored ≥7 assigned to the early-onset PSD group. Spearman rank correlation analysis was employed to evaluate the associations between Hcy, fibrinogen, and HAMD scores across all patients. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between Hcy, fibrinogen, and early-onset PSD. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was ASSDalso performed to detect the predictive ability of Hcy and fibrinogen for early-onset PSD.

Results

Among the 380 recruited patients, a total of 106 (27.89%) patients were diagnosed with early-onset PSD. The univariate analysis suggested that patients in the PSD group had a higher admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, modified Rankin Scale score (mRS), Hcy, and fibrinogen levels than patients in the non-PSD group (P<0.05). The logistic regression model indicated that Hcy (odds ratio [OR], 1.344; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.209-1.494, P<0.001) and fibrinogen (OR, 1.57 6; 95% CI 1.302-1.985, P<0.001) were independently related to early-onset PSD. Area under curve (AUC) of Hcy, fibrinogen, and Hcy combined fibrinogen to predict early-onset PSD was 0.754, 0.698, and 0.803, respectively.

Conclusion

This study indicates that Hcy and fibrinogen may be independent risk factors for early-onset PSD and can be used as predictive indicators for early-onset PSD.

High fibrinogen-prealbumin ratio (FPR) predicts stroke-associated pneumonia

OBJECTIVES

Although numerous factors had been found to be associated with stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP), the underlying mechanisms of SAP remain unclear. Fibrinogen-prealbumin ratio (FPR) is a novel indicator that could balance the effects of inflammation and nutrition, which might reflect biological status of patients more comprehensively than other biomarkers. To date, FPR has not been explored in acute ischemic stroke patients. This study aims to explore the relationship between FPR and SAP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

900 stroke patients participated in this retrospective study and 146 healthy controls were recruited. Fibrinogen and prealbumin were measured within 24 hours on admission. FPR was calculated after dividing fibrinogen (g/L) by prealbumin (mg/L) × 1000. SAP was defined according to the modified Centers for Disease Control criteria.

RESULTS

121 patients were diagnosed with SAP. Log10FPR was higher in stroke patients than healthy controls. In logistic regression analysis, log10FPR was independently associated with SAP (OR 15.568; 95% CI: 3.287-73.732; P=0.001). Moreover, after using ROC curve, the predictive power of "current standard"(defined as A2DS2 plus leukocyte count and log10hs-CRP) plus log10FPR (0.832[0.804-0.857]) was higher than "current standard" (0.811[0.782-0.837], P=0.0944) and A2DS2 plus log10FPR (0.801[0.772-0.828], P=0.0316). No significant difference was found between the predictive power of A2DS2 plus log10FPR and "current standard" (P =0.6342).

CONCLUSION

Higher FPR was observed in stroke patients compared with healthy controls and was significantly associated with SAP. FPR might provide useful clues for timely identification and treatment of SAP.

Correlation of Circadian Rhythms and Improvement of Depressive Symptoms in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the correlation between evening melatonin timing secretion, dim light melatonin onset (DLMO), and post-stroke depression (PSD) in acute ischemic stroke patients and their influence on the improvement of depressive symptoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

120 patients with a recent magnetic resonance imaging confirmed stroke were included. Salivary melatonin samples were collected at 5 time points within 1 week after hospitalization (7 p.m.-11 p.m., 1 sample per hour). The circadian phase was defined by calculating DLMO secretion. Post-stroke depressive symptoms were evaluated by the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) both on day 7 of hospitalization and 3 months after stroke. Patients were divided into PSD and non-PSD groups based on whether the acute phase HRSD score was ≥8. Similarly, patients were divided into the improved depressive symptoms (IDS) and no improvement in depressive symptoms (non-IDS) groups based on whether the HRSD score at 3 months was lower than at baseline. Neurological recovery at 3 months was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

RESULTS

The difference in DLMO between PSD and non-PSD patients was not statistically significant (p =0.173). In the non-IDS group, there was a significant decrease in melatonin secretion at 10 p.m. (p =0.012), and DLMO was significantly later than in the IDS group (p =0.017). Logistic regression analysis showed that DLMO (OR 1.91, 95%CI:1.13-3.23, p = 0.016) was an independent risk factor for persistent no improvement in depressive symptoms, which was associated with a markedly worse prognosis (p <.001).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest possible interventions for the very early identification of non-IDS patients.

Drivers of Chronic Pathology Following Ischemic Stroke: A Descriptive Review

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and long-term disability in the world. Considered largely a disease of aging, its global economic and healthcare burden is expected to rise as more people survive into advanced age. With recent advances in acute stroke management, including the expansion of time windows for treatment with intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy, we are likely to see an increase in survival rates. It is therefore critically important to understand the complete pathophysiology of ischemic stroke, both in the acute and subacute stages and during the chronic phase in the months and years following an ischemic event. One of the most clinically relevant aspects of the chronic sequelae of stroke is its extended negative effect on cognition. Cognitive impairment may be related to the deterioration and dysfunctional reorganization of white matter seen at later timepoints after stroke, as well as ongoing progressive neurodegeneration. The vasculature of the brain also undergoes significant insult and remodeling following stroke, undergoing changes which may further contribute to chronic stroke pathology. While inflammation and the immune response are well established drivers of acute stroke pathology, the chronicity and functional role of innate and adaptive immune responses in the post-ischemic brain and in the peripheral environment remain largely uncharacterized. In this review, we summarize the current literature on post-stroke injury progression, its chronic pathological features, and the putative secondary injury mechanisms underlying the development of cognitive impairment and dementia. We present findings from clinical and experimental studies and discuss the long-term effects of ischemic stroke on both brain anatomy and functional outcome. Identifying mechanisms that occur months to years after injury could lead to treatment strategies in the chronic phase of stroke to help mitigate stroke-associated cognitive decline in patients.

Longitudinal relationships between depressive symptoms and cognitive function after stroke: A cross-lagged panel design

OBJECTIVE

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability. This study aimed to investigate the temporal and directional relationships between post-stroke depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment using a cross-lagged panel design. Depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment are two common post-stroke complications. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear despite their close relationship. Therefore, elucidating the causal relationship between these two issues is of great clinical significance for improving the poor prognosis of stroke.

METHODS

This study employed a hospital-based multicenter prospective cohort design. A total of 610 patients with ischemic stroke were eligible. Depressive symptoms (measured using the seventeen-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) and cognitive function (measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment) were assessed at baseline and the 12-month follow-up. Spearman's correlation was used to examine the correlation between cognitive function and depressive symptoms. Additionally, a cross-lagged panel analysis was employed to elucidate the causal relationship between these factors after adjusting for potential covariates.

RESULTS

The results of a four-iteration cross-lagged panel analysis substantiated a bidirectional relationship between post-stroke depressive symptoms and cognitive function over time. Specifically, higher scores for early depressive symptoms were associated with lower scores for later cognitive function; additionally, higher baseline cognitive function scores were associated with lower depressive symptom scores at a later point.

CONCLUSION

This study establishes a reciprocally causal long-term relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive function after an ischemic stroke. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving cognitive function and ameliorating depressive symptoms may positively affect both cognition and mood.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR-ROC-17013993.

An updated review on prediction and preventive treatment of post-stroke depression

INTRODUCTION

Post-stroke depression (PSD), one of the most common complications following stroke, affects approximately one-third of stroke patients and is significantly associated with increased disability and mortality as well as decreased quality of life, which makes it an important public health concern. Treatment of PSD significantly ameliorates depressive symptoms and improves the prognosis of stroke.

AREAS COVERED

The authors discuss the critical aspects of the clinical application of prediction and preventive treatment of PSD. Then, the authors update the biological factors associated with the onset of PSD. Furthermore, they summarize the recent progress in pharmacological preventive treatment in clinical trials and propose potential treatment targets. The authors also discuss the current roadblocks in the preventive treatment of PSD. Finally, the authors put postulate potential directions for future studies so as to discover accurate predictors and provide individualized preventive treatment.

EXPERT OPINION

Sorting out high-risk PSD patients using reliable predictors will greatly assist PSD management. Indeed, some predictors not only predict the incidence of PSD but also predict prognosis, which indicates that they might also aid the development of an individualized treatment scheme. Preventive application of antidepressants may also be considered.

Explore the influencing factors and construct random forest models of post-stroke depression at 3 months in males and females

BACKGROUND

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is one of the most common neuropsychiatric complications after stroke. The occurrence, development and prognosis of PSD have long been different between males and females. The main purpose of this study was to explore the influencing factors of PSD at 3 months in males and females, and construct random forest (RF) models to rank the influencing factors.

METHODS

This is a prospective multicenter cohort study (Registration number: ChiCTR-ROC-17013993). Stroke patients hospitalized in the department of Neurology of three hospitals in Wuhan were enrolled from May 2018 to August 2019. Scale assessments were performed 24 hours after admission and 3 months after stroke onset. Binary logistic regression analysis was used for univariate and multivariate (stepwise backward method) analysis, when p was less than 0.05, the difference between groups was considered statistically significant. Lastly, the RF models were constructed according to the results of multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

This study found that several baseline variables were associated with PSD at 3 months in males and females. RF model ranked them as stroke severity (OR [odds ratio] =1.17, p < 0.001, 95%CI [confidence interval]:1.11-1.24), neuroticism dimension (OR = 1.06, p = 0.002, 95%CI:1.02-1.10), physical exercise (OR = 0.62, p = 0.007, 95%CI:0.44-0.88), sleeping time < 5 h (OR = 1.91, p = 0.006, 95% CI:1.20-3.04) and atrial fibrillation (OR = 4.18, p = 0.012, 95%CI:1.38-12.68) in males. In females, RF model ranked them as psychological resilience (OR = 0.98, p = 0.015, 95%CI:0.96-1.00), ability of daily living (OR = 0.98, p = 0.001, 95%CI:0.97-0.99), neuroticism dimension (OR = 1.11, p = 0.002, 95%CI:1.04-1.18) and subjective support (OR = 1.11, p < 0.001, 95%CI:1.05-1.78).

CONCLUSION

The study found influencing factors of PSD at 3 months were different in males and females, and construct RF models to rank them according to their importance. This suggests that clinicians should focus their interventions on sex-specific influencing factors in order to improve the prognosis of PSD patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR-ROC-17013993.

Higher Plasma Fibrinogen Level at Admission Is Associated with Post-Stroke Depression at Discharge

Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common complication of stroke, which seriously affects the functional outcome of patients. Systemic low-grade inflammation associated with PSD has been shown to occur at several months to years, however, whether these inflammatory markers predicted PSD at an acute stage of stroke is controversial. Method: A total of 625 patients with acute ischemic stroke (219 female, 35.40%) were included in this study. PSD was diagnosed using the 17-item Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) at 7 days following discharge (7−14 days after stroke onset). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to build a prediction model for PSD at discharge. Discrimination and calibration of the model were assessed by C-index, calibration plot. Internal validation was conducted using bootstrapping validation. Results: At discharge of hospitalization, 95 patients (15.20%) were diagnosed with PSD. Multivariable logistic regression suggested that female gender (OR = 2.043, 95% CI = 1.287−3.245, p = 0.002), baseline NIHSS (OR = 1.108, 95% CI = 1.055−1.165, p < 0.001) and fibrinogen (OR = 1.388, 95% CI = 1.129−1.706, p = 0.002) were independent predictors for PSD at discharge. The cut-off of the fibrinogen plasma level was 3.08 g/L. These predictors were included in the nomogram. The model displayed good discrimination, with a C-index of 0.730 (95% CI = 0.683−0.777) and good calibration. Conclusion: Female gender, baseline stroke severity and a higher level of fibrinogen were independently associated with PSD at discharge. A nomogram based on these three predictors can be used to provide an individual, visual prediction of the risk probability of PSD.

Higher Concentration of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Predicts Post-Stroke Depression

Background

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most common neuropsychiatric complication after stroke, seriously affecting the quality of survivors’ life. As one of the important causes of PSD, neuroendocrine mechanism has been widely studied in recent years. The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on admission and PSD at 3 months.

Methods

This is a hospital-based prospective cohort study, which was conducted at three independent hospitals (Tongji Hospital, Wuhan First Hospital and Wuhan Central Hospital) between August 2018 and June 2019. A total of 768 ischemic stroke patients were finally eligible for analysis and categorized into equal tertiles according to the distribution of ACTH and the number of patients. The χ²-test, Mann–Whitney U-test and Kruskal–Wallis test were used to check for statistical significance. And restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression model was used to explore the non-linear relationship between continuous ACTH levels and PSD at 3 months.

Results

The optimal cut-off points of ACTH were as follows: (T1) 0.32–20.55 pg/mL, (T2) 20.56–39.79 pg/mL, (T3) 39.80–143.40 pg/mL. A total of 305 patients (39.7%) were diagnosed as PSD at 3 months follow-up. Significant differences were found between the PSD and non-PSD groups in ACTH concentration (P = 0.001). After adjustment for all conventional confounders, the odds ratios of PSD were 1.735 (95% CI = 1.176–2.560, P = 0.005) for the highest tertile of ACTH and 1.496 (95% CI = 1.019–2.194, P = 0.040) for the middle tertile of ACTH, as compared with the lowest tertile. In multiple-adjusted RCS regression, continuous ACTH showed saturation effect relation with PSD risk after 31.02 pg/mL (P for nonlinear = 0.0143).

Conclusion

Higher ACTH level on admission is a significant and independent biomarker to predict the development of PSD at 3 months follow-up. Besides, saturation effect was revealed even if the underlying mechanism is unclear. For stroke patients, doctors should pay attention to the baseline ACTH for screening high-risk PSD in clinical practice.