Ischemic stroke (IS), a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, remains a significant challenge due to its complex pathogenesis. Glycolysis, a central metabolic pathway, plays a critical role in bridging the gap between metabolic dysfunction and neurological impairment. During ischemic conditions, glycolysis replaces oxidative phosphorylation as the primary energy source for brain tissue. However, in the ischemia–reperfusion state, neuronal cells show a particular reliance on aerobic glycolysis. Immune cells, such as monocytes, also contribute to atheromatous plaque formation and thrombi through increased aerobic glycolysis. Given glycolysis’s involvement in various pathological stages of IS, it offers the potential for improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. This review comprehensively explores the role of glycolysis in different phases of IS, addresses existing controversies, and discusses its diagnostic and therapeutic applications. By elucidating the intricate relationship between glycolysis and IS, this review aims to provide novel insights for future research and clinical advancements.

Objective: Stroke is a significant global public health challenge. Evidence suggests that acupuncture contributes to the treatment and rehabilitation of post-stroke dysphagia (PSD), effectively improving swallowing function and enhancing patients’ quality of life. This study aimed to examine the effects of acupuncture combined with conventional rehabilitation training (CRT) on swallowing function, neurotransmitter levels, nutritional status, and swallowing-related quality of life in patients with PSD. Methods: Following screening, 90 patients with PSD were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (receiving acupuncture combined with CRT) or the control group (receiving CRT only). Both groups underwent treatment six times per week for four weeks. Primary outcome measures included the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA), the modified Mann assessment of swallowing ability (MMASA), the water swallowing test (WST), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels. Secondary outcomes assessed swallowing-related quality of life and nutritional indicators. Results: Compared with baseline data, both groups showed improvements after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, with reductions in SSA scores and increases in MMASA, hemoglobin (HB), albumin (ALB), serum total protein (STP), swallowing quality of life questionnaire (SWAL-QoL) scores, and WST performance. And the intervention group exhibited significantly greater improvements than the control group at the fourth week. Notably, the 5-HT levels in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group after 4 weeks (362.44± 88.63 vs 310.16± 86.79, P = 0.006). Conclusion: A 4-week course of acupuncture combined with CRT demonstrated significant benefits in enhancing swallowing function, neurotransmitter levels, nutritional status, and quality of life in patients with PSD.

Background: Stroke stands as a prominent cause of mortality and disability worldwide, posing a major public health concern. Recent years have witnessed rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Studies have explored the utilization of AI in imaging analysis, assistive rehabilitation, treatment, clinical decision-making, and outcome and risk prediction concerning stroke. However, there is still a lack of systematic bibliometric analysis to discern the current research status, hotspots, and possible future development trends of AI applications in stroke.Methods: The publications on the application of AI in stroke were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, spanning 2004–2024. Only articles or reviews published in English were included in this study. Subsequently, a manual screening process was employed to eliminate literature not pertinent to the topic. Visualization diagrams for comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the included literature were generated using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Charticulator.Results: This bibliometric analysis included a total of 2,447 papers, and the annual publication volume shows a notable upward trajectory. The most prolific authors, countries, and institutions are Dukelow, Sean P., China, and the University of Calgary, respectively, making significant contributions to the advancement of this field. Notably, stable collaborative networks among authors and institutions have formed. Through clustering and citation burst analysis of keywords and references, the current research hotspots have been identified, including machine learning, deep learning, and AI applications in stroke rehabilitation and imaging for early diagnosis. Moreover, emerging research trends focus on machine learning as well as stroke outcomes and risk prediction.Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the literature regarding AI in stroke, facilitating a rapid comprehension of the development status, cooperative networks, and research priorities within the field. Furthermore, our analysis may provide a certain reference and guidance for future research endeavors.

Background: Stroke poses a substantial threat to global public health. The triglyceride glucose-waist height ratio (TyG-WHtR), which incorporates the TyG metric with obesity-related WHtR, has demonstrated superior diagnostic and predictive value compared to the TyG index alone. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of in-depth exploration into the relationship between TyG-WHtR and stroke. This study seeks to address this gap by extracting information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to elucidate the potential association between TyG-WHtR levels and stroke.Methods: This study included 8,757 individuals from four research cycles conducted between 2011 and 2018. To examine the potential relationship between TyG-WHtR and stroke, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis. In addition, smooth curve fitting was applied to display the nonlinear association. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses contributed to examining the robustness and consistency of the relationship between TyG-WHtR and stroke. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to evaluate the diagnostic capability of TyG-WHtR and TyG.Results: After adjusting for relevant covariates, a positive association between TyG-WHtR levels and stroke occurrence was observed (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02-1.55). Specifically, each unit increase in TyG-WHtR was associated with a 26% higher likelihood of stroke. The findings of sensitivity analysis further demonstrated the stability of this positive relationship. Subgroup analysis revealed that this association was significant among participants who did not engage in moderate exercise and those without coronary heart disease or angina pectoris. ROC analysis demonstrated that TyG-WHtR exhibited superior predictive value compared to TyG.Conclusion: This study identified an association between elevated TyG-WHtR levels and an increased prevalence of stroke, suggesting that TyG-WHtR may serve as a valuable predictive tool for stroke risk, with potential implications for clinical prevention and early intervention.

Objective: This study explores potential therapeutic strategies by determining the current research status, hotspots, and development trends through bibliometric analysis of the PI3K/Akt in ischemic stroke (IS).Methods: We searched the Web of Science Core Collection for publications on IS and the PI3K/Akt pathway, covering January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2024. VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used to analyze research hotspots and cutting-edge topics in the field and generate visual maps of relevant countries, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and references.Results: A total of 635 publications were analyzed. The number of publications indicates a steady annual increase in research output. China, Capital Medical University, and Wang Lei were identified as the most prolific country, institution, and author, respectively. The top three contributing journals were Brain Research, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, and Frontiers in Pharmacology. Autophagy, microglia and neuroinflammation, bioinformatics approaches, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are not only current research areas but also important trends for future research. Notably, targeting IS with TCM holds significant potential for translating basic research findings into clinical applications.Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis provides an in-depth overview of research on the PI3K/Akt pathway in IS, revealing current research status, hotspots, and future research trends. This will provide valuable guidance and direction for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway.