The blood flow spectrum of normal and stenosed MCA.

<p>A. Normal MCA; B. Mild MCA stenosis: mild stenosis was defined as systolic peak velocity 140 to 209 cm/s; C. Moderate MCA stenosis: moderate stenosis was defined as a systolic peak velocity from 210 to 280 cm/s; D. Severe MCA stenosis: severe stenosis was defined as a systolic peak velocity >280 cm/s; E. Occlusive of MCA: We diagnosed occlusion of the MCA if all the basal arteries except the MCA in question were detectable or if the asymmetry index of the affected MCA was<−21% compared with the contralateral MCA with the hemodynamic changes of the intracranial circulation.</p

The distribution of risk factors in recruited patients.

<p>Risk factors include the history of the hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, dyslipidemia, smoking, drinking. For some patients, risk factors could not be identified.</p

The comparison of baseline demographics of asymptomatic and symptomatic groups.

<p>The comparison of baseline demographics of asymptomatic and symptomatic groups.</p

MES frequency in different grade stenosed MCA of the asymptomatic and symptomatic patients.

<p>MES frequency was compared among groups both in the asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. The frequency of MES in mild, moderate, severe stenosis and occlusive group of the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups were 4/18 (22.22%) vs 0/30 (0), 13/31 (41.94%) vs 1/28 (3.57%), 30/62 (48.39%) vs 1/39 (2.56%), 2/15 (13.33%) vs 0/11 (0), respectively. The frequency of MES in patients with severe stenosis groups was higher than those with mild stenosis and occlusion in the symptomatic MCA stenosis group with statistical difference (<i>p</i><0.05). The frequency of MES in patients with moderate stenosis was higher than those with mild stenosis and occlusion, although there was no statistical difference (<i>p</i>>0.05). The frequency of MES did not differ between the mild stenosis group and the occlusive group (<i>p</i>>0.05). Besides, we found that except for the occlusive group, the frequency of MES in the symptomatic group was higher than the asymptomatic group in the mild, moderate and severe group, respectively (all <i>p</i><0.05).</p

The flow chart of the study.

<p>TCD: transcranial Doppler sonography; MCA: middle cerebral artery.</p

MES frequency in the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups.

<p>MES frequency in the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups.</p

The comparison of risk factors in MES+ and MES− groups of the symptomatic MCA stenosis group.

<p>Risk factors in MES+ and MES− groups of the symptomatic MCA stenosis group were shown in the figure.</p

Comparisons of clinical characteristics between pediatric and adult GBS receiving IVIg combined with intravenous corticosteroids.

<p>Comparisons of clinical characteristics between pediatric and adult GBS receiving IVIg combined with intravenous corticosteroids.</p

Comparisons between AMAN and AIDP in children.

<p>The incidence of upper respiratory infection (URI) as antecedent infections of AMAN was 21.7% which was insignificantly different from AIDP (28.6%, <i>p</i> > 0.05). Similarly, the incidence of diarrhea in pediatric AMAN was comparable with AIDP (47.8% vs 42.9%, <i>p</i> > 0.05) (<b>A</b>). The interval from onset to admission was 4.2d in children with AMAN, while it was 6.2d for pediatric AIDP, which was significantly different. However, interval from onset to nadir was comparable between AMAN and AIDP (6.2d vs 7.0d, <i>p</i> > 0.05) (<b>B</b>). The MRC sum score at nadir was lower in pediatric AMAN than childhood AIDP (30.5 ±12.0 vs 39.8±11.0, <i>p</i> < 0.05) (<b>C</b>). AMAN: acute motor axonal neuropathy; AIDP: acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; URI: upper respiratory infection; MRC: Medical Research Council.</p

Comparisons of the clinical characteristic of mechanically ventilated patients with GBS between adults and children.

<p>Comparisons of the clinical characteristic of mechanically ventilated patients with GBS between adults and children.</p