Predictive value of circulating SNHG1/miR-194-5p and carotid ultrasound for the onset of cerebral infarction in patients with transient cerebral ischemia.

Background: Transient cerebral ischemia is a strong warning sign of cerebral infarction (CI). Early objective risk assessment in patients with transient cerebral ischemia can effectively help prevent the occurrence of CI. Objective: The study aimed to explore the predictive value of SNHG1/miR-194-5p in combination with carotid ultrasound for predicting the occurrence of CI in patients with transient cerebral ischemia. Patients and methods: This study was a prospective observational study. A total of 189 patients with transient cerebral ischemia were included and divided into the CI group (n = 67) and the non-CI group (n = 122) based on whether CI occurred within 90 days. The clinical data and laboratory indexes of the two groups were compared. RT-qPCR was employed to examine the levels of SNHG1/miR-194-5p. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed based on serum SNHG1/ miR-194-5p levels and the degree of carotid artery stenosis. In addition, bioinformatics analysis was carried out to identify the target genes of miR-194-5p. Results: The results showed that, compared to the non-CI group, the expression of SNHG1 in the serum of the CI group was upregulated, while the expression of miR-194-5p was downregulated. Logistic regression analysis showed that the expression of miR-194-5p (OR = 0.067, p < 0.001) and SNHG1 (OR = 25.984, p < 0.001) and the degree of carotid artery stenosis (OR = 1.152, p = 0.001) were significantly correlated with CI. The combined detection of these three indicators yielded an AUC value of 0.953 for predicting CI. Its sensitivity was 89.55% and specificity was 86.89%, indicating higher diagnostic efficiency than any single indicator. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis revealed that the target gene of miR-194-5p was enriched in various disease pathways, especially those related to neurodegeneration, providing a new direction for exploring the mechanism of CI. Conclusion: Serum SNHG1/miR-194-5p levels combined with carotid ultrasound show high predictive accuracy for the short-term occurrence of CI in patients with transient cerebral ischemia.