Inclusion Criteria:  Aged 18 years or older Confirmed acute ischemic stroke by a diffusion-weighted imaging-position lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a new lesion on a brain computed tomography (CT) scan Within 72 hours of symptom onset Good performance status Signed an approved informed consents  Exclusion Criteria:  a history of hemorrhagic infarction, chronic kidney/liver diseases, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, active malignant disease, and inflammatory or infectious diseases