Neurocritical care
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Stroke in crack-cocaine abusers is increasingly recognized. We aimed to identify significant differences in stroke risk factors, characteristics, and outcomes between hospitalized stroke patients with and without crack-cocaine abuse. ⋯ Our study suggests that crack-cocaine abusers with stroke had fewer traditional risk factors, and more favorable functional outcome as compared to non-crack-cocaine abusers.
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Delayed deterioration associated with vasospasm (DDAV) after aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a major cause of morbidity. We have previously shown that myeloid cell depletion before experimental SAH in a murine model ameliorates DDAV. In this study, we address whether systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) worsens DDAV in a myeloid cell-dependent fashion. ⋯ LPS administration before SAH worsens DDAV through a myeloid cell-dependent mechanism supporting studies in humans which show that systemic inflammation increases the likelihood of developing DDAV.
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The most widely used and most studied coma score to date is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which is used worldwide to assess level of consciousness and predict outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Our aim was to determine whether the Full Outline of UnResponsiveness (FOUR) score is an accurate predictor of outcome in TBI patients and to compare its performance to GCS. ⋯ The FOUR score is an accurate predictor of outcome in TBI patients. It has some advantages over GCS, such as all components of FOUR score but not GCS can be rated in intubated patients.