International journal of stroke : official journal of the International Stroke Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Educational campaign on stroke in an urban population in Northern Germany: influence on public stroke awareness and knowledge.
Public stroke awareness and knowledge may be supportive for stroke prevention and emergency care-seeking behavior after the acute event, which is highly important for early treatment onset. ⋯ Our data indicate that stroke knowledge and awareness, which could provide earlier presentation to the emergency unit for timely treatment onset, are still low in urban Northern Germany but may decisively be increased by educational campaigns.
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Review Case Reports Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
DEcompressive surgery Plus hypoTHermia for Space-Occupying Stroke (DEPTH-SOS): a protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial and a literature review.
Although decompressive hemicraniectomy clearly reduces mortality in severe space-occupying middle cerebral artery infarction (so-called malignant middle cerebral artery infarction), every fifth patient still dies in the acute phase and every third patient is left with moderate to severe disability. Therapeutic hypothermia is a neuroprotective and antiedematous treatment option that has shown promising effects in severe stroke. A combination of both treatment strategies may have the potential to further reduce mortality and morbidity in malignant middle cerebral artery infarction, but needs evaluation of its efficacy within the setting of a randomized clinical trial. ⋯ The results of this trial will provide data on safety and feasibility of moderate hypothermia in addition to decompressive hemicraniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery infarction. Furthermore, efficacy data on early mortality and long-term functional outcome will be obtained, forming the basis of subsequent trials.
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Review Meta Analysis
Postthrombolysis intracranial hemorrhage risk of cerebral microbleeds in acute stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
It has been questioned whether patients with cerebral microbleeds are at a greater risk for the development of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage following thrombolytic therapy in the management of acute ischemic stroke. Thus far, observational studies have not shown a statistically significant increased risk; however, these have been limited by small sample size. The aim is to better quantify the risk of postthrombolysis intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with acute ischemic stroke and cerebral microbleeds on magnetic resonance imaging. ⋯ Isolated analysis of studies using exclusively intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was insignificant. Our data suggest that patients with cerebral microbleeds are at increased risk for symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage following thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke. However, current data are insufficient to justify withholding thrombolytic therapy from acute ischemic stroke patients solely of the basis of cerebral microbleed presence.
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Physical fitness is impaired after stroke, may contribute to disability, yet is amenable to improvement through regular physical activity. To facilitate uptake and maintenance of physical activity, it is essential to understand stroke survivors' perceived barriers and motivators. Therefore, we undertook a systematic review of perceived barriers and motivators to physical activity after stroke. ⋯ This review has furthered our understanding of the perceived barriers and motivators to physical activity after a stroke. This review will enable the development of tailored interventions to target barriers, while building upon perceived motivators to increase and maintain stroke survivors' physical activity.