Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Evidence suggests that an alteration in cerebral hemodynamics plays a relevant role in the occurrence of stroke in patients with carotid occlusion. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationships among baseline characteristics, type and number of collateral pathways, cerebral vasomotor reactivity (VMR), and outcome of patients with carotid occlusion. ⋯ These data suggest that cerebral hemodynamic status in patients with carotid occlusive disease is influenced by both individual anatomic and functional characteristics. The planning of strategies to define the risk profile and any attempt to influence patients' outcome should be based on the evaluation of the intracranial hemodynamic adaptive status, with particular attention to the number of collateral vessels and the related VMR.
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Comparative Study
Trends in incidence and case fatality rates of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in Izumo City, Japan, between 1980-1989 and 1990-1998.
With aging of the population, the profile of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is likely to change; however, evaluation of long-term trends for incidence and case fatality rates of SAH is still limited. ⋯ The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates of aneurysmal SAH were stable over the 19-year period since 1980 and, despite improvement of outcome in patients aged =79 years, the overall case fatality rate was not lower because the improvements were counterbalanced by increasing numbers of very elderly patients
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A comparison of the costs and survival of hospital-admitted stroke patients across Europe.
Policy makers require evidence on the costs and outcomes of different ways of organizing stroke care. This study compared the costs and survival of different ways of providing stroke care. ⋯ The cost of stroke care varies across Europe because of differences in unit costs, and resource use. Further research is needed to assess which ways of organizing stroke care are the most cost-effective.
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Comparative Study
Effect of apolipoprotein E genotype on cerebral autoregulation during cardiopulmonary bypass.
The presence of the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (apoE4) allele has been associated with cognitive decline after cardiac surgery. We compared autoregulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO(2)), and arterial-venous oxygen content difference [C(A-V)O(2)], during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients with and without the apoE4 allele to help define the mechanism of association with cognitive decline. ⋯ We conclude that apoE genotype does not affect global CBF and oxygen delivery/extraction during CPB, which suggests that other mechanisms are responsible for the apoE isoform-related neurocognitive dysfunction seen in patients undergoing CPB.
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In a previous investigation concerning the hemodynamic and metabolic changes over time displayed by sequential positron emission tomography (PET) in a middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion/reperfusion primate model, a metabolic threshold for irreversible ischemia could be identified (reduction of metabolic rate of oxygen [CMRO(2)] to approximately 60% of the contralateral hemisphere). To evaluate the potential of microdialysis (MD) as an instrument for chemical brain monitoring, the aim of this subsequent study was to relate the chemical changes in MD levels directly to the regional metabolic status (CMRO(2) above or below the metabolic threshold) and the occurrence of reperfusion, as assessed by PET. ⋯ This experimental study of focal ischemia showed that the extracellular changes of energy-related metabolites and glutamate differed depending on the ischemic state of the brain during MCA occlusion and depending on whether reperfusion occurred. If MD proves to be beneficial in clinical practice, it appears important to observe relative changes over time.