Neurological research
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Neurological research · May 2008
Survey of blood pressure control status in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack in China.
We sought to assess the current status of blood pressure control and the use of antihypertensive drugs in patients with ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in China. ⋯ Blood pressure control rate among IS or TIA patients in major metropolitan clinics is an important issue in China which might largely influence the efforts in stroke prevention and treatment. Further works are needed to develop substantive quality improvement strategies of stroke secondary prevention care.
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Neurological research · May 2008
Intradiscal electrothermal treatment for chronic discogenic low back pain: a prospective outcome study of 39 patients with the Oswestry disability index at 18 month follow-up.
The authors evaluate the efficacy of intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) for discogenic pain on outcome of patients using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) after 18 month follow-up. ⋯ Although various alterations in outcome scores have been reported in previous works, we found nearly four in five patients (79.48%) who clearly benefited from this therapy. This procedure may become a middle step for carefully selected group of patients who failed non-operative treatment before surgical intervention.
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Neurological research · May 2008
Risk factors for fever in critically ill patients with acute new-onset stroke.
The purpose of this project was to identify risk factors for fever among critically ill patients with acute new-onset stroke, treated in a neurological intensive care unit (NICU). The frequency and risk factors for fever in the stroke patients during the first 7 days after admission were retrospectively studied. ⋯ These results suggest that critically ill and new-onset stroke patients treated in NICU often have fever. The risk factors for different types of fever vary considerably.
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Neurological research · May 2008
Prognostic significance of third ventricle dilation in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: a preliminary clinical study.
Although numerous factors have been described that predict outcome after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), very little is know about the role of hemorrhagic dilation of the third ventricle in development of hydrocephalus and prognosis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the presence of hemorrhagic third ventricle dilation after ICH would predict development of hydrocephalus and outcome. ⋯ Although the roles of various factors are well described in the prognosis of spontaneous ICH, little is known about the role of third ventricle dilation. Based on our results, we concluded that third ventricle dilation is a poor prognostic factor.
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Neurological research · May 2008
Therapeutic effect of post-ischemic hypothermia duration on cerebral ischemic injury.
To study the efficacy of post-ischemic mild brain hypothermia lasting for different time intervals on cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury. ⋯ Post-ischemic mild brain hypothermia can significantly suppress the excessive release of amino acids, monoamine neurotransmitters and inflammation response in ischemic tissue. It can also stabilize the function of the cell membrane, which is associated with the mechanism of cerebral protection by mild hypothermia. These results suggest that mild hypothermia should be applied immediately after ischemia and last for more than 60 minutes in order to obtain neuroprotective effects.