Neurological research
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Neurological research · May 2009
Impact of statins on validation of ICH mortality prediction models.
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has the highest mortality rate of all strokes. Hemphill's ICH score is commonly used to predict mortality after ICH. More recently, the ICH grading scale (ICH-GS) has been shown to improve sensitivity of 30 day mortality prediction in this patient group. ⋯ The significant difference between predicted and observed mortality using ICH-GS and the ICH score in the statin cohort suggests a protective effect of statins in the setting of ICH. Such observation warrants prospective validation.
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Hypothermia has long been known to be a potent neuroprotectant. In this mini-review, we highlighted clinical experience that hypothermia protects the brain from cerebral injury. We discussed the clinical practice of hypothermia in ischemic stroke. ⋯ In addition to its neuroprotective properties, hypothermia may extend the therapeutic window for other neuroprotective treatment. Thus, combination therapies with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and thrombolytic agents are likely to be investigated in the clinical setting in the future.
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Neurological research · May 2009
Relationship between leukoaraiosis and cerebral large artery stenosis.
We carried out this cross-sectional study to explore the association between cerebral large artery lesions and leukoaraiosis in Chinese patients with stroke. The relationship between leukoaraiosis and risk factors of cerebral vascular disease was also investigated. ⋯ There is a lack of a relationship between cerebral large artery stenosis and leukoaraiosis, but multiple large artery stenoses may increase the risk of leukoaraiosis.
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Neurological research · May 2009
Can baseline magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) status become a foremost factor in selecting optimal acute stroke patients for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) thrombolysis beyond 3 hours?
We investigated whether baseline vessel status evaluated by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) can be the foremost factor to classify acute ischemic stroke patients into subgroups for thrombolytic therapy within 3-6 hours of symptom onset. ⋯ Baseline vessel status evaluated by MRA may be used as the first factor ahead of mismatch to categorize acute ischemic stroke patients into subgroups. Patients who do not have initial vessel occlusion may not need thrombolytic therapy.