Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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The one third middle cerebral artery territory ((1/3) MCA) method and the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) were used to detect significant early ischemic changes (EIC) on CT brain of acute stroke patients. We sought to compare the reliability of the 2 methods in routine clinical practice. ⋯ The (1/3) MCA method was more reliable in detecting significant EIC on CT brain within 6 hours of stroke onset in routine clinical practice, whereas ASPECTS was able to detect significant EIC in a higher proportion of these early scans.
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Thrombolysis for treatment of acute ischemic stroke should be administered as fast as possible after symptom onset. The aim of this study was to examine, in our tertiary care center, the time intervals preceding intra-arterial thrombolysis in order to accelerate and optimize the management of acute strokes. ⋯ This prospective study indicates that direct referral without prior imaging at community hospitals shortens the time until intra-arterial thrombolysis. In addition, our in-hospital delay preceding intra-arterial thrombolysis is longer than the delays reported for intravenous thrombolysis and indicates potential for improvement.
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Studies suggest that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is neuroprotective after experimental cerebral ischemia, but the mechanism is unknown. This study tested the hypotheses that postischemic HBO affords clinical and histopathological neuroprotection after experimental cardiac arrest and resuscitation (A/R) and that this neuroprotection results from improved cerebral oxygen metabolism after A/R. ⋯ HBO inhibits neuronal death and improves neurological outcome after A/R; the mechanism of HBO neuroprotection is not due to stimulation of oxidative cerebral energy metabolism.
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In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated neuroprotective actions of lithium. The present study investigated the effect of a low dose of lithium on infarct volume and neurological outcome as well as on apoptotic and inflammatory processes in rats exposed to focal ischemia. ⋯ The present study demonstrates that chronic treatment with lithium at a low dose exhibits neuroprotection in transient focal cerebral ischemia. Antiapoptotic mechanisms are involved in the lithium-induced neuroprotective effects.