Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Effects of clopidogrel and aspirin in combination versus aspirin alone on platelet activation and major receptor expression in patients after recent ischemic stroke: for the Plavix Use for Treatment of Stroke (PLUTO-Stroke) trial.
Clopidogrel is widely used in patients after recent ischemic stroke; however, its ability to yield additional antiplatelet protection on top of aspirin has never been explored in a controlled study. To determine whether clopidogrel with aspirin (C+ASA) will produce more potent platelet inhibition than aspirin alone (ASA) in patients after ischemic stroke, we conducted the Plavix Use for Treatment of Stroke trial. ⋯ Treatment with C+ASA for 1 month provides significantly greater inhibition of platelet activity than ASA alone in patients after recent ischemic stroke in the frame of the small randomized trial.
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Multicenter Study
Statins are associated with better outcomes after carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients.
Statins have been associated with a reduction in mortality from noncardiac surgery. This study aimed to determine whether statin use on admission to hospital for carotid endarterectomy was associated with a reduction of in-hospital adverse outcomes. ⋯ These findings are suggestive of a protective effect of statin therapy in symptomatic patients pre-treated at the time of carotid endarterectomy, though this needs confirmation in a randomized controlled trial.
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To test the hypothesis that the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score is associated with the findings of arteriography performed within the first hours after ischemic stroke. ⋯ There is a significant association of NIHSS scores and the presence and location of a vessel occlusion. With an NIHSS score > or =10, a vessel occlusion will likely be seen on arteriography, and with a score > or =12, its location will probably be central.
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Oxidative stress contributes to ischemia/reperfusion neuronal damage in a consecutive 2-phase pattern: an immediate direct cytotoxic effect and subsequent redox-mediated inflammatory insult. The present study was designed to assess the neuroprotective mechanisms of edaravone, a novel free radical scavenger, through antioxidative and anti-inflammatory pathways, from the early period to up to 7 days after ischemia/reperfusion in mice. ⋯ Our results indicated that edaravone exerts an early neuroprotective effect through the early free radicals scavenging pathway and a late anti-inflammatory effect and suggested that edaravone is important for expansion of the therapeutic time window in stroke patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Simvastatin reduces vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: results of a pilot randomized clinical trial.
Cerebral vasospasm remains a major source of morbidity after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We demonstrate that simvastatin reduces serum markers of brain injury and attenuates vasospasm after SAH. ⋯ The use of simvastatin as prophylaxis against delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal SAH is a safe and well-tolerated intervention. Its use attenuates serum markers associated with brain injury and decreases the incidence of radiographic vasospasm and delayed ischemic deficit.