Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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The goal of this study was to document the long-term outcome of ischemic stroke patients in a population with predominant intracranial atherosclerosis and risk factors for a recurrent event. ⋯ Patients with intracranial atherosclerosis, especially coexisting extracranial carotid disease, are at higher risk of suffering death or further vascular event. Our findings provide important data for planning future randomized clinical trials for this high-risk group of stroke patients.
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We previously showed that mild hypothermia protects against experimental stroke, even when cooling was delayed by 2 hours. Protection may be due in part to inhibiting inflammation. To clarify, we examined leukocyte infiltration, microglial activation, and adhesion molecule expression in models of stroke and pure brain inflammation. ⋯ Mild hypothermia decreases inflammatory responses in both brain inflammation and stroke, implicating a direct anti-inflammatory effect of cooling. This suggests that hypothermia can attenuate factors contributing to delayed ischemic injury.
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Case Reports
Histopathological evaluation of middle cerebral artery after percutaneous intracranial transluminal angioplasty.
Intracranial atherosclerosis accounts for 8% to 10% of all ischemic strokes, and intracranial angioplasty is increasingly performed to treat stenotic lesions. We report an autopsy case and discuss the effects of intracranial angioplasty for atherosclerotic arteries. ⋯ Histopathological findings after intracranial angioplasty parallel those in other arterial territories. The implications of these pathological findings on the medical and endovascular treatment of intracranial atherosclerosis are discussed.
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Review Meta Analysis
Antiplatelet therapy in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review.
Observational studies suggest that platelet inhibitors reduce the risk of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and thereby have a beneficial effect on clinical outcome. Robust evidence, however, is lacking. We performed a systematic meta-analysis to determine whether antiplatelet therapy has a beneficial effect after SAH. ⋯ Our data indicate that antiplatelet drugs reduce the risk of DCI in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. A randomized clinical trial is warranted to assess the effect on overall outcome.