Translational stroke research
-
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is primarily a disease of the elderly. Deferoxamine (DFX), an iron chelator, reduces long-term neurological deficits and brain atrophy after ICH in aged rats. In the present study, we investigated whether DFX can reduce acute ICH-induced neuronal death and whether it affects the endogenous response to ICH (ferritin upregulation and hematoma resolution) in aged rats. ⋯ However, effects of DFX on plasma ferritin levels after ICH did not reach significance. In conclusion, DFX reduces neuronal death and neurological deficits after ICH in aged rats. It also affects the endogenous response to ICH.
-
Sport-related concussion continues to be a centerpiece of attention in the field of sports medicine. The benefit to using neurocognitive testing when managing concussion will be documented in this review. ⋯ Specifically, an overview of research will be presented on the epidemiology of male and female concussion rates, as well as concussion outcomes including symptoms and cognitive function post-injury. Finally, a clinician's perspective on managing sports-related concussion will be presented focusing on three factors regarding sex differences: risk factors, clinical presentation, and management.
-
Outcome of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has improved over the last decades. Yet, case fatality remains nearly 40% and survivors often have permanent neurological, cognitive and/or behavioural sequelae. Other than nimodipine drug or clinical trials have not consistently improved outcome. ⋯ The problems are similar to those already documented in other similar collaborative efforts such as in head injury research. We encourage clinical trial and registry investigators to contact us and participate in SAHIT. Key issues moving forward will be to use common definitions (common data elements), outcomes analysis, and to prioritize research questions, among others.
-
Although inflammatory immune cells clearly contribute to the development of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice, the failure to block neutrophil-associated injury in clinical stroke trials has discouraged further development of immunotherapeutic approaches. However, there is renewed interest in a possible protective role for regulatory T- and B-cells that can suppress inflammation and limit central nervous system damage induced by infiltrating pro-inflammatory cells. ⋯ These MCAO-induced changes were completely prevented in B-cell-restored mice after transfer of highly purified WT B-cells but not IL-10-deficient B-cells. Our novel observations are the first to implicate IL-10-secreting B-cells as a major regulatory cell type in stroke and suggest that enhancement of regulatory B-cells might have application as a novel therapy for this devastating neurologic condition.
-
Despite more than 30 years of clinical use, questions remain about the safety of xenon gas in Xenon-CT cerebral blood flow (XeCTCBF) studies. In particular, xenon's effect on brain oxygen (PbtO2) in comatose patients is not well defined. Our objective was to assess the effect of a 4.5-min inhalation of 28 % stable xenon on several physiologic variables, including intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and PbtO2 in comatose patients (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] ≤ 8). ⋯ There was a varied response to xenon in most measured variables. Clinically significant changes in each were infrequent, and readily reversed with the cessation of the gas. We conclude that xenon does not appear to have a clinically significant effect on ICP, CPP, and PbtO2 and so appears safe to evaluate cerebral blood flow in comatose patients.