Image-Guided Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for IgG4-Related Ophthalmic Disease.

Background: IgG4-related ophthalmic disease is a rare, newly recognized entity with high failure rates on first-line therapy of systemic corticosteroids and no other proven management options. Here, we present the clinical course of a patient with IgG4 ophthalmic disease who achieved a favorable response from radiotherapy. Our patient initially presented with a history of recurrent painful flares of orbital inflammation, a pathologic diagnosis follicular lymphoid hyperplasia from a right lacrimal gland biopsy, and MRI imaging noting expansion of the lateral rectus muscle of the right eye.

Vision, Aphasia, Neglect Assessment for Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Vision, Aphasia, Neglect (VAN) is a large vessel occlusion (LVO) screening tool that was initially tested in a small study where emergency department (ED) nurses were trained to perform VAN assessment on stroke code patients. We aimed to validate the VAN assessment in a larger inpatient dataset.

Methods: We utilized a large dataset and used National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) performed by physicians to extrapolate VAN.

Vision, Aphasia, Neglect Assessment to Predict Neurosurgical Intervention in Patients with Nontraumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background And Purpose: The Vision, Aphasia, and Neglect (VAN) screening tool is a simple bedside test developed to identify patients with large vessel occlusion stroke. In the setting of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), there are very few bedside predictors of need for neurosurgical interventions other than age and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). We aimed to assess the utility of the VAN screening tool in predicting the need for neurosurgical intervention in patients with ICH.

Epidemic of illicit drug use, mechanisms of action/addiction and stroke as a health hazard.

Drug abuse robs individuals of their jobs, their families, and their free will as they succumb to addiction; but may cost even more: a life of disability or even life lost due to stroke. Many illicit drugs have been linked to major cardiovascular events and other comorbidities, including cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy, heroin, phencyclidine, lysergic acid diethylamide, and marijuana. This review focuses on available epidemiological data, mechanisms of action, particularly those leading to cerebrovascular events, and it is based on papers published in English in PubMed during 1950 through February 2011.

Effect of hepatic artery flow on bile secretory function after cold ischemia.

These studies evaluated the influence of hepatic arterial flow on biliary secretion after cold ischemia. Preparation of livers for transplantation or hepatic support impairs biliary secretion. The earliest indication of cold preservation injury during reperfusion is circulatory function.