European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guidelines on glycaemia management in acute stroke.

Background: Hyperglycaemia is a frequent complication in acute stroke that has been shown to be independently associated with larger infarct size, haematoma growth, poor clinical outcome and mortality. This Guideline Document presents the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) Guidelines for the management of blood glucose levels in patients with acute ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke.

Methods: The working group identified related questions and developed its recommendations based on evidence from randomised controlled trials following the standard operating procedure of the ESO.

Comparing Risk Factor Profiles between Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Ischemic Stroke in Chinese and White Populations: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Chinese populations have a higher proportion of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in total strokes. However, the reasons are not fully understood.

Methods: To assess the differences in frequency of major risk factors between ICH and ischemic stroke (IS) in Chinese versus white populations of European descent, we systematically sought studies conducted since 1990 that compared frequency of risk factors between ICH and IS in Chinese or white populations.

European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guidelines for the management of temperature in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Hyperthermia is a frequent complication in patients with acute ischemic stroke. On the other hand, therapeutically induced hypothermia has shown promising potential in animal models of focal cerebral ischemia. This Guideline Document presents the European Stroke Organisation guidelines for the management of temperature in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Risk factors for ischemic stroke and its subtypes in Chinese vs. Caucasians: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Chinese populations are reported to have a different distribution of ischemic stroke subtypes compared with Caucasians.

Aims: To understand this better, we aimed to evaluate the differences in prevalence of risk factors in ischemic stroke and their distributions among ischemic stroke subtypes in Chinese vs. Caucasians.

European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guidelines for the management of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounted for 9% to 27% of all strokes worldwide in the last decade, with high early case fatality and poor functional outcome. In view of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the management of ICH, the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) has updated its evidence-based guidelines for the management of ICH.

Method: A multidisciplinary writing committee of 24 researchers from 11 European countries identified 20 questions relating to ICH management and created recommendations based on the evidence in RCTs using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Increased uptake and new therapies are needed to avert rising hepatitis C-related end stage liver disease in England: modelling the predicted impact of treatment under different scenarios.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C (HCV) related disease in England is predicted to rise, and it is unclear whether treatment at current levels will be able to avert this. The aim of this study was to estimate the number of people with chronic HCV infection in England that are treated and assess the impact and costs of increasing treatment uptake.

Methods: Numbers treated were estimated using national data sources for pegylated interferon supplied, dispensed, or purchased from 2006 to 2011.

Epidemiology of stroke and its subtypes in Chinese vs white populations: a systematic review.

Objective: We aimed to systematically assess the evidence for differences in the incidence of stroke and distribution of its subtypes in Chinese compared with white populations.

Methods: We comprehensively sought studies conducted since 1990 in Chinese populations of 1) first-ever stroke incidence (community-based studies only), and 2) pathologic types/subtypes of stroke (hospital- or community-based studies of first-ever or recurrent strokes). We identified community-based studies in white populations from a recent systematic review.

A systematic review of the utility of 1.5 versus 3 Tesla magnetic resonance brain imaging in clinical practice and research.

Objective: MRI at 3 T is said to be more accurate than 1.5 T MR, but costs and other practical differences mean that it is unclear which to use.

Methods: We systematically reviewed studies comparing diagnostic accuracy at 3 T with 1.

Direct vasoactive effects of the chromogranin A (CHGA) peptide catestatin in humans in vivo.

Catestatin is a bioactive peptide of chromogranin A (CHGA) that is co-released with catecholamines from secretory vesicles. Catestatin may function as a vasodilator and is diminished in hypertension. To evaluate this potential vasodilator in vivo without systemic counterregulation, we infused catestatin to target concentrations of approximately 50, approximately 500, approximately 5000 nM into dorsal hand veins of 18 normotensive men and women, after pharmacologic venoconstriction with phenylephrine.

A systematic review of clinical trials of pharmacological interventions for acute ischaemic stroke (1955-2008) that were completed, but not published in full.

Background: We assessed the prevalence, and potential impact of, trials of pharmacological agents for acute stroke that were completed but not published in full. Failure to publish trial data is to be deprecated as it sets aside the altruism of participants' consent to be exposed to the risks of experimental interventions, potentially biases the assessment of the effects of therapies, and may lead to premature discontinuation of research into promising treatments.

Methods: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group's Specialised Register of Trials in June 2008 for completed trials of pharmacological interventions for acute ischaemic stroke, and searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (January 2007 - March 2009) for references to recent full publications.

Matrix metalloproteinases: discrete elevations in essential hypertension and hypertensive end-stage renal disease.

The contribution of inflammation to hypertension and target organ damage is under investigation. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes are inflammatory mediators that may contribute to hypertension and its target organ consequences. Here we probe MMPs as inflammatory mediators in hypertension, by studying all three MMP classes in uncomplicated hypertension as well hypertension with profound renal damage, such as hypertensive end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Genetic variation within adrenergic pathways determines in vivo effects of presynaptic stimulation in humans.

Background: Catecholamines govern stress blood pressure responses. Catecholaminergic responses may be partially genetic and contribute to the complex heritability of hypertension.

Methods And Results: To evaluate catecholaminergic responses without systemic counterregulation, we infused graded concentrations of tyramine, an indirect presynaptic norepinephrine releaser, into dorsal hand veins of 49 normotensive men and women of 5 ethnicities.

Development and evaluation of a real-time PCR assay for rapid identification and semi-quantitation of measles virus.

A real-time PCR assay for measles virus was designed and validated using clinical samples including oral fluids, sera, urines, throat swabs, blood samples, and nasopharyngeal aspirates. The test was specific for measles virus, with a slightly higher sensitivity compared to the conventional nested PCR. Calculation of viral genome number in these samples, by comparison with a standard curve prepared from dilutions of cloned measles virus H gene, indicated that, overall, serum samples tended to have a lower viral load than oral fluid samples, and that the viral load decreased with increasing time after onset of symptoms.

Application of molecular and serological assays to case based investigations of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome.

Rubella and congenital rubella syndrome continue to be important health problems worldwide. The detection of rubella RNA directly in clinical specimens is a critical factor in early laboratory diagnosis of recent or congenital infection, in addition to detection of rubella-specific IgM. In order to comply with recent WHO recommendations for establishing uniform genetic analysis protocols for rubella virus we have developed a new block based PCR assay (PCR-E317), which extends the sequence generated by the block based PCR-E592 currently in use, to cover the minimum acceptable 739 nucleotides (nt) window at the E1 gene.

Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis heat-shock protein 60 kDa and detection of Mycoplasma genitalium and ureaplasma urealyticum are associated independently with chronic nongonococcal urethritis.

Background: Chronic nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) is a well-recognized clinical problem in genitourinary medicine clinics, but its etiology and optimal management are poorly understood.

Goal: The authors showed previously that antibody to chlamydial hsp60 is associated with urethritis 30 to 92 days after treatment of acute NGU (chronic NGU) and that the detection of ureaplasmas or is associated with chronic NGU in which symptoms or signs are present. The aim was to determine whether these associations are independent of each other.

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in early pregnancy using self-administered vaginal swabs and first pass urines: a cross-sectional community-based survey.

A cross-sectional survey of 1216 newly pregnant women (mean age = 31 years) from 32 general practices and five family planning clinics was conducted to find the prevalence of chlamydial infection and to evaluate self-administered vaginal swabs and first-pass urines for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by ligase chain reaction assay. Overall prevalence of infection was 2.4% (95% CI = 1.