Novel pro-atherogenic molecule coupling factor 6 is elevated in patients with stroke: a possible linkage to homocysteine.

Background And Purpose: Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent predictor of stroke. Coupling factor 6 (CF6) is regulated by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) signaling which is activated by Hcy. We tested the hypothesis that CF6 is elevated with Hcy in stroke.

Elevated plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels independent of heart disease in acute ischemic stroke: correlation with stroke severity.

We tested the hypothesis that plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are elevated in patients with acute cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) independent of heart disease, and reflect CVD severity. After careful evaluations for heart disease, the study included 79 consecutive patients with CVD without any evidence of heart disease admitted within 48 h after onset (71+/-10 years), and 26 control subjects without CVD (CT, 67+/-12 years). Ischemic stroke subtypes were defined by the TOAST classification.