Family History of Stroke Is Associated with Large- and Small-Vessel Etiology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Several studies have investigated the association between family history of stroke (FHS) and stroke etiology, recurrence, or mortality; however, the results have been discrepant. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to further evaluate the associations.

Materials And Methods: We searched Scopus database using the term "family history" AND "stroke" up to December 2023 to identify observational studies and systematic reviews reporting both the prevalence of FHS and the rates of stroke etiology or recurrence or mortality.

Family history of stroke - a useful clue for the primary care physician and stroke neurologist: a narrative review.

Purpose: The heritability of ischemic stroke is a complex mechanism, involving the contribution of genetic traits and environmental factors, which is why in everyday practice clinicians often rely on the broad term "family history of stroke", defined as the case of any first-degree relative who has had a stroke. The aim of this review is to update the available data regarding family history of stroke in primary and secondary stroke prevention by searching the electronic Scopus database for the phrase TITLE-ABS-KEY ("family history" AND "stroke").

Views: A total of 140 articles met the pre-specified criteria and were included in the review.

An optimal model of long-term post-stroke care.

Stroke is a major healthcare challenge that is increasing worldwide. The burden of stroke is significant for the affected individuals as well as for the general population; high-quality care is needed to reduce its negative impacts. This article synthesized information from systematic reviews, guidelines, and primary literature on stroke care and post-stroke rehabilitation and proposes an optimal strategy for long-term post-stroke care.

Reliability of the modified Rankin Scale in clinical practice of stroke units and rehabilitation wards.

Introduction: The Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is the most common tool to quantify post-stroke disability in everyday practice and by certified raters in clinical trials. However, interobserver variability may affect reliability of retrospective observational studies, including clinical registries. Our aim was to assess real-life consistency between neurologists and physical and rehabilitation medicine physicians using mRS to rate post-stroke disability of patients transferred directly from stroke unit (SU) to rehabilitation ward (RW).

An Analysis of the Incidence and Cost of Intracranial Aneurysm and Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Treatment between 2013 and 2021.

The incidence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) amounts to 3.2% among adults. The annual risk of aneurysm rupture is 2-10% and it results in subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

Voluntary Unemployment Is Associated With Increased Prevalence of Stroke and its Risk Factors in Middle-Aged Adults.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the association between the prevalence of stroke, its risk factors, and occupational status, with a differentiation between voluntary and involuntary unemployment.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which included 3013 individuals aged 40 to 65 years. We compared the prevalence of stroke, comorbidities, self-reported stroke-like symptoms, healthy behaviors, and knowledge about stroke among the voluntarily and involuntarily unemployed versus the employed.

Botulinum toxin type-A preparations are not the same medications - clinical studies (Part 2).

The growing number of Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) preparations on the market has resulted in a search for pharmacological, clinical and pharmacoeconomic differences. Patients are occasionally switched from one botulinum toxin formulation to another. The aim of this paper was to review studies that have made direct comparisons of the three major BoNT/A preparations presently on the market: ona-, abo- and incobotulinumtoxinA.

Botulinum toxin type-A preparations are not the same medications - basic science (Part 1).

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) formulations are widely used in clinical practice. Although they share a common mechanism of action resulting in presynaptic block in acetylocholine release, their structure and pharmacological properties demonstrate some similarities and many differences. Bioequivalence has been discussed since the onset of the clinical use of BoNT/A.

Real-world effectiveness of abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®) in adults with upper limb spasticity in routine clinical practice: an observational study.

AbobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNT-A, Dysport®) is used in clinical practice as a well-tolerated and effective therapy for muscle spasticity. AboBoNT-A has been shown to reduce upper and lower limb spastic paresis in clinical trials, demonstrating improvements in muscle tone and limb function. This open-label, multicentre, observational, non-interventional study was the first to investigate aboBoNT-A's efficacy in adult patients with upper limb spasticity (ULS) in routine clinical practice in Poland.

Effect of medical complications on the after-stroke rehabilitation outcome.

Background: Post-stroke rehabilitation should begin immediately and continue while improvement is seen. After stroke, patients are at risk of developing medical complications, which can hinder optimal recovery.

Objective: We aimed to determine the incidence of complications occurring during early inpatient rehabilitation and to assess their influence on patients' functionality.

Carotid intima media thickness and blood biomarkers of atherosclerosis in patients after stroke or myocardial infarction.

Aim: To test if circulating levels of markers of inflammation, endothelial function, and chronic infections, as well as association between these markers and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), depend on the stage of atherosclerosis expressed as a history of a major vascular event.

Methods: The associations were analyzed separately in 75 healthy controls, 79 patients 3-6 months after the first-ever non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke (IS), and 37 patients 3-6 months after the first-ever myocardial infarction (MI). Data were collected prospectively in 2005.

Temporal trends in vascular risk factors and etiology of urban Polish stroke patients from 1995 to 2013.

Background: Despite estimates about general trends in stroke epidemiology worldwide, there are only a few reports of detailed longitudinal data and none of them reflects the economic transition that occurred in Central and Eastern Europe over the last two decades. The aim of this study was to investigate long term trends in risk factors and their pre-stroke control as well as acute stroke clinical presentation and etiology in Polish urban setting.

Methods: This is a retrospective registry-based analysis of consecutive acute stroke patients from a highly urbanized area (Warsaw, Poland) admitted to a single stroke center between 1995 and 2013.

Neuropsychological and neurological sequelae of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and the estimated need for neurorehabilitation: a prospective pilot study.

Background: Diffuse brain injury is a key component of post-cardiac arrest syndrome reported in 30-80% of survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). It is responsible for a high mortality rate, and is a common cause of cognitive and neurological deficits and disability. Symptom variability and dynamics and the rehabilitation potential remain poorly understood.

Impact of BDNF -196 G>A and BDNF -270 C>T polymorphisms on stroke rehabilitation outcome: sex and age differences.

Background: Genetic factors, including gene polymorphisms, are promising in determining stroke rehabilitation outcome. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most attractive because of its role in neuroplasticity and brain repair.

Objective: The aim of present study was to assess the role of BDNF -196 G≯A (val66met) and -270 C≯T on clinical parameters and functional outcome in patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Pharmacotherapy prior to and in acute haemorrhagic stroke. The use of pharmacotherapy and drugs associated outcomes in real-world practice - findings from the Polish Hospital Stroke Registry.

Background And Purpose: Haemorrhagic stroke is associated with substantial mortality and disability, thus prevention and appropriate treatment of acute intracerebral haemorrhage is crucial. We aimed to evaluate the use and the early and late outcomes impact of drugs administered before and in acute haemorrhagic stroke in a real-world practice.

Material And Methods: Haemorrhagic stroke patients hospitalized between 1st March 2007 and 29th February 2008 and reported in Polish Hospital Stroke Registry were analysed.

Pharmacotherapy prior to and in acute ischaemic stroke. The use of pharmacotherapy and drug-associated outcomes in real world practice - findings from the Polish Hospital Stroke Registry.

Background And Purpose: Stroke is a preventable disease and acute ischaemic stroke can be effectively treated. Specific pharmacotherapy is recommended in either prevention or acute ischemic stroke treatment. We aimed to evaluate the use and the early and late outcomes impact of drugs administered before and in acute ischaemic stroke in a real world practice.

Organization of acute stroke services in Poland - Polish Stroke Unit Network development.

Background And Purpose: According to the recommendations of stroke organizations, every stroke patient should be treated in a specialized stroke unit (SU). We aimed to evaluate the development of the SU network in Poland during the past decade.

Material And Methods: In Poland, stroke is treated mainly by neurologists.

Weekend versus weekday admissions in Polish stroke centres -- could admission day affect prognosis in Polish ischaemic stroke patients?

Background And Purpose: Disparities in resources, access to the expertise and healthcare providers both at hospital and before admission, or patients' awareness of stroke symptoms can cause differences in weekend and weekday stroke severity and prognosis. The aim of the study was to explore differences in baseline characteristics and outcomes of ischaemic stroke patients admitted on weekdays and weekends.

Material And Methods: A questionnaire based on the WHO Step Stroke and Swedish Stroke Registry was used to collect data on patients admitted to centres participating in the POLKARD Hospital Stroke Registry between June 1st, 2004 and May 31st, 2005.

Development of early comprehensive stroke inpatient rehabilitation in Poland - current status and future requirements.

Background And Purpose: Every stroke patient should undergo early rehabilitation. We aimed to evaluate accessibility, development and needs in early stroke inpatient rehabilitation in Poland.

Material And Methods: A questionnaire evaluating rehabilitation departments was prepared and sent (in 2004 and 2008) to rehabilitation wards in Poland, where stroke patients are treated and undergo early rehabilitation.

Ten years of stroke programmes in Poland: where did we start? Where did we get to?

Unlabelled: Risk factors and a high stroke mortality rate are a heavy stroke burden on Central and Eastern European countries. The 1995 Helsingborg Declaration outlined the aim of the coming decade was to improve patient care. In Poland it led to the foundation of the National Stroke Prevention and Treatment Programme, (1998-2008) which later became part of the National Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment Programme.

Pulse pressure--independent predictor of poor early outcome and mortality following ischemic stroke.

Background: Pulse pressure (PP) in acute stroke may be related to the outcome. The link between PP in the first week following ischemic stroke and early outcome was assessed.

Methods: We calculated mean PPs during the first 7 days after stroke onset in 1,677 patients.

Echolucent internal carotid artery plaques are a risk factor for stroke.

Background And Purpose: Atherosclerotic changes in carotid arteries are responsible for 10-20% of strokes. The aim of our study was to examine how the ultrasonic morphology of carotid arteries influences the occurrence of ischaemic stroke (IS).

Material And Methods: Ultrasonography of the carotid arteries was performed with a 7-MHz duplex-type scanner Acuson 128XP/10C.

Development of the stroke unit network in Poland--current status and future requirements.

Background And Purpose: According to the World Health Organization establishments and European Stroke Initiative recommendations, every patient with stroke should be treated by a specialized stroke team or in a specialized stroke unit. We aimed to evaluate the development of the stroke unit network in Poland and accessibility of stroke units in 2005.

Material And Methods: Questionnaires evaluating structure and staff of neurological departments were sent to all neurological departments in Poland in the second quarter of 2005.