Intake of potassium- and magnesium-enriched salt improves functional outcome after stroke: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind controlled trial.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and neurologic deficits. Management measures to improve neurologic outcomes are in great need. Our previous intervention trial in elderly subjects successfully used salt as a carrier for potassium, demonstrating a 41% reduction in cardiovascular mortality by switching to potassium-enriched salt.

Low cholesterol level associated with severity and outcome of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: Results from Taiwan Stroke Registry.

The relationship between cholesterol level and hemorrhagic stroke is inconclusive. We hypothesized that low cholesterol levels may have association with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) severity at admission and 3-month outcomes. This study used data obtained from a multi-center stroke registry program in Taiwan.

Blood Pressure, Carotid Flow Pulsatility, and the Risk of Stroke: A Community-Based Study.

Background And Purpose: High blood pressure is a major cause of cardiovascular events, and carotid flow pulsatility may be associated with cardiovascular events. However, the combined effect of blood pressure and flow pulsatility on the development of stroke remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the combined influence of central blood pressure and pulsatility index (PI) on the incidence of stroke.

Common carotid artery end-diastolic velocity is independently associated with future cardiovascular events.

Background: Carotid ultrasound is widely used to measure haemodynamic parameters, such as intima-media thickness and blood flow velocities (i.e. peak-systolic velocity [PSV], end-diastolic velocity [EDV], and resistive index [RI]).

Onset headache predicts good outcome in patients with first-ever ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: The study aimed to assess whether onset headache is an ominous sign in patients with first-ever ischemic stroke.

Methods: A large population of ischemic stroke patients was obtained from the Taiwan Stroke Registry. Stroke subtypes were classified by the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria.

Common carotid end-diastolic velocity and intima-media thickness jointly predict ischemic stroke in Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: In Asian populations, few studies investigated the association between stroke and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT). Our previous case-control studies showed that low end-diastolic velocity (EDV) in common carotid artery, a potential hemodynamic marker of intracranial resistance, was associated with ischemic stroke. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between both EDV and IMT and incident ischemic stroke in an Asian population.

Genetic variants of connexin37 are associated with carotid intima-medial thickness and future onset of ischemic stroke.

Background: Carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) is a surrogate marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of genetic variants on IMT and future development of ischemic stroke in a cohort, followed by an independent replication study.

Methods: B-mode carotid ultrasound was performed among 3330 healthy adults in the CVDFACT cohort study, and the genetic effects of atherosclerosis-related genes including connexin37 (GJA4), C-reactive protein (CRP), paraoxonase (PON1), adiponectin (ACDC), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), beta-adrenergic receptor (ADRB1, ADRB2), antithrombin III (SERPINC1), and kinesin family member 6 (KIF6) were evaluated by a multivariate regression model, adjusting for traditional vascular risk factors.

Shorter GT repeat polymorphism in the heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter has protective effect on ischemic stroke in dyslipidemia patients.

Background: The microsatellite polymorphism of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 gene promoter has been shown to be associated with the susceptibility to ischemic event, including coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction, and peripheral vascular disease. We aimed to examine whether the length of (GT)(n) repeats in HO-1 gene promoter is associated with ischemic stroke in people with CAD risk factors, especially low level of HDL.

Methods: A total of 183 consecutive firstever ischemic stroke inpatients and 164 non-stroke patients were screened for the length of (GT)(n) repeats in HO-1 promoter.

[Guidelines for the general management of patients with acute ischemic stroke].

The content of the second edition of "Guideline for General Management of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke" was amended from the first edition of that of the Taiwan Stroke Society in 2002. The format of the guideline followed the common unified instruction for the project of "The establishment of clinical guidelines for the top 10 payments diseases of the National Health Insurance at the departments of inpatients, emergency and outpatients" as recommended by the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI). The guideline was revised after several official meetings of local experts, as well as citation from the latest updated guidelines of the United States and the European Stroke academic groups.

Rapid identification and susceptibility testing using the VITEK 2 system using culture fluids from positive BacT/ALERT blood cultures.

Background And Purpose: In order to reduce the turnaround time for laboratory diagnosis of bacteremia, the efficacy of identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using samples taken directly from positive BacT/ALERT standard aerobic and standard anaerobic blood culture bottles was evaluated.

Methods: 160 positive blood culture bottles were examined and incubated at 35 degrees C in 5% carbon dioxide for 4-24 h, and an aliquot of the culture fluid was Gram stained. Samples containing Gram-negative bacilli were inoculated on VITEK 2 ID-GNB (identification-Gram-negative bacilli) and AST (antimicrobial susceptibility testing)-GN04 cards, and those containing Gram-positive cocci were inoculated on ID-GPC (identification-Gram-positive cocci) and AST-P526 cards.

Lower blood flow velocity, higher resistance index, and larger diameter of extracranial carotid arteries are associated with ischemic stroke independently of carotid atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors.

Purpose: To investigate the association between diameter and flow velocity of the carotid arteries and ischemic stroke.

Methods: Peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, Pourcelot resistance index, blood flow volume, luminal diameter, and carotid plaque burden were measured and compared in 240 ischemic stroke (IS) patients without history of stroke, 163 chronic stable IS patients, and 236 nonstroke controls (age, >or=40 years). Data were also compared between stroke subtypes (large artery atherosclerosis, lacunar, cardioembolic, or undetermined origin).

High titer of anticardiolipin antibody is associated with first-ever ischemic stroke in Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: The association between anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) and ischemic stroke is controversial, and there are few case-control studies of Asian populations. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine whether aCL is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke in Taiwanese patients over the age of 40 years.

Methods: Both the IgG and IgM isotypes of aCL were measured in 273 patients (> 40 years of age) hospitalized for first-ever ischemic stroke and in 181 non-stroke controls.