Neutrophil Recruitment in Arterial Thrombus and Characteristics of Stroke Patients with Neutrophil-Rich Thrombus.

Purpose: Neutrophils contribute to thrombosis. However, there is limited information on the temporal course of neutrophil recruitment in thrombosis, the contribution of neutrophils to thrombus growth, and the characteristics of stroke patients with neutrophil-rich thrombi.

Materials And Methods: After inducing carotid artery thrombosis in Institute of Cancer Research mice using ferric chloride, aged thrombi were produced by ligating the distal portion of the carotid artery in mice for 0.

Effect of leukopenia induced by cyclophosphamide on the initial stage of arterial thrombosis in mice.

Introduction: Leukocytes are found in organizing thrombi and are associated with thrombus growth. However, their role in the initial stage of thrombus formation is not well known. We investigated the role of leukocytes in the early stage of arterial thrombosis by inducing leukopenia.

Factors Associated with Incidental Neuroimaging Abnormalities in New Primary Headache Patients.

Background And Purpose: Deciding whether or not to perform neuroimaging in primary headache is a dilemma for headache physicians. The aim of this study was to identify clinical predictors of incidental neuroimaging abnormalities in new patients with primary headache disorders.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a prospective multicenter headache registry, and it classified 1,627 consecutive first-visit headache patients according to the third edition (beta version) of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3β).

Collateral augmentation treatment with a combination of acetazolamide and head-down tilt in a rat ischemic stroke model.

Cerebral collaterals is crucially important in the pathophysiology of acute ischemic stroke and associated with outcome after reperfusion therapy. We explored the effectiveness of collateral augmentation treatment with a combination of acetazolamide (ACZ) and head-down tilt (HDT) in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model. Transient MCAO was induced in all animals for 1.

Associations of Elderly Onset Headache With Occurrence of Poor Functional Outcome, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cognitive Dysfunction During Long-term Follow-up.

Background: Although the frequency and intensity of headaches decrease in older adults, headaches in this population are still an important neurological disorder. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of headache characteristics in older adults with the development of cardiovascular disease and cognitive dysfunction.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 125 older (≥65 years old) patients with headache who were making their first visit to outpatient clinics and who had no prior history of cognitive dysfunction from 11 hospitals in Korea between August 2014 and February 2015.

Stress Is Associated with Poor Outcome of Acute Treatment for Chronic Migraine: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Chronic migraine (CM) is associated with severe psychological symptoms and disabilities. Information on the relationship between stress and the outcomes of acute CM treatment is limited.

Methods: We evaluated the clinical presentation and stress levels of patients with CM who visited the neurology departments of 14 hospitals between September and December 2015.

Characteristics of Elderly-Onset (≥65 years) Headache Diagnosed Using the International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third Edition Beta Version.

Background And Purpose: New-onset headache in elderly patients is generally suggestive of a high probability of secondary headache, and the subtypes of primary headache diagnoses are still unclear in the elderly. This study investigated the characteristics of headache with an older age at onset (≥65 years) and compared the characteristics between younger and older age groups.

Methods: We prospectively collected demographic and clinical data of 1,627 patients who first visited 11 tertiary hospitals in Korea due to headache between August 2014 and February 2015.

Timely Interventions can Increase Smoking Cessation Rate in Men with Ischemic Stroke.

Purpose: Smoking cessation is strongly recommended for every smoker after ischemic stroke, but many patients fail to quit smoking. An improved smoking cessation rate has been reported with intensive behavioral therapy during hospitalization and supportive contact after discharge. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of the timely interventions for smoking cessation in men with acute ischemic stroke.

Chronic Daily Headache and Medication Overuse Headache in First-Visit Headache Patients in Korea: A Multicenter Clinic-Based Study.

Background And Purpose: Chronic daily headache (CDH) is defined as a headache disorder in which headaches occur on a daily or near-daily basis (at least 15 days/month) for more than 3 months. Chronic migraine (CM) and medication overuse headache (MOH) are very disabling headaches that remain underdiagnosed. The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of CDH and its various subtypes, and examine the associations with MOH among first-visit headache patients presenting at neurology outpatient clinics in Korea.

Korean Version of Inventory of Complicated Grief Scale: Psychometric Properties in Korean Adolescents.

We aimed to validate the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG)-Korean version among 1,138 Korean adolescents, representing a response rate of 57% of 1,997 students. Participants completed a set of questionnaires including demographic variables (age, sex, years of education, experience of grief), the ICG, the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Lifetime Incidence of Traumatic Events-Child (LITE-C). Exploratory factor analysis was performed to determine whether the ICG items indicated complicated grief in Korean adolescents.

Comprehensive Application of the International Classification of Headache Disorders Third Edition, Beta Version.

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and usefulness of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition, beta version (ICHD-3β), and compare the differences with the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition (ICHD-2). Consecutive first-visit patients were recruited from 11 headache clinics in Korea. Headache classification was performed in accordance with ICHD-3β.

Vestibular migraine in multicenter neurology clinics according to the appendix criteria in the third beta edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

Background: Vestibular migraine (VM), the common term for recurrent vestibular symptoms with migraine features, has been recognized in the appendix criteria of the third beta edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3β). We applied the criteria for VM in a prospective, multicenter headache registry study.

Methods: Nine neurologists enrolled consecutive patients visiting outpatient clinics for headache.

Factors associated with ischemic stroke on therapeutic anticoagulation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the stroke mechanism and the factors associated with ischemic stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who were on optimal oral anticoagulation with warfarin.

Materials And Methods: This was a multicenter case-control study. The cases were consecutive patients with NVAF who developed cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack (TIA) while on warfarin therapy with an international normalized ratio (INR) ≥2 between January 2007 and December 2011.

A case of cerebellar infarction caused by acute subclavian thrombus following minor trauma.

Subclavian steal syndrome caused by an acute thrombus is very rare. We present a case of cerebellar infarction with proximal subclavian artery thrombosis. A 56-year-old woman was admitted for sudden vertigo.

Long-term mortality in patients with coexisting potential causes of ischemic stroke.

Background: Multiple potential causes of stroke may coexist in ischemic stroke patients, which may affect long-term outcome.

Aim: We investigated whether there are differences in long-term mortality among stroke patients with coexisting potential causes.

Methods: We evaluated the long-term all-cause mortality and stroke or cardiovascular mortality of ischemic stroke patients with multiple potential stroke mechanisms, large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, small vessel occlusion, and negative evaluation admitted to a single center between January 1996 and December 2008.

Stroke units and stroke care services in Korea.

Organized stroke care systems improve stroke outcomes, but require resources and quality-improvement programs. This study was aimed at understanding the current status of stroke care services and stroke units in Korea. An on-line survey to investigate stroke services was conducted using a structured questionnaire for physicians who were in charge of stroke services or neurology departments of Korean hospitals that had neurology resident training programs.

The frequency and risk of preclinical coronary artery disease detected using multichannel cardiac computed tomography in patients with ischemic stroke.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease. Many ischemic stroke patients may have concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). Detection and treatment of preclinical CAD in stroke patients may improve long-term outcome and survival because CAD is a major cause of death during follow-up in stroke patients.

The association between cerebral atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: Arterial stiffness is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis. Measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) is one of the most representative and noninvasive techniques for assessing arterial stiffness. We investigated the association of cerebral atherosclerosis with brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Determinants of infarction patterns in cardioembolic stroke.

Background: Embolic infarctions from the heart are known to cause multiple scattered infarct lesions as well as single, large territorial infarctions. However, it remains unknown which factors contribute to these different infarction patterns in patients with potential cardiac sources of embolism (PCSE).

Methods: We examined 388 ischemic stroke patients with a high-risk PCSE using diffusion-weighted imaging.

Increases in cerebral atherosclerosis according to CHADS2 scores in patients with stroke with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Background And Purpose: The CHADS(2) score is used for risk stratification of ischemic stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and high CHADS(2) scores are associated with increased risk of stroke. Most components of the CHADS(2) score are also risk factors for atherosclerosis. Therefore, high CHADS(2) scores can be associated with concomitant cerebral atherosclerosis and subsequently atherothrombotic stroke.

Stroke severity in concomitant cardiac sources of embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF), which is the most common etiology of cardioembolic stroke, may be accompanied by other cardiac sources of embolism. The heterogeneity and multiplicity of the cardiac sources of embolism may influence stroke severity via formation of thrombi with heterogenous compositions, ages, and sizes. We investigated among stroke patients with AF whether stroke severity is different between patients with concomitant potential cardiac sources of embolism and those without.

A computerized in-hospital alert system for thrombolysis in acute stroke.

Background And Purpose: An effective stroke code system that can expedite rapid thrombolytic treatment requires effective notification/communication and an organized team approach. We developed a stroke code program based on the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system and investigated whether implementation of this CPOE-based program is useful for reducing the time from arrival at emergency departments (ED) to evaluation steps and the initiation of thrombolytic treatment in various hospital settings.

Methods: The CPOE-based program was implemented by 10 hospitals.

Increasing frequency and burden of cerebral artery atherosclerosis in Korean stroke patients.

Purpose: Koreans have been undergoing rapid lifestyle changes that may have an effect on patterns of cerebral artery atherosclerosis. This study was aimed at determining the frequency and distribution of atherosclerosis in the cerebral arteries and associated temporal changes over the past eight-year period among Korean stroke patients.

Materials And Methods: By using stroke registry data registered between April 1999 and March 2007, we investigated the presence, severity, and location of cerebral artery atherosclerosis as determined by angiographic findings.