Using measures of sarcopenia to predict recurrent cerebrovascular events in stroke and TIA patients.

Purpose: Sarcopenia is associated with poor outcomes, and evidence suggests an inverse relationship between skeletal muscle mass and cardiovascular risk. Sarcopenia has been studied after stroke, but its value as a risk factor for stroke has not been examined. This prospective cohort study measured sarcopenia in stroke/TIA patients at baseline to explore its role in predicting recurrent events.

White-coat hypertension/effect is associated with higher arterial stiffness and stroke events.

Objectives: The risk profile of white-coat hypertension/effect (WCH/E) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between WCH/E, markers of cardiovascular risk and cerebrovascular events.

Methods: This is a sub-group analysis of The Arterial Stiffness In lacunar Stroke and Transient ischemic attack (ASIST) study, which recruited 96 patients aged at least 40 years old with a diagnosis of transient ischemic attack or lacunar stroke in the preceding 14 days.

Aortic stiffness and central systolic pressure are associated with ambulatory orthostatic BP fall in chronic kidney disease.

Objective: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) has a significant association with cardiovascular disease. OH becomes more common in older age, as does arterial stiffness, shown to be independently associated with impaired baroreflex sensitivity and OH. Measurement of arterial compliance and central blood pressures are increasingly important, with evidence that central BP more closely correlates to end-organ damage and mortality than peripheral measurements.

Bimodal Expansion of the Lymphatic Vessels Is Regulated by the Sequential Expression of IL-7 and Lymphotoxin α1β2 in Newly Formed Tertiary Lymphoid Structures.

Lymphangiogenesis associated with tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) has been reported in numerous studies. However, the kinetics and dynamic changes occurring to the lymphatic vascular network during TLS development have not been studied. Using a viral-induced, resolving model of TLS formation in the salivary glands of adult mice we demonstrate that the expansion of the lymphatic vascular network is tightly regulated.

Health beliefs and carer burden in first episode psychosis.

Background: Carer burden is high during First Episode Psychosis (FEP) and evidence suggests that this is a predictor of poor long-term outcome. However our understanding of factors associated with higher burden is poor. We propose that carers' cultural backgrounds and health belief models will influence their perceived burden of care, over and above that explained by severity of illness.