Incidence, characteristics and outcomes in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source: A population-based study.

Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) represents a subgroup of cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CS) distinguished by high probability of an underlying embolic mechanism. There are scarce population-based data regarding the incidence, characteristics and outcomes of ESUS. Consecutive patients included with first-ever ischemic stroke of undetermined cause in the previously published population-based Evros Stroke Registry were further subdivided into ESUS and non-ESUS CS.

Stroke recurrence and mortality in northeastern Greece: the Evros Stroke Registry.

Up to date there is no population-based study from Greece providing long-term data on incidence of both all-cause mortality and stroke recurrence for patients with first ever stroke (FES). Adult patients with FES were registered during a 24-month period (2010-2012) and followed-up for 12 months. We calculated cumulative incidences of stroke mortality and recurrence.

Stroke Incidence and Outcomes in Northeastern Greece: The Evros Stroke Registry.

Background And Purpose: Data are scarce on both stroke incidence rates and outcomes in Greece and in rural areas in particular. We performed a prospective population-based study evaluating the incidence of first-ever stroke in the Evros prefecture, a region of a total 147 947 residents located in North Eastern Greece.

Methods: Adult patients with first-ever stroke were registered during a 24-month period (2010-2012) and followed up for 12 months.

Association of SCN1A gene polymorphism with antiepileptic drug responsiveness in the population of Thrace, Greece.

Introduction: The aim was to examine the influence of the SCN1A gene polymorphism IVS5-91 rs3812718 G>A on the response to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in monotherapy or polytherapy.

Material And Methods: Two hundred epilepsy patients and 200 healthy subjects were genotyped for SCN1A IVS5-91 rs3812718 G>A polymorphism using TaqMan assay. Patients were divided into drug-responsive and drug-resistant patients.

Autophagy and lysosomal related protein expression patterns in human glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma cells are resistant to apoptotic stimuli with autophagic death prevailing under cytotoxic stress. Autophagy interfering agents may represent a new strategy to test in combination with chemo-radiation. We investigated the patterns of expression of autophagy related proteins (LC3A, LC3B, p62, Beclin 1, ULK1 and ULK2) in a series of patients treated with post-operative radiotherapy.

Caregiver burden in epilepsy: determinants and impact.

Aim. Caregiver burden (CB) in epilepsy constitutes an understudied area. Here we attempt to identify the magnitude of this burden, the factors associated with it, and its impact to caregiver quality of life (QOL).

Dabigatran etexilate for secondary stroke prevention: the first year experience from a multicenter short-term registry.

Background: There are growing concerns for the side effects of dabigatran etexilate (dabigatran), including higher incidence of dyspepsia and gastrointestinal bleeding. We conducted a multicenter early implementation study to prospectively evaluate the safety, efficacy and adherence to dabigatran for secondary stroke prevention.

Methods: Consecutive atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) received dabigatran for secondary stroke prevention during their hospital stay according to American Heart Association recommendations at five tertiary care stroke centers.

Racial disparities in early mortality in 1,134 young patients with acute stroke.

We sought to investigate potential racial disparities in early outcomes of young individuals with stroke in an international multicenter study. We evaluated consecutive patients with first-ever acute stroke aged 18-45 years from prospective databases involving 12 tertiary-care stroke centers in North America (n = 2), Europe (n = 6), and Asia (n = 4). Demographics, vascular risk factors, stroke subtypes, pre-stroke functional status, stroke severity, blood pressure parameters, and serum glucose at hospital admission were documented.

Patient and caregiver quality of life in psychogenic non-epileptic seizures compared to epileptic seizures.

Purpose: Little is known about the effect of psychogenic non epileptic seizures (PNES) to caregiver quality of life (QOL), particularly as it compares to epileptic seizures (ES). We sought to characterize this effect and identify its determinants.

Methods: The study population comprised of 126 ES and 33 PNES patients who underwent video EEG monitoring along with 48 and 18 caregivers respectively who accompanied them to their investigations.

The effect of epilepsy surgery on caregiver quality of life.

Purpose: Epilepsy surgery has been shown to improve patient quality of life (QOL). Little is known about its effect on caregiver QOL.

Methods: The study population comprised of 26 persons with epilepsy (PWE) who underwent long term video EEG monitoring at Massachusetts General Hospital for presurgical evaluation along with 16 caregivers.

Intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke occurring during hospitalization for transient ischemic attack.

Background: There are limited data regarding the use of intravenous thrombolysis in patients who experienced acute ischemic symptoms during their hospitalization for prior transient ischemic attack.

Aim: We sought to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke occurring during hospitalization for transient ischemic attack in an international, multicenter study.

Methods: Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke that occurred during hospitalization for prior transient ischemic attack were treated with intravenous thrombolysis in five tertiary-care stroke centers.

Bilateral claw hand: an uncommon presentation of regional Guillain-Barré syndrome.

We present an uncommon case of a 38-year-old man presented with bilateral subacute weakness of intrinsic hand muscles, manifesting as bilateral claw-hand, without sensory deficits and absent tendon reflexes in upper arms. Nerve conduction studies showed findings consistent with demyelinating GBS. During the fourth day of hospitalization the patient presented symmetrical distal leg weakness and was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin.

Mild cognitive impairment: effect of education on the verbal and nonverbal tasks performance decline.

We sought to longitudinally evaluate the potential association of educational level with performance on verbal and nonverbal tasks in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We evaluated patients with MCI, age >50 years, no medication intake, absent vascular risk factors, and no lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each patient underwent a clinical assessment packet and a series of neuropsychological tests of the language and constructional praxis subtests of Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMGOG) and the Boston naming test (BNT), at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.

Association of ultrasonographic parameters with subclinical white-matter hyperintensities in hypertensive patients.

Background and Purpose. Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are regarded as typical MRI expressions of small-vessel disease (SVD) and are common in hypertensive patients. Hypertension induces pathologic changes in macrocirculation and in microcirculation.

Prevalence of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis in Caucasians: a prospective, multicenter, transcranial Doppler study.

Background: There are limited data available regarding symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis (SIA) prevalence in Caucasians. We sought to investigate SIA prevalence among Caucasian patients hospitalized with acute cerebral ischemia (ACI) in a prospective, multicenter Transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) study.

Methods: Consecutive patients with ACI were prospectively evaluated with TCD over a 24-month-period.

Clopidogrel load for emboli reduction in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis undergoing urgent carotid endarterectomy.

Background And Purpose: Microembolic signals (MES) on transcranial Doppler are an independent risk factor for recurrent stroke in patients with extracranial symptomatic/asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (CARAS). Clopidogrel load (300 mg) combined with dual antiplatelet therapy has been shown to reduce MES in patients with symptomatic CARAS. We sought to determine feasibility of clopidogrel load in decreasing asymptomatic embolization in patients with symptomatic CARAS undergoing urgent carotid endarterectomy within the first 2 weeks from the index event.

Low ankle-brachial index predicts early risk of recurrent stroke in patients with acute cerebral ischemia.

Objective: Low ankle-brachial blood pressure index (ABI) identifies patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We sought to investigate the association of low ABI with early risk of stroke recurrence in patients with acute cerebral ischemia (ACI) and without history of symptomatic PAD.

Methods: Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and no previous history of PAD were prospectively evaluated with ABI measurements.

Systemic thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke and Internal Carotid ARtery Occlusion: the ICARO study.

Background And Purpose: The beneficial effect of intravenous thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke attributable to internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in these patients.

Methods: ICARO was a case-control multicenter study on prospectively collected data.

Extracranial venous hemodynamics in multiple sclerosis: a case-control study.

Objectives: A chronic state of impaired cerebral and cervical venous drainage, termed chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We performed a color-coded Doppler sonography case-control study to externally validate the CCSVI criteria.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated consecutive patients with clinically definite MS and healthy volunteers using extracranial and transcranial color-coded Doppler sonography.