Circulating Microparticles in Patients with Symptomatic Carotid Disease Are Related to Embolic Plaque Activity and Recent Cerebral Ischaemia.

Background And Purpose: In order to assess the association of microparticles derived from activated platelets (PMP) or endothelial cells (EMP) with risk markers for recurrent embolic events in patients with symptomatic carotid artery disease, we studied the associations between PMP/EMP and three risk markers: plaque haemorrhage (PH), micro-embolic signals and cerebral diffusion abnormalities.

Methods: Patients with recently symptomatic high-grade carotid artery stenosis (60-99%, 42 patients, 31 men; mean age 75 ± 8 years) and 30 healthy volunteers (HV, 11 men; mean age 56 ± 12 years) were prospectively recruited. Patients were characterised by carotid magnetic resonance imaging (presence of PH [MRI PH]), brain diffusion MRI (cerebral ischaemia [DWI+]) and transcranial Doppler ultrasound (micro-embolic signals [MES+]).

Medical student INtervention to promote effective nicotine dependence and tobacco HEalthcare (MIND-THE-GAP): single-centre feasibility randomised trial results.

Background: Although brief cessation advice from healthcare professionals increases quit rates, smokers typically do not get this advice during hospitalisation, possibly due to resource issues, lack of training and professionals' own attitudes to providing such counselling. Medical students are a potentially untapped resource who could deliver cessation counselling, while upskilling themselves and changing their own attitudes to delivering such advice in the future; however, no studies have investigated this. We aimed to determine if brief student-led counselling could enhance motivation to quit and smoking cessation behaviours among hospitalised patients.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Plaque Hemorrhage for Risk Stratification in Carotid Artery Disease With Moderate Risk Under Current Medical Therapy.

Background And Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-defined carotid plaque hemorrhage (MRIPH) can predict recurrent cerebrovascular ischemic events in severe symptomatic carotid stenosis. It is less clear whether MRIPH can improve risk stratification despite optimized medical secondary prevention in those with moderate risk.

Methods: One-hundred fifty-one symptomatic patients with 30% to 99% carotid artery stenosis (median age: 77, 60.

Impaired Cerebrovascular Reactivity Predicts Recurrent Symptoms in Patients with Carotid Artery Occlusion: A Hypercapnia BOLD fMRI Study.

Background And Purpose: A key factor in predicting recurrent ischemic episodes in patients with carotid artery occlusion is the presence of hemodynamic impairment. There is, however, no consensus on how to best assess this risk in terms of imaging modalities or thresholds used. Here we investigated whether a predefined threshold of hemispheric asymmetry in hypercapnia fMRI predicts recurrent symptoms in patients with carotid artery occlusion.