Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke: a case-control study.

Background: It is unclear if brief episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) detected by prolonged cardiac monitoring are an occult of cause of cryptogenic strokes (CS). We compared the incidence of PAF in patients with CS and patients with stroke of known cause (SKC) using prolonged ambulatory cardiac monitoring.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients within 3 months of ischemic stroke to undergo noninvasive cardiac monitoring for 3 weeks.

Timing of clinical grade assessment and poor outcome in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Object: Timing of clinical grading has not been fully studied in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The primary objective of this study was to identify at which time point clinical assessment using the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grading scale and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is most predictive of poor functional outcome.

Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort study on the association between poor outcome and clinical grading determined at presentation, nadir, and postresuscitation.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: an overview for the practicing neurologist.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) accounts for ~5% of strokes, but causes high rates of morbidity and mortality and occurs at a relatively young age. The rupture of an intracranial aneurysm is the leading cause of nontraumatic SAH and will be the subject of this review. Rebleeding remains the most imminent danger until the aneurysm is secured (i.

Possibility of delayed cerebral infarction after pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: A pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage has been accepted as a "benign" entity. Here we present two patients with delayed cerebral infarction following pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Methods: Case report.

The use of clinical and routine imaging data to differentiate between aneurysmal and nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage prior to angiography. Clinical article.

Object: In this study, the authors' goal was to minimize false-negative results in the detection of ruptured cerebral aneurysms.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological information in consecutive adult patients admitted with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) to their hospital between January 1, 2002, and January 1, 2008. Patients were grouped based on the presence or absence of a ruptured aneurysm, which was detected by catheter angiography.

Prediction of angiographic vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: value of the Hijdra sum scoring system.

Background: Vasospasm is a major complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and affects clinical outcome. The ability to predict cerebral vasospasm after SAH would allow the neuro-intensivist to institute preemptive and more aggressive therapy.

Methods: Social, clinical, and radiological information on adult SAH patients recently admitted to our hospital were reviewed.

Timing of computed tomography and prediction of vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: The initial noncontrast computed tomography (CT) study of the head after an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is used to predict the risk of developing vasospasm. Changes in the extent of subarachnoid blood seen on CT images occur as a function of time after SAH, but there is no consensus on the time interval during which this study needs to be completed.

Methods: Clinical and radiological information on adult SAH patients were reviewed.

Thunderclap headache and normal computed tomographic results: value of cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) xanthochromia for detection of ruptured cerebral aneurysms in patients with thunderclap headache (sudden and severe headache with maximal intensity at onset).

Patients And Methods: We identified patients who presented to our emergency department with symptoms of thunderclap headache between January 1, 1998, and January 1, 2008. Those with normal results on computed tomography (CT) of the head were selected for inclusion in the study.

Mechanisms for regulation of cellular responsiveness to human IFN-beta1a.

Interferons (IFNs) are potent, pleiotropic cytokines, and therefore it is likely that the cell has mechanisms to modulate IFN activity in response to excessive or prolonged IFN exposure. To investigate this question, Jurkat T cells were exposed to IFN-beta1a in vitro. The effect of dose and frequency of IFN treatment on receptor expression, the signal transduction pathway, and biologic activity was examined.