Publications by authors named "Yvonne Schwammenthal"
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers measured thrombin activity in blood clots washed during stroke treatment, finding that changes in thrombin levels could indicate where the clot originated.
- * The study suggests that the difference in thrombin levels is linked to the clot's location, with higher blood flow areas washing out thrombin, while lower flow areas retain it.
We present a challenging case of a young patient who presented with focal neurological signs following a course of OC-43 coronavirus-related pneumonia almost 8 months before the COVID-19 outbreak.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Endovascularly retrieved clots are a potential resource for diagnosing stroke etiology, which may influence secondary prevention treatment. In this study we measured thrombin activity eluted by serially washing clots.
Methods: Clots were retrieved from 68 patients with acute ischemic stroke, freshly frozen and classified by standard criteria into proven atrial fibrillation (AF, 18 patients), atherosclerotic origin (AS, 15 patients), cryptogenic stroke (Cr, 17 patients) and other known causes (18 patients).
Background And Purpose: Despite overwhelming evidence for the benefits of anticoagulation in patients with brain ischemia and atrial fibrillation, vast underuse has been reported.
Methods: Use of anticoagulation for secondary stroke prevention was assessed in the National Acute Stroke Israeli Survey registry (NASIS) of hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation and acute brain ischemia. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of clinical covariates on anticoagulation therapy at discharge, and anticoagulation use over time was assessed in subgroups of patients with identified barriers to anticoagulation utilization.
Background: Multiple case series, mostly highly selected, have demonstrated a very high mortality following acute basilar artery occlusion. The more widespread availability and use of non-invasive vascular imaging over recent years has increased the rate of ABAO diagnosis.
Objectives: To estimate the proportion of diagnosed ABAO among all-cause ischemic stroke in an era of increasing use of non-invasive vascular imaging and to compare the characteristics and outcomes between these two groups.
Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with both a risk of adverse vascular outcome and a risk of bleeding. We have tested the hypothesis that in the setting of an acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), CKD is associated with poor outcome and with larger hematoma volume.
Methods: We examined the association between CKD and ICH characteristics and outcome within a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients hospitalized with an acute stroke and followed for 1 year.
Background: Calcium concentrations in serum are maintained within an exquisitely narrow range. Our aim was to examine the association between serum calcium and albumin-adjusted calcium (calcium(adj)) levels and stroke outcome in a cohort of unselected patients with acute stroke.
Methods: Consecutive patients hospitalized due to acute stroke (ischemic or intracerebral hemorrhage) throughout a large medical center were systematically assessed and followed for 1 year.
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor of ischemic stroke. We tested whether the adoption of the CHADS(2) score in clinical guidelines has impacted treatment strategies for stroke prevention, and examined how AF affects stroke outcome.
Methods: In the setting of two national surveys [National Acute Stroke Israeli Surveys; all patients hospitalized for stroke in Israel during February-March 2004, and March-April 2007] data of patients with and without AF were analyzed with respect to patient characteristics, use of anticoagulation, stroke severity, clinical course, and long-term outcome.
Background: In the setting of an acute stroke, anemia has the potential to worsen brain ischemia, however, the relationship between the entire range of hemoglobin to long-term outcome is not well understood.
Methods: We examined the association between World Health Organization-defined admission anemia status (hemoglobin<13 in males, <12 g/dl in women) and hemoglobin concentration and 1-year outcome among 859 consecutive patients with acute stroke (ischemic or intracerebral hemorrhage).
Results: The mean baseline hemoglobin concentration was 13.
Although the benefit of antithrombotic therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) is well recognized, its potential effect on stroke severity and outcome is less well established. Our objective was to examine the effect of preadmission antithrombotic therapy on stroke severity and outcome in patients with AF within a large comprehensive nationwide stroke survey. The data from consecutive patients with AF admitted with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack during a 2-month period were collected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Our aim was to examine the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and stroke outcome and to assess whether CKD and its severity affect stroke outcome in a large cohort of unselected patients with acute stroke.
Methods: We examined the association between baseline estimated GFR and CKD and 1-year outcomes in 821 consecutive patients with acute stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic).
Background: Regular physical activity is known to have a beneficial impact on multiple cardiovascular risk factors, but there is no routine provision of exercise training programs for patients after ischemic stroke.
Objectives: To assess the tolerability, safety and effect of an outpatient supervised exercise training program in patients after a non-disabling ischemic stroke.
Methods: Patients discharged home following a minor ischemic stroke (modified Rankin scale; mRS < or = 2) were referred to a 3 month outpatient supervised exercise training program, performed twice weekly as prescribed by a physiologist and supervised by physical therapy.
Background: Rapid restoration of cerebral blood flow is the principle goal of acute ischemic stroke therapy. Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator is an effective therapy for acute ischemic stroke. It has been available in the United States for over a decade and was approved for use in Israel at the end of 2004.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Calcium is often deposited in the aorta, but the associations and clinical implications of calcification of the aorta have not yet been elucidated.
Methods: In a prospective cohort of 455 hypertensive patients with at least 1 additional risk factor for atherosclerosis that underwent dual slice spiral computed tomography of the chest for assessment of arterial calcification (mean age 65.7+/-5.
Background: Clinical trials have demonstrated the superiority of managing acute stroke in a dedicated stroke unit over conventional treatment in general medical wards. Based on these findings, nationwide stroke unit care programs have been implemented in several countries.
Objective: To assess the effect of establishing a new dedicated acute stroke unit within a department of neurology on indicators of process of care and outcome of acute stroke in a routine clinical setting in Israel.
Background: Congestive heart failure is associated with cognitive impairment, particularly of attentional skills. We assessed, in a hypothesis-generating study, the effect of an exercise training program on cognitive functions among patients with severe congestive heart failure.
Methods: Patients with severe congestive heart failure (n=20; New York Heart Association functional class III; left ventricular ejection fraction < or =35%) were evaluated before and following a standardized and supervised exercise training program (x2/week for 18 weeks; exercise group), while 5 additional patients did not undergo an exercise training program (control group).
Background: In March 2002, a patient in Tel Aviv, Israel, died of endocarditis caused by Phialemonium curvatum. As part of his therapy for erectile dysfunction, the patient had been trained to self-inject a compound of vasoactive drugs provided by an impotence clinic into his penile corpus cavernosous.
Methods: We identified the used prefilled syringes as the source of his infection.
Background: Stroke and its long-term neurological sequelae can be prevented by management of risk factors and seeking medical care as early as possible following the onset of stroke symptoms.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the scope of knowledge on stroke, and to assess the perceived risk of stroke among the Israeli population.
Methods And Results: A telephone survey was conducted of a sample study of 300 men and women, 40 years of age or older, that represent the Hebrew speaking population in Israel of this age range.
Background: Homocysteine is an amino acid, the metabolism of which is linked to that of several vitamins-especially folic acid, B6, and B12. A high concentration of homocysteine in the plasma is linked to vascular disease, including stroke. Concentrations of homocysteine can be inexpensively and safely lowered by treatment with a combination of folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy within 3 hours of stroke onset is a proven effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke.
Objective: To assess the feasibility and safety of rt-PA therapy for reperfusion in routine clinical practice in Israel, in the setting of a dedicated stroke unit.
Methods: Consecutive patients presenting within less than 3 hours of stroke onset were evaluated by an emergency physician and the neurology stroke team.
Objectives: The goal of the present study was to examine whether suprasternal harmonic imaging (SHI) (i.e., harmonic imaging from the suprasternal windows) can visualize protruding arch atheromas (PAAs) and reliably predict the presence or absence of significant lesions.
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