Homocysteine level and risk of different stroke types: A meta-analysis of prospective observational studies

Background and aimsInconsistent findings have been reported regarding the association between elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and the risk of different types of strokes. We conducted this meta-analysis to identify the association between homocysteine (Hcy) levels and different kinds of strokes or recurrences of strokes.Methods and resultsPubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies published prior to April 2013. Only prospective studies that compared elevated Hcy levels with the risk of different types of strokes were selected. Results were presented as the relative risk (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing the highest Hcy category group with the lowest Hcy category group. Nine studies composed of 13,284 participants were included. The pooled RR of ischemic strokes when comparing the highest Hcy category group with the lowest Hcy category group was 1.69 (95% CI: 1.29–2.20) in a fixed-effect model. The pooled RR of hemorrhagic strokes and recurrent strokes when comparing the highest Hcy category group with the lowest Hcy category group in a fixed-effect model was 1.65 (95% CI: 0.61–4.45) and 1.76 (95% CI: 1.37–2.24), respectively.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis indicated that elevated Hcy levels are associated with an increased risk for ischemic strokes and recurrent strokes but had no distinct association with hemorrhagic strokes.     

膝控制矫形器治疗老年重症卒中偏瘫患者康复疗效观察

目的探讨穿戴膝控制矫形器进行康复治疗对中老年重度卒中偏瘫患者下肢功能恢复的影响。方法符合入组标准的28例下肢本体感觉受累和(或)合并单侧空间忽略的偏瘫患者,分为矫形器组(常规康复治疗的基础上佩戴膝矫形器进行直立体位治疗,14例)和对照组(包括直立位训练的常规康复治疗,14例)2组。分别于训练前和训练后1月采用Fugl-Meyer下肢运动功能评定量表、Brunel平衡量表、Holden步行功能分级、划线试验和改良Barthel指数等对患者的运动、平衡、行走和日常生活能力进行评价。结果 1月后2组间比较,除划线试验、Fugl-Meyer下肢运动功能评定量表评分无显著性差异外,Brunel平衡量表、Holden步行功能量表、改良Barthel指数得分均有显著性差异(P0.05或P0.01),矫形器组疗效明显优于对照组。结论膝控制矫形器对重度老年卒中偏瘫患者下肢功能性活动能力恢复有较好的疗效,可积极推荐使用。     

左心耳在预测心房颤动发生脑卒中的作用

成为公共健康沉重负担的心房颤动和相关的血栓栓塞性脑卒中事件仍在以惊人的速度增长。心房颤动导致脑卒中的风险增加了5倍．．因此,预防脑卒中的心房颤动管理仍然是最关键的一方面。现在公认的重点预防措施就是规范抗凝,包括已使用很广泛的华法林和现在出现的新抗凝药如利伐沙班等。而且抗凝药的使用已有据可查。由于左心耳在心房鲡动血栓的发生中起关键作用,所以有目的性地去除或结扎左心耳来预防发生脑卒中就成了一种可替代的治疗方法,尤其是适用于那些不适合口服抗凝药的患者,,现就左心耳预测心房颤动发生脑卒中进行介绍。     

星形胶质细胞在脑缺血损伤中的作用及其机制

背景 脑血管疾病严重危害人类健康,其中脑卒中是我国60岁以上人群致死第二大病因,同时因其高致残性愈发受到关注。先前脑保护研究主要针对神经元受损机制,而作为中枢神经系统中数量最多的星形胶质细胞,因其在构建中枢神经系统结构、辅助细胞间信号转导、调节神经元可塑性等过程中的重要作用,成为近年来脑保护治疗研究热点。目的 探究星形胶质细胞在脑缺血性损伤中的作用。内容 综述星形胶质细胞生理功能,星形胶质细胞在脑缺血性损伤中细胞形态和功能变化,星形胶质细胞神经保护作用。 趋向 星形胶质细胞有望成为脑缺血性损伤治疗的新靶点。     

脑梗死急性期血压变化规律及降压治疗对预后的影响

脑梗死众多危险因素中,高血压是最持久、最强有力但也是可以控制的因素。尽管大量循证医学系统评价已证实,在脑梗死的一级和二级预防中,成功有效地调控血压可显著降低脑卒中的发病率和复发率,然而对于脑梗死急性期的血压调控,尚无统一意见。     

Cryptogenic stroke following abdominal free flap breast reconstruction surgery

INTRODUCTION

Abdominal free flap breast reconstruction is regarded as the gold standard method of post-mastectomy breast reconstruction by many. It is a major surgery which can be associated with varied systemic complications. To date, there have been no reports of cerebrovascular complications in the literature which examine the possible relation between thromboembolism and patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 54-year old female with a pre-existing PFO developed a stroke following bilateral mastectomies and immediate free flap breast reconstruction on postoperative day 5. This was attributed to an air embolus caused by central venous pressure line removal. After uneventful intra and early postoperative periods, the patient had collapsed suddenly on day 5 and become unresponsive immediately following the removal of a central venous line. Brain magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a cerebrovascular accident. This resolved within 48 h following therapeutic heparinisation. A clinical diagnosis of paradoxical embolism was made and she was subsequently referred to the cardiologists for angiographic closure of the PFO.

DISCUSSION

The case study herein reported gives an account that PFO can have considerable health implications in the early postoperative period and conceivably intraoperatively in patients undergoing major reconstructive surgeries.

CONCLUSION

Surgeons and cardiologists should be aware of this cerebrovascular complication secondary to PFO following major reconstructive surgery such as microvascular breast reconstruction. It also serves to challenge microvascular surgeons to reconsider routine use of central venous pressure lines in free flap patients who might otherwise have good peripheral vessels for postoperative fluid and antibiotic administration.