Awareness of stroke risk in chagasic stroke patients

BACKGROUND: Reduction in stroke risk may depend on the general population's knowledge of stroke. In South America, chagasic myocardiopathy is independently associated with ischemic stroke. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate awareness of Chagas' disease (CD) as a stroke risk factor and to determine the frequency of stroke patients that are diagnosed as having CD after stroke. METHODS: Eighty CD stroke patients and 140 non-chagasic stroke patients (53.2% males; mean age 60 years), consecutively admitted to the hospital during 2005 were interviewed with a questionnaire. Demographic variables included age, sex, ethnicity, education, previous history of stroke, vascular risk factors, social background information and several questions regarding awareness of CD as a stroke risk factor. A logistic regression model was developed to identify social variables that could predict the risk of CD stroke. RESULTS: The diagnosis of CD was established after stroke in 42.5% of CD stroke patients. Most respondents (95%) were not aware of stroke risk in CD. Chagasic patients had the lowest rate of awareness about stroke risk (2.5 vs 7.1%), although they had the greatest knowledge about the kissing bug vector (83.7 vs 62.1%; p<0.001). The main social variables associated with CD stroke were: having family members with Chagas' disease (p<0.0001; odds ratio 10.1; 95% CI 3.6-16.1) and a past history of living in a mud-brick house during childhood (p<0.001; odds ratio 8.9; 95% CI: 4.1-24.6). CONCLUSION: Awareness about CD as a risk factor of stroke is low. Educational campaigns about risk of stroke in CD patients are encouraged.     

同型半胱氨酸对高血压患者脑卒中复发风险的影响

目的探讨高血压合并脑卒中患者的血浆同型半胱氨酸（Hcy）水平与其他危险因素对于脑卒中复发的影响。 方法分析徐州市中心医院心内科和徐州医科大学附属医院神经外科自2012年5月至2013年12月收治的1623例高血压脑卒中患者的基线资料，中位随访4.9年，根据随访事件中是否发生脑卒中分为复发组（312例）与未复发组（1311例）。Kaplan-Meier生存分析比较不同危险因素脑卒中复发率的差异，单因素与多因素Cox回归模型分析影响脑卒中复发的独立危险因素，以及危险因素之间的交互作用。 结果复发组年龄、空腹血糖、Lg Hcy的水平，以及糖尿病、房颤的患病率均高于未复发组（P<0.05）。Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示，糖尿病、房颤、年龄≥60岁、空腹血糖≥7.0 mmol/L、Hcy≥15 μmol/L的脑卒中复发率明显升高（Log-rank检验，P<0.05）。多因素Cox回归模型分析显示，高龄、Lg Hcy水平升高，以及房颤、糖尿病是脑卒中复发的独立危险因素。Lg Hcy分别与糖尿病、空腹血糖、年龄存在交互作用。 结论血浆Hcy水平升高既是高血压合并脑卒中患者卒中复发的独立危险因素，又通过与糖尿病、高龄、空腹血糖水平升高的交互作用显著增加脑卒中复发风险。     

Antioxidant status in acute stroke patients and patients at stroke risk

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Antioxidant enzymes like copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and gluthatione peroxidase (GSHPx) are part of intracellular protection mechanisms to overcome oxidative stress and are known to be activated in vascular diseases and acute stroke. We investigated the differences of antioxidant capacity in acute stroke and stroke risk patients to elucidate whether the differences are a result of chronic low availability in arteriosclerosis and stroke risk or due to changes during acute infarction. METHODS: Antioxidant enzymes were examined in 11 patients within the first hours and days after acute ischemic stroke and compared to risk- and age-matched patients with a history of stroke in the past 12 months (n = 17). Antioxidant profile was determined by measurement of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), SOD, GSHPx and minerals known to be involved in antioxidant enzyme activation like selenium, iron, copper and zinc. RESULTS: In comparison to stroke risk patients, patients with acute ischemic stroke had significant changes of the GSH system during the first hours and days after the event: GSH was significantly elevated in the first hours (p < 0.01) and GSHPx was elevated 1 day after the acute stroke (p < 0.05). Selenium, a cofactor of GSHPx, was decreased (p < 0.01). GSHPx levels were negatively correlated with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores on admission (r = -0.84, p < 0.001) and NIHSS scores after 7 days (r = -0.63, p < 0.05). MDA levels showed a trend for elevation in the first 6 h after the acute stroke (p = 0.07). No significant differences of SOD, iron, copper nor zinc levels could be identified. CONCLUSIONS: Differences of antioxidant capacity were found for the GSH system with elevation of GSH and GSHPx after acute stroke, but not for other markers. The findings support the hypothesis that changes of antioxidant capacity are part of acute adaptive mechanisms during acute stroke.     

脑卒中后肺炎危险因素分析

目的：探讨脑卒中后发生肺炎的危险因素。方法收集2013‐01—2014‐04我院收治的脑卒中患者170例,回顾分析其临床资料,总结脑卒中后肺炎危险因素。结果本组170例患者中,31例发生肺炎,发生率18.2％。经多变量Lo‐gistic回归分析显示,患者的年龄、性别、机械通气、NIHSS评分以及吞咽困难均是脑卒中后肺炎的独立危险因素（P＜0.05）。结论老年、男性、长期机械通气、吞咽困难以及NIHSS评分均与脑卒中后肺炎的发生密切相关,早期评估脑卒中后肺炎发生风险并针对危险因素进行干预,有利于改善临床预后。     

老年脑卒中患者的护理风险管理

护理质量是护理管理的永恒话题,护理风险管理是对护理工作中存在或潜在的风险事件及预防方法的识别、评价,并寻求处置对策和科学管理[1],是确保护理质量的核心决策[2].     

Ten-year risk for myocardial infarction in patients with first-ever stroke: a community-based study

Appelros P, Gunnarsson KE, Terént A. Ten‐year risk for myocardial infarction in patients with first‐ever stroke: a community‐based study.
Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 124: 383–389.
© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Background – Stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) share common risk factors. The risk for stroke patients to have a myocardial infarction (MI) has not been fully explored. Methods – Three hundred and seventy‐seven first‐ever stroke patients were ascertained prospectively. The 10‐year incidence of MI was examined by register searches. The results were compared to the general Swedish population. Predictors for MI were identified using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results – The cumulative incidence of MI over 10 years was 25.0/100 (95% confidence interval (CI), 19.5–31.5), 26.5 for men, (95% CI, 18.9–45.8) and 23.4 for women (95% CI, 16.0–32.9). Compared to the general population, the relative risk for stroke patients having a MI was 1.6 for men (95% CI, 1.12–2.37) and 1.9 for women (95% CI, 1.27–2.90). In multivariate analysis, CHD before the stroke (MI, angina pectoris, coronary artery bypass grafting, or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) and peripheral artery disease were significant predictors for MI. Conclusion – The risk for MI is significantly higher, for both male and female stroke patients, compared to the general population. Stroke patients with previous CHD and peripheral artery disease are at highest risk. Stroke patients should receive adequate secondary prevention, and cardiac complaints must be taken seriously.     

Lesion localization in acute stroke patients with risk of aspiration.

The objective of this prospective study was to determine whether specific neuroanatomical sites were associated with increased risk of aspiration in acute stroke patients. Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VSS) and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans were completed on consecutive male stroke patients (n = 54). Videofluoroscopic swallow studies were scored on a scale from 0 (normal swallowing) to 4 (severe dysphagia). Patients with scores of 0-1 were grouped together as having no risk of aspiration, and patients with scores of 2-4 were grouped together as having a risk of aspiration. Lesion analyses revealed that location appeared to be more critical than hemisphere or lesion size in predicting patients at risk of aspiration. Anterior locations and subcortical periventricular white matter sites were commonly lesioned in patients with risk of aspiration, whereas patients without risk of aspiration were more likely to have posterior lesions and lesions to subcortical gray matter structures. These data demonstrate that swallowing appears to be mediated by a distributed neural network that involves both cerebral hemispheres with descending input to the medulla; however, specific lesion locations may put patients at a greater risk of aspiration.     

脑卒中高危人群非痴呆性血管性认知功能障碍的危险因素分析

目的探讨脑卒中高危人群发生非痴呆性血管性认知功能障碍的危险因素。方法选取脑卒中高危人群715例为研究对象,根据是否发生非痴呆性血管性认知功能障碍分为认知障碍组和认知正常组。其中认知障碍组183例,认知正常组532例,对2组患者的临床资料进行统计和比较,并行Logistic回归分析。结果其中认知障碍183例,男性、年龄≥65岁、高中及以下文化程度、有脑卒中史、合并高脂血症以及高同型半胱氨酸血症者分别占57.38%、60.66%、86.89%、33.88%、68.85%和63.93%,认知正常者532例,上述因素分别占46.05%、39.66%、75.00%、21.62%、55.08%和53.57%,认知障碍组所占比例明显高于认知正常组,2组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。经Logistic回归分析,高中以下文化程度及合并高脂血症是脑卒中高危人群发生非痴呆性血管性认知功能障碍的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论我们对于高脂血症患者应积极控制血脂,并鼓励脑卒中高危人群在日常生活中多学习,加强用脑,减少非痴呆性血管性认知功能障碍的发生。     

Long-term risk of recurrent stroke in young cryptogenic stroke patients with and without patent foramen ovale

Background Among patients with a patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic ischemic stroke, the long-term prognosis is unclear. Aims This study aims to estimate the recurrence rate in young cryptogenic stroke patients with and without patent foramen ovale. Patients and methods One hundred eighty-six cryptogenic stroke patients (aged 18-45 years) were prospectively followed for up to five-years. They were divided into two groups according to the echocardiographic presence of patent foramen ovale. All patients received aspirin (100?mg/day) for secondary prevention. Results Mean age was 32·3 (standard deviation 7·9) years. During the mean follow-up of 66 months five patients with patent foramen ovale had recurrent strokes compared with 11 patients without patent foramen ovale. The average annual rate of recurrent cerebral ischemia was 1·1% and 1·6% for patients with and without patent foramen ovale, respectively. The recurrence rate did not increase with the presence of patent foramen ovale, atrial septal aneurysm or other variables. More than 60% of the reported cases achieved a good functional outcome. Conclusions Young patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke with and without patent foramen ovale have a low recurrence rate in a long-term follow-up and most present a favorable outcome. Patent foramen ovale with or without atrial septal aneurysm did not increase the risk of recurrence.     

Homocysteine as a risk factor for cognitive impairment in stroke patients

BACKGROUND: Elevated total homocysteine (tHcy) levels are associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease. It is uncertain whether tHcy is also an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment. METHODS: We examined 95 stroke subjects 3 months after their strokes, and 55 healthy comparison subjects, with a detailed neuropsychological assessment, and MRI brain scans in a proportion (n = 97). Baseline measurements of tHcy, serum folate and B(12), creatinine and plasma fibrinogen levels were obtained. RESULTS: tHcy levels were higher in the stroke subjects by a mean 34%. These levels were significantly correlated with the first factor of a principal component analysis of the neuropsychological data, after controlling for age, folate, B(12) and creatinine levels. The correlation of Hcy levels was particularly significant with frontal-executive functioning and attention. tHcy levels were significantly correlated with number of infarcts and total stroke volume in the stroke group, but not with T(2)-weighted deep white matter hyperintensity scores, after correction for age. In the control group, tHcy levels were significantly correlated with ventricle-to-brain ratios as measures of brain atrophy. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that high tHcy levels are associated with cognitive impairment, in particular that of frontal-executive function. The major component of this association is accounted for by small and large strokes, but non-vascular neurotoxic effects of tHcy also appear to play a role. tHcy must receive greater attention as a risk factor for cognitive impairment.     

短暂性脑缺血发作病人脑循环中微栓子信号与脑卒中的危险性研究

目的 对短暂性脑缺血发作（TIAs)病人观察脑循环微栓子信号（MES）发生率及其发生脑卒中的危险率。方法 用经颅多普勒（TCD）监测TIAs病人双侧大脑中动脉（MCA）微栓子信号（MES）,并跟踪观察12个月。结果 25例短暂脑缺血发作病人有5例记录到MES（阳性率20％）,跟踪观察12个月,5例MES阳性病例中的3例（60％）发生脑梗死;而20例未记录到MES的病人中,仅有2例（10％）发展为脑梗死。结论 可检测到MES的TIAs病人发生梗死的危险性比无MES病人高。