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1.
Case Rep Pathol ; 2018: 4039545, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29651355

ABSTRACT

Cylindromas are benign epithelial neoplasms derived from cutaneous eccrine adnexal structures. These tumors are most commonly encountered on the head, neck, and scalp of older women. In rare instances, solitary cylindromas may arise at other body sites. In the current case, a cylindroma of the skin of the breast was diagnosed by complete excision. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed the tumor cells to be immunoreactive with cytokeratin AE1/3, cytokeratin 5/6, cytokeratin 7, p63, and SOX10. The neoplastic cells were also noted to be immunoreactive with markers typically expected to be positive in ductal epithelium of the breast including GATA3, mammaglobin, and E-cadherin. The case emphasizes the importance of correlating clinical setting, imaging studies, patient history, and careful microscopic evaluation in arriving at an accurate diagnosis. This case also illustrates the point that not all "breast" tumors that are confirmed to be positive for GATA3, mammaglobin, and E-cadherin are derived from mammary ducts.

2.
Eur J Neurol ; 24(6): 762-767, 2017 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28432712

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic hypoperfusion from athero-stenotic lesions is thought to lead to better collateral recruitment compared to cardioembolic strokes. It was sought to compare collateral flow in stroke patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) versus stroke patients with cervical atherosclerotic steno-occlusive disease (CASOD). METHOD: This was a retrospective review of a prospectively collected endovascular database. Patients with (i) anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke, (ii) pre-treatment computed tomography angiography (CTA) and (iii) intracranial embolism from AF or CASOD were included. CTA collateral patterns were evaluated and categorized into two groups: absent/poor collaterals (CTA collateral score 0-1) versus moderate/good collaterals (CTA collateral score 2-4). CT perfusion was also utilized for baseline core volume and evaluation of infarct growth. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients fitted the inclusion criteria, of whom 88 (72%) had AF and 34 (27%) CASOD. Patients with AF were older (P < 0.01) and less often males or smokers (P = 0.04 and P < 0.01 respectively). Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score were comparable between groups. Collateral scores were lower in the AF group (P = 0.01) with patients having poor collaterals in 28% of cases versus 9% in the CASOD group (P = 0.03). Mortality rates (20% vs. 0%; P = 0.02) were higher in the AF patients whilst rates of any parenchymal hemorrhage (6% vs. 26%; P < 0.01) were higher in the CASOD group. On multivariable analysis, CASOD was an independent predictor of moderate/good collaterals (odds ratio 4.70; 95% confidence interval 1.17-18.79; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Atheroembolic strokes seem to be associated with better collateral flow compared to cardioembolic strokes. This may in part explain the worse outcomes of AF-related stroke.


Subject(s)
Arterial Occlusive Diseases/complications , Collateral Circulation/physiology , Intracranial Embolism/complications , Stroke/etiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Arterial Occlusive Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Arterial Occlusive Diseases/physiopathology , Cerebral Angiography , Female , Humans , Intracranial Embolism/diagnostic imaging , Intracranial Embolism/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Stroke/diagnostic imaging , Stroke/physiopathology
3.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol ; 38(2): 294-298, 2017 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27811133

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The adverse effects of general anesthesia in stroke thrombectomy have been attributed to intraprocedural hypotension, yet optimal hemodynamic targets remain elusive. Identifying hemodynamic thresholds from patients without exposure to general anesthesia may help separate the effect of hypotension from the effect of anesthesia in thrombectomy outcomes. Therefore, we investigated which hemodynamic parameters and targets best correlate with outcome in patients treated under sedation with monitored anesthesia care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected data base of patients with anterior circulation stroke who were successfully reperfused (modified TICI ≥ 2b) under monitored anesthesia care sedation from 2010 to 2015. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for the lowest mean arterial pressure before reperfusion, both as absolute values and relative changes from baseline. Cutoffs were tested in binary logistic regression models of poor outcome (90-day mRS > 2). RESULTS: Two-hundred fifty-six of 714 patients met the inclusion criteria. In a multivariable model, a ≥10% mean arterial pressure decrease from baseline had an OR for poor outcome of 4.38 (95% CI, 1.53-12.56; P < .01). Other models revealed that any mean pressure of <85 mm Hg before reperfusion had an OR for poor outcome of 2.22 (95% CI, 1.09-4.55; P = .03) and that every 10-mm Hg drop in mean arterial pressure below 100 mm Hg had an OR of 1.28 (95% CI, 1.01-1.62; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: A ≥10% mean arterial pressure drop from baseline is a strong risk factor for poor outcome in a homogeneous population of patients with stroke undergoing thrombectomy under sedation. This threshold could guide hemodynamic management of patients during sedation and general anesthesia.


Subject(s)
Blood Pressure/physiology , Conscious Sedation/adverse effects , Hemodynamics/physiology , Stroke/surgery , Thrombectomy/methods , Aged , Area Under Curve , Brain Ischemia/therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , ROC Curve , Reperfusion/methods , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Treatment Outcome
5.
Indoor Air ; 24(1): 16-28, 2014 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23750665

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of relative humidity (RH) on the aerosolization and total inflammatory potential (TIP) of microbial particles released from gypsum boards inoculated with dust samples from homes. After microbial colonization, the gypsum boards were incubated at either high or low RH. The aerosolized particles (0.54-19.8 µm), culturable fungi, ß-glucan and the TIP of the aerosolized particles were quantified. Despite the colonization of several fungal groups, Penicillium dominated the aerosolized fraction. Higher emission rates of particles and culturable fungi were found from low RH compared with high RH in both the inhalable and particulate matter <1 µm (PM1 ) fractions, and the TIP was accordingly higher. However, for the aerosolized fractions, the TIP or concentration ß-glucan relative to the number of fungi or particles present was higher from high RH compared with low RH. Despite the low number of culturable fungi in PM1 , this fraction showed a high TIP, and the concentration of ß-glucan correlated strongly with the TIP of this fraction. The individual particles of the aerosolized PM1 fraction were more inflammatory than the larger particles of the inhalable fraction, and ß-glucan may be an important contributor to the inflammatory potential of the aerosolized particles.


Subject(s)
Air Microbiology , Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis , Construction Materials/microbiology , Fungi/growth & development , Particulate Matter/immunology , Denmark , Fungi/immunology , HL-60 Cells , Humans , Humidity , Seasons , beta-Glucans/analysis , beta-Glucans/immunology
6.
J Neural Eng ; 9(2): 026019, 2012 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22414699

ABSTRACT

The production of graceful skeletal movements requires coordinated activation of multiple muscles that produce torques around multiple joints. The work described herein is focused on one such movement, stance, that requires coordinated activation of extensor muscles acting around the hip, knee and ankle joints. The forces evoked in these muscles by external stimulation all have a complex dependence on muscle length and shortening velocities, and some of these muscles are biarticular. In order to recreate sit-to-stand maneuvers in the anesthetized feline, we excited the hind limb musculature using intrafascicular multielectrode stimulation (IFMS) of the muscular branch of the sciatic nerve, the femoral nerve and the main branch of the sciatic nerve. Stimulation was achieved with either acutely or chronically implanted Utah Slanted Electrode Arrays (USEAs) via subsets of electrodes (1) that activated motor units in the extensor muscles of the hip, knee and ankle joints, (2) that were able to evoke large extension forces and (3) that manifested minimal coactivation of the targeted motor units. Three hind limb force-generation strategies were investigated, including sequential activation of independent motor units to increase force, and interleaved or simultaneous IFMS of three sets of six or more USEA electrodes that excited the hip, knee and ankle extensors. All force-generation strategies evoked stance, but the interleaved IFMS strategy also reduced muscle fatigue produced by repeated sit-to-stand maneuvers compared with fatigue produced by simultaneous activation of different motor neuron pools. These results demonstrate the use of interleaved IFMS as a means to recreate coordinated, fatigue-resistant multi-joint muscle forces in the unilateral hind limb. This muscle activation paradigm could provide a promising neuroprosthetic approach for the restoration of sit-to-stand transitions in individuals who are paralyzed by spinal cord injury, stroke or disease.


Subject(s)
Femoral Nerve/physiology , Hindlimb/innervation , Hindlimb/physiology , Joints/innervation , Joints/physiology , Muscle Fatigue/physiology , Sciatic Nerve/physiology , Algorithms , Anesthesia , Animals , Biomechanical Phenomena , Cats , Computer Simulation , Electric Stimulation , Electrodes , Electrodes, Implanted , Motor Neurons/physiology , Muscle Contraction/physiology , Muscle, Skeletal/innervation , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Neural Prostheses , Recruitment, Neurophysiological/physiology , Walking/physiology
7.
Indoor Air ; 22(5): 405-14, 2012 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22299641

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED: Indoor microbial exposure has been related to allergy and respiratory disorders. However, the lack of standardized sampling methodology is problematic when investigating dose-response relationships between exposure and health effects. In this study, different sampling methods were compared regarding their assessment of microbial exposures, including culturable fungi and bacteria, endotoxin, as well as the total inflammatory potential (TIP) of dust samples from Danish homes. The Gesamtstaubprobenahme (GSP) filter sampler and BioSampler were used for sampling of airborne dust, whereas the dust fall collector (DFC), the electrostatic dust fall collector (EDC), and vacuum cleaner were used for sampling of settled dust. The GSP assessed significantly higher microbial levels than the BioSampler, yet measurements from both samplers correlated significantly. Considerably higher levels of fungi, endotoxin, and TIP were found in the EDC compared with the DFC, and regarding fungi, the EDC correlated more strongly and significantly with vacuumed dust than the DFC. Fungi in EDC and vacuum dust correlated most strongly with airborne dust, and in particular, the measurements from the EDC associated well with those from GSP. Settled dust from the EDC was most representative of airborne dust and may thus be considered as a surrogate for the assessment of indoor airborne microbial exposure. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Significant discrepancies between sampling methods regarding indoor microbial exposures have been revealed. This study thus facilitates comparison between methods and may therefore be used as a frame of reference when studying the literature or when conducting further studies on indoor microbial exposure. Results also imply that the relatively simple EDC method for the collection of settled dust may be used as an alternative to otherwise tedious and time-consuming airborne dust sampling.


Subject(s)
Air Microbiology , Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis , Dust/analysis , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Endotoxins/analysis , Fungi/isolation & purification , Seasons , Statistics, Nonparametric
8.
J Neural Eng ; 9(1): 016006, 2012 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22173566

ABSTRACT

High-channel-count intrafascicular electrode arrays provide comprehensive and selective access to the peripheral nervous system. One practical difficulty in using several electrode arrays to evoke coordinated movements in paralyzed limbs is the identification of the appropriate stimulation channels and stimulus parameters to evoke desired movements. Here we present the use of a six degree-of-freedom load cell placed under the foot of a feline to characterize the muscle activation produced by three 100-electrode Utah Slanted Electrode Arrays (USEAs) implanted into the femoral nerves, sciatic nerves, and muscular branches of the sciatic nerves of three cats. Intramuscular stimulation was used to identify the endpoint force directions produced by 15 muscles of the hind limb, and these directions were used to classify the forces produced by each intrafascicular USEA electrode as flexion or extension. For 451 USEA electrodes, stimulus intensities for threshold and saturation muscle forces were identified, and the 3D direction and linearity of the force recruitment curves were determined. Further, motor unit excitation independence for 198 electrode pairs was measured using the refractory technique. This study demonstrates the utility of 3D endpoint force monitoring as a simple and non-invasive metric for characterizing the muscle-activation properties of hundreds of implanted peripheral nerve electrodes, allowing for electrode and parameter selection for neuroprosthetic applications.


Subject(s)
Action Potentials/physiology , Electric Stimulation Therapy/instrumentation , Implantable Neurostimulators , Microelectrodes , Muscle Contraction/physiology , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Sciatic Nerve/physiology , Animals , Cats , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , Microarray Analysis/instrumentation , Muscle, Skeletal/innervation
9.
Neurology ; 76(2): 154-8, 2011 Jan 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21178096

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Omega-3 fatty acids from fish have been shown to have favorable effects on platelet aggregation, blood pressure, lipid profile, endothelial function, and ischemic stroke risk, but there are limited data on racial and geographic differences in fish consumption. METHODS: Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) is a national cohort study that recruited 30,239 participants age ≥45 years with oversampling from the southeastern Stroke Belt and Buckle and African Americans (AAs). Centralized phone interviewers obtained medical histories and in-home examiners measured weight and height. Dietary data for this cross-sectional analysis were collected using the self-administered Block98 Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Adequate intake of nonfried fish was defined as consumption of ≥2 servings per week based on American Heart Association guidelines. After excluding the top and bottom 1% of total energy intake and individuals who did not answer 85% or more of questions on the FFQ, the analysis included 21,675 participants. RESULTS: Only 5,022 (23%) participants consumed ≥2 servings per week of nonfried fish. In multivariable analysis, factors associated with inadequate intake of nonfried fish included living in the Stroke Belt (vs non-Belt) (odds ratio [OR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77-0.90) and living in the Stroke Buckle (vs non-Belt) (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81-0.98); factors associated with ≥2 servings per week of fried fish included being AA (vs white) (OR 3.59, 95% CI 3.19-4.04), living in the Stroke Belt (vs non-Belt) (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.17-1.50), and living in the Stroke Buckle (vs non-Belt) (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.00-1.36). CONCLUSIONS: Differential consumption of fish may contribute to the racial and geographic disparities in stroke.


Subject(s)
Black or African American/statistics & numerical data , Feeding Behavior/ethnology , Fishes , Food Preferences/ethnology , Stroke/ethnology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Body Mass Index , Cohort Studies , Confidence Intervals , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Fish Oils/administration & dosage , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Risk Factors , Southeastern United States/epidemiology , Stroke/etiology , Surveys and Questionnaires
10.
Rev Sci Instrum ; 79(10): 10E309, 2008 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19044471

ABSTRACT

The Electron Beam Ion Trap (EBIT) facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is being used to absolutely calibrate the transmission efficiency of x-ray filters employed by diodes and spectrometers used to diagnose laser-produced plasmas. EBIT emits strong, discrete monoenergetic lines at appropriately chosen x-ray energies. X rays are detected using the high resolution EBIT Calorimeter Spectrometer (ECS), developed for LLNL at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. X-ray filter transmission efficiency is determined by dividing the x-ray counts detected when the filter is in the line of sight by those detected when out of the line of sight. Verification of filter thickness can be completed in only a few hours, and absolute efficiencies can be calibrated in a single day over a broad range from about 0.1 to 15 keV. The EBIT calibration lab has been used to field diagnostics (e.g., the OZSPEC instrument) with fully calibrated x-ray filters at the OMEGA laser. Extensions to use the capability for calibrating filter transmission for the DANTE instrument on the National Ignition Facility are discussed.

11.
Neurology ; 69(22): 2063-8, 2007 Nov 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18040012

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the relationship between control of vascular risk factors and vascular events in patients with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis. METHODS: We utilized the Warfarin Aspirin Symptomatic Intracranial Disease study database to analyze vascular and lifestyle risk factors at baseline and averaged over the course of the trial. Cutoff levels defining good control for each factor were prespecified based on national guidelines. Endpoints evaluated included 1) ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death or 2) ischemic stroke alone. Univariate associations were assessed using the log-rank test and multivariable analysis was done using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: From baseline until year 2 follow-up, there was not a significant improvement in blood pressure control. During the same period, there were improvements in patients with total cholesterol <200 mg/dL (54.6% to 79.2%, p < 0.001) or low-density lipoprotein <100 mg/dL (28.7% to 55.9%, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that systolic blood pressure >or=140 mm Hg (HR = 1.79, p = 0.0009, 95% confidence limits 1.27 to 2.52), no alcohol consumption (HR 1.69, 1.21 to 2.39, p = 0.002), and cholesterol >or=200 mg/dL (HR 1.44, 1.004 to 2.07, p = 0.048) were associated with an increased risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death. The same risk factors were predictors of ischemic stroke alone in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels in symptomatic patients with intracranial stenosis are associated with an increased risk of stroke and other major vascular events.


Subject(s)
Intracranial Arteriosclerosis/complications , Intracranial Arteriosclerosis/epidemiology , Stroke/epidemiology , Stroke/etiology , Aged , Constriction, Pathologic/complications , Constriction, Pathologic/epidemiology , Constriction, Pathologic/pathology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Intracranial Arteriosclerosis/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Multicenter Studies as Topic/methods , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic/methods , Risk Factors , Stroke/pathology , Warfarin/therapeutic use
12.
Neurology ; 67(7): 1275-8, 2006 Oct 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17030766

ABSTRACT

The WASID trial showed no advantage of warfarin over aspirin for preventing the primary endpoint of ischemic stroke, brain hemorrhage, or vascular death. In analyses of selected subgroups, there was no definite benefit from warfarin. Warfarin reduced the risk of the primary endpoint among patients with basilar artery stenosis, but there was no reduction in stroke in the basilar artery territory or benefit for vertebral artery stenosis or posterior circulation disease in general.


Subject(s)
Aspirin/therapeutic use , Cerebral Arterial Diseases/drug therapy , Cerebral Arterial Diseases/mortality , Risk Assessment/methods , Warfarin/therapeutic use , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Anticoagulants/therapeutic use , Cerebral Arterial Diseases/diagnosis , Constriction, Pathologic/diagnosis , Constriction, Pathologic/drug therapy , Constriction, Pathologic/mortality , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Survival Analysis , Survival Rate , Treatment Outcome , United States/epidemiology
13.
Neurology ; 67(8): 1396-402, 2006 Oct 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17060565

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A family history of stroke is an independent risk factor for stroke. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether severity of neurologic deficit after stroke is associated with a family history of stroke. METHODS: The Ischemic Stroke Genetics Study, a five-center study of first-ever symptomatic ischemic stroke, assessed case subjects prospectively for a family history of stroke-affected first-degree relatives. Certified adjudicators used the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) to determine the severity of neurologic deficit. RESULTS: A total of 505 case subjects were enrolled (median age, 65 years; 55% male), with 81% enrolled within 1 week of onset of symptoms. A sibling history of stroke was associated with more severe stroke. The odds of an NIHSS score of 5 or higher were 2.0 times greater for cases with a sibling history of stroke compared with cases with no sibling history (95% CI, 1.0 to 3.9). An association of family history of stroke in parents or children with stroke severity was not detected. CONCLUSIONS: A sibling history of stroke increased the likelihood of a more severe stroke in the case subjects, independent of age, sex, and other potential confounding factors. Other family history characteristics were not associated with stroke severity.


Subject(s)
Medical Records , Nervous System Diseases/etiology , Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology , Stroke/complications , Stroke/genetics , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Analysis of Variance , Female , Humans , Likelihood Functions , Male , Middle Aged , Principal Component Analysis , Severity of Illness Index , Siblings
15.
Neurology ; 59(5): 669-74, 2002 Sep 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12221155

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia during acute ischemic stroke may augment brain injury, predispose to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or both. METHOD: To analyze the relationship between admission glucose level and clinical outcomes from acute ischemic stroke, the authors performed multivariate regression analysis with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) Stroke Trial data. Neurologic improvement was defined as improvement on the NIH Stroke Scale by 4 or more points from baseline to 3 months, or a final score of zero. Favorable outcome was defined as both Glasgow Outcome score of 1 and Barthel Index 95 to 100 at 3 months. Symptomatic ICH was defined as CT-documented hemorrhage temporally related to clinical deterioration within 36 hours of treatment. Potential confounding factors were controlled, including acute treatment (rt-PA or placebo), age, baseline NIH Stroke Scale score, history of diabetes mellitus, stroke subtype, and admission blood pressure. RESULTS: There were 624 patients enrolled within 3 hours after stroke onset. As admission glucose increased, the odds for neurologic improvement decreased (odds ratio [OR] = 0.76 per 100 mg/dL increase in admission glucose, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.95, p = 0.01). The relation between admission glucose and favorable outcome depended on admission mean blood pressure (MBP): as admission MBP increased, the odds for favorable outcome related to increasing admission glucose levels progressively decreased (p = 0.02). As admission glucose increased, the odds for symptomatic ICH also increased (OR = 1.75 per 100 mg/dL increase in admission glucose, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.78, p = 0.02). Admission glucose level was not associated with altered effectiveness of rt-PA. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute ischemic stroke, higher admission glucose levels are associated with significantly lower odds for desirable clinical outcomes and significantly higher odds for symptomatic ICH, regardless of rt-PA treatment. Whether this represents a cause and effect relationship remains to be determined.


Subject(s)
Blood Glucose , Fibrinolytic Agents/administration & dosage , Stroke/blood , Stroke/drug therapy , Tissue Plasminogen Activator/administration & dosage , Humans , Hyperglycemia/complications , Hyperglycemia/diagnosis , Predictive Value of Tests , Retrospective Studies , Stroke/complications , Treatment Outcome
16.
JAMA ; 286(22): 2830-8, 2001 Dec 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11735758

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: The prevalence and clinical significance of early ischemic changes (EICs) on baseline computed tomography (CT) scan of the head obtained within 3 hours of ischemic stroke are not established. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and significance of EIC on baseline head CT scans in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) rt-PA (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) Stroke Trial. DESIGN AND SETTING: The original study, a randomized controlled trial, took place from January 1991 through October 1994 at 43 sites, during which CT images were obtained within 3 hours of symptom onset and prior to the initiation of rt-PA or placebo. For the current analysis, detailed reevaluation was undertaken after October 1994 of all baseline head CT scans with clinical data available pretreatment (blinded to treatment arm). PATIENTS: Of 624 patients enrolled in the trial, baseline CT scans were retrieved and reviewed for 616 (99%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of EICs on baseline CT scans; association of EIC with other baseline variables; effect of EICs on deterioration at 24 hours (>/=4 points increase from the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score); clinical outcome (measured by 4 clinical scales) at 3 months, CT lesion volume at 3 months, death at 90 days; and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) within 36 hours of treatment. RESULTS: The prevalence of EIC on baseline CT in the combined rt-PA and placebo groups was 31% (n = 194). The EIC was significantly associated with baseline NIHSS score (rho = 0.23; P<.001) and time from stroke onset to baseline CT scan (rho = 0.11; P =.007). After adjusting for baseline variables, there was no EIC x treatment interaction detected for any clinical outcome, including deterioration at 24 hours, 4 clinical scales, lesion volume, and death at 90 days (P>/=.25), implying that EIC is unlikely to affect response to rt-PA treatment. After adjusting for NIHSS score (an independent predictor of ICH), no EIC association with symptomatic ICH at 36 hours was detected in the group treated with rt-PA (P>/=.22). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggests that EICs are prevalent within 3 hours of stroke onset and correlate with stroke severity. However, EICs are not independently associated with increased risk of adverse outcome after rt-PA treatment. Patients treated with rt-PA did better whether or not they had EICs, suggesting that EICs on CT scan are not critical to the decision to treat otherwise eligible patients with rt-PA within 3 hours of stroke onset.


Subject(s)
Brain Ischemia/diagnostic imaging , Plasminogen Activators/therapeutic use , Stroke/diagnostic imaging , Stroke/drug therapy , Tissue Plasminogen Activator/therapeutic use , Aged , Humans , Intracranial Hemorrhages/diagnostic imaging , Logistic Models , Middle Aged , Poisson Distribution , Recombinant Proteins , Risk , Severity of Illness Index , Stroke/physiopathology , Survival Analysis , Time Factors , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Treatment Outcome
17.
Neurology ; 57(11): 2125-8, 2001 Dec 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11739841

ABSTRACT

What is the risk of thrombolysis in patients with acute stroke who might recover without treatment? In the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke rt-PA for Acute Stroke Trial, 2.6% of patients taking placebo showed spontaneous 24-hour recovery, compared to 11.5% of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA)-treated patients (p < 0.001). There were no symptomatic ICH in the patients taking placebo; one hypertensive, rt-PA-treated patient hemorrhaged. Assuming the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke protocol is followed rigorously, patients with acute stroke rarely recover spontaneously and the thrombolytic risk is low.


Subject(s)
Ischemic Attack, Transient/drug therapy , Thrombolytic Therapy , Tissue Plasminogen Activator/administration & dosage , Aged , Cerebral Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neurologic Examination/drug effects , Remission, Spontaneous , Tissue Plasminogen Activator/adverse effects , Treatment Outcome
18.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr ; 28(4): 385-92, 2001 Dec 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11707677

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the population of HIV-infected adults receiving care in rural areas of the United States and compares HIV care received in rural and urban areas. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 367 HIV-infected adults receiving health care in rural areas and 2806 HIV-infected adults receiving health care in urban areas of the contiguous United States. RESULTS: We estimate that 4800 HIV-infected persons received medical care in rural areas during the first half of 1996. Patients in rural HIV care were more likely than patients in urban HIV care to receive care from providers seeing few (<10) HIV-infected patients (38% vs. 3%; p <.001). Rural care patients were less likely than urban care patients to have taken highly active antiretroviral agents (57% vs. 73%; p <.001) or Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylactic medication when indicated (60% vs. 75%; p =.006). CONCLUSIONS: Few American adults received HIV care in rural areas of the United States. Our findings suggest ongoing disparities between urban and rural areas in access to high-quality HIV care.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/epidemiology , Health Care Surveys , Rural Health , Adult , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active , Female , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Pneumocystis , Pneumonia, Pneumocystis/prevention & control , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States/epidemiology
19.
J Biol Chem ; 276(50): 46933-40, 2001 Dec 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11598120

ABSTRACT

Low catalytic efficiency of protein kinases often results from intrasteric inhibition caused by the activation loop blocking the active site. In the insulin receptor's kinase domain, Asp-1161 and Tyr-1162 in the peptide substrate-like sequence of the unphosphorylated activation loop can interact with four invariant residues in the active site: Lys-1085, Asp-1132, Arg-1136, and Gln-1208. Contributions of these six residues to intrasteric inhibition were tested by mutagenesis, and the unphosphorylated kinase domains were characterized. The mutations Q1208S, K1085N, and Y1162F each relieved intrasteric inhibition, increasing catalytic efficiency but without changing the rate-limiting step of the reaction. The mutants R1136Q and D1132N were virtually inactive. Steric accessibility of the active site was ranked by relative changes in iodide quenching of intrinsic fluorescence, and A-loop conformation was ranked by limited tryptic cleavage. Together these ranked the openness of the active site cleft as R1136Q approximately D1132N > or = D1161A > Y1162F approximately K1085N > Q1208S > or = wild-type. These findings demonstrate the importance of specific invariant residues for intrasteric inhibition and show that diverse activation loop conformations can produce similar steady-state kinetic properties. This suggests a broader range of regulatory properties for the activation loop than expected from a simple off-versus-on switch for kinase activation.


Subject(s)
Receptor, Insulin/chemistry , Adenosine Diphosphate/metabolism , Animals , Arginine/chemistry , Aspartic Acid/chemistry , Binding Sites , Catalysis , Cloning, Molecular , DNA, Complementary/metabolism , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Hydrogen Bonding , Kinetics , Models, Biological , Mutagenesis, Site-Directed , Mutation , Peptides/chemistry , Phosphorylation , Protein Binding , Protein Conformation , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Rats , Receptor, Insulin/metabolism , Spectrometry, Fluorescence , Substrate Specificity , Time Factors , Tyrosine/chemistry
20.
South Med J ; 94(6): 613-8, 2001 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11440330

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To design and evaluate interventions for reducing the impact of stroke in Georgia, we assessed knowledge of signs, risk factors, and burden of stroke. METHODS: Adults in Georgia were studied with a random digit dial telephone survey. RESULTS: Answering an unaided question, 39% of 602 respondents named > or =1 stroke warning sign. Awareness was considerably greater when assessed with prompted questions. Most respondents (70%) said they would call 911 if someone had a stroke; almost all (95%) considered stroke an emergency. Risk factor awareness ranged from 97% (previous stroke) to 69% (diabetes). Altogether, 6% reported having had a stroke; 48% reported a stroke in their family. CONCLUSIONS: Georgia adults have low awareness of stroke warning signs. Our findings underscore the importance of conducting an effective educational campaign. Furthermore, a need exists for questions on stroke awareness that approximate more closely the situation in which a person must identify a potential stroke.


Subject(s)
Awareness , Stroke/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Educational Status , Female , Georgia , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Rural Population , Stroke/prevention & control , Telephone , Urban Population
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