Telomere Length and Post-Stroke Dementia and Death
Neurology Summary and Comment
Telomere length predicts cognitive decline, dementia, and death after stroke.
By Jeffrey A. Switzer, DO
October 31, 2006
Covering:
Martin-Ruiz C et al., Ann Neurol 2006 Aug; 60:174-80
Bleeding Risk with Low-Dose Aspirin and with Clopidogrel
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Risk for bleeding with low-dose aspirin was low in this meta-analysis, which lacked sufficient data to allow conclusions to be drawn about risk for bleeding with clopidogrel versus aspirin.
By Eric Cheng, MD, MS, and Barbara Vickrey, MD, MPH
October 31, 2006
Covering:
McQuaid KR and Laine L., Am J Med 2006 Aug; 119:624-38
PFO, Aortic Plaque, and Stroke: Conflicting Findings or Straw Man?
Neurology Summary and Comment
Two studies appear to contradict earlier findings of increased stroke risk with PFO or aortic plaque — but do they really?
By Steven J. Kittner, MD, MPH
October 31, 2006
Covering:
Petty GW et al., Mayo Clin Proc 2006 May; 81:602-8
Petty GW et al., Mayo Clin Proc 2006 May; 81:609-14
More Ambiguous Results on Carotid Stenting vs. Endarterectomy
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Thirty-day results from the SPACE trial failed to demonstrate the noninferiority of stenting.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
October 24, 2006
Covering:
The SPACE Collaborative Group., Lancet 2006 Oct 7; 368:1239-47
Naylor AR., Lancet 2006 Oct 7; 368:1215-6
Carotid Stenting vs. Endarterectomy — More Confusion Than Clarity
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
The EVA-3S trial was stopped early, after an interim analysis showed that 30-day risk for stroke or death was significantly higher with stenting.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 18, 2006
Covering:
Mas J-L et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Oct 19; 355:1660-71
Furlan AJ., N Engl J Med 2006 Oct 19; 355:1726-9
What Is the Optimal Timing for Carotid Endarterectomy?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In this study, waiting 4 weeks after stroke was associated with lower risk for perioperative stroke.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 18, 2006
Covering:
Rockman CB et al., J Vasc Surg 2006 Sep; 44:480-7
Which Carotid Repair for Symptomatic, Severe Carotid Stenosis?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
Endarterectomy beat stenting in symptomatic patients with stenoses
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
October 18, 2006
Covering:
Mas J-L et al. for the EVA-3S Investigators., N Engl J Med 2006 Oct 19; 355:1660-71
Furlan AJ., N Engl J Med 2006 Oct 19; 355:1726-9
Carotid-Stenosis Repair: SPACE for Another CEA vs. Stenting Trial
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
The SPACE trial failed to demonstrate the noninferiority of carotid stenting to endarterectomy, and stenting was associated with slightly more ipsilateral ischemic strokes at 30 days.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
October 18, 2006
Covering:
The SPACE Collaborative Group., Lancet 2006 Oct 7; 368:1239-47
Naylor AR., Lancet 2006 Oct 7; 368:1215-6
Major Bleeding After ACS Predicts Mortality
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Outcomes data from three large ACS studies provide insights about the prognostic importance of major bleeding.
By Howard C. Herrmann, MD
October 11, 2006
Covering:
Eikelboom JW et al., Circulation 2006 Aug 22; 114:774-82
Reducing Stroke Risk in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Women's Health Summary and Comment
The risks and benefits of anticoagulants are similar for men and women with AFib.
By Marian C. Limacher, MD
October 5, 2006
Covering:
Gomberg-Maitland M et al., Eur Heart J 2006 Aug; 27:1947-53
Lip GY et al., Eur Heart J 2006 Aug; 27:1893-4
Thrombolysis: For Female Stroke Victims, It’s About Time
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Immediate thrombolytic treatment for stroke might help women more than men.
By Marian C. Limacher, MD
October 5, 2006
Covering:
Hill MD et al., Stroke 2006 Sep; 37:2322-5
Sandercock P and Lewis S., Stroke 2006 Sep; 37:2198
More Than Pipes
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Evidence of an association between a mutation in type IV collagen and cerebral hemorrhage could lead to new insights about small-vessel disease.
By David S. Liebeskind, MD
October 3, 2006
Covering:
Gould DB et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Apr 6; 354:1489-96
Inadequate Secondary Prevention After Stroke
Neurology Summary and Comment
Secondary prevention efforts are inadequate despite the high risk for secondary cardiovascular events among survivors of either myocardial infarction or stroke.
By Adnan I. Qureshi, MD
October 3, 2006
Covering:
Cheng E et al., Cerebrovasc Dis 2006 Mar; 21:235-41
Vertebral Artery Dissection Due to Cervical Manipulation
Neurology Summary and Comment
What are the incidence and clinical course?
By Robert J. Joynt, MD, PhD
October 3, 2006
Covering:
Reuter U et al., J Neurol 2006 Jun; 253:724-30
Embolization During Carotid Stenting: Results with a New Detection Method
Neurology Summary and Comment
Multifrequency transcranial Doppler detects a high number of gaseous and solid emboli, but their clinical significance remains unclear.
By Alex Abou-Chebl, MD
September 19, 2006
Covering:
Chen CI et al., Cerebrovasc Dis 2006 Mar; 21:223-8
Carotid Stenting: A Large Observational Study
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Stenting appears to be as safe and effective as endarterectomy in high-risk patients.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
September 14, 2006
Covering:
Gray WA et al., J Vasc Surg 2006 Aug; 44:258-68
Revised Guidelines for Atrial Fibrillation
Cardiology Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
The 2006 guidelines recommend that decision making about anticoagulation therapy be based primarily on a patient’s risk for stroke.
By Mark D. Carlson, MD
September 13, 2006
Covering:
Fuster V et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2006 Aug 15; 48:854-906
Risk Models Help Predict Complications of Carotid Endarterectomy
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Both general and surgery-specific risk indexes can be useful — but how should they be used in clinical practice?
By Arthur Day, MD, and Rose Du, MD, PhD
September 12, 2006
Covering:
Press MJ et al., Arch Intern Med 2006 Apr 24; 166:914-20
ACE Inhibitors in Stable Heart Disease: A Broad View
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A meta-analysis documents a wide range of benefits from these drugs in patients with stable heart disease who do not have heart failure or LV systolic dysfunction.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
September 6, 2006
Covering:
Dagenais GR et al., Lancet 2006 Aug 12; 368:581-8
Remuzzi G and Ruggenenti P., Lancet 2006 Aug 12; 368:555-6
You Can’t Get Away with Dual Antiplatelet Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Data from the ACTIVE W trial show us why.
By Marc I. Chimowitz, MBChB
September 6, 2006
Covering:
ACTIVE Writing Group on behalf of the ACTIVE Investigators., Lancet 2006 Jun 10; 367:1903-12
Exercise to Stimulate Recovery of Motor Function After Stroke
Neurology Summary and Comment
Two studies support the use of intensive, task-specific, repetitive exercise training.
By Joel Stein, MD
September 5, 2006
Covering:
Taub E et al., Stroke 2006 Apr; 37:1045-9
Cirstea CM et al., Stroke 2006 May; 37:1237-42
Statins After Recent Stroke or TIA
Cardiology Summary and Comment
High-dose atorvastatin benefited patients with recent stroke or TIA and baseline LDL levels of 100 to 190 mg/dL.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
August 30, 2006
Covering:
The Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) Investigators., N Engl J Med 2006 Aug 10; 355:549-59
Guidelines on Secondary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke
Neurology Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
Updated guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association
By Steven Feske, MD
August 29, 2006
Covering:
Sacco RL et al., Stroke 2006 Feb; 37:577-617
Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Stroke Risk
Neurology Summary and Comment
AMD’s status as a stroke risk factor remains uncertain, although the two conditions clearly are associated.
By Steven L. Galetta, MD
August 29, 2006
Covering:
Wong TY et al., Ann Intern Med 2006 Jul 18; 145:98-106
Antiplatelet Activity with Low-Dose, Enteric-Coated Aspirin
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Platelet inhibition was more likely to be inadequate with enteric-coated aspirin than with uncoated aspirin.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
August 23, 2006
Covering:
Cox D et al., Stroke 2006 Aug; 37:2153-8
