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CSL could serve as a useful biomarker of early atherosclerosis in obese persons without previous history of cardiometabolic disorders but the final conclusion requires further testing.

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Power motion transcranial Doppler intercepts proximal vessels with good-to-excellent agreement with computed tomography angiography. Depth ranges (as opposed to average depths) can be used to target intracranial arterial segments for sonothrombolysis.

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Post stroke depression (PSD) is a severe and frequent stroke complication and one of the crucial factors for the outcome of rehabilitation and life quality after stroke. However, mood disorders frequently remain unnoticed and therefore untreated. The aim of the study was to examine all the potential risk factors and determine the independent predictors of early-onset depression after first-ever stroke, which would help identify high-risk patients, establish early diagnosis and timely treatment that would improve the course and prognosis of this disorder. This prospective study included 60 patients treated for their first-ever stroke; there were 30 patients diagnosed with depression and 30 patients without depression. The study included collection and analysis of all socio-demographic and clinical risk factors for PSD. Testing was performed two weeks after stroke. Depression was diagnosed according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview, DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, and depression severity was quantified by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Cognitive impairment was assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination. Neurological deficit was assessed by the US National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. Our results showed that the independent predictors of early-onset depression after stroke were previous depressive episodes, cognitive dysfunction, and more severe neurological deficit.

Among RFs and their biomarkers, apoA-I, apoB and the apoB/apoA-I ratio showed strong association with ultrasound indicators of carotid atherosclerosis in IS patients.

Introduction. Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. The benefit of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation is still unclear. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the effects of intravenous thrombolysis in stroke patients with and without atrial fibrillation. Material and Methods. We analyzed stroke patients who were treated with intravenous thrombolysis. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of atrial fibrillation. Demographic, clinical and radiological characteristics of patients were compared between the two groups. The treatment efficacy was evaluated in relation to the improvement of neurological status after 24 hours, and functional recovery after three months. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of outcome. Results. From a total of 188 patients, 39.4% presented with atrial fibrillation. Patients with atrial fibrillation were older (69.4 vs. 62.6 years; p <0.0001), with female predominance (43.2% vs. 28.9%, p = 0.04) and had clinically more severe stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, score on admission 15.4 vs. 12.1; p = 0.0001). Significantly more patients without atrial fibrillation (61.4% vs. 43.2%, p = 0.01) had a favorable clinical outcome at three months after stroke. Nevertheless, atrial fibrillation was not an independent predictor of poor outcome at three months after stroke (p=0.66). Conclusion. Acute ischemic stroke patients, with atrial fibrillation, treated with intravenous thrombolysis, had worse outcomes than patients without atrial fibrillation did. However, it is mainly due to older age and a more severe stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.