bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ATM Gene Regulates Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation–Induced Nuclear Factor-κB DNA-Binding Activity and Downstream Apoptotic Cascade in Mouse Cerebrovascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Yin Ke-jie , Chen Shang-Der , Lee Jin-Moo , Xu Jan , Hsu Chung Y.
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

Cells lacking the ATM (ataxia telangectasia mutated) gene are hypersensitive to DNA damage caused by a variety of insults. ATM may regulate oxidative stress–induced signaling cascades involving nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a transcription factor that is upstream of a wide variety of stress-responsive genes. We investigated the potential interaction of ATM and NF-κB after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in cerebral endothelial cells (CECs).

Methods—

Primary cultures of mouse CECs were subjected to OGD in the absence or presence of ATM antisense oligonucleotides or the NF-κB inhibitor SN50. ATM expression was determined with the use of reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, and NF-κB activity was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Cells were assessed for mitochondrial DNA damage with the use of long polymerase chain reaction and were assessed for caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity with the use of fluorogenic substrates. Cell death was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide and LDH release.

Results—

OGD stimulated ATM gene expression at the mRNA and protein level in CECs as early as 1 hour after OGD initiation. ATM gene knockdown with the use of an antisense oligonucleotide suppressed OGD-induced ATM protein expression, which was accompanied by an attenuation of NF-κB activation and the subsequent expression of downstream genes, including the antiapoptotic gene c-IAP2. ATM knockdown also accentuated OGD-induced mitochondrial DNA damage and the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8, leading to enhanced CEC death. The specific NF-κB inhibitor SN50 mimicked the effects of ATM knockdown.

Conclusions—

We conclude that ATM may play a cytoprotective role in OGD-induced CEC death via a NF-κB–dependent signaling pathway.
Neuroprotective Effects of a Novel Non–Receptor-Binding Estrogen Analogue
Authors: Liu Ran , Yang Shao-Hua , Perez Evelyn , Yi Kun Don , Wu Samuel S. , Eberst Kathleen , Prokai Laszlo , Prokai-Tatrai Katalin , Cai Zu Yun , Covey Douglas F. , Day Arthur L. , Simpkins James W.
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

Although estrogens are neuroprotective, hormonal effects limit their clinical application. Estrogen analogues with neuroprotective function but lacking hormonal properties would be more attractive. The present study was undertaken to determine the neuroprotective effects of a novel 2-adamantyl estrogen analogue, ZYC3.

Methods—

Cytotoxicity was induced in HT-22 cells by 10 mmol/L glutamate. 17β-Estradiol (E2) or ZYC3 was added immediately before the exposure to glutamate. Cell viability was determined by calcein assay. The binding of E2 and ZYC3 to human α (ERα) and β (ERβ) estrogen receptors was determined by ligand competition binding assay. Ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). E2 or ZYC3 (100 μg/kg) was administered 2 hours or immediately before MCAO, respectively. Infarct volume was determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Cerebral blood flow was recorded during and within 30 minutes after MCAO by a hydrogen clearance method.

Results—

ZYC3 significantly decreased toxicity of glutamate with a potency 10-fold that of E2. ZYC3 did not bind to either ERα or ERβ. Infarct volume was significantly reduced to 122.4±17.6 and 83.1±19.3 mm
3
in E2 and ZYC3 groups, respectively, compared with 252.6±15.6 mm
3
in the ovariectomized group. During MCAO, both E2 and ZYC3 significantly increased cerebral blood flow in the nonischemic side, while no significant differences were found in the ischemic side. However, E2 and ZYC3 significantly increased cerebral blood flow in both sides within 30 minutes after reperfusion.

Conclusions—

Our study shows that ZYC3, a non–receptor-binding estrogen analogue, possesses both neuroprotective and vasoactive effects, which offers the possibility of clinical application for stroke without the side effects of estrogens. It also suggests that both the neuroprotective and vasoactive effects of estrogen are receptor independent.
Predictors of Severe Stroke
Authors: Appelros Peter , Nydevik Ingegerd , Seiger Åke , Terént Andreas
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

There is little research into the impact of prestroke dementia on stroke severity and short-term mortality. We included prestroke dementia, along with other risk factors, to determine independent predictors of stroke severity and early death in a community-based stroke study.

Methods—

All patients (n=377) with a first-ever stroke were evaluated in terms of risk factors. Registration took place over a 12-month period. Stroke severity was evaluated with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Predictors of severe stroke and early death were analyzed in logistic regression models. The following independent variables were used: age, sex, living alone, arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, transient ischemic attack, cigarette smoking, peripheral atherosclerosis, and dementia.

Results—

Risk factors for stroke were found in 82% of the patients. Heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and dementia were associated with more severe strokes. Dementia, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and living alone were associated with death within 28 days of the event.

Conclusions—

These results raise the question of whether certain high-risk patients, ie, patients with atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and dementia, can benefit from more aggressive primary and secondary stroke prevention measures.
Excimer Laser–Assisted High-Flow Extracranial/Intracranial Bypass in Patients With Symptomatic Carotid Artery Occlusion at High Risk of Recurrent Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Klijn Catharina J.M. , Kappelle L. Jaap , van der Zwan Albert , van Gijn Jan , Tulleken Cornelis A.F.
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

The goal of this study was to determine safety and long-term outcome of the excimer laser–assisted high-flow extracranial/intracranial (EC/IC) bypass in patients with symptomatic carotid artery occlusion (CAO) at high risk of recurrent stroke.

Methods—

In a prospectively collected cohort of 103 patients with symptomatic CAO, 15 patients were selected for excimer laser–assisted EC/IC bypass surgery on the basis of predefined selection criteria: (1) transient or moderately disabling symptoms of focal cerebral ischemia, not symptoms of the retina only; (2) continuing symptoms after documentation of the CAO; (3) evidence of a possible hemodynamic origin of symptoms; and (4) informed consent of the patient.

Results—

Eleven patients underwent the operation without complications One patient had a severely disabling stroke (Rankin grade 4) 11 days after the operation; the bypass was found occluded on reoperation. Two other patients had a moderately disabling stroke (Rankin grade 3) immediately after the operation. One patient died of myocardial infarction 1 day after surgery. Median follow-up time was 27 months. Of the 11 patients who underwent the operation without complications, 1 died 17 months after the operation of a brainstem stroke, and another patient had a new stroke ipsilateral to his CAO 10 months after the operation but without a change in Rankin grade.

Conclusions—

The excimer laser–assisted high-flow EC/IC bypass operation is a potentially promising procedure in patients with symptomatic CAO and a presumably high risk of recurrent stroke, but the procedure carries a definite risk. This risk is probably related not only to the procedure itself but also to the selection of patients.
Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Stroke in Young Women
Authors: Brey Robin L. , Stallworth Christian L. , McGlasson David L. , Wozniak Marcella A. , Wityk Robert J. , Stern Barney J. , Sloan Michael A. , Sherwin Roger , Price Thomas R. , Macko Richard F. , Johnson Constance J. , Earley Christopher J. , Buchholz David W. , Hebel J. Richard , Kittner Steven J.
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

Antiphospholipid antibodies have been associated with ischemic stroke in some but not all studies.

Methods—

We performed a population-based case-control study examining antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulants) using stored frozen sera and plasma in 160 cases and 340 controls enrolled in the Stroke Prevention in Young Women study. We evaluated for the presence of anticardiolipin antibody (IgG, IgM, and IgA isotypes) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for the lupus anticoagulant using several phospholipid-dependent coagulation tests (activated partial thromboplastin time, dilute Russell’s viper venom time) with mixing studies. If mixing studies were prolonged, confirmatory tests were performed.

Results—

A positive anticardiolipin antibody level of any isotype was seen in 43 cases (26.9%) and 62 controls (18.2%) (
P
=0.03), lupus anticoagulant in 29 cases (20.9%) and 38 controls (12.8%) (
P
=0.03), and either anticardiolipin antibody or lupus anticoagulant in 61 cases (42.1%) and 86 controls (27.9%) (
P
=0.003). After adjustment for age, current cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes, angina, ethnicity, body mass index, and high-density lipoprotein levels, the relative odds of stroke for women with anticardiolipin antibody immunoreactivity of any isotype or a lupus anticoagulant was 1.87 (95% confidence interval, 1.24 to 2.83;
P
=0.0027).

Conclusions—

The results from this study support the importance of antiphospholipid antibodies as an independent risk factor for stroke in young women.
Guglielmi Detachable Coil Embolization of Posterior Circulation Aneurysms
Authors: Lozier Alan P. , Connolly E. Sander , Lavine Sean D. , Solomon Robert A.
Published: October 2002

Background—

Early multicenter trials of Guglielmi detachable coil embolization of posterior circulations aneurysms have been followed by the publication of numerous single-center experiences.

Summary of Review—

We performed a MEDLINE literature search and extracted data from single-center reports containing at least 10 posterior circulation aneurysms. Twelve reports (495 aneurysms) were specific to the posterior circulation. Eighty-two percent of aneurysms arose near the basilar apex. Eighty-one percent of patients harbored unruptured aneurysms or presented in good clinical condition. Sixty-three percent of lesions were small, and 41% exhibited a narrow neck. Coil deposition was achieved in 97.6% of cases. Procedural complication and morbidity rates were 12.5% and 5.1%, respectively. Procedural and 30-day mortality rates were 1.4% and 6.7%, respectively. Complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved in 47.6%, near-complete occlusion (90% to 99%) in 43.4%, and incomplete occlusion in 9.0% of cases. There were a total of 52 recurrences (22.2%) in a subset of 234 evaluable patients. Ninety-two percent of these aneurysms exhibited wide necks. The annual risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage after embolization was 0.8%. Eighty-five percent of patients achieved functional independence, while only 5.3% lived dependent lifestyles. The overall mortality rate was 9.8%.

Conclusions—

The published literature approximates a large series of basilar apex aneurysms. Embolization is moderately effective in completely excluding an aneurysm from the posterior circulation. The incidence of recurrence in wide-neck aneurysms and incompletely coiled aneurysms is substantial. Coil embolization is effective in preventing early rebleeding. Its role in the treatment of unruptured aneurysms remains unclear.
Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Gene Promoter Polymorphisms Are Associated With Carotid Artery Stenosis
Authors: Ghilardi Giorgio , Biondi Maria Luisa , DeMonti Marco , Turri Olivia , Guagnellini Emma , Scorza Roberto
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes that are important in the resorption of extracellular matrix and are involved in atherogenesis. Recently, 2 common polymorphisms on MMP-1 (1G/2G) and MMP-3 (5A/6A) gene promoters have been described. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between MMP polymorphisms and increased risk of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

Methods—

We studied 91 patients consecutively recruited for ICA stenosis who had undergone carotid endarterectomy and 133 subjects without ICA stenosis (controls). Polymorphic genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analysis.

Results—

The frequency of the 6A allele was significantly different between cases and controls: 0.62 and 0.50, respectively (odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% CI, 1.08 to 2.33;
P
=0.017). The frequency of 6A/6A genotype was significantly higher in cases with involvement of both carotids (OR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.14 to 8.5;
P
=0.026) and in patients with stenosis >70% (OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.07 to 6.07;
P
=0.033). No significant differences were observed in MMP-1 distribution. Patients who were homozygous for both the 6A and 2G alleles had an elevated relative risk of ICA stenosis (OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.23 to 5.72;
P
=0.016). Multiple logistic regression analysis using the common risk factors and the 6A and 2G allele variants revealed that the 6A allele was an independent risk factor for ICA stenosis (
P
=0.049). When 6A/6A and 2G/2G were combined, the risk factor for ICA stenosis was 3-fold higher (OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.48 to 7.42;
P
=0.004).

Conclusions—

Homozygosity for the 6A allele of the MMP-3 promoter is associated with carotid stenosis and, in association with MMP-1 2G homozygosity, predicts an increased risk of ICA stenosis. Even if obtained from a relatively limited patient series, these results might have relevant implications for treatment of ICA stenosis and possibly prevention of carotid-related stroke.
Arterial Remodeling of the Common Carotid Artery After Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Aortic Stenosis
Authors: Irace Concetta , Gnasso Agostino , Cirillo Francesca , Leonardo Giuseppe , Ciamei Monica , Crivaro Andrea , Renzulli Attilio , Cotrufo Maurizio
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

Aortic stenosis, causing flow abnormalities, disturbs the normal hemodynamics in the common carotid arteries. The aim of the present study was to investigate the remodeling process of the common carotid arteries after surgical correction of aortic stenosis.

Methods—

Eleven subjects with aortic stenosis were studied before and 1 and 6 months after aortic valve replacement. Arterial diameter, intima-media thickness (IMT), and flow velocity were measured by echo-Doppler examination. Shear stress, blood flow, and pulsatility index were calculated. Blood viscosity and hematocrit were measured by standard methods. A control group was also enrolled.

Results—

Before surgery, compared with controls, patients had lower systolic peak velocity but higher mean and end-diastolic velocity. Arterial diameter, IMT, and blood flow were comparable in the 2 groups. Blood viscosity, hematocrit, wall shear stress, and pulsatility index were markedly lower in patients. After surgery, IMT was reduced (0.741±0.152 versus 0.627±0.108 mm before and 6 months after surgery, respectively;
P
<0.0001), and hematocrit and blood viscosity increased, leading to increased wall shear stress (mean wall shear stress, 7.83±1.97 versus 9.65±3.12 dyne/cm
2
before and 6 months after surgery, respectively;
P
<0.02).

Conclusions—

The present results demonstrate that aortic valve replacement, in subjects with aortic stenosis, leads to reduction of the common carotid artery IMT. Wall shear stress is increased after the intervention and probably mediates the remodeling process.
Validating Administrative Data in Stroke Research
Authors: Tirschwell David L. , Longstreth W.T.
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

Research based on administrative data has advantages, including large numbers, consistent data, and low cost. This study was designed to compare different methods of stroke classification using administrative data.

Methods—

Administrative hospital discharge data and medical record review of 206 patients were used to evaluate 3 algorithms for classifying stroke patients. These algorithms were based on all (algorithm 1), the first 2 (algorithm 2), or the primary (algorithm 3) administrative discharge diagnosis code(s). The diagnoses after review of medical record data were considered the gold standard. Then, using a large administrative data set, we compared patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of stroke with patients with their stroke discharge diagnosis code in a nonprimary position.

Results—

Compared with the gold standard, algorithm 1 had the highest κ for classifying ischemic stroke, with a sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 95%, positive predictive value of 90%, and κ=0.82. Algorithm 3 had the highest κ values for intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. For intracerebral hemorrhage, the sensitivity was 85%, specificity was 96%, positive predictive value was 89%, and κ=0.82. For subarachnoid hemorrhage, those values were 90%, 97%, 94%, and 0.88, respectively. Nonprimary position ischemic stroke patients had significantly greater comorbidity and 30-day mortality (odds ratio, 3.2) than primary position ischemic stroke patients.

Conclusions—

Stroke classification in these administrative data were optimal using all discharge diagnoses for ischemic stroke and primary discharge diagnosis only for intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Selecting ischemic stroke patients on the basis of primary discharge diagnosis may bias administrative samples toward more benign, unrepresentative outcomes and should be avoided.
Incidence, Manifestations, and Predictors of Brain Infarcts Defined by Serial Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Elderly
Authors: Longstreth W.T. , Dulberg Corinne , Manolio Teri A. , Lewis Michael R. , Beauchamp Norman J. , O’Leary Daniel , Carr Jeff , Furberg Curt D.
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

MRI-defined infarcts are common in the elderly. We sought to explore incidence, manifestations, and predictors of such infarcts.

Methods—

The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) is a population-based, longitudinal study of 5888 people aged ≥65 years. Participants have had extensive baseline and follow-up evaluations; 1433 participants underwent 2 MRI scans separated by 5 years and had no infarcts on initial MRI.

Results—

On follow-up MRI, 254 participants (17.7%) had 1 or more infarcts. Most were single (75.6%), subcortical (79.9%), and small (3 to 20 mm in 87.0%). Only 11.4% of those with infarcts experienced a documented transient ischemic attack or stroke between the scans. Although participants were similar at initial MRI, those with MRI-defined infarcts on follow-up experienced greater decline than those without infarcts on the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination and Digit-Symbol Substitution test (both
P
<0.01). Severity of white matter changes on initial MRI was the strongest predictor of incident infarcts. When it was excluded from stepwise multivariable models, predictors were serum creatinine, age, and ankle-arm index.

Conclusions—

Incident MRI-defined infarcts commonly affect the elderly. Most are small, subcortical, and not associated with acute symptoms recognized as a transient ischemic attack or stroke. Nonetheless, they cannot be considered silent because of their association with subtle cognitive deficits. These covert infarcts are associated with white matter changes, which may share a common pathophysiology. Whether control of vascular risk factors, such as blood pressure, would reduce the risk of developing these infarcts and associated cognitive decline deserves further investigation.
Comparison of CT and CT Angiography Source Images With Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Patients With Acute Stroke Within 6 Hours After Onset
Authors: Schramm Peter , Schellinger Peter D. , Fiebach Jochen B. , Heiland Sabine , Jansen Olav , Knauth Michael , Hacke Werner , Sartor Klaus
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

Although stroke MRI has advantages over other diagnostic imaging modalities in acute stroke patients, most of these individuals are admitted to emergency units without MRI facilities. There is a need for an accurate diagnostic tool that rapidly and reliably detects hemorrhage, extent of ischemia, and vessel status and potentially estimates tissue at risk. We sought to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the combination of non–contrast-enhanced CT, CT angiography (CTA), and CTA source images (CTA-SI, showing early parenchymal contrast enhancement) in comparison with a multiparametric stroke MRI protocol in patients with acute stroke within 6 hours after onset.

Methods—

Non–contrast-enhanced CT, CTA, stroke MRI including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and MR angiography (MRA) were performed in patients with symptoms of acute stroke within 6 hours after onset. We analyzed infarct volumes on days 1 and 5 as shown on CTA-SI, DWI, and T2-weighted images (Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, Spearman tests), estimated the collateral status, and assessed clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale, Barthel Index, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Scandinavian Stroke Scale).

Results—

We analyzed the data of 20 stroke patients who underwent CT and MRI scanning within 6 hours (mean, 2.83 and 3.38 hours, respectively). Vessel occlusion was present in 16 of 20 patients. CTA-SI volumes did not differ from DWI volumes (
P
=0.601). Furthermore, the CTA-SI lesion volumes significantly correlated with the initial DWI lesion volumes (
P
<0.0001,
r
=0.922) and with outcome lesion volumes (
P
=0.013
r
=0.736). Patients with poor collaterals experienced infarct growth (
P
=0.0058) and had a significantly worse clinical outcome (all
P
<0.012); patients with good collaterals did not (
P
=0.176).

Conclusions—

The combination of non–contrast-enhanced CT (exclusion of intracranial hemorrhage), CTA (vessel status), and early contrast-enhanced CTA-SI (demarcation of irreversible infarct) allows diagnostic assessment of acute stroke with a quality comparable to that of stroke MRI. Furthermore, it is possible to distinguish patients at risk of infarct growth from those who are not according to the collateral status, in analogy with the stroke MRI mismatch concept.
Behavioral Tests After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the Rat
Authors: Hua Ya , Schallert Timothy , Keep Richard F. , Wu Jimin , Hoff Julian T. , Xi Guohua
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

In humans, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) causes marked perihematomal edema formation and neurological deficits. A rat ICH model, involving infusion of autologous blood into the caudate, has been used extensively to study mechanisms of edema formation, but an examination of behavioral outcome would improve its preclinical utility and provide a more rigorous assessment of the pathological cascade of events over time. The purpose of this study was to use a battery of sensorimotor function tests to examine the neurological effects of ICH in the rat and to examine which components of the hematoma are involved in generating those effects.

Methods—

The behavioral tests used were forelimb placing, preference for forelimb use for weight shifts during vertical exploration of a cylindrical enclosure, and a corner turn test. Rats were tested from day 1 to day 28 after injection of autologous whole blood; injection of blood plus hirudin (thrombin inhibitor), packed red blood cells, thrombin, or saline; or needle placement only.

Results—

The battery of tests indicated that there were marked neurological deficits by day 1 after ICH, with progressive recovery of function over 4 weeks. The forelimb placing score paralleled changes in edema. Injection of thrombin caused and injection of hirudin reduced the ICH-induced neurological deficits. Injection of packed red blood cells, which causes delayed edema formation, induced delayed neurological deficits

Conclusions—

These tests allow continuous monitoring of neurological deficits after rat ICH and assessment of therapeutic interventions. The time course of the neurological deficit closely matched the time course of cerebral edema for both ICH and injection of blood components. There was marked recovery of function after ICH, which may be amenable to therapeutic manipulation.
Moderately Elevated Plasma Homocysteine, Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Genotype, and Risk for Stroke, Vascular Dementia, and Alzheimer Disease in Northern Ireland
Authors: McIlroy Stephen P. , Dynan Kevin B. , Lawson John T. , Patterson Christopher C. , Passmore A. Peter
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

Elevated plasma homocysteine level has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Variation in the levels of this amino acid has been shown to be due to nutritional status and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotype.

Methods—

Under a case-control design we compared fasting levels of homocysteine and MTHFR genotypes in groups of subjects consisting of stroke, vascular dementia (VaD), and Alzheimer disease patients and normal controls from Northern Ireland.

Results—

A significant increase in plasma homocysteine was observed in all 3 disease groups compared with controls. This remained significant after allowance for confounding factors (age, sex, hypertension, cholesterol, smoking, creatinine, and nutritional measures). MTHFR genotype was not found to influence homocysteine levels, although the T allele was found to increase risk for VaD and perhaps dementia after stroke.

Conclusions—

We report that moderately high plasma levels of homocysteine are associated with stroke, VaD, and Alzheimer disease. This is not due to vascular risk factors, nutritional status, or MTHFR genotype.
Cerebral Blood Flow Predicts Lesion Growth in Acute Stroke Patients
Authors: Fiehler Jens , von Bezold Michael , Kucinski Thomas , Knab René , Eckert Bernd , Wittkugel Oliver , Zeumer Hermann , Röther Joachim
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

We sought to study the role of MRI-derived cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements for the prediction of lesion development in acute stroke patients.

Methods—

Thirty-two patients were treated with tissue plasminogen activator. Diffusion-weighted (DWI) and perfusion-weighted MRI, T2-weighted imaging, and MR angiography were performed before treatment (2.8±0.9 hours after symptom onset) and on follow-up (days 1 and 7). CBF thresholds (12 and 22 mL/100 g per minute) were applied to bolus tracking MRI maps to determine predictive cutoff levels.

Results—

In 21 patients (group A), the terminal lesion volume (T2-weighted imaging) was larger than the initial DWI lesion volume (89±93 versus 21±38 mL). In 11 patients (group B), the terminal lesion volume was smaller than the initial DWI lesion volume (7±27 versus 15±29 mL). The initial DWI lesion volume did not differ between both groups. The presence of a tissue volume ≥50 mL with a CBF value ≤12 mL/100 g per minute was predictive for lesion enlargement to day 7 in T2-weighted imaging (positive predictive value, 0.80).

Conclusions—

The presence of a tissue volume ≥50 mL with a CBF value ≤12 mL/100 g per minute predicts further lesion growth in hyperacute stroke patients. MRI-derived CBF values, with all their present limitations, are valuable in early estimation of prognosis of stroke patients.
Do Trends in Population Levels of Blood Pressure and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors Explain Trends in Stroke Event Rates?
Authors: Tolonen Hanna , Mähönen Markku , Asplund Kjell , Rastenyte Daiva , Kuulasmaa Kari , Vanuzzo Diego , Tuomilehto Jaakko
Published: October 2002

Background and Purpose—

Previous studies have indicated a reasonably strong relationship between secular trends in classic cardiovascular risk factors and stroke incidence within single populations. To what extent variations in stroke trends between populations can be attributed to differences in classic cardiovascular risk factor trends is unknown.

Methods—

In the World Health Organization Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (WHO MONICA) Project, repeated population surveys of cardiovascular risk factors and continuous monitoring of stroke events have been conducted in 35- to 64-year-old people over a 7- to 13-year period in 15 populations in 9 countries. Stroke trends were compared with trends in individual risk factors and their combinations. A 3- to 4-year time lag between changes in risk factors and change in stroke rates was considered.

Results—

Population-level trends in systolic blood pressure showed a strong association with stroke event trends in women, but there was no association in men. In women, 38% of the variation in stroke event trends was explained by changes in systolic blood pressure when the 3- to 4-year time lag was taken into account. Combining trends in systolic blood pressure, daily cigarette smoking, serum cholesterol, and body mass index into a risk score explained only a small fraction of the variation in stroke event trends.

Conclusions—

In this study, it appears that variations in stroke trends between populations can be explained only in part by changes in classic cardiovascular risk factors. The associations between risk factor trends and stroke trends are stronger for women than for men.
Homonymous Visual Field Defects and Stroke in an Older Population
Authors: Gilhotra Jagjit Singh , Mitchell Paul , Healey Paul R. , Cumming Robert G. , Currie Jon
Published: October 2002

Purpose—

The objective of the present study was to describe the prevalence of homonymous visual field defects in a defined older urban population and associations with self-reported stroke.

Methods—

Homonymous visual field defects were assessed from screening automated visual field tests of both eyes in 3654 persons aged ≥49 years who were participating in the Blue Mountains Eye Study. This represented 82.4% of eligible residents from a defined area west of Sydney, Australia. A detailed eye examination was performed, and the medical history was taken. Masked grading of visual fields was used to classify the presence of homonymous visual field defects.

Results—

Homonymous visual field defects were found in 25 persons (prevalence 0.8%, 95% CI 0.5% to 1.1%). Stroke history was reported by 194 participants (5.3%, 95% CI 4.6% to 6.1%). A strong relationship was found between homonymous visual field defects and history of stroke, age-, and sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 23.4 (95% CI 9.9 to 55.7). Homonymous field defects were present in 8.3% of all persons who reported experiencing a stroke. Among those with homonymous field defects, 52% reported a history of stroke. Only 2 of 10 persons (20%) with homonymous field defects without a history of stroke reported having stopped driving, whereas 6 of 9 (67%) reporting stroke had stopped driving (
P
=0.07). Increasing age (OR 1.4 per decade, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.8) was significantly associated with homonymous visual field defects, with adjustment for sex, whereas a history of hypertension (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2 to 6.1), diabetes (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.2), and renal impairment (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.0 to 8.1) also was associated, with adjustment for age and sex.

Conclusions—

This study provides accurate prevalence data for homonymous visual field defects in an older population. About half the participants did not report stroke.
Learning from the Cornell Box
Authors: Niedenthal Simon
Published: October 2002

The Cornell Box serves as a visual emblem of the divide between arts and sciences first articulated by C.P. Snow over 40 years ago. To historians of American art, “Cornell Box” refers to the shadow boxes of Joseph Cornell; in the world of computer graphics the Cornell Box is the evaluative environment in which the Cornell University Program of Computer Graphics refined its radiosity rendering algorithms. Considering both boxes with reference to the perceptual thought of James J. Gibson allows us to generate a site for collaboration at the intersection of light and art for designers and computer scientists devoted to the development of new digital media.
Junkspace
Authors: Koolhaas Rem
Published: October 2002

Logan Airport: A World-Class Upgrade for the Twenty-first Century Late-Twentieth Century Billboard
Puppets, Masks, and Performing Objects at the End of the Century
Authors: Bell John
Published: October 2002

From the beginning, masks, puppets, and performing objects have been central to performance. In his introduction to this special issue of TDR, guest editor John Bell surveys the field.
A Puppet Tree: A Model for the Field of Puppet Theatre
Authors: Kaplin Stephen
Published: October 2002

Kaplin proposes a new theory of puppet theatre based on distance and ratio—where distance is the degree of separation between performer and object, and ratio the number of objects compared to the number of performers.
Julie Taymor: From Jacques Lecoq to The Lion King
Authors: Schechner Richard
Published: October 2002

With her Broadway smash hit The Lion King, Taymor became one of America's most popular puppeteers. Her work is grounded in Indonesia, mime training with Jacques Lecoq, and her own decades-long experiments. In this interview, Taymor discusses the overall trajectory of her stage and film work.
What, At the End of This Century, Is the Situation of Puppets & Performing Objects?
Authors: Schumann Peter
Published: October 2002

Peter Schumann, the grandmaster of American puppetry, tells some of what he knows about puppets and performing objects.
The End of Our Domestic Resurrection Circus: Bread and Puppet Theater and Counterculture Performance in the 1990s
Authors: Bell John
Published: October 2002

The Bread and Puppet's Domestic Resurrection Circus emerged within the counterculture of the 1960s and ′70s and continued through 1998 Bell places this long-running event within the cultural ecology of Vermont and the U.S.A.
Performing the Intelligent Machine: Deception and Enchantment in the Life of the Automaton Chess Player
Authors: Sussman Mark
Published: October 2002

In historical perspective, Sussman considers the evolution of “automatons”—mechanical and electrical performing objects. These machines could make music, imitate human and animal movements, answer questions, and play chess.
Czech Puppet Theatre and Russian Folk Theatre
Authors: Bogatyrev Pyotr
Published: October 2002

This key historical and theoretical document connecting Czech and Russian puppet and folk theatres is translated into English for the first time. Bogatyrev opened a whole new area of semiotic studies.
Modicut Puppet Theatre: Modernism, Satire, and Yiddish Culture
Authors: Portnoy Edward
Published: October 2002

A popular, activist, New York—based hand-puppet theatre of the 1920s and ′30s, Modicut sharply satirized the clash between tradition and modernity marking Yiddish life in New York.
Articulations: The History of All Things
Authors: Skipitares Theodora
Published: October 2002

Noted for her extraordinarily detailed creations, in this photo essay, Skipitares maps the development of her art from 1977 to the present.
If Gandhi Could Fly…: Dilemmas and Directions in Shadow Puppetry of India
Authors: Singh Salil
Published: October 2002

What happens when the government commissions new puppet plays based on the life of Mohandas Gandhi, India's revered “mahatma” (great soul)? Can the recently sainted compete with the ancient heroes of the Mah bh rata or R m yaa?
Rediscovering Mask Performance in Peru: Gustavo Boada, Maskmaker with Yuyachani
Authors: Bell John
Published: October 2002

In an interview with John Bell, maskmaker Gustavo Boada discusses how the Peruvian theatre group Yuyachkani has recuperated traditional Andean performance aesthetics.
The Art of Puppetry in the Age of Media Production
Authors: Tillis Steve
Published: October 2002

The microchip has replaced clockworks as the intelligence driving performing objects. What of virtual animation—the magical CGI's or computer graphics images? Tillis considers this question from Walter Benjamin through to Waldo—an “ergonomic-gonio-kineti-telemetric device.”
The Invention of the Whole-and-Part Figure and the Stoics on Solecism. Ancient Interpretations of Il. 24.58
Authors: Schenkeveld Dirk
Published: October 2002

The second half of the Homeric line

Il

. 24.58 ('´Eκτωρ μεν ϑνητoς τε γυναικα τε ϑησατo μαζoν) was explained by ancient grammarians in different ways. By means of notions of ellipsis, pleonasm, and substitution they interpreted the words. Not before Eustathius are found the beginnings of an explanation based on the idea of the whole and the part and which is very close to the modern notion of the σχημα καϑ' oλoν και κατα μερoς, although is erm never was in use.

In the second part of this paper the annotation of the scholium, repeated in Eustathius, that the Stoics detected here a solecism, is discussed. This annotation has never been used in treatments of Stoic theory of language and is a very precious addition to the very few cases of solecism known to us as having been noticed by them. With the help of many other texts it is possible to come to the conclusion that the Stoics objected to the use of the middle voice ϑησατo = εϑηλασατo in connection with a baby child, instead of the active form. Very probably they called this type of solecism επικυματισμoς, 'fluctuation'.
Critical Notes on Plato's Politeia, VIII
Authors:   Slings
Published: October 2002

A collection of notes on textual criticism and occasionally interpretation of various passages from Politeia VIII; this paper continues the series whose previous instalment was Mnemosyne 54 (2001), 409-24.
A Marriage Contract: Aspects of Latin-Greek Language Contact (P. Mich. VII 434 and P. Ryl. IV 612 = ChLA IV 249)
Authors: Halla-Aho Hilla , Leiwo Martti
Published: October 2002

In this paper we approach a Latin marriage contract from Philadelphia, Egypt, taking into account various viewpoints. The document is written in Latin, a language that was not commonly used in the community. As a result of the language choice the contract offers a possibility for a contact linguistic analysis. The names of the father of the bride and the future husband, Nomissianus and M. Petronius Servillius respectively, are Roman, so there probably was some connection with the Roman army. The contact between Latin and Greek is studied from social, philological and linguistic perspectives.

We suggest that together with some other known persons with Roman

nomina

from Philadelphia Nomissianus and M. Petronius Servillius belonged to a social network where Latin was the prestige language. This was the reason for choosing to write the marriage contract in Latin, which otherwise was minimally used in the Philadelphian documents. Greek was used normally, so that interference from Greek can be expected. The language of the contract is, however, clearly Latin, not Greek flavoured with Latin legal idioms. It is noteworthy that all Latin legal formulae and phrasing were composed correctly and the scribe definitely knew enough of the morphophonological correspondence between Latin and Greek to be able to latinize a majority of the original Greek words (which are mainly technical terms for objects given as dowry or part of the

parapherna

).
WHAT DO WE EXPERIENCE IF WE HAVE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE?
Authors: Antes Peter
Published: October 2002

The starting point of the paper is the historical fact that people who have special forms of religious experience such as seeing saints, angels, gods or goddesses can always say whom they saw. They never met anyone totally unknown to them. The question is why. The answer that the paper proposes and invites to discuss is that having experience means to identify what is happening with what is known as pattern of interpretation. The knowledge of those patterns is due either to socialisation or to further studies in favour of, or against, those patterns, yet, it is unlikely that something totally new will ever be discovered through those forms of religious experience.
SUPERSTITIO ET CONIURATIO
Authors: Nagy Àgnes
Published: October 2002

The purpose of this paper is to draw the attention to one of the reasons which may have contributed to the suspicion against—as well as the local persecutions of—the Christians in the second and third centuries. We want to point to the possibility that the new religious community changes into a coniuratio and becomes a danger for the ancient community from which it has come. Christianity, just as the Bacchanalia, was more than an ordinary superstitio. According to Livy, the Bacchanalia showed four characteristics distinguishing them from a superstitio: 1) new, strong links within the group instead of the ancient ones which connected the members to their traditional social structure; 2) an oath of initiation to respect the own laws of the new community; 3) animosity against the State; 4) the large numbers of the followers. Pliny the Younger found three of these characteristics with the Christians of Bithynia. For Pliny, the only difference consisted in the fact that the Bacchanalia obliged the members to break Roman law and thereby became a coniuratio, whereas Christians did not commit crimes and for this reason Christianity had not yet changed from a superstitio praua to a coniuratio. However, the vocabulary of Tacitus, Suetonius, and Celsus, as well as the description of the Christian persecution in Lugdunum and Vienna, show that most Romans did not make this distinction. In their eyes Christianity, this new community so similar to the coniuratio of the Bacchanalia, was a real threat to the existence of traditional society and deserved to be punished as such—by extermination.
COMING OF AGE AND PUTTING ON CHRIST: THE TOGA VIRILIS CEREMONY, ITS PARAENESIS, AND PAUL'S INTERPRETATION OF BAPTISM IN GALATIANS
Authors: Harrill J. Albert
Published: October 2002

This essay examines the

toga virilis

coming-of-age ceremony in the Roman household and argues that the gentile rite of passage is an important social context in which to understand Paul's interpretation of baptism, particularly of the pre-Pauline baptismal formula of "putting on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). The moral exhortation occasioned by the

toga virilis

warned the newly togaed youth against succumbing to the flesh, the same fear that Paul expresses concerning the baptized Galatians. This contextualization makes Paul's paraenesis on responsible use of freedom more intelligible than the standard history-of-religions reading. The goal is to move the scholarship on baptism in Pauline theology beyond the limited hermeneutical framework of the "origins" of ritual language.
Exposure versus Susceptibility in the Epidemiology of "Everyday" Beliefs
Authors: Aunger Robert
Published: October 2002

This paper shows that epidemiology, an approach developed to study the social communication of biological information, can be instructively applied to the diffusion of "endemic" cultural beliefs. In particular, I examine whether exposure to information (as determined by physical and social access), or susceptibility to belief (a variety of cognitive biases underlying belief adoption) is more important in determining the distribution of food taboos in an oral society from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Matrix regression techniques are used on optimally scaled cultural similarity data to infer which social and psychological characteristics of the participating individuals are correlated with a higher probability of taboo transmission between them. Results indicate that, despite a lack of mechanized transportation, access to information in this population is nearly universal. Constraints on belief adoption rather than on information flow are much more important in determining the intra-cultural distribution of food taboos. At least for one class of taboo, belief susceptibility is a function of an individual's social role rather than any intrinsic quality of the individual or the believability ("virulence") of the cultural trait. Nevertheless, the processes underlying the dissemination of both cultural traits and pathogens, considered as replicating units of information, appear close enough to justify using epidemiology as a common framework for investigating cultural and biological diffusion.
Mate grasping in drosophila pegasa by
Authors: Gronlund Carina , Deangelis Matthew , Pruett-Jones Stephen , Ward Philip , Coyne Jerry
Published: October 2002

Among all species in the genus Drosophila whose sexual behavior has been studied, D. pegasa is unique in that males exhibit no courtship behaviour before they mount females. Instead, the male simply climbs on top of the female and rides on her abdomen ('grasping') for long intervals, often an entire 8-h observation period. In this study we conducted a series of observations and experiments to quantitatively describe grasping behaviour in D. pegasa and examine its relationship to social environment and the reproductive biology of the species. All observed courtship bouts involved grasping behavior, and males always initiated copulation during a grasping bout. The frequency of grasping and the average duration of a single grasping bout increased with the number of flies present. Males often copulated several times during a single grasping bout, and such multiple copulations during a single mounting also appear unique in the genus. Unexpectedly, the number of sperm that a male transferred to a female during a single grasping bout was negatively correlated with the number of copulations. This relationship was apparently due to repeated copulations by males who were unsuccessful at transferring sperm. Multiple copulations without sperm transfer may result from cryptic female choice. Male grasping behaviour in this species appears to have evolved as a substitute for display and courtship behaviours, but possibly also as a mate-guarding behaviour since males continue to grasp after they have successfully transferred sperm. The tarsal claws and pulvillar pads of D. pegasa are disproportionately larger than those of related Drosophila species, evolutionary changes that may facilitate grasping by males.
DISCIPLINARY CONFLICT IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION: ANTHROPOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, AND "LINES IN THE SAND"
Authors: Spickard James
Published: October 2002

This article explores the differences between the anthropological and the sociological approaches to religion as they have developed in the last decades of the twentieth century. Both disciplines are divided between generalizing and particularizing schools—"ethnology" vs "ethnography" to use the anthropologists' preferred terms. Where once the disciplinary affiliation of particularizers/ethnographers determined the content of their studies—anthropologists studying "culture" and sociologists studying "structure"—this division no longer holds. It has been replaced by a division that is simultaneously ethical and epistemological: anthropological ethnography has become post-colonial, while sociological ethnography remains in a largely colonial mode. The article distinguishes these modes and traces their implicit epistemologies to different sets of regulative ideals. Recent anthropology's twin regulative ideals, "truth" and "equality", have led it away from the myth of the anonymous observer to a focus on intercultural dialogue.
The construction of the notion of religion in early modern Europe
Authors: Molnar Attila
Published: October 2002

This article traces the construction and use of the notion of "religion" in early modern Europe. The argument is that the concept of "religion" evolved from the medieval ideas of universitas fidelium and conscientia. A look at the writings of Machiavelli and Bodin, as well as the ideas of the English Latitudinarians, reveals that they used the word without reference to theological content and with indifference to theological differences, but, instead, to convey ideas of a common morality for the building of a civil society and a functional statehood.