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Biomedical subjects

Vladimir C Hachinski

Publications and source records attributed to Vladimir C Hachinski.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effects of triflusal and aspirin in a rat model of cerebral ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia. Triflusal, a selective cyclooxygenase-2, and its active metabolite 3-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid may inhibit apoptosis and inflammation after cerebral ischemia. An in vivo model of cerebral ischemia was used to investigate the effects of triflusal and aspirin treatment on infarct volume, and inflammation after cerebral ischemia in the rat. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were subjected to a permanent right-sided middle cerebral artery occlusion. Rats received oral administration of either triflusal or aspirin. After 3 days after surgery, immunostaining was used to detect neuroinflammatory cells and molecules, and infarct volumes were measured. RESULTS: Both triflusal and aspirin at a dose of 30 mg/kg but not 10 mg/kg significantly reduced infarct volume compared with vehicle treatment. Middle cerebral artery occlusion resulted in increased astrocyte and heat shock protein-27 (Hsp27) immunostaining in the ipsilateral cortex. Triflusal (30 mg/kg) or aspirin treatment (30 mg/kg) did not reduce the levels of GFAP or Hsp27 immunostaining. Triflusal (30 mg/kg) also significantly decreased the protein levels of IL-Ibeta but not nuclear factor kappa B or tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the cortex ipsilateral to the middle cerebral artery occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that triflusal and aspirin appear to be equally neuroprotective against middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced cerebral ischemia. Therefore, strong rationale exists to continue the neuroprotective examination of triflusal in brain injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effect of blinded peer review on abstract acceptance.

CONTEXT: Peer review should evaluate the merit and quality of abstracts but may be biased by geographic location or institutional prestige. The effectiveness of blinded peer review at reducing bias is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of blinded review on the association between abstract characteristics and likelihood of abstract acceptance at a national research meeting. DESIGN AND SETTING: All abstracts submitted to the American Heart Association's annual Scientific Sessions research meeting from 2000-2004. Abstract review included the author's name and institution (open review) from 2000-2001, and this information was concealed (blinded review) from 2002-2004. Abstracts were categorized by country, primary language, institution prestige, author sex, and government and industry status. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Likelihood of abstract acceptance during open and blinded review, by abstract characteristics. RESULTS: The mean number of abstracts submitted each year for evaluation was 13,455 and 28.5% were accepted. During open review, 40.8% of US and 22.6% of non-US abstracts were accepted (relative risk [RR], 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75-1.88), whereas during blinded review, 33.4% of US and 23.7% of non-US abstracts were accepted (RR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.37-1.45; P<.001 for comparison between peer review periods). Among non-US abstracts, during open review, 31.1% from English- speaking countries and 20.9% from non-English-speaking countries were accepted (RR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.39-1.59), whereas during blinded review, 28.8% and 22.8% of abstracts were accepted, respectively (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.19-1.34; P<.001). Among abstracts from US academic institutions, during open review, 51.3% from highly prestigious and 32.6% from nonprestigious institutions were accepted (RR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.48-1.67), whereas during blinded review, 38.8% and 29.0% of abstracts were accepted, respectively (RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.26-1.41; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of bias in the open review of abstracts, favoring authors from the United States, English-speaking countries outside the United States, and prestigious academic institutions. Moreover, blinded review at least partially reduced reviewer bias.

Abstracting and Indexing↗
PubMed2004

Interaction between a rat model of cerebral ischemia and beta-amyloid toxicity: inflammatory responses.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Clinical data suggest that Alzheimer disease (AD) and stroke together potentiate cognitive impairment. Inflammatory mechanisms are involved in AD pathology and stroke and may be the mediator between AD and stroke toxicity. METHODS: AD was modeled by cerebroventricular injections of beta-amyloid (Abeta[25-35]) and subcortical lacunar infarcts by striatal endothelin injections. Inflammatory mechanisms were examined using immunohistochemical analysis. Memory and motor tasks were assessed using the Montoya staircase test. RESULTS: Abeta injections elicited increases in pathological and inflammatory correlates of AD in multiple forebrain sites. Increases in astrocytosis and reactive microglia in the hippocampus were enhanced with the combination of endothelin and Abeta(25-35). Abeta(25-35) treatment decreased performance in the Montoya staircase behavioral test. CONCLUSIONS: The enhanced inflammatory response with Abeta toxicity and ischemia may mediate the inability to improve behavioral performance caused by the stroke. Anti-inflammatory treatment may ameliorate the pathological and behavioral deficits associated with the combination of AD and stroke.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed2002

Prognostic importance of leukoaraiosis in patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Leukoaraiosis (LA) is a frequent finding on brain CT scans. This study examined patients with LA and symptomatic internal carotid artery disease. METHODS: Patients in the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial were evaluated for the extent of LA. Long-term prognosis and perioperative risk associated with carotid endarterectomy were assessed. RESULTS: Among 2618 patients, 493 had LA: 354 restricted and 139 widespread. Patients with LA were older, had a history of hypertension, had more hemispheric ischemic events (particularly stroke), and had small, deep brain infarcts. The 3-year risks of stroke for medically treated patients were 20.2% (no LA), 27.3% (restricted LA), and 37.2% (widespread LA) (P=0.01). For surgically treated patients, the risks were 14.2%, 25.4%, and 33.6%, respectively (P<0.001). With widespread LA, occurrence of disabling strokes doubled in medical patients and tripled in surgical patients. The 30-day perioperative risks of any stroke or death for surgical patients with 50% to 99% internal carotid artery stenosis were 5.3% (no LA), 10.6% (restricted LA), and 13.9% (widespread LA). Despite higher perioperative risk, endarterectomy reduced the absolute 3-year risk of stroke ipsilateral to the symptomatic 50% to 99% stenosed artery by 11.6% (P=0.46) for patients with widespread LA, 7.6% (P=0.39) with those with restricted LA, and 10.9% (P<0.001) for those with no LA. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a transient ischemic attack or nondisabling stroke associated with internal carotid artery disease, presence of LA was associated with an increased risk of any stroke and of disabling or fatal stroke. Patients with widespread LA had the worst prognosis. Despite the higher perioperative risk, endarterectomy reduced the risk of stroke.

Aged↗