Stroke: Basic and Epidemiological Aspects Part I

The first of three volumes on stroke in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology (Series Editors: Michael J. Aminoff, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA; François Boller, Bethesda, USA; Dick F. Swaab, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) covering historical perspective, basic science overview and pathophysiology and clinical epidemiology. Until a few years ago, strokes were considered ‘experiments of nature' that provided help in understanding the functional anatomy of the brain, but for which little could be done in terms of therapeutic intervention and prevention. These three volume record how this has now profoundly changed and cover advances in our understanding of the biochemical background of strokes coupled with advances in fields as diverse as epidemiology, genetics, neuroimaging, interventional radiology, surgery, clinical psychology and most particularly prevention and management. The aim is to provide both basic researchers with the foundation for new investigations and clinicians a source of reference to enable them to gain a thorough knowledge and understanding of the clinical features and management of the many neurological manifestations of stroke. Stroke Part II: Clinical manifestations and pathogenesis : Handbook of Clinical Neurology (Series Editors: Aminoff, Boller and Swaab) Stroke Part III: Investigation and management : Handbook of Clinical Neurology (Series Editors: Aminoff, Boller and Swaab) Marc Fisher , MD, Professor of Neurology and Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA CONTENTS Section 1: Historical perspective. The history of stroke and cerebrovascular disease. Section 2: Basic science overview and pathophysiology: The ischemic cascade and mediators of ischemic injury. Animal models of cerebral ischemia. Cerebral blood flow and ischemic penumbra. Neuropathology of ischemic brain injury. Reperfusion injury after stroke. Gene induction, protein synthesis and related issues. Effects of gender and hormones on ischemic injury. Ischemic preconditioning and intrinsic neuroprotective mechanism. Vascular endothelium and the blood-brain barrier. A cerebrovascular perspective of atherosclerosis. Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. The anatomy of the circulation of the brain and spinal cord. Cerebral vascular dysregulation in the ischemic brain. Experimental models in intracerebral hemorrhage. Section 3: Clinical epidemiology: The worldwide burden of stroke: current status and future projections. Stroke among women, ethnic groups, young adults and children. Clinical genetic issues in stroke. Costs and health care system issues. Epidemiological implications of primary and secondary stroke prevention. Stroke recurrence and prognosis after stroke