Texas: Stroke is a significant risk factor for dementia, severe long-term impairment, and mortality. According to the American Heart Association, depression is more common in stroke patients, which has an adverse influence on the recovery of cognitive and functional abilities.
The Texas A&amp;M team investigated the novel idea of whether transplant of intestinal epithelial stem cells (IESCs) from healthy donors could repair the intestinal barrier after stroke and improve stroke outcomes. Results from their preclinical study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, indicate that IESC transplantation reduced stroke-induced mortality, decreased the volume of dead tissue and gut leakiness, and prevented stroke-induced cognitive impairment.
The only recombinant tissue plasminogen activator licenced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of strokes has a limited track record and must be administered quickly after the onset of the stroke. Researchers at the Texas A&amp;M University School of Medicine are leading research on the relationship between stroke-induced intestinal permeability, or leakiness, and cognitive impairment with the goal of improving stroke outcomes.
Two-thirds of stroke patients will develop cognitive impairment, while one-third of all stroke patients will go on to develop dementia, according to recent research, so there is a critical need for more effective stroke therapies that preserve cognitive function after acute stroke and that remain protective in the weeks following.
Although conventional stroke treatment research focuses on the brain, the gut responds early and rapidly to stroke with changes that may precede many of the inflammatory events associated with stroke-induced disease. These changes in the gut, such as increased permeability, likely result in the movement of products that are synthesized in the gut into the blood stream. Many of these products are toxic and therefore in a position to increase inflammation and exacerbate stroke-induced brain injury.
Evidence from a variety of studies demonstrates that IESCs repair the gut and reduce gut permeability. After a stroke, these repair processes may be critical to preserving cognitive function.
"It is clear that the gut-brain axis is involved in injury following stroke," said Farida Sohrabji, PhD, Regents Professor, department head for Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics and senior author of the study. "Factoring in the effects of gut health on the brain following stroke may allow us to more effectively advance stroke therapies."
With that in mind, Sohrabji and her team transplanted primary IESCs from healthy donors after stroke in a preclinical model. IESCs from young donors repaired gut architecture and decreased gut permeability and consequently decreasing blood levels of proteins and other molecules that are toxic to brain cells. IESC transplantation also prevented depressive-like behaviors and cognitive impairment in the weeks following the stroke. IESC transplantation from older donors did not improve stroke outcomes, indicating that successful transplantation depends on the age of the donor.
Still at the preclinical stage, this research highlights the importance of early therapeutic intervention after stroke and will guide future directions of the work. "Future studies will investigate refinement of the dosing and timing of the protocol," Sohrabji said. "A systematic study of aging stem cells would also be important to explain why older patients experience more severe strokes."
Sohrabji, a neuroscientist with significant contributions to the literature on stroke pathogenesis, explained that this preclinical study was spearheaded by Kathiresh Kumar Mani, PhD, an associate research scientist in her lab. Mani, who is trained in gut biology, received a postdoctoral grant from the American Heart Association in support of this project. Combining their expertise has allowed them to move stroke therapy research into new territory with exciting results. They also received a generous grant from the WoodNext Foundation that is facilitating their innovative research.
"Ultimately, this research is expected to advance development of novel therapies that target and repair the intestinal epithelium to help mitigate stroke disability," Sohrabji said, "but the premise--that gut stem cells might be therapeutically valuable outside of the gut--could be considered for a much greater variety of neurological diseases." —ANI

Stroke is a significant risk factor for dementia, severe long-term impairment, and mortality. According to the American Heart Association, depression is more common in stroke patients, which has an adverse influence on the recovery of cognitive and functional abilities.

Study Finds How Gut, Stroke-Induced Cognitive Impairment Are Associated

Washington: Strokes are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and globally. Several environmental and biological factors are known to influence stroke risk and outcome.
A new study led by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, analyzed the cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation of individuals who had experienced strokes.
The team found that cerebral autoregulation (CA) -- one of the key processes to maintain sufficient blood supply to the brain -- displayed a daily rhythm in stroke patients, with more degraded regulation during nighttime and morning hours, as compared to that in the afternoon hours. Their results, which are published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, are relevant for health care planning during stroke recovery.
"The care and course of actions done after a stroke are essential for optimal rehabilitation. Our study suggests that the daily rhythm of CBF regulation in stroke patients may be highly relevant to managing an individual's activity and stroke recovery," said senior author, Kun Hu, PhD, of the Medical Biodynamics Program in the Brigham's Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders.
Kun added, "Exercise and surgery post-stroke could be more optimal when scheduled during afternoon hours, as this is when dynamic CA functions more effectively. These results may improve our understanding of a vulnerable time window for the cerebrovascular system and help guide daily activity and personal care during stroke recovery, which could improve health outcomes for patients who have had a stroke."
Stable CBF is a necessary component for normal brain function. Dramatic changes in CBF can cause increased cranial pressure and brain tissue damage. Thus, a process like CA, which helps maintain relatively stable CBF through constriction and dilation of blood vessels in the brain, particularly during changes in an individual's blood pressure (BP), is crucial. Currently, there is a gap in knowledge concerning the daily variance of CA in stroke patients. Generally, the daily rhythms of physiological functions can be controlled by external behaviors like food intake, sleep, and exercise, as well as the internal circadian clock. This study is among the first to examine the potential variation of CA in the stroke population.
The research team observationally studied 28 participants being treated in a hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil after experiencing a stroke. They received thrombolysis within 5 hours of the onset of their symptoms. After undergoing this procedure, the participants' CA was assessed over the course of 48 hours at various time points by examining the relationship between temporal changes in blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery.
Analysis of the results showed evidence of differing cerebral blood flow regulation during various times of the day, especially when cerebral blood flow and pressure fluctuated at large time scales or low frequencies &amp;lt; 0.05 Hz. In particular, a more degraded regulation motif was seen during the nighttime and morning hours when compared to the afternoon. This dysregulation interval coincides with the increased prevalence of recurrent and first-ever stroke events during morning times.
While these results are promising, the researchers identified future avenues to assist in creating a greater understanding of the regulation mechanism.
"Interestingly, the daily rhythm of CA was present in both stroke and non-stroke sides of the brain, suggesting the factor(s) driving the rhythm should affect CBF regulation globally," said first author Daniel Abadjiev, of the Medical Biodynamics Program in the Brigham's Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders. "To better understand underlying mechanisms, future studies should consider more frequent assessments across the 24-hour cycle, an increase in patient sample size, the inclusion of non-stroke controls, and monitoring of the daily activity rhythms like sleep and exercise as well as intrinsic circadian rhythm among the participants."
"This study demonstrates that a daily rhythm does exist for stroke patients," said Hu. "Rehab plans should look to identify the daily rhythm and design a strategy that makes use of optimal CA. The long-term goal is to see if we can further control the rhythm of CA by manipulating an individual's daily behavioral cycles or endogenous circadian clock in order to deliver more personalized medicine and improve their recovery." —ANI

 Strokes are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and globally. Several environmental and biological factors are known to influence stroke risk and outcome.

Daily Rhythm Detected For Cerebral Blood Flow In Stroke Patients: Study 

London: The use of anabolic steroids can cause serious side effects, including heart failure and depression, for years after the end of your use, a new study showed on Saturday.

According to the studies presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Istanbul, anabolic steroids (synthetic hormones that mimic the naturally-occurring sex hormone testosterone), are used to increase muscle mass and boost athletic performance.

These performance-enhancing drugs have negative side effects, such as breast growth, hair loss, decreased testosterone levels, erectile dysfunction, and an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and liver or kidney failure in men.

In the first study, the researchers examined 64 healthy men, between the ages of 18 and 50, who did recreational strength training in Denmark.

Of these men, 28 were using anabolic steroids, 22 were former steroid users, and 14 had never used these steroids.

The researchers used a Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scan with the radioactive tracer Rubidium-82 to assess how much blood flowed to their heart muscle while resting and exercising and discovered that both former and current users had poor blood flow to the heart.

The findings indicate that former steroid users are more likely to develop heart disease when compared to those who have never used them, said the study.

"Previous studies have shown that the heart function almost normalises after anabolic steroids are discontinued, but our study suggests that former anabolic steroid users are at an increased risk of heart disease years after stopping as cardiac microcirculation -- the blood flow through the smallest vessels in the circulatory system -- seems persistently impaired," said lead author Dr Yeliz Bulut.

Moreover, Dr Bulut and colleagues conducted another study in which they collected questionnaires and blood samples from three groups of men aged 18-50 years: 89 current anabolic steroid users, 61 former steroid users, and 30 men who had never used steroids before.

The study found that former anabolic steroid users report a worse quality of life on their physical and mental health, such as fatigue, social functioning and emotional well-being, despite stopping years earlier.

"Our study adds to the growing body of literature that an impaired quality of life in previous anabolic steroid users seems to persist years following cessation and could be caused by both withdrawal and/or hypogonadal symptoms due to a sudden drop in testosterone levels in the blood," said Dr Bulut. —IANS

The use of anabolic steroids can cause serious side effects, including heart failure and depression, for years after the end of your use, a new study showed on Saturday

Steroid use associated with risk of heart disease, worse quality of life: Study

Hyderabad: It was a record-breaking day two of the National Swimming Championships being held in Hyderabad as Olympian Maana Patel was among the swimmers who established new records on Sunday. Maana Patel made a new national record in women's 100 m backstroke event. Lineysha AK also set a new record in the women's 200m breaststroke event creates a New NR of 1:03.48 in the Women's 100m Backstroke Event. Meanwhile, Lineysha A.K. also sets a new NR of 2:37.35 in Women's 200m Breaststroke Event! Well done GIRLS!," tweeted Sports Authority of India (SAI) Media. Swimmer Nina Venkatesh also bettered her national record twice a day in the women's 50m butterfly event. "New National Record at National Swimming Championships 2023, being held in Hyderabad Nina Venkatesh clocks a time of 28.01 in Women's 50m Butterfly Event heats, thereby creating a new NR," tweeted SAI Media. Hours later, Venkatesh broke her own record. "Nina Venkatesh does it again, betters her NR at the National Swimming Championships Setting the new national record for 2nd time in the day, Nina sets an NR time of 27.74 in the Women's 50m Butterfly Event! Many congratulations," added SAI Media's tweet. The National Swimming Championships started on Sunday and will go on till July 5. The national swimming championships, now in its 76th edition, will see men's and women's competitions in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley. Freestyle, medley and mixed team relays are also part of the programme. The swimming nationals have also been approved as a qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympics by World Aquatics, as per Olympics.com. Indian swimmers will have their last chance for qualifying in the Asian Games 2023, which will be held in Hangzhou, China later this year. The period to achieve qualification standards for individual swimming events at the Paris 2024 Olympics began in March and will conclude on June 23, 2024. —ANI

It was a record-breaking day two of the National Swimming Championships being held in Hyderabad as Olympian Maana Patel

National Swimming Championships: Olympian Manna Patel Breaks Record In Women's 100 M Backstroke Event

New Delhi: Stroke remains the second-leading cause of death and the third-leading cause of death and disability combined. Aphasia or the loss of language function, can be caused by brain damage due to stroke in 21-38 percent of acute stroke patients, as per neurology experts at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Early and timely speech and language rehabilitation can aid in a better recovery, they said.Music therapy has been shown to improve verbal fluency in various parts of the world. However, in India, there is a lack of similar adaptive strategies, as per experts. The Department of Neurology, AIIMS, New Delhi, in collaboration with IIT-New Delhi, is conducting a study on the customization and adaptation of the treatment strategies that such patients need for the recovery of their global speech and language functions. This will be provided free of charge to the patients under the ICMR-funded study.Meanwhile, stroke, a highly preventable and treatable condition, could lead to nearly 10 million deaths annually by 2050, primarily affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This projection comes from the collaborative effort of the World Stroke Organization and the Lancet Neurology Commission under which four studies have been published. Four research papers emphasizing pragmatic recommendations to reduce stroke burden globally have been published under this Commission. This report was published in the esteemed Lancet Neurology journal. The report underscores that stroke deaths are expected to surge from 6.6 million in 2020 to a daunting 9.7 million by 2050. By 2050, it is estimated that the contribution of stroke deaths in LMICs will see an increase from 86 per cent to 91 per cent.
—ANI

Discover the impact of stroke on language function, innovative rehabilitation strategies, and collaborative efforts to tackle its global burden.

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Study Finds How Gut, Stroke-Induced Cognitive Impairment Are Associated

Inam Ansari

The Hawk

Tag : stroke

Study Finds How Gut, Stroke-Induced Cognitive Impairment Are Associated

Inam Ansari

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