| There are two main kinds of stroke. The most common, an ischemic stroke, occurs when an artery in the brain is blocked by a blood clot, usually because of atherosclerosis (the deposition of plaque on the inside of artery walls). Alternatively, a hemorrhagic stroke can occur when a portion of the arterial wall weakens and bursts. Ischemic stroke is responsible for 80 percent of all strokes (NINDS 2005). There are two kinds of ischemic stroke. The first, a thrombotic stroke, results from a blood clot (thrombus) forming in a vessel inside the brain and cutting off the blood supply to the tissues served by that vessel. The second, an embolic stroke, occurs when a clot forms somewhere else in the body, breaks off, and travels to the brain. The clot can originate in a peripheral artery, in the heart itself, or in the arteries in the neck or brain. Among people with an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, clots can arise in the left atrium and travel through the left side of the heart and the aorta and into the brain. When the clot becomes lodged in the artery, the tissue beyond the blockage is starved of oxygen and begins to die. Most strokes are caused by blood clots that form as a result of atherosclerosis (Gorelick PB 2002). Once known as “hardening of the arteries,” atherosclerosis occurs when the arteries become clogged with plaque deposits and the structure and function of the inner arterial wall (the endothelium) are compromised. If atherosclerotic plaque deposits become brittle and rupture, blood clots can form that lead to stroke. Green tea catechins, which are rich in flavonoids, possess powerful antioxidant properties that have been studied in the context of limiting damage due to ischemic stroke. Animal studies have shown that green tea extract limits the size of stroke lesions in a dose-dependent manner when administered immediately after an ischemic episode, leading researchers to suggest that green tea may have promise in the acute treatment of ischemic stroke (Suzuki M et al 2004; Lee SY et al 2003). Another study found that animals that had a high intake of green tea experienced less cerebral damage after a stroke than did their counterparts who weren’t consuming green tea (Hong JT et al 2001). | The Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) mission is to improve the quality of men’s lives by supporting research and disseminating information that educates and empowers patients, families and the medical community. PCRI is pleased to announce the 11th major conference devoted to prostate cancer, planned and/or produced by members of The Prostate Cancer Research Institute. As in the past, this conference will provide insight for patients, caregivers and medical professionals. Moderated by the highly regarded Dr. Mark Moyad and Dr. Mark Scholz, this year’s conference will again focus on quality of life Issues. Faculty will talk about important lifestyle and health issues including diet and dietary supplements, erectile dysfunction, hormone blockade side effects and other current issues relating to advanced disease. Exciting up-and-coming technology and research will also be presented. http://www.prostate-cancer.org/events/conf2009/ |
