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Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Modeling Stroke in Mice: Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion via the External Carotid Artery
Published on: May 24, 2021
Molecular Biology of Atherosclerotic Ischemic Strokes
Antonino Tuttolomondo1, Maria Grazia Puleo1, Maria Chiara Velardo1
1Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Piazza delle Cliniche n.2, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Insights
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death. In diabetic patients, inflammation exacerbates stroke severity, highlighting the need for new therapeutic targets to improve outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Science
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Ischemic stroke is a major global cause of death and disability, affecting millions worldwide.
- Diabetic patients experience more severe brain injury and impairment following ischemic stroke due to heightened inflammatory responses.
- The increasing prevalence of diabetes projects a significant rise in stroke incidence and associated socioeconomic burdens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of inflammation in exacerbating ischemic stroke severity in diabetic patients.
- To identify novel biomolecules associated with poor prognosis in post-ischemic stroke patients, particularly those with diabetes.
- To explore potential therapeutic targets for improving outcomes in ischemic stroke, especially in the context of diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on ischemic stroke, diabetes, and inflammation.
- Analysis of etiological factors and common sites of ischemic stroke.
- Examination of prognostic factors and their impact on patient outcomes.
Main Results:
- Ischemic stroke accounts for approximately 80% of cerebrovascular accidents.
- Inflammation significantly worsens brain injury and disability in diabetic stroke patients.
- Known risk factors partially explain poor prognosis, but novel biomarkers are needed.
Conclusions:
- Targeting inflammatory pathways and novel biomolecules offers a promising strategy for improving outcomes in ischemic stroke patients, especially those with diabetes.
- Understanding the interplay between diabetes and stroke-induced inflammation is crucial for developing effective therapeutic interventions.
- Further research into novel biomarkers is essential for personalized treatment strategies and mitigating the impact of ischemic stroke.
Abstract:
Among the causes of global death and disability, ischemic stroke (also known as cerebral ischemia) plays a pivotal role, by determining the highest number of worldwide mortality, behind cardiomyopathies, affecting 30 million people. The etiopathogenetic burden of a cerebrovascular accident could be brain ischemia (~80%) or intracranial hemorrhage (~20%). The most common site when ischemia occurs is the one is perfused by middle cerebral arteries. Worse prognosis and disablement consequent to brain damage occur in elderly patients or affected by neurological impairment, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Since, in the coming years, estimates predict an exponential increase of people who have diabetes, the disease mentioned above constitutes together with stroke a severe social and economic burden. In diabetic patients after an ischemic stroke, an exorbitant activation of inflammatory molecular pathways and ongoing inflammation is responsible for more severe brain injury and impairment, promoting the advancement of ischemic stroke and diabetes. Considering that the ominous prognosis of ischemic brain damage could by partially clarified by way of already known risk factors the auspice would be modifying poor outcome in the post-stroke phase detecting novel biomolecules associated with poor prognosis and targeting them for revolutionary therapeutic strategies.
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