Disease-A-Month RSS feed: Current Issue. Designed for primary care physicians, each issue of Disease-a-Month presents an in-depth review of a single topic. In this way, the publication can cover all aspects of the topic-pathophysiology, clinical features of the disease or condition, diagnostic techniques, therapeutic approaches, and prognosis.http://www.diseaseamonth.com/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Disease-A-Month0011-5029562February 2010 © 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.diseaseamonth.com/article/PIIS0011502910000039/abstract?rss=yesEditorial Board10.1016/S0011-5029(10)00003-9Disease-A-Month 56, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Disease-A-Month2010-02-01562S0011-5029(10)X0002-5IFCIFChttp://www.diseaseamonth.com/article/PIIS0011502910000040/abstract?rss=yesTitle Page10.1016/S0011-5029(10)00004-0Disease-A-Month 56, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Disease-A-Month2010-02-01562S0011-5029(10)X0002-53333http://www.diseaseamonth.com/article/PIIS0011502910000052/abstract?rss=yesInformation for Readers10.1016/S0011-5029(10)00005-2Disease-A-Month 56, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Disease-A-Month2010-02-01562S0011-5029(10)X0002-53434http://www.diseaseamonth.com/article/PIIS0011502910000064/abstract?rss=yesTable of Contents10.1016/S0011-5029(10)00006-4Disease-A-Month 56, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Disease-A-Month2010-02-01562S0011-5029(10)X0002-53537http://www.diseaseamonth.com/article/PIIS0011502909001503/abstract?rss=yesNot too long ago, the treatment of cerebral vascular disease was almost entirely passive, with anticoagulation and observation being the primary therapeutic modalities. However, the past 20 years have seen a virtually complete evolution in the nomenclature, evaluation, prevention, and treatment of the disease. Thus, with rapidly developing advances in stroke prevention and management, an update on this topic is needed.ForewordJerrold B. Leikin10.1016/j.disamonth.2009.12.002Disease-A-Month 56, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Disease-A-Month2010-02-01562S0011-5029(10)X0002-53939http://www.diseaseamonth.com/article/PIIS0011502909001497/abstract?rss=yesAfter heart disease, stroke is the second leading cause of mortality in the world among persons aged 15 years and older. Stroke causes about 5.7 million deaths or 10% of all mortality with the occurrence of more than 85% of stroke deaths in low- and middle-income countries. Worldwide, stroke death rates and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) (a measure of stroke burden encompassing years lost due to premature mortality and disability) vary 10-fold by country. The highest rates are in eastern Europe, north Asia, central Africa, and the south Pacific. The most important predictor of death and DALY loss rates is national per capita income even when there is adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Elevated mean systolic blood pressure and body mass index also predict stroke mortality, and greater prevalence of smoking predicts both stroke mortality and DALY-loss rates. In the United States there are over 143,000 stroke deaths annually and 795,000 incident strokes of which about 77% are first strokes and 23% are recurrent strokes with an estimated annual cost of stroke of $68.9 billion.Update of Cerebral Vascular Disease: Issues for the Primary Care PhysicianPhilip B. Gorelick, Sean Ruland10.1016/j.disamonth.2009.12.001Disease-A-Month 56, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Disease-A-Month2010-02-01562S0011-5029(10)X0002-54071http://www.diseaseamonth.com/article/PIIS0011502909001515/abstract?rss=yesThe Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports a general decline in age-adjusted mortality for stroke over the past half century. Yet, the annual number of acute strokes in the United States has steadily increased to more than 790,000 and is projected to surpass 1 million within the next few decades. In 2008, the overall direct and indirect costs of care and lost productivity due to stroke are substantial at $65.5 billion, underscoring the magnitude of the adverse public health impact and need to improve outcome after stroke. The emergence of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV r-tPA) for acute ischemic stroke in 1996 and other acute stroke therapies has stimulated grass roots and legislative efforts to improve the organization of acute stroke care and to increase treatment usage. In addition, research efforts have been aimed at expanding the therapeutic armamentarium.Diagnosis and Management of Acute Ischemic StrokePhilip B. Gorelick, Sean Ruland10.1016/j.disamonth.2009.12.003Disease-A-Month 56, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Disease-A-Month2010-02-01562S0011-5029(10)X0002-572100