Additional file 2: of Mitochondrial dysfunction induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Figure S2. The morphology of differential PC12 cells. (JPG 2204 kb

Additional file 1: of Mitochondrial dysfunction induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Figure S1. The confirmation of the CD31 antibody specificity. The bEnd3 cells were used as positive cells. The double staining cells of vWF and CD31 were up to 98%. Bar = 100 μm. (TIF 947 kb

Additional file 3: of Mitochondrial dysfunction induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Figure S3. Ethics approval of the animal usage. (JPG 1160 kb

Flow diagram of study selection.

<p>Clop indicates clopidogrel and ASA indicates aspirin.</p

Forest plot of Clop+ASA vs. ASA on all stroke.

<p>ASA indicates aspirin; CI, confidence interval; Clop, clopidogrel; and M-H, Mantel-Haenszel method.</p

Baseline characteristics and design features of included trials.

<p>ACS: acute coronary syndrome; AF: atrial fibrillation; ASA: aspirin; CABG: coronary arterial bypass graft; CAD: coronary arterial disease; CVD: cerebrovascular disease; Clop: clopidogrel; Exp/Ctrl: data of the corresponding items in experimental group and control group, separately; F: female; MI: myocardial infarction; NR: not reported. TIA: transient ischemic attack. PAD: peripheral arterial disease.</p><p>*Number of patients.</p>¶<p>Documented cerebrovascular diseases during previous 5 years.</p>§<p>Risk factors for stroke: an age of 75 years or more; systemic hypertension during treatment; previous stroke, transient ischemic attack, or non–central nervous system systemic embolism; a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 45%; peripheral vascular disease; or an age of 55 to 74 years and diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease.</p

Subgroup analysis on primary diseases.

<p>CI: confidence interval; NA: not available; RR; relative risk; TIA: transient ischemic attack.</p

Efficacy and Safety of Adding Clopidogrel to Aspirin on Stroke Prevention among High Vascular Risk Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>Whether clopidogrel should be added to aspirin for stroke prevention remained controversial for the risk of hemorrhagic complications. This meta-analysis was aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of adding clopidogrel to aspirin on stroke prevention in high vascular risk patients, and to provide evidence for a suitable duration of dual antiplatelet therapy.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We searched PubMed, EMBase, OVID and <i>Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials</i> (up to June, 2013) for randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of clopidogrel plus aspirin versus aspirin alone in high vascular risk patients. Comparisons of stroke and hemorrhagic complications between treatment groups were expressed by the pooled Relative Risks (RRs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs).</p><p>Results</p><p>Fifteen trials with a total of 97692 intention-to-treat participants were included with duration of follow-up ranging from 7 days to 3.6 years. Dual antiplatelet therapy reduced all stroke by 21% (RR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.73–0.85) with no evidence of heterogeneity across the trials (<i>P</i> = 0.27, <i>I</i>² = 17%).The effects were consistent between short-term subgroup (≤1 month, RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67–0.85) and long-term subgroup (≥3 months, RR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.73–0.89). The risk of major bleeding was not significantly increased by dual antiplatelet therapy in short-term subgroup (RR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.91–1.36), while significantly increased in long-term subgroup (RR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.36–1.69). Long-term dual antiplatelet therapy substantially increased the risk of intracranial bleeding (RR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.22–2.54).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>This meta-analysis demonstrates that short-term combination of clopidogrel and aspirin is effective and safe for stroke prevention in high vascular risk patients. Long-term combination therapy substantially increases the risk of major bleeding and intracranial bleeding.</p></div

Summarized results of meta-analysis.

<p>RR: relative risk; CI: confidence interval.</p><p>* Indicating clopidogrel plus aspirin group.</p>#<p>Indicating aspirin plus placebo group.</p>¶<p>Degree of freedom.</p>‡<p>Ischemic stroke including stroke with uncertain causes.</p

Forest plot of Clop+ASA vs. ASA on intracranial bleeding.

<p>ASA indicates aspirin; CI, confidence interval; Clop, clopidogrel; and M-H, Mantel-Haenszel method.</p