Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: Stroke Patients: 1. Age greater than 18 2. Acute ischemic stroke in the territory of the anterior, middle, or posterior cerebral artery, on either side of the brain 3. Study can be initiated within 72 hours of stroke symptom onset 3\. Ability and willingness to sign informed consent Healthy subjects: 1. Age greater than 18 2. Ability and willingness to sign informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Stroke subjects: 1. History of prior stroke or transient ischemic attack 2. Known cerebrovascular abnormality 3. History of congestive heart failure 4. Presence of pneumonia or active pulmonary infection 5. Current use of any NO donor medication (sodium nitroprusside or nitroglycerin) 6. Age less than 18 years 7. Skull defect that would interfere with CBF monitoring 8. Pregnancy 9. Structural brain lesion 10. Prior neurosurgical procedure 11. History of psychiatric disease 12. Any medical condition that the clinical investigator feels would pose a hazard to the subject if he/she participated in the study Healthy subjects: 1. History of any neurological disease 2. History of stroke or transient ischemic attack 3. Known cerebrovascular abnormality 4. History of congestive heart failure 5. History of chronic pulmonary disease such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 6. Presence of pneumonia or active pulmonary infection 7. Current use of any NO donor medication (sodium nitroprusside or nitroglycerin) 8. Age less than 18 years 9. Skull defect that would interfere with CBF monitoring 10. Pregnancy (urine or blood tests will not be performed) 11. Structural brain lesion 12. Prior neurosurgical procedure 13. History of psychiatric disease 14. Any medical condition that the clinical investigator feels would pose a hazard to the subject if he/she participated in the study 15. Cognitive impairment