Diagnosis of Acute Stroke

Am Fam Physician. 2015 Apr 15;91(8):528-536.

Patient data: See related handout on stroke, written by the authors of this article.

This clinical content conforms to AAFP criteria for continuing medical teaching (CME). See the CME Quiz Questions.

Writer disclosure: No relevant financial affiliations.

Article Sections

  • Abstract
  • Classifying Stroke
  • Risk Factors
  • Clinical Diagnosis
  • Diagnostic Tests and Imaging
  • Training Patients to Recognize Stroke Symptoms
  • References

Stroke can be categorized as ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Awakening with or experiencing the abrupt onset of focal neurologic deficits is the hallmark of the diagnosis of ischemic stroke. The most mutual presenting symptoms of ischemic stroke are speech disturbance and weakness on ane-half of the body. The well-nigh common conditions that can mimic a stroke are seizure, conversion disorder, migraine headache, and hypoglycemia. Taking a patient history and performing diagnostic studies volition usually exclude stroke mimics. Neuroimaging is required to differentiate ischemic stroke from intracerebral hemorrhage, likewise as to diagnose entities other than stroke. The choice of neuroimaging depends on availability of the method, the patient's eligibility for thrombolysis, and presence of contraindications. Subarachnoid hemorrhage presents nigh commonly with sudden onset of a severe headache, and noncontrast caput computed tomography is the imaging exam of pick. Cerebrospinal fluid inspection for bilirubin is recommended if subarachnoid hemorrhage is suspected in a patient with a normal computed tomography effect. Public teaching near common presenting stroke symptoms may improve patient knowledge and clinical outcomes.

The symptoms of acute stroke can be misleading and misinterpreted past clinicians and patients. Family physicians are on the forepart line to recognize and manage acute cerebrovascular diseases. Rapid, accurate examination of persons with stroke symptoms can reduce disability and help prevent recurrences.

SORT: Key RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Clinical recommendation Prove rating References

All patients with stroke symptoms should undergo urgent neuroimaging with CT or MRI.

C

nine, 37

Patients presenting with acute vestibular syndrome or suspected posterior infarction should undergo acute diffusion-weighted MRI. A negative MRI result should be followed by repeat MRI in three to seven days or bedside oculomotor testing to exclude a simulated-negative result.

C

eighteen, 37

Lumbar puncture should be performed in persons with suspected subarachnoid hemorrhage and a normal noncontrast head CT result.

C

22, 23

Patients and family unit members should be educated near stroke symptoms and the need for urgent evaluation.

C

nine


Classifying Stroke

  • Abstract
  • Classifying Stroke
  • Run a risk Factors
  • Clinical Diagnosis
  • Diagnostic Tests and Imaging
  • Training Patients to Recognize Stroke Symptoms
  • References

Stroke can be classified past pathologic procedure and vascular distribution affected. Defining the overall pathologic process is critical for decisions on thrombolysis, antithrombotic therapy, and prognosis. Hemorrhagic stroke has a college mortality charge per unit than ischemic stroke.one In the Us, 87% of all strokes are ischemic secondary to big-artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, minor-vessel occlusion, or other and undetermined causes.1,two The remaining 13% of strokes are hemorrhagic in intracerebral or subarachnoid locations.1

Hazard Factors

  • Abstruse
  • Classifying Stroke
  • Risk Factors
  • Clinical Diagnosis
  • Diagnostic Tests and Imaging
  • Preparation Patients to Recognize Stroke Symptoms
  • References

Although in that location are many risk factors for stroke, such every bit age, family unit history, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and sleep apnea, the major modifiable risk factors include hypertension, atrial fibrillation, smoking, symptomatic carotid artery disease, and sickle cell disease.one Physical inactivity; regular consumption of sweetened beverages; and low daily consumption of fish, fruits, or vegetables are too associated with an increased take a chance of stroke.1 In women, current use of oral contraceptives, migraine with aureola, the immediate postpartum period, and preeclampsia confer small absolute increases in take a chance of stroke.1

Clinical Diagnosis

  • Abstract
  • Classifying Stroke
  • Risk Factors
  • Clinical Diagnosis
  • Diagnostic Tests and Imaging
  • Training Patients to Recognize Stroke Symptoms
  • References

HISTORY AND Concrete Test

In a community-based study, primary care physicians practicing in an emergency setting had a 92% sensitivity for diagnosing stroke and transient ischemic attack based on history and test.iii The overall reliability of a clinician's diagnosis of stroke is moderate to good, with lower reliability in less experienced or less confident examiners.four The about common historical feature of an ischemic stroke is awakening with or acute onset of symptoms, whereas the well-nigh mutual concrete findings are unilateral weakness and speech disturbance.5  The well-nigh common and reliable symptoms and signs of ischemic stroke are listed in Tabular array 1.47  The most common symptoms and signs of posterior circulation stroke are listed in Tabular array 2.8

Figure i provides an algorithm for stroke diagnosis. A critical slice of information is the fourth dimension of onset. This value does non assist in diagnosing stroke, but it determines whether a patient meets the 3- or 4.five-hour eligibility windows for thrombolysis among persons with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke.9

Tabular array 1.

Well-nigh Common Symptoms and Signs of Ischemic Stroke

Symptom or sign Prevalence (%) 5 Agreement betwixt examiners (kappa) 4

Symptoms

Acute onset

96

Proficient (0.63)4

Subjective arm weakness*

63

Moderate (0.59)4

Subjective leg weakness*

54

Moderate (0.59)4

Cocky-reported speech disturbance

53

Expert (0.64)4

Subjective facial weakness

23

Arm paresthesia†

xx

Good (0.62)iv

Leg paresthesia†

17

Good (0.62)four

Headache

14

Skilful (0.65)4

Nonorthostatic dizziness

13

Signs

Arm paresis

69

Moderate to excellent (0.42 to 1.00)4,6

Leg paresis

61

Off-white to fantabulous (0.40 to 0.84)4,6

Dysphasia or dysarthria

57

Moderate to excellent (0.54 to 0.84)iv,6

Off-white to excellent (0.29 to 1.00)iv,6

Hemiparetic/ataxic gait

53

Excellent (0.91)6

Facial paresis

45

Poor to excellent (0.xiii to 1.00)4,vi

Eye movement aberration

27

Fair to excellent (0.33 to 1.00)half-dozen

Visual field defect

24

Poor to first-class (0.16 to 0.81)4,half dozen


Table ii.

Nigh Common Symptoms and Signs of Posterior Circulation Stroke

Symptom or sign Prevalence (%) eight

Symptoms

Dizziness

47

Unilateral limb weakness

41

Dysarthria

31

Headache

28

Nausea or vomiting

27

Signs

Unilateral limb weakness

38

Gait ataxia

31

Unilateral limb ataxia

30

Dysarthria

28

Nystagmus

24


Diagnosis of Acute Stroke


Effigy ane.

Algorithm for the diagnosis of acute stroke.

Physicians managing acute stroke should become familiar with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Calibration (NIHSS). The NIHSS is a xv-item calibration that can be performed in about 5 minutes. Although it can help distinguish stroke from stroke mimics,10 its chief use is to reliably evaluate stroke severity to determine whether tissue plasminogen activator administration is appropriate. It is also used to predict prognosis. Reliable employ of the NIHSS requires training,11 which can produce fantabulous inter-rater reliability of scoring beyond physicians and nurses.12 Free online training is bachelor from the National Stroke Clan at http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nihss.13

Studies of missed stroke diagnosis have establish weakness and fatigue, altered mental status, syncope, altered gait and dizziness, and hypertensive urgency to exist the most common presenting symptoms in patients admitted for a diagnosis other than stroke who were after confirmed to have had a stroke.14,15 However, such nonspecific symptoms are not usual presentations of stroke. The history and physical examination for common stroke symptoms should uncover the diagnosis of stroke even in uncommon presentations.

Posterior circulation strokes may be challenging to diagnose. One potential area of confusion is when patients present with dizziness, which is a mutual concern in general but an uncommon presentation for stroke. In a population-based study of adults older than 44 years presenting to the emergency department or straight admitted to the hospital with a main business organization of dizziness, simply 0.7% of patients with isolated dizziness symptoms had an ultimate diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack, although their stroke was missed by the initial examiner 44% of the fourth dimension.xvi

However, in patients presenting with acute vestibular syndrome17 defined by 1 hr or more of astute, persistent, continuous vertigo or dizziness with spontaneous or gaze-evoked nystagmus, plus nausea or vomiting, head movement intolerance, and new gait unsteadiness, one-fourth or more accept a posterior circulation stroke.18,19 Equally many every bit 2-thirds of patients with acute vestibular syndrome caused by stroke accept no obvious neurologic findings.19 A bombardment of three bedside tests of eye movement is more sensitive than early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosing posterior stroke in this setting and is highly specific.18,xx Table 3 describes the behave and operating characteristics of each examination and the battery.1820 A video demonstrating these tests is available at http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/ehsl-dent/id/6/rec/5.

Tabular array 3.

Bedside Predictors of Stroke and Other Central Etiologies in Patients with Acute Vestibular Syndrome

Bedside diagnostic predictor Test description Sensitivity (95% CI) Specificity (95% CI) LR+(95% CI) LR−(95% CI)

Normal consequence on horizontal head impulse exam

Plow the patient'southward head laterally 10 to xx degrees while observing his or her eyes. A normal result is for the optics to stay fixed on a target. An abnormal result is for the eyes to rapidly move back to the target once caput movement stops. The test also may exist performed by turning the patient's head dorsum to center from 10 to twenty degrees off-center.20

0.85 (0.79 to 0.91)

0.95 (0.90 to 1.00)

18.39 (half dozen.08 to 55.64)

0.16 (0.11 to 0.23)

Direction-irresolute nystagmus

Nystagmus in the setting of acute vertiginous syndrome is normally unidirectional, with the fast beat of nystagmus abroad from the affected side and a slow return toward the afflicted side. Nystagmus is enhanced when the centre moves toward the side of the fast beat and decreases or disappears when the eye moves toward the side of ho-hum beat. With central lesions, the fast beat of nystagmus may change directions toward the direction the eyes are moving, hence the term "direction-changing nystagmus."20

0.38 (0.32 to 0.44)

0.92 (0.86 to 0.98)

4.51 (2.xviii to ix.34)

0.68 (0.threescore to 0.76)

Skew deviation

Usually during the cover-uncover examination in that location is no heart move. Upwardly or downwards movement on the encompass-uncover test (refixation) indicates skew deviation and is associated with a primal lesion.20

0.30 (0.22 to 0.39)

0.98 (0.95 to 1.00)

19.66 (2.76 to 140.15)

0.71 (0.63 to 0.80)

HINTS positive

HINTS positive is a normal head impulse examination result, management-changing nystagmus, refixation on cover test (skew deviation), or any combination of these findings.18

96.8 (92.four to 99.0)

98.v (92.8 to 99.9)

63.9 (9.13 to 446.85)

0.03 (0.01 to 0.09)


Reliably distinguishing between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke can be washed only through neuroimaging. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke are more than likely to accept headache, airsickness, diastolic blood force per unit area greater than 110 mm Hg, meningismus, or coma, simply none of these findings lone or in combination is reliable enough to define a diagnosis.21

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) presents differently from intracerebral hemorrhage or ischemic stroke. Near 80% of patients with aneurysmal SAH study a sudden onset of what they describe as the worst headache of their life.22 A previous sentinel headache 2 to eight weeks before aneurysmal rupture is a critical historical finding present in upwards to xl% of patients with SAH.22 Findings accompanying the headache tin include vomiting, photophobia, seizures, meningismus, focal neurologic signs, and decreased level of consciousness.22,23 Funduscopy should be performed because intraocular hemorrhages are present in 1 in seven patients with aneurysmal SAH.24 Because the bleeding occurs outside the brain, persons with SAH may not have focal neurologic signs.

STROKE MIMICS AND DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

Clinicians should consider a broad differential diagnosis when evaluating suspected stroke (Table 47,ix,10,16,xix,2534). Seizure, conversion or somatoform disorder, migraine headache, and hypoglycemia are the about common stroke mimics.10,2530 Checklists to ascertain eligibility for intravenous thrombolysis explicitly include detection of hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and recent seizures.

Tabular array 4.

Stroke Mimics and Distinguishing Features

Condition Distinguishing features

Seizure

History of loss of consciousness, seizure activity, postictal land, or history of epilepsy normally present2631

Somatoform or conversion disorder

Fluctuations in clinical picture, nonanatomic symptoms or signs or history of mental illness9,29

Amongst the nearly common stroke mimics in patients treated with thrombolysis

Reported prevalence of 0.4% to eleven.7%2631

Younger age and history of psychiatric disease increases the risk29,30

May coexist with stroke

Ane-third of patients older than 50 years with features of conversion had a coexisting stroke compared with no patients younger than 50 years with that presentation29

Migraine headache

History of similar events, preceding aureola and headache

Mutual mimic in persons younger than 50 years29

Toxic-metabolic disturbances

Hypoglycemia and drug or alcohol intoxication

Nonfocal neurologic examination and laboratory results distinguish from stroke10,25

Systemic infection

Chest is the most common source10

Astute illness exacerbating a previous deficit25

Syncope/presyncope or hypotension

Hypotension is unusual in acute stroke; prevalence of blood pressure less than 120/80 mm Hg at initial stroke presentation is 7.ane%32; symptoms may be transient or reply to hydration

Tumor

Mass noted on neuroimaging

Acute confusional land

May be related to booze intoxication, medication adverse consequence, or other encephalopathy

Vertigo or dizziness

Prevalence of stroke or transient ischemic assail in adults older than 44 years with isolated dizziness symptoms in emergency setting is 0.7%sixteen

Stroke prevalence is about 25% in patients presenting with astute vestibular syndrome19

Dementia

Presence of known cerebral impairment was one of two factors that independently predicted a stroke mimic in an Australian prospective study of patients admitted with suspected stroke10

Headache and neurologic deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis (HaNDL) syndrome*33

2d most common diagnosis in a large case series31

Requires lumbar puncture for diagnosis and initial presentation may mimic stroke33

Encephalitis27

Fever, signs of infection

Spinal epidural hematoma

Rare, presenting with quadraparesis, paraparesis, or hemiparesis unremarkably in the absence of cranial nervus findings34

Caused by practise, trauma, surgery, lumbar puncture, coagulopathy, vascular malformation, or chiropractic spinal manipulation34

Treatment requires urgent surgical decompression


The rates of misdiagnosis of stroke in studies of consecutive patients not treated with thrombolysis vary from 25% to 31%.10,25,35 Of patients receiving thrombolysis, one.4% to sixteen.7% are constitute to have a stroke mimic.2631 Factors associated with greater risk of a stroke mimic are younger age, lower baseline NIHSS scores, history of cerebral impairment, and nonneurologic abnormal physical findings.10,2631 Patients with a stroke mimic are more likely to present with global aphasia without hemiparesis than patients demonstrated to accept a stroke.26,31

Diagnostic Tests and Imaging

  • Abstract
  • Classifying Stroke
  • Hazard Factors
  • Clinical Diagnosis
  • Diagnostic Tests and Imaging
  • Training Patients to Recognize Stroke Symptoms
  • References

Tabular array 5 lists initial diagnostic studies recommended by current guidelines for patients with suspected stroke.9 The purpose of these studies is to uncover stroke mimics, diagnose critical comorbidities such as myocardial ischemia, and observe contraindications to thrombolytic therapy. No combination of stroke biomarkers has been shown to give additional diagnostic certainty over that of clinical history and examination lonely.36

Table 5.

Immediate Diagnostic Studies: Evaluation of a Patient with Suspected Acute Ischemic Stroke

All patients

Noncontrast brain CT or encephalon MRI

Blood glucose

Oxygen saturation

Serum electrolytes/renal function tests*

Complete blood count, including platelet count*

Markers of cardiac ischemia*

Prothrombin time/INR*

Activated partial thromboplastin time*

ECG*

Selected patients

TT and/or ECT if it is suspected the patient is taking directly thrombin inhibitors or direct gene Xa inhibitors

Hepatic function tests

Toxicology screen

Blood booze level

Pregnancy examination

Arterial claret gas tests (if hypoxemia suspected)

Breast radiography (if lung disease suspected)

Lumbar puncture (if subarachnoid hemorrhage is suspected and CT scan is negative for blood)

Electroencephalogram (if seizures are suspected)


All patients with stroke symptoms should undergo urgent neuroimaging with noncontrast computed tomography (CT) or MRI.ix,37 The principal purpose of neuroimaging in a patient with suspected ischemic stroke is to rule out the presence of nonischemic fundamental nervous system lesions and to distinguish between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Figures 2 and 3 evidence examples of intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhages on non-contrast CT.7 Noncontrast CT is considered sufficiently sensitive for detecting mass lesions, such as a brain mass or abscess, every bit well as for detecting acute hemorrhage. However, less than two-thirds of strokes are detected by noncontrast CT at three hours postinfarction.38 Noncontrast CT has fifty-fifty lower sensitivity for small or posterior fossa strokes.9


Effigy ii.

Caput computed tomography showing intracerebral hemorrhages (arrows).

Reprinted with permission from Yew KS, Cheng Eastward. Astute stroke diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2009;80(1):38.


Effigy three.

Caput computed tomography showing subarachnoid hemorrhages (arrows). Note that acute hemorrhage appears hyperdense (white) on computed tomography.

Reprinted with permission from Yew KS, Cheng Due east. Acute stroke diagnosis. Am Fam Medico. 2009;80(i):38.

Multimodal MRI sequences, particularly improvidence-weighted images, have meliorate resolution than noncontrast CT, and therefore have a greater sensitivity for detecting acute ischemic stroke.37,38 MRI sequences (particularly slope recalled echo and diffusion-weighted sequences) are as sensitive as noncontrast CT for detecting intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke.ix,37,38 Figure 4 shows the head noncontrast CT and diffusion-weighted MRI of a patient with a previous stroke and a new acute stroke.


Figure 4.

(A) Noncontrast computed tomography showing two hypodense regions indicating old infarctions in the distribution of the left-middle cerebral (long pointer) and posterior cerebral arteries (short arrow). (B) Improvidence-weighted magnetic resonance imaging obtained shortly afterward the computed tomography reveals a new extensive infarction (arrow) in the right-middle cerebral artery distribution not axiomatic on the computed tomography.

Reprinted with permission from MedPix. Retrieved from http://rad.usuhs.edu/medpix.

MRI has better resolution than noncontrast CT, but noncontrast CT is faster, more bachelor, less expensive, and can be performed in persons with implanted devices (e.yard., pacemakers) and in persons with claustrophobia. If a patient is within the fourth dimension window of intravenous thrombolytic therapy, guidelines recommend that noncontrast CT or MRI exist performed to exclude intracerebral hemorrhage and evaluate for ischemic changes.ix In patients younger than 55 years presenting with stroke-like symptoms, MRI yields a lower rate of misdiagnosis than noncontrast CT considering of a lower prevalence of vascular risk factors and a higher prevalence of cardinal nervous system stroke mimics in this age grouping.39,40 Patients presenting with acute vestibular syndrome or suspected posterior infarction should undergo acute diffusion-weighted MRI.37 Considering MRI may miss upward to xv% of posterior strokes in the commencement 48 hours,18 a negative MRI result should be followed past a repeat MRI in three to vii days or bedside oculomotor testing to exclude a false-negative result.

Although acute neuroimaging is essential, information technology may exist possible to efficiently obtain imaging of the carotid arteries to observe carotid stenosis, such every bit when MRI of the brain is combined with magnetic resonance angiography of the cervix. Current guidelines practise non accost acute imaging of cervical vessels, just it is recommended as part of the subsequent evaluation of patients with confirmed stroke or transient ischemic attack,ix which is beyond the scope of this commodity. Astute intracranial vascular imaging is recommended if intravascular therapy is being considered, as long as it does non filibuster intravenous thrombolysis.9

Dissimilar ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, diagnosing SAH requires a different diagnostic approach. The frequency of misdiagnosis of SAH is nigh 12%.22 Noncontrast CT is the imaging exam of choice for persons with suspected SAH.22 Noncontrast CT has a sensitivity of most 100% for detecting subarachnoid blood in the first 72 hours.22 The sensitivity of noncontrast CT to detect subarachnoid claret declines over time, whereas MRI remains highly sensitive to intracranial blood for upwardly to xxx days, making information technology the preferred test for delayed presentations.22,23

Persons with suspected SAH and a normal noncontrast CT result should undergo a lumbar puncture to notice bilirubin, a breakup product of red claret cells in the cerebrospinal fluid.23 Considering red blood prison cell breakup tin can have up to 12 hours, the lumbar puncture should exist delayed until 12 hours after the initial onset of symptoms to accurately distinguish SAH from a traumatic tap.23,41 The yellow color acquired by bilirubin, which is called xanthochromia, tin can be detected by visual inspection or spectrophotometry.23,41 Spectrophotometry is more sensitive than visual inspection, merely is not widely available.23,41 Bilirubin tin exist detected up to two weeks after the initial onset of symptoms. If SAH is detected, persons should immediately undergo CT, MRI, or catheter angiography to look for an aneurysm.

Training Patients to Recognize Stroke Symptoms

  • Abstract
  • Classifying Stroke
  • Risk Factors
  • Clinical Diagnosis
  • Diagnostic Tests and Imaging
  • Preparation Patients to Recognize Stroke Symptoms
  • References

Patients and family members should be educated about stroke symptoms and the need for urgent evaluation.9 Consistent data testify considerable room for improvement in stroke knowledge in the general population.42 However, at that place are limited data to support the effectiveness of public media campaigns to meliorate stroke knowledge and to link improved cognition of stroke symptoms to beliefs or clinical outcomes.43,44 A recent study showed that noesis of two warning signs of stroke was associated with activation of emergency medical services, which suggests a goal for public teaching campaigns.45 The American Stroke Clan is promoting the F.A.Southward.T. (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call ix–ane–1) entrada to better patient knowledge about stroke and to expedite activation of ix–1–1 services.46

Data Sources: A PubMed search using a filter for diagnostic studies detailed in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Beynon R, Leeflang MM, McDonald Due south, et al. Search strategies to identify diagnostic accuracy studies in Medline and Embase. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(nine):MR000022) was performed using the MeSH stroke terms stroke; stroke, lacunar; infarction, posterior cognitive avenue; brain stem infarctions; infarction, middle cerebral avenue; infarction, anterior cerebral artery; inductive spinal artery stroke crossed with sensitivity and specificity#[MESH] OR diagnos* OR predict* OR accura* with limits of human being, English, developed and publication engagement afterward June 1, 2008 (the end date of the literature search for the previous AFP article on this topic). Also searched were Essential Evidence Plus, the National Guideline Clearinghouse, the Institute for Clinical Systems Comeback "Diagnosis and Initial Treatment of Ischemic Stroke" guideline, tenth ed., and commodity bibliographies. Search dates: July 10, 2014, and Feb 13, 2015.

annotation: This review updates a previous article on this topic past the authors.7

The authors thank Dr. James Smirniotopoulos for assistance with MedPix, and Mrs. Robin Yew for editorial assist.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do non necessarily reverberate the official position of the Department of Defence force or the U.S. government.

Dr. Cheng received funding from Cooperative Agreement Honor U54 NS08164 from the National Establish of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

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The Authors

prove all author info

KENNETH South. YEW, Doc, MPH, is a retired naval medical officeholder in individual practice at Family unit Medicine of Albemarle in Charlottesville, Va. He is a clinical banana professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md....

ERIC M. CHENG, MD, MS, is an acquaintance professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of California–Los Angeles.

Author disclosure: No relevant fiscal affiliations.

Address correspondence to Kenneth Southward. Yew, MD, MPH, Family Medicine of Albermarle, 1450 Sachem Place, Suite 201, Charlottesville, VA 22901 (e-postal service: kenyew@centurylink.net). Reprints are not available from the authors.

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