Gangadhar Bhurle’s research while affiliated with National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education And Research Ahmedabad and other places

Background Pregnancy may be a risk factor for stroke in females. Stroke in pregnancy influences mitochondrial dynamics as well as the inflammatory responses in mothers. However, limited studies are available that report any epigenetic changes in the offspring following a stroke in mothers. In the present study we investigate the effect of stroke in pregnancy as a possible epigenetic modifier correlated with dysfunctional mitochondrial dynamics and exacerbated inflammasome mediated apoptosis in the offsprings. Methods and Results Female and male Sprague Dawley rats were housed in the same cage in 1:2 ratio to ensure successful pregnancy. Stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion at gestational day 17. After delivery of F1 generation, bloods were collected from the dams for hormonal study. Brains were harvested from both dams and F1 generation for biochemical, histological, genetic, molecular, and mitochondrial studies. In the F1 generation of stroke induced dams, an increased mitochondrial fission and decreased mitochondrial fusion were observed as compared with normal dams and their F1 generation. Similarly, enhanced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and depolarization were also observed in the F1 generation of stroke induced dams. Exacerbated inflammasome signaling and enhanced apoptosis were also evident in this F1 generation. Changes in histone‐methylation corresponding to increased inflammation were also observed in this F1 generation. Conclusions The present study reports the occurrence of epigenetic modifications towards mitochondrial dysfunction and exacerbated inflammasome mediated apoptosis in the F1 generation following a stroke in pregnant dams.

Stroke, a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, is a complex cerebrovascular disease. Stroke risk factors are diverse, encompassing age, sex, and ethnicity. Comorbid conditions, including hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and atrial fibrillation, exacerbate stroke outcomes, contributing to the overall stroke burden within populations. In addition to these factors, lifestyle‐related diseases can impact individuals across all age groups, and often include as comorbidities linked to stroke. Socioeconomic conditions, healthcare access, and the quality of clinical data significantly influence the prevalence of comorbidities. Asia, the largest continent and home to 60% of the world's population, includes many developing nations undergoing diverse economic transitions. In Southeast Asian countries, stroke prevalence is high, imposing a substantial burden on healthcare systems and economies. Research disparities in stroke are often attributed to insufficient demographic data on comorbidities. Hence, the review discusses all previously published results of hospital‐based studies and data from national registries. It has been noticed that due to insufficient documentation on stroke‐related comorbidities in various developing countries of Southeast Asia, stroke management becomes difficult. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the association between various comorbidities and stroke, with special emphasis on the incidence and prevalence of stroke burden in Southeast Asian countries.