Editorial
Why
should you support the WSO?
The
International Journal of Stroke is the flagship publication of the World Stroke
Organization (WSO). Within a very brief period of time the WSO has clearly
established itself as the lead stroke organization on the global stage. It’s
focus on education and the promotion of research worldwide has made it a key
collaborator with the World Health Organization. Moving stoke from under the
cardiovascular umbrella and into the neurosciences within the WHO, presents a
unique opportunity to focus on stroke specific problems, ranging from
prevention right through to rehabilitation and community management. Do not
underestimate the significance of this classification change as funding often
follows WHO activities. As a stand-alone disease of such significant global
burden within the neurosciences, the opportunities ahead must be firmly grasped!
Why
should you support the WSO? Primarily, a large professional membership will lend
considerable weight to the argument that researchers are serious about reducing
the burden of stroke, globally.
And
secondarily, as the second most common cause of death worldwide, a proportional
number of concerned investigators and clinicians should band together under the
unified umbrella of the WSO. These are altruistic reasons for joining, and
should be the primary driver for professionals becoming a member; however,
there are also more practical and immediate benefits in being a WSO member, these
include:
· free subscription and online access to the International Journal of Stroke (IJS)
· substantial discount to the registration fees for the World
Stroke Congresses
· Quarterly newsletter with information and updates in the field of stroke
· exclusive eligibility to apply for WSO travel fellowships and awards associated with major
scientific meetings of the WSO
· free access
to webcasted/podcasted congress sessions
· access to the World
Stroke Academy (WSA) – a global resource centre for information about
stroke, and an opportunity for continuing education of healthcare professionals
· inclusion in and access to the online WSO Membership Directory
· right to host World Stroke Congresses and to participate in the
call for bids
· right to vote for, be nominated or elected to the Board of Directors 2012-2016
· membership certificate (upon request).
With
your support the WSO can be your advocate for change in systems worldwide helping
to prevent, acutely treat, and rehabilitate stroke globally.
In
this issue we draw attention to the impending Warfarin wars with a provocative
Leading opinion article by Hans-Christoph Diener1 et al. The analogy
drawn with the Diadoch wars is most appropriate; we are in the fascinating
position of having a change of the therapeutic guard for the first time in 50
years, with a tense struggle among a number of potential successors. We will
all watch with interest and, no doubt to a certain degree participate. The
beneficiaries of course will be people today who will not have a stroke due to
the introduction of these significantly better therapeutic agents.
Interestingly,
Yun-Fang Tsai et al, have provided data to illustrate the
underuse of anticoagulants in patients with AF, particularly to parts of Asia. It
seems likely that the Warfarin wars will result in a reversal of this unfortunate
state of affairs.
Of
course we have other articles of interest as always!
Remember
by supporting the WSO you also support our journal: the accessible voice of
stroke internationally.
