<International Circulation>: International Stroke Conference 2010 is a great opportunity to learn and share. What do you think some of the focus should or will be at ISC 2010?

Prof. Greenberg: Often the themes do not emerge until after the full meeting. One of the highlight presentations will occur today， which is the presentation of the results from the CREST Trial. I believe this is the largest trial comparing carotid artery stent placement to carotid endartectomy in patients with disease of the carotid artery. The study reflects both systematic and asymptomatic patients. The trial used the most up-to-date techniques and highest level of training among the participants， so it is thought to be the best test of truly state-of-the-art stent placement versus endartectomy. Also， there is a major symposium on when anticoagulation should be used for individuals with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that gives rise to a large number of strokes caused by blood clots coming from the heart. There is new data showing that the likelihood of people to have strokes from atrial fibrillation is being reduced， probably because of better treatment of hypertension and other conditions. The other development in that area is the appearance of new medications for anticoagulation that may turn out to be safer than warfarin， which is the most common anticoagulant medicine in the US.