Ishida T, Inoue T, Niizuma K, et al. - In stroke patients, researchers examined the plasma transfer RNA (tRNA) derivatives to clarify if tRNA derivatives in the acute phase can identify early brain damage and predict the functional outcome. Between November 2016 and February 2019, patients (75 patients with ischemic and 66 with hemorrhagic stroke) and 22 healthy volunteers were prospectively recruited. In both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients, the plasma tRNA derivative level on admission was significantly higher relative to healthy controls. In addition, the infarction size and hematoma volumes were significantly associated with tRNA derivatives. In patients with ischemic stroke at 7 days after onset, concentrations of tRNA derivatives were associated with poor functional outcome. In patients with ischemic stroke, stress-induced tRNA derivatives can detect brain tissue damage, anticipating functional outcome.