Stroke News and Research

RSS

A stroke is a medical emergency. Strokes happen when blood flow to your brain stops. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. There are two kinds of stroke. The more common kind, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other kind, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain. "Mini-strokes" or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted.

Pathway Genomics' personal Genetic Health Report now available

Pathway Genomics Inc., a U.S. based genetic testing company, announced the immediate availability of its personal Genetic Health Report. This customized and innovative personal genetic health report contains information on more than 70 health conditions, including pharmacogenetics (prescription medication response), propensity for complex disease, and carrier status (pre-pregnancy health).

17 Mar 2010

Primary results of CABG sub-analysis presented at ACC meeting

AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) today announced results of a new analysis of the PLATO (A Study of PLATelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes) study which showed there were fewer deaths in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who took the investigational oral antiplatelet ticagrelor (BRILINTA™/BRILIQUE™) within seven days prior to having heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, CABG) compared to those who took clopidogrel.

17 Mar 2010

New clinical guidelines: Early diagnosis and treatment of TAD can save lives

When actor John Ritter died suddenly in 2003 from a tear in his thoracic aorta-the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body-that tragedy brought attention to a rare but deadly condition that takes the lives of an estimated 10,000 Americans each year.

17 Mar 2010

Antidepressants effective against depression in patients suffering from physical illnesses

Antidepressants are effective against depression in patients suffering from physical illnesses, according to a new systematic review by Cochrane researchers at King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre in the UK. The researchers found the drugs were more effective than placebos at treating depression in these patients.

17 Mar 2010

Shaking hands with robotic arm could help stroke patients learn to use arms again

Shaking hands with a robotic arm could be a new way to help stroke patients learn to use their arms again. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation report a pilot trial of the 'Braccio di Ferro' (Iron arm) robot in 10 patients.

16 Mar 2010

Mortality in CAD patients: Key predictor identified

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) hospitalizes more than 160,000 Canadians every year, and almost one quarter of those patients die from this common form of heart disease. But now a team of Vancouver-based researchers has identified a key predictor of mortality in CAD patients, which means that specialists can better determine how to treat and improve outcomes for patients with CAD.

16 Mar 2010

Lipitor 80 mg may help reduce risk of major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients

Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) 80 mg was associated with a significantly reduced risk of major cardiovascular events compared with Lipitor 10 mg among patients with both coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) who were obese or had metabolic syndrome. These data, from two sub-analyses of the Treating to New Targets (TNT) trial that were designed and completed following the completion of TNT, were presented today at the 59th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in Atlanta, Ga.

16 Mar 2010

Study suggests HuR gene plays a critical role in inducing cells' inflammatory response

To understand the role of inflammation in cardiovascular and other diseases, it is essential to identify and characterize genes that induce an inflammatory response in the body -- and the genes that regulate them.

16 Mar 2010

Vitamin D supplements might do more harm than good for African-American patients

Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "go-to" remedy for treating a wide range of illnesses, from osteoporosis to atherosclerosis. However, new evidence from a Wake Forest University School of Medicine study suggests that supplementing vitamin D in those with low levels may have different effects based on patient race and, in black individuals, the supplement could actually do harm.

16 Mar 2010

RE-LY study: Dabigatran etexilate shows greater reductions in stroke compared to warfarin

Data presented today at the 59th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology have shown greater reductions in stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for dabigatran etexilate compared to the current standard of care, warfarin, irrespective of a patient’s risk profile for stroke.

16 Mar 2010

Tips for reducing LDL cholesterol

Cardiovascular disease is the No.1 killer in North America. And high cholesterol is one of the primary risk factors of coronary heart disease and stroke. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, almost 40% of Canadian adults are classified as having high blood cholesterol levels.

16 Mar 2010

Concurrent use of proton-pump inhibitor and clopidogrel does not elevate cardiovascular risk

Heart patients who took a stomach acid-suppressing proton-pump inhibitor along with clopidogrel - a drug that prevents blood clots - were only half as likely to be hospitalized for upper digestive tract bleeding than those who used clopidogrel alone, according to a new study supported by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health.

16 Mar 2010

New cerebral protection device prevents stroke during treatment to clear blocked carotid arteries

An important interventional radiology advancement-the use of a new cerebral protection device in combination with FDA-approved carotid stents in high-surgical-risk patients-provides a minimally invasive, safe and effective way to prevent stroke from occurring during treatment to clear blocked carotid arteries, according to research released at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 35th Annual Scientific Meeting in Tampa, Fla.

16 Mar 2010

Drug-eluting stents offer new hope to patients with critical limb ischemia

In the United States, more than 100,000 amputations are performed each year on individuals with critical limb ischemia, the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The number one priority in treating these patients is to re-establish blood flow to avoid limb amputation.

16 Mar 2010

EXPLORE-Xa study: Betrixaban reduces CRNM bleeds compared to dose-adjusted warfarin

Portola Pharmaceuticals and Merck today announced the results of EXPLORE-Xa, a Phase 2 exploratory, dose finding study of betrixaban, an investigational oral direct Factor Xa inhibitor. Results showed that a once-daily dose of oral betrixaban, given to patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter and at least one risk factor for stroke, reduced the incidence of major and clinically relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeds compared to dose-adjusted warfarin.

16 Mar 2010

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group report 15.5% sequential growth in fourth quarter revenues

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, a leading pharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of branded generic and proprietary pharmaceuticals in China, today reported unaudited financial results for the quarter and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

16 Mar 2010

High ABI may indicate risk for future heart attacks

The prevalence of abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) test results among individuals tested for peripheral arterial disease (PAD)—and who are not considered at high risk of a coronary heart event by Framingham-based risk factors—is high and provides another way to identify those who may be at risk for future heart attacks, say researchers at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 35th Annual Scientific Meeting in Tampa, Fla.

15 Mar 2010

Medtronic announces positive STOP AF clinical trial data at 59th American College of Cardiology session

Medtronic, Inc. today announced data from the STOP AF (Sustained Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation) clinical trial during late-breaking sessions at the 59th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta. The data showed superiority over anti-arrhythmic drugs, with 69.9 percent of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) treated with the Arctic Front® Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System remaining free of atrial fibrillation (AF) one year after cryoablation, compared to 7.3 percent on drug therapy.

15 Mar 2010

CytRx plans five Phase 2 clinical trials with oncology drug candidates

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, today reported financial results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, and affirmed its 2010 milestones of commencing up to five Phase 2 clinical trials with its oncology drug candidates.

15 Mar 2010

Valsartan delays progression to type 2 diabetes in IGT patients: NAVIGATOR study

Results from a landmark study involving more than 9,000 people showed that the high blood pressure medicine valsartan delayed progression to type 2 diabetes in patients with cardiovascular disease or risk factors and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a common pre-diabetic condition.

15 Mar 2010

Stroke News and Research

Further Reading

Pathway Genomics' personal Genetic Health Report now available

Primary results of CABG sub-analysis presented at ACC meeting

New clinical guidelines: Early diagnosis and treatment of TAD can save lives

Antidepressants effective against depression in patients suffering from physical illnesses

Shaking hands with robotic arm could help stroke patients learn to use arms again

Mortality in CAD patients: Key predictor identified

Lipitor 80 mg may help reduce risk of major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients

Study suggests HuR gene plays a critical role in inducing cells' inflammatory response

Vitamin D supplements might do more harm than good for African-American patients

RE-LY study: Dabigatran etexilate shows greater reductions in stroke compared to warfarin

Tips for reducing LDL cholesterol

Concurrent use of proton-pump inhibitor and clopidogrel does not elevate cardiovascular risk

New cerebral protection device prevents stroke during treatment to clear blocked carotid arteries

Drug-eluting stents offer new hope to patients with critical limb ischemia

EXPLORE-Xa study: Betrixaban reduces CRNM bleeds compared to dose-adjusted warfarin

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group report 15.5% sequential growth in fourth quarter revenues

High ABI may indicate risk for future heart attacks

Medtronic announces positive STOP AF clinical trial data at 59th American College of Cardiology session

CytRx plans five Phase 2 clinical trials with oncology drug candidates

Valsartan delays progression to type 2 diabetes in IGT patients: NAVIGATOR study

The Critical Role of Sample Storage in Drug Discovery and Development

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

Latest News