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Potential medical and social barriers to resective epilepsy surgery in patients after initial evaluation

Epilepsy surgery is safe, effective and often curative in selected candidates. Although candidates for epilepsy surgery in the United States are estimated between 100,000 and 200,000, fewer than 5,000 such surgeries are conducted each year. The cause of this disparity is multi-factorial, including an unexplained low level of referrals by physicians and choices made by patients themselves.

5 Dec 2011

Hypothalamus may be involved in generating laughter

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the hypothalamus, a structure lying deep within the brain may be involved in generating laughter. Gelastic epilepsy, a rare condition characterized by laughing seizures, is commonly the result of a congenital brain lesion within the hypothalamus.

5 Dec 2011

U-M scientists generate Dravet-derived neurons

Scientists investigating the fundamental cause of Dravet syndrome, a severe childhood epilepsy, have reprogrammed fibroblasts, a type of skin cell, from Dravet patients and generated patient-specific neurons.

5 Dec 2011

Bromide shows promise against SCN1A-associated Dravet syndrome with intractable seizures

In the mid-nineteenth century Charles Locock, physician to Queen Victoria, introduced bromide as the first effective treatment for epilepsy. The drug was little used in treating the disorder until 1868, however, when its efficacy against seizures was first demonstrated in a clinical trial. Bromide was the sole anticonvulsant available until 1912 and the introduction of phenobarbital.

5 Dec 2011

Two-thirds of women with catamenial epilepsy have diagnosis of partial epilepsy, study finds

In women of childbearing age with epilepsy, seizure exacerbation may occur either at the time of menstruation or ovulation. Investigators in a specialized epilepsy center have analyzed the data on a group of patients with seizures associated with their menstrual cycles (catamenial seizures) for type of epilepsy, seizure frequency, response to medication, neuroimaging findings, and seizures during pregnancy.

3 Dec 2011

Progesterone can benefit women with catamenial seizures: Study

Seizures in women of childbearing age commonly show patterns of exacerbation that involve hormones as a factor. Investigators today reported the favorable outcome of a multicenter randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial of progesterone therapy in reducing these perimenstrually exacerbated (catamenial) seizures.

3 Dec 2011

First Edition: December 2, 2011

In today's headlines, reports on congressional efforts to extend a payroll tax break and other work Congress must do before the end of the year -- including the Medicare doc fix.

2 Dec 2011

Treatments for lymphoma with no side effects

Larry Conrad went in for his annual physical on his 50th birthday. During his exam, his doctor found swollen lymph nodes in his armpits and groin. Conrad had a cough and said he'd lost weight because he 'felt full all the time'. His doctor ordered a series of tests, and Conrad was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the most common type.

2 Dec 2011

Corning acquires Mediatech

Great Point Partners today announced that Great Point Partners I portfolio company, Mediatech, Inc., was acquired by Corning Incorporated in an all-cash transaction. Mediatech is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Corning and will be integrated into Corning's Life Science segment.

2 Dec 2011

Yale researchers monitor growth of laboratory-engineered blood vessels after implantation

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nanoparticle technology, researchers from Yale have devised a way to monitor the growth of laboratory-engineered blood vessels after they have been implanted in patients. This advance represents an important step toward ensuring that blood vessels, and possibly other tissues engineered from a patient's own biological material, are taking hold and working as expected.

1 Dec 2011

Study reveals classification scheme for treatment of blunt aortic injury

New research at the University of Washington's (UW) Harborview Medical Center in Seattle reveals a classification scheme for the treatment of blunt aortic injury.

1 Dec 2011

Alzheimer's disease affects women more than men

Many women suffer memory loss and/or confusion at some point in their lives, but as many as 5 million Americans suffer from a much more serious disease, Alzheimer's. According to statistics from the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in older people. Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disease; it is irreversible and causes a decline in memory and cognitive skills.

1 Dec 2011

Toshiba announces new functional-based clinical applications

Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. announces new functional-based clinical applications - Dual Energy and Myocardial Perfusion (both works-in-progress), as well as Body Perfusion - for its Aquilion CT systems.

1 Dec 2011

Coronary CTA reveals different heart attack risk scenarios for men and women

Findings on coronary CT angiography (CTA), a noninvasive test to assess the coronary arteries for blockages, show different risk scenarios for men and women, according to a study presented today at the Radiological Society of North America.

30 Nov 2011

Researchers create bone-like material and structure for orthopedic procedures

It looks like bone. It feels like bone. For the most part, it acts like bone. And it came off an inkjet printer. Washington State University researchers have used a 3D printer to create a bone-like material and structure that can be used in orthopedic procedures, dental work, and to deliver medicine for treating osteoporosis. Paired with actual bone, it acts as a scaffold for new bone to grow on and ultimately dissolves with no apparent ill effects.

30 Nov 2011

IVC filter study reinforces SIR's guidelines surrounding retrieval or permanent placement

Researchers have published the largest single patient population study to date on a method for following patients with retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters-devices used to keep blood clots from traveling to the lungs.

29 Nov 2011

Toshiba introduces Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction 3D technology at RSNA 2011

To make today's CT examinations even safer, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc., unveils next generation dose reduction technology, Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction 3D, at this year's Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago.

29 Nov 2011

Growth hormone replacement increases bone formation in abdominally obese women

In a new study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), growth hormone replacement for six months was found to increase bone formation in abdominally obese women.

29 Nov 2011

Siemens debuts single-source CT scanner, SOMATOM Definition Edge at RSNA 2011

At the 97th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), from November 27 to December 2 in Chicago, Siemens Healthcare (Booth #822, East Building/Lakeside Center at McCormick Place, Hall D) is unveiling the SOMATOM® Definition Edge – the first single-source CT to use Siemens recently developed Stellar Detector.

From Siemens Healthineers 29 Nov 2011

GE Healthcare announces additional $300M investment in low-dose technologies

Demonstrating its continued commitment to patient care, GE Healthcare announced an additional $300 million investment in low-dose technologies and unveiled an array of radiation-dose management offerings today at RSNA 2011.

28 Nov 2011