Neurosurgery News and Research

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Integra LifeSciences adds iPASSAGE Retractor for minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation announced today the addition of the iPASSAGE Retractor for Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) of the lumbar spine. The iPASSAGE Retractor is a tissue sparing retraction system that allows the surgeon to make smaller incisions, potentially reducing tissue damage, blood loss and recovery time.

13 Aug 2010

New multidisciplinary approach to glioblastoma multiforme treatment offers extended survival rates

The Hospital Universitario Donostia (at the city of Donostia-San Sebasti-n in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa) has incorporated a new glioblastoma multiforme treatment protocol, which could be the starting point for a more effective treatment of this type of cancer. Doctor Nicol-s Sampr-n, specialist in Neurosurgery at the hospital, has presented his PhD at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) based on the first results of the new treatment method. The work is entitled Glioblastoma multiforme. Analysis of survival and prognostic factors.

13 Aug 2010

New implantable device to prevent sudden cardiac arrest

Northwestern Memorial Hospital heart rhythm specialists recently gave a 34-year-old man a makeshift paramedic—who's always on duty—inside of his chest by implanting a device that did not require X-ray assistance and the usual snaking of wires leading to the heart. In fact, the innovative device rests just beneath the surface of the skin and its components are positioned using the patient's own anatomical landmarks.

13 Aug 2010

Study examines impact of microvascular decompression surgery for type 2 diabetes

A team of Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) physicians led by neurosurgical pioneer Peter Jannetta, MD, has made an important new discovery linking the central nervous system to the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Reporting today in the journal Surgical Neurology International, Dr. Jannetta and his colleagues present evidence from a prospective clinical trial that vascular compression of a section of the brain called the medulla oblongata is a factor in some patients with type 2 diabetes and that microvascular decompression surgery (MVD) may be an effective treatment for the condition.

13 Aug 2010

Integra LifeSciences signs 3-year contract for JARIT surgical instruments with Amerinet GPO

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation announced today that it signed a three-year contract for JARIT® surgical instruments with Amerinet, a leading national healthcare group purchasing organization.

12 Aug 2010

Pulse Therapeutics receives fund to develop novel magnetics technique to destroy blood clots

BioGenerator, a non-profit, seed-stage economic development funding group, today announced that it has led a round of early-stage financing for Pulse Therapeutics, Inc., a St. Louis company headquartered at the Center for Emerging Technologies. Pulse Therapeutics develops innovative magnetism-based technology to safely destroy blood clots related to ischemic stroke and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Other investors who participated in the round were Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), Washington University's Olin School of Business Skandalaris Student Venture Fund, and Integrated Magnetics, of Culver City, California. The funds will be used for further pre-clinical development.

12 Aug 2010

Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute implants two Heartware ventricular assist devices

The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern Memorial Hospital recently implanted a patient with two of the smallest experimental ventricular assist devices (VADs) currently available for study in humans. VADs are designed to assist either the right (RVAD) or left (LVAD) ventricle, or both (BiVAD) at once. This is the first time that two Heartware VADs have been implanted in the left and right ventricles anywhere in North America—a "game changer" in the realm of heart assist devices according to Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, chief of the hospital's division of cardiac surgery and director of the hospital's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.

11 Aug 2010

Elekta receives Surescripts certification for MOSAIQ oncology information system

With health care providers' desire to increase accuracy, lower costs and increase efficiency, e-prescription use in the United States is exploding. Surescripts reports that by the end of 2009, approximately 18 percent of eligible prescriptions were prescribed electronically compared with just 6.6 percent at the end of 2008. And, the number of prescriptions routed electronically jumped from 68 million in 2008 to 191 million in 2009.

From Elekta 7 Aug 2010

Study shows link between fructose and pancreatic cancer proliferation

Pancreatic cancers use the sugar fructose, very common in the Western diet, to activate a key cellular pathway that drives cell division, helping the cancer to grow more quickly, a study by researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found.

4 Aug 2010

Scientists discover single-chain protein to destroy GBM cancer cells

A major breakthrough in how to target and destroy the most malignant and aggressive brain cancer cells has been made by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.Scientists have identified a way to target and destroy Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells without harming healthy cells.

4 Aug 2010

Antisense Pharma receives FDA IND authorisation for clinical studies with trabedersen for high-grade glioma

The biopharmaceutical company Antisense Pharma announced today that the US-American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Investigational New Drug (IND)-authorisation for clinical studies with trabedersen for patients with high-grade glioma. This authorisation entitles the company to include US-American clinics both in the phase III study SAPPHIRE and in further studies.

3 Aug 2010

Particles of iron oxide enhance tumor visibility through MRI

Tiny particles of iron oxide could become tools for simultaneous tumor imaging and treatment, because of their magnetic properties and toxic effects against brain cancer cells. In mice, researchers from Emory University School of Medicine have demonstrated how these particles can deliver antibodies to implanted brain tumors, while enhancing tumor visibility via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

3 Aug 2010

ARO uses Elekta VMAT system for prostate cancer patients

In the expansive region of Australasia—which includes Australia, New Zealand and neighboring islands—Auckland Radiation Oncology Centre is the first to use Elekta VMAT, treating a patient with prostate cancer using a single 100-second arc of radiation. Such rapid treatments change the entire therapy experience for these patients, who have had to remain completely still for seven minutes during radiation delivery for each of 37 to 39 separate treatment sessions or "fractions."

From Elekta 2 Aug 2010

Football, cheerleading-related head and neck injury prevention tips from AANS

With kids going back to school soon and football practice already underway in many communities, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is issuing an injury prevention message about football and cheerleading. "We decided to focus on this topic for Neurosurgery Outreach Month because there needs to be greater awareness about the potentially devastating consequences of head and spinal cord injuries associated with these sports," said Gail L. Rosseau, a Chicago-area neurosurgeon and AANS spokesperson.

31 Jul 2010

Oral contraceptives, HRT may protect women against formation, rupture of brain aneurysms: Study

Results from a new study suggest that oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy may yield additional benefit of protecting against the formation and rupture of brain aneurysms in women. The findings from this first-of-its-kind study by a neurointerventional expert from Rush University Medical Center were presented at the Society of Neurointerventional Surgery 7th annual meeting.

31 Jul 2010

Study shows estrogen stabilization may protect women from brain aneurysms risk

Results from a retrospective, case-control study presented today at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) 7th Annual Meeting could have significant implications for women at risk of brain aneurysms as data shows that oral contraceptives (OC) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may yield the additional benefit of protecting against the formation and/or rupture of brain aneurysms – balloon-like sacks that form in a weakened artery wall and, upon bursting, can cause severe disability or death.

31 Jul 2010

Epigenetic changes to DNA in breast cancers linked with environmental risk factors, tumor size: Study

Researchers from Brown University and the University of California San Francisco have found that epigenetic changes to DNA in breast cancers are related to environmental risk factors and tumor size, providing a window into the severity of the disease. The study is published in today's edition of PLoS Genetics. The researchers found that epigenetic profiles of tumors had a direct association with diet, alcohol, and tumor size.

31 Jul 2010

Michelangelo appears to have hidden image of brainstem, spinal cord in Sistine Chapel's ceiling: Study

Michelangelo, the 16th century master painter and accomplished anatomist, appears to have hidden an image of the brainstem and spinal cord in a depiction of God in the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers reports. These findings by a neurosurgeon and a medical illustrator, published in the May Neurosurgery, may explain long controversial and unusual features of one of the frescoes' figures.

29 Jul 2010

Integra LifeSciences second-quarter GAAP net income increases to $15.2 million

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation today reported its financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2010. Total revenues for the second quarter were $178.6 million, reflecting an increase of $12.9 million, or 8%, over the second quarter of 2009. We present revenues by product category in a table at the end of this press release.

29 Jul 2010

SIR offers five-day course that covers all aspects of acute stroke management

Catheter Lysis of Thromboembolic Stroke -an intensive five-day course offered by the Society of Interventional Radiology Oct. 24-28 in Dallas, Texas-provides interventional radiologists, neurointerventionalists, vascular neurologists and fellows-in-training with the unique educational opportunity to review, observe and discuss all aspects of acute stroke management.

29 Jul 2010

Neurosurgery News and Research

Integra LifeSciences adds iPASSAGE Retractor for minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery

New multidisciplinary approach to glioblastoma multiforme treatment offers extended survival rates

New implantable device to prevent sudden cardiac arrest

Study examines impact of microvascular decompression surgery for type 2 diabetes

Integra LifeSciences signs 3-year contract for JARIT surgical instruments with Amerinet GPO

Pulse Therapeutics receives fund to develop novel magnetics technique to destroy blood clots

Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute implants two Heartware ventricular assist devices

Elekta receives Surescripts certification for MOSAIQ oncology information system

Study shows link between fructose and pancreatic cancer proliferation

Scientists discover single-chain protein to destroy GBM cancer cells

Antisense Pharma receives FDA IND authorisation for clinical studies with trabedersen for high-grade glioma

Particles of iron oxide enhance tumor visibility through MRI

ARO uses Elekta VMAT system for prostate cancer patients

Football, cheerleading-related head and neck injury prevention tips from AANS

Oral contraceptives, HRT may protect women against formation, rupture of brain aneurysms: Study

Study shows estrogen stabilization may protect women from brain aneurysms risk

Epigenetic changes to DNA in breast cancers linked with environmental risk factors, tumor size: Study

Michelangelo appears to have hidden image of brainstem, spinal cord in Sistine Chapel's ceiling: Study

Integra LifeSciences second-quarter GAAP net income increases to $15.2 million

SIR offers five-day course that covers all aspects of acute stroke management

Neuroscience - Second Edition eBook

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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