Stroke News and Research

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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.

Potential drug therapy for Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome

Researchers have identified a potential drug therapy for a premature ageing disease that affects children causing them to age up to eight times as fast as the usual rate.

2 Nov 2011

Non-invasive rtACS treatment can reduce partial blindness

It has long been thought that blindness after brain lesions is irreversible and that damage to the optic nerves leads to permanent impairments in everyday activities such as reading, driving, and spatial orientation. A new study published in Elsevier's Brain Stimulation suggests that treating such patients with low levels of non-invasive, repetitive, transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS) for 10 days significantly reduces visual impairment and markedly improves vision-related quality of life.

1 Nov 2011

AAN names 30 neurologists to attend Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum

The American Academy of Neurology has named 30 neurologists from around the world to attend the esteemed Donald M. Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum, January 12-15, 2012, in Austin, Texas.

1 Nov 2011

Dementia people with stroke more likely to become disabled and not return home

New research shows people with dementia who have a stroke are more likely to become disabled and not return home compared to people who didn't have dementia at the time they had a stroke.

1 Nov 2011

Aspirin may reduce risk of bowel cancer by half: Study

According to a new study published in The Lancet, a regular dose of aspirin may not only stave off heart disease but also cut the risk of developing hereditary cancer in half.

31 Oct 2011

Avanir seeks EMA marketing authorization for NUEDEXTA to treat pseudobulbar affect

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has submitted an application to the European Medicines Agency seeking marketing authorization for NUEDEXTA (dextromethorphan HBr and quinidine sulfate) for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect.

31 Oct 2011

Scientists discover how toxic form of htt protein causes Huntington's symptoms

Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered how a form of the protein linked to Huntington's disease influences the timing and severity of its symptoms, offering new avenues for treating not only this disease, but also a variety of similar conditions.

31 Oct 2011

Medtronic’s atrial fibrillation device fails to impress safety panel

The US health advisers rejected a Medtronic Inc. device for treating atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder that is a major cause of stroke, citing risks to safety. The panel voted 8-2 that risks of device outweigh benefits of the Medtronic Cardiac Ablation System especially given the high number of strokes among patients who got the device during clinical trials.

From Medtronic 30 Oct 2011

Occlutech announces favorable ruling in patent litigation with St Jude-AGA Medical

Occlutech, a leading European developer of septum occluders such as PFO and ASD devices as well as other innovative, minimally invasive cardiac implants, today announced that it got a favorable ruling in patent litigation with St Jude-AGA Medical from the District Court of Milan in Italy.

29 Oct 2011

Spherix closes private placement transaction

Spherix Incorporated – an innovator in biotechnology for therapy in diabetes, metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis, and providers of technical and regulatory consulting services to food, supplement, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies – today announced the closing of previously announced agreements to sell $1.25 million of shares of its common stock together with warrants to purchase additional shares of its common stock in a private placement transaction.

29 Oct 2011

Three economic indicators linked with high risk of stroke

People living in poor countries or countries that spend proportionately less on health-care are about 30 per cent more likely to have a stroke, a new study shows.

28 Oct 2011

Special hospital team reduces cumulated risk of stroke in TIA patients

28 Oct 2011

ACR supports Diagnostic Imaging Services Protection Act

The American College of Radiology supports the Diagnostic Imaging Services Protection Act (H.R. 3269), which would prohibit any multiple procedure payment reduction to the "professional component" of CT, MRI and ultrasound exams received by the same patient, on the same day, in the same setting in 2012.

28 Oct 2011

NCI awards UAB $2.3M brain-tumor SPORE grant

The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and the UAB Division of Neurosurgery have been awarded a prestigious SPORE, or Specialized Program of Research Excellence, grant from the National Cancer Institute for $2.3 million over three years to conduct research and develop new therapies to treat brain tumors.

28 Oct 2011

Fasudil drug shows promise against cerebral cavernous malformation

A drug treatment has been proven to prevent lesions from cerebral cavernous malformation — a brain blood vessel abnormality that can cause bleeding, epilepsy and stroke — for the first time in a new study.

28 Oct 2011

Special team care reduces cumulated stroke risk after transient ischaemic attacks

Patients who had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), sometimes referred to as a "mini stroke", were much less likely to experience further vascular events in the first year if their care was co-ordinated by a special hospital team. That is the key finding from a study published in the November issue of the European Journal of Neurology.

28 Oct 2011

Million Hearts' goal to prevent a million heart attacks and strokes in five years

In the time needed to read out loud the headline on this story, someone has died from a stroke. Every 6 seconds, someone in the world dies from stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in support of World Stroke Day, Oct. 29, 2011, asks Americans to take immediate action to reduce their risk for stroke.

28 Oct 2011

Apnex Medical's HGNS System receives CE Mark approval for treatment of OSA

Apnex Medical, Inc., has received CE Mark approval for its Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation System for use by people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

28 Oct 2011

Religion/spirituality may help buffer negative consequences of chronic health conditions

Individuals who practice religion and spirituality report better physical and mental health than those who do not. To better understand this relationship and how spirituality/religion can be used for coping with significant health issues, University of Missouri researchers are examining what aspects of religion are most beneficial and for what populations.

27 Oct 2011

Medtronic initiates Symplicity System clinical study in treatment-resistant hypertension

Medtronic Inc. announced today the start of SYMPLICITY HTN-3, the company's U.S. clinical trial of the Symplicity Renal Denervation System for treatment-resistant hypertension.

From Medtronic 27 Oct 2011