Monthly Archives: February 2012

Newswise Toronto, February 29, 2012 - Scientists at the Toronto Western Research Institute (TWRI), Krembil Neuroscience Center, have developed a drug that protects the brain against the damaging effects of a stroke in a lab setting. This drug has been in development for a few years. At this point, it has reached the most advanced stage of development among drugs created to reduce the brains vulnerability to stroke damage (termed a neuroprotectant). Over 1000 attempts to develop such drugs by scientists worldwide have failed to be translated to a stage where they can be used in humans, leaving a major unmet need for stroke treatment. The drug developed by the TWRI team is the first to achieve a neuroprotective effect in the complex brain of primates, in settings that simulate those of human strokes. ischemic stroke. The study, Treatment of Stroke with a PSD95 inhibitor in the Gyrencephalic Primate Brain, published online today in Nature, shows how the drug, called a PSD95 inhibitor prevents brain cell death and preserves brain function when administered after a stroke has occurred. We are closer to having a treatment for stroke than we have ever been before, said Dr. Michael Tymianski, TWRI Senior Scientist … Continue reading →

The head of the medical staff at the South Bruce Grey Health Centre said doctors at the Walkerton hospital need more time before deciding on whether they want to set up a proposed specialized stroke treatment centre. A month ago hospital president and chief administrative officer Paul Davies told the board of directors the hospital has the CT scanner and other equipment needed to join the provincial Telestroke system. On Feb. 22 Dr. Andrew Denyer told directors at a meeting in Durham that the doctors at the Walkerton hospital are mulling over the proposal and assessing the risks involved. The same drugs used to treat stroke are used in the treatment of heart attack and there are risks involved. Treating strokes with these blood thinning agents is not entirely without risk. There is a risk of bleeding. So potentially you could make the patient worse. At the same time the benefits to patients are huge, said Dr. Andrew Denyer during the hospital board meeting. A stroke is such a devastating event to happen to anyone and even though people survive them they are so disabled and the quality of life is very poor. So if you can do anything for … Continue reading →

Public release date: 29-Feb-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Nadia Daniell-Colarossi nadia.daniell-colarossi@uhn.on.ca 416-603-5294 University Health Network Toronto, February 29, 2012 - Scientists at the Toronto Western Research Institute (TWRI), Krembil Neuroscience Center, have developed a drug that protects the brain against the damaging effects of a stroke in a lab setting. This drug has been in development for a few years. At this point, it has reached the most advanced stage of development among drugs created to reduce the brain's vulnerability to stroke damage (termed a "neuroprotectant"). Over 1000 attempts to develop such drugs by scientists worldwide have failed to be translated to a stage where they can be used in humans, leaving a major unmet need for stroke treatment. The drug developed by the TWRI team is the first to achieve a neuroprotective effect in the complex brain of primates, in settings that simulate those of human strokes. ischemic stroke. The study, "Treatment of Stroke with a PSD95 inhibitor in the Gyrencephalic Primate Brain", published online today in Nature, shows how the drug, called a "PSD95 inhibitor" prevents brain cell death and preserves brain function when administered after a stroke has occurred. "We are closer to having … Continue reading →

Ochsner Health System this week announced that its neurologists recently completed the 1000th patient consult in a burgeoning stroke treatment program for rural and understaffed hospitals. Ochsner, amulti-hospital enterprise that serves a larger share of the patient base than any of its competitors in the New Orleans region, launched the Acute Stroke System for Emergent Regional Telestroke (ASSERT) program in 2009. The service uses technology to link vascular neurologists at Ochsner Medical Center to other hospitals that do not have vascular neurologists on call when a stroke victim arrives for treatment. ASSERT is intended to improve treatment in the critical hours after a blockage begins in a cerebral artery. Via video, an Ochsner Medical Center specialist can observe a patient, assist in diagnosis and consult on how to proceed with thrombolytic therapy, the administration of drugs intended to break up blockages and resume oxygen flow to brain tissue. Thrombolytic therapy is the most common emergency treatment for ischemic stroke, which occur upon arterial blockages, as opposed to hemorrhagic stroke that occurs when a vessel bleeds into brain tissue. Telemedicine is an expanding enterprise on the American health-care landscape, though Ochsner is the only Louisiana hospital to use the technology for … Continue reading →