Sunday 24 August 2014 08.04 A new study on autism suggests that it may be possible to treat people who have autism. Autistic people have too many synapses, which are the connectors through which brain cells send and receive signals. The extra synapses in autistic brains are the result not of overproduction, but of a failure in the normal process of discarding old and degraded cells. Researchers at New York's University of Columbia were able to re-establish the brain's "pruning mechanism" in mice genetically modified to simulate autism. To do it, they used a drug called rapamycin to block a protein, mTOR, which in autistic patients goes hyperactive and blocks the brain's natural ability to cull synapses. The researchers saw a reduction in typical autistic behaviours, such as avoiding contact with others, in the treated mice, according to findings published this week in the US journal "Neuron." "We were able to treat the mice after the disease had appeared," said Columbia University neurobiologist David Sulzer, lead author of the study. This is thought to be crucial because autism does not become apparent at birth but later in childhood, "so you need a treatment that works after diagnosis," he said. "If … Continue reading →

Concord Hospital has received the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver-Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for the treatment of stroke patients. Get With The Guidelines Stroke helps hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Concord Hospital earned the award by meeting measures for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include aggressive use of medications and risk-reduction therapies aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients. "Concord Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of stroke care and The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke helps us achieve that goal," said Anne Lesperance, director of emergency services and stroke program coordinator. "With this award, our hospital demonstrates our commitment to ensuring our patients receive care based on internationally-respected clinical guidelines." "We are pleased to recognize Concord Hospital for their commitment and dedication to stroke care," said Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt, national chairman of the Get With The Guidelines steering committee and executive director of … Continue reading →

Health News of Sunday, 24 August 2014 Source: The Chronicle A stroke happens about every 40 seconds. Each year, about 795,000 Americans have a stroke. Do you know the warning signs??If you do have stroke warning signs, this means your brain isnt getting the blood it needs. Damage may be temporary or permanent. For example, you might lose the ability to speak, but recover it with time. You might have partial or complete weakness, for example, in the use of an arm or leg. The important thing is what you do if stroke symptoms happen. The sooner the treatment, the less chance of serious damage to the brain. And this means less chance of permanent disability. Stroke Warning Signs Sometimes symptoms of stroke develop gradually. But if you are having a stroke, you are more likely to have one or more sudden warning signs like these: * Numbness or weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side? * Confusion or trouble understanding other people ?* Trouble speaking? * Trouble seeing with one or both eyes? * Trouble walking or staying balanced or coordinated Original post: The warning signs of stroke … Continue reading →