ScienceDaily (Aug. 24, 2012) A team of University of Minnesota biomedical engineers and researchers from Mayo Clinic just published a groundbreaking study that outlines how a new type of non-invasive brain scan taken immediately after a seizure gives additional insight into possible causes and treatments for epilepsy patients. The new findings could specifically benefit millions of people who are unable to control their epilepsy with medication. The study's findings include: "This is the first-ever study where new non-invasive methods were used to study patients after a seizure instead of during a seizure," said Bin He, a biomedical engineering professor in the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering and senior author of the study. "It's really a paradigm shift for research in epilepsy." Epilepsy affects nearly 3 million Americans and 50 million people worldwide. While medications and other treatments help many people of all ages who live with epilepsy, about 1 million people in the U.S. and 17 million people worldwide continue to have seizures that can severely limit their lives. The biggest challenge for medical researchers is to locate the part of the brain responsible for the seizures to determine possible treatments. In the past, most research has … Continue reading →

Frontal lobe of the brain is most involved in severe epilepsy. A new type of non-invasive brain scan taken immediately after an epileptic seizure could help develop new treatments for epilepsy. Researchers from the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic claim that a scan taken immediately after an epileptic attack can provide additional information about the causes and treatment of epilepsy. "This is the first-ever study where new non-invasive methods were used to study patients after a seizure instead of during a seizure," said Bin He, a biomedical engineering professor in the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering. "It's really a paradigm shift for research in epilepsy." Nearly three million Americans and 50 million people worldwide are affected by epilepsy. There are several medications and treatments available, but none is completely effective in preventing seizures. Follow us For several decades, medical researchers have been trying to locate the part of the brain responsible for epilepsy to help them develop new treatments. In the past, most research focused on studying patients while they were having a seizure, what is technically known as the "ictal" phase of a seizure. Some of these studies involved invasive methods such as surgery. … Continue reading →

Representatives of the Fire Officers Association of Miami-Dade announce the FOAM-D Stroke Consortium at Florida International Universitys Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. The Fire Officers Association of Miami- Dade (FOAM-D) conducted a press conference on July 26 to announce the collaborative success of an unprecedented FOAM-D Stroke Consortium at Florida International Universitys Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Aiming to deliver the highest quality acute stroke care available and improve recovery outcomes, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Homestead, Key Biscayne, Miami, Miami Beach and Miami-Dade fire rescue departments have joined forces with area hospitals to deploy one of the largest networks for the treatment and transport of stroke victims in the country. According to the Center for Disease Control someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds of the day. This translates into more than 780,000 strokes annually in the United States alone, with someone dying every 3.3 minutes; costing more than $53.9 billion each year for the treatment of stroke victims. It is the fourth leading cause of death and the primary cause of adult disability in the United States. The vision to create a stroke network began in 1999, when only about half of the hospitals in South Florida were performing CT … Continue reading →

On July 26, 2012, the Fire Officers Association of Miami-Dade (FOAM-D) held a press conference to announce the collaborative success of an unprecedented FOAM-D Stroke Consortium at Florida International Universitys Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Aiming to deliver the highest quality acute stroke care available and improve recovery outcomes, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Homestead, Key Biscayne, Miami, Miami Beach and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Departments have joined forces with area hospitals to deploy one of the largest networks for the treatment and transport of stroke victims in the country. According to the Center for Disease Control someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds of the day. This translates into more than 780,000 strokes annually in the United States alone, with someone dying every 3.3 minutes; costing more than 53.9 billion dollars each year for the treatment of stroke victims. It is the fourth leading cause of death and the primary cause of adult disability in the United States. The vision to create a stroke network began in 1999, when only about half of the hospitals in South Florida were performing CT scans on a 24-7 basis. The scans are necessary to administer the clot-dissolving drug TPA (tissue plasminogen activator). To expedite treatment, … Continue reading →