By Elira Ben-Avari, Correspondent August 9, 2012 Lake EMS clinical training officer Scott Temple. (Lake EMS / Aug 09, 2012) MOUNT DORA For the past three years Lake County's emergency medical service has provided a revolutionary way to more quickly assess stroke patients to dramatically increase survival rates. Dr. Paul Banerjee, Lake EMS medical director, and clinical training officer Scott Temple were invited to present the agency's effective and advanced diagnostic stroke protocols at a recent stroke conference in Chicago. Lake EMS was the only emergency medical service in the nation invited to present a session at the conference. "The Lake EMS system has revolutionized the pre-hospital care of severe, acute stroke patients in order to diagnose and accurately triage them to the most appropriate facility for definitive care," Banerjee said. Banerjee, who has worked in emergency medicine for more than 14 years, is a nationally recognized speaker presenting innovative programs and protocols such as induced hypothermia and cardiac-arrest care at conferences and medical directors' meetings. He is slated as a presenter at the upcoming EMS World Expo in New Orleans. Also, Banerjee recently was named EMS Medical Director of the Year by the state Department of Health's Bureau of … Continue reading →

ScienceDaily (Aug. 7, 2012) A new way to study the role of a critical neurotransmitter in disorders such as epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol addiction has been developed by a group of scientists led by Gong Chen, an associate professor of biology at Penn State University. The new method involves molecularly engineering a model synapse -- a structure through which a nerve cell send signals to another cell. This model synapse can precisely control a variety of receptors for the neurotransmitter called GABA, which is important in brain chemistry. The research, which will be published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry on 10 August 2012, opens the door to the possibility of creating safer and more-efficient drugs that target GABA receptors and that cause fewer side effects. Neurotransmitters -- chemicals sent by nerves to trigger other cells to change their electrical responses -- interact with special receptors located on the cell's outer membrane. These receptors form inside the cell, and then are transported to different locations on the membrane to await the arrival of neurotransmitters. Chen explained that understanding how these receptors work and how they move to various locations on a cell's membrane is a critical step … Continue reading →

DESPERATE Scousewives star Amanda Harrington today thanked the medics who helped save her nans life after she suffered a severe stroke. Amanda, 30, also encouraged people to make sure they are aware of the symptoms after Margaret Baldwin received treatment in the Stroke Unit at Aintree University Hospital. The former ECHO columnist said: I knew a little bit about strokes after seeing ads on telly, but I didnt realise just how quickly you needed to respond to the symptoms. My grandad Tony was quick thinking. This is the first stroke in our family, so its not something weve dealt with before. I was shocked when I read about what can happen if you dont get the treatment straight away. Mrs Baldwin, 75, was at home in Aintree when she collapsed on to the floor, causing a nearby lamp to fall down. The stroke was caused by an irregular heartbeat. Model Amanda said: When my grandad heard the noise he rushed downstairs and found my nan on the floor. Her face had dropped, so he knew shed had a stroke and he called an ambulance. It was this quick thinking that helped ensure Mrs Baldwin received life-saving thrombolysis treatment at Aintree … Continue reading →

Public release date: 8-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Mika Ono mikaono@scripps.edu 858-784-2052 Scripps Research Institute LA JOLLA, CA, August 8, 2012 Clinical trials start this week for a stroke drug initially created by a team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and the University of Southern California (USC), and further developed by biotech company ZZ Biotech. The clinical trials will test the safety in humans of the experimental drug 3K3A-APC, which has been shown in animal models to reduce brain damage and improve motor skills after stroke when given in conjunction with a federally approved clot-busting therapy. "I am incredibly excited about the potential for translating our science into a therapy that could have a significant impact on society," said Scripps Research Institute Professor John Griffin, who collaborated on the scientific work with Professor Berislav V. Zlokovic, director of the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "Stroke and its aftereffects are a huge problem in this country." Kent Pryor, chief operating officer of ZZ Biotech, said, "We are very pleased to have received approval from The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) to initiate our first human study … Continue reading →