Led by Louisiana State University neurologist Dr. Nicolas Bazan, a team of researchers from several institutions has claimed a potential breakthrough in drug treatment to prevent long-term brain damage in those who suffer certain strokes. Bazan directed a study that, using laboratory rats, administered aspirin and an omega-3 essential fatty acid to yield a new protective molecule that can mitigate damage to cells around the area of an ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs when an arterial blockage denies oxygenated blood to parts of the brain, as opposed to hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a vessel bursts inside the brain. The results, Bazan said, portend a “novel approach for pharmaceutical intervention.” Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of newly acquired disability in adulthood. Bazan presented his findings Thursday at the International Stroke Conference, which concludes Friday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The study, which was financed by a National Institutes of Health grant, was designed to analyze benefits of neuroprotective agents — long a focus of Bazan’s career — that can help prevent irreversible damage in the stroke-affected area. There is considerable research interest internationally in neuroprotectors … Continue reading →

THURSDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Greater use of certain types of treatments for kids with sickle cell anemia may explain why black children's risk of ischemic stroke dropped significantly between 1999 and 2007, new research finds. The disparity in stroke-related deaths between black and white children also fell during that period. Prior to 1998, black children were 74 percent more likely to die of ischemic stroke than white children. The racial difference is attributed in part to higher rates of sickle cell anemia, a blood disorder that raises the risk of stroke, among black children, according to the study scheduled to be presented Thursday at the American Stroke Association meeting in New Orleans. Then, in 1998, a major clinical trial found that treatments such as chronic (regularly scheduled) blood transfusions could dramatically lower the risk of stroke among kids with sickle cell anemia who were at high risk of stroke. In the study, researchers reviewed death certificates for U.S. children and young adults under age 20 who died between 1998 and 2007. Between 1999 and 2007, they found risk of ischemic stroke among black children fell significantly, although black children were still 27 percent more likely to have an … Continue reading →

Study Highlights: A new drug, AX200, which produced improvement in an earlier small clinical trial, didn't improve disability among stroke patients when begun within nine hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. Ninety days after treatment, drug and placebo recipients had similar levels of moderate disability. NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new drug that showed promise in animal studies and an early clinical trial didn't improve disability among stroke patients, according to late-breaking research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012. After a stroke and other types of brain damage, the brain naturally produces more granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The protein can prevent further cell injury by protecting nerve cells and boosting blood vessel growth. The new drug, AX200, is a manufactured form of G-CSF. Ninety days after treatment, patients receiving AX200 or a placebo both scored a three on the 0-6 modified Rankin scale, a common test for stroke-related disability. In a secondary analysis, also at day 90, researchers assessed patients with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. The difference between the drug and placebo was less than half a point (8.88 on AX200 vs. 8.45 on placebo), which was … Continue reading →

21-06-2011 13:52 Created on June 21, 2011 by Orlando total training Go here to see the original: Rehab Therapy Conditioning for Ataxia Condition - Video … Continue reading →

Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Genetics Also Included In: Bones / Orthopedics Article Date: 02 Feb 2012 - 10:00 PST email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions   Current Article Ratings: Patient / Public: 5 (1 votes) Healthcare Prof: According to a study published in the online version of the journal The Oncologist, a genetic variation that increases the risk of individuals who take bisphosphonates, developing serious necrotic jaw bone lesions, has been identified by researchers at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. Bisphosphonates are a common class of osteoclastic inhibitors that work by attaching to calcium in the bone and inhibiting osteoclasts, bone cells that disintegrate the bone's mineral structure. The finding opens the door for a genetic screening test to determine which individuals can take these medications safely. At present, approximately 3 million women in the U.S. take oral bisphosphonates for the treatment or prevention of osteoporosis. Furthermore, each year, thousands of cancer patients are given intravenous bisphosphonates to prevent excess calcium (hypercalcemia) from gathering in the blood and to control the spread of bone cancer. Lead researcher of the study, Athanasios I. Zavras, DMD, MS,DMSc, associate professor of Dentistry and Epidemiology and Director … Continue reading →

28-10-2011 17:23 Dr Tristan McKay of the William Harvey Research Institute at Queen Mary University of London presents the current status of stem cell therapies for human disease. He highlights the opportunities and controversies in the field, and sets out the challenges ahead. Hosted on Barts Cancer Institute Channel on behalf of Gene Therapy, Nature Specialist Journal Web links. Barts Cancer Institute: http://www.bci.qmul.ac.uk Gene Therapy, Nature Specialist Journal http://www.nature.com Read more here: BSGT-ESGCT What is Stem Cell Therapy? - Video … Continue reading →

04-01-2012 19:10 A brief lecture about nanomedicine Follow this link: Nanomedicine - YouTube.flv - Video … Continue reading →