ScienceDaily (July 23, 2012) New research conducted by neuroscientists from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) published in Nature Medicine has identified a new gene involved in epilepsy and could potentially provide a new treatment option for patients with epilepsy. The research focussed on a new class of gene called a 'microRNA' which controls protein production inside cells. The research looked in detail at one particular microRNA called 'microRNA-134' and found that levels of microRNA-134 are much higher in the part of the brain that causes seizures in patients with epilepsy. By using a new type of drug-like molecule called an antagomir which locks onto the 'microRNA-134' and removes it from the brain cell, the researchers found they could prevent epileptic seizures from occurring. Professor David Henshall, Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, RCSI and senior author on the paper said 'We have been looking to find what goes wrong inside brain cells to trigger epilepsy. Our research has discovered a completely new gene linked to epilepsy and it shows how we can target this gene using drug-like molecules to reduce the brain's susceptibility to seizures and the frequency in which they occur." Dr Eva Jimenez-Mateos, Department of … Continue reading →

BACKGROUND: A stroke is like a brain attack; it occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either happens, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and more than 140,000 people in the US die each year from stroke. It is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. (Source: National Stroke Association, the Stroke Center.org) TYPES: TREATMENT: Tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), or alteplase, is a clot-buster drug that dissolves the blood clot causing the stroke. There is a narrow window of opportunity to use this drug, so the earlier that it is given, the better the result and the less potential for bleeding into the brain. Aspirin or anticoagulants like heparin are also used. Rehabilitation is also used to restore strength to the patient and get them used to their post-stroke lifestyle. (Source: MedicineNet.com) NEW TECHNOLOGY: Solitaire FR Revascularization Device is a mechanical thrombectomy device combining the ability to restore blood flow, administer medical therapy, and retrieve clot in patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke. It mechanically breaks … Continue reading →

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Society of NeuroInterventional Surgerys (SNIS) 9th Annual Meeting in San Diego announced today notable trial results that show scientific advancement in predicting which patients suffering from ischemic stroke will benefit from endovascular therapy--a technique that accomplishes treatment through clot-busting drugs or devices delivered through the arteries directly to the problem area in the brain. The Stroke Treatment and Revascularization Therapy (START) trial, sponsored by Penumbra, Inc., is one of the first prospective, core-lab adjudicated, multicenter studies to show a correlation between an image of the patients brain before treatment and their recovery after clot aspiration. Specifically, the study evaluated information from a brain scan about the amount of tissue affected by a stroke prior to treatment, and showed that it can be used to predict outcomes in patients undergoing endovascular care with the Penumbra System, an aspiration thrombectomy device used to remove clots from large vessels of the brain. Currently, there is no standard imaging technique to suggest which patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke should receive endovascular therapy. The CAT Scan (CT) remains the most widely used modality for stroke evaluation, but is primarily used to rule out bleeding. Changes on a non-contrast CT as … Continue reading →