Public release date: 10-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rachel Seroka 612-928-6129 American Academy of Neurology

MINNEAPOLIS New research reveals that stroke may be affecting people at a younger age. The study is published in the October 10, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"The reasons for this trend could be a rise in risk factors such as diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol," said study author Brett Kissela, MD, MS, with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. "Other factors, such as improved diagnosis through the increased use of MRI imaging may also be contributing. Regardless, the rising trend found in our study is of great concern for public health because strokes in younger people translate to greater lifetime disability."

For the study, researchers looked at occurrences of strokes in people between the ages 20 and 54 in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area during three separate, one year-long periods between July of 1993 and June of 1994, and the calendar years of 1999 and 2005. Only first ever strokes were included in the analysis.

The study found that the average age of people who experienced stroke fell from 71 years in 1993 and 1994 to 69 years in 2005. In addition, the study found that strokes among people under 55 made up a greater percentage of all strokes over time, growing from about 13 percent in 1993-94 to 19 percent in 2005. The stroke rate in young people increased in both African-Americans and Caucasians, from 83 strokes per 100,000 people in 1993-94 in African-Americans to 128 per 100,000 in 2005 and in Caucasians from 26 strokes per 100,000 people in 1993-94 to 48 per 100,000 in 2005.

"The good news is that some of the possible contributing factors to these strokes can be modified with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise," said Kissela. "However, given the increase in stroke among those younger than 55, younger adults should see a doctor regularly to monitor their overall health and risk for stroke and heart disease."

###

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

To learn more about stroke, visit http://www.aan.com/patients.

Here is the original post:
Study: Stroke becoming more common in young people

ScienceDaily (Oct. 10, 2012) New research reveals that stroke may be affecting people at a younger age. The study is published in the October 10, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"The reasons for this trend could be a rise in risk factors such as diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol," said study author Brett Kissela, MD, MS, with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. "Other factors, such as improved diagnosis through the increased use of MRI imaging may also be contributing. Regardless, the rising trend found in our study is of great concern for public health because strokes in younger people translate to greater lifetime disability."

For the study, researchers looked at occurrences of strokes in people between the ages 20 and 54 in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area during three separate, one year-long periods between July of 1993 and June of 1994, and the calendar years of 1999 and 2005. Only first ever strokes were included in the analysis.

The study found that the average age of people who experienced stroke fell from 71 years in 1993 and 1994 to 69 years in 2005. In addition, the study found that strokes among people under 55 made up a greater percentage of all strokes over time, growing from about 13 percent in 1993-94 to 19 percent in 2005. The stroke rate in young people increased in both African-Americans and Caucasians, from 83 strokes per 100,000 people in 1993-94 in African-Americans to 128 per 100,000 in 2005 and in Caucasians from 26 strokes per 100,000 people in 1993-94 to 48 per 100,000 in 2005.

"The good news is that some of the possible contributing factors to these strokes can be modified with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise," said Kissela. "However, given the increase in stroke among those younger than 55, younger adults should see a doctor regularly to monitor their overall health and risk for stroke and heart disease."

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Academy of Neurology (AAN), via Newswise.

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Stroke becoming more common in young people

Use of cannabis extract helps ease painful muscle stiffness among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a large trial published on Tuesday in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

The "Phase III" test -- the final stage in a process to vet a new drug or medical process -- took place among 22 centres in Britain.

Over 12 weeks, 144 patients were given daily tablets of tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the active ingredient in cannabis, and 135 were given a dummy pill, also called a placebo.

Doses were gradually escalated, from 2.5 milligrams to a maximum of 25 mg for two weeks, following top-up doses for the remaining two weeks.

At the end of the study, 29.4 percent of people in the cannabis group said they had experienced relief from muscle spasms, compared to 15.7 percent in the placebo group, according to an 11-point rating.

They also reported improvement in sleep quality. Side effects were nervous system disorders and gut problems, but none was severe.

MS, a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, occurs when the immune system attacks the fatty myelin sheaths that insulate nerve cells.

Painful stiffness in the muscles occurs among up to 90 percent of patients at some time, often leading to poor sleep and impaired mobility.

The trial, led by John Peter Zajicek of Britain's Clinical Neurology Research Group, says standardised doses of cannabis extract can be useful in easing pain and spasms in this disease.

Previous Phase III trials on cannabis and MS have thrown up conflicting results, partly because of the scale by which users report any change in their symptoms, the MUSEC researchers said.

Read this article:
Cannabis eases sclerosis stiffness - study

(Reuters) - Men who love eating tomatoes may have lower odds of suffering a stroke, according to a Finnish study.

Researchers whose results appeared in the journal Neurology found that of the more than 1,000 older men they followed, those with relatively high blood levels of the antioxidant lycopene were less likely to have a stroke over a dozen years.

Lycopene is a chemical that gives a reddish hue to foods like tomatoes, red peppers, watermelon and papaya. For most people, tomatoes and tomato products are by far the biggest source of lycopene in the diet.

Lycopene is a "potent antioxidant," said lead researcher Jouni Karppi, a researcher at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, which means it helps protect body cells from damage that can ultimately lead to disease.

Laboratory research also suggests that lycopene helps fight inflammation and blood clots, and may be better at it than other antioxidants.

But other researchers said the study does not prove that tomatoes alone can cut anyone's stroke risk, noting that there may be other things about men with high lycopene levels that could explain the lower chances of having a stroke.

The study looked at 1,031 men aged 46 to 55 who had their blood levels of lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotene, and vitamins E and A measured.

Over the next 12 years, there were 11 strokes among the one-quarter of men with the highest lycopene levels, compared to 25 among the one-quarter with the lowest levels.

The researchers also accounted for some major factors that affect stroke risk, like smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes - and the high-lycopene group still had a 55 percent lower risk of suffering a stroke.

"Studies like this are interesting, but they have significant limitations," said Larry Goldstein, director of the Duke Stroke Center and a professor at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.

Read the original:
Tomato compound tied to lower stroke risk: study

Editor's Choice Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience Article Date: 08 Oct 2012 - 0:00 PDT

Current ratings for: New Agent May Protect Against Brain Damage After Stroke

At the beginning of their randomized, double-blind trial, the experts had set out to determine whether NA-1 was safe. They then focused their attention on injections of NA-1, and how these injections affected the number and volume of brain legions in stroke patients after surgery.

During the study, the researchers administered 185 patients who had just undergone surgery with either an intravenous infusion of NA-1 or a saline control - 92 of them received the NA-1 drug, while 93 participants were given the placebo. Throughout the following three days, the team performed MRIs on the patients to examine the degree of stroke legions present. To determine the results, the participants were followed-up 30 days later.

They wrote that NA-1 is effective and harmless for humans to use, in spite of two unfavorable occurrences where some of the participants were found to have transient low blood pressure caused by the new medication.

The authors also discovered that NA-1 was capable of lowering brain tissue impairment in the study participants. The patients who received the medication were found to have considerably fewer lesions than those who had been given the saline control. However, lesion volume was similar in the two groups.

Professor Michael Hill, lead author of the study, explained:

Our research, which builds on existing animal studies, suggests that intravenous infusion of NA-1 reduces tissue damage in patients who suffer a small stroke after an operation to repair a brain aneurysm, and further research is now needed to investigate the efficacy of neuroprotection in larger clinical trials."

Kaste said:

However, such drugs should first be assessed in large, well designed and well executed randomised placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trials. Only after such trials will we know whether NA-1 - or one of the other drugs which have shown comparable effects - is the long-awaited holy grail for the treatment of patients with ischaemic stroke. The door is now reopening for new neuroprotection trials in stroke."

More here:
New Agent May Protect Against Brain Damage After Stroke

Public release date: 8-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rachel Seroka rseroka@aan.com 612-928-6129 American Academy of Neurology

MINNEAPOLIS Eating tomatoes and tomato-based foods is associated with a lower risk of stroke, according to new research published in the October 9, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Tomatoes are high in the antioxidant lycopene.

The study found that people with the highest amounts of lycopene in their blood were 55 percent less likely to have a stroke than people with the lowest amounts of lycopene in their blood.

The study involved 1,031 men in Finland between the ages of 46 and 65. The level of lycopene in their blood was tested at the start of the study and they were followed for an average of 12 years. During that time, 67 men had a stroke.

Among the men with the lowest levels of lycopene, 25 of 258 men had a stroke. Among those with the highest levels of lycopene, 11 of 259 men had a stroke. When researchers looked at just strokes due to blood clots, the results were even stronger. Those with the highest levels of lycopene were 59 percent less likely to have a stroke than those with the lowest levels.

"This study adds to the evidence that a diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of stroke," said study author Jouni Karppi, PhD, of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio. "The results support the recommendation that people get more than five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, which would likely lead to a major reduction in the number of strokes worldwide, according to previous research."

The study also looked at blood levels of the antioxidants alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and retinol, but found no association between the blood levels and risk of stroke.

###

The study was supported by Lapland Central Hospital.

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Can eating tomatoes lower the risk of stroke?

October 4, 2012

Connie K. Ho for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Researchers from the American Academy of Neurology recently found that a mothers high blood pressure during pregnancy could impact a childs cognitive skills long into adulthood.

The findings of the study were recently published in the online version of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

High blood pressure and related conditions such as preeclampsia complicate about 10 percent of all pregnancies and can affect a babys environment in the womb, explained the studys author Katri Riknen, a professor at the University of Helsinki in Finland.

Our study suggests that even declines in thinking abilities in old age could have originated during the prenatal period when the majority of the development of brain structure and function occurs.

In the study, the researchers examined medical records from the mothers of 398 men who were born between 1934 and 1944. Along with identifying the mothers blood pressure, the scientists tested the mens thinking abilities at age 20 and again at around 69 years of age. They also compiled data on the participants language and math skills as well as visual and spatial relationships.

The team of investigators discovered that the men whose mothers had high blood pressure scored about 4.36 points lower on the tests than the men whose mothers did not have high blood pressure. At both ages 20 and age 69 these men score lower than their counterparts. Their scores also tended to decline more quickly over time than the men whose mothers did not have high blood pressure.

Maternal hypertensive disorders in pregnancy predict lower cognitive ability and greater cognitive decline up to old age, noted the researchers in an article by the Daily Mail. A propensity to lower cognitive ability and decline up to old age may have prenatal origins.

Furthermore, the researchers studied whether premature birth would impact the findings and found that early birth did not affect the score in the same way. Additionally, the fathers occupation did not appear to influence the participants scores, and the scores did not change for participants whose fathers worked as manual laborers or office workers.

Originally posted here:
High Blood Pressure In Pregnancy May Curb Child’s IQ

A new study suggests that mothers with high blood pressure during pregnancy might have a detrimental effect on their childs IQ. The research was published this week in the American Academy of Neurologys medical journal, Neurology.

The study found that men whose mothers blood pressure was high during pregnancy scored 4.36 points lower on thinking ability tests at age 69 than men whose mothers did not have high blood pressure. Researchers also found that these men scored lower than others at age 20 and had greater declines in their scores over time. This trend was seen most noticeably for math reasoning skills.

High blood pressure and related conditions such as preeclampsia complicate about 10 percent of all pregnancies and can affect a babys environment in the womb, said Dr. Katri Riknen, lead author of the study and professor of psychology at the University of Helsinki. Our study suggests that even declines in thinking abilities in old age could have originated during the prenatal period when the majority of the development of brain structure and function occurs.

The study looked at the medical records of mothers with high blood pressure during pregnancy for 398 men born between 1934 and 1944. The men were tested on their thinking abilities at age 20 and age 69. The tests included measurements of language skills, math reasoning, and visual and spatial relationships.

Researchers isolated other factors and found that premature birth did not affect the mens thinking abilities. Likewise, whether a mans father was a blue-collar or white-collar worker made no difference in his childs thinking abilities.

The rest is here:
High Blood Pressure Pregnancy Linked to Lower Child IQ, Study Finds

A new Mayo Clinic study confirms the use of smartphones medical images to evaluate stroke patients in remote locations through telemedicine. The study, the first to test the effectiveness of smartphone teleradiology applications in a real-world telestroke network, was recently published in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association.

Bart Demaerschalk, M.D., neurologist and medical director of Mayo Clinic Telestroke, shows us how the smartphone technology works:

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CasesBlog/~3/tSGF6AYs3fU/mayo-clinic-uses-smartphone-images-to.html

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9f9zgp/neurobiology_of) has announced the addition of Elsevier Science and Technology's new book "Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Vol 106. Handbook of Clinical Neurology (Series Editors: Aminoff, Boller and Swaab). Vol. 106" to their offering.

This new volume in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology presents a comprehensive review of the fundamental science and clinical treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Advances in neuroscience have allowed for dramatic advances in the understanding of psychiatric disorders and treatment. Brain disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, are the leading cause of disability worldwide. It is estimated that over 25% of the adult population in North America are diagnosed yearly with at least one mental disorder and similar results hold for Europe. Now that neurology and psychiatry agree that all mental disorders are in fact, "brain diseases," this volume provides a foundational introduction to the science defining these disorders and details best practices for psychiatric treatment.

- Provides a comprehensive review of the scientific foundations of psychiatric disorders and psychiatric treatment

- Includes detailed results from genetics, molecular biology, brain imaging, and neuropathological, immunological, epidemiological, metabolic, therapeutic and historical aspects of the major psychiatric disorders

- A "must have" reference and resource for neuroscientists, neurologists, psychiatrists, and clinical psychologists as well as all research scientists investigating disorders of the brain

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9f9zgp/neurobiology_of

Source: Elsevier Science and Technology

The rest is here:
Research and Markets: Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Vol 106. Handbook of Clinical Neurology (Series Editors ...

ScienceDaily (Oct. 3, 2012) New research suggests that a mother's high blood pressure during pregnancy may have an effect on her child's thinking skills all the way into old age. The study is published in the October 3, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"High blood pressure and related conditions such as preeclampsia complicate about 10 percent of all pregnancies and can affect a baby's environment in the womb," said study author Katri Riknen, PhD, with the University of Helsinki in Finland. "Our study suggests that even declines in thinking abilities in old age could have originated during the prenatal period when the majority of the development of brain structure and function occurs."

Researchers looked at medical records for the mother's blood pressure in pregnancy for 398 men who were born between 1934 and 1944. The men's thinking abilities were tested at age 20 and then again at an average age of 69. Tests measured language skills, math reasoning and visual and spatial relationships.

The study found that men whose mothers had high blood pressure while pregnant scored 4.36 points lower on thinking ability tests at age 69 compared to men whose mothers did not have high blood pressure. The group also scored lower at the age of 20 and had a greater decline in their scores over the decades than those whose mothers did not have problems with blood pressure. The finding was strongest for math-related reasoning.

The researchers also looked at whether premature birth affected these findings and found no change. Whether the baby's father was a manual laborer or an office worker also did not change the results.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Academy of Neurology (AAN), via Newswise.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

See original here:
Mom's high blood pressure in pregnancy could affect child's IQ into old age

TUSTIN, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Dr. Ken Snyder, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Radiology and Neurology at State University of NewYork at Buffalo, will discuss how his institution used the AquilionTM ONE from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. to diagnose stroke during a Lunch & Learn Symposium titled Acute Stroke Triage Using Whole Brain CT Perfusion. The presentation will take place Thursday, October 4, at noon ET, at the American Society of Head and Neck Radiologys (ASHNR) annual meeting, October 3 7, in Miami Beach, Fla.

Aquilion ONE acquires whole brain perfusion images, showing dynamic blood flow for better visualization and more accurate diagnoses, said Satrajit Mistra, senior director, CT Business Unit, Toshiba. The systems fast acquisition and whole-brain coverage enable clinicians to develop treatment plans quickly, which is critical in stroke situations.

About Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

With headquarters in Tustin, Calif., Toshiba America Medical Systems (TAMS) markets, sells, distributes and services radiology and cardiovascular systems, including CT, MR, ultrasound, x-ray and vascular equipment, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in the United States. For more information, visit the TAMS website at http://www.medical.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation

Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of medical diagnostic imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray and vascular, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and MRI systems, as well as information systems for medical institutions. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation has been providing medical products for over 80 years. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba.

About Toshiba

Toshiba is a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba Group brings innovation and imagination to a wide range of businesses: digital products, including LCD TVs, notebook PCs, retail solutions and MFPs; electronic devices, including semiconductors, storage products and materials; industrial and social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, smart community solutions, medical systems and escalators & elevators; and home appliances.

Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 550 consolidated companies, with 202,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 6.1 trillion yen (US$74 billion). Visit Toshiba's web site at http://www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.

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Improved Stroke Care with Aquilion ONE Presented at ASHNR

Low levels of vitamin D could be responsible for more severe multiple sclerosis symptoms and an increased risk of death in the elderly, according to the findings of two new studies.

The new studies look into how low levels of vitamin D often referred to as the sunshine vitamin affect health and risk factors for disease.

Published in the Annals of Neurology and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism(JCEM) the research papers suggest that battling deficiencies in elderly populations and people with multiple sclerosis (MS) could help to improve health and quality of life.

MS hope

In the first study, published in Annals of Neurology, researchers from Johns Hopkins University, USA, reveal that low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased number of brain lesions and signs of a more active disease state in people with MS.

However the team, led by Dr Ellen Mowry, caution that more research is needed before across the board mega-doses of vitamin D are recommended for MS patients

"Even though lower levels of vitamin D are associated with more inflammation and lesions in the brain, there is no evidence that taking vitamin D supplements will prevent those symptoms," she says."If we are able to prove that through our currently-enrolling trial, it will change the way people with multiple sclerosis are treated."

The full study can be found by clicking here .

Elderly risk

The second study, published in JCEM, suggests that low levels of the sunshine vitamin in combination with high levels of parathyroid hormone are associated with increased mortality in African American and Caucasian older adults.

Read the original post:
Vitamin D deficiency increases risk in MS and the elderly: Study

Public release date: 3-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rachel Seroka rseroka@aan.com 612-928-6129 American Academy of Neurology

MINNEAPOLIS New research suggests that a mother's high blood pressure during pregnancy may have an effect on her child's thinking skills all the way into old age. The study is published in the October 3, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"High blood pressure and related conditions such as preeclampsia complicate about 10 percent of all pregnancies and can affect a baby's environment in the womb," said study author Katri Riknen, PhD, with the University of Helsinki in Finland. "Our study suggests that even declines in thinking abilities in old age could have originated during the prenatal period when the majority of the development of brain structure and function occurs."

Researchers looked at medical records for the mother's blood pressure in pregnancy for 398 men who were born between 1934 and 1944. The men's thinking abilities were tested at age 20 and then again at an average age of 69. Tests measured language skills, math reasoning and visual and spatial relationships.

The study found that men whose mothers had high blood pressure while pregnant scored 4.36 points lower on thinking ability tests at age 69 compared to men whose mothers did not have high blood pressure. The group also scored lower at the age of 20 and had a greater decline in their scores over the decades than those whose mothers did not have problems with blood pressure. The finding was strongest for math-related reasoning.

The researchers also looked at whether premature birth affected these findings and found no change. Whether the baby's father was a manual laborer or an office worker also did not change the results.

###

The study was supported by the Academy of Finland, European Science Foundation, University of Helsinki, the British Heart Foundation, the Finnish Foundation of Cardiovascular Research, the Finnish Diabetes Research Foundation, the Finnish Medical Society, Gulf Lkaresllskapet, the National Doctoral Program of Psychology, the Pivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, the Juho Vainio Foundation, the Yrj Jahnsson Foundation, the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, the Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation, the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the Finnish Ministry of Education and the Finnish Foundation for Pediatric Research.

To learn more about cognition, visit http://www.aan.com/patients.

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Mom's high blood pressure in pregnancy could affect child's IQ in old age

Audio-Digest Foundation, the largest independent publisher of Continuing Medical Education in the world, is releasing free written summaries of its anesthesiology, emergency medicine, family practice, gastroenterology, general surgery, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, otolaryngology, pediatrics, psychology, and urology programs via Amazon Kindle.

Glendale, CA (PRWEB) October 03, 2012

Anesthesiology Continuing Medical Education: Endocrine Management/Perioperative Heart Failure to improve the management of stress-induced adrenal insufficiency and hyperglycemia, and perioperative heart failure.

Emergency Medicine Continuing Medical Education: Hiv Update to improve the management of HIV-associated conditions and side effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Family Medicine Continuing Medical Education: Critical Care Issues In Older Adults to improve diabetes education and management.

Family Practice Continuing Medical Education: Fyi On Stds to improve management of common gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

Gastroenterology Continuing Medical Education: Gastrointestinal Cancer: Part I to improve the management of celiac disease (CD).

General Surgery Continuing Medical Education: Ethical And Legal Conflicts In Medicine to improve management of bowel injuries, and to review medical and legal issues in the determination of brain death.

Audio-Digest Internal Medicine Continuing Medical Education: Issues In Neurology to improve the management of sleep-disordered breathing and treatment of the patient with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS).

Internal Medicine Continuing Medical Education: Diagnostic Imaging to improve the management of the patient with abnormal liver tests, and the evaluation and treatment of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

View original post here:
With topics like Celiac Disease, Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome, Lung Cancer, and PTSD, Audio-Digest Foundation ...

Audio-Digest Foundation, the largest independent publisher of Continuing Medical Education in the world, is releasing free written summaries of its anesthesiology, emergency medicine, family practice, gastroenterology, general surgery, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, otolaryngology, pediatrics, psychology, and urology programs via Amazon Kindle.

Glendale, CA (PRWEB) October 03, 2012

Anesthesiology Continuing Medical Education: Guidelines For 2010 to improve management of anesthesia through adherence to guidelines and protocols for noncardiac surgery and perioperative care.

Emergency Medicine Continuing Medical Education: Chest Pain to improve the management of chest pain in adults and children.

Family Medicine Continuing Medical Education: Immunization Update: What's New, What's True? to improve management of influenza and infections in older adults.

Family Practice Continuing Medical Education: Family Practice 2009: All Issues to improve screening for and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in primary care settings.

Audio-Digest Gastroenterology Continuing Medical Education: Pediatric Liver Disease to improve the management of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

Audio-Digest General Surgery Continuing Medical Education: General Surgery to improve the surgical management of gastrointestinal cancers.

Audio-Digest Internal Medicine Continuing Medical Education: Gastroenterology Update to improve the management of hypertension (HTN) and to improve the prevention of stroke.

Internal Medicine Continuing Medical Education: Law And Order For The Internist to improve the management and prevention of pressure sores and the treatment of sepsis.

Go here to read the rest:
With topics like Immunization, HIV and STDs, Hypertension, Depression, PNL, and Influenza, Audio-Digest Foundation ...

Public release date: 3-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dawn Peters sciencenewsroom@wiley.com 781-388-8408 Wiley

Researchers in Argentina report that women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who undergo assisted reproduction technology (ART) infertility treatment are at risk for increased disease activity. Study findings published in Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society, suggest reproductive hormones contribute to regulation of immune responses in autoimmune diseases such as MS.

According to a 2006 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), MS affects 2.5 million individuals worldwide and is more common among women than men. While previous research found that up to 20% of couples in Western countries experience infertility, women with MS typically do not have diminished fertility except in those treated with cyclophosphamide or high-dose corticosteroids. Medical evidence shows sex hormones and those involved in ovulation (gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)) play an important role in the development of autoimmune disorders.

"When MS and infertility coincide, patients seek ART to achieve pregnancy," explains Dr. Jorge Correale with the Ral Carrea Institute for Neurological Research in Buenos Aires. "Given the role of some reproductive hormones in autoimmune diseases, those with MS receiving infertility treatments are at particular risk of exacerbating their disease."

To further understand the impact of infertility treatment on MS disease activity, researchers analyzed clinical, radiological, and immune response data in 16 MS patients who were subject to 26 ART cycles. The team recruited 15 healthy volunteers and 15 MS patients in remission not receiving ART to serve as controls.

Results show that 75% of MS patients experienced disease exacerbation following infertility treatment. MS relapses were reported in 58% of the cycles during the three month period following ART treatment. Furthermore, ART was associated with a seven-fold increase in risk of MS exacerbation and a nine-fold increase of greater MS disease activity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The authors noted that 73% of exacerbations were new symptoms and 27% were attributed to a worsening of pre-existing symptoms.

Worsening was associated with three different mechanisms: 1) increase in the production of certain pro-inflammatory molecules known as cytokines (IL-8, IL-12, IFN-, and TGF- by CD4+ T a GnRH-mediated effect); 2) increase in the production of antibodies against de myelin protein MOG, as well as B cell survival factor BAFF and antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-2 levels from purified B cells, these effects were a consequences of the rise of 17- estradiol production induced by ART; and 3) authors demonstrated using an in vitro model of the blood-brain-barrier that ART facilitated the penetration of deleterious peripheral blood cells into the central nervous system, an effect mediated by the induction of the molecules IL-8, VEGF and CXCL-12.

"Our findings indicate a significant increase in MS disease activity following infertility treatment," concludes Dr. Correale. "Neurologists should be aware of possible disease exacerbation so they may discuss the benefits and risks of ART with MS patients."

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More:
Infertility treatments may significantly increase multiple sclerosis activity

02.10.2012 - (idw) Universittsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universitt Mainz

German Research Foundation funds a three-year joint project of the Mainz University Medical Center and the University of Mnster to the tune of about EUR 460,000

The work group "Pain Autonomic Nervous System" headed by Professor Dr. Frank Birklein of the Department of Neurology at the Mainz University Medical Center and the collaborating research team of bioanalyst Professor Dr. Simone Knig of the University of Mnster have been granted funding of approximately EUR 460,000 by the German Research Foundation (DFG) to conduct research into the complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). This syndrome is a posttraumatic pain disorder that some 5 percent of patients develop after an injury, such as a bone fracture. These patients exhibit exacerbated inflammatory reactions in the affected limbs, the symptoms of which include hyperthermia, edema, excessive sweating, and pain on movement. The aim of this three-year joint research project is to study the inflammatory processes in the tissue and thus develop a rapid, targeted, and individually tailored treatment for CRPS.

If, several weeks after suffering an injury or an accident or undergoing surgery to arms or legs, the patient continues to have severe and persistent pain coupled with vegetative symptoms in the affected extremities for which there is no apparent cause, it is often the case that this individual is suffering from what is known as the complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS, also called Sudeck's atrophy). In such cases, the pain does not subside as expected after a relatively minor injury such as bruising or a sprained ankle or following surgery. Instead, the pain becomes more severe and other symptoms develop, such as swelling, temperature changes of the skin, increased hair and nail growth, and restriction of movement and functions. If there are nerves that were damaged by the original injury, the condition is called complex regional pain syndrome type II (CRPS II). It is estimated that about 5,000 to 10,000 patients in Germany are affected annually, among them significantly more women than men. Most patients are in the age range of 40 to 60 years. The mechanisms underlying this disorder are still not understood so treatment is fairly non-specific. The diagnosis can often only be made by the process of elimination. On the other hand, if CRPS is detected at an early stage it can be cured. The earlier treatment begins, the better the chances of recovery. The illness is currently treated by a multimodal treatment approach, which usually involves a combination of drug treatment, physiotherapy, and psychotherapy. During the research project, the researchers at the Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz will be studying how and why the inflammatory processes occur in the tissue in CRPS and in particular why they do not disappear when the wound has physically healed. The researchers of Birklein's work group in the Department of Neurology at the Mainz University Medical Center along with their national and international cooperation partners around the world have published most of the medical articles on the topic of CRPS so far and have already made important progress towards describing and detecting the inflammation associated with CRPS. "If we want to be able to develop targeted individual treatments, we first need to find the answer to the question of 'Why?'. We hope that we will obtain the necessary information in this research project," said Professor Dr. Frank Birklein.

Press Office Barbara Reinke Press and Public Relations University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Langenbeckstr. 1 D 55131 Mainz, GERMANY phone +49 6131 17-7428 fax +49 6131 17-3496 e-mail: pr@unimedizin-mainz.de http://www.unimedizin-mainz.de

About the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz The University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is the only facility of its kind in Rhineland-Palatinate. It consists of more than 60 clinics, institutes, and departments. Research and teaching are inextricably linked with medical treatment. Approximately 3,500 students of medicine and dentistry are trained in Mainz on a continuous basis. More information can be found at http://www.unimedizin-mainz.de/index.php?L=1 function fbs_click() {u=location.href;t=document.title;window.open('http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+encodeURIComponent(u)+'&t='+encodeURIComponent(t),'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=626,height=436');return false;} html .fb_share_link { padding:2px 0 0 20px; height:16px; background:url(http://static.ak.facebook.com/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?6:26981) no-repeat top left; } Share on Facebook

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Mainz University Medical Center searches for treatment for posttraumatic pain syndrome

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