Treatment with clot-busting drug yields better results after stroke than supportive therapy alone – In an update to previous research, Johns Hopkins neurologists say minimally invasive delivery of the drug tPA directly into potentially lethal blood clots in the brain helped more patients function independently a year after suffering an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), a deadly and debilitating form of stroke.
‘Cafeteria diet’ hastens stroke risk — High-sugar, high-salt intake creates ‘a ticking time bomb of health problems’ – The fat- and sugar-rich Western diet leads to a lifetime of health problems, dramatically increasing the risk of stroke or death at a younger age,. Researchers found that a high-calorie, high-sugar, high-sodium diet nicknamed the ‘cafeteria diet’ induced most symptoms of metabolic syndrome ? a combination of high levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and obesity ? in rats after only two months.
Less sleep, disrupted internal 24-hour clock means higher risk of diabetes and obesity – A new study reinforces the finding that too little sleep or sleep patterns that are inconsistent with our body’s “internal biological clock” may lead to increased risk of diabetes and obesity. This finding has been seen in short-term lab studies and when observing human subjects via epidemiological studies.
13.8 Million Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures Performed in 2011 – 5 Percent Increase Leads to Second Consecutive Yearly Gain – In US, the plastic surgery market continues to show significant growth – two years in a row. 13.8 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures (both surgical and minimally-invasive) were performed in the United States in 2011, up 5 percent since 2010. In addition, 5.5 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed last year, up 5 percent.
Magnetic stimulation of brain may help some stroke patients recover – Imagine waking up and being unable to see or recognize anything on the left side of your body. This condition, called hemispatial neglect, is common after a stroke that occurs on the right side of the brain.
‘Motivational’ interviews reduce depression, increase survival after stroke – Researchers revealed that patients who received several sessions of a “motivational interview” early after a stroke had normal mood, fewer instances of depression and greater survival rates at one year compared to patients who received standard stroke care.
Large NIH funded rehabilitation study looks at getting stroke patients back on their feet – In the largest stroke rehabilitation study ever conducted in the United States, stroke patients who had physical therapy at home improved their ability to walk just as well as those who were treated in a training program that requires the use of a body-weight supported treadmill device followed by walking practice.
No pain, big gain — Treatment of chronic low back pain can reverse abnormal brain activity and function – It likely comes as no surprise that low back pain is the most common form of chronic pain among adults. Lesser known is the fact that those with chronic pain also experience cognitive impairments and reduced gray matter in parts of the brain associated with pain processing and the emotional components of pain, like depression and anxiety.
Most blacks report calling a friend, not 911, when facing the symptoms of a stroke – Most African-Americans report calling a friend instead of 911 when faced with the symptoms of a stroke, according to a new study that surveyed those hospitalized for a stroke.
Antidepressants may not improve all symptoms of depression, UT Southwestern researchers find – Even people who show a clear treatment response with antidepressant medications continue to experience symptoms like insomnia, sadness and decreased concentration, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found after analyzing data from the largest study on the treatment of depression.
