Health News

Sleep apnea common among stroke-related brainstem injuries

Date: Feb-12-2014
Stroke damage to the brainstem is associated with the presence and severity of sleep apnea.People whose brainstems are affected by their stroke have a significantly higher prevalence of sleep apnea than those who have stroke-related injury elsewhere in the brain, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2014.Sleep apnea is marked by interrupted breathing during sleep and can lead to serious health problems including heart disease and stroke.

Study examines use of teledermatology for inpatient dermatology consultations

Date: Feb-12-2014
Teledermatology (remote delivery of dermatology consultations) can help triage patients and make inpatient dermatology consultations at the hospital more efficient, according to a study published by JAMA Dermatology, a JAMA Network publication. Many hospitals do not have inpatient dermatology consultation services. Teledermatology may help dermatologists outside the hospital determine how quickly they need to consult on a hospitalized patient, according to the study background. John S. Barbieri, B.A.

Common infections linked to stroke in children; vaccines may reduce risk

Date: Feb-12-2014
Common infections are associated with a significantly higher chance of stroke in children, but routine vaccinations may help decrease risk, according to preliminary research (abstract 39) presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2014."The protective association of routine vaccination against childhood stroke provides a widely available means of prevention, and this information can easily be dispersed by pediatric healthcare providers," said Nancy Hills, Ph.D., M.B.A.

More awareness, fast response key to combatting stroke in children

Date: Feb-12-2014
Parents and healthcare professionals must be aware that children can have strokes and be prepared to respond to symptoms, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2014.As in adults, warning signs of stroke in children are: sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg; sudden difficulty in speaking; sudden problems in seeing; sudden difficulty walking; dizziness; or sudden onset of headache.Researchers interviewed 28 parents whose child had a stroke about factors that contributed to delayed arrival to the hospital.

Are stroke deaths linked to changes in the weather?

Date: Feb-12-2014
New research presented at the American Stroke Association's recent International Stroke Conference suggests that the rates of hospitalization and death from stroke correspond to the rise and fall of environmental temperature and dew point.Stoke is the fourth highest cause of death in the US, causing about 1 in every 18 deaths. According to the American Stroke Association, about $73.7 billion is spent on stroke-related medical costs in the US each year."Weather is not something people would typically associate with stroke risk," admits study author Judith H.

Phone device that 'sends' smells could help treat Alzheimer's

Date: Feb-12-2014
We are all familiar with "scratch-and-sniff" products. They have been around since the 1970s - mainly in the form of stickers. But these products are yesterday's news. Researchers have now created a device that could allow us to "text-and-sniff." It is called the oPhone.Created by David Edwards and colleagues at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Massachusetts, the oPhone enables odors - labeled "oNotes" - to be sent via email, tweet or text to other oPhones using bluetooth and smartphone attachments.

Fewer HPV vaccine doses still protect against genital warts in girls

Date: Feb-12-2014
Although the main purpose of the human papillomavirus vaccine is to protect girls from cervical cancer, genital warts caused by certain types of the virus is also prevented by the vaccine. Now, researchers have found that fewer doses of the vaccine still results in risk reduction of genital warts.Outcomes of the latest study, which researchers say is the first to report a link between human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and genital warts by vaccine dose level, were recently published in JAMA.

Cocaine may increase stroke risk within 24 hours of use

Date: Feb-12-2014
Cocaine greatly increases ischemic stroke risk in young adults within 24 hours of use, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2014.Ischemic strokes occur when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain becomes blocked, preventing a continuous supply of blood to the brain."We set out to understand what factors contribute to stroke risk in young adults," said Yu-Ching Cheng, Ph.D.

EU rules stop children with cancer benefiting from new drugs

Date: Feb-12-2014
Leading cancer experts are calling for a change in the European Union regulations on children's cancer drug trials. They argue that the current system denies children new, potentially life-saving drugs.The UK's Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) says if the rules were changed, children would have access to drugs that are currently only being tested in adults.

Statins may have use against killer virus

Date: Feb-12-2014
New research suggests cholesterol-busting statins may be effective in fighting the mysterious hantavirus, which can cause a potentially fatal respiratory syndrome.Microbiologists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) have found that in order to gain entry into host cells, the virus hijacks proteins that help regulate cholesterol, and statins could be a way to stop it being able to do that.They report their findings in the open access journal PLOS Pathogens.