Artery-clearing surgery after stroke should be delayed
Treating stroke is a race against time. To prevent brain damage and save lives, physicians have to diagnose and treat strokes as quickly as possible. Now, a new study suggests doctors can reduce risks by delaying a commonly performed follow-up surgery that clears fatty deposits from an artery in the neck. Shown is senior author Greg Zipfel, MD.
Brain regions ‘tune’ activity to enable attention
The brain appears to synchronize the activity of different brain regions to make it possible for a person to pay attention or concentrate on a task, scientists at the School of Medicine have learned. Pictured is the study’s first author, graduate student researcher Amy Daitch.
Stroke prevention surgery less effective than meds, lifestyle change
The final results of a stroke-prevention study in patients with narrowed brain arteries confirm earlier findings: Medication plus lifestyle changes are safer and more effective for preventing stroke than a surgical technique called stenting. Pictured is a narrowed brain artery kept open with a stent.
Procedure to open blocked carotid arteries tested
Doctors at the School of Medicine are investigating a new minimally invasive procedure to open blocked carotid arteries in patients whose poor health or advanced age makes the traditional open surgery too risky. Pictured are carotid arteries, which feed blood to the brain.
Daydreaming simulated by computer model
Scientists have created a virtual model of the brain that daydreams like humans do. They hope the model will help them understand why
certain portions of the brain work together when a person daydreams or
is mentally idle. Shown is the study’s senior author, Maurizio Corbetta, MD.
Painted turtle gets DNA decoded
Scientists have decoded the genome of the western painted turtle, one of the most abundant turtles on Earth, finding clues to their longevity and ability to survive without oxygen during long winters spent hibernating in ice-covered ponds.
Derdeyn appointed chair-elect of AHA Stroke Council
Colin P. Derdeyn, MD, professor of radiology, of neurological surgery and of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been appointed vice chair and chair-elect of the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Stroke patients benefit from carmaker’s efficiency
A process developed to increase efficiency and
productivity in Japanese car factories has helped improve stroke
treatment at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, report researchers at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Free iPad app offers personalized advice for healthy living
Zuum, a free iPad app, estimates a user’s disease risk and offers a customized plan for living a healthier life.
Computers may help patients restore movement after stroke
New research suggests that patients whose mobility has
been limited by stroke may one day use their imagination and a computer
link to move their hands.
View More Stories