Monday

Botox Injections Ease Post-Stroke Spasticity

MORE - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today

Saturday

Underprivileged at Greater Risk of Heart Disease

MORE - Forbes.com: "Manual laborers and people who live in low-income areas are less likely than more affluent people to receive cholesterol and blood-pressure-lowering treatment to prevent heart disease."

Friday

VIDEOS: "DR. ROBERT SPETZLER INTERVIEWS"...4 TALES OF NEUROSURGERY (produced by The MD Health Channel)

Robert F. Spetzler M.D.
Director, Barrow Neurological Institute
J.N. Harber Chairman of Neurological Surgery
Professor Section of Neurosurgery University of Arizona



TALES OF NEUROSURGERY:

A pregnant mother..a baby..faith of a husband.. .plus... Cardiac Standstill: cooling the patient to 15 degrees Centigrade!

Lou Grubb Anurism

The young Heros - kids who are confronted with significant medical problems!

2 Patients...confronted with enormous decisions before their surgery...wrote these books to help others!

A 1 MINUTE PIANO CONCERT BY DR. SPETZLERA sample of the theme music that he performs for our 2 new documentaries: "Lou Grubb - Survivor & Hero of Charity" and "Heros of the SSBTR Walkathon"

Guidant Recalls 170,000 Pacemakers

CLICK TO READ

Lipitor Approved for Stroke Prevention

CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today

Thursday

Air pollution tied to increased risk of strokes

MORE | Reuters.com

Stem Cell Therapy International Announces the Successful Treatment of Stroke Victim Who Received Stem Cell Transplantation Therapy

MORE: "As a result of the transplantation of stem cells into his body, Mr. McBride can now lift and bend his left leg and can move his left arm, as well as grip the side of the bed or someone's hand with his left hand and was able to sit up on his own. Something he was unable to do since he suffered the stroke. This therapy is similar
to the process of organ transplantation, only the treatment consists of the
transplantation of stem cells into the body rather than entire organs, thus
eliminating any chance of rejection or the need for expensive and
potentially dangerous immunosuppression drug therapy. These new techniques
are being applied to finding a cure for a wide range of human disorders,
including neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Disease,
ALS, (also commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease), leukemia, muscular
dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, spinal cord injuries, brain
injury, stroke, heart disease, liver and retinal disease, diabetes as well
as certain types of cancer and can be used to alleviate the side effects of
chemotherapy."

Study: Brisk walking as good as jogging for heart

Study: MORE: "The study, which indicates roughly two to three hours of mild exercise a week at a moderate intensity can significantly cut the risk of cardiovascular disease, supports earlier research."

Wednesday

Muscle Tissue of the Obese Stores Excess Fat, Study Says

InteliHealth:MORE: "Excess fat storage in muscle tissue is a hallmark of obesity, and may contribute to problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease."SPEPOEMV

Little Blue Pill May Put Brakes on Some Heart Disease - CME Teaching Brief - Johns Hopkins

MORE: "Writing in the Oct. 25 issue of the journal Circulation, investigators at Johns Hopkins here say they've shown for the first time that Viagra has an effect on the human heart."

Tuesday

STUDY: Heartless Bosses Create Coronary-Prone Workers - CME Teaching Brief

CLICK TO READ

Sunday

BOOKS: "THE HEALING BLADE:A TALE OF NEUROSURGERY

REVIEW: From Publishers Weekly
In a splendid, often riveting account of high-tech procedures and personalities at the forefront of modern brain surgery, Sylvester ( Target: Cancer ) takes readers into the famed Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix, Ariz. There a staff of elite surgeons, led by director Robert Spetzler and equipped with the latest image-scanning machines and measuring techniques, pushes the frontiers of neurosurgery. The author's precise prose and apt imagery bare the interaction between staff members and patients linked by this exact and problematic surgery, illuminating the NASA-like preparation and teamwork involved in such procedures as hypothermic arrest, when the patient's blood is first chilled and then drained from his body for up to an hour. Focussing on Spetzler and the demands of his work, Sylvester offers an immediate, thorough and lucid chronicle.

REVIEW: Tara Todtenbier (Scottsdal) Former patient of of Dr. Spetzler and Barrow, 8/20/02
"This book gives a compelling and realistic look into Barrow Neurological Institute and its leader, Dr. Robert Spetzler. And I should know.
I was on Dr. Spetzler's operating room table less than two years ago and am yet another of his miracles.

Anyone considering any kind of neurological surgery should read this book before doing anything."

Friday

VIDEO: "LOU GRUBB INTERVIEWS"....produced by MD Health Channel

LOU GRUBB GIVES ADVICE TO FELLOW SURVIVORS OF ANEURISMS

"DR. SPETZLER SAVED MY LIFE, I WANT TO GIVE SOME BACK."

Investigational Diabetes Drug Linked to Increased Risk of Death, Strokes and Heart Attacks

Cleveland Clinic researchers said today that the use of the investigational diabetes drug Pargluva (muraglitazar) doubles the risk of death, heart attack and stroke, and they have asked the FDA to delay approval of the drug.MORE

Tuesday

VIDEO: New Drug-Eluting Stent Stumbles on Primary Endpoint Yet Maintains Momentum

In a large U.S. study of an investigational third-generation drug-eluting coronary-artery stent, called Endeavor, the device failed to meet its primary endpoint, an angiographic surrogate marker. But the investigators were not all frowns. The clinical results were as good as those seen in patients treated with Cypher, the Rapamycin (sirolimus)-eluting stent that changed the world of interventional cardiology when it was approved in 2003, researchers said today....Click to watch video... - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today

Monday

VIDEO: Mending Your Aching Heart: A Closer Look at Heart Treatments

• Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: New Technology, New Cures
• Surgical Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease
• New Techniques in Valve Surgery
• Question and Answer Period
...Click to watch video or listen to audio from The Cleveland Clinic

FREE 40 PAGES: Aging Hearts and Arteries: A Scientific Quest

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is pleased to introduce its newest publication, Aging Hearts and Arteries: A Scientific Quest. This 64-page booklet offers an inside look at the latest cardiac research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Using easy-to-understand diagrams and illustrations of the heart, Aging Hearts and Arteries discusses the link between aging and cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease and high blood pressure. These illnesses eventually lead to heart attacks and heart failure, and cause more than 40 percent of deaths of older people every year.

Research is providing us with greater understanding of the intimate relationship between aging and heart health. As we gain insight, we gain greater ability to fight heart disease and lead longer, healthier lives. Use this booklet both as a scientific introduction to the biological processes involved in aging and its effects on the cardiac system, and as your first steps toward a healthier heart.

Topics in Aging Hearts and Arteries: A Scientific Quest include:

• anatomy and history of the heart
• characteristics and effects of aging on the normal heart
• clues about when a good heart goes bad
• arteries and their relationship with the heart
• exercise, diet, and metabolism and their connection with better heart health
• what lies ahead for cardiac research

CLICK - National Institute on Aging

Sunday

NEWS & TIPS IN SPANISH....A New Service from The MD Health Channel:

NOTICIAS DE SALUD

EN ESPAÑOL...HAZ CLIC AQUI PARA MAS...

Saturday

Heredity plays big role in heart disease risk factors

"Heredity plays a major role in determining the blood lipid profile and heart rate variability of blacks and whites, two major risk factors for coronary artery disease, researchers say.

'There are some interesting ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk factors, including the fact that blacks tend to have higher HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and lower triglycerides, which is an advantage, and we suspect it is due to genetic influences,' says Dr. Catherine L. Davis, clinical health psychologist at the Medical College of Georgia.

Coronary artery disease rates in the United States are similar or lower in blacks yet blacks have higher mortality rates. "

Friday

VIDEO....New technology helps detect heart disease

CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO ON: News First Online
: "Doctors are making huge strides in preventing and treating heart disease. It's the most common cause of death for Americans.
Cardiologists typically use stress tests with a treadmill and a heart monitor to detect problems. Results are about 85% accurate. Surgical procedures are more accurate, but also more dangerous.
However, A CT coronary angiography gives local doctors quality pictures from outside the body."

Fat Linked to Inflammation, Heart Disease

Researchers have discovered that human fat cells produce a protein that causes inflammation leading to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a new study.

The good news is that production of the protein can be blocked by aspirin and statins, drugs commonly used to treat heart disease, according to the study%u2019s research team from M. D. Anderson and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.MORE The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Thursday

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE
American Heart Association

EN ESPANOL: AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

CLICK

VIDEO: Go Red for Women

"I never knew my father’s mother. She died of heart disease when he was 12 years old. My father had quadruple bypass surgery a few years ago so when the American Heart Association asked me to be the Honorary Chairperson for their Go Red for Women campaign I couldn't refuse.
When I started learning about heart disease a few years ago I was surprised that it is the number one killer of women. That's astounding when you consider how little we typically hear about heart disease in women. Heart disease and stroke kill nearly 500,000 women a year. That is nearly twice as many as all forms of cancer.

Over the last couple of weeks I have had the opportunity to learn more about new technology being developed and used in Southern Arizona to diagnose and treat heart disease. From scanners that give an amazingly detailed look inside the body to developments that could make artificial hearts permanently implantable.

I invite you to take a few minutes to learn about the newest technology and also hear stories from women who have survived heart disease and stoke.

Simply click here to see how these survivors show heart disease can strike at any age

Most importantly, the best way to fight heart disease is prevention. The American Heart Association has a wonderful website full of lifesaving information for you and your family.

This cause is close to my heart and I hope it helps you and your family.

Sincerely,
Kris Pickel

Wednesday

Repairing damaged hearts

An experimental treatment for heart attack victims uses stem cell injections to heal the injured muscle. If successful, the therapy could be used in ER

PEOPLE who survive heart attacks rarely return to perfect health %u2014 and most suffer permanent damage. During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood, causing oxygen-deprived heart muscle cells to die. This weakens the heart and causes scarring. The remaining heart muscle cells must then work harder pumping blood to compensate, leading to an often deadly condition known as congestive heart failure.

Currently there's no way to repair injured cardiac tissue, but experimental therapies using adult stem cells may one day be able to help rejuvenate ailing hearts and halt progressive heart failure, allowing disabled cardiac patients to resume normal living and potentially saving thousands of lives. "This is a very hot area in cardiology research and could revolutionize the way we treat people with heart attacks," says Dr. Robb MacLellan, a cardiologist researching stem cells at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. "But at the moment, there are still a lot of unknowns.".... MORE- Los Angeles Times

Tuesday

Treadmill Training Helps with Stroke Rehab

MedlinePlus: "A rehabilitation program incorporating treadmill exercise is more effective than standard rehabilitation for improving aerobic fitness and mobility in patients who've experienced a stroke in the last few years, a new study shows.



Current rehabilitation strategies generally are limited to efforts to improve daily function and basic mobility, and stroke patients often are discharged 'with no recourse beyond generic advice to stay active and continue stretching,' Dr. Richard F. Macko of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and colleagues note in the medical journal Stroke.



Macko and his team conducted the current study to determine if treadmill exercise would help patients relearn motor skills and boost cardiovascular fitness. While treadmill training has been proposed as a means to help rehabilitate stroke patients, there is currently no clinical evidence that it is effective, they point out.



The researchers randomly assigned 61 adults to 6 months of progressive treadmill aerobic training (T-AEX) three times a week or a comparison program of low-intensity walking plus stretching. All patients had walking problems for at least 6 months after their stroke. On average, the patients had experienced their stroke 3 years before the study began.



Twenty-five patients completed the T-AEX program and 20 completed the comparison program. Patients in the treadmill-training group showed a 17 percent improvement in cardiovascular fitness, compared with 3 percent for patients in the comparison program.



A 30-percent improvement on 6-minute walks was seen with treadmill training, compared with 11 percent for the other patients. Treadmill-trained patients improved 56 percent on mobility compared with 12 percent for the comparison group.



The researchers conclude: 'Further studies are needed to determine whether task-oriented exercise can improve long-term functional independence and cardiovascular health in chronic stroke.'"

Eyes a window to likelihood of stroke.

Researchers have discovered a simple, non-invasive diagnostic tool using the eyes to determine whether people have a higher risk of suffering a stroke.

The study found that people aged over 50 with tiny lesions on the back of the retina were two to three times more likely to have a stroke.MORE.... ABC News Online

Stroke treatment a step closer after trial

A potential new treatment for stroke has taken a major step forward following promising results from the first clinical trial. Researchers at The University of Manchester have shown in laboratory studies that a naturally occurring protein called IL-1ra protects brain cells from injury and death.

The team, led by Professor Nancy Rothwell and Dr Pippa Tyrrell, have now reported the results of the first small trial of IL-1ra in patients, which are published in the Journal of Neurology and Neuropsychiatry.

“The study was designed to test if IL-1ra is safe in stroke patients and showed promising results,” said Professor Rothwell, a world-renowned neuroscientist based in the University’s Faculty of Life Sciences.

“The trial was a definite step in the right direction and may lead to a full trial to test its effectiveness next year.”
Stroke treatment a step closer after trial

THE NEW BARROW PATIENT TOWER

"St. Joseph's is constructing a new patient care tower which will expand the hospital's capacity by 25 percent and allow us to meet the healthcare needs of our growing community."

On March 19, 2006, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center will celebrate its 111th anniversary by dedicating the new Barrow Patient Care Tower. The 430,000-square-foot building is currently under construction on the southwest corner of Third Avenue and Earll Drive. When completed, it will house:

• 144 new patient beds (all of which will be devoted to acute or intensive care)
• 48 new emergency beds
• Six trauma bays
• 11 operating rooms
• Three MRIs (one surgical)

When the new tower opens, St. Joseph's will have approximately 724 patient beds, making it the largest hospital in Arizona.The new building is part of a $203-million expansion and improvement project that also includes renovating a portion of the hospital's existing 1.6 million square feet of patient-care space.

St. Joseph's will expand its Research labs and its Neuro-Rehabilitation Department, increasing the number of Neuro-Rehab beds from 38 to 53. This project is expected to be completed in spring 2006.
MORE

Monday

VIDEO: Link Exists Between Depression and Heart Disease

KSBI-TV - Home: "Depression can strike anyone. However, research over the past two decades has shown that people with heart disease are more likely to suffer from depression than otherwise healthy people. Up to 65 percent of patients who have had a heart attack report symptoms of depression, whereas 32 percent of patients were found to be depressed after bypass surgery.

Depression and anxiety disorders may affect heart rhythms, increase blood pressure and alter blood clotting. It can also lead to elevated insulin and cholesterol levels.
"

Many Minor Strokes Can Be Serious or Even Fatal

Be aware that in patients who arrive within three hours of onset of symptoms of ischemic stroke, rapid clinical improvement may predict subsequent neurologic worsening.

Consider whether symptoms of continuing neurologic deficits such as gait impairment suggestive of hemiparesis, cognitive impairment and ataxia, although apparently mild, waMORE- CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today

Physicians Urged to Help Stop Kids From Eating Their Way to Heart Disease

Inform patients that cardiovascular disease prevention can begin in childhood, with heart-healthy eating habits and with daily exercise the norm to helping children reduce their risks of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Be aware these guidelines provide dietary recommendations for children beginning from age birth up to adolescence, broken down by age group.

Recognize that this consensus statement also includes guidelines on the diagnosis of hypertension and dyslipidemia for children.MORE - MedPage Today

Saturday

Diabetes drug may protect against heart disease

WTNH.com - MOREA commonly used diabetes drug may also go a long way in helping protect against heart disease and stroke.

People with diabetes who take the drug pioglitazone to help control their blood sugar get the added benefit of a lower risk of death.

The drug, sold under the name Actos, was also found to reduce patients risk of having a serious medical event including heart attack and stroke.

Patients who benefited in the study had Type 2 diabetes and were at high risk for these types of medical complications. There was however a greater risk for heart failure - though not deaths from heart failure.

Friday

Health News Article

Patients who've already undergone angioplasty to open a blocked heart vessel and have to have a repeat angioplasty are at increased risk for problems such as death or heart attack, researchers report in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Because patients with a prior angioplasty are often excluded from clinical trials, little information is available on the long-term outcome of repeat angioplasty, senior researcher Dr. Sheldon Goldberg of Hahnemann University, Philadelphia and colleagues note.MORE | Reuters.co.uk

NSAIDs Lower Odds for Oral Cancer but Boost Heart Disease Risk

Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) shows promise in preventing mouth cancer in former and current smokers but may pose a heart risk, according to a Norwegian study in this week's issue of The Lancet. MORE- Forbes.com

Heart patients 'keep on smoking'....Fewer than half of smokers give up after a life-threatening heart problem, researchers have found.

'Unbelievable' findings

Overall, 2,244 (40%) of the patients were smokers before their illness.

Virtually all had been advised to stop smoking, but just 48% had done so.

Younger patients were less likely to quit.

Those with angina were less likely to stop than heart attack patients, which researchers said could be because of a lack of awareness of their risk.

However, both groups have the same mortality risk








BBC NEWS ...MORE'

Tuesday

Heart Attack Death Rate Higher in December

"People hospitalized with a heart attack are more likely to die in December, and it's not because their treatment is inferior, investigators report.

The incidence of heart attacks is higher in winter months, and so is the mortality rate from these attacks, Dr. Trip J. Meine and others note in their report in the Annals of Internal Medicine. They theorized that the cause is decreased use of proven treatments during the December holiday season.

To test this possibility, Meine, at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, and his colleagues looked into the care and outcomes of 127,959 Medicare beneficiaries who suffered a heart attack -- 14,492 during December.

December admissions were significantly less likely to receive aspirin at admission (77.5 percent versus 78.9 percent) and to undergo angioplasty (14.2 percent versus 16.1 percent). Otherwise, treatment was the same in all groups.

Once the researchers factored in the characteristics of the patients, physicians and hospitals, there remained no significant difference between groups in the treatment they were given.

However, the mortality rates were higher among December admissions (21.7 percent versus 20.1 percent).

"Our findings highlight the need for further research into the mechanism of increased mortality in patients hospitalized in December," Meine's group concludes, "while ensuring continued emphasis on standardized care during holiday seasons for patients with acute MI."MedlinePlus

Monday

Tips to Help Prevent Strokes

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the No. 1 cause of disability in this country. And, by far, the most significant risk factor that can be controlled in preventing strokes is high blood pressure.

The National Stroke Association tells us by lowering blood pressure below 140 / 90, the risk of stroke can be reduced by 42 percent.

High cholesterol is another risk factor capable of being controlled. Cholesterol level can be improved with medications called statins. Within five years of beginning use of a statin drug, the risk of stroke and mini-strokes has been shown to be reduced by 32 percent.

Heart rhythm, too, needs to be evaluated. A disturbance of that rhythm, called atrial fibrillation, is a major risk factor for stroke. The odds of getting a stroke increase dramatically if such a condition is not treated with one or more medications.

Clot-prevention medicine (known as antiplatelets) may also be employed since all strokes begin as a clot somewhere in the body. The most common of these medicines is aspirin.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that eating a healthy diet goes a long way to preventing a stroke. The study recommended the usual cast of characters: eating more fruits and vegetables, cutting salt intake, lowering calories, eating fish, taking a multivitamin (with folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12) and avoiding foods with saturated fats and trans-fats.

No one recommends anyone start drinking alcohol. However, for light-to-moderate drinkers, alcohol has been shown to have a protective effect against stroke. Two drinks a day for a man and one for a woman is the suggested limit.

Exercise at a moderately intense level is also recommended. Studies have consistently shown a lowering of risk for stroke in both men and women by as much as 20 percent.

And, of course, the most nonsensical habit on the planet _ smoking _ must be stoppedMORE

Drug-Coated Stents Better for Diabetics...Fewer problems develop than with older bare stents, study finds

Drug-coated stents are better for diabetic patients than the older bare metal tubes inserted to keep blood flowing after the artery-opening procedure called angioplasty, Spanish cardiologists report.

The finding is no great surprise, since a number of studies in the United States and other countries have shown the advantage of drug-eluting stents. But the result is important because "overall, the outcomes of diabetic patients after angioplasty are poorer than those of nondiabetics," said study author Dr. Manel Sabate, a consultant in cardiology at San Carlos University Hospital in Madrid. His report appears in the Oct. 4 issue of Circulation.HealthDay

Saturday

Tips to help prevent strokes

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the No. 1 cause of disability in this country. And, by far, the most significant risk factor that can be controlled in preventing strokes is high blood pressure.

The National Stroke Association tells us by lowering blood pressure below 140 / 90, the risk of stroke can be reduced by 42 percent.

High cholesterol is another risk factor capable of being controlled. Cholesterol level can be improved with medications called statins. Within five years of beginning use of a statin drug, the risk of stroke and mini-strokes has been shown to be reduced by 32 percent.

Heart rhythm, too, needs to be evaluated. A disturbance of that rhythm, called atrial fibrillation, is a major risk factor for stroke. The odds of getting a stroke increase dramatically if such a condition is not treated with one or more medications.

Clot-prevention medicine (known as antiplatelets) may also be employed since all strokes begin as a clot somewhere in the body. The most common of these medicines is aspirin.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that eating a healthy diet goes a long way to preventing a stroke. The study recommended the usual cast of characters: eating more fruits and vegetables, cutting salt intake, lowering calories, eating fish, taking a multivitamin (with folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12) and avoiding foods with saturated fats and trans-fats.

No one recommends anyone start drinking alcohol. However, for light-to-moderate drinkers, alcohol has been shown to have a protective effect against stroke. Two drinks a day for a man and one for a woman is the suggested limit.

Exercise at a moderately intense level is also recommended. Studies have consistently shown a lowering of risk for stroke in both men and women by as much as 20 percent.

And, of course, the most nonsensical habit on the planet - smoking - must be stopped immediately. I am an ex-smoker. I know first-hand how hard it is to quit. And I can tell you the exact date, time and place that I quit. It's the single best thing I or any other smoker can do to increase the odds of avoiding a stroke and a host of other medical conditions.

KSHB: News