Mar. 26, 2013 ? Stroke patients are three times more likely to receive clot-busting medication if treated at a certified stroke center, according to a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency treatment for people who have ischemic (clot-caused) stroke. The durg can reduce stroke disability.
"The stroke center concept has rapidly taken off, and this data demonstrates one way that certified centers are doing better than non-certified centers," said Michael T. Mullen, M.D., the study's lead author and an assistant professor of neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
The researchers examined hospital discharge data on 323,228 ischemic stroke patients from 26 states in 2004-09.
The clot-buster was administered to:
3.1 percent of patients overall;
6.7 percent of patients at primary stroke centers certified by the Joint Commission; and
2.2 percent of patients at other facilities.
After researchers adjusted for patient and facility characteristics, they found the likelihood of receiving tPA was still almost twice as high in certified stroke centers.
Over time, tPA use increased from 6 percent to 7.6 percent at certified primary stroke centers and 1.4 percent to 3.3 percent at non-certified hospitals.
During a stroke, blood flow must be restored quickly and tPA can only be administered in the first few hours after symptoms start.
"Between 10 percent to 15 percent of patients arriving at the hospital with ischemic strokes are eligible to receive tPA," said Eric Smith, M.D., chair of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines?-Stroke quality improvement program and an associate professor of neurology at the University of Calgary. "This research shows that the certification program seems to be working, and that treatment is improving over time. Unlike the improvement in the percentage of patients receiving tPA, we haven't seen comparable improvements in the speed at which patients are evaluated and treated, and that is a major factor in determining outcome."
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Target: Stroke program helps hospitals treat 50 percent or more of patients within the first hour after they arrive.
In conjunction with The Joint Commission, the association also offers certification to facilities that meet criteria as Comprehensive Stroke Centers.
"We need more complete systems of care to make sure patients are getting to the best facility to treat their stroke -- and getting there as quickly as possible," Smith said.
At the first sign of a stroke, call 9-1-1 to get to the facility that provides appropriate treatment. The American Stroke Association has more information and tools, including a new mobile app, that can help you recognize and respond to stroke symptoms.
Co-authors are Scott Kasner, M.D.; Michael Kallan, M.S.; Dawn Kleindorfer, M.D.; Karen Albright, D.O., M.P.H.; and Brendan Carr, M.D., M.S. Author disclosures are on the manuscript.
The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, National Institutes of Health, funded the research.
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Virtual games help the blind navigate unknown territoryPublic release date: 27-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Rachel Greene press@jove.com 617-250-8451 The Journal of Visualized Experiments
On March 27thJoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments) will publish a new video article by Dr. Lotfi Merabet showing how researchers in the Department of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School have developed a virtual gaming environment to help blind individuals improve navigation skills and develop a cognitive spatial map of unfamiliar buildings and public locations.
For the blind, finding your way or navigating in a place that is unfamiliar presents a real challenge, Dr. Merabet explains. "As people with sight, we can capture sensory information through our eyes about our surroundings. For the blind that is a real challenge the blind will typically use auditory and tactile cues."
The technique utilizes computer generated layouts of public buildings and spatial sensory feedback to synthesize a virtual world that mimics a real world navigation task. In the game, participants must find jewels and carry them out of the building, without being intercepted by roaming monsters that steal the jewels and hide them elsewhere. Participants interface with the virtual building by using a keyboard and wearing headphones that play auditory cues that help spatially orient them to the world around them. This interaction helps users generate an accurate mental layout of the mimicked building. Dr. Merabet and his colleagues are also exploring applications of this technology with other user interfaces, like a Wii Remote or joystick.
"We have developed software called ABES, the Audio Based Environment Simulator that represents the actual physical environment of the Carol Center for the Blind in Newton Massachusetts. The participants will use the game metaphor to get a sense of the whole building through open discovery, allowing people to learn room layouts more naturally than if they were just following directions."
The technology will invariably be useful for the 285 million blind people world-wide, 6 million of which live in the United States. It will also have applications beyond the blind community for individuals with other visual impairments, cognitive deficits, or those recovering from brain injuries.
Dr. Merabet considers publication in JoVE's video format especially helpful. "It is conceptually difficult for a sighted person to understand 'a video game for blind people.' What JoVE allows us to do is break down layouts of the game and strategy, show how the auditory cues can be used and how we quantify performance going from the virtual game to the physical world."
About JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments:
JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments, is the first and only PubMed/MEDLINE-indexed, peer-reviewed journal devoted to publishing scientific research in a video format. Using an international network of videographers, JoVE films and edits videos of researchers performing new experimental techniques at top universities, allowing students and scientists to learn them much more quickly. As of March 2013, JoVE has published video-protocols from an international community of nearly 6,000 authors in the fields of biology, medicine, chemistry, and physics.
URL: http://www.jove.com
To link to this release, please use this link: http://www.jove.com/about/press-releases/55/new-early-warning-system-for-brain-development-babies-published-video
Contact: Rachel Greene
Marketing Director
The Journal of Visualized Experiments p. 617-250-8451
e. press@jove.com
Press Access
We offer complimentary access to verified press contacts. If you are interested in being on our press list, please create an account and send an email request to press@jove.com.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Virtual games help the blind navigate unknown territoryPublic release date: 27-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Rachel Greene press@jove.com 617-250-8451 The Journal of Visualized Experiments
On March 27thJoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments) will publish a new video article by Dr. Lotfi Merabet showing how researchers in the Department of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School have developed a virtual gaming environment to help blind individuals improve navigation skills and develop a cognitive spatial map of unfamiliar buildings and public locations.
For the blind, finding your way or navigating in a place that is unfamiliar presents a real challenge, Dr. Merabet explains. "As people with sight, we can capture sensory information through our eyes about our surroundings. For the blind that is a real challenge the blind will typically use auditory and tactile cues."
The technique utilizes computer generated layouts of public buildings and spatial sensory feedback to synthesize a virtual world that mimics a real world navigation task. In the game, participants must find jewels and carry them out of the building, without being intercepted by roaming monsters that steal the jewels and hide them elsewhere. Participants interface with the virtual building by using a keyboard and wearing headphones that play auditory cues that help spatially orient them to the world around them. This interaction helps users generate an accurate mental layout of the mimicked building. Dr. Merabet and his colleagues are also exploring applications of this technology with other user interfaces, like a Wii Remote or joystick.
"We have developed software called ABES, the Audio Based Environment Simulator that represents the actual physical environment of the Carol Center for the Blind in Newton Massachusetts. The participants will use the game metaphor to get a sense of the whole building through open discovery, allowing people to learn room layouts more naturally than if they were just following directions."
The technology will invariably be useful for the 285 million blind people world-wide, 6 million of which live in the United States. It will also have applications beyond the blind community for individuals with other visual impairments, cognitive deficits, or those recovering from brain injuries.
Dr. Merabet considers publication in JoVE's video format especially helpful. "It is conceptually difficult for a sighted person to understand 'a video game for blind people.' What JoVE allows us to do is break down layouts of the game and strategy, show how the auditory cues can be used and how we quantify performance going from the virtual game to the physical world."
About JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments:
JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments, is the first and only PubMed/MEDLINE-indexed, peer-reviewed journal devoted to publishing scientific research in a video format. Using an international network of videographers, JoVE films and edits videos of researchers performing new experimental techniques at top universities, allowing students and scientists to learn them much more quickly. As of March 2013, JoVE has published video-protocols from an international community of nearly 6,000 authors in the fields of biology, medicine, chemistry, and physics.
URL: http://www.jove.com
To link to this release, please use this link: http://www.jove.com/about/press-releases/55/new-early-warning-system-for-brain-development-babies-published-video
Contact: Rachel Greene
Marketing Director
The Journal of Visualized Experiments p. 617-250-8451
e. press@jove.com
Press Access
We offer complimentary access to verified press contacts. If you are interested in being on our press list, please create an account and send an email request to press@jove.com.
Please make sure to follow our Twitter account. If you have any questions or requests, contact us at press@jove.com.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
The HTC Butterfly (a.k.a. J Butterfly in Japan, Droid DNA in the U.S.) was one of the most compelling Android devices of 2012, with its 5-inch 1080p display and speedy internals. Now, according to comments attributed to the company's marketing chief, it seems HTC may be keen to keep the Butterfly line alive alongside its soon-to-be-launched HTC One.
Spurred by strong interest in the device from Asia, Taiwan Focus reports that CMO Benjamin Ho said the manufacturer plans to launch a "successor" to the Butterfly under the same brand name "to meet consumer demand." Speaking at a media briefing, Ho apparently didn't mention when (or where) this new Butterfly might appear, but we'd guess this model would be aimed at countries or carriers that aren't getting the HTC One.
We'll have to wait and see what form the second Butterfly might take, but given the design similarities between the original and the HTC One, we don't imagine it'll be radically different from the phones we're already familiar with.
DUBLIN?(BUSINESS WIRE)?Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bwjjwz/2013_global) has announced the addition of the ?2013 Global Hepatitis Diagnostics Market: Growth Opportunities and Business Expansion Strategies? report to their offering.
?2013 Global Hepatitis Diagnostics Market: Growth Opportunities and Business Expansion Strategies?
This new 320-page report from Venture Planning Group presents a detailed analysis of the Hepatitis diagnostics market in the US, Europe, (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) and Japan. Current scientific views on the Hepatitis definition, epidemiology and etiology are reviewed.
The report provides the 5- and 10-year test volume and sales forecasts by country for HAV NAT, HBV NAT, HBs Ag, HCV, Anti-HBc, Anti-HBs, Anti-HAV, Hepatitis Delta, HBc Ag, HBe Ag, and ALT/SGPT tests performed in the following markets:
? Hospitals
? Commercial/Private Labs
? Blood Banks
? Physician Offices
? Public Health Labs
For each country, in addition to test volume and sales projections, the report presents sales and market share estimates for major suppliers of Hepatitis tests.
Also, the report examines the market applications of DNA Probes, Monoclonal Antibodies, Immunoassays, IT and other technologies; reviews features and operating characteristics of automated analyzers; profiles leading suppliers and recent market entrants developing innovative technologies and products; and identifies emerging business expansion opportunities, alternative market penetration strategies, market entry barriers and risks, and strategic planning issues and concerns.
Contains 320 pages and 93 tables
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bwjjwz/2013_global
ROME (AP) ? Italy's highest criminal court has overturned the acquittal of Amanda Knox in the slaying of her British roommate and ordered a new trial.
The Court of Cassation ruled Tuesday that an appeals court in Florence must re-hear the case against the American and her Italian-ex-boyfriend for the murder of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher.
Kercher's body was found in November 2007 in her bedroom of the house she shared with Knox and other roommates in Perugia, an Italian university town where the two women were exchange students. Her throat had been slashed.
Prosecutors alleged Kercher was the victim of a drug-fueled sex game gone awry. Knox and Raffaele Sollecito denied wrongdoing. An Ivory Coast man, Rudy Guede, was convicted of the slaying in a separate proceeding and is serving a 16-year sentence.
Exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, a prominent Russian opposition figure, was found dead at his home near London on Saturday. NBC's Lester Holt reports.
By Alastair Jamieson, Staff writer, NBC News
LONDON - A cordon will surround the U.K. home of exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky until at least Wednesday, while detectives await the initial results of autopsy into his unexplained death.
The area will remained sealed off "until Wednesday or Thursday in order to protect the scene,? a spokesman for Thames Valley Police said Monday. An earlier search for evidence of radiation or chemicals returned a negative result.
Government pathologists were due to begin a post-mortem Monday afternoon on the 67-year-old, whose body was found in the locked bathroom of his large house in rural Berkshire, about 25 miles west of London. It was not clear when the initial results would be available to police.
"It would be wrong to speculate on the cause of death until the post-mortem has been carried out," Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Brown?said in a statement late Sunday. "We do not have any evidence at this stage to suggest third-party involvement."
However, his death has raised suspicion in Britain where memories linger of the murder of Berezovsky's friend, Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian spy poisoned with radioactive material in London in 2006.
Like Litvinenko, Berezovsky had become an enemy of Russia?s president, Vladimir Putin and his suspicious death caused a major diplomatic rift between London and Moscow.
'Many enemies' His death on Saturday makes him the latest in a line of former Soviet residents to have met an untimely end in Britain.
Litvinenko?s wife, Marina, told the U.K.?s Daily Telegraph that her friend Berezovsky had "many enemies" and that it was "not likely" he that he had committed suicide.
Her lawyer last month accused Britain and Russia of colluding to try to shut down an inquiry into his death for the sake of lucrative trade deals.
Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images
The home of Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky in Sunningdale, England.
Berezovsky accumulated his wealth in the early 1990s, when Russia's privatization of state assets turned chaotic. He orchestrated the re-election of Boris Yeltsin in 1996 and played a role in Putin's rise to prominence, but he fell out of favor with the latter after Putin became president of Russia in 2000.?
He suffered a huge financial blow in 2011 after agreeing one of Britain's biggest-ever divorce settlements ? reportedly as much as $100m - with his former wife, Galina.
Reuters reported that Berezovsky was also under pressure after losing a $6 billion court case to Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, a former business partner he sued in one of the most expensive cases in British legal history.
"He had no money, he had lost it all. He was unbelievably depressed," Tim Bell, a public relations executive who was one of his closest British advisers, told the Sunday Times newspaper. "It's all very sad."
Meanwhile, Putin's spokesman said Berezovsky, seen by Moscow as a criminal who should stand trial for fraud and tax evasion, had written to Putin asking for forgiveness - a suggestion dismissed by one of the oligarch's friends, Reuters said.
"Berezovsky sent Vladimir Putin a letter he wrote personally, in which he acknowledged that he had made many mistakes, asked Putin's forgiveness for these mistakes and appealed to Putin to help him return to his homeland," said Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
A friend of Berezovsky's in London, Andrei Sidelnikov, told Reuters the idea that the businessman would write a letter to Putin was "complete nonsense".
"He was a sane person and he understood that he would never be able to return under Putin's regime, for political reasons," Sidelnikov said.
Related:
Full Russia coverage from NBC News
This story was originally published on Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:19 AM EDT
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Public release date: 27-Mar-2013
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