Articles tagged with Neurosurgery
Patients who undergo aggressive brain surgery after a severe stroke generally improve their lives and live longer, according to research by neurologists at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The study found that patients who didn't have the surgery were about three times more likely to die within a year than those who did.
BioSET and Brookhaven Lab have patented a synthetic peptide, B2A, that enhances bone growth in spine fusion surgeries. The peptide is used in a combination medical device called AMPLEX, which has shown promising results in preclinical studies.
A new study finds aggressive surgery followed by targeted radiotherapy is effective in treating a rare form of childhood brain cancer. The treatment improved event-free survival rates, with children under 3 years old showing excellent outcomes.
Using a three-dimensional image-guided system to help place screws in the spine results in safe and accurate surgery with decreased nerve injuries and misplaced screws compared to traditional operations.
Scientists present reports on novel technologies to restore memory circuits, alter drug effects, deliver targeted therapies and improve brain imaging. The advancements aim to pinpoint seizure causes and deliver precise treatments, promising a new era in epilepsy care.
A new spinal deformity classification system has been developed to define the range of normalcy for spine alignment. The system, published in Neurosurgery, uses a systematic approach to define neutral upright spinal alignment across different age groups.
A new study has identified 11 clinical risk factors that can help doctors weigh the risks and benefits of carotid surgery. The study found advanced age and non-white patients are at higher risk for death or stroke after surgery.
Researchers are exploring alternative energy solutions and innovative approaches to medicine. Virtual reality technology is being used to create realistic 3D presentations on mobile devices, while a new method for measuring brain function during surgery could improve outcomes.
A US neurosurgeon reports promising results treating soldiers with severe brain injuries in Iraq, where aggressive therapies led to unexpected survival rates. In contrast to predicted dire outcomes, some patients showed remarkable recovery, challenging the predictive value of standard neurological assessments.
Dr. Edward Duckworth is using less-invasive techniques to remove tumors, repair life-threatening aneurysms, and reduce seizures in epilepsy patients. The procedure involves reaching the brain through smaller openings, resulting in decreased pain and shorter hospital stays.
Researchers at Heidelberg University Hospital discovered that depolarization waves in the brain spread through adjacent areas after a stroke, leading to further cell death. The study's findings may enable the translation of decades-long experimental research into clinical applications.
A new study found that elderly patients with brain tumors aged 75 and older do not receive aggressive treatments like younger patients. However, treating these patients aggressively with multi-modality therapies can lead to better survival rates without affecting mental abilities or causing unbearable side effects.
Cancer researchers at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh are developing novel treatments for gliomas, a common type of brain tumor, through three projects funded by the NIH grant. The goal is to take these approaches from laboratory testing to clinical trials and improve treatment outcomes for patients.
A new neuroimaging study maps functional brain areas to improve cognitive skills before, during, and after brain tumour surgery. The study uses fMRI to localize important areas and preserve motor, sensory, and cognitive abilities.
Researchers found a correlation between smoking history and increased risk of aneurysm recanalization in patients treated with coil embolization. Cigarette smoking is the only factor consistently identified as a predisposition for cerebral aneurysms.
A University of Cincinnati study found that new coiling devices are no more effective than traditional bare platinum coils in preventing brain aneurysm recurrence. The study analyzed 100 patients and found a higher rate of repeated treatments with the newer, more expensive coils.
Pak H. Chan receives the Thomas Willis Award for major contributions to stroke understanding, while S. Claiborne Johnston and Pooja Khatri receive awards for clinical stroke research and young investigator recognition respectively.
Scientists at the University of Leicester have developed new Doppler ultrasound techniques to detect emboli, reducing intra-operative and post-operative stroke rates by 96% and 99.3%, respectively. The 30-day death/stroke rate has also fallen from 6% to 2.6%.
A study found that the general public tends to support life-saving treatment for severely ill patients, whereas doctors are more reluctant due to concerns about quality of life. The majority of both groups agreed on administering pain relief and sedatives.
Recent studies have compared carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in high-risk patients, yielding comparable results. However, its role in 'low-risk' patients remains unclear, with ongoing trials needed to determine the best approach.
Researchers found that human auditory neurons can detect subtle frequency differences down to a tenth of an octave, surpassing other mammals. This sensitivity may be linked to musical skill and cognitive abilities such as working memory.
A new brain mapping technique has refined scientists' understanding of language organization within the human cortex, identifying new regions involved in speech production, reading, and naming. The technique allows for safer tumor removal and better outcomes for patients with language-related difficulties.
A new study led by Duke University Medical Center researchers found that older patients over the age of 60 who undergo elective surgeries are at an increased risk for long-term cognitive problems. The elderly were more likely to die in the first year after surgery, and education protected against postoperative cognitive problems.
The Surgilux device seals surgical wounds using an infrared laser, potentially reducing complications and infections associated with sutures. Early test results show promising results in brain and nerve surgery, paving the way for a new approach to repairing damaged nerves.
A NIH panel emphasizes the importance of removing stigma associated with fecal and urinary incontinence, recommending increased public awareness and provider education. The panel also highlights the need for research studies to fill knowledge gaps and develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.
A study by researchers at University Hospitals of Cleveland and Johns Hopkins University found that intraoperative MRI can help detect residual disease and modify surgical plans, leading to additional resections in 73% of cases. The added imaging time was approximately 35 minutes per case.
A study found that the brains of term infants with congenital heart disease are more similar to those of premature newborns than normal term infants, indicating impaired brain development before birth. The research suggests abnormal fetal circulation and lower oxygen levels may contribute to these impairments.
A new study found that 18% of bariatric surgery candidates were not psychologically cleared for surgery, citing frequent overeating as a coping mechanism for stress and uncontrolled psychiatric disorders. Researchers emphasize the importance of pre-operative screening to determine suitable surgical candidates.
A coalition of physicians from various medical specialties urges the expansion of catheter-based treatments for stroke, citing a shortage of trained physicians and limited use of clot-busting drugs. They propose adapting neuro-rescue skills to increase the number of available physicians for 24/7 treatment.
Research found 90% of patients with multiple aura types had seizures originating from the non-dominant side of their brain. Epilepsy surgery was effective in stopping seizures in over half of study participants.
The University of Cincinnati has received a $1.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to research molecular treatment of brain injury. Dr. Kenneth Strauss will study eicosanoids, which can protect healthy brain cells from further damage.
A new gene therapy clinical trial has reported promising results in improving motor function for patients with Parkinson's disease. The study found significant improvements in both the off-state and on-medication phases, with some patients showing impressive gains of up to 65 percent.
A study published in The Lancet found that gene therapy can safely alleviate symptoms of Parkinson's disease, with significant improvements seen in movement and motor scores. The treatment involves injecting genetic information directly into brain cells, eliminating the need for indwelling hardware associated with deep-brain stimulation.
A new 3D ultrasound scanner developed by Duke University researchers enables better brain tumor detection and minimally invasive surgery guidance. The device, inserted through a small hole in the skull, produces high-quality images of brain structures, overcoming limitations of traditional MRI and CT scans.
A new pacemaker-like device has been developed to treat treatment-resistant depression, showing statistically significant improvements in mood and cognitive abilities. The research, led by James McInerney and Elana Farace, offers hope for millions of people affected by the debilitating disease.
Patients who experience a significant drop in blood pressure during bypass surgery may be at risk for early difficulties in thinking, learning, and memory. Those with higher pre-surgery blood pressure levels were more likely to have decreased cognitive scores after the procedure.
Researchers have developed a dual-imaging technique that combines functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor tractography to outline important areas of brain function and their connections prior to surgery. This approach has been used in 20 cases at Cincinnati's University Hospital and shows promising results in o...
A miniature robot developed by Prof. Leo Joskowicz and his team enables precise targeting in neurosurgical procedures, reducing complications and improving patient outcomes. The system, which uses preoperative scans and real-time image guidance, has been recognized with a Kaye Innovation Award.
A study published at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that endoscopic brain surgery is effective in removing life-threatening tumors in children, with minimal complications and no neurological damage. The minimally invasive approach allows for faster recovery times and a shorter hospital stay.
A new study found a significant drop in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy for inappropriate reasons. The study, published in Neurology, credits the decline to randomized controlled trials that clarified the surgery's proper use.
A recent study published in Neurology found that patients undergoing combined heart bypass surgery and carotid endarterectomy experience a 38% higher chance of death or postoperative stroke compared to those who undergo coronary artery bypass surgery alone. The study suggests that the combined procedure may not provide additional benef...
Mayo Clinic researchers use advanced MRI to predict surgical success in rare sciatic notch dumbbell-shaped tumors. The 3-Tesla MRI system provides detailed images of tumor and nerve relationships, allowing for safe removal of tumors while protecting nerves.
Researchers found that slow theta oscillations tune into high-gamma waves, allowing areas of the brain to coordinate activity and transmit information. This coupling enables top-down executive processes like attention and memory to be connected to low-level perceptions and actions.
The Pauletta and Denzel Washington Family Gifted Scholars Program in Neuroscience awards $2,500 monthly support to graduate researchers and $2,000 per month to undergraduate students. The program aims to train the next generation of life scientists and promote significant contributions in the sciences.
A novel approach to epilepsy surgery in young children with tuberous sclerosis has shown promising results, with 17 of 25 patients freed from seizures after a multi-stage brain operation. The procedure involves multiple surgeries to remove seizure-causing tissue, and may improve developmental outcomes for affected children.
Researchers have developed a new method for detecting brain tumours during surgery using a fluorescent compound, which significantly improves complete tumour removal rates (65% vs 36%) and survival rates without tumour progression (41% vs 21%). The technique has been shown to be safe with no significant difference in serious side effects.
A study by Mayo Clinic researchers found that epilepsy surgery is durable and effective, improving quality of life for patients with intractable epilepsy. The procedure removed the focal region of brain disease in 399 consecutive patients, with a 4% risk of complications.
A study published in Neurology found that over 70% of people with Chiari Malformations experience sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness. Surgery to relieve compression on the brain stem improved symptoms, reducing central sleep apnea occurrences by 90% and micro-arousals by 30%.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed an alternative therapy to surgery for brain cancers. By engineering T-cell receptors with enhanced binding capacity, the approach aims to eradicate tumors with minimal side effects.
Researchers have found that a marker for serotonin systems can identify epilepsy-generating brain areas, even in patients with normal MRI scans. This breakthrough has the potential to reduce the need for invasive EEG studies and improve surgical outcomes for patients with uncontrolled seizures.
Dr. Anthony Marmarou's international team developed consensus guidelines for diagnosing and treating idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephaly (NPH). The new guidelines recommend a combination of diagnostic tests to predict patient responsiveness to shunt surgery, improving treatment outcomes.
A new non-surgical approach combining stent-assisted coil embolization has shown success in treating wide-necked brain aneurysms, improving patient outcomes with minimal recovery time. The procedure has been found to have a high rate of complete closure without compromising the parent vessel.
A Phase IIa study found that patients given clazosentan suffered from significantly fewer and less severe cases of cerebral vasospasm compared to placebo. The treatment was also associated with a lower incidence of new cerebral infarcts.
A study found that 50% of patients who underwent temporal lobectomy for epilepsy were seizure-free after 30 years. Patients who experienced seizures within the first year after surgery had a lower likelihood of being seizure-free in the long term.
The OHSU study found that ThinkFirst significantly improves knowledge of injury prevention among program participants, leading to a decline in traffic-related fatalities and injuries. The program has educated over 250,000 children on injury prevention since its inception in Oregon.
A study found that combining carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries increases the risk of post-operative stroke by 6.8%, compared to 1.8% in CABG alone. Experts believe further randomized trials are necessary to assess the appropriateness of this combined procedure.
Researchers developed a classification system to treat thrombotic aneurysms, finding that one-third can be treated surgically with conventional clipping. The study also discovered that bypass and occlusion procedures yield more favorable results for unclippable aneurysms.
A study of 387 patients with epilepsy found that the timing of post-surgery seizures is a key predictor of long-term success. Patients who experienced seizures within four months of surgery had a worse prognosis, while those who waited longer tended to become seizure-free.
Dr. Brenda Milner, a renowned cognitive neuroscientist, has been awarded the 2005 Gairdner Award for her pioneering work on brain function and memory systems. Her research with patient HM has significantly advanced our understanding of episodic and procedural memory.
A study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery found that golf-related head injuries in children increased by 15% between 1996 and 2002. The majority of these injuries occurred outside golf courses, highlighting the need for cautionary guidelines and safety training programs to prevent accidents.