Latest news with #InternationalStrokeConference2025
Associated Press
07-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Clot-busting meds may be effective up to 24 hours after initial stroke symptoms
Research Highlights: In a randomized clinical trial in China, giving the clot-busting medication alteplase up to 24 hours after stroke symptoms first appeared increased the odds of better recovery by 50% compared to those who received standard antiplatelet treatment. The results might extend the time window for patient treatment worldwide, particularly in regions that lack access to advanced medical procedures. Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association's scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Embargoed until 12:03 p.m. PT/3:03 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 ( NewMediaWire) - February 07, 2025 - LOS ANGELES — The clot-dissolving medication, alteplase, improved stroke patients' recovery by more than 50% when given up to 24 hours after the beginning of an ischemic stroke, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025. The conference, in Los Angeles, Feb. 5-7, 2025, is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health. These results give hope to stroke patients worldwide who may not be able to access clot-dissolving medications within the approved time window, which in China is within 4.5 hours, said the trial's principal investigator Min Lou, M.D., Ph.D., a professor at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University's School of Medicine in China. In the U.S., alteplase is approved to treat stroke within three hours of symptom onset and is recommended for use up to 4.5 hours for select patients. Other research has indicated it may also work well in some patients 4.5 to 9 hours after stroke onset. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association 2019 Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke note that IV alteplase within 4.5 hours of stroke onset is the standard of care for most ischemic stroke patients in the United States. Researchers enrolled 372 stroke patients whose symptoms began 4.5 hours to 24 hours earlier. They used widely available CT perfusion imaging (advanced brain scanning) to confirm that these patients still had brain tissue that could recover with treatment. Participants were randomly split into two groups — one group received the clot-busting medication alteplase, while the other received standard stroke care of antiplatelet therapy at the discretion of the investigator, based on the Chinese Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke 2018. Functional recovery was assessed at 90 days. 'We believe these findings mean more people may return to normal or near-normal lives after a stroke, even if they receive treatment later than originally thought beneficial,' Lou said. 'This method of treatment could become the new standard, especially in hospitals that use CT perfusion imaging. This technology helps health care professionals see how blood flows in different parts of the brain after an ischemic stroke. This could extend treatment eligibility to millions more patients across the globe.' The study found: 40% of participants treated with alteplase had little to no disability after 90 days, compared to 26% of those who received standard care — a 54% higher chance of functional recovery. Less than 3% of participants in either group received rescue mechanical clot removal as an additional treatment. Rates of death were the same (10.8%) for both groups. The risk of brain bleeding was higher among those who received alteplase than among participants who did not (3.8% vs. 0.5%), but researchers believe this is a manageable risk. 'We also need to look more closely at how safe and effective other clot-dissolving medications, like tenecteplase, are when given after a stroke, especially beyond the usual time frames. It's also important to learn if our findings apply to other groups of people, especially in areas with different stroke risks and health care resources,' Lou explained. Study limitations include the that both participants and researcher knew which treatment was being given, which could have introduced bias, and results may not be generalizable to patients outside of China. Study design, background and details: The study enrolled 372 stroke patients in a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial at 26 stroke centers in China. The patient's average age was 72 years, and 43% were women. The trial used widely available CT perfusion imaging software to gauge salvageable brain tissue, making the findings more applicable to real-world clinical settings. Enrolled patients were assigned to the alteplase group or a standard medical treatment group. The primary outcome was a score of 0 or 1 on the modified Rankin scale, which scores disability from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (death) at 90 days. Study co-authors, funding and disclosures are available in the abstract. Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association's scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association's scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association's overall financial information are available here. About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit Facebook, X.
Associated Press
06-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Brain stimulation did not improve impaired motor skills after stroke
Research Highlights: Neither a placebo procedure nor two different doses of transcranial brain stimulation, which send electrical signals through the skull, improved mobility recovery in stroke survivors receiving movement therapy. Motor function was similar among survivors who received electrical brain stimulation combined with movement therapy or a placebo combined with movement therapy. Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association ' s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Embargoed until 11:30 a.m. PT/2:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 ( NewMediaWire) - February 06, 2025 - LOS ANGELES — Mild electrical brain stimulation did not further improve motor recovery in stroke survivors, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025. The conference, in Los Angeles, Feb. 5-7, 2025, is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health. 'The results are somewhat surprising to us,' said study leading-principal investigator Wayne Feng, M.D., M.S., professor of neurology and biomedical engineering at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. 'We initially hoped that a higher dose at 4 milliamps electrical stimulation had a better effect than a lower dose as well as the sham group, but we did not see that.' In the United States, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability, according to the American Heart Association's Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2025 Update, released last week. Depending on the part of the brain affected, stroke may impair arm and/or leg movement and activities of daily life among survivors. Motor impairment (arm and/or leg weakness) is the most common complication after stroke. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) restricts movement on the unaffected arm (by wearing a mitt over a hand) to force the use of the stroke-affected side. This therapy has been shown to improve motor function and quality of life in certain stroke patients with preserved hand movement. However, it requires intensive treatment. For example, the traditional format requires six hours per day and a modified treatment format requires two hours per session in the clinic, five days per week, with additional homework after the clinical session. This can be challenging for stroke survivors, Feng said. Researchers studied whether transcranial direct current stimulation could enhance the effects of constraint-induced movement therapy, allowing for better use of the arm affected by the stroke. In this study, a weak electrical current — up to 4 milliamps (4 one thousandth of an ampere) powered by a 9-volt battery — was delivered through the skull. The study, TRANScranial direct current stimulation for POst-stroke motor Recovery — a phase II sTudy (TRANSPORT 2), is the first funded multi-center stroke recovery study on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) StrokeNet, a network of U.S. regional centers and hospitals conducting major stroke-related clinical trials focusing on acute treatment, prevention and recovery. Researchers assessed three aspects of arm function (impairment, function and quality of life) after 10 sessions over the two-week period using three doses of electrical stimulation — sham/placebo stimulation, low dose (2 milliamps) and higher dose (4 milliamps or mA) — on 129 stroke survivors undergoing constraint-induced movement therapy in major medical centers across the U.S. The stimulation was 30 minutes and the CIMT therapy was 120 minutes each session. The analysis found: Transcranial direct current stimulation up to 4mA did not amplify the effect of constraint-induced movement therapy. The stroke survivors in all three groups improved after two weeks of treatment, and the effect continued at one month and three months after the intervention; however, the magnitude of improvement among the three groups was similar. The stimulation is safe and tolerable in stroke patients. The combined intervention was feasible to implement in the multi-center clinical trial setting. A limitation of the study is the trend of uneven representation of women in each group considering that women may respond differently than men to brain stimulation. Another limitation is that the study was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which slowed enrollment and scoring issues on the primary outcomes. 'In future clinical trials, we plan to enhance our approach by implementing several improvements,' Feng said. 'These improvements will include using a higher dose – more than 4 milliamps, ensuring men and women are equally distributed in each group and ensuring consistent administration and scoring the primary outcomes across all clinical trial sites. It may take us a few attempts before we achieve success.' Study design, background and details: Study participants were first-ever ischemic (clot-caused) stroke survivors who suffered a stroke one to six months earlier and had persistent arm weakness but still had slight movement of the hand. The study included 129 stroke survivors with an average age of 59 years. 42% were women, 53% were white adults, 41% were Black adults, 3% were Asian population and about 2% said they were multiple races. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three doses of brain stimulation. It was conducted between September 2019 and September 2024 in 15 U.S. medical centers in 11 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Each person participated in the study for about four months. Clinical outcome was assessed using the Fugl-Myer Upper-Extremity Scale (measuring motor impairment), Wolf Motor Functional Test (measuring motor function) and the Stroke Impact Scale Hand Subscale (measuring quality of life). All clinical outcomes were assessed immediately after two weeks of intervention, and again one month and three months after the initial intervention. Researchers found the combined brain stimulation and intensive rehabilitation therapy was safe, tolerable and feasible. Feng led the study with co-principal investigator Gottfried Schlaug, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA., vice-chair for Research at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School – Baystate in Springfield. Additional study co-authors, funding and disclosures are available in the abstract. Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association's scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association's scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association's overall financial information are available here. About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit Facebook, X.
Associated Press
05-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Clot-buster meds & mechanical retrieval equally reduce disability from some strokes
Research Highlights: Mechanically retrieving a blood clot blocking a medium- or small-sized brain artery was no better at reducing disability 90 days after a stroke than standard care alone (including clot-busting medication if indicated). While researchers say using thrombectomy devices to remove blood clots is increasingly performed, this research suggests that it may not be needed in all cases. However, because endovascular therapy seemed to be safe, it might still be used on select patients. Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association ' s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Embargoed until 11:59 a.m. PT/2:59 p.m. ET Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 ( NewMediaWire) - February 05, 2025 - LOS ANGELES — Removing a clot blocking a medium- or small-sized artery in the brain mechanically is a safe treatment for a common type of stroke; however, it did not lessen disability more than best medical treatment (including clot-busting medication if indicated) alone, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025. The conference, in Los Angeles, Feb. 5-7, 2025, is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health. An estimated 20-40% of people with ischemic (clot-caused) stroke have a clot blocking one of several medium- or small-sized arteries above the base of the brain (called a medium distal vessel occlusion, or MDVO), explained lead study author Marios Psychogios, M.D. head of diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland. 'Given the high and rising prevalence of ischemic strokes in aging populations, stroke in medium distal vessels represents a significant and growing health concern,' he said. 'While these strokes were traditionally thought to have a favorable prognosis, findings from recent studies suggest that only half of people regain functional independence, underscoring the urgent need for more effective treatments.' Endovascular therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses catheters over which a stent-retriever and/or aspiration catheter is advanced to the occlusion in the brain to retrieve the clot and restore blood flow, preventing further brain damage. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association 2019 Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke recommends mechanical clot removal within 24 hours of symptom onset for selected patients with clots blocking large arteries. For clots blocking medium vessels, the Association notes that 'although the benefits are uncertain, the use of mechanical thrombectomy with stent retrievers may be reasonable' for carefully selected ischemic stroke patients within six hours of symptom onset. The DISTAL trial, launched in 2021, is investigating whether endovascular therapy in addition to best medical therapy — which often includes intravenous clot-busting medications — would reduce disability more than clot-busting treatment alone. The trial included 543 adult patients who entered one of 55 hospitals with disabling stroke symptoms. Imaging tests confirmed a medium distal vessel blockage in all participants. Participants were randomly selected to receive either standard stroke care with intravenous clot-busting medication if deemed eligible or standard stroke care/intravenous clot busters plus endovascular treatment to remove the clot. The effectiveness of the treatment was measured by the participant's disability and need for assistance in daily activities 90 days after the stroke. At the 90-day follow-up, the analysis found: No significant difference in disability in those receiving endovascular therapy plus standard medical care and those receiving standard medical care alone. Similar rates of death were noted for each group: 15.5% for those receiving endovascular therapy plus standard medical care vs. 14% among those receiving standard medical care alone. Rates of severe (symptomatic) brain bleeds were 5.9% for those receiving endovascular therapy plus standard medical care vs. 2.6% for standard medical care alone. 'Endovascular therapy with the current techniques may not always provide extra benefits, so it could be worth reconsidering it as the standard treatment for medium distal vessel blockages. However, it is a safe option that can still be considered for select people on a case-by-case basis,' said Urs Fischer, M.D. co-principal investigator of the DISTAL trial and director of neurology at the University Hospital Bern in Switzerland. The lack of added benefit was confirmed when researchers analyzed specific subsets of people, such as those who did not receive intravenous clot-busting medications and those who had more severe strokes. Some people may not receive clot-busting medications because these medications can be harmful to them. 'We were surprised at the overall outcome of the participants, which was worse than we anticipated based on retrospective data,' Psychogios said. The researchers are currently conducting a detailed analysis of whether endovascular therapy was more or less effective in different subgroups of participants, perhaps enabling them to identify characteristics that might be associated with a more positive outcome following the treatment. Because almost all participants in the study were white, the results may not be generalizable to other populations. While the study's design offered the benefit of looking at the real-world application of mechanical clot removal, it may have limited the researchers' ability to detect positive effects from it that would have been apparent in a more selective patient group, both researchers agree. In addition, physicians who already believed that endovascular therapy was a superior treatment might have treated patients with endovascular therapy outside of the trial rather than taking the chance that their patients might be randomized to standard medical treatment alone. 'While the results of the DISTAL trial might seem discouraging, we see it as a wakeup call to continue investigating treatment options for medium or distal vessel occlusion patients as outcomes appear to be more severe than expected and evidence-based effective treatment options are still lacking,' Psychogios said. Study details, background and design: The DISTAL (EnDovascular therapy plus best medical treatment (BMT) versus BMT alone for MedIum VeSsel Occlusion sTroke -- a prAgmatic, international, multicenter, randomized triaL) study enrolled patients between December 2021 and July 2024, with the final assessment completed in October 2024. The study was conducted at 55 sites in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Israel, Finland and the United Kingdom. The study included 543 patients (44% women, average age 75 years, 98% white) who experienced a clot-caused stroke located in one of the medium- or small-sized arteries in the brain. Before the stroke, 97.9% of the participants lived at home. About 63% had no disability before the stroke, 17% had symptoms but could independently carry out their usual activities, 11.5% could not do all activities but could look after their affairs without assistance, and 8% required assistance for walking and other needs. Imaging tests were conducted on all patients to confirm they could be treated within 24 hours of symptom onset. During imaging, blockages were visualized mainly in the M2 (44%) or M3 (27%) segments of the middle cerebral artery or in the P2 (14%) or P1 (6%) segment of the posterior cerebral artery. Stroke severity at hospital admission was moderate, with a median score of 6 on the 42-point National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Participants were randomized to receive either best medical treatment at a dedicated stroke center, including clot-busting medication if indicated (272 participants out of which 66% received clot-busting drugs) or best medical treatment plus endovascular treatment (271 participants). Decisions about the exact devices and procedures used for endovascular treatment were left to the treating physician. Participants were excluded if they had a brain bleed, other severe medical conditions, or previous treatment or anatomical features that made endovascular treatment unlikely to be successful. The primary outcome was the degree of disability and need for help in daily activities 90 days after the stroke, as measured with the modified Rankin Scale with ratings from 0 (no disability) to 6 (death). Disability was assessed by someone unaware of the treatment received. Study co-authors, funding and disclosures are available in the abstract. Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association's scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association's scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association's overall financial information are available here. About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit Facebook, X.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Your Gut and Oral Health Could Influence Your Stroke Risk, New Study Says—Here's What to Know
Reviewed by Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A., RD Hippocrates is often credited with saying that 'all disease begins in the gut.' If he did say it, he was way ahead of his time. We now know that our gut microbiomes do, in fact, play a large role in our health—from more acute illnesses like cold and flu to chronic illnesses, like heart and autoimmune diseases. But did you know that the gut isn't the only place in your body with a microbiome? Your skin has its own microbiome. So does your mouth. This makes sense since your digestive system begins in your mouth—digestive enzymes are released into your mouth when you eat to start breaking down your food. Even the act of chewing your food is part of the digestive process. Your mouth's microbiome is similar to your gut's, and the two microbiomes influence each other. (That's called a bi-directional relationship.) When one is imbalanced, there's a good chance the other is, too. Researchers have also found a connection between your gut microbiome and inflammation—the chronic kind that can be a culprit in chronic diseases, like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. This means that there is also a connection between your microbiome and these conditions, as well. But there's another condition that doesn't seem to garner quite as much attention: stroke. Previous research suggests that people who have had strokes also have imbalanced microbiomes. This has led researchers to look at factors beyond the brain—which is where strokes occur—that may contribute to both the stroke event itself and how well people recover from it. Keep reading to find out what researchers found when they analyzed the connection between the gut and mouth microbiomes and stroke. These preliminary findings are being presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025, so be on the lookout for further research that's likely to come. Related: Consuming Too Many Carbonated Drinks May Increase Stroke Risk by 22%, According to New Study Your microbiome is loaded with trillions of both beneficial and potentially harmful bacteria. This collection of bacteria and other microorganisms in the gut is referred to as the gut microbiota and in the mouth, the oral microbiota. Since you could most likely never completely rid the body of all the potentially harmful organisms, the goal is to maintain an optimal amount of good bacteria, out-numbering the bad bacteria. In a previous study by these same researchers, they found a link between a bacteria that causes tooth decay, called Streptococcus mutans, and a higher risk of bleeding in the brain, a cause of stroke. For this latest study, researchers looked at another harmful bacteria called Streptococcus anginosus. This strain of bacteria has been implicated in conditions like oral abscesses and even abscesses in the brain's frontal lobes. Researchers have also pointed to Streptococcus anginosus as a cause of tooth decay, as it can break down tooth enamel. Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Take Calcium Every Day There were 250 total Japanese participants in this study with an average age of 70. About 40% of them were female. The 250 participants were split into two groups—the test group and the control group. Researchers compared the microbiomes' of the mouth and gut in 200 participants who had had a stroke within the past seven days (test group) with the microbiomes of 50 individuals without a history of stroke (control group). While they didn't have a history of stroke, the control group could have other medical issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol—all risk factors for stroke. Microbiomes were analyzed using stool and saliva samples from both the stroke patients and control group participants between July 2020 and July 2021. Participants were then followed for two years so researchers could observe how many of the stroke patients died or had another cardiovascular event (like a heart attack or another stroke). Researchers found that Streptococcus anginosus was significantly more abundant in the saliva and gut of people with a history of stroke than in the control group. Specifically: Streptococcus anginosus in the gut was independently associated with 20% higher odds of stroke after controlling for vascular risk factors. Anaerostipes hadrus—a gut bacteria associated with beneficial effects—was associated with a drop in stroke risk by 18% and Bacteroides plebeius—a helpful gut bacteria common in the Japanese population—was associated with a drop in risk by 14%. Over the two-year follow-up period, stroke survivors with Streptococcus anginosus in the gut had a significantly higher risk of death and major cardiovascular events during the two-year follow-up period. Compared to control participants, increased risk of death and poor outcomes were not noted in stroke survivors with Anaerostipes hadrus and Bacteroides plebeius. In other words, those beneficial bacteria seemed to be protective. Related: Your Gut Health Affects Almost Every System in Your Body—Are You Doing Enough to Care for It? In a press release about this presentation, the study's lead author, Shuichi Tonomura, M.D., notes that ideally, in the future we'll have a quick test to detect harmful bacteria in the mouth and gut (perhaps a mouth swab?) and that it could be used to calculate stroke risk. He feels that targeting the harmful bacteria might be able to prevent strokes. Until this test is created and made available to the public, each of us needs to do our best to maintain healthy microbiomes—oral and gut. Maintaining healthy oral hygiene habits can help. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once daily. Drink plenty of water to help keep your mouth clean and avoid beverages with added sugar. Try to get to the dentist for regular cleanings and checkups every six months. Beyond oral health, other health habits are also all connected to inflammation and chronic disease. So whether you're trying to prevent stroke, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or any other chronic illness, your health habits will play a role. This includes your eating habits, how much you move your body, how much quality sleep you're getting, how well you're controlling your stress levels and how much quality time you're spending with loved ones. It's also important to get and maintain healthy gut and oral microbiomes. This involves eating plenty of fermented foods, including yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso and tempeh. These foods add probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria, to your mouth and gut. Because probiotics are living organisms, they need to eat to thrive and reproduce. This is where prebiotics come in. Prebiotics are fibers that probiotics love noshing on. They're found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. The good news is that you can pretty quickly improve your gut health. This dietitian-approved weeklong Gut-Healthy Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan will show you how—and you can get started today. Related: 5 Things to Do When You Wake Up for a Healthy Gut, According to Gastroenterologists This preliminary study suggests that people with certain harmful bacteria in their mouths and guts had a higher risk of stroke and a higher risk of dying from stroke or suffering another cardiovascular event within two years of the original event. The study authors note that because this study was done exclusively with Japanese participants, it is not yet known if the results would extend to other ethnicities and countries. This is because different areas of the world have different strains of bacteria. Until more research is performed, it's still important to maintain healthy gut and mouth microbiomes, which may help reduce your risk of many diseases. Do this by eating plenty of fermented foods and prebiotic foods. Engaging in healthy habits will also help support your microbiome and reduce inflammation and your risk of disease. This includes eating a variety of foods, moving your body often, getting plenty of quality sleep, spending time with loved ones and reducing your stress levels. Related: I Tried Eating the Doctor-Recommended 30 Plant-Based Foods a Week—Here's How It Went Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Associated Press
04-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
11 leading stroke scientists receive top honors for career and research contributions
( NewMediaWire) - February 04, 2025 - LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4, 2025 – Eleven scientists will be recognized for their individual exceptional professional achievements and contributions to stroke care and research during the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025. The meeting will be held in Los Angeles, Feb. 4-7, and is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health. The awardees include four groundbreaking scientists who have devoted their careers to stroke research and six other scientists who will be recognized for their new research findings, which will be presented during the meeting. The 2025 honorees are: Virginia J. Howard, Ph.D., FAHA, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, will receive the Edgar J. Kenton III Lecture Award. Yongjun Wang, M.D., Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, will be honored with the William M. Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke. Heather J. Fullerton, M.D., University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, will receive the Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award. Miguel A. Perez-Pinzon, Ph.D., FAHA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, will receive the Thomas Willis Lecture Award. Jean-Claude Baron, M.D., Sc.D., INSERM, University Paris Cité in France, will receive the David G. Sherman Lecture Award. Shufan Huo, M.D., Ph.D., Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, will receive the Mordecai Y.T. Globus New Investigator Award. Heyu Ni, M.D., Ph.D., University of Toronto, Ontario, will receive the Stroke Basic Science Award. Mohamed Elfil, M.D., University of Miami/Jackson Health System, Florida will receive this year's Robert G. Siekert New Investigator Award in Stroke. Santosh Murthy, M.D., M.P.H., Weill Cornell Medical College and New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell in New York will receive the Stroke Care in Emergency Medicine Award. Cyprien A. Rivier, M.D. Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, will receive the Vascular Cognitive Impairment Award. Mei Zhen Huang, Ph.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, will be awarded the Stroke Rehabilitation Award. Virginia J. Howard, Ph.D., FAHA, the Edgar J. Kenton III Lecture Award recipient, is a Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama. She is a stroke epidemiologist with more than 30 years of experience in multicenter, multidisciplinary clinical trials and longitudinal cohort studies with a focus on stroke, stroke risk factors, cognitive functioning and health disparities. The Edgar J. Kenton III Lecture Award recognizes lifetime contributions to the investigation, management, mentorship and community service in the field of racial and ethnic stroke disparities or related disciplines. The award honors the late Edgar J. Kenton III, a former chair of the American Heart Association's Stroke Council and an eminent Black vascular neurologist passionate about bridging race/ethnic disparities in stroke. Howard will present the Edgar J. Kenton III lecture in the preconference symposium HEADS-UP, 'Recruiting and Retaining Diverse and Underrepresented Participants in Studies of Stroke and Brain Health: It Takes a Village, $$$, Planning and Long-Term Commitment,' at 10:18 a.m. PT, Tuesday, Feb. 4. Yongjun Wang, M.D., the William M. Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke awardee, is the president of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, and is also the president of the Chinese Stroke Association. Wang has worked on secondary prevention strategies and reperfusion therapy for ischemic stroke. The Feinberg Award is named for the late William M. Feinberg, a prominent stroke clinician-researcher and American Heart Association volunteer who contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the causes of stroke. The award recognizes significant contributions to the investigation and management of clinical research in stroke. Wang's lecture, 'Thirty Years of Treatment for Acute Ischemic Cerebrovascular Events: The Power of Evidence,' will be presented at 11:22 a.m. PT, Wednesday, Feb. 5. Heather J. Fullerton, M.D., the recipient of the Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award, is a professor of neurology and pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco and president of the International Pediatric Stroke Organization. Her research investigates the causes of stroke in children, particularly the role of infection, and she is currently leading a clinical trial for the treatment of a disease of inflamed brain blood vessels in children. The late Ralph L. Sacco was the first neurologist to serve as the volunteer president of the American Heart Association. The Sacco Award honors outstanding achievements in mentoring future generations of stroke researchers in the field of cerebrovascular disease. Fullerton will present her lecture, 'Mentoring to Propel Progress in Pediatric Stroke,' at 11:02 a.m. PT, Thursday, Feb. 6. Miguel A. Perez-Pinzon, Ph.D., FAHA, the recipient of the Thomas Willis Lecture Award, is the professor and vice-chair for discovery science of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. Perez-Pinzon's research expertise is cerebral ischemia, which results from cardiac arrest or stroke. His research focuses on the areas of synaptic, cognitive, vascular and mitochondrial dysfunction that ensue following an ischemic stroke. The Willis Award is named after the late Thomas Willis, a pioneer physician who provided the first detailed descriptions of the brain stem, cerebellum, ventricles and hypotheses on their function. The award recognizes contributions to investigating and managing stroke as it relates to basic science. Perez-Pinzon's lecture, ' Nature's Blueprint for Ischemic Tolerance: Pre- and Post-Conditioning Strategies,' will be presented at 11:17 a.m. PT, Thursday, Feb. 6. Jean-Claude Baron, M.D., Sc.D., the recipient of the David G. Sherman Lecture Award, is an active clinical neurologist and director of research at INSERM, University Paris Cité in France, and previously professor of stroke medicine at Cambridge University, United Kingdom. His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying ischemic stroke. Using imaging, he looks at how treatment can rescue at-risk brain tissue and how brain tissue recovers its functions after a stroke. Along with his clinical research, Jean-Claude Baron conducts imaging studies using animal models that mimic human stroke. The Sherman Award honors the late David G. Sherman, a prominent stroke physician and an internationally recognized leader and researcher in stroke prevention and treatment. The award recognizes lifetime contributions to the investigation, management, mentorship and community service in the stroke field. Baron will present his lecture, 'Fifty Years of Deciphering the Pathophysiology of Stroke ' at 11:02 a.m. PT, Friday, Feb. 7. Shufan Huo, M.D., Ph.D., the Mordecai Y.T. Globus New Investigator Award in Stroke awardee, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Falcone Lab in the Department of Neurology at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The award is named after the late Mordecai T. Globus, a renowned cerebrovascular researcher, and is given to a researcher in training. Huo's award-winning presentation, Abstract 15, 'Integrated Genomic and Proteomic Drug Target Discovery for Ischemic Stroke,' will be presented at 7:30 a.m. PT, Wednesday, Feb. 5. Heyu Ni, M.D., Ph.D., the Stroke Basic Science Award recipient, is a professor in the laboratory of medicine and pathobiology, medicine, and physiology departments at the University of Toronto. Ni is also a senior scientist at the Canadian Blood Services Centre for Innovation and Keenan Research Centre of Unity Health Toronto in Canada. The Stroke Basic Science Award recognizes outstanding laboratory-based basic or translational science. Ni's presentation, Abstract 89, 'A First-in-Class Humanized Antibody Fragment Targeting Platelet Glycoprotein Ibα: A Comprehensive Preclinical Study of CA1001 for the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke,' will be presented at 7:30 a.m. PT, Wednesday, Feb. 5. Mohamed Elfil, M.D., the recipient of the Robert G. Siekert New Investigator Award in Stroke, is a vascular neurology fellow at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System. The Siekert New Investigator Award in Stroke recognizes the late Robert G. Siekert, founding chairman of the American Heart Association's International Conference on Stroke and Cerebral Circulation, now known as the International Stroke Conference. The award encourages new investigators to undertake or continue stroke-related research. Elfil's award-winning presentation, Abstract 2, ' Endovascular Thrombectomy Plus Intravenous Thrombolysis Versus Endovascular Thrombectomy Alone in Patients with Large Core Infarct,' will be presented at 7:30 a.m. PT, Wednesday, Feb. 5. Santosh Murthy, M.D., M.P.H., the Stroke Care in Emergency Medicine Award recipient, is an associate professor of Neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College and is also the associate chief of the Division of Neurocritical Care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell in New York. The Stroke Care in Emergency Medicine Award encourages investigators to undertake or continue research in the emergent phase of acute stroke treatment and submit an abstract to the International Stroke Conference. Murthy's winning presentation, Abstract 44, 'Minimally Invasive Surgery is Associated with Improved Outcomes Compared to Open Craniotomy with Clot Evacuation after Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the AHA Get With The Guidelines Registry,' will be presented at 2:12 p.m. PT, Wednesday, Feb. 5. Cyprien A. Rivier, M.D. is the Vascular Cognitive Impairment Award recipient. Rivier is an associate research scientist in neurology at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. The Vascular Cognitive Impairment Award encourages investigators to undertake or continue research or clinical work in the field of vascular cognitive impairment and submit an abstract to the International Stroke Conference. Rivier's award-winning presentation, Abstract 96, 'Integrated Genomic and Proteomic Profiling Support Cathepsin-B as a Drug Repurposing Target in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease , ' will be presented at 9:15 a.m. PT, Thursday, Feb. 6. Mei Zhen Huang, Ph.D., the Stroke Rehabilitation Award recipient, was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. The Stroke Rehabilitation Award encourages investigators to undertake or continue research and/or clinical work in the field of stroke rehabilitation. Huang's winning presentation, Abstract 126, 'In-Bed Robot-Guided Ankle Sensory-Motor Rehabilitation in Early Subacute Stroke Survivors: A Preliminary Clinical Trial,' will be presented at 8:30 a.m. PT, Friday, Feb. 7 Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association's scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association's scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association's overall financial information are available here. Additional Resources: About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit Facebook, X.
