Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

New Technique Raises Hope for Stroke Patients

by VR Sreeraman on August 27, 2008 at 1:26 PM
 New Technique Raises Hope for Stroke Patients

Researchers from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill have reported a technique that potentially could restore functions to patients weeks or even months after a stroke.

The technique involves jumpstarting the growth of nerve fibres to compensate for brain cells destroyed by the stroke.

Advertisement

It is necessary that a stroke patient get treatment within approximately the first three hours of symptoms. Jumpstarting the growth of nerve fibres to compensate for brain cells destroyed by the stroke can help reverse stroke damage.

The new technique developed by Kartje and colleagues is called anti-nogo-A immunotherapy. It has dramatically improved functions in lab animals that have experienced strokes.
Advertisement

"In the best-case scenario, this would open up the window of time that people could recover and go back to normal functional status," said Gwendolyn Kartje, MD, Ph.D., a professor in the department of cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy and department of neurology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill. and chief of neuroscience research at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Ill.

Nogo-A is a protein that inhibits the growth of nerve fibres called axons. It serves as a check on runaway nerve growth that could cause a patient to be overly sensitive to pain, or experience involuntary movements. In anti nogo immunotherapy, an antibody disables the nogo protein.

The left side of the brain controls movements on the right side of the body, and vice versa. Thus, a stroke on the left side of the brain can cause paralysis on the right side of the body.

In such a patient, anti-nogo is believed to spur the growth of axons from the healthy right side of the brain. These axons would then grow into the right side of the body and restore functions lost by the stroke.

Source: ANI
SRM
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Tropical Disease News

Monkeypox Outbreak Extends Across Five Indonesian Provinces
The viral infection of monkeypox has now spread to five provinces in Indonesia, said authorities.
Mpox Traced Back to 2016 Before 2022 Global Outbreak
Mpox, previously recognized as Monkeypox, has existed in human circulation since 2016, preceding the 2022 worldwide health emergency it initiated.
How Gut Bacteria Raise the Risk of Severe Malaria?
Gut bacteria composition is linked to a higher risk of severe malaria and may aid in developing new approaches to prevent severe malaria and its mortality.
Growing Monkeypox Outbreak in Indonesia Prompts Heightened Alert
Indonesia's Health Ministry is on high alert due to 14 confirmed monkeypox cases since its first detection on October 13.
Rare Zika Case Emerges in Cambodia After Seven Years
The Ministry of Health (MoH) in Cambodia has reported the first Zika virus case in the country since 2016.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

New Technique Raises Hope for Stroke Patients Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests