Henry Ford News Feed - Neuroscience

Researcher Discusses Novel Ways to Limit Stroke Damage

CONTACT: Dwight Angell
Feb. 24, 2010
Dwight.Angell@hfhs.org
(313) 876-8709


Researcher Discusses Novel Ways to Limit Stroke Damage

SAN ANTONIO - Can using a simple blood-pressure cuff limit damage from strokes caused by decreased blood supply to the brain?

An emerging field of study is working to see whether using this blood-pressure cuff or other methods of "training the brain" could help reduce damage from a stroke as it is occurring while a patient is being transported to the hospital.

An up-to-date review of the research - called stroke ischemic preconditioning - will be presented by Brian Silver, M.D., a Henry Ford Hospital neurologist and stroke specialist, at the International Stroke Conference held in San Antonio.

"Ischemic preconditioning is a novel technique for potentially improving tissue survival following acute stroke," says Dr. Silver. "Human trials in a variety of conditions, including stroke, are underway to assess the efficacy and safety of this intervention."

Ischemic preconditioning has been tested as a way to limit harmful effects of reduced blood flow to the heart and liver, as well as a potential means to improve performance in competition swimmers. The goal of preconditioning is to prepare the brain to tolerate reduced blood flow without lasting damage.

Ischemic preconditioning is an intervention whereby reduction of blood supply to an organ is applied in order to produce tolerance to reduced blood supply in that organ or a remote organ. The intervention should not produce tissue damage when applied but rather stress the organ so that it can adapt to a lower level of blood supply.

The National Institutes of Health list 53 human studies of ischemic preconditioning to date, most targeting conditions other than stroke.

In an ongoing study in Denmark, Dr. Silver says a blood-pressure cuff is inflated above the patient's normal pressure for five minutes, than released for a five-minute rest period. This is repeated four times. The ischemic intervention is applied to the arm with the aim of limiting the damage occurring in the brain.

"All of this research is driving us to re-think how we can develop new ways to limit the damage caused by stroke, one of the leading causes of disability in the U.S.," says Dr. Silver. "Even though precondition is still in its infancy, it's a field that shows great promise."

Vitamin B3 Shows Early Promise in Treatment of Stroke

CONTACT:   Dwight Angell
Feb. 24, 2010
Dwight.Angell@hfhs.org
313-876-8709

Vitamin B3 Shows Early Promise in Treatment of Stroke

DETROIT - An early study suggests that vitamin B3 or niacin, a common water-soluble vitamin, may help improve neurological function after stroke, according to Henry Ford Hospital researchers.

When rats with ischemic stroke were given niacin, their brains showed growth of new blood vessels, and sprouting of nerve cells which greatly improved neurological outcome.

Now research is underway at Henry Ford to investigate the effects of an extended-release form of niacin on stroke patients. Henry Ford is the only site nationally conducting such a study.

"If this proves to also work well in our human trials, we'll then have the benefit of a low-cost, easily-tolerable treatment for one of the most neurologically devastating conditions," Michael Chopp, Ph.D., scientific director of the Henry Ford Neuroscience Institute.

Dr. Chopp will present results from the animal model study at the International Stroke Conference in San Antonio.

According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is the third-leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of disability.

Ischemic strokes occur as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. Ischemic stroke accounts for about 87 percent of all cases. One underlying condition for this type of obstruction is the development of fatty cholesterol deposits lining the vessel walls.

Niacin is known to be the most effective medicine in current clinical use for increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which helps those fatty deposits.

Dr. Chopp and his colleagues found that in animals niacin helps restore neurological function in the brain following stroke.

In 2009, stroke physicians at Henry Ford Hospital published research which showed that HDL-C is abnormally low at the time stroke patients arrive at the hospital.

Dr. Chopp's research found that in animals, niacin increased "good" cholesterol (HDL-C), which increased blood vessels in the brain and axonal and dendritic growth leading to a substantial improvement in neurological function.

"Niacin essentially re-wires the brain which has very exciting potential for use in humans," says Dr. Chopp. "The results of this study may also open doors in other areas of neurological medicine, including brain injury."

Andrew Russman, D.O., is the principal investigator of the team at Henry Ford Hospital who will evaluate in clinical trials whether niacin improves recovery for human stroke patients.

"If we are able to prove that treating patients with niacin helps to restore neurological function after stroke, we're opening a whole new avenue of treatment for the leading cause of serious long-term disability in adults," says Dr. Russman.

Funding for animal study: National Institutes of Health.

Funding for clinical trial now underway: Harris Stroke Fund.

Henry Ford Hospital Neurologist Receives Top Honor

Oct. 10, 2008 CONTACT: Dwight Angell (313) 876-8709 Dangell1@hfhs.org Lori Ann Schuh, M.D., a senior staff neurologist at Henry Ford Hospital,has been chosen to receive a 2009 Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach award from the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education. The annual awards, selected from a large pool of nominees, honor outstanding teachers and leaders in graduate medical education. The Courage to Teach Award is given to program directors, nominated by their peers and students, who have innovative residency program curricula, and who have improved graduate medical education and served as exemplary role models for residents. The award is named for Parker J. Palmer, Ph.D., a sociologist and teacher who wrote The Courage to Teach. Dr. Schuh is the residency program director for the department of Neurology, a position she has held since January 2003. Dr. Schuh graduated from UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School with additional training at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan Hospitals. She is board certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology. Besides Henry Ford Hospital, Dr. Schuh also sees patients at Henry Ford Medical Center –Taylor.

Minds of Medicine: Preventing Stroke Airs Oct. 4 on WXYZ-TV 7

Contact: Dwight Angell (313) 876-8709 dangell1@hfhs.org Also known as a brain attack, stroke has become the third leading killer of Americans, ranking behind diseases of the heart and all forms of cancer. Each year about 750,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke. Although the cause of stroke - a clot or rupture in a blood vessel of the brain – is known, many people still know very little about the symptoms that precede a stroke. But new procedures and techniques are giving patients a chance to preempt a stroke, helping to avoid the devastating effects that can come when it strikes. The program, Minds of Medicine: Preventing Stroke, airs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, on WXYZ-TV/Channel 7. It is the latest in a series of medical shows locally produced in cooperation with WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 and Henry Ford Health System. Hosted by Paul W. Smith, morning radio personality for WJR AM 760, the program provides an inside look at the doctors and nurses at one of the nation’s top-rated hospitals. The show focuses on three areas of stroke: ● Patients who suffer stroke are faced with serious, many times permanent damage. Whether it is slurred speech or paralysis, these symptoms are a difficult and often life-changing result. To help these patients, researchers at Henry Ford are looking at new ways to repair a brain after it’s been attacked. Helping to lead this research is Dr. Michael Chopp. Dr. Chopp is one of a handful of researchers in the country currently working on an area known as brain remodeling. He develops and tests different cell-based therapies as well as compounds that may generate new brain cells in animals and improve function after a stroke. ● Strokes can occur two ways. One is through a blocked blood vessel known as an ischemic stroke. The second is through bleeding within and around the brain. This is known as a hemorrhagic stroke. This second type of stroke can be caused from a burst aneurysm. Celia Brennan of Sterling Heights has come to Henry Ford Hospital to prevent her aneurysm from bursting and, hopefully save her life. To obliterate her aneurysm, Henry Ford Medical Group neurosurgeon Dr. Donald Seyfried will clip off the vessels leading to the aneurysm on the surface of Celia’s brain. Once the clips are in place, the aneurysm will immediately shrink and the danger will be eliminated. It’s an operation that will take several hours and demand extreme surgical precision. ● Patricia Mullens of Canton had no idea what she was experiencing was the early stages of stroke. Also known as transient monocular blindness, this early warning sign of stroke can mean a brain attack is on the way. Patricia immediately went to the emergency department at the Henry Ford Medical Center – Fairlane in Dearborn. As it turns out, her quick reaction may have saved her life. The solution for Patricia is a delicate, minimally invasive procedure by interventional neuro-radiologist, Dr. William Sanders. Much like an angioplasty for the heart, doctors will use catheters to travel into Patricia’s carotid artery in her neck. Once there, they will use a balloon to help create a clearer pathway in her closing arteries. A filtering device will be deployed to prevent small fragments from creating new blockages to ensure safety. Throughout this procedure she will be completely awake. The show is repeated 12:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6.

Drug Study for Brain Cancer Shows Promising Results

CONTACT: Dwight Angell Dangell1@hfhs.org A clinical study conducted at Henry Ford Hospital on the use of a drug to extend the survival of patients with the most common and aggressive type of brain cancer, has yielded results that were significantly better than expected. The randomized Phase II study focused on patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), whose cancer had recurred after first- or second-line therapy. The study revealed that more than a third who were treated with Avastin (bevacizumab) alone, as well as more than half of those treated with Avastin in combination with the chemotherapy drug irinotecan, lived without further progression of the disease for a period of six months. In addition, no new or unexpected adverse effects from the use of Avastin were observed during the study. “This is very encouraging news,” says Tom Mikkelsen, M.D., a neuro-oncologist who is the study’s principal investigator at Henry Ford and co-director of the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center. "Historical estimates suggest that only 15 percent of patients with this aggressive type of brain cancer live without their cancer progressing within six months. Although gliomas [fast-growing malignant brain tumors] are nearly always incurable, use of a drug like Avastin may help to buy precious time for patients, as well as to preserve their physical and mental functions longer than was previously possible.” Avastin is a therapeutic antibody designed to inhibit Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), a protein that stimulates development of new blood vessels in a process known as angiogenesis, while maintaining existing tumor vessels. By binding to VEGF, Avastin acts as an anti-angiogenesis agent that chokes off the blood supply to tumors, which in turn inhibits their growth and metastasis. The national study is sponsored by Genentech and Henry Ford Hospital is one of the large study sites. “The same process that makes gliomas so deadly may turn out to be exactly the same thing that makes it possible to slow down their progression,” Dr. Mikkelsen says. "This is a very significant advance in the battle to control these aggressive tumors because it could lead to treatment options where none existed previously for patients with recurrent disease.” Previously Avastin had been used in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer and lung cancer. Because of its demonstrated success rate with these cancers, Avastin currently is being studied worldwide in more than 300 clinical trials for 20 different tumor types. “With currently approved therapies, the chances of suppressing GBM are poor at less than 10 percent,” says Dr. Mikkelsen. “This type of targeted therapy using Avastin may prove to be the best new hope we have for helping patients with recurrent disease who previously had few options available to them.” According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the five-year survival rate for patients with GBM is 3 percent, a figure that has not changed in more than 25 years. The ACS estimates there will be 20,500 new cases of brain cancer and 12,740 brain cancer deaths in 2007. # # #

Program for Stroke Survivors and Friends Hosted by Henry Ford Hospital

Henry Ford Hospital is hosting a day-long program for survivors, families, caregivers and friends to provide up-to-date information on stroke prevention, recovery, interventions, resources and improving quality of life. The program, sponsored by the department of Neurology at Henry Ford Hospital, takes place from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 16, at the Detroit Yacht Club. For nearly 20 years, Henry Ford Hospital has been designated a Stroke Center by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with a team able to rapidly assess, triage and deliver treatment within 60-90 minutes of stroke onset. In addition, Henry Ford has earned the Joint Commission’s Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers. The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval recognizes hospitals that make exceptional efforts to deliver better stroke care. Topics at the program include: • Overview of Stroke • Prevention of Stroke • Rehabilitation after Stroke • Speech and Language Therapy after Stroke • Nutrition after Stroke • Caregiving and Resources after Stroke The event costs $10 a person and includes a light lunch. To register or for additional information, call (313) 916.8088 or e-mail fdevos@hfhs.org. The Detroit Yacht Club is located on One Riverbank Rd. on Belle Isle.

15th Anniversary Celebration Shoot For a Cure Event

Shoot For a Cure, the 15th anniversary celebration benefiting research and treatment of neurological diseases at Henry Ford Hospital, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 at the Andiamo Italia Banquet Center in Warren. This year’s celebration will honor Bloomfield resident Penny B. Blumenstein, a long-time and devoted supporter of Henry Ford Health System. The evening will include an auction, dinner and a performance by the Scintas, voted one of the top five groups in Las Vegas, whose act includes music, impressions and comedy. Shoot For A Cure benefits the Neuroscience Institute, including the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center and Will Robinson Neurosurgery Fund at Henry Ford Hospital. Over the past 14 years, money raised from the event has been used to support research and treatment for neurological diseases including brain tumors, stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, spine disorders and trauma to the brain or spinal cord. Honorary co-chairs are Gail and Mark Kelley, M.D., of Bloomfield Hills and Nancy Schlichting of Bloomfield Township. Event co-chairs are Zelly and Tom Mikkelsen, M.D., of West Bloomfield, Pam and Mark Rosenblum, M.D., of West Bloomfield and Rosalie and Joe Vicari of Clinton Township. Patron tickets for the event are $175 a person; Benefactor tickets are $250 a person; Gold tickets are $500 and Diamond tickets are $1,000 per person. For more information or to make reservations call (313) 874-4088 or log on to www.henryford.com/giving.

Henry Ford to Host Women's Neurological Seminar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 13, 2007 CONTACT: Dwight Angell (313) 876-8709 dangell1@hfhs.org Special Conference: Women and Neurological Diseases DETROIT – A free educational conference focusing on women and neurological diseases - and staffed primarily by women physicians from Henry Ford Hospital - will take place from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Troy Marriott, 200 W. Big Beaver Rd. The conference will focus on coping with diseases such as headache, back pain, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and stroke. The woman-to-woman program will include female physicians from Henry Ford Hospital, and other specialists, to present the most current clinical and research information in neurological disorders to women of all ages. The keynote speaker will be Kimberlydawn Wisdom, M.D., Michigan Surgeon General and vice president of Community Health for Henry Ford Health System. There will be concurrent breakout sessions in the following areas: • Epilepsy/sleep • Dementia/Movement disorders • Multiple sclerosis/ALS • Headache/back pain • Stroke/low vision /caregiver support The conference is free though prior registration is required. To register, call 1-800-746-9473.

Henry Ford Hospital Brings New Hope to Stutterers

William Dunbar was always drawn to careers where communication skills were critical. He was among Oakland County’s first paramedics in 1980, worked in social services and opened his own video production company in 1984. However, his stuttering has had a profound impact on his life. Dunbar began experiencing severe stuttering at the age of 5. The 52-year-old Holly Township resident tried many things over the years to address the issue, eventually improving to a moderate stutter. He worked around his verbal challenge by avoiding certain words that were difficult for him. When a big part of a job involves talking, removing a lot of words from daily use makes communicating a real challenge. When he found out about a programmable, auditory feedback device called SpeechEasy®, he hoped it could help him. The breakthrough treatment has been shown to enhance fluency in those who stutter. Two months ago, Dunbar received a SpeechEasy® device at Henry Ford Hospital. Since then, his speech pattern has achieved normal fluency, and he is stutter free. “Stuttering is a condition that can profoundly affect a person’s life,” says Jennifer Peacock, M.A., assistant director, division of Speech-Language Sciences and Disorders at Henry Ford. “While not a cure, the SpeechEasy® fluency device is a remarkable treatment option that brings new hope to people who stutter.” Henry Ford is the only hospital in Michigan that is evaluating, fitting and training patients in the use of the device. Currently used by more than 5,000 Americans, from age 10 through adults, the device digitally replays the patient’s own voice in the ear, with a slight delay and frequency modification. The brain interprets the sound as speaking in unison, recreating the “choral effect” such as reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with a group or singing in a choir. It has been documented for decades that a person’s stutter is dramatically reduced or eliminated while speaking or singing with others, but only recently have scientists been able to re-create the experience in a small, wearable device for everyday use. Dunbar wears his SpeechEasy® device daily like a hearing aid. “This device incorporates advanced miniature digital technology, and can be custom programmed to each patient,” says Peacock. “More than 90 percent of users report a heightened sense of confidence and freedom, as well as improved social and professional relationships. Although it may not be appropriate for all who are evaluated, this device has the potential to help the majority of those who stutter.” Stuttering is a disorder characterized by frequent repetitions and pauses that interfere with the normal flow of speech. A neurologically based disorder, it is not caused by psychological or emotional factors. It affects more than 3 million Americans. Famous people who stutter have included Winston Churchill, Jimmy Stewart, Marilyn Monroe, James Earl Jones, Bruce Willis and Mel Tillis. For more information on the SpeechEasy® fluency device, or to schedule an evaluation, call (313) 916-4605.

Minds of Medicine: Preventing Stroke

DETROIT – Also known as a brain attack, stroke has become the third leading killer of Americans, ranking behind diseases of the heart and all forms of cancer. Each year about 750,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke. Although the cause of stroke - a clot or rupture in a blood vessel of the brain – is known, many people still know very little about the symptoms that precede a stroke. But new procedures and techniques are giving patients a chance to preempt a stroke, helping to avoid the devastating effects that can come when it strikes. The program, Minds of Medicine: Preventing Stroke, airs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, on WXYZ-TV/Channel 7. It is the latest in a series of medical shows locally produced in cooperation with WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 and Henry Ford Health System. Hosted by Paul W. Smith, morning radio personality for WJR AM 760, the program provides an inside look at the doctors and nurses at one of the nation’s top-rated hospitals. The show focuses on three areas of stroke: • Patients who suffer stroke are faced with serious, many times permanent damage. Whether it is slurred speech or paralysis, these symptoms are a difficult and often life-changing result. To help these patients, researchers at Henry Ford are looking at new ways to repair a brain after it’s been attacked. Helping to lead this research is Dr. Michael Chopp. Dr. Chopp is one of a handful of researchers in the country currently working on an area known as brain remodeling. He develops and tests different cell-based therapies as well as compounds that may generate new brain cells in animals and improve function after a stroke. • Strokes can occur two ways. One is through a blocked blood vessel known as an ischemic stroke. The second is through bleeding within and around the brain. This is known as a hemorrhagic stroke. This second type of stroke can be caused from a burst aneurysm. Celia Brennan of Sterling Heights has come to Henry Ford Hospital to prevent her aneurysm from bursting and, hopefully save her life. To obliterate her aneurysm, Henry Ford Medical Group neurosurgeon Dr. Donald Seyfried will clip off the vessels leading to the aneurysm on the surface of Celia’s brain. Once the clips are in place, the aneurysm will immediately shrink and the danger will be eliminated. It’s an operation that will take several hours and demand extreme surgical precision. • Patricia Mullens of Canton had no idea what she was experiencing was the early stages of stroke. Also known as transient monocular blindness, this early warning sign of stroke can mean a brain attack is on the way. Patricia immediately went to the emergency department at the Henry Ford Medical Center – Fairlane in Dearborn. As it turns out, her quick reaction may have saved her life. The solution for Patricia is a delicate, minimally invasive procedure by interventional neuro-radiologist, Dr. William Sanders. Much like an angioplasty for the heart, doctors will use catheters to travel into Patricia’s carotid artery in her neck. Once there, they will use a balloon to help create a clearer pathway in her closing arteries. A filtering device will be deployed to prevent small fragments from creating new blockages to ensure safety. Throughout this procedure she will be completely awake.