According to Israeli researchers, the antibiotic minocycline, a derivative of tetracycline, appears to be useful in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, which is described in our program, Advances in Stroke Treatment (656).

Unlike current medications being used in the acute phase, minocycline can be administered up to 24 hours after onset of symptoms and still be beneficial. This drug has long been prescribed for many years to fight bacterial infections and acne. Over the last ten years, research has shown its efficacy in animal models for neurologic conditions such as Parkinson's, Huntington's and Lou Gehrig's diseases. The findings were published in the Oct. 2 issue of Neurology.

Youngsters can have heart attacks. Physicians in Ohio have documented nine instances in just over a decade in which all of the patients lacked common risk for factors for MI found in adults, which are described in Cardiac Disorders: Heart Failure (116), and Cardiac Disorders: Coronary Artery Disease (115).

It is believed that pediatric MIs are spasm-related attacks rather than due to narrow, plaque-filled arteries that burst, leading to a clot that blocks blood flow. The cause of these spasms is unknown at this time. The heart attacks of the nine children were diagnosed using standard studies used for adults: blood tests that looked at cardiac enzymes and heart-imaging.

According to Dr. Lane, the good news was that "In most cases we didn't see any permanent long-term injury in the heart function," and none of the patients has experienced any long-term problems.

• October 18, 2007: Alcohol, Even In Moderation, May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer
• October 11, 2007: Depression and Migraines Linked to Victims of Child Abuse
• October 04, 2007: Nurses Now Affected by Malpractice Claims
• September 27, 2007: Braden Scale Most Effective for Identifying Risk for Pressure Ulcers
• September 20, 2007: New Guidelines for Controlling Asthma in Adults and Children
• September 13, 2007: New Data Analyses Techniques Show Long-Term Survival Better for Cancer Patients
• September 6, 2007: Cortical Stimulation Gives New Hope to Stroke Patients
• August 30, 2007: 50% of All Cancer Deaths can be Linked to Obesity and Smoking
• August 23, 2007: Physical Activity Found to Improve Cardiovascular Risk in Children with Type 1 Diabetes
• August 16, 2007: Hostility and Depression Harmful to Men's Immune System
• August 7, 2007: Decrease in Women's Use of Hormone Therapy Linked to Drop in Breast Cancer
• August 2, 2007: Use of SSRI's Down in Teens While Suicide Number Rises
• July 26, 2007: New Definitions from the International Diabetes Federation

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