Another case where its good to be a rat if you're going to have a stroke.
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=20689&CultureCode=en
Aussie scientists compete for British Council prize
A research team at the University of Adelaide has found a way to
reduce brain swelling, the most common cause of death after stroke.
Studies by doctoral student Renée Turner in the Department of
Pathology have shown that swelling in the brain seems to mimic a similar
process in the skin, and may well be amenable to treatment with drugs,
although these are yet to be developed.
“This potentially provides the first new clinical pathway to
reducing brain swelling in 50 years,” Turner says. “It should improve
the chances of survival after a stroke and reduce the risk of long-term
disabilities.”
Renée Turner is one of 16 young scientists presenting their research
to the public for the first time thanks to Fresh Science, a national
program sponsored by the Federal and Victorian Governments. One of the
Fresh Scientists will win a trip to the UK courtesy of British Council
Australia to present his or her work to the Royal Institution.
About 48,000 episodes of stroke occur in Australia each year, one every 11 minutes.
Brain swelling or oedema is a common complication of stroke. It
occurs when water accumulates in the brain, causing compression and
eventually death of brain tissue. The mechanism in the brain is unclear.
But in the skin, a similar process known as neurogenic inflammation is
triggered by nerve cells. This results in increased leakiness of blood
vessels and water accumulation in the skin tissue.
A compound known as substance P has been shown to contribute to this
swelling in the skin, Turner says. And blocking substance P reduces
skin tissue oedema.
“Until recently, neurogenic inflammation was not known to occur in
the brain following injury. Our laboratory has now shown that substance P
is released during stroke. And blocking substance P receptors following
stroke subsequently reduces brain swelling and improves outcome and
survival in rats.”
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