Stem cells for neonatal stroke- the future is here

When is the future for the rest of us survivors?

ASA - Dr. Mariel Jessup,  Whom are you going to assign to this task?

NSA - Mr. Baranski, Whom are you going to assign to this task?

WSO - Dr. Stephen Davis, Whom are you going to assign to this task?

http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2014.00207/full?

Stem Cells

In recent years stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential treatment for neonatal ischemic brain injury. The efficacy of cell- based therapies in restoring damaged brain tissue has been tested in a multitude of models for different CNS diseases. Several different stem and progenitor cell populations have been utilized as cell-based therapy, including neural stem cells, embryonic stem cells, human umbilical cord blood cells (HUBCs), hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Most stem cell types appear to enhance recovery to some extent (Pimentel-Coelho and Mendez-Otero, 2010). However, because of their low immunogenicity, availability and positive results obtained from preclinical studies, MSCs are a particularly promising candidate to repair the devastating effects that are associated with neonatal stroke. MSCs were first isolated and identified in bone marrow, but can now be isolated from many tissues, including adipose tissue, muscle, skin and extraembryonic tissues like the placenta, umbilical cord and Wharton's jelly. The latter sources are of particular interest for neonates that experience an ischemic event around the time of birth, at which time cells can be harvested and transplanted from an autologous source. MSCs derived from different sources have slightly different characteristics, but as of yet it is unknown whether this influences their therapeutic potential.

Our group and others have shown that administration of MSCs reduces lesion volume, provides positive effects on the white matter and improves motor function (van Velthoven et al., 2012). Numerous studies have been done under the premise that transplanted stem cells contribute to brain repair by directly replacing damaged or lost tissue. While there is evidence that transplanted cells undergo differentiation toward neuronal lineages, improved outcomes have been observed even when survival of transplanted cells is low and engrafted cells are absent. This suggests that rather than replacing damaged cells, transplanted cells may improve outcome via indirect mechanisms. For example, MSCs have been shown to secrete many factors that can influence important processes like apoptosis, neurogenesis, angiogenesis and synaptogenesis.

More pages at link.

Developing drugs to reduce brain impairment after stroke

Whom is going to write a request for proposal to researchers to solve this problem in humans? Dr. Jessup, Mr. Baranski? Isn't that exactly what a stroke association should be doing? Doesn't your board of directors have the best interests of stroke survivors at the top of the reasons for your organization existence?
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-03-drugs-brain-impairment.html
Current treatment for ischaemic stroke, which results from a blood clot, aren't very effective. But research published by my colleagues and I today in the journal Nature Communications shows an emerging drug treatment is effective in mice and could one day reduce the neurological impact in people who've suffered an ischaemic stroke.
By 2020, the World Health Organization predicts that worldwide, the number of years lost to disability resulting from stroke will reach 61 million. The economic burden is similarly massive, costing Australia $49.3 billion a year. So finding better treatments is crucial.
Brain inflammation after stroke
Quick treatment is one way to enhance the prospect of recovering from a stroke.
If patients are treated within around three hours of the stroke, the stroke-inducing clots can be broken down relatively efficiently using a substance called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). This allows the blood to start flowing again, supplying the brain with the oxygen required to keep the tissue alive.
But after the clot is removed and blood starts flowing, the body produces an unwanted neuroimmune response. This occurs because the damaged brain tissue contains elevated levels of molecules known as proinflammatory cytokines, which regulate the body's response to infection, inflammation and trauma.
These cytokines are able to recruit many other immune cells to the area, leading to further cell death.
Limiting the initial release of these cytokines should therefore help to decrease the excessive local inflammatory response, leading to a decrease in tissue damage and better patient outcomes.

More at link.

AAN: Beyond MS, Cannabis Unproven in Neurology

Of course nothing is proven because our stupid legislators haven't removed the Schedule I classification in order to test it out. I'm going to be using it after my next stroke for all these 13 reasons.
You'll have to ask your doctor exactly how to get some, Michigan is stupid that way, you have to grow your own and stroke is not one of the approved uses, although you can probably shoehorn it into the spasticity one.  I will do the 17 hour 10 minute drive to Denver. Although considering it took me two years to drive after the last stroke, the therapeutic time period has probably long passed. More reasons we need that great stroke association that actually advocates for survivors.  You'll have to contact Dr. Mariel L. Jessup, ASA president and Mr. James Baranski, NSA CEO directly to see what their organizations are doing about marijuana.

Beyond MS, Cannabis Unproven in Neurology

Antioxidants: The new frontier for translational research in cerebroprotection

This seems like important stuff for us to know but an intelligent medical person would need to translate what is being said here into some useful guidelines.
http://www.joacp.org/article.asp?issn=0970-9185;year=2014;volume=30;issue=2;spage=160;epage=171;aulast=Tewari

ASA - Dr. Mariel Jessup,  Whom are you going to assign to this task?

NSA - Mr. Baranski, Whom are you going to assign to this task?

WSO - Dr. Stephen Davis, Whom are you going to assign to this task?

The State of Alzheimer's Research, 2014

Where is the similar report for stroke?
ASA - Dr. Mariel Jessup?
NSA -  Jim Baranski?
WSO - Dr. Stephen Davis?
There is none because no one wants to do the hard work of defining everything that's wrong with stroke. And there is a f*cking lot wrong.
http://www.nyas.org/Publications/Ebriefings/Detail.aspx?cid=e7aa2db6-e559-44c9-b50e-18f31055ca26

No two strokes are alike: My story

Mr. Baranski stop repeating stupid statements like this:

"One of the tricky things about stroke is that no two strokes are alike," said Jim Baranski, chief executive officer of the National Stroke Association. "Each one is uniquely different. 

If you can't find the commonalities you aren't trying hard enough. You're just using that as an excuse to allow doctors to wash their hands of the fact that only 10% get full recovery from rehab

If you can't figure out a way to solve the commonalities get the hell out of the way and let more intelligent people solve it.
GAHH!!!!!
No two strokes are alike: My story

Dear Mr. Baranski, NSA CEO - Do you want to help stroke survivors or not?

Then ask survivors what they want instead of assuming that you have any idea what they need.
 I want 100% recovery, where is your information on that?  No money for you until that is available free to all.  This email request for money is appalling.

Having trouble? View this message on our website.

Dear dean, Did you know that all gifts made to National Stroke Association before Dec. 31 are 100% tax deductible? It’s easy to make your gift online to support the needs of the stroke community and keep all National Stroke Association resources free. This year, we’ve had more than 55,000 downloads of key resources like the Stroke Risk Scorecard, Hope and Careliving℠ guides. And, each of these downloads was free and made available because of donations from our generous supporters. Your donation to National Stroke Association helps us grow the resources that are available to the stroke community and, if made before Dec. 31, it is 100% tax deductible. Ask us what we want - the crap you put out there is worthless. As we approach the Dec. 31 deadline, we are so thankful for the gifts and support that we have received this year. Your engagement confirms to us that there is a growing need within the stroke community for more support to navigate the road to recovery. Your year-end gift will help make those resources a reality. Thankfully, Jim Baranski Chief Executive Officer National Stroke Association

Feeling grateful for you today - Jim Baranski, National Stroke Association

His email today and my response.

Dear dean,

As we begin to look back at 2013, I am proud of what National Stroke Association has accomplished this year—our growing programs that support the stroke community, the launch of the Stroke Help Line^℠ and the expansion of StrokeSmart^® through www.strokesmart.org. It is because of the increasing partnership of the stroke community that we are able to continue to our work.

And I am so grateful for your support.

I am giving thanks this year to you. When you became a part of National Stroke Association’s community, you showed me that our presence is valuable. When you attended a program, read our materials or signed up for StrokeSmart^® magazine, I felt that our work was paying off. When you answered surveys to help us serve you better, I was ready to make changes to meet your needs. And when you asked what you could do to help us do more, I knew we had a real community.

Thank you.

You drive National Stroke Association to continue to find new and innovative ways to support the stroke community. Thank you so much for standing with us over our 29-year history. We’ve been able to start new projects and raise stroke awareness in more compelling ways. For example, our Support Group and Community Outreach programming has distributed over 400 Programs-in-a-box to supports groups across the country. We know this program is an opportunity to make a significant impact and meet a real need to stroke survivors, caregivers and family members.

You have helped us reach out to even more people in exciting new ways that weren't possible when our organization began almost three decades ago.

Thank you for standing with us over the years—you help make all of our work possible.

With thanks,

Jim Baranski
Chief Executive Officer


Dear Jim,
When I look over 2013 I see a vast untapped font of knowledge in stroke survivors that you are not contacting. The stroke bloggers out there, Amy, Barb, Dean,Dr. Ellen,Grace, Jo, Joyce, Rebecca, Scott, Nina, Linda, Marcelle, Kate, Jim,
know what needs to be done and your organization is not addressing any of it. With 10% full recovery and only 12% efficacy of tPA there are major opportunities that need addressing. Do you want to be known as the organization that solved the stroke problem? Then convene us knowledgeable survivors with your best people to create  5, 10, 15 and 25 year strategic plans. I consider your leadership a complete failure!
Stroke Tribe Dean

The public is dangerously misinformed about stroke.

From a NSA email. Damn right it is, and you are a major part of the problem, pushing F.A.S.T. as if it is a solution. Its not. You could probably save even more lives and have much less disability if the neuronal cascade of death is solved. I've even provided 177 possibilities needing research.
Sorry Jim, I blame you for not driving to real solutions to stroke, not just handing out lazy press releases. You're the CEO of the NSA, do something with that power or let someone else take over.
http://nsa.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=23041.0&dlv_id=31343
Dear dean,

Ruth’s story shows the importance of the public knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke. Her husband acted FAST and got her life saving treatment. National Stroke Association has long championed FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) and wants you to know how it can save your life or the life of a loved one.

Ruth’s Story “I was sitting in my car talking to my husband by phone. I was really tired and the phone fell right out of my hand. I realized immediately the right side of my body was lagging. I managed to hit the redial button and said, ‘Listen, I only have a few minutes, I’m having a stroke.’ But my husband heard only gibberish. My husband, a retired fireman, recognized the garbled speech as the sign of a stroke. He rushed to my side and took me to the hospital where I was administered life-saving Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA). Had I not had this treatment when I did, the outcome of my stroke might have been very different. Today, nearly two years after my stroke, I am back to my old self.  I am so thankful.”

With your help, we can do more to educate the community about stroke. You probably know that a stroke can happen to anyone, at any time. By making a gift to National Stroke Association today, you can help us ensure that more people know about stroke and act FAST too.

We need your help.

The public is dangerously  misinformed about stroke. It is our goal to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke. We’re working hard each day to reach that goal, but we can do more if you make a life-saving gift today. It’s easy and every dollar makes a difference.

And, this year, your gift will go farther. Through a generous donation your gift to National Stroke Association will be doubled. That means $25 becomes $50 to reach more people with lifesaving information about stroke prevention and treatment. Knowledge saves lives.

We appreciate your consideration this holiday season. If you can, please make a gift by Dec. 31 so it will be doubled by our matching gift opportunity.

Sincerely,

Jim Baranski
Chief Executive Officer
National Stroke Association

"prisoners of the past" and "pioneers of the future." - Stroke

This comes from Newt Gingrichs' new book "Breakout,".
the divide between those who think the party needs no new ideas, no positive message, and no fundamental change on the one hand, and those who want to be aggressive about breaking out to a better future on the other.
I'll apply it to the stroke world.
Most of the stroke world is still enamored of tPA and the F.A.S.T. campaign.
tPA was approved in 1996 and has an appalling 12% efficacy.
F.A.S.T.  assumes that getting to the hospital fast will save the brain. This is an incorrect assumption due to tPA failures and no protocol to stop the neuronal cascade of death.  The pushers of F.A.S.T., all the stroke associations, are rooted in the past and can't get rid of the blinders they have put on themselves. No new ideas.

ASA - Dr. Sacco,

NSA - Mr. Baranski, 

WSO - Dr. Stephen Davis

are all prisoners of the past, none have reached out to stroke survivors and are just working on tweaking the status quo.
I don't see how the boards of directors can justify such failure of leadership.

The WSO has come up with the pathetic 2010 Stroke: working toward a prioritized world agenda

The status quo will not be enough for the coming tsunami of stroke.

 

Janice needs more

Another press release email from the National Stroke Association. Janice would have much less disability if the NSA would find out how to stop the neuronal cascade of death.
Mr. Baranski, Why don't you talk to all the stroke bloggers out there that know exactly what is needed to prevent disability rather than reacting to it after the fact. I will never support your organization until you change your focus to preventing disability by stopping the neuronal cascade of death.
Mr. Baranski if you really want to do something useful for the stroke world, this would be a great starting place;

If I could do anything as a Health Activist - stroke rehab 

I dare you Mr. Baranski.

Are you afraid of us?

Having trouble? View this message on our website.

Dear dean,

Recently, I had a conversation with a stroke survivor, Janice. She has shared with us, many times, her desire to more effectively provide hope and resources to her support group. We’ve provided her access to webinars, educational tools on our website, and information on how to get involved with our Stroke Advocacy Network.

But, like many stroke survivors, Janice needs more.

Janice shared, “New stroke survivors need to know that there is life at the end of the tunnel. There are resources, but we need more.”

I couldn’t agree with Janice more. The stroke community needs more support to build hope and regain their dignity. National Stroke Association is committed to not only providing hope, but also creating the tools to help survivors take the next step in recovery.

But we need your help. We need you to help raise more dollars for the creation and implementation of the support that the survivor community is asking for. We know the stroke community is facing issues with finances, insurance navigation, returning to work and many other hurdles.

With your help, we can continue to increase post-stroke support to those in need. It’s easy to get started today by creating a personal fundraising page. Let us help you share you story and make a significant impact on long-term support for the stroke community.

Thank you for joining this fight with us.

Jim Baranski
Chief Executive Officer

PS. Every dollar makes a difference, so please join us today in raising much-needed funds to support the vast needs of the stroke community.

Every second counts

Another email from the National Stroke Association. This is precisely why they will never become a great stroke association. They push all the responsibility for recognizing stroke and getting yourself to a hospital that can't with any degree of assurance prevent disability. They are a one-trick pony and stroke needs dozens of arrows in their quiver.
Like these objective ways of diagnosing stroke. one of these 17 ways.
Specific risk reduction steps like these 11 referenced and specific ideas.
These treatments in the first week. My 30 actions in the immediate aftermath of my next stroke.
Do you see any of that from this organization that has hundreds of employees, doctors, and Ph.Ds employed?  Damn I'll be extremely arrogant and say I'm smarter than all of these employees combined
Someday Mr. Baranski you will talk to me and you will have a lot to answer for on the sad state of stroke research/rehab.

Dear Dean,  When stroke hits, every second counts. On average, it takes between three and six hours for someone to get to the emergency room once he or she starts showing signs of a stroke. But for many, immediate  medical care can be the  difference between life and death. Would you recognize stroke warning signs right away? Or—like too many— would you be left not knowing that you have a potentially life-threatening situation on your hands? You can make a life-saving difference for yourself or another person—  you just need to know  how to act FAST. F = FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? A = ARMS Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange? T = TIME If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to  call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest stroke center or hospital. At National Stroke Association, we are committed to reducing the incidence and impact of stroke. The life-saving information available in this email is so important, we’ve made it available on convenient wallet-sized cards. This wallet card is an easy way to make sure you’re ready to act FAST when stroke strikes. Download your free FAST wallet card today and make sure you’re ready to act FAST when stroke hits. The more knowledge we share, the more lives we will save.  Together, we can stop stroke. Thank you for standing with us and thousands of stroke champions dedicated to raising stroke awareness. Sincerely, Jim Baranski Chief Executive Officer National Stroke Association

9707 E. Easter Lane, Suite B, Centennial, CO 80112
1-800-STROKES (787-6537)
National Stroke Association © 201

Is anyone listening for stroke?

Having published almost 4000 blog entries on stroke, considering the number of views I've had, and my  naming leaders of stroke groups. I'm amazed that I have not been contacted by any stroke group, medical stroke doctor or stroke researcher. But then I'm a stupid non-medical stroke survivor not worth listening to. I'm terribly stroke-addled to the normals.
 Do they all really think they are doing the best job they can?
They're not, they are all failing by any study of results.

ASA - Dr. Sacco, 

NSA - Mr. Baranski, 

WSO - Dr. Stephen Davis

I guarantee that after they have a stroke and find out the reality of lack of results they might have the 'come to Jesus moment'. Do you want to wait that long? Or be proactive and demand results now.
This was written because I saw the book Magnificent Mistakes in Mathematics / by Alfred S. Posamentier and Ingmar Lehmann.
Time is Brain, you know. F.A.S.T.  How many neurons will they let die because of inaction?
 

Stroke awareness month - May

Big Whoopee. We'll get tons of reminders about F.A.S.T., prevention ideas and other feel good items from the presenters. It may make them feel useful but if they really wanted to be helpful they would support a Great stroke association (it doesn't yet exist) that would actually do hands on work to prevent neuronal death. Telling me that the Mediterranean diet reduces my stroke risk by x% may make you feel better but does very little good in the grand scheme of stroke. Instead, creating a national stroke plan similar to the national alzheimers plan would be a much better use of time. Whomever created this is just like a politician, make it look like something is being accomplished without actually doing anything useful.
Dr. Sacco, Mr. Baranski your reply? Will you actually work on stopping neuronal death?

NSA - Act FAST for Stroke Challenge

If I thought that they had any useful ideas on educating medical staff I might consider helping them. But I actually consider them a hindrance because they aren't doing anything specific to find out how to stop the neuronal cascade of death. Mr. Baranski,I look forward to meeting you sometime at one of your board of director meetings. It will be a hoot.
The current email from them:

Having trouble? View this message on our website.

Dear dean, As a member of our Stroke Advocacy Network, you understand the need for taking action to support the needs of the stroke community. National Stroke Association is committed to providing the latest stroke education to the professional healthcare community to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke in the U.S. Please join the 2013 Act FAST for Stroke Challenge and share with your friends and family the unmet need for additional healthcare professional education. By participating, you can increase the quality of and access to rehabilitative care that survivors need in the aftermath of their stroke. You can help National Stroke Association increase educational support to: Long-term rehabilitation facilities Assisted and nursing facilities Support groups Emergency room professionals Get started today and register for the 2013 Act FAST for Stroke Challenge. Help us reach our goal of $75,000 today! Kind regards, Jim Baranski Chief Executive Officer

BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative

A Great Stroke Association would already have a great list of research questions to be answered as part of this. The leader would be personally involved.
1. How exactly does neuroplasticity work? So we can create protocols that work.
2. How do you measure brain reserve? How do you create brain reserve? How much brain reserve is necessary to not get felled by dementia, Alzheimers or stroke?
3. What neurogenesis is possible? How do we measure it? How do we control it?
Mr. Baranski, you were there, what are you doing to assist in this? Not just getting it thru Congress.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infographics/brain-initiative
And the wackos/conspiracy theorists among us.
Obama's Brain-Control Map to Come