Cervicocerebral arterial dissections are increasingly recognized as a cause of stroke, particularly in young people. The term “cervicocerebral arterial” refers to the arteries in the neck and brain, while the term “dissection” refers to a tear in the inner wall of a major artery. An arterial dissection leads to the intrusion of blood within the layers of the artery wall. Depending upon which layers blood collects, an arterial dissection can cause narrowing of the channel within the artery (termed stenosis), which restricts blood flow, or an aneurysmal dilation, meaning a localized, blood-filled bulge in the artery wall.
Archives for January 2008
Top 6 Most Important Cancer Advances of 2007
January 17, 2008 | by
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently published its third annual Clinical Cancer Advances report, Clinical Cancer Advances 2007: Major Research Advances in Cancer Treatment, Prevention and Screening [1]. It was developed under the guidance of a 21-person editorial board consisting of leading oncologists and cancer specialists, including specialty editors for each of the disease-specific and issue-specific sections. The report highlights 6 major advances in cancer research in 2007 and describes an additional 18 other findings of significant importance, demonstrating the pace of progress being made in cancer prevention, screening, treatment, epidemiology and survivorship.
Health Highlights – January 14, 2008
January 14, 2008 | by
Health Highlights is a biweekly summary of particularly interesting articles from credible sources of health and medical information that we follow & read. For a complete list of recommeded sources, see our links page.
- The Gene Genie Gone Awry? | Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You
The Gene Sherpa discusses false positives and educational shortcomings of most physicians with respect to genome scans.
- Livin’ La Vida Long Time | Mark’s Daily Apple
Mark describes the results of a study that determined 4 simple rules to live longer and healthier.
- Learner’s TV: Free Education Online | ScienceRoll
Berci describes a new online resource that provides free audio and video lectures, animations, live online tests and ebook downloads in many fields, including medicine, biology and chemistry.
- The REAL Cutting Edge of Medicine | Secundum Artem
N.B. writes about a promising new vaccine to control high blood pressure by stimulating the human immune system to produce antibodies to break down angiotensin II.
- You don’t have to exercise just think that you do | Dr Shock MD PhD
Dr Shock reviews a study that seems to challenge our basic assumptions about the relationship between mind and body.
- What is peer review, anyway? | BPR3
Dave discusses peer review and the use of the BPR3 icon to show where thoughtful discussions regarding serious research are taking place throughout the blogosphere.
Lack of Health Insurance Increases Risk of Cancer Death
January 7, 2008 | by
With all the recent discussion and debate by the presidential candidates regarding healthcare issues, I thought a study published last month in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians was quite timely. The study, titled Association of Insurance with Cancer Care Utilization and Outcomes, presents evidence that lack of adequate health insurance coverage is associated with reduced access to care and poorer outcomes for cancer patients [1]. The article further presents data on the association between health insurance status and screening, stage at diagnosis and survival for breast and colorectal cancer.
