(Press-News.org) Researchers from 15 countries, led by Amsterdam UMC, have developed a way to predict which patients are at risk of epilepsy after a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVT). CVT is a type of stroke that typically affects women between the ages of 20 and 50. The prediction model is now available worldwide free of charge and research it is based on is published today in JAMA Neurology.
"We hope that as many physicians as possible will use this score to better treat and educate CVT patients across the world," says lead researcher and neurologist at Amsterdam UMC, Jonathan Coutinho.
CVT occurs when a clot blocks the veins that drain blood from the brain, preventing blood from draining properly. In the Netherlands, it affects 250 people every year, three-quarters of whom are women, occurring mainly in younger people, between 20 and 50 years old. One in ten of these patients develops epilepsy after the stroke, often months later, as a result of the damage to their brain damage.
"These patients usually have to take medication for life and epilepsy has, naturally, a negative impact on their quality of life. Until now, it was not possible to predict which patients have the highest risk of developing epilepsy after sinus thrombosis," says Coutinho.
Due to the relative rarity of the disease, it is difficult to collect data from a sufficient number of patients. The Amsterdam UMC team therefore collaborated with researchers from 15 countries, including more than 10 centres in the United States. Together, they analysed data from over 2,000 patients from 1994 to 2022, focusing on data from patients who developed epilepsy between 7 days and 3 years after their stroke.
By predicting which patients are at a greater risk of developing epilepsy, healthcare professionals also learn which patients are likely to need epilepsy medication in the long term. This facilitates the development of personalised treatment plans and allows the treatment team to prepare the patient for possible epileptic seizures in the future. The patient can then take precautions, for example by no longer driving a car.
"Because it mainly affects women at an age when they are in the middle of their careers and maybe starting a family, it is important for them to know if they should take epilepsy into account," explains Coutinho.
"We hope that this score will also help healthcare providers in the guidance of CVT patients and that it will contribute to follow-up research into treatment with anti-seizure medication. Ultimately, we want to completely prevent epilepsy after CVT," he adds. This research and the worldwide online availability of the prediction model show the power of international academic collaboration, especially in rare diseases where there are few patients per country.
How does the DIAS3 scoring prediction model work?
On the basis of 6 indicators, it is possible to predict the risk of epilepsy in an individual patient after this type of stroke. These data are already routinely collected in patients with CVT. The 6 indicators used in the model are (1) age, (2) a cerebral haemorrhage, (3) seizures in the first 7 days, (4) status epilepticus (epileptic seizure that does not stop on its own) in the first 7 days, (5) subdural hematoma (haemorrhage between the outer two membranes of the brain) and (6) a surgical procedure in which the skull is (partially) lifted to prevent swelling of the brain. With these data, the computational model can predict each individual patient's risk of epilepsy.
The DIAS3 score is accessible online to all healthcare providers worldwide via the website of the International Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Consortium
END
Amsterdam UMC-led researchers develop way to predict epilepsy after rare stroke
2024-10-21
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
National trends in infant mortality in the US after Dobbs
2024-10-21
About The Study: Infant mortality was higher than expected, overall and among those with congenital anomalies, for several months after the Dobbs decision in the U.S. No post-Dobbs months (i.e., no months after June 2022) showed lower than expected infant mortality. These findings are consistent with the increase in infant mortality found in Texas following the state’s abortion ban.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Parvati Singh, PhD, email singh.1704@osu.edu.
To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/
(doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.4276)
Editor’s ...
Stalking ribosomes: How cancer cells pull poker faces
2024-10-21
STALKING RIBOSOMES: HOW CANCER CELLS PULL POKER FACES
The protein factories of our cells are much more diverse than we thought they were. Scientists from the Netherlands Cancer Institute have now shown that cancer cells can use these so-called ribosomes to boost their invisibility cloak, helping them hide from the immune system. The team publishes their findings in Cell today. “These findings make us change how we think about ribosomes.”
Our immune system is constantly monitoring our body. In order to survive, cancer cells need to evade this ...
At-home brain stimulation for depression is safe and effective, according to research from UTHealth Houston, King’s College London, and University of East London
2024-10-21
A device that delivers direct stimulation to the brain was found to be a safe and effective means of treating depression at home, according to a new study by researchers at UTHealth Houston; the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London; and the University of East London.
The research was published in Nature Medicine on Oct. 21, 2024.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of noninvasive brain stimulation that applies a weak, direct current of between 0.5 to 2 milliampere to the scalp via two electrodes. It is already commonly used in clinics to treat conditions such as psychosis ...
A 37% drop in overdose deaths from drugs mixed with opioids – fentanyl included
2024-10-21
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Expanded treatment options, increased naloxone distribution and targeted education campaigns likely led to a 37% reduction in overdose deaths from opioids combined with stimulant drugs other than cocaine, according to the results of a large federally funded study.
The finding came from a planned study of secondary outcomes of the HEALing (Helping to End Addiction Long-Term) Communities Study (HCS), which tested an intervention encompassing data-driven adoption of evidence-based practices for reducing overdose deaths in Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio.
Death rates from specific combinations of ...
Research spotlight: Investigating strategies to help clinicians and patients navigate prescription costs
2024-10-21
Hussain S. Lalani, MD, MPH, MSc, of the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is the lead author of a paper published in JAMA, “Strategies to Help Patients Navigate High Prescription Drug Costs.”
How would you summarize your study for a lay audience?
Prescription drugs can be expensive for patients, and many clinicians do not know how to respond when costs are too high. We reviewed the benefits and limitations of seven strategies that clinicians can use to help their patients navigate high-prescription drugs. These include co-payment cards, patient assistance ...
Betelgeuse Betelgeuse? Bright star Betelgeuse likely has a ‘Betelbuddy’ stellar companion
2024-10-21
The 10th-brightest star in the night sky, Betelgeuse, may not be on the brink of exploding as a supernova, according to a new study of the star’s brightening and dimming. Instead, recent research shows that the observed pulsing of the starlight is probably caused by an unseen companion star orbiting Betelgeuse.
Formally named Alpha Ori B, the “Betelbuddy” (as astrophysicist Jared Goldberg calls it) acts like a snowplow as it orbits Betelgeuse, pushing light-blocking dust out of the way and temporarily making Betelgeuse seem brighter. Goldberg and his colleagues present their simulations of this process in ...
SwRI and JPL co-led study offers insights into mysterious features on airless worlds
2024-10-21
SAN ANTONIO — October 21, 2024—A Southwest Research Institute researcher collaborated with a team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to attempt to explain the presence of mysterious flow features that exist on the surfaces of airless celestial bodies, such as the asteroids Vesta and Ceres, explored recently by the NASA Dawn mission, or Jupiter’s moon Europa, which will soon be explored in detail by the NASA Europa Clipper mission that includes SwRI’s involvement.
In a new paper published in The Planetary Science Journal, its lead author, SwRI’s Dr. Michael J. Poston, and a team of researchers outline how post-impact conditions, ...
Artificial ‘nose’ can sniff out damaged fruit and spoiled meat
2024-10-21
Although smell has historically played an important role in the fight against diseases such as the plague and tuberculosis, the human nose is generally not sensitive enough to be used as a reliable diagnostic tool.
However, a new artificial ‘nose’ inspired by our sense of smell could now make it possible to detect undiagnosed disease, hazardous gases, and food that is starting to spoil.
And it is all made possible with technology that already exists.
Surrounded by antennas
What do your mobile phone, computer and TV have in common? Antennas.
“We are literally surrounded by technology that communicates using antenna technology,” said Michael ...
Tube spinning process: Recent advances and challenges
2024-10-21
Amidst the sustainable evolution of the economy and society, the issues of energy scarcity and environmental degradation have gained increasing prominence, making energy conservation and emission reduction the focal point of societal concern. Within this context, metal tubes fittings, as essential components, wield significant and extensive influence in domains such as aviation, aerospace, and new energy vehicles. Notably, the burgeoning prominence of advanced plastic forming methods, epitomized by the flexible medium forming process of tubes, has garnered ...
Enhancement of material microstructure and properties in Arc wire-based direct energy deposition: A short review
2024-10-21
In recent years, additive manufacturing technology has attracted considerable attention from various stakeholders. Among the different techniques, Arc wire-based direct energy deposition (DED) has experienced a notable increase in development, offering compelling advantages such as cost-effectiveness and high forming efficiency. However, a high deposition rate results in extremely high heat input and temperature inhomogeneity, leading to a deterioration in surface quality, a reduction in material properties, an increase in residual stresses and even distortion and cracking. Consequently, the current research agenda is focused on developing methods to ensure the quality ...