Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Mechanism linked to stroke damage identified

Darpan News Desk IANS, 28 Nov, 2014 12:45 PM
  • Mechanism linked to stroke damage identified
Researchers have discovered the mechanism linked to stroke damage and brain function, thus paving the way to develop a new drug target to block brain damage.
 
Strokes happen when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off, but much of the harm to survivors' memory and other cognitive function is often actually caused by "oxidative stress" in the hours and days after the blood supply resumes.
 
The researchers studied the second phase of damage in laboratory mice and found a mechanism in neurons that, if removed, reduced the damage to brain function.
 
"This study has pinpointed a very promising drug target," said study co-author Lin-Hua Jiang from University of Leeds in Britain.
 
The study looked at the damage caused by the excessive production of chemicals called "reactive oxygen species" in brain tissues immediately after blood supply is re-established.
 
In a healthy brain, there are very low levels of reactive oxygen species, but the quantity dramatically increases after a stroke to levels that are harmful to neurons.
 
"We identified an 'ion channel' in the membranes of neurons, called TRPM2, which is switched on in the presence of the reactive oxygen species," Jiang added.
 
"We are now screening a large chemical library to find ways of effectively inhibiting this channel," Jiang said.
 
The study was published in the journal Cell Death and Disease.

MORE Health ARTICLES

'Recurrent cough and cold in children are signs of asthma'

'Recurrent cough and cold in children are signs of asthma'
Children with recurrent cough, cold and wheeze should visit their physician as these are clear symptoms that the child may be suffering from asthma, a medical...

'Recurrent cough and cold in children are signs of asthma'

'Good fat' could help manage diabetes

'Good fat' could help manage diabetes
Brown fat, nicknamed the ‘good fat’ because it warms up the body in cold temperatures, burning up calories in the process, could also be used to manage...

'Good fat' could help manage diabetes

Sleep apnea leads to poor aerobic fitness

Sleep apnea leads to poor aerobic fitness
  People with sleep apnea, in which breathing repeatedly starts and stops during slumber, are likely to have reduced aerobic fitness, even compared with those....

Sleep apnea leads to poor aerobic fitness

Protein 'switch' to turn off Alzheimer's identified

Protein 'switch' to turn off Alzheimer's identified
Blocking a protein that acts like switch to wake us up may help prevent Alzheimer's disease, new research has found, pointing towards a new target to prevent this...

Protein 'switch' to turn off Alzheimer's identified

Houses Should Be Checked For Radon Gas, Can Cause Lung Cancer

Houses Should Be Checked For Radon Gas, Can Cause Lung Cancer
TORONTO — It's a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep through cracks and crevices in houses and other enclosed spaces — and can cause lung cancer. Yet many Canadians aren't even aware of its existence or the health risk the substance can pose.

Houses Should Be Checked For Radon Gas, Can Cause Lung Cancer

Exercise and fasting could boost brain's functions

Exercise and fasting could boost brain's functions
The research on animals showed how intermittent fasting in rats and mice can enhance learning and memory and decrease the risk of degeneration of those...

Exercise and fasting could boost brain's functions