Stroke Patients May Have a New Treatment Researchers have
identified a possible way to minimize brain-tissue damage in
patients who have suffered a stroke and undergone surgery for
the condition. A study conducted at the University of Calgary’s
Hotchkiss Brain Center found that the drug NA-1 seems to be safe
for use in humans. Until now, the substance has been tested
solely on animals. In the study, 92 patients were given the
drug, while 93 patients got a placebo. The participants were
given brain MRI scans three days after they began to take NA-1,
as well as a 30-day followup assessment. The researchers said
that they patients who were given the drug had fewer lesions
(negative changes in brain tissue) than those who got the
placebo. The researchers stressed that NA-1 isn’t effective in
all cases of stroke. Researcher Michael Hill said that the study
suggests “that intravenous infusion of NA-1 reduces tissue
damage in patients who suffer a small stroke after an operation
to repair a brain aneurysm.” Further