Live access to breaking news from the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2010

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by the American Stroke Association from the International Stroke Conference 2010:

What:  Reporters can view live breaking and topical news conferences online from the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2010 in San Antonio, TX.  The ISC brings together some of the world's most renowned experts to present recent scientific work related to stroke and cerebrovascular disease. Two types of news conferences are offered – late-breaking science and topical science.  

How:   Visit: MedPageToday.com for live coverage. News is embargoed until the start of the news conference.

At the start of each news conference, view accompanying resources, news releases, audio/visual materials at AmericanHeart.mediaroom.com. Researchers or American Stroke Association spokespeople who are experts on the topics presented are available - call the ASA News Staff Office on site in San Antonio at (210) 582-7013 or the American Heart Association news media office in Dallas at (214) 706-1396.

News conference schedule:

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 8 a.m. CT/9 a.m. ET – TIA – Not a "Mini" Problem

This news conference examines the risks and treatment of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), also known as a "warning stroke;" about one-third of people who have a TIA are likely to have a stroke within a year.

Moderator: Bruce Obviagele, M.D., UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif.

Presenters:

• Michael Harnadek, Ph.D., London Health Sciences Centre; London, Ontario, Canada
• Hakan Ay, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, Mass.
• Nandavar Shobha, D.N.B., D.M., Calgary Stroke Program, University of Calgary; Alberta, Canada
• Marieke Van Puymbroeck, Ph.D., Indiana University; Bloomington, Ind.

Thursday, Feb. 25, 9 a.m.  CT/10 a.m. ET – Emerging Stroke Treatment Trends

This news conference illuminates research on novel techniques, combinations of interventions and drugs, and the brain's healing power — all of which may hold promise for future stroke treatment.

Moderator: Cheryl Bushnell, M.D., M.H.S., Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Presenters:

• Rishi Gupta, M.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
• Thomas M. Hemmen, M.D., Ph.D., UCSD Medical Center, San Diego, Calif.
• Gregory Bix, M.D., Ph.D., Texas A&M College of Medicine, College Station, Texas
• David W. Newell, M.D., Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, Wash.
• Raul G. Nogueira, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Friday, Feb. 26, 8:30 a.m. CT/9:30 a.m. ET – Late Breaking Stroke Science

Moderator: Andrei Alexandrov M.D., Comprehensive Stroke Center, Univ.of Alabama at Birmingham

Presenters:

• Yukito Shinohara, M.D., Tachikawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

The CSPS II trial is a multi-center, double-blind study investigating the efficacy of the drug cilostazol in preventing recurrent stroke and the safety of long-term administration of the drug in stroke patients compared with aspirin.

• Hans-Christoph Diener, M.D., Ph.D., University Hospital, Essen, Germany

A subanalysis of the RE-LY trial analyzed the efficacy and safety of the anti-clotting drug dabigatran etexilate in patients with atrial fibrillation for stroke prevention.

• Albert C. Lo, M.D., Ph.D., Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Brown University, Providence, R.I.

A rehabilitation study compared robot-assisted therapy to usual care in improving pos-stroke arm impairment.

• Thomas Brott, M.D., Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fl.

The CREST trial compares the effectiveness of stenting in the neck arteries versus surgery to remove plaque buildup in neck arteries at preventing stroke.

SOURCE American Stroke Association