University of Florida leads the way in stroke response
Gainesville, Florida. – The University of Florida plans to launch a network of mobile stroke units across the state to expedite diagnosis and treatment.
The first new mobile stroke unit was recently deployed in Gainesville.
There are plans to add an additional office in central Florida, and later mobile stroke units in Jacksonville and Palm Beach County.
“This is an ambulance with a CT scanner on board and the ability to diagnose, evaluate and treat stroke in the field, and this is really important because the treatment of stroke is very time dependent,” said Dr. Brian Hoch from the Department of Neurosurgery at Florida State University.
Special ambulances are designed to transport patients within the first 60 minutes after a stroke, the so-called golden hour, which is critical to reduce the risk of long-term deterioration and death.
Currently, there are only 20 mobile stroke units in the country.
COVID and GENETICS
Scientists studying COVID-19 believe that your genes may determine how hard you take the virus.
A study published in the journal Nature shows that people with certain changes in HLA or human leukocyte antigens in cells are more likely to have no symptoms of COVID.
The researchers say that people with changes in HLA molecules likely already had some pre-existing immunity to other SARS viruses, such as common seasonal respiratory infections.
TEENAGE SUICIDE ATTEMPT
And a new study sheds light on the state of mental health of young people.
Investigators have found that more children and teenagers are being sent to the hospital with suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Growth was found from 2016 to 2021.
The researchers say that almost 6 percent of the cases involved girls.
The average age of the patients was 15 years.
Most cases were reported in April and October, suggesting that the academic calendar may be affecting young people’s mental health.
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