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10-minute test that detects a stroke from a few drops of blood is a ‘game-changer’, scientists say

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The new test for stroke uses just a few drops of blood. Rapid, inexpensive and easy to administer, it could be a game-changer, say its inventors

By Fiona Macrae Science Editor For The Daily Mail

  • Quicker detection should lead to more people being treated – saving lives
  • Rapid, inexpensive and easy to administer, test could be available by 2018
  • Uses plates coated with enzymes to detect chemicals that rise in the blood after a stroke

A ten-minute test that detects strokes from just a few drops of blood is being developed by scientists.

Quicker detection should lead to more people being treated – saving lives.

Early treatment would also cut the odds of disability, increasing patients’ chances of being able to continue living independently.

Rapid, inexpensive and easy to administer, the test could be a game-changer, say its inventors.

Stroke is Britain’s third-biggest killer and the main cause of severe disability in Britain.

At least 450,000 men and women are living with problems from muscle weakness and paralysis to loss of co-ordination and balance caused by an interruption in the blood supply to the brain.

Drug treatment can limit the damage from the most common form of stroke, which is caused by a clot in the brain, but it has to be given within three or four hours of falling ill.

And it can’t be started without a hospital scan, as the drug could prove fatal for patients with a second, less common-type of stroke caused by bleeds in the brain.

This means that it is crucial to distinguish between the two and do it quickly.

The new test, which could be done in an ambulance and cost just several pounds, could save precious time, allowing many more patients to be treated.

The brainchild of scientists at Cornell University in the US, it uses plates coated with enzymes to detect chemicals that rise in the blood after a stroke.

When the enzymes bind to the chemicals, they trigger a chain reaction that leads to the emission of light.

Blood tests have been developed for stroke in the past but typically take several hours, meaning they are not widely used.

The combination of technology in the Cornell test gives results in under ten minutes and uses just a few drops of blood.

Currently, it can pick up a chemical known to be made when the brain is damaged by stroke and other illness.

It is hoped that by adapting it to detect several key chemicals, it will be able to zero in on strokes and distinguish between the two types.

It may even be suitable for a paramedic to administer in the back of an ambulance, the journal PLOS ONE reports.

Researcher Alex Travis said the first test could be available by 2018 – saving and improving lives.

Roy Cohen, the study’s lead author, said: ‘Three-quarters of stroke patients suffer from ischemic stroke – a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain.

The brainchild of scientists at Cornell University in the US, it uses plates coated with enzymes to detect chemicals that rise in the blood after a stroke (pictured

The brainchild of scientists at Cornell University in the US, it uses plates coated with enzymes to detect chemicals that rise in the blood after a stroke (pictured

‘In those cases, time is of the essence, because there is a good drug available, but for a successful outcome it has to be given within three or four hours after the onset of symptoms.

‘By the time someone identifies the symptoms, gets to the hospital, and sits in the emergency room you don’t have much time to obtain the full benefit of this drug.

‘This technology is potentially game-changing.’

Dr Shamim Quadir, of the Stroke Association, said: ‘A stroke is a medical emergency so rapid diagnosis and treatment is essential. The sooner that treatment is given, the less damage is done to the brain.

‘Currently, too many people arrive at hospital outside of the window for treatment or have an unknown time of onset of their stroke.’

However, he cautioned that the blood test is still at an early stage in development.

It is hoped the test could be adapted to detect other conditions, including concussion, heart disease and some dementias and cancers.

Now that the leaders have left COP21, what happens next?

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Everyone said the right things. The prospects of a deal, haven’t been harmed, even if they weren’t hugely advanced.

On Tuesday the more regular routines of COP life kicked in.

The day started with a plenary session of the parties, where every nation’s negotiating team is represented.

This involved formal opening statements, summing up the key points from each country’s perspective.

Complex process

Right now there are three layers of negotiation going on.

At the very bottom, dozens of informal meetings are taking place in all corners of this massive complex

Groups of countries, often just a handful, are working through a paragraph of text at a time.

Channelling Donald Rumsfeld, these meetings have been dubbed “informal informals”.

The next layer up is what are termed facilitated sessions.

Facilitators have been appointed by the co-chairs of the ADP (Adhoc working group on the Durban Platform for enhanced action, if you want to be formal about it), the part of this overall meeting that’s delivering the new deal.

There are between ten and 20 of these strands, looking at elements in the text and trying to streamline it and find compromises.

They’ve already been working very late, indicating some progress is being made.

On top of this, according to those familiar with the process, is a new, “open ended contact group” of negotiators that will try to bring together all the links between all the different elements in the proposed agreement.

The hope is that by Saturday, the current text that runs to more than 50 pages will have been slimmed down somewhat or at least knocked into a fashion where it can be handed over to the French president of this meeting, Laurent Fabius.

He has promised to take it to the environment ministers who will arrive next week to make the difficult political decisions.

Minister Fabius has promised openness and transparency.

“No hidden agenda, no secret plan, no text in our pocket,” he told the meeting.

He then hopes to guide the negotiations to a successful conclusion and to utter the four words that climate delegates have been waiting years to hear.

“Our mission is accomplished.”

Source: Now that the leaders have left COP21, what happens next? – BBC News

Vancouver Needs Team Effort Against Los Angeles Tonight

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CANUCKS BANTER     By Andrew Chernoff    December 1, 2015

CANUCKS NEED TO GET RID OF THE LOSING CULTURE FAST

 

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Vancouver (9-9-7) begins a new month, leaving behind a disastrous month of November, as they visit Pacific division opponent Los Angeles Kings (14-8-1), who sit on top of the division, four points ahead of the Canucks, with two games in hand.

The game is Vancouver’s final game of a four game road trip that sports a record of 1-1-1 in its’ first 3 games. Monday night saw the Anaheim Ducks completely dominant a listless, uninspiring Canucks team that was shutout for the first time this season, 4-0.

“That was the furthest to being in a game as we’ve had all year,” captain Henrik Sedin said. “Our energy level wasn’t there.” canucks.nhl.com

“They (Ducks) let one slip away against Chicago and you knew they would pay hard,” he started. “Saying that, it’s a game we’ve got to be ready for and play hard in as well. For whatever reason, we just didn’t have our best. I don’t think our first periods have been great and we talked about that before the game.” Canuck coach Willie Desjardins after the game.

“We have been good all year creating offence, That’s not the problem. We have to realize that to win in this league you can’t give up three or four goals every game. It’s impossible. I have said it before, it’s a league where the best teams score an average of three goals a game. If you give up more than that, you can’t win.

“Our offensive numbers are good if you look around the league, but the way we give up goals, the penalties we take, they are small things, but they add up. In a game like this, that is going to cost you.” Daniel Sedin on the Canucks poor defensive display and lack of discipline this season.

The Canucks would like to bounce back this evening with a different effort, and a different outcome and end the road trip with a badly needed win in a must win game against a team that is playing consistently well, and has games in hand.

Kings are playing game two of a 4 game homestand before spending 10 of the next 11 games on the road.

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It’s possible backup goalie Jacob Markstrom could start against the Kings after Ryan Miller allowed four goals on 29 shots before being pulled in the 4-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

Rookie Jake Virtanen’s sustained an upper-body injury to his ribs which Vancouver believes after being checked out, is not serious, but it’s unlikely he’ll play. Virtanen, the No. 6 pick at the 2014 NHL Draft, did not return to the game Monday after leaving with a crosscheck to the ribs courtesy of Ryan Getzlaf.

CAN01DEC

canucks.nhl.com

The Kings are 8-5-0 at home while Vancouver is 6-5-4 on the road. Canucks power play is 18 for 91, 19.8 per cent, tied for 13th; Los Angeles is 13 for 68, 19.1 per cent, 17th place in the NHL.

When it comes to the penalty kill, the Kings are 8th best in the NHL, allowing 14 goals on 87 opportunities, 83.9 per cent. Vancouver is 24th in the NHL, 18 goals allowed on 79 opportunities, 77.2 per cent.

Vancouver has 40 even strength goals for and 39 even strength goals against, compared to the Kings 31 even strength goals for and 33 even strength goals against so far this season. Vancouver has 69 goals scored overall, while Los Angeles has scored 58.

CANUCKS JOTTINGS

  • Los Angeles has been outscored 9-2 while losing the last three meetings with the Canucks
  • Jonathan Quicks is 4-2-0 with a 1.18 GAA over his last 6 home games against Vancouver.
  • Ryan Miller is 6-2-1 with a 1.93 GAA and 2 shutouts in his last 9 games against the Kings.
  • Backup Jacob Markstrom had 26 saves in a loss with Florida in his only meeting with Los Angeles on Oct. 13, 2013.
  • Last season, the Canucks were 17-7-1 through 25 games.
  • The Canucks are 4-5-1 in their last ten games against the Kings, dating back to the 2013.14 season.
  • The Canucks conclude their fifth of 13 back-to-back series this season with tonight’s game at Los Angeles. Thus far, the Canucks have gone 4-3-2 in back-to-back series this season including a record of 2-2-1 in the first game and 2-1-1 in the second game. Last season, Vancouver played in 12 back-to-back series. They posted a 15-8-1 record in those series. Vancouver went 10-2-0 in the first game of the series and 5-6-1 in the second game.
  • Last night’s game against Anaheim, Matt Bartkowski recorded a game high and Canucks season high 7 hits. Bo Horvat won 62% of face-offs. Chris Tanev blocked 3 shots.
  • The Canucks have scored 2.83 goals for per game, ranking t-ninth in the League; their 69 goals on the year are t-seventh most in the NHL
  • Vancouver is t-fifth in the League in shots/GP with 30.9

SEASON SNAPSHOT

FireShot Screen Capture #239 - '2015-2016 Conference Standings Standings I NHL_com - Standings' - www_nhl_com_ice_standings_htm_type=con#&navid=nav-st

FireShot Screen Capture #240 - '2015-2016 League Standings Standings I NHL_com - Standings' - www_nhl_com_ice_standings_htm_season=20152016&type=LEA

CANUCKS PLAYER STATS

FireShot Screen Capture #241 - '2015-2016 Regular Season Stats - Points - Vancouver Canucks - Statistics' - canucks_nhl_com_club_stats_htm

KINGS PLAYER STATS

FireShot Screen Capture #242 - '2015-2016 Regular Season Stats - Points - Los Angeles Kings - Statistics' - kings_nhl_com_club_stats_htm

CANUCKS AT A GLANCE

FireShot Screen Capture #243 - '2015 Vancouver Canucks vs_ 2015 Los Angeles Kings - Compare Stats, Leaders and Past Matchups' - www_sportingcharts_com

FireShot Screen Capture #244 - '2015 Vancouver Canucks vs_ 2015 Los Angeles Kings - Compare Stats, Leaders and Past Matchups' - www_sportingcharts_comStatistics courtesy of the NHL, Vancouver Canucks and SportingCharts, with thanks.

 

 

 

NHL MORNING SKATE – DEC. 1, 2015

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 nhllogo

NHL MORNING SKATE – DEC. 1, 2015

Welcome to the “NHL Morning Skate,” a daily collection of the latest news and notes from around the League.

2016 NHL ALL-STAR FAN VOTE OPENS TODAY

The 2016 NHL All-Star Fan Vote opens worldwide today at 12:00 p.m. ET via NHL.com/Vote and mobile balloting.

As part of the new format for the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game, fans will cast votes for one player from each division, without regard to position. The top vote-getter from each division will be named an All-Star and team captain, with the remaining 40 All-Stars selected by the NHL’s Hockey Operations Department.

This year’s ballot includes enhanced interactive features, all designed to simplify the player search options. Fans will be permitted to select as few as one player and a maximum of four players per ballot. The maximum number of ballots cast per day for each user is 10.

Voting concludes on Friday, Jan. 1.

Click here for complete details.

MONDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
NY ISLANDERS 5, Colorado 3
NY RANGERS 4, Carolina 3
TORONTO 3, Edmonton 0
ANAHEIM 4, Vancouver 0

SPARKS SHINES FOR MAPLE LEAFS IN NHL DEBUT . . .

Garret Sparks stopped all 24 shots he faced to record a shutout in his NHL debut and help the Maple Leafs snap a three-game skid (0-2-1).

* Via Elias, Sparks became the 25th goaltender in NHL history to post a shutout in his League debut – and the first to do so with the Maple Leafs. The last goaltender to achieve that feat: San Jose’s Troy Grosenick on Nov. 16, 2014 at CAR (45 SV in 2-0 W).
* Sparks, a seventh-round selection (190th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, spent the majority of the past two seasons with the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL). He also compiled an 8-2-1 record (1.90 GAA, .938 SV%, 2 SO) in 11 appearances this season with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) prior to his recall last week.
* “It all went according to plan,” joked Sparks, a 22-year-old native of Elmhurst, Ill. “After I came out of the first period unscathed, I wanted to have a good second and I got a couple of lucky posts there. Going into the third period, [the shutout] was definitely on my mind, and I just wanted to be sure that if they are going to beat me, they really had to beat me. The guys in front of me kept everything to the outside and kept everything manageable. I really have them to thank for this.”
* ICYMI: Sparks conducted an emotional interview after being named the game’s “First Star.”

. . . GIBSON, DUCKS CLOSE NOVEMBER ON HIGH NOTE

John Gibson turned aside all 25 shots he faced to earn his third career shutout (first this season) and help the Ducks close November with an 8-4-3 record following a 1-7-2 start to the campaign.

* Gibson also picked up a shutout in his only other appearance against the Canucks, in his NHL debut on April 7, 2014 at VAN (18 SV).
* Gibson, a second-round selection (39th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, improved to 18-9-1 in 30 career appearances (2.36 GAA, .921 SV%, 3 SO). That includes a 2-1-1 record in four outings this season (1.82 GAA, .936 SV%, 1 SO).
* The Ducks improved to 10-1-2 in their last 13 games against the Canucks dating to April 25, 2013 (VAN: 3-7-3).

RANGERS HALT SKID WITH WIN AGAINST HURRICANES

Derick Brassard registered 1-1—2, including what stood as the game-winning goal, to help the Rangers snap their three-game skid (0-3-0).

* The Rangers improved to 18-1-0 in their last 19 games against the Hurricanes dating to Feb. 22, 2011, including eight consecutive victories (CAR: 1-12-6).
* The Rangers also won their 11th consecutive home game against the Hurricanes dating to Jan. 5, 2011 (CAR: 0-8-3) – that is tied for the longest home winning streak against one opponent in franchise history (also Jan. 14, 1990 – Nov. 4, 1992 vs. PHI).
* Three other Rangers players scored, including Mats Zuccarello, who has an 11-game point streak against the Hurricanes dating to Nov. 2, 2013 (1-12—13).

DID YOU KNOW?

Per Elias, the Rangers’ 11-game winning streak against the Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden is the fifth-longest active home winning streak by an NHL team against one opponent (in the regular season):

Longest Active Home Winning Streaks vs. One Opponent
21 – Ducks vs. CGY (April 4, 2004 – Nov. 24, 2015)^
14 – Penguins vs. WPG/ATL (March 24, 2007 – Jan. 27, 2015)
13 – Sharks vs. COL (March 22, 2009 – April 1, 2015)
12 – Flyers vs. CHI (March 31, 1998 – Oct. 14, 2015)
11 – Rangers vs. CAR (Jan. 5, 2011 – Nov. 30, 2015)
^ Tied for the second-longest such streak in NHL history

ISLANDERS EXTEND STREAKS VERSUS AVALANCHE

Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas each scored in the opening 10 minutes of the third period to break a 2-2 tie and help the Islanders extend their point streak to four contests (3-0-1).

* The Islanders also improved to 8-1-0 in their last nine home games against the Avalanche dating to Oct. 10, 1999 (COL: 1-8-0).
* Overall, the Islanders improved to 9-2-1 (19 points) against Western Conference opponents this season, the top such record of any Eastern Conference team.
* Thomas Greiss made 25 saves to improve to 7-3-2 in his first 12 appearances with the Islanders (2.30 GAA, .925 SV%). He also upped his record to 5-1-0 in six career outings vs. COL (2.01 GAA, .939 SV%, 1 SO).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS

* Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (33 SV) earned his 352nd career win (all w/ NYR) to surpass Terry Sawchuk (351 w/ DET) for the third-most victories in NHL history by a goaltender with one franchise. The only two with more: Martin Brodeur (688 w/ NJD) and Tony Esposito (418 w/ CHI).
* Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla scored his 597th career goal to move within three of becoming the 19th player in NHL history to reach the 600-goal milestone. Iginla also played in his 1,416th career game to tie Al MacInnis for 29th place on the NHL’s all-time games played list.
* Islanders forward Josh Bailey, the ninth overall selection in the 2008 NHL Draft, played in his 500th career game. Only three other members of Bailey’s draft class have reached the milestone: Drew Doughty (547), Steven Stamkos (517) and Luke Schenn (514).

LOOSE PUCKS

Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov (2-0—2) registered his third career multi-goal game and second of the season (also Oct. 16 at CBJ: 2-0—2). He paces the club with 10 goals (24 GP), two more than his previous career high of eight set last season (62 GP) . . . Hurricanes forward Elias Lindholm collected one assist to extend his point streak to five games (1-4—5), equaling a career high set Nov. 1-8, 2014 (5-2—7) . . . Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk posted three assists/points, equaling career highs last achieved March 28 vs. OTT (0-3—3) . . . Avalanche forward Blake Comeau, a second-round selection (47th overall) by the Islanders in the 2004 NHL Draft, scored his second goal against his former club (2-0—2 in 10 GP) . . . ICYMI: Stars captain Jamie Benn, Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby and Canadiens forward Alex Galchenyuk were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Nov. 29 . . . The NHL announced its plans for the 2016 NHL Winter Classic Spectator Plaza, a two-day free fan festival in advance of the New Year’s Day game between the Bruins and Canadiens at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION

All Times Eastern
Colorado @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., ALT, MSG+
Columbus @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m., FS-O, SNE, RDS
Philadelphia @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m., TCN-PH, TSN5, RDS2
Buffalo @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., TVAS, SNO, SNP, MSG-B, BELL TV, FS-D
Florida @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., FS-F, FS-MW
Arizona @ Nashville, 8:00 p.m., FS-A+, FS-TN
Minnesota @ Chicago, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN, CSN-CH
Dallas @ Calgary, 9:00 p.m., FS-SW+, SNW
Vancouver @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SNP, FS-W
Pittsburgh @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m., NBCSN, ROOT

NBCSN DOUBLEHEADER HIGHLIGHTS TUESDAY’S SLATE

NBCSN airs a doubleheader as part of Tuesday’s 10-game schedule. First, the Wild visit the Blackhawks at United Center in a preview of the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series, which will be contested on Sunday, Feb. 21, at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Minnesota won the first of five meetings this season between these clubs, a 5-4 victory on Oct. 30 at Xcel Energy Center clinched by Nino Niederreiter’s tiebreaking goal early in the third period. The Penguins then face the Sharks at SAP Center in the second half of the doubleheader. These teams met 10 days ago, with San Jose picking up a 3-1 win on Nov. 21 at CONSOL Energy Center en route to becoming the sixth team in NHL history to complete a perfect six-game road trip.

REMINDER: SIGNING DEADLINE FOR FREE AGENTS

Today is the signing deadline for Group 2 free agents (5:00 p.m. ET).

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China’s Manufacturing PMI Weakens to Lowest in Three Years

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China’s manufacturing conditions slipped to the weakest level in more than three years as sluggishness in the nation’s old growth drivers adds to risks facing the government’s growth target.

The official purchasing managers index fell to 49.6 in November, the National Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday — the weakest level since August 2012. That compared with a median estimate of 49.8 in a Bloomberg survey of economists, which was also the level for September and October. The non-manufacturing PMI rose to 53.6 from 53.1 a month earlier. Numbers below 50 indicate deterioration.

Six central bank interest rate cuts in a year haven’t been enough to spur a recovery in manufacturing as a property downturn and industrial overcapacity weigh on the sector. Premier Li Keqiang’s goal of about 7 percent expansion for 2015 is at risk, even as employment has held up thanks to resilience in services industries.

 “China’s manufacturing sector remains sluggish due to the property slowdown,” said Zhou Hao, a Singapore-based economist at Commerzbank AG. “While property prices are turning around led by first-tier cities, housing investment continues to moderate, reflecting a significant property inventory overhang.”

The Shanghai Composite Index was 0.2 percent lower at 9:35 a.m. local time. The onshore yuan — which won approval Monday for addition to the IMF’s list of reserve currencies — was little changed after the data.

Readings of output, new orders, inventories and employment all weakened from October, the manufacturing PMI report showed.

A range of private indicators for November had suggested conditions remained weak for China’s industrial sector. A privately compiled PMI and a gauge based on search engine interest in small and medium-sized businesses deteriorated last month, while a sentiment indicator dropped sharply from October.

 A PMI reading for the steel industry slumped to 37 in November.

“The steel sector in China continues to come under overcapacity pressures as well as declining demand on the back of slumping property investment,” according to a recent report by Liu Li-Gang, head of China economics at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. in Hong Kong.

To combat the downturn, the People’s Bank of China has cut benchmark borrowing costs to a record low and is adding funds to the banking system as it moves to a new monetary framework.

“Substantial policy support has yet to make the economy any better, though it has at least stopped it from getting worse,” Bloomberg Intelligence economists Tom Orlik and Fielding Chen wrote in a note. “Policy will remain supportive, including further rate cuts in 2016 and amped up fiscal spending. Accelerated easing is not yet called for.”

Source: China’s Manufacturing PMI Weakens to Lowest in Three Years – Bloomberg Business