How Deep Brain Stimulation Helped Michael Find a

How Deep Brain Stimulation Helped Michael Find a New Focus

Michael Francis, a law enforcement agent in Houston, Texas, has dealt with seizures all his life. As the frst step in treating almost any chronic condition, Michael’s doctor prescribed medication to reduce his seizure activity and keep his epilepsy under control. While Michael initially saw an improvement in the frequency and duration of his seizures, they quickly returned with full force. When increasing his dosage didn’t work, Michael’s doctor tried another medication, only to fnd the same results.

Medication after medication ofered the same outcome: a temporary reprieve followed by a return of his seizures. Michael and his doctor kept trying diferent prescriptions, hoping that something would work in the long term. However, one of the last medications he tried caused him to lose nearly 90 pounds in fve months. His frequent seizures and extreme weight loss meant Michael had to leave behind his job in law enforcement.

Hoping for a solution that could help him get back to the life he loved, Michael turned to the doctors at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. After reviewing Michael’s history of drug-resistant epilepsy, Dr. Sameer Sheth knew the NeuroPace RNS System had the potential to help Michael heal. This technology works similarly to a pacemaker – a small device is implanted in the chest, and it is connected to electrodes placed in specific locations in the brain. These electrodes gather HOPING FOR A SOLUTION THAT COULD HELP HIM GET BACK TO THE LIFE HE LOVED, MICHAEL TURNED TO THE DOCTORS AT BAYLOR ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER. AFTER REVIEWING MICHAEL’S HISTORY OF DRUG-RESISTANT EPILEPSY, DR. SAMEER SHETH KNEW THE NEUROPACE RNS SYSTEM HAD THE POTENTIAL TO HELP MICHAEL HEAL.

data about seizure patterns, which doctors can review and use to develop custom treatments. The electrodes then deliver stimulation to these specifc regions to stop seizures in their tracks.

With the power of deep brain stimulation and a single medication, Michael has been seizure-free since March 17, 2017.

“The most excitement for my future comes from the fact that I can see a long-term career, I can actually get my own vehicle, and that I can then spend more time out on my own getting back into a public life,” said Michael Francis. “That’s what I’m looking forward to more than anything else.”

Renowned Neurological Care

St. Luke’s Health ofers comprehensive care for a broad range of neurological conditions and brain disorders, giving hope to stroke victims and patients with some of the most debilitating diseases. Using breakthrough research and a collaborative approach, we are able to help patients recover function that is lost due to a brain tumor, stroke, or ruptured brain aneurysm. Being the frst in Houston to use CyberKnife® technology and the frst in Montgomery County to use Gamma Knife® technology, our facilities ofer the latest advancements in neurological medicine to treat patients efectively and with shorter recovery time. Our DNV-certifed Comprehensive Stroke Centers at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and The Woodlands Hospital have the capability to quickly intervene to stop the progression of stroke damage and prevent permanent impairment through minimally invasive techniques. Not only are we ofering the latest treatment options, we are continuing to develop new, advanced treatments. Building a brain computer to restore vision to the blind and revolutionizing benign pituitary tumor removal are examples of our projects progressing the standards of healthcare—and we are focused on continuing to lead the way in neuroscience in Houston for years to come.

For more information: www.stlukeshealth.org/bslmcinternational l international@stlukeshealth.org l +1.832.355.3350

Cancer therapies, Alzheimer’s and data sharing in pandemics discussed at WCM-Q Grand Rounds

Dr. Anas Hamad, Dr. Patrick Tang and Professor Takeshi Iwatsubo

The safe use of anti-cancer therapies, the importance of sharing data during pandemics, and early treatment of Alzheimer’s disease were discussed by three expert speakers at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Grand Rounds.

Dr. Anas Hamad, Director of Pharmacy at the National Center for Cancer Care & Research of Hamad Medical Corporation, discussed common causes of cancer-related medication errors and outlined efective error prevention strategies in his presentation. Dr. Hamad, who also holds the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor in the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University, also explained the importance of multidisciplinary teams for safe and efective cancer treatment to the audience of physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, allied health professionals, students, researchers and educators.

In a separate Grand Rounds session, Dr. Patrick Tang, Division Chief of Pathology Sciences at Sidra Medicine, gave a talk titled ‘Breaking the Cider House Rules: Tales from a Global Epidemic and Two Pandemics’. Dr. Tang, who also holds the position of associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at WCM-Q, demonstrated the importance of data and sample sharing during outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics, ALL THREE LECTURES WERE ACCREDITED LOCALLY BY THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS – ACCREDITATION SECTION AND INTERNATIONALLY BY THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (ACCME).

identifed barriers that hinder the efective management of outbreaks, and discussed the roles of individuals in identifying and stopping outbreaks. His talk drew upon his observations of the 2002-2004 global SARS epidemic, the 2009-2010 swine fu epidemic and the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Patrick Tang said: “We have learned from these three examples that sharing of knowledge, information and samples is essential for outbreak management. We have also learned that we have to be fexible, to keep adapting our methods based on what we have learned, we have to be accepting of new ideas and new collaborations. Finally, we have to act swiftly and ofer solutions, not barriers, which means we have to be prepared to use the best solution we have available rather than waiting for the perfect solution.”

A further Grand Rounds event featured Professor Takeshi Iwatsubo of the University of Tokyo discussing molecular neuropathy and very early treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Prof. Iwatsubo explained the basic characteristics of neuropathy in Alzheimer’s disease and outlined current strategies to develop disease-modifying therapies for use in the very early stages of the condition.