Monthly Archives: July 2012

Public release date: 15-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Jim Fessenden james.fessenden@umassmed.edu 508-856-2000 University of Massachusetts Medical School WORCESTER, Mass. A new genetic mutation that causes familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurological disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, has been identified by a team of scientists led by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS). Mutations to the profilin (PFN1) gene, which is essential to the growth and development of nerve cell axons, is estimated to account for one to two percent of inherited ALS cases. The finding, described today in the online edition of Nature, points to defects in a neuron's cytoskeleton structure as a potential common feature among diverse ALS genes. "This discovery identifies what may possibly be a common biological mechanism involved across familial ALS cases regardless of genetics," said John Landers, PhD, associate professor of neurology and senior author of the study. "We know of at least three other ALS genes, in addition to PFN1, that adversely impact axon growth. If indeed, this is part of the disease's mechanism, then it might also be a potential target for therapeutics." Robert Brown, MD, DPhil, a co-author on the study and … Continue reading →

By LINDSAY PETERSON | The Tampa Tribune Published: July 16, 2012 Updated: July 16, 2012 - 6:00 AM Stephen Liggett isn't crazy about the term personalized medicine, though he's been practicing it for nearly two decades as a doctor and scientist. Good doctors have personalized their treatment for centuries, he said. But this is different. Game-change different. The University of South Florida has created a Personalized Medicine Institute and hired Liggett from the University of Maryland to put it together and elevate it to national prominence. He's in charge of ushering in a fundamentally new kind of health care to Florida. It's based on this idea: Key information about a person's health and response to drug treatment is locked inside his genetic code, and that information should guide every doctor's treatment decisions. It's the antithesis to the "one-size-fits-all" approach that dominates health care treatment across the country, Liggett said. For instance, if you have heart trouble, your doctor will probably prescribe Coumadin, a drug that prevents blood from clotting and precipitating a heart attack or stroke. Millions of people take it. But if you have a certain genetic makeup, Coumadin could cause fatal side effects. Follow this link: USF institute … Continue reading →

A rare surgery brought relief to a 28-year-old man suffering from epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterised by recurrent convulsions, for over 20 years. V. Rajprabhu had to discontinue his engineering course and take up job catering job. But, he had to quit his job soon because of severe seizures. He was on multiple anti-convulsion drugs but, they were not of much help. The patient was identified with left temporal lobe sclerosis and required the removal of a scar in the brain to check seizures. The surgical procedures called anterior temporal lobectomy and amygdalohippocampectomy were conducted by a team of doctors at Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Nalla G. Palaniswami, chairman of the hospital, told presspersons on Saturday The surgery was conducted four weeks ago and since then no convulsions have been observed in the patient, while the dosage of anti-convulsion medicines was brought down. The three-and-a-half hour surgery was conducted by a team of doctors including neurosurgeon K. Madheshwaran, neurologist K. Vijayan and radiologists, under the guidance of Thomas Joseph, senior neurosurgeon. According to the doctors, around 80 per cent of the epilepsy cases could be treated with drugs. However, in some patients the convulsions were caused by tumours or … Continue reading →

The second annual Mid-South Autism Conference opens Monday at Landers Center in Southaven and continues through Wednesday. Sponsored by Transformations Autism Treatment Center, the event is expected to attract hundreds of families and professionals alike. "Last year, we had over 700 people attend the conference in Tunica," said John Holtzman, one of the conference coordinators and director of development at Transformations. "It made a big impact, and we hope to continue with this year's conference." Holtzman said he and Transformations Center executive director Tracy Palm saw the need for the conference, and they hope it will help families learn about treatment options and also equip professionals with tools to help the families they serve. He pointed to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data and statistics as the reason this conference and others like it across the country are vital. "The CDC announced that autism is at an epidemic level. About 1 in 88 children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder and 1 and 54 boys," he said. The theme of this year's conference is "Reason for Hope" and that's what Holtzman hopes attendees take away with them. This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Carl Sundberg, president and … Continue reading →

PORTAGE, MI Double-layered drywall designed to withstand pounding fists, resilient flooring and tamper-proof screws are some features of the recently completed Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment and Research at 9616 Portage Road. We are using architecture to reduce behavior problems or the impact of them, said Wayne Fuqua, a professor and chairman of Western Michigan University's Department of Psychology. Most people dont think about design helping behavior, but we did. Residential Opportunities Inc. and WMU began a $1.7 million renovation project on the 18,500-square-foot former Moose Lodge building purchased for $675,000 in January. The building is now a home, a school, a doctors office and a training ground for people who live with or treat autism and other behavioral disorders, such as cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Were expecting to see the toughest kids, said Director Lloyd Peterson. If there are kids of equal need coming from Michigan and another state, we will take the Michigan child first. Its for Michiganders and will give those residents first preference. Peterson said the center hopes to help identify and reduce problematic behaviors in the residents who live in the center so they can better integrate with the community, many of whom … Continue reading →