Monthly Archives: July 2012

Learn to Teach Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Posted: Published on July 11th, 2012

DULUTH, Ga., July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), an IACET approved, nationally accredited, online training institution dedicated exclusively to the child care and education workforce, is proud to announce the addition of SPN103: Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to the online child care training course catalog. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111019/MM90221LOGO) Despite the growing diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), there are still many misconceptions, including that children with ASD cannot be successfully included in group settings. CCEI's course Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder presents recommended practices and activities for welcoming a child with autism spectrum disorder into the group preschool setting. Included in the course is guidance for designing and implementing a developmentally appropriate, safe, effective program, including strategies for readying the child and his or her family for the new environment. The course also includes strategies for preparing the classroom, transitions between activities, and helping children with autism feel a sense of value and belonging. This course was authored by Clarissa Willis, and is excerpted from her book, Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. "Recent data on ASD diagnosis rates shows clearly that early childhood educators need to be prepared to welcome young … Continue reading →

Comments Off on Learn to Teach Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

InVivo Therapeutics’ CEO Frank Reynolds Scheduled to Appear on Fox Business Network

Posted: Published on July 11th, 2012

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. (NVIV), a developer of groundbreaking technologies for the treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI) and neurotrauma, today announced that CEO Frank Reynolds is scheduled to appear on the Fox Business Networks program Markets Now on Friday, July 13th at approximately 12:40pm EDT. Markets Now is a highly rated business network program that airs weekdays from 11:00am to 3:00pm EDT. InVivo Therapeutics has pioneered a new treatment using a biocompatible polymer-based scaffold to provide structural support to a damaged spinal cord. The device sparesspinal cordtissue from scarring while improving functional recovery after a traumatic SCI. In addition to the scaffold and its application for acute and chronic SCI, Reynolds will discuss new hydrogel technologies under development by InVivo. Our technology is a true platform that can be leveraged to create many neurotrauma products. InVivo is developing technologies to treat chronic injuries, as well as therapies for other nervous system conditions such as chronic pain due to nerve compression and other peripheral nerve injuries. Were currently under review at FDA for our first SCI treatment, and we look forward to receiving approval to begin those human studies in 2012, said Reynolds. About InVivo Therapeutics InVivo … Continue reading →

Posted in Spinal Cord Injury Treatment | Comments Off on InVivo Therapeutics’ CEO Frank Reynolds Scheduled to Appear on Fox Business Network

XenoPort Awarded Grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation to Examine XP23829 in Preclinical Models of Parkinson’s …

Posted: Published on July 11th, 2012

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- XenoPort, Inc. (XNPT) announced today that it has been awarded a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) for Parkinsons Research to support preclinical studies to explore XP23829 for its ability to protect against neurodegeneration in experimental preclinical models of Parkinsons disease. The grant of $347,075 was awarded under the Foundation's Therapeutics Development Initiative Program aimed at supporting preclinical development of Parkinson's disease therapies that have the potential for fundamentally altering disease course and improving treatment of symptoms. Evaluating drugs that could potentially slow the progression of Parkinsons disease is a high-priority research area for The Michael J. Fox Foundation, said Kuldip Dave, PhD, associate director of research programs at MJFF. We are encouraged by research that suggests that fumaric acid esters could slow the progression of the neurodegenerative process. We are hopeful that XenoPorts efforts to this end could help to speed progress toward a breakthrough treatment for patients with Parkinsons disease. XenoPort is evaluating XP23829, a fumaric acid ester compound and a prodrug of monomethyl fumarate (MMF). Fumaric acid ester compounds have shown immuno-modulatory and neuroprotective effects in cell-based systems and preclinical models of disease. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), also a fumaric acid ester … Continue reading →

Posted in Parkinson's Treatment | Comments Off on XenoPort Awarded Grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation to Examine XP23829 in Preclinical Models of Parkinson’s …

Chalfant: Center's commitment to children continues

Posted: Published on July 11th, 2012

During the first half of the 20th century, parents of disabled children faced incredible difficulties. Lack of understanding of the causes of disabling conditions such as cerebral palsy and polio caused fear of those suffering from those conditions. Disabled persons were often relegated to life in institutions where they remained segregated from society. Parents who wished to keep their children at home were faced with a lack of medical and educational resources. In 1919, Edgar Allen of Elyria, Ohio, established the National Society for Crippled Children. Concerned citizens in Missouri soon established a Missouri Society, and in 1928, the Sedalia Rotary Club worked to establish a chapter in Pettis County. Dr. F.C. Cater, president of the Pettis County Chapter of the Missouri Society for Crippled Children, commented on the reactions of others to disabled children when he noted that parents are somewhat sensitive about their [disabled] children although there is no need to be. Cater further pointed out that because of the lack of services for disabled children, most Sedalians were unaware of their existence. In 1928, the Pettis County Chapter of the Missouri Society for Crippled Children began a deliberate and systematic effort to identify disabled children in Pettis … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerebral Palsy Treatment | Comments Off on Chalfant: Center's commitment to children continues

Bogan Fest to raise money for MS

Posted: Published on July 11th, 2012

SPEARFISH Multiple sclerosis is debilitating disease and there are no known cures. So, in order to raise funds to assist with research, treatment and to bring awareness to the cause Bogan Fest was born. It just feels good to know you are doing something that makes a difference plus it's a great excuse for everyone to get together and hang out in the park, said Chris Bogan, 37, who came up with the original idea. It's great for families and we have been able to get a couple of really great bands lined up and we're roasting a pig so there will be plenty of food. In its third year, Bogan Fest will be held from 4-9 p.m. on Saturday, July 14 at Spearfish City Park and is being sponsored by Crow Peak Brewing Company. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to Bike MS, which is a part of the national Multiple Sclerosis Society. The highlight of the event's menu options include pulled pork that will have been smoked for at least 15 hours. Josh Fritz, part owner of Crow Peak Brewing Company, said this year's entertainment lineup is sure … Continue reading →

Posted in MS Treatment | Comments Off on Bogan Fest to raise money for MS

Remaking genome analysis

Posted: Published on July 11th, 2012

FORTUNE -- The human genome can now be sequenced for as little as $1,000. But actually deciphering all that raw genetic data can still cost upwards of $10,000, costly by any stretch. Redwood Shores, California-based Bina Technologies thinks that disparity means opportunity. The company, founded last year, began as a cancer research project at Stanford University and UC Berkeley. It morphed into a business when CEO Narges Bani Asadi, then a Ph.D student, realized the current process of analyzing medical data could be simplified by combining three distinctly different disciplines: bioinformatics -- or computer sciences applied to biology and medicine -- cloud computing, and high-performance computing. Some researchers may upload their raw sequenced genetic data to a cloud-based analysis service, but that data is oftentimes massive -- as much as 300 gigabytes. Uploading the data and processing it with the help of hundreds of computers into a genetic profile can then take more a month. "What makes Bina unique is we don't get some off-the-shelf algorithm and try to optimize it," says Asadi. "We have a very unique architecture where a lot of competition may only have only software or cloud-based solutions." MORE: The death of cash The Bina Box … Continue reading →

Comments Off on Remaking genome analysis

Stem Cell Transplant Recipients – Rabbit Antibodies Help Leukemia Patients

Posted: Published on July 11th, 2012

Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Lymphoma / Leukemia / Myeloma Also Included In: Transplants / Organ Donations Article Date: 11 Jul 2012 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for: Stem Cell Transplant Recipients - Rabbit Antibodies Help Leukemia Patients During the study, led by Amir Toor, M.D., hematologist-oncologist in the Bone Marrow Transplant Program and member of the Developmental Therapeutics program at VCU Massey Cancer Center, researchers viewed the outcomes of 48 patients who received a transplant of stem cells from a related donor to the outcomes of 50 patients who alternatively received rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) before being given a transplant of stem cells from an unrelated donor. This study has been published in Bone Marrow Transplantation The results showed similar outcomes for both groups in terms of relapse, mortality, and development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a common occurrence that can happen when a transplant is inserted and the new material clashes with the recipient's body. When the patients were followed up at 35 months, 50% of the ATG group and 63% of the no ATG group were still alive. Generally, unrelated stem cell transplants typically have significantly poorer outcomes. Toor says: Thus, being able to provide improved outcomes … Continue reading →

Comments Off on Stem Cell Transplant Recipients – Rabbit Antibodies Help Leukemia Patients

dengers of ADHD ADD DieVanse medication side effects GlaxoSmithKline settlement 3 billion – Video

Posted: Published on July 11th, 2012

10-07-2012 23:59 NOTE - this video is not intended to dismiss the seriousness of ADD or ADHD - it is only a comedy. In the video poor Eddy is the unlucky 1 millionth customer that has all the side effects of his medication including permanent mental damage, tics, nausea, cardiovascular reaction, vomiting, nervousness and sudden death. Like many comedies there is a serious side to the video. Matt the writer / producer was the unfortunate 1 in 1000 once and suffered severe stomatitss in which the whole inside of the mouth becomes a canker sore as a reaction to a drug for pink eye. With GlaxoSmithKline / GSK recently pleading guilty to medical fraud and paying the largest ever such settlement of 3 billion dollars one can question the safety of new drugs. Psychiatric drugs in particular seem to troubled past with some drugs more reliably causing the side effects than curing the symptoms intended by usage. The idea was inspired when a video came on for a drug and there were so many side effects that I literally thought I switched the channel to a Saturday Night Live commercial. Special thanks to Halkidiki the Macho Doll for letting me … Continue reading →

Posted in Drug Side Effects | Comments Off on dengers of ADHD ADD DieVanse medication side effects GlaxoSmithKline settlement 3 billion – Video

Gene Related to Multiple Sclerosis Explains Drug Side Effects

Posted: Published on July 11th, 2012

The biological role of a gene variant implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been determined by researchers at Oxford University. The finding explains why MS patients do badly on a set of drugs used successfully in other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease - something that has been a puzzle for over 10 years. The study illustrates that understanding the details of how some changes in the DNA code are linked to common diseases can inform clinical practice and guide the treatments that people receive so as to prevent adverse side effects. The Oxford University team, along with German, Danish and US colleagues, has published the findings in the journal Nature. They were funded through the MRC Human Immunology Unit, part of the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, and the Wellcome Trust. "The hope has been that analyses of the whole human genome would lead to findings that are clinically relevant," stated Professor Lars Fugger of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at Oxford University, who led the work. "We show that this is possible. It's one of the first such examples, certainly in autoimmune disease." Like us on Facebook Gene scientists in recent years … Continue reading →

Posted in Drug Side Effects | Comments Off on Gene Related to Multiple Sclerosis Explains Drug Side Effects

Drugs used to treat HIV also reduce risk of HIV infection

Posted: Published on July 11th, 2012

Public release date: 10-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Jennifer Beal sciencenewsroom@wiley.com 44-012-437-70633 Wiley People at high risk of HIV infection can reduce their risk of acquiring the disease by taking antiretroviral drugs, according to Cochrane researchers. In an update of a systematic review first published in 2009, the researchers found that uninfected people in relationships with HIV-infected partners, men who have sex with men and those in other high risk groups are at a lower risk of becoming infected with the virus if they regularly take drugs that are normally prescribed to treat people with HIV. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the standard drug treatment for HIV in patients whose disease has progressed to a certain level. Antiretroviral drugs are also beginning to be used as prophylactics in people at high risk of acquiring the disease from sexual partners. The use of antiretroviral drugs in preventing as opposed to treating HIV infection is referred to as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is often considered controversial, not only because uninfected people may develop resistance to the drugs and experience serious side effects such as kidney toxicity and bone density loss, but also because the idea that PrEP offers protection may … Continue reading →

Posted in Drugs | Comments Off on Drugs used to treat HIV also reduce risk of HIV infection