Category Archives: Brain Injury Treatment

Washington, Aug 13 (ANI): A new research has revealed that healthy brain cells, once damaged by radiation designed to kill brain tumours, can be regenerated. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, M.D., a professor of neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who conducted the study in mice, found that neural stem cells, the body's source of new brain cells, are resistant to radiation, and can be roused from a hibernation-like state to reproduce and generate new cells able to migrate, replace injured cells and potentially restore lost function. The findings, Quinones-Hinojosa adds, may have implications not only for brain cancer patients, but also for people with progressive neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease (PD), in which cognitive functions worsen as the brain suffers permanent damage over time. The researchers examined the impact of radiation on mouse neural stem cells by testing the rodents' responses to a subsequent brain injury. In the weeks after radiation, the researchers injected the mice with lysolecithin, a substance that caused brain damage by inducing a demyelinating brain lesion, much like that present in MS. They found that neural stem cells within the irradiated sub-ventricular zone of the brain generated new cells, which … Continue reading →

(CNN) - Dutch Prince Johan Friso died Monday, more than 17 months after he suffered a severe brain injury in an avalanche, the Dutch royal family announced on its website. Prince Friso, 44, was in what the family called "a state of minimal consciousness" after he was caught in an avalanche at an Austrian ski resort in February 2012. He was skiing with friends outside the bounds of the Lech am Arlberg ski resort when the avalanche hit him, and he suffered a lack of oxygen while he was under the snow before being rescued, officials said. His doctor at the time said he had suffered brain damage. After receiving treatment in Austria, he was transferred to a London hospital, where he stayed for more than a year. He was discharged last month and was sent to The Hague, where he continued to receive medical care at home. His brother, Willem-Alexander, is king of the Netherlands. Continued here: Dutch Prince Friso dies year after avalanche … Continue reading →

By CNN Staff updated 11:59 AM EDT, Mon August 12, 2013 Dutch Prince Johan Friso with Princess Mabel and Princess Marilene in 2006 in Almere, the Netherlands. STORY HIGHLIGHTS (CNN) -- Dutch Prince Johan Friso died Monday, more than 17 months after he suffered a severe brain injury in an avalanche, the Dutch royal family announced on its website. Prince Friso, 44, was in what the family called "a state of minimal consciousness" after he was caught in an avalanche at an Austrian ski resort in February 2012. He was skiing with friends outside the bounds of the Lech am Arlberg ski resort when the avalanche hit him, and he suffered a lack of oxygen while he was under the snow before being rescued, officials said. His doctor at the time said he had suffered brain damage. After receiving treatment in Austria, he was transferred to a London hospital, where he stayed for more than a year. He was discharged last month and was sent to The Hague, where he continued to receive medical care at home. His brother, Willem-Alexander, is king of the Netherlands. People we've lost in 2013 More here: Dutch Prince Friso dies 17 months after avalanche … Continue reading →

Vienna, VA (PRWEB) August 12, 2013 Emotions were high in Reno, NV Saturday when the last production model of the Ford 2014 Shelby GT500 Convertible sold for an unprecedented $500,000 at the inaugural Hot August Nights Auction presented by Barrett-Jackson. Proceeds from the sale of the Shelby, which was donated by the Ford Motor Company, will benefit the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), an organization championed by Indy 500 winner, Parnelli Jones, who attended the auction with his son Page. Jones was introduced to the BIAA when his son, Page Jones, a rising racing star, suffered a severe brain injury during a Sprint Car race in 1994. His prognosis was grim, but with the support of his family, he recreated a fulfilling, productive and joyous life. Jones will sign the Shelby in appreciation for the BIAA donation. It means a great deal, obviously, said Parnelli Jones, wiping away tears after the auction closed. Weve been working so hard to get Page back. Weve got him back so he can function well. Hes married now and has got a couple of kids, and has his drivers license. Jones added that the family received a lot of help from BIAA during … Continue reading →

Public release date: 12-Aug-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Stephanie Desmon sdesmon1@jhmi.edu 410-955-8665 Johns Hopkins Medicine Scientists have long believed that healthy brain cells, once damaged by radiation designed to kill brain tumors, cannot regenerate. But new Johns Hopkins research in mice suggests that neural stem cells, the body's source of new brain cells, are resistant to radiation, and can be roused from a hibernation-like state to reproduce and generate new cells able to migrate, replace injured cells and potentially restore lost function. "Despite being hit hard by radiation, it turns out that neural stem cells are like the special forces, on standby waiting to be activated," says Alfredo Quiones-Hinojosa, M.D., a professor of neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and leader of a study described online today in the journal Stem Cells. "Now we might figure out how to unleash the potential of these stem cells to repair human brain damage." The findings, Quiones-Hinojosa adds, may have implications not only for brain cancer patients, but also for people with progressive neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease (PD), in which cognitive functions worsen as the brain suffers permanent damage over time. … Continue reading →

ORLANDO President Obama on Saturday announced an initiative to help treat veterans with brain injuries and mental-health conditions, as he and first lady Michelle Obama paid tribute to disabled veterans before departing on their summer holiday. Speaking to the annual conference of Disabled American Veterans, which represents 1.2million people nationwide, Obama announced a $100million grant to research centers, led by the University of Texas at San Antonio and Virginia Commonwealth University, dedicated to treating brain injuries and mental-health issues, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder. Video President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama thanked disabled veterans for their service at a convention in Orlando Saturday before heading to Martha's Vineyard for a vacation. More business news Amrita Jayakumar This week, expect updates on retail sales and the housing market. Peter Whoriskey His plans for The Washington Post are still a mystery, but he has a history of aiming high. Jena McGregor Original post: Obama announces aid initiative to help wounded veterans … Continue reading →

ORLANDO, Fla. President Obama on Saturday announced a new initiative to help treat veterans with brain injuries and mental-health conditions, as he and first lady Michelle Obama paid tribute to disabled veterans before departing on their summer holiday. Speaking to the annual conference of Disabled American Veterans, which represents 1.2 million people nationwide, Obama announced a $100 million grant to research centers, led by the University of Texas in San Antonio and Virginia Commonwealth University, dedicated to treating brain injury and mental-health issues, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He also said his administration would launch a new effort to share research among the numerous federal agencies studying and providing treatment to veterans with neurological problems. Brain injury and disease are among the enduring legacies of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with significant numbers of veterans experiencing PTSD. In addition, the suicide rate among veterans has soared in the past decade. Im not going to be satisfied until every veteran ... gets the support and help they need to stay strong, Obama told about 4,000 veterans gathered in Orlando. Weve got to end this epidemic of suicide among our veterans and troops. Obamas administration has faced withering criticism from veterans … Continue reading →

Knowing the signs of a concussion is an important part of ensuring that young athletes dont suffer further brain damage. Looking for those signs and knowing the ways to deal with the traumatic brain injury are Dr. Anthony Alessis area of expertise. Alessi, the medical director of the Backus Hospital Stroke Center and in private practice at NeuroDiagnostics in Norwich, appeared before parents, coaches and athletes Thursday for a presentation hosted by The William W. Backus Hospital. Alessi covered the clinical and medical causes of concussions, a topic which has come to the forefront of sports medicine, he said. There are only two ways you can die in sports, he said. One, cardiac something that affects the heart or neurological. Nobody died from a broken bone. Studies have shown that young, developing brains are more vulnerable to traumatic injury from concussive blows, according to Alessi. These injuries can result in chronic headaches and learning disabilities if they are not managed properly. Parent Melinda Bryan has a daughter who plays soccer and lacrosse. Bryan, of Voluntown, was glad she attended the presentation. Its good to know what the symptoms are and what to look for, she said. Connecticut now has laws … Continue reading →

Kevin Ward experienced a brainstorm after suffering a concussion in a skiing accident on Aspen Mountain on Christmas Day. Ward, president of the Aspen Strategy Center, was frustrated by the lack of information when he tried to research what he should eat and do to recover from the concussion. As a man of science, he had the ability to understand doctors and scientists, but they had little to offer. He kept hearing, Were 10 years from knowing what we should do, he said. So Ward immersed himself in everything related to brain research. Frankly, we know more about the universe than we do about the brain, Ward said. Every other part of the body we know a ton about. But the lack of knowledge is poised to change. The Obama administration committed billions of dollars to brain research, and Europe is investing millions of euros in The Human Brain Project. Wards interest in the brain led him to Jeannie Andlinger, an Aspen resident whose son, Ger, suffered two consecutive concussions while playing prep school lacrosse and ended up committing suicide. The incident got Gerry and Jeanne Andlinger committed to supporting traumatic-brain-injury research, diagnosis and treatment. Jeanne has been pursuing this … Continue reading →

Editor's Choice Main Category: MRI / PET / Ultrasound Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology Article Date: 08 Aug 2013 - 10:00 PDT Current ratings for: MRI-guided brain cancer breakthrough - exclusive interview Neurosurgeons from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have conducted the first real-time MRI-guided gene therapy for patients with brain cancer, advancing the clinical trial of new cancer drug, Toca 511. The new treatment, carried out by neurosurgeons at the UCSD School of Medicine and the UCSD Moores Cancer Center, uses real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a way of guiding the delivery of the new gene therapy directly into brain tumors. MRI navigational technology, called Clearpoint, enables the neurosurgeons to inject Toca 511 (vocimagene amiretrorepvec) directly into a brain tumor. Following our earlier news story Brain cancer: groundbreaking MRI-guided gene therapy, Clark Chen, chief of stereotactic and radiosurgery and vice chairman of neurosurgery at the University of California, San Diego, has spoken exclusively to Medical News Today about how the MRI-guided gene therapy works, and what this means for the future of brain cancer treatment. Previous efforts with gene therapy for brain cancer were largely limited by the inability to deliver the drug into the … Continue reading →