Category Archives: Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. (NVIV), a developer of groundbreaking technologies for the treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI) and other neurotrauma conditions, today announced an update on the clinical timeline for its biopolymer scaffolding to treat acute SCI. The Company now expects that, based on the judgment of new management, it will enroll the first patient during the first quarter of 2014. Under the conditions of the FDAs approval of the Investigational Device Exemption, the five-person pilot trial will be staggered such that each patient will be followed for three months prior to requesting approval to enroll the next patient. Because the Company must obtain FDA approval to enroll each subsequent patient, the Company anticipates that from the date of the first enrolled patient, it will take at least 21 months to complete enrollment. Consistent with FDA guidance, the Company then expects to conduct a pivotal study with a control group to obtain FDA approval to commence commercialization under a Humanitarian Device Exemption. Michael Astrue, Interim Chief Executive Officer of InVivo, said, We remain fully committed to beginning this study as soon as possible. While the study will take additional time, we look forward to bringing this … Continue reading →

Ryan and Alana Matayka are just five-months-old, but they've already made history. The twins are the first children born via in vitro fertilization that was paid for by a new Tricare benefit. The benefit covers infertility treatment for severely injured service members. The twins' father, Army Staff Sgt. Ed Matayka, lost both legs above the knee and injured his spinal cord when the vehicle in which he was riding hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on July 2, 2010. Little Ryan Matayka is named after the driver of the vehicle, Spc. Ryan Grady, who was killed in the attack that injured Ed Matayka. In the past, Tricare never covered assisted reproductive technologies like IVF. However, as of April 3, 2012, Tricare has made an exception for certain cases: Assisted reproductive services may be available to service members who have sustained serious or severe illness or injury while on active duty that led to the loss of their natural reproductive ability including (but not limited to) those with neurological, physiological, and/or anatomical injuries. Ed Matayka's wife Karen underwent in vitro fertilization at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, and became pregnant with the twins in September 2012. Maria Guerrero, with the … Continue reading →

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Board of Directors of InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. (NVIV) today announced that Francis M. Reynolds has resigned from his positions as Chairman, CEO and CFO of the company due to his medical condition. The Board has appointed Michael J. Astrue as interim CEO and Sean Moran, the companys Director of Finance, as acting CFO, effective immediately. We thank Frank Reynolds for his work in bringing InVivo to this point in its development, said Ken DiPietro, InVivo Director and Chairman of the Boards Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee. We are fortunate that Michael Astrue has agreed to join InVivo as interim CEO, bringing his extensive experience in the biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to bear on the companys important scientific and business growth plans. InVivos scientific and technical team remains dedicated to continuing its progress on developing groundbreaking technologies for the treatment of spinal cord injuries. The team is led by Brian Hess, the companys Chief Technology Officer, together with a number of internationally recognized leaders in their respective fields, including Robert Langer, Sc.D., co-Founder of InVivo, member of the InVivo Scientific Advisory Board, a world renowned inventor and the David H. Koch Institute Professor at the Massachusetts … Continue reading →

Washington, August 20 (ANI): A new study has showed that Chinese herbal medicine Ji-Sui-Kang (JSK), given systemically for three weeks to injured rats, improved locomotor function, reduced tissue damage, and preserved the structure of neural cells. The report also includes data showing that JSK may first act to reduce inflammation and cell apoptosis and death, and boost local oxygen supply while, later on, it appears to restore function and promote tissue regeneration. Co-lead investigator Shucui Jiang, MD, PhD, head of the Hamilton NeuroRestorative Group at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, said that a number of anecdotal reports from Chinese medicine practitioners indicate that treatment with a novel herbal formulation, JSK, for periods of one week or three months improved functional recovery. In this study rats began JSK treatment immediately after undergoing spinal cord injury. Within 7 days, hindlimb locomotor function was significantly better in JSK-treated rats compared to those receiving only saline. JSK-treated rats continued to have better motor function than controls throughout the 21-day test period and treated animals appeared to support their weight better and have more coordinated movements. When the investigators looked at histological samples of the spinal cord, they found that the architecture of the … Continue reading →

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) August 19, 2013 The top pain management doctors in Las Vegas at Innovative Pain Care are now offering over 25 effective chronic pain treatments. The pain treatment options include both medication management and interventional pain management treatments with the success rate being above 90%. The clinics accept most insurance; call (702) 323-0553 for more information and scheduling. Dr. Burkhead is a highly-skilled Las Vegas pain management doctor with Board Certification and memberships in numerous pain societies. By having such an expert skill set, he is able to offer medication management and over 25 options for interventional pain procedures. These include numerous cutting edge techniques such as radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulator implants, occipital blocks and more. The multitude of options allow him to individualize treatment for each patient. With each pain patient presenting unique circumstances, each one deserves tailored treatment for the best outcomes. Over 50 insurance plans are accepted at Innovative Pain Care including Medicare, PPO's, Worker's Compensation, Personal Injury and self pay as well. There are two Las Vegas pain clinic locations serving Summerlin, Henderson and the greater Las Vegas area. Dr. Burkhead treats patients with both simple and complicated problems. This includes acute … Continue reading →

New Delhi, Aug. 18 -- At a time when we have become accustomed to seeing regular updates about people in need of money and how a certain social networking site will give them thousands of dollars if we like their picture, 26-year-old Udit Sharma, a paralysis patient, is taking a different route. He has put up a website where he sells homemade chocolates, handicraft items, travel packages and insurance. "My friends have stood by me like a rock. One of them suggested that I make a website and generate money for my treatment by selling different products. My treatment would cost around Rs10 lakh. I want to use the money that I generate through the website for my stem cell treatment," he says. A spinal cord injury, that took place during an offsite visit to Manesar four years ago, caused Udit's body to be paralysed from neck down. "I used to live a normal life. Worked in a multinational and spent weekends meeting friends. But a wrong dive in the pool changed everything. I am not able to move my body anymore...there is no sensation in my hands and legs. I need monetary help but want to earn money by … Continue reading →

Public release date: 19-Aug-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Daphne Watrin d.watrin@iospress.nl 31-206-883-355 IOS Press Amsterdam, NL, August 19, 2013 A new study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience demonstrates that Chinese herbal medicine Ji-Sui-Kang (JSK), given systemically for three weeks after injury in rats, improved locomotor function, reduced tissue damage, and preserved the structure of neural cells compared to control rats. The report also includes data showing that JSK may first act to reduce inflammation and cell apoptosis and death, and boost local oxygen supply while, later on, it appears to restore function and promote tissue regeneration. Although Chinese herbal medicines have traditionally been used for a variety of ailments, the rationale for their use relies more on anecdotal evidence than the results of modern-day controlled experiments. "A number of anecdotal reports from Chinese medicine practitioners indicate that treatment with a novel herbal formulation, JSK, for periods of one week or three months improved functional recovery," explains co-lead investigator Shucui Jiang, MD, PhD, head of the Hamilton NeuroRestorative Group at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. "Our present study provides an important and necessary foundation for further studies of JSK." In this study rats began JSK treatment … Continue reading →

by Peter Tan. Posted on August 17, 2013, Saturday WHAT is wrong with you? a stranger asked as I passed by him outside a shop. He had been observing me from a distance. There is nothing wrong with me, I responded, feigning ignorance. I already knew where the question would lead to. Unperturbed by my answer, he followed me from behind and fired a barrage of questions, Why are you using a wheelchair? You cannot walk? What happened? Before I could answer, he continued, I know a sifu who can treat you. He has treated many people like you. They could walk again after six months of treatment. Thank you. I am not interested, I declined politely and pushed my wheelchair a little faster to shake him off my back. You do not want to walk again? he shouted after me. It was not that I do not want to walk again. I was simply tired of the same rigmarole strangers, well-meaning relatives and friends put me through all the time. They all knew of someone who could make me walk again and insisted that I try the treatments whether I liked it or not. Do not get me wrong. … Continue reading →

By LAURA ROSS Contributing Writer Sir Winston Churchills rallying cry was Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never in nothing, great or small, large or petty never give in. It led a traumatized nation through the darkest days of World War II. That rally applies as strongly now for two exceptional athletes, each facing their most intense challenges. Jason Dierking, 37, and Tom Morris, 34, met as strength and conditioning coaches for Indiana University. The pair shared a passion for sports and remained friends when Dierking left IU for UofL in 2005. He is currently the assistant director of sports performance at UofL, working with swimming and diving, mens soccer and cross-country. Morris remained at IU, where he is the head strength and conditioning coach, working with mens soccer and womens basketball. The triathlete friends participated in several sporting events together, including a half-Ironman competition in 2010. The grueling Ironman race is one of the greatest tests of endurance an elite athlete can face. The race was a success for both men, who celebrated their accomplishment together. Little did they know that soon, they would face their ultimate challenge. May 17, 2012 started out like any other … Continue reading →

Glendale, AZ (PRWEB) August 13, 2013 The leading pain clinics in Phoenix, Arizona Pain Specialists, are now offering treatment with a Double Board Certified pain management doctor at two West Valley locations. One is in Glendale, and the other clinic is in Surprise. Both clinics accept over 50 insurance plans. For more information and scheduling, call (602) 507-6550. Dr. Patrick Hogan is a Double Board Certified West Valley pain management doctor treating patients out of both a Glendale location and a new clinic in Surprise AZ. He is highly skilled and has won the coveted Patient's Choice Award numerous years in a row for his compassionate, highly skilled care. Dr. Hogan offers comprehensive care with both medication management and interventional treatments. These treatments are customized to patient's individualized needs to optimize the chances of success. Over 50 treatment options are available, with the West Valley pain clinics also offering chiropractic treatment, spinal decompression therapy and acupuncture. The clinics offer modern treatment that is often revolutionary, including spinal cord stimulator implants along with radiofrequency ablation. These treatments are often able to relieve pain for long periods of time. The Arizona Pain centers accept Medicare, AHCCCS, most PPO plans, Workman's compensation, Personal … Continue reading →