Researchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine announced today they've discovered why it's so hard to use stem cells to make liver and pancreatic cells, and their findings could lead to new treatments for diseases like type 1 diabetes. It turns out that the chromosomes in laboratory stem cells open slowly over time, in the same sequence that occurs during embryonic development. It isn't until certain chromosomal regions have reached the open state that they are able to respond to added growth factors and become liver or pancreatic cells, the researchers said. "Our ability to generate liver and pancreatic cells from stem cells has fallen behind the advances we've made for other cell types," said Dr. Maike Sander, a professor of pediatrics and cellular and molecular medicine, and director of the Pediatric Diabetes Research Center at UCSD. "So we haven't yet been able to do things like test new drugs on stem cell-derived liver and pancreatic cells," Sander said. "What we have learned is that if we want to make specific cells from stem cells, we need ways to predict how those cells and their chromosomes will respond to the growth factors." Researchers have focused on stem cells … Continue reading →

To make Autism treatment more affordable and convenient, the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust plans to set up a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre within the premises of the Prabhadevi temple, which gets over Rs70 crore in donations yearly. The much-awaited centre is expected to open in the next six months. To make Autism treatment more affordable and convenient, the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust plans to set up a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre within the premises of the Prabhadevi temple, which gets over Rs70 crore in donations yearly. The much-awaited centre is expected to open in the next six months. The centre will be located on the first floor of the building beside the temple. This will be the city's first centre to have multiple kinds of experts including paediatric neurologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, psychologist, ophthalmologist, orthopaedic surgeon and dietician, all under one roof, and at a subsidised rate. Therapy sessions that normally cost between Rs700 to 1,800 per hour will cost a maximum of Rs100 to 300 at a subsidised rate in the Siddhivinayak centre. "Some government permissions are pending, which we will be getting soon. We will definitely open the centre within the next six months. The centre will be of help … Continue reading →

Published: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 7:01 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 7:01 p.m. Parents of children diagnosed with autism could soon get help paying for treatment, thanks to a bill filed last week by Sen. Tom Apodaca that closely mirrors one passed by the N.C. House last year. Senate Bill 676 requires group health insurers to cover adaptive behavior treatments for children with autism spectrum disorder, a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. Beginning Oct. 1, the bill would mandate that insurers cover screenings, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder for those 18 years or younger, with benefits capped at $40,000 per year. Coverage may not limit the number of clinical visits. I think this is a good start to help some folks, Apodaca said Wednesday. This is a serious problem that's becoming bigger each year, so I'm excited about the progress we've made. Currently, North Carolina is one of only 16 states in the country that doesn't require employer-based health plans to cover behavioral therapies for autism. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says one in 70 children in North Carolina deal with a form of autism, … Continue reading →

Updated: Thursday, April 2 2015, 07:47 AM CDT Lawmakers, Autism advocacy groups and families impacted by Autism will gather at the State Capitol Thursday to celebrate Texas Autism Awareness Day. Representative Ron Simmons, (R) Carrollton, will host the third annual event, which coincides with World Autism Awareness Day. Other lawmakers, including Rep. Larry Gonzales, (R) Round Rock, will attend along with groups like the Autism Society of Central Texas and Autism Speaks. The goal is to raise awareness for early diagnosis and treatment of Autism. There are several bills in the legislature designed to help children and families with special needs, including Autism. One of those bills is House Bill 3282, written by Simmons, which would require the education commissioner to create an Autism program for behavior analysis and treatment. It would also provide training for parents. According to the Autism Society of Central Texas: More than 3.5 million Americans live with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The prevalence of Autism has increased by 6-15 percent each year from 2002 to 2010. About one in every 68 babies born in the United States will be diagnosed with Autism at some point in their life. Sara Rankin Wilson, with Autism Speaks, says that … Continue reading →

Piedmont Newnan Hospital has been designated as only the third Remote Treatment Stroke Center in Georgia and the first in EMS Region 4 by the Georgia Department of Public Healths Office of EMS and Trauma. The designation recognizes Piedmont Newnans high-quality care of stroke patients while providing state-of-the-art diagnostics and emergency treatment. This designation is a huge win for our Coweta County community, said Mike Robertson, CEO of Piedmont Newnan Hospital. We know time is of the essence when it comes to stroke diagnosis and treatment. Ambulances carrying patients who are exhibiting stroke-like symptoms will now come to Piedmont Newnan for treatment versus traveling to a facility outside of the county. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and No. 1 cause of disability in the United States. Georgia is in the stroke belt, an 11-state region where studies show that the risk of stroke is 34 percent higher for the general population than in other areas of the country. The Georgia Department of Health commends you and your staff for the commitment to excellence in stroke care that is being provided at your facility, J. Patrick ONeal, M.D., the Department of Public Healths Director of Health Protection, wrote … Continue reading →