By Ashley Dunkak @AshleyDunkak CBS DETROIT Murray Howe, the head of the radiology department at ProMedica Toledo Hospital, understands the skepticism of those who question the stem cell treatment his father Gordie, also known as Mr. Hockey, received in December in Tijuana, Mexico. Gordies health had been slowly declining even before the stroke he suffered in late October, and he was essentially bedridden when Murray and his brother Marty took him to Mexico to participate in a clinical trial. They did not have high hopes he was so far gone, Murray recalled but after each step of the two-part process, Gordie improved rapidly, once again able to walk and talk, repossessed of his wit and humor. Murray and his siblings were floored. So were the therapists who had been working with Gordie after his stroke. Some physicians have scoffed at the idea of stem cells helping an individual who has had a stroke, but Murray a doctor himself says his fathers recovery after treatment opened his eyes to stem cells as a potential game-changer. Speaking as a medical professional, its so frustrating when you cant really do anything for a patient, said Howe, the head of the radiology department at … Continue reading →

Actor Noah Huntley's twin sister Echo was born with severe epilepsy Shortly before she died in 2010, she seemed to turn corner in her treatment Dracula Untold star's twin suddenly had a two-hour seizure and died Noah believes he holds 'connection between heaven and earth' with Echo By Alice Smellie for The Mail on Sunday Published: 17:03 EST, 7 March 2015 | Updated: 08:28 EST, 8 March 2015 Three weeks before Echo Huntley died, aged just 36, she and her twin brother, Hollywood star Noah, went for a walk in the Sussex village where they grew up. It was a beautiful day, remembers the actor, who shot to fame in the 1990s playing long-haired hunk Luke McAllister in ITVs Emmerdale, and recently appeared in the box office hit Dracula Untold. We had a cream tea and then wandered up to the 11th Century church. As early summer sunlight dappled through the trees on to the ancient graves, Noah idly asked Echo where shed like to be buried. He recalls: She said in her slightly dismissive way, Oh, I dont know. Maybe there, and pointed to a damp and shady corner of the churchyard. Noah asked Echo if she wouldnt want … Continue reading →

Last fall, the new South Carolina Medicaid director told lawmakers he needed $30 million to comply with a recent federal rule that requires states to cover autism therapy for children enrolled in the low-income health insurance program. But based on Gov. Nikki Haleys executive budget request, he may only get about half that much. Theres no way it will end up being enough, said Kim Thomas, president of the South Carolina Autism Society. But the new rule is still exciting, she said. The money will mainly pay for expensive, but effective treatment called Applied Behavior Analysis for thousands of children and teenagers in South Carolina who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Medicaid is finally realizing the value of ABA therapy, but its important to note that they didnt have a choice, Thomas said. This was a federal ruling. Christian Soura, who was appointed by Haley as the new Medicaid director in November, told state senators shortly after he accepted the job that his agency would need $8.7 million in state money for the new autism rule. That amount would allow his department to draw down about $21 million more from the federal government to fully fund the … Continue reading →

Andrea Janus, CTVNews.ca Published Wednesday, February 11, 2015 12:12PM EST Last Updated Wednesday, February 11, 2015 3:36PM EST An international study led by Canadian researchers has confirmed the safety and efficacy of one of the most significant new treatments in decades, one that could dramatically improve outcomes for the 15 million people who suffer a stroke each year. The clot retrieval procedure, known as endovascular treatment (ET), dramatically reduces disability and deaths in patients who have suffered an acute ischemic stroke. Such strokes are caused by a sudden blockage in an artery that deprives the brain of oxygen and glucose, and can lead to debilitating brain injuries. The treatment reduced the mortality rate among study participants by 50 per cent, the study showed. The mortality rate among stroke patients who receive the standard treatment of care is two in 10. The mortality rate among patients who receive ET is one in 10. Fifty-five per cent of the patients who received ET in the study went home without having suffered significant disability, co-principal investigator Dr. Mayank Goyal, professor of radiology and clinical neurosciences at the Cumming School of Medicine, told CTV News. That compares to patients who did not receive ET … Continue reading →