Former Detroit Red Wingsright-winger Gordie Howe's condition has continued to improve after stem cell treatment in December, Howe's family told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. Howe, who will turn 87 in March, has severe dementia. He had multiple strokes last summer and a serious one in October, and he was hospitalized in December with a case of dehydration. Howe's family opted to have the NHL legend, who spent 32 years as a professional hockey player, undergo stem cell treatment in December. The familiy has said that his condition has improved markedly since then. Canadiens honor Charlie Hebdo victims by playing French anthem Prior to the treatment, Howe was limited to shuffling his feet while sitting down. He has since regained the ability to kick a ball around and to push a shopping cart. He has gone out in public with family members. Howe's son Mark, who is currently a pro scout for the Red Wings, said that his father "is doing very well, overall." Howe spent 25 seasons with the Red Wings from 1946 to 1971. After six years with the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association, Howe returned to the NHL … Continue reading →

A TODDLER is jetting out to India with his mother and grandmother for a second course of treatment which could give him some eyesight. Little Connor Wrighton, who is just over 13 months old, is having stem cell therapy at a clinic in New Delhi, following treatment he had in the city in October and November. Parents Nathan and Lisa Wrighton said they were feeling very positive that the pioneering treatment was going to make a major difference to Connors life. He was born blind and with a form of cerebral palsy. At just 23 days old, Connor had a shunt fitted to relieve the pressure on his brain by taking away fluid to his stomach. Doctors at Unistem Biosciences in New Delhi are starting a new phase of treatment for Connor, taking cells from his hips to hopefully regenerate his eyes. The latest course of treatment is expected to last just under two weeks. Mr Wrighton, formerly of Oxenhope and Silsden and an ex-student of South Craven School in Cross Hills, said the family was very hopeful that the stem cell therapy would make a significant difference to his sons sight. He added: "We were very impressed with the … Continue reading →

Gordie Howe suffered a major stroke in October and his condition seemed grim at the end of November when his son, Mark Howe, reported that his father was unable to walk and his speech is very minimal. He started to see an improvement in his health soon after that though and his family said that Howe took amazing steps forward thanks to stem cell treatment in Mexico. Roughly a month after that treatment, Howe is continuing to make gains. Hes gone from not being able to walk to pushing a cart at a grocery store, Mark informed the Detroit Free Press. Mr. Hockey has also gone to the mall recently and can kicked a small ball around outside. (Howe) is doing very well, overall, Mark said. Howe, 86, was also suffering from back problems and has dementia. He lives with his daughter, Cathy, in Lubbock, Texas. Read the rest here: Howe seeing further gains following stem cell treatment … Continue reading →

Pronunciation: ris-PER-i-done Class: Benzisoxazole antipsychotic Risperdal - Tablets, oral 0.25 mg - Tablets, oral 0.5 mg - Tablets, oral 1 mg - Tablets, oral 2 mg - Tablets, oral 3 mg - Tablets, oral 4 mg - Solution, oral 1 mg/mL Risperdal Consta - Injection, powder for suspension, ER 12.5 mg - Injection, powder for suspension, ER 25 mg - Injection, powder for suspension, ER 37.5 mg - Injection, powder for suspension, ER 50 mg Risperdal M-TAB - Tablets, orally disintegrating 0.5 mg - Tablets, orally disintegrating 1 mg - Tablets, orally disintegrating 2 mg - Tablets, orally disintegrating 3 mg - Tablets, orally disintegrating 4 mg Risperidone - Tablets, orally disintegrating 0.25 mg Has antipsychotic effect, apparently caused by dopamine- and serotonin-receptor blocking in CNS. Slideshow: View Frightful (But Dead Serious) Drug Side Effects Absolute oral bioavailability is 70%. T max is 1 h (risperidone), 3 h (9-hydroxyrisperidone extensive metabolizers), or 17 h (9-hydroxyrisperidone poor metabolizers). Steady state is approximately 1 day (extensive metabolizers) or approximately 5 days (poor metabolizers). The main release of the drug starts 3 wk after injection, is maintained from 4 to 6 wk, and subsides by 7 wk. Steady state is reached after 4 … Continue reading →

Rachel Zamzow, For The Inquirer Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2015, 2:51 AM Some of the autistic children Connor Kerns works with have odd fears: exposed pipes, bubbles on pizza, a microwave's beep. These may seem innocuous to many people, but for someone with autism, they can trigger a wave of worry and anxiety. About 40 percent to 60 percent of people with autism have a diagnosable anxiety disorder or an atypical anxiety driven by irregular fears or unusual social anxiety, said Kerns, assistant professor at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. Anxiety is a common concern for the parents of autistic children and adults on the spectrum. But major obstacles have prevented the accurate assessment of anxiety in autism, leaving treatments for this symptom lacking. For one, most standard anxiety measures are not designed for people with autism, said Kerns. And they can't deal with unusual anxiety symptoms, such as those caused by a minor change in routine. "A lot of the atypical fears are much more closely intertwined with symptoms of autism itself," she said. The core characteristics of autism include social and communication impairments and repetitive behaviors. Kerns is developing an autism-specific addition to a standard anxiety assessment. People … Continue reading →

There's a new law in Nebraska that's saving some families tens of thousands of dollars. Video:New state law saves families thousands on autism therapy So excited to read his story, Colton, 7, can hardly sit still. Interacting with people is a big achievement for him. "Colton was diagnose with autism at age 3," Lisa Meridith said. Doctors told Meridith that early intervention was key for Colton, but the cost was overwhelming. "For the past 3 1/2 years we've been paying anywhere from $500 to $1,000 worth of therapy every week," Meridith said. Insurance wouldn't cover the behavioral treatment Colton needed until now. "It's such a relief," Meridith said. "It has been a godsend for so many families." Former Gov. Dave Heineman signed the new rule into law in April. As of Jan. 1 most insurance companies will pay for 25 hours of therapy each week, which is a victory for hundreds of families. People who provide this treatment, like Terri Newton with Childhood Autism Services, have concerns, though. "It's going to take a little time for everyone to acclimatize to what this means," Newton said. "A lot of families did move out of state or families would separate." See original … Continue reading →