PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 25-Sep-2014 Contact: Alison Trinidad alison.trinidad@usc.edu 323-442-3941 University of Southern California - Health Sciences LOS ANGELES A multi-institutional team of researchers studying schizophrenia and bipolar disorder has been awarded a $16 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to create the most extensive genetic resource to date for these two devastating psychiatric disorders, using data assembled by the University of Southern California (USC). The four-year award, shared by USC, the University of Michigan and the Broad Institute Inc., will help fund a project titled: "Whole Genome Sequencing of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder in the Genomic Psychiatry Cohort (GPC)." Keck School of Medicine of USC researchers Carlos N. Pato, M.D., Ph.D., Franz Alexander Professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Michele Pato, M.D., professor and Della Martin Chair of Psychiatry, created the GPC, which includes more than 37,000 participants who have agreed to provide DNA samples for genomic, epidemiological and clinical studies. "The GPC is a cohort of patients and controls who have agreed to partner with us in extensive genomic studies of human heredity, ranging from normal function to a variety of illnesses," said Carlos N. Pato, principal investigator of … Continue reading →

Innovative batch and flow reactors from leading manufacturer Syrris are proving advantageous for a variety of nanoparticle applications, offering scientists working in the field numerous benefits. Simple to assemble with no tools required, the easy-to-use reactors enable conditions such as temperature, time, mixing, reagent ratios and concentrations to be quickly varied for rapid process optimization. Excellent mixing and temperature control ensure a narrow particle size distribution and, to further enhance reproducibility, the systems can be fully automated. Batch reactors such as the modular Atlas system offer multiple sensors including temperature, pH and turbidity, and have no particle size restrictions. With a large choice of reactor sizes, process scale-up is straightforward. One company successfully performing batch synthesis of nanoparticles is Spanish nanomedicine company Midatech Biogune. "Our Atlas Potassium reactors have allowed us to scale-up production, enabling variables such as pH and temperature to be tightly controlled," said CEO Justin Barry. Flow chemists have enjoyed similar success, with Paulina Lloret, a researcher at the Argentinian National Institute of Industrial Technologies, saying, "We trialed our nanoparticle experiments on the Asia flow chemistry system, and immediately placed an order for our own system to optimize the speed and results of our synthesis workflow". The … Continue reading →

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) September 24, 2014 Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) today announced the release of its new book Evidence-Based Treatment for Children with Autism: The CARD Model. The book represents the culmination of three decades of autism treatment and research, detailing every aspect of autism treatment, from diagnosis and treatment planning to organizational structures that facilitate top-quality, evidence-based autism treatment. Edited by Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, Dr. Jonathan Tarbox, Dr. Adel Najdowski, and Julie Kornack, the book includes practical guidance on optimizing treatment, whether the challenges are behavioral, regional, or cultural, including strategies to increase access to autism treatment, gain the support of reluctant family members, work effectively with other disciplines, and take advantage of technological advances. Published by Elsevier, Evidence-Based Treatment for Children with Autism: The CARD Model is widely available for purchase at most booksellers and Amazon. We are excited to share the CARD treatment model, said Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, founder and executive director of CARD. Our purpose in writing this book was to create a practical resource for clinicians and students whose goal is to provide evidence-based autism treatment. We hope this book makes top-quality autism treatment more broadly available around the globe. Widely considered … Continue reading →

Morristown, NJ (PRWEB) September 25, 2014 If you were having a stroke would you know? Recently, Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists (ANS) held their monthly stroke survivor program, Partnership of Strength, and the stories being told by patients were concerning. ANS Marketing Manager Tom Wood explains, We have the opportunity to meet a lot of stroke and aneurysm survivors. As you start to listen to the patient stories, it becomes clear that many of our patients didnt realize they were having a stroke and continued to ignore symptoms. Symptoms of a stroke may be as dramatic as the sudden inability to move or talk, but more subtle signs like dizziness and numbness are just as significant and often missed, stated a study on WebMD j(1). According to a study published in the journal Stroke, 70 % of patients who suffer a minor stroke do not recognize their symptoms and 30 % delay seeking medical attention for more than 24 hours. (2) One such example happened recently to ANS patient David Kaplan, 44, a resident of Boonton Township. He suffered a stroke in late May. David experienced warning signs while riding a bus to his car from work, which left him with no … Continue reading →

HARRISBURG An emotionally charged debate preceded state senators overwhelmingly passing legislation on Wednesday to legalize several forms of medical marijuana. However, the legislative session is growing short, House Republican leaders are skeptical of the bill, and Gov. Tom Corbett opposes it. Although supporters of the bill viewed the vote as historic, Pennsylvania is behind other states: More than 30 others have legalized some form of medical marijuana, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Capping 50 minutes of debate, every Democrat voted yes, as did 20 of 27 Republicans. Several yes votes were from senators who have law-enforcement backgrounds. Under the proposal, state residents would need an access card from the Health Department after proving they have a practitioner-patient relationship and written confirmation of a qualifying medical condition. A handful of drug delivery methods that do not involve smoking would be permitted under the bill, including extracted oil, edible products, ointments and tinctures. The chamber's debate had been propelled by parents who believe a marijuana oil extract can help their children who suffer from seizures so debilitating that they worry about whether their child will survive another day. But proponents talked about the wider possibilities it … Continue reading →