Jennifer Deasy has suffered from migraines since she was 11 years old more than half the 18-year-old Upper Dublin girls life. And she has an idea that just may ease the pain a bit for her and other migraine sufferers. It also could net her a medical school scholarship. Basically, her idea is to cure migraines with stem cell treatment. Deasy has been named one of 12 semi-finalists for a National Academy Medical School Scholarship Challenge sponsored by the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. Three of the 12 will be selected to present their research proposals at the November Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington, D.C., according to an academy press release. One will receive a medical school scholarship up to $185,000, with $10,000 scholarships going to the runners-up. The winners will be determined by scholars attending the November Congress. Deasy was one of 3,100 honor high school students who attended the February Congress, where students were challenged to identify an unsolved medical/scientific/world health problem and create an original investigation to solve that problem. My guidance counselor nominated me to attend the February Congress, said Deasy, a 2014 Upper Dublin High School grad and current freshman … Continue reading →

By Jane Collingwood Associate News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on September 23, 2014 Researchers are making progress on a new on demand epilepsy pill which can be taken when people feel a seizure starting. The pill has been developed by a team at University College London, UK, led by Professor Dimitri Kullmann. They explain that about one percent of people worldwide, or 65 million individuals, have epilepsy. About a quarter are resistant to normal treatments, drugs that suppress the excitability of all brain cells and cause side effects. But the new pill to suppress seizures may help this group, as it works by genetically modifying brain cells, making them sensitive to a compound which is normally inactive. Professor Kullmann describes the process. First, we inject a modified virus into the area of the brain where seizures arise, he says. This virus instructs the brain cells to make a protein that is activated by clozapine-N-oxide, or CNO, a compound that can be taken as a pill. The activated protein then suppresses the over-excitable brain cells that trigger seizures, but only in the presence of CNO. He adds, At the moment, severe seizures are treated with drugs that suppress … Continue reading →

Electroencephalography (EEG) recording net being used on a baby. EEG is the recording of the brain's spontaneous electrical activity over a short period of time. istockphoto Measuring how quickly a child's brain processes sounds might help identify the severity of autism, according to a new study. Observing children's brainwaves may also allow identification of autism earlier than is currently possible, the study authors reported. "The finding that the brain's response to certain types of information is associated with autism severity is hugely promising," said senior researcher Sophie Molholm, an associate professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. "A major goal of autism research is to develop measurements to diagnose the disorder as early as possible, and that can help to identify areas of weakness, and strength, so that treatments can be optimized," Molholm said. "Our work shows that measuring brain activity is a viable approach to achieving these goals." The findings were published in the Sept. 22 online edition of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities. Play Video Researchers have flagged certain behaviors that may be early signs of autism, including abnormal repetitive behaviors and delayed communication. ... Approximately one in … Continue reading →

Since 1987, the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder has skyrocketed more than 1,100 percent. Today, we spend $11.5 billion dollars a year on everything from educational programs to medical therapies to help those children. But what happens when they become adults? Unfortunately, they often get lost, said Dr. Christopher Hanks of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. For children, the care is fairly structured around them, but as they move into the adult-based care settings, these patients can really struggle and all too often are forgotten, said Hanks. In an effort to help those patients, Hanks has opened the Center for Autism Services and Transition (CAST), a new clinic specifically designed to care for adults with autism spectrum disorders. We want to provide a place they can come for medical care knowing that we have an entire staff who truly understands their needs, said Hanks. Beyond that, we also look for things like continuing education courses or job opportunities to help them transition into a world that can be very intimidating for them, he said. Braden Gertz is a 24-year-old bachelor and an early childhood education specialist at the Nisonger Center at The Ohio State University … Continue reading →

New York, N.Y. (PRWEB) September 23, 2014 New York medical malpractice attorneys Cory Rosenbaum and Robert Fader announce the launch of StrokeLaw.com, the flagship website of their new practice. The new site, created by Rosenbaum and Fader, provides the general public with critical information regarding the causes and signs of stroke as well as the legal rights of victims of stroke malpractice and negligence. Almost 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year, and despite the fact that stroke is the fourth leading cause of deaths in the U.S., very few attorneys focus their attention on the medical issues and legal rights of stroke victims We created StrokeLaw.com to provide vital information on stroke medicine as well as free information about a persons right to sue doctors and hospitals when they fail to diagnose or treat stroke properly, said Cory Rosenbaum, founder and attorney at Stroke Law. It is well documented that each and every year thousands of people who suffer a stroke across the United States are either misdiagnosed or their treatment is delayed. The results can be lifelong disabilities and death. We know from recent studies that almost 14% of all strokes in the U.S. are misdiagnosed. That statistic … Continue reading →

Published: Monday, September 22, 2014 at 5:38 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, September 22, 2014 at 5:38 p.m. The Joint Commission, in conjunction with The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recently recognized Wake Forest Baptist Health Lexington Medical Center with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. Achievement of Primary Stroke Center Certification signifies the hospital's dedication to fostering better outcomes for patients, according to a press release. Lexington Medical Center has continuously maintained certification since initially being certified in 2010 by demonstrating that its program meets critical elements of performance to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes for stroke patients. It also serves as a signal to the community that the quality of care provided is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients. Lexington Medical Center underwent an on-site review conducted by a Joint Commission expert in early September. The surveyor reviewed its compliance with the requirements for The Joint Commission's Disease-Specific Care Certification Program as well as primary stroke center requirements. The expert thoroughly reviewed and analyzed the care provided to actual stroke patients as they moved from the emergency department to the intensive care unit to the medical surgical unit, including all the support … Continue reading →

Burley, ID (PRWEB) September 22, 2014 This September, Dr. Ronald Rice of All Smiles Dental is raising awareness of the importance of gum disease treatment for all Burley, ID patients in honor of Self-Improvement Month. Dr. Rice is currently offering patients who suffer from bleeding gums and periodontal disease a laser-based treatment option that may help them regain their healthy smiles and improve their overall well-being. The LANAP protocol utilizes the PeriolaseMVP-7, an FDA cleared laser, for the treatment of periodontal disease, a treatment option that less than one percent of dentists in the nation have been trained to perform. Gum disease often results from poor dental hygiene, although other factors like genetics are usually involved as well. Patients with severe periodontal disease may also suffer from loose or missing teeth, and are at an increased risk of developing diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Bleeding gums are one of the first signs that the condition is taking hold. To combat periodontal disease and its serious effects, Dr. Rice often recommends the LANAP procedure, which specifically targets the bacteria and infected tissue in periodontal pockets that surround the teeth. The laser uses a wavelength that leaves uninfected tissue unharmed, so patients … Continue reading →