PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 6-Feb-2014 Contact: Dawn Peters sciencenewsroom@wiley.com 781-388-8408 Wiley New research shows that children with febrile status epilepticus (FSE) who receive earlier treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) experience a reduction in the duration of the seizure. The study published in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), suggests that a standard Emergency Medical Services (EMS) treatment protocol for FSE is needed in the U.S. While medical evidence reports that brief or simple febrile seizures are most common, up to 10% of cases are prolonged and meet the criteria for status epilepticus (SE)a critical condition where a persistent seizure lasts more than 30 minutes. Prior research shows that FSE accounts for 25% of all childhood SE, with more than 70% of SE cases occurring in the second year of life. Prolonged seizures place patients at risk of short-term and long-term complications, including the development of epilepsy. "The time from the start of the seizure to treatment is crucial to improving patient outcomes," said lead author Syndi Seinfeld, DO, assistant professor, Division of Child Neurology at Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University. "Our study is the first to examine the treatment of FSE by EMS, which … Continue reading →

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - Some families from Illinois are treating their sick children with medical marijuana, but they are going to Colorado to do it. These families are going to Colorado to get a low potency version of cannabis to help stop seizures caused from epilepsy. It's sparked a debate of how young is too young to use weed. Let's put it out there right now, these children who are using medicinal marijuana are not smoking it. Their pot comes in an oil and it's ingested three times a day. For one suburban family pot is the answer, even while it is separating them. "Having to go out and say goodbye to the kids knowing that I'm not coming back for two and half weeks, you know, it's a struggle," Randy Gross, whose son, Chase, suffers from epilepsy and has moved to Colorado for medication, said. "It's not right to split up families just so a child can obtain a medical treatment for a life-threatening decision," Nicole Gross, Chase's mom said. It's a struggle and a sacrifice. Follow this link: Medicinal marijuana used to treat epilepsy sparks age limit debate … Continue reading →

ATLANTA Sen. John Albers speaks at a news conference Wednesday about a bill that would require insurance companies to include autism coverage in their health plans. State Sen. Tommie Williams niece, Anna Bullard, looks on. Bullards daughter, Ava, is the inspiration for the proposed legislation. (Photo Courtesy of Georgia Health News.) Its time to fix this problem, said Williams, a Republican from Lyons. His nieces daughter, Ava Bullard, is the inspiration for the proposed legislation, called Avas Law. The issue has been raised at the Legislature for the past five years, Williams said. We should pass this bill, he said. Williams was joined by Rep. Scot Turner (R-Holly Springs), whose son suffers from autism; Sen. John Albers ( R-Roswell); and Rep. Ben Harbin (R-Evans) at a news conference that was part of Autism Day at the Georgia Capitol. Albers and Harbin are lead sponsors of the Avas Law bills in their chambers. If the bill gets to the floor of the House and Senate, it will pass, Harbin said. To bolster their case, the legislators noted that Gov. Nathan Deal supported first-time funding for coverage of autism in the State Employee Health Plan. The proposal allocates $2.4 million for treatment. … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise HOUSTON (Feb. 5, 2014) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School, in partnership with Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, has unveiled the countrys first Mobile Stroke Unit. On board the ambulance is a computed tomography (CT) scanner that allows a mobile stroke unit team member to quickly assess whether a patient is having a stroke caused by a blood clot and if so, the clot-buster tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) can be administered. The stroke unit will be run in conjunction with the Emergency Medical Services of the Houston Fire Department, Bellaire Fire Department and West University Fire Department. Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blockage or a rupture in an artery, depriving brain tissue of oxygen. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability. According to the American Stroke Association and the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year one every 40 seconds and stroke costs the United States $38 billion a year. The only FDA-approved treatment for ischemic stroke, the most prevalent kind, is the clot-buster … Continue reading →

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A doctor who generally advises children to turn off electronic devices urges them to play "Stroke Hero," a video game that teaches kids to identify stroke symptoms and summon help, according to a new study. "While I recognize the hazards of video games, and I recognize the need to limit screen time, what better way to enable children to save lives than to have them play a video game?" Dr. Olajide Williams, the study's lead author, told Reuters Health. Americans suffer nearly 800,000 strokes a year, and on average, one American dies from stroke every four minutes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment administered within four and a half hours of the first signs of stroke can save lives and reverse disabling symptoms, said Williams, who is chief of neurology at Columbia University Medical Center. Better known as the Hip Hop Doc, Williams founded and runs Hip Hop Health, a public health organization that works with rap stars like Doug E Fresh to promote healthy living through music, videos and games. Williams and rapper Artie Green designed Stroke Hero for an experiment with 210 low-income nine- and 10-year-olds in New … Continue reading →

High cholesterol significantly increases an individuals risk of heart disease and stroke, especially if it goes untreated. In the past, guidelines recommended that physicians begin prescribing cholesterol medication (statins) once a patients cholesterol reached a certain level. However, the new treatment guidelines, released by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology in November of 2013, recommend that treatment be individualized to each patient based on their health history and current risk of developing heart disease. According to the new guidelines, it is recommended for the following patient populations to begin taking cholesterol medication: 1. Patients who already have an established history of cardiovascular disease or events, such as heart attack or stroke. 2. Patients with diabetes. 3. Patients with an LDL (bad cholesterol) level of 190 or higher. 4. Patients who have 7.5 percent or greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease within the next ten years. The goal of the new treatment guidelines for high cholesterol is to significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in the targeted patient populations. It is important for individuals to discuss their personal and family health history, as well as other risk factors for heart disease, with their physician, as … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 5-Feb-2014 Contact: Katie Delach katie.delach@uphs.upenn.edu 215-349-5964 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine PHILADELPHA - New research is lighting up yet another reason for women to quit smoking. In a study published online in the journal Menopause, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania report the first evidence showing that smoking causes earlier signs of menopause in the case of heavy smokers, up to nine years earlier than average in white women with certain genetic variations. Though previous studies have shown that smoking hastens menopause by approximately one to two years regardless of race or genetic background, this study is the first of its kind to demonstrate that genetic background is significantly associated with a further increased risk of menopause in some white women who smoke. No statistically significant relationships between smoking, the gene variants under investigation and earlier menopause were observed in African American women. While symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, anxiety and insomnia can result in discomfort, embarrassment, and irritability, the onset of menopause is also associated with risks of coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, and death from all causes. On average, women enter menopause at around 50 years of … Continue reading →