1 hour ago by Jennifer Dimas Chronic kidney disease in older cats is the focus of a fifth clinical trial under way at Colorado State University's James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where veterinarians are exploring novel stem-cell therapy that could, for the first time, hold promise for treating one of the most perplexing feline diseases. CSU researchers seek area cats with the disease to participate in the clinical trial; cats with concurrent diseases are not eligible. For information about the trial and to determine eligibility for enrollment, visit col.st/1lB4KHf . Studies suggest that about 50 percent of cats older than 10 suffer from chronic kidney disease. Although the disease is very common, risk factors are poorly understood and it is tough to treat: Chronic kidney disease is considered irreversible, and treatment typically centers on slowing progression of the disease through supportive care, such as dietary changes, injected fluids and blood-pressure medication. Yet in a pilot study last year, CSU veterinarians determined that stem-cell therapy could provide a new treatment option for cats. After preliminary results, the research team is further investigating the ability of stem cells to repair damaged kidneys. Veterinarians are intrigued by use of stem-cell therapy for … Continue reading →

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:54 AM. So what can you do if you have tried every AED cocktail under the sun without success? Well, there are some options. This chart of non-prescription drug epilepsy treatment options lists treatments for which I could find evidence supporting some success in controlling seizures. I tried to mainly list epilepsy treatments where medical/clinical studies have been published. You should research any epilepsy treatments you are considering thoroughly and discuss them with your doctor before trying them. There is a description below the chart explaining what the columns mean and how the scoring works. You can click the links for each treatment on the chart for more information. When scoring the chart, larger numbers are more desirable/better. The columns (and scoring) for the chart mean: You can click on the name of a given treatment for more details on its scoring. Comments on the chart? Please post them in this forum discussion. This page last modified September 26, 2011. Read more from the original source: Alternative Epilepsy Treatments - Coping With Epilepsy … Continue reading →

By U-T San Diego 6 a.m.Jan. 8, 2014 The new Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers is a free, two-step screening tool used to detect children likely to have autism. Its intended for use at well-child checkups for children 16 to 30 months old, and helps health care providers classify a childs risk of having autism as low, medium or high based on parents answers to 20 questions. This checklist can more accurately identify children likely to have autism so they can get the treatment and support they need, said Dr. Alice Kau of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institutes of Health institute that funded the study. Given that the typical diagnosis occurs at age 4, it also offers the possibility of detecting autism much earlier. And earlier intervention has been shown to improve outcomes. Of the more than 16,000 children evaluated with the tool, 93 percent were considered low-risk, 6 percent were in the medium-risk range and 1 percent were considered high-risk. The findings appear in Pediatrics. The checklist can be found on the National Institutes of Health website. Scroll down and click on autism screening tool. Adequate sleep is … Continue reading →

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) January 08, 2014 A new case of autism is diagnosed every twenty seconds. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is the most recognized and respected treatment for treating individuals with autism spectrum disorder. As the demand for quality ABA services continues to grow, the Behavioral Analyst Certification Board has chosen to establish a new credential: the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) announced Dec. 5, 2013. The RBT serves to complement the Certified Behavioral Analyst Doctoral (BCBA-D) Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) and Board Certified Assistant Behavioral Analyst (BCaBA) credentials as an entry level program reflecting education and training necessary for the duties of a behavior technician. Regina Crone, PhD, BCBA and Executive Director of Teach Me LLC and Therapy and Beyond stated, This much needed credential is anticipated to ensure the consumer that ABA behavioral technicians working with their children and family members have met competencies outlined by the Behavioral Analyst Certification Board. According to the Behavioral Analyst Certification Board, the RBT is a paraprofessional who practices under the close, ongoing supervision of a BCBA, BCBAD and BCaBA (designated RBT supervisor). The RBT is primarily responsible for the direct implementation of skill-acquisition and behavioral-reduction plans developed by the supervisor. … Continue reading →

Temple Grandin, an advocate of humane treatment of animals and an autism activitist, will speak in Mandan next week. Grandin will be at the Seven Seas Motor Inn on Tuesday for the Humane Handling Humane Behavior workshop put on by the Morton County Soil Conservation District. The Morton County SCD has sponsored similar workshops for the last six years. Each year they feature a prominent speaker whos an expert on cattle and rangeland. Morton County SCD District Secretary Sherry Bender says the goal of this winters workshop is to educate on humane animal handling as well as teach how to lower stress when moving herds to different pastures. The workshop begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. In addition to Grandin, other speakers at the workshop will include Susan Keller, state veterinarian and Larry Schnell. Registration is $25 for adults and $20 for students. The Morton County SCD is expecting 400 people to attend. This is Grandins first time visiting the area. She also will be speaking at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mandan Middle School about autism. Registration isnt required, but seating is limited. Although Bender says all three speakers will undoubtedly contribute to the workshop, she is … Continue reading →