PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 11-Dec-2013 Contact: Tim Hawkins timothy.hawkins@spectrumhealth.org 616-486-6091 Spectrum Health GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., December 10, 2013 Spectrum Health will be the first health system in West Michigan and among the first in the nation to offer treatment with a newly FDA-approved device that uses electric stimulation of the brain for adult epilepsy patients whose seizures have not responded to medication. The NeuroPace Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) System is an implantable therapeutic device designed to detect abnormal electrical activity in the brain and respond by delivering imperceptible electrical stimulation to normalize brain activity before an individual experiences seizures. "For patients with frequent and disabling partial onset seizures who have proven unresponsive to two or more medications and who are not candidates for actual removal of abnormal tissue, this may prove to be a viable and welcome treatment option," said Kost Elisevich, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon, co-chair department of clinical neurosciences, chief, division of neurosurgery, Spectrum Health Medical Group. The RNS System is designed for use in combination with other therapies in reducing the frequency of seizures in individuals 18 years of age or older. It is indicated for use in patients with partial onset seizures seizures that originate and remain in a … Continue reading →

Norman Swan: Let's stay with our brain theme because there's fascinating research in London which is suggesting that a potentially safe and effective way to treat epilepsy is with what effectively is a food supplement. Matthew Walker is Professor of Neurology at University College London and his story starts with a rather old treatment for epilepsy; the so-called ketogenic diet. Matthew Walker: It does. The story starts with two older treatments, the ketogenic diet which has been around for a long, long time and gained increasing use since about the '50s and more recently in children with very refractory epilepsy. So the ketogenic diet is a diet in which children and now adults have restricted carbohydrates and very large amounts of fats in their diet. And there are complications associated with that, with increased cholesterol in the blood, with side-effects, people produce ketones which is that rather unpleasant acetone-y smell on people's breath when they are starving, but ketones themselves can cause headaches and nausea. So it's a diet that is difficult to adhere to and it's a diet that has side effects. Norman Swan: But it was thought to work because of the ketones, that you had to produce … Continue reading →

Stephen Cass: Hi. Youre listening to IEEE Spectrums Techwise Conversations, and Im your host, Stephen Cass. Back in 1972, Michael Crichton published the technothriller The Terminal Man, later made into a movie of the same name. The plot centered on a man who was implanted with a microcomputer to predict and control his epileptic seizures. Unsurprisingly, this being a Crichton novel, things dont go too well. But now, 40 years later, the FDA looks close to finally approving a real-life implant to control epilepsy, and which, unlike the science-fiction version, has performed well in clinical trials, safely easing the symptoms of many patients. My guest today is Frank Fischer, the CEO of NeuroPace, the maker of the new so-called RNS implant. He joins me by phone from his office in Mountain View, California. Frank, welcome to the podcast. Frank Fischer: Thank you, Stephen. Stephen Cass: So many listeners will be somewhat familiar with the kind of deep-brain stimulation that is used to treat Parkinsons disease. How is the RNS implant different? Frank Fischer: We utilize whats known as responsive neurostimulation, whereas the Parkinson implant either delivers stimulation continuouslywell, for Parkinsons, it typically is continuous stimulationand what we do is, once … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 12-Dec-2013 Contact: Laura Hill lhill@acnp.org American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Hollywood, FL (December 12, 2013) A new study shows that two unusual treatment approaches may have beneficial effects on the symptoms of autism in children and adults with the disorder. Using a hot bath to raise body temperature and thereby mimic the effects of infection, or using worm eggs to stimulate the production of immunoregulatory factors in the gut to diminish inflammatory signals, both attenuated symptoms of autism. These findings support the idea that disruption of systems in the body that control inflammation may contribute to the disorder. The study was presented today at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Annual Meeting. Approximately 1 in 88 children are afflicted with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A prevailing hypothesis of ASD is that a hyperactive immune system, resulting in elevated levels of inflammation, may contribute to the disorder. Consistent with this possibility, it is known that approximately one third of those with ASD show a clinical improvement in symptoms in response to a fever. In a new study led by Eric Hollander MD, a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, the effects of two novel treatment … Continue reading →

More Video Video: Man Finds $98K in Desk Bought Off Craigslist Video: Winning Powerball Ticket Sold at South Carolina Gas Station Three high-paid executives at Ontario Power Generation have been fired after an explosive auditor generals report found the utility is rife with nepotism and pays out too much in wages and benefits. In her annual review that also blasted the Liberals over the massive backlog for autism treatment, among other transgressions auditor general Bonnie Lysyk warned OPGs human-resources practices contribute to higher hydro bills. Lysyk exposed very generous wages and benefits at the Crown agency, which led to the sacking of its chief financial officer, its executive vice-president of strategic initiatives, and its internal audit vice-president. These findings are not acceptable, a grim-faced Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli said Tuesday after the auditor tabled her 444-page report. Ontarians can and should expect better, fumed Chiarelli, noting OPG will cut expenses by $1 billion over five years, slash employees to 9,308 from 11,640 by 2016, and reduce bonuses by 10 per cent. OPG chair Jake Epp said the executives were terminated effective immediately, but would receive severance, which is still being negotiated. The public utility refused to name the trio, but … Continue reading →

Not much is known about what causes autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), a group of developmental disorders characterized by social, communication and behavioral difficulties. While they can't be cured, there are some treatments that may help manage the disorders. Early intervention is encouraged to obtain the best outcomes with a childs development, and include behavioral therapy to teach a child how to talk, walk and socialize with others. Dietary methods may be employed, which involve avoiding certain foods that may cause food allergies. Medication may help mange some of the symptoms like high energy levels, tantrums, aggression and depression. But, doctors are still searching for more ways to treat those with autism. One new trial that has shown some early success uses whipworms (Trichuris suis), a parasitic intestinal worm. Doctors at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City gave 10 high-functioning adults with autism whipworm eggs for 12 weeks. In total, they ate about 2,500 eggs every 2 weeks. They also spent 12 weeks taking a placebo. The doctors found their patients were less likely to engage in repetitive behaviors and found it easier to adjust to their surroundings when on the worm egg regimen. Play Video The trillions of bacteria … Continue reading →

By U-T San Diego 6 a.m.Dec. 11, 2013 Eye contact during early infancy may be a key to early identification of autism, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health. The study, which was published recently in the journal Nature, reveals the earliest sign of developing autism ever observed a steady decline in attention to others eyes within the first two to six months of life, the NIMH release stated. Autism isnt usually diagnosed until after age 2, when delays in a childs social behavior and language skills become apparent, Dr. Thomas R. Insel, director of the NIMH, said in the release. The study shows that children exhibit clear signs of autism at a much younger age. The sooner we are able to identify early markers for autism, the more effective our treatment interventions can be. To find out how this deficit in eye contact emerges in children with autism, Drs. Warren Jones and Ami Klin, of the Marcus Autism Center, Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, followed infants from birth to age 3. The infants were divided into two groups based on their risk … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 12-Dec-2013 Contact: Margo Warren nindspressteam@ninds.nih.gov 301-496-5751 NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke A network of 25 regional stroke centers working with nearby satellite facilities will span the country, have teams of researchers representing every medical specialty needed for stroke care and will address the three prongs of stroke research: prevention, treatment and recovery. The Centers were announced today by the National Institutes of Health. "The new system is intended to streamline stroke research, by centralizing approval and review, lessening time and costs of clinical trials, and assembling a comprehensive data sharing system," said Petra Kaufmann, M.D., the associate director for clinical research at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). NINDS, which will fund and manage the NIH Stroke Trials Network, or NIH StrokeNet, has a strong history of successful stroke clinical trials over the past 40 years, leading to some astonishing advances in treatment and prevention of the disease, including the first treatment for acute stroke, announced in 1995. The 25 centers are strategically placed in every region of the country, (a complete list of centers their principal investigators, and media contacts is below). Successful applicants demonstrated experience in stroke research and recruitment, … Continue reading →