Stem cells delivered by patch effective in repairing cardiac damage weeks after heart attack occurs A new study released in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine shows that in rats, treating a heart attack with stem cells even weeks after the attack occurred can halt deterioration and help the heart regenerate itself. In addition, the doctors delivered the cells using a patch that resulted in a higher survival rate for the stem cells and more of them migrating into the damaged tissue, where they went to work creating new blood vessels. The team, from the University of Louisvilles Cardiovascular Innovation Institute (Louisville, KY), had previously shown in rat studies that stem cell treatment immediately following an attack aided recovery by improving blood flow in the smallest vessels of the heart. This time the goal was to determine if the treatment was still effective if applied later in time. We also were seeking a more efficient delivery method for the stem cells by utilizing the heart patch model. Most studies employing an injection of stem cells encounter swift cell death or cell washout from the target tissue, said Amanda LeBlanc, Ph.D., who led the investigation along with Stuart Williams, Ph.D., the institutes executive … Continue reading →

SCARBOROUGH, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Canine epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders among dogs, and there's no known cause or consistently effective treatment. To learn more about the disorder, and possible treatments, several neurological veterinarians are participating in an FDA clinical trial. Two of them are local doctors, working at the Maine Veterinary Refferal Center in Scarborough. According to Dr. Alan Potthoff, the veterinarians are seeking dogs experiencing seizures to take part in the study, which will test a new compound for canine epilepsy. Qualified dogs will receive medical care that includes physical and neurological exams, blood and urine testing, an MRI, and medication free of charge. An estimated 780,000 dogs are diagnosed with epilepsy each year, and veterinarians say there's no consistent way to treat it. "Even if you have an anti-epileptic compound, it doesn't mean it's going to work on that particular seizure focus," said Dr. Potthoff. "It may work for a year or two years and then all of a sudden it starts up again." Dr. Potthoff said he hopes this clinical trial will lead to more research about the disorder. "We're always looking for new compounds that are effective and safe," he said. … Continue reading →

The Window Game - Themes, Games and Activities - The Son-Rise Program Another creative game idea created by the Son-Rise Program, to help your child on the autism spectrum. To learn the best timing and most effective way to int... By: autismtreatment … Continue reading →

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) October 07, 2013 The elementary and secondary school programs at Great Circle Edgewood Campus in Webster Groves, Mo., have received full accreditation by Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). ISACS is the leading accreditation body for private schools in the Central states. ISACS is a highly respected accreditation program and ensures our education program meets the highest possible standards, says Peppy Howard-Willms, chief education officer. It is a challenging task to meet the unique needs of the different student types along with providing individualized instruction for 200 children. ISACS is a membership organization of more than 230 independent schools from 13 states in the Midwest. Great CircleEdgewood Campus School provides a combination of specialized education and treatment services and is staffed by certified special education teachers, teachers assistants and licensed clinical therapists. Staff members include a vocational rehabilitation specialist and reading specialist. The school features a newly renovated life skills classroom, two brand new classrooms for students with autism. Smart board technology is used in each classroom. The specialized autism program uses iPads for children with autism who are nonverbal. All schools use iPads for instruction. Outcome goals are determined on an individual students … Continue reading →

Exercise might work just as well or better than drugs for people with coronary heart disease or recovering from a stroke, according to a review of evidence published Wednesday. The scientists looked at the outcomes of 305 previous trials with 339,274 participants to try to determine whether physical activity was as effective as drugs at preventing death among people with four conditions: coronary heart disease, rehabilitation from stroke, treatment for heart failure and prevention of diabetes. There was no difference between exercise and drug interventions for the people with coronary heart disease and for the prevention of diabetes. Exercise was more effective than drugs for recovery from stroke. And drugs, specifically diuretics, were more effective for treatment of heart failure. Exercise should be considered as "viable alternative to, or alongside, drug therapy," the researchers said. The exercise in the research generally took place in structured rehabilitation programs to which patients had been referred by their doctors, said Huseyin Naci, an author of the study who is a fellow at the Harvard Medical School and a researcher at the London School of Economics. The patient's condition would vary, he said, adding that for people with a prediabetic condition, an exercise program … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/w6mrzj/epicast_report) has announced the addition of the "EpiCast Report: Acute Ischemic Stroke - Epidemiology Forecast to 2022" report to their offering. Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or interrupted, either by blood clots or ruptured blood vessels, depriving the brain of oxygen and nutrients, ultimately leading to the death of brain cells (AHA, 2013). The two major types of strokes, acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and hemorrhagic stroke, constitute 78%-87% and 13%-22% of the total stroke cases worldwide, respectively (AHA, 2013; O'Donnell et al., 2010). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 15 million people in the world suffer a stroke every year, of which one third die and another third experience permanent disability (WHO, 2013a). Globally, stroke is the second leading cause of mortality in people ages 60 years and over, and is the fifth leading cause of mortality in people ages 15-59 years (WFH, 2013). Stroke is also the second leading cause of disability after dementia, which includes the loss of vision and/or speech, confusion and paralysis (WHF, 2013). Globally, stroke is a major public health concern due to its association with long-term disability and mortality. This report … Continue reading →