Aug. 1, 2013 McMaster University researchers have revealed the location of human blood stem cells that may improve bone marrow transplants. The best stem cells are at the ends of the bone. It is hoped this discovery will lead to lowering the amount of bone marrow needed for a donation while increasing regeneration and lessening rejection in the recipient patients, says principal investigator Mick Bhatia, professor and scientific director of the McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute. In a paper published online today by the journal Cell Stem Cell, his team reports that human stem cells (HSC) residing in the end (trabecular region) of the bones display the highest regenerative ability of the blood and immune system. "Like the best professional hockey players, our findings indicate blood stem cells are not all equal," said Bhatia. "We now reveal the reason why -- it's not the players themselves, but the effect the arena has on them that makes them the highest scorers." Bone marrow transplants have been done for more than 50 years and are routine in most hospitals, providing a life saving treatment for cancer and other diseases including leukemia, anemia, and immune disorders. Bhatia, who also holds a … Continue reading →

August 1, 2013 Hospital upgrades epilepsy unit Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat The Tribune-Democrat Thu Aug 01, 2013, 11:30 PM EDT JOHNSTOWN A three-bed addition and new technology will enable more epilepsy patients to receive life-changing surgery at Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. The epilepsy monitoring unit upgrade will be celebrated with an official opening and epilepsy education program beginning at 11 a.m. today in the hospital atrium area at the Franklin Street campus. Neurosurgeon Dr. Alfred P. Bowles will be the featured speaker. He is director of the John P. Murtha Neuroscience and Pain Institute and director and chairman of neuroscience and neurosurgery for Conemaugh Health System. Although many cases of epilepsy can be managed with medication, 20 to 30 percent of patients with epilepsy require surgery to resect the area of the brain responsible for the misfiring, Bowles said. Every year, 180,000 Americans are diagnosed with epilepsy, defined as a disease of the central nervous system that causes misfiring of electrical signals in the brain. The misfiring triggers seizures of varying severity, which, in rare cases, can lead to brain trauma or sudden death. Effective treatment requires identifying the cause of the misfiring and location in the brain, but it … Continue reading →

Researchers in Germany have developed a technique, which allows them to predict the chances of success for a surgical procedure to treat epilepsy. It could prevent unnecessary surgery. Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder. It occurs when many nerve cells fire simultaneously in the brain - leading to seizures. It affects around 50 million people in the world. There are drugs that can help manage epilepsy, but some patients experience resistance to the treatment. For them, the only hope is surgery - the affected temporal lobe in the brain is often removed. But the surgery doesn't always work - about a third of patients experience little or no improvement after the procedure. They face the threat of seizures for the rest of their lives. "It affects their quality of life, it can affect their employment and their education opportunities and it can play a big part in their own life and that of their family," Louise Cousins from UK-based Epilepsy Action told DW. Undergoing the surgical procedure presents a daunting decision for many patients. Apart from the risks associated with all surgery, epilepsy patients also have to deal with the fact that there's a 30 percent chance of the procedure … Continue reading →

The Greatest Therapy for Autism and Special Needs What is the greatest therapy? Are you stressed that you can't provide more help for your child? Find out what I learned as I struggled to provide therapies f... By: Kelly Langston … Continue reading →