MAPLE GROVE, Minn., May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. today announced the successful completion of its global Phase III clinical trial for USL255 (extended-release topiramate), an internally developed program for the management of epilepsy in adults, using the company's proprietary formulation technology. USL255 is specifically engineered to provide convenient once-daily dosing and reduce fluctuations in topiramate blood levels observed with currently available treatment options. Upsher-Smith's New Drug Application for USL255 has been accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with an anticipated target review date under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of December 2013. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130520/NY17281LOGO) In the study, USL255 demonstrated a positive treatment effect as adjunctive therapy in patients with refractory partial-onset seizures (POS) compared with placebo. USL255 had a statistically significant reduction from baseline in weekly POS frequency during the titration plus maintenance phase compared to placebo (p "We are very excited by the preliminary findings from this well-executed global trial. Sixty-nine centers enrolled more than 200 patients to evaluate the safety and efficacy of USL255, a uniquely designed extended-release formulation of topiramate," said Steve Chung, M.D., Professor of Neurology at the Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix and trial investigator. "This study … Continue reading →

He goes to school, camps, skis, studies karate, takes summer ecology courses and has pool parties at his house. And these common activities arent without their challenges for Peter Champagney as a child with autism. Peter, 9, a third-grader at Kingston Intermediate School, was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder called pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, or PDDNOS, when he was about 4 years old. His parents, Jean and Matt Champagney, knew when he was about 2 years old that he had special challenges. He couldnt do things their friends children could do, and it was more obvious the older he got. His hugs were very brief. He also had obvious physical challenges. He couldnt jump properly. They immediately reached out to experts like Theresa Breen of Kingston, an occupational therapist at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital in Plymouth, for guidance to help their son. Breen said Peter had difficulty with social communication, interpreting sensory information, coordination skills, sensitivity to unexpected touch and noise when she met him. She worked with him utilizing different techniques to learn how to approach daily life. At Braintree Rehab, Peter needed occupational, speech and physical therapy. Breen offers individualized treatment, having met with Peter twice … Continue reading →

Q: What symptoms should parents watch for if they are worried a young child may have autism? Is it possible to diagnose autism before age 2? A: With careful evaluation by an expert, diagnosing a child younger than 2 with autism is possible. More often, however, autism is identified in children between the ages of 2 and 3. The signs and symptoms of autism vary quite a bit, depending on the severity of the disease and the individual child. But it is important that parents understand and watch for symptoms of autism. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in a child's ability to manage autism. Autism is a serious developmental disorder that affects a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. For reasons that are not clear, the disease is three to four times more common in boys than it is in girls. In general, autism affects three areas of a child's development: language, social interaction and behavior. Some children may show symptoms of autism in early infancy. Others develop normally for the first several months or years of life, with symptoms appearing later. Most children with autism have significant symptoms by the time they reach … Continue reading →

HAIFA, ISRAEL--(Marketwired - May 22, 2013) - On May 19th, 2013, The International Center for Autism Research and Education held a conference for pediatricians on "Autism: An update on genetic and clinical aspects," convening experts in the field of autism for a critical and comprehensive look at the most contemporary findings and practices pertaining to autism. The conference was held at Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in conjunction with The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine. The conference opened the floor for discussion on the various approaches to autism intervention and facilitated international collaboration. Emanuel Tirosh M.D., of the Hannah Khoushy Child Development Center, The Bnai Zion Medical Center, and the Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, addressed the congregation on drug treatment for autism, balancing benefits with expectations, and discussing avenues for progress among pharmaceutical research for autism spectrum disorder. Pediatric Neurologist Michael Davidovitch M.D. of Maccabi Health Services presented expert opinion and strategy for early detection of autism. Tali Gev, Ph.D. presented a critical review of non-medical intervention approaches for autism. Hakon Hakonarson, M.D., Ph.D., of the Center for Autism Research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, presented novel therapeutic development to aid autism and the most … Continue reading →

Judith Durham of The Seekers is continuing to make positive improvement following a stroke after her Melbourne concert last week. Durham's manager Graham Simpson has updated fans on the singer's progress and reports she is in good spirits and looking forward to the challenge of recovery. 'I'm pleased to be able to let you know that after being assessed yesterday (Tuesday) by the head of the Rehabilitation Unit at Epworth Hospital yesterday, Judith will be transferred to the unit on Friday for further treatment,' Graham said. 'After speaking with Judith's neurologist this morning, I can report that while Judith's everyday conversational speech is fluent, her processing of higher function speech and complex questions is impaired. 'On a positive note, during one of their meetings, Judith's neurologist asked her to sing him something and, without prompting, she was able to correctly sing the first verse of Morningtown Ride, completely in tune. 'Later in the afternoon, pleased with her progress, she asked me to test her on other songs, and she was able to sing to me - without a problem - the first verses of I'll Never Find Another You, Come The Day and I Celebrate Your Life My Baby. 'Judith … Continue reading →

According to the CDC, strokes are the cause of one out of every 19 deaths in the United States each year, with ischemic strokes caused by blood clots blocking flow to the brain making up 85 percent of all stroke cases. Recent medical advances have allowed doctors more range than ever before in treating the neurological ailment, but their effectiveness hinges on the publics awareness of them. Methodist West Houston Hospital aims to gain ground on the battle against strokes this Thursday, May 23, with a stroke risk factor screening and seminar led by neurologist Dr. Mohammad Al Baeer, a diplomat of the American Board of Neurology. With strokes, time is of the essence when it comes to treatment. Its symptoms dizziness, loss of coordination, weakness, numbness, impaired vision and speech come on rapidly, and kill millions of nerve cells each minute. Many stroke victims dont even realize whats happened until its already too late, Al Baeer said. They think theyre just tired [or] they think its something because of high blood sugar or whatever, and they sleep over their symptoms, Al Baeer said. Then they come the next morning and recount the symptoms, and we find that they had … Continue reading →

May 22, 2013 Costs to treat stroke are projected to more than double and the number of people having strokes may increase 20 percent by 2030, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. In a statement published in Stroke, an American Heart Association journal, the association cites the aging U.S. population as the main reason for the increases and predicts that by 2030: "Strokes will absolutely strain the healthcare system," said Bruce Ovbiagele, M.D., M.Sc., professor and chairman of the Department of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. Caring for survivors is expensive because stroke can cause long-term disability, he said. "Ninety percent of stroke patients have residual disability and only 10 percent recover completely after a stroke," Ovbiagele said. "Policy makers at all levels of governance should be aware of this looming crisis so that we can consider practical ways to avert it." The fourth leading cause of death and one of the top causes of preventable disability in the United States, stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blood clot or a bleeding vessel. Without oxygen-rich blood, brain cells die. "Getting patients specialized acute stroke care as soon as … Continue reading →