Newly released article details "New Hope for Survivors of Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury". (PRWEB) April 24, 2013 "Rarely do we see such a radical breakthrough in medical treatment as this for stroke." "These results represent a sea change in the therapeutic possibilities for stroke and TBI patients. Our team observed first hand, rapid clinical improvement in stroke patients following this brief office treatment," said Professor Ralph. "Dr. Ralph visited Neurological Wellness Center in Managua, Nicaragua in 2012 where he learned to preform perispinal injections," said Dr. Augusto Ramirez M.D. of Neurological Wellness Center. Neurological Wellness Center physicians began teaching perispinal injection technique for the drug Enbrel in 2010. Since then physicians, nurses and caregivers from every continent have visited the center. "We have amassed a trove of anecdotal reports confirming the efficacy of perispinally injected Enbrel for the treatment of stroke, TBI and Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Ramirez. For injections of Enbrel to be effective they must be administered to the soft fatty tissue in the back of the neck between cervical vertebrae C-5 and C-6. This simple subcutaneous injection, performed with a fine gauge inch needle, is referred to as a perispinal injection. Neurological Wellness Center offers a … Continue reading →

Apr. 24, 2013 The production of a certain kind of brain cell that had been considered an impediment to healing may actually be needed to staunch bleeding and promote repair after a stroke or head trauma, researchers at Duke Medicine report. These cells, known as astrocytes, can be produced from stem cells in the brain after injury. They migrate to the site of damage where they are much more effective in promoting recovery than previously thought. This insight from studies in mice, reported online April 24, 2013, in the journal Nature, may help researchers develop treatments that foster brain repair. "The injury recovery process is complex," said senior author Chay T. Kuo, M.D., PhD, George W. Brumley Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, Pediatrics and Neurobiology at Duke University. "There is a lot of interest in how new neurons can stimulate functional recovery, but if you make neurons without stopping the bleeding, the neurons don't even get a chance. The brain somehow knows this, so we believe that's why it produces these unique astrocytes in response to injury." Each year, more than 1.7 million people in the United States suffer a traumatic brain injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control … Continue reading →

Apr. 24, 2013 A multicenter study led by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shows that mild traumatic brain injury after blast exposure produces inflammation, oxidative stress and gene activation patterns akin to disorders of memory processing such as Alzheimer's disease. Their findings were recently reported in the online version of the Journal of Neurotrauma. Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become an important issue in combat casualty care, said senior investigator Patrick Kochanek, M.D., professor and vice chair of critical care medicine and director of the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research at Pitt. In many cases of mild TBI, MRI scans and other conventional imaging technology do not show overt damage to the brain. "Our research reveals that despite the lack of a lot of obvious neuronal death, there is a lot of molecular madness going on in the brain after a blast exposure," Dr. Kochanek said. "Even subtle injuries resulted in significant alterations of brain chemistry." The research team developed a rat model to examine whether mild blast exposure in a device called a shock tube caused any changes in the brain even if there was no indication of direct cell death, such as bleeding. … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, N.Y. - A potential treatment for traumatic brain injuries may be tested in retired professional football players, who are the focus of concern over blows to the head. Neuralstem, Inc., of Rockville, Md., said Wednesday it is working with the National Football League Alumni Association to study the feasibility of such a test, which would need government approval. It would involve a drug that's now in an early human trial for treating depression. In animal studies, the drug appeared to stimulate creation of brain cells. Concern has mounted about brain injuries and disease in former NFL players, driven in part by some high-profile suicides. Thousands of former players are suing the league and its teams, saying that for years the NFL did not do enough to protect players from concussions. Copyright (c) Read the original here: Company hope to test brain injury treatment … Continue reading →

NEW YORK The National Football League Alumni Association is working with Neuralstem, Inc., of Rockville, Md., to possibly test a potential treatment for traumatic brain injuries. 17 Photos If the plan goes through, the treatment would be tried on retired professional football players, who are the focus of concern over blows to the head. Neuralstem, Inc said Wednesday it is working with the National Football League Alumni Association to study the feasibility of such a test, which would need government approval. It would involve a drug that's now in an early human trial for treating depression. In animal studies, the drug appeared to stimulate creation of brain cells. Concern has mounted about brain injuries and disease in former NFL players, driven in part by some high-profile suicides. Thousands of former players are suing the league and its teams, saying that for years the NFL did not do enough to protect players from concussions. A lawyer representing the about 4,200 players told the Associated Press that the league held evidence about the damage concussions could do even after they created a Mild Trauma Brain Injury committee in 1994. Play Video Play Video "It set up a sham committee designed to get … Continue reading →