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Mutations found in individuals with autism interfere with endocannabinoid signaling in the brain

Posted: Published on April 12th, 2013

Apr. 11, 2013 Mutations found in individuals with autism block the action of molecules made by the brain that act on the same receptors that marijuana's active chemical acts on, according to new research reported online April 11 in the Cell Press journal Neuron. The findings implicate specific molecules, called endocannabinoids, in the development of some autism cases and point to potential treatment strategies. "Endocannabinoids are molecules that are critical regulators of normal neuronal activity and are important for many brain functions," says first author Dr. Csaba Fldy, of Stanford University Medical School. "By conducting studies in mice, we found that neuroligin-3, a protein that is mutated in some individuals with autism, is important for relaying endocannabinoid signals that tone down communication between neurons." When the researchers introduced different autism-associated mutations in neuroligin-3 into mice, this signaling was blocked and the overall excitability of the brain was changed. "These findings point out an unexpected link between a protein implicated in autism and a signaling system that previously had not been considered to be particularly important for autism," says senior author Dr. Thomas Sdhof, also of Stanford. "Thus, the findings open up a new area of research and may suggest novel … Continue reading →

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Why can’t Harvard and BU employees get insurance coverage for autism therapies?

Posted: Published on April 12th, 2013

By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff Its been nearly two years since Massachusetts passed one of the strongest laws in the nation mandating that insurers provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism, without any annual or lifetime limits on the amount of coverage. Yet some of the states biggest employers -- including Boston University and Harvard -- dont provide coverage for therapeutic services that can cost families tens of thousands of dollars every year. They dont have to under the states ARICA law because theyre self-funded plans that are regulated by federal law and not subject to state law. The federal government added autism coverage to its benefits package for federal employees last June. Some Boston-area companies with self-funded plans such as Partners HealthCare, Tufts University, Iron Mountain, the Lahey Clinic, State Street Corporation, and Ocean Spray have opted to include autism coverage in their health plans. Others, though, seem to be dragging their heels. Places like Harvard and BU dont provide coverage for their employees, but they were part of the [Autism] Consortium that testified in support of the state legislation mandating coverage, said Judith Ursitti, director of state government affairs at Autism Speaks, a non-profit advocacy and … Continue reading →

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Better Health Primary Stroke Center – Video

Posted: Published on April 12th, 2013

Better Health Primary Stroke Center By: StLukesHealthSystem … Continue reading →

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InVivo Therapeutics’ CEO Scheduled to Appear on WCVB-TV in Boston Tonight

Posted: Published on April 12th, 2013

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. (NVIV), a developer of groundbreaking technologies for the treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI) and other neurotrauma conditions, today announced that CEO Frank Reynolds is scheduled to appear on WCVB-TV in Boston tonight, April 10th during the 11:00pm EDT newscast. InVivo Therapeutics has pioneered a treatment that uses a biocompatible polymer-based scaffold to provide structural support to a damaged spinal cord in order to spare tissue from scarring while improving recovery and prognosis after traumatic SCI. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted two approvals to the Company, the first for Humanitarian Use Device (HUD) designation, which the Company believes will expedite the products path to market, and the second to approve the Company to begin a first-in-man clinical trial of the technology. Our technology is a true platform that can be leveraged to create products for many neurotrauma conditions, and we look forward to beginning the study for our lead product to provide the first effective treatment option for acute SCI, said Reynolds. WCVB-TV is the ABC affiliate for the Boston market and airs locally on channel 5. About InVivo Therapeutics InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. is utilizing polymers as … Continue reading →

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Restoring paretic hand function via an artificial neural connection bridging spinal cord injury

Posted: Published on April 12th, 2013

Apr. 11, 2013 Functional loss of limb control in individuals with spinal cord injury or stroke can be caused by interruption of the neural pathways between brain and spinal cord, although the neural circuits located above and below the lesion remain functional. An artificial neural connection that bridges the lost pathway and connects brain to spinal circuits has potential to ameliorate the functional loss. Yukio Nishimura, Associate Professor of the National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Japan, and Eberhard Fetz, Professor and Steve Perlmuter, Research Associate Professor at the University of Washington, United States investigated the effects of introducing a novel artificial neural connection which bridged a spinal cord lesion in a paretic monkey. This allowed the monkey to electrically stimulate the spinal cord through volitionally controlled brain activity and thereby to restore volitional control of the paretic hand. This study demonstrates that artificial neural connections can compensate for interrupted descending pathways and promote volitional control of upper limb movement after damage of neural pathways such as spinal cord injury or stroke. The study will be published online in Frontiers in Neural Circuits on April 11. "The important point is that individuals who are paralyzed want to be able to move … Continue reading →

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Acadia Plans Early FDA Filing Of Parkinson's Drug

Posted: Published on April 12th, 2013

SAN DIEGO (TheStreet) -- Acadia Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) is taking the express lane to U.S approval for its Parkinson's disease psychosis drug, lifting shares higher in early Thursday trading. After meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Acadia intends to file an approval application for pimavanserin based on data from a successful phase III study completed last year, plus other supportive data. The company will no longer conduct a confirmatory phase III study that was planned to begin later this month. The FDA approval filing for pimavanserin as a treatment for Parkinson's psychosis is expected near the end of 2014. FDA will subject the pimavanserin filing to a standard review, which suggests a review cycle of 12 months. If approved, pimavanserin could reach the U.S. market in late 2015. To order reprints of this article, click here: Reprints EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protg, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass. Read more here: Acadia Plans Early FDA Filing Of Parkinson's Drug … Continue reading →

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Acadia says data from Parkinson's trial enough to file for approval

Posted: Published on April 12th, 2013

(Reuters) - Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc said data from an initial late-stage trial would be sufficient to file for approval for its experimental antipsychotic drug for Parkinson's disease patients, and that it would not need to conduct an additional trial as planned earlier. Shares of the company jumped 47 percent to $11.74 in early trade on Thursday. The stock was the biggest percentage gainer on the Nasdaq and more than four million shares had changed hands within the first 10 minutes of trading. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration agreed with the company that data from the late-stage trial 020, along with supporting data from other studies, was sufficient to support its marketing application for the drug pimavanserin to treat Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP). Data from the trial, which was redesigned in mid-2012 after a previous trial had failed, showed that pimavanserin was significantly better than placebo at reducing psychotic effects of Parkinson's disease psychosis. The drug failed to meet the goals of a previous Phase III study in 2009 due an unusually high placebo effect, according to the company. Parkinson's disease psychosis is a debilitating disorder that develops in up to 60 percent of patients as their Parkinson's disease progresses. … Continue reading →

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Acadia surges on Parkinson's psychosis drug ruling

Posted: Published on April 12th, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Thursday that it won't have to run a second late-stage trial of its drug pimavanserin, a treatment for psychosis associated with Parkinson's disease. Its shares surged in premarket trading. The San Diego company said the Food and Drug Administration agreed that results from Acadia's previous clinical trials and other clinical data are enough to support a filing for marketing approval. As a result the company said it is canceling a second late-stage study of the drug. Acadia said it expects to file for marketing approval of pimavanserin in late 2014, after it completes other forms of testing. The FDA's decision means pimavanserin could be approved sooner and saves Acadia the cost of running another trial. Acadia stock surged $3.30, or 41.4 percent, to $11.27 in premarket trading. The shares are already trading around five-year highs and were on pace to open at their highest price since January 2008. Acadia says up to 60 percent of Americans with Parkinson's disease develop psychosis and there is no approved therapy to treat the condition. The company said anti-psychotic drugs are sometimes used, but those drugs can increase the risk of death and cause side effects like … Continue reading →

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Irish dance for Parkinson's Disease

Posted: Published on April 12th, 2013

11 April 2013 Last updated at 06:57 ET People with Parkinson's disease have taken to the dance floor to see if Irish set dancing can improve their symptoms. It is part of an international study being led by the University of Limerick. Results are yet to be analysed but in a previous study, patients fell less often and were more mobile after regular set dancing lessons. Benefits may be down to exercise, the strong rhythm of Irish music and the sociability of group dances. The research could potentially lead to people worldwide being offered traditional Irish set dancing as part of their Parkinson's treatment. I'm very happy that this dance can help people improve their quality of life. This is our job. Masters student Joanne Shanahan, a qualified set dance instructor, led an exercise programme twice a week for eight weeks in a pilot study. Eight patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's took part and were compared against a control group. One of them, Mary, spoke to the BBC but did not want her surname to be made public. Visit link: Irish dance for Parkinson's Disease … Continue reading →

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The Hoyts ready for another marathon

Posted: Published on April 12th, 2013

HOLLAND The year was 1992, and Dick Hoyt and his son, Rick, wanted to run and bike across the country to raise funds for a charity for cerebral palsy a condition 30-year-old Rick developed at birth. But cerebral palsy didn't want anything to do with a trek across the United States. "And, uh, so this insurance company that was going to finance us backed out with four weeks to go before so we had to refinance our house here so we are able to pick up the expenses," Dick Hoyt recalled recently, sitting next to his quadriplegic son at their home in the hills of western Massachusetts. Twenty-one years later, after running, biking and swimming together in some of the world's highest-profile competitions, 73-year-old father and 51-year-old son are among the most recognized faces at the granddaddy of them all the Boston Marathon. One of the race's sponsors recently unveiled a life-size statue in their honor in the town where the race starts. Another backer, Timex, pushed so strongly to be identified with the duo that it would allow them to talk to The Associated Press only if the article mentioned the two are promoting the watch maker's social media … Continue reading →

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