By MARY SHEDDEN | The Tampa Tribune Published: October 12, 2012 Updated: October 12, 2012 - 1:15 PM Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights seems like an entertaining way to spend an evening to a lot of folks -- including, at one time, Christina Wagner. Why wouldn't a theme park packed with ghoulish characters, gory mayhem and a cacophony of blood-curdling screams appeal to an 18-year-old and her friends? So off they went. But Wagner discovered something far more terrifying there, and twisted her fake fear into reality. An unexpected encounter with flashing strobe lights suddenly placed the young woman, who has epilepsy, at risk for seizure. Once she realized what was happening, she closed her eyes and got out of there. Wagner, now 32, escaped safely and hasn't visited a haunted house since. "If I have a feeling something is going to happen, I remove myself and I calm down," Wagner says. "I know my limitations." Nearly 3 million Americans have at some point in their life been diagnosed with epilepsy, a brain disorder that triggers a wide range of attacks, from a mild, disorienting stupor to full-blown grand mal seizures or convulsions. Prescription drugs and careful attention to stress … Continue reading →

By Mary Brophy Marcus HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Autism researchers have been given the go-ahead by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to launch a small study in children with autism that evaluates whether a child's own umbilical cord blood may be an effective treatment. Thirty children with the disorder, aged 2 to 7, will receive injections of their own stem cells from umbilical cord blood banked by their parents after their births. All of the cord blood comes from the Cord Blood Registry, the world's largest stem cell bank. Scientists at Sutter Neuroscience Institute, in Sacramento, Calif., said the placebo-controlled study will evaluate whether the stem cell therapy helps improve language and behavior in the youngsters. There is anecdotal evidence that stem cell infusions may have a benefit in other conditions such as cerebral palsy, said lead study investigator Dr. Michael Chez, director of pediatric neurology at the institute. "We're hoping we'll see in the autism population a group of patients that also responds," Chez said. Other autism and stem cell research is going on abroad, but this study is the first to use a child's own cord blood stem cells. Chez said the study … Continue reading →

The number of students mainstreaming into traditional classrooms after receiving Applied Behavior Analysis therapy at the central Ohio nonprofit continues to rise. Worthington, Ohio (PRWEB) October 12, 2012 The latest three students to mainstream represent a long line of Step By Step success stories. Since 2006, the intensive instruction provided by the nonprofit organization has helped mainstream more than 40 students back into the traditional classroom setting. Step By Steps instruction is provided using the principles of ABA where goals are developed according to each student's needs as identified by their individual treatment plan, which is then implemented across the student's day. Skills are taught through the program to foster independence and include: behavior management, language, communication, daily living, play and leisure, social and academic skills. There is a great deal of pride here today as we announce that three more of the students we serve have mainstreamed into public school, said Michele LaMarche, BCBA, executive director of Step By Step. The amount of work and time that each student has invested in their program is incredible and speaks to the fact that there is hope for everyone affected by autism. Im thrilled by their progress, and, even though much … Continue reading →

Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have taken the first steps to create neural-like stem cells from muscle tissue in animals. Details of the work are published in two complementary studies published in the September online issues of the journals Experimental Cell Research and Stem Cell Research. "Reversing brain degeneration and trauma lesions will depend on cell therapy, but we can't harvest neural stem cells from the brain or spinal cord without harming the donor," said Osvaldo Delbono, M.D., Ph.D., professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest Baptist and lead author of the studies. "Skeletal muscle tissue, which makes up 50 percent of the body, is easily accessible and biopsies of muscle are relatively harmless to the donor, so we think it may be an alternative source of neural-like cells that potentially could be used to treat brain or spinal cord injury, neurodegenerative disorders, brain tumors and other diseases, although more studies are needed." In an earlier study, the Wake Forest Baptist team isolated neural precursor cells derived from skeletal muscle of adult transgenic mice (PLOS One, Feb.3, 2011). In the current research, the team isolated neural precursor cells from in vitro adult skeletal muscle of various species including … Continue reading →

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) October 12, 2012 Regenevda (http://www.regeneveda.com) recently opened its brand new flagship facility in Beverly Hills. Founded by world renowned surgeon Dr. Thom Lobe, Regenevda specializes in cutting edge anti-aging treatments such as Stem Cell Therapy, IV Vitamin Therapy, and HGH Therapy. Dr. Thom Lobe is an internationally respected surgeon and has been in practice for over 30 years. Consistently pioneering advances in medicine, Dr. Lobe was one of the first doctors to ever separate conjoined twins. Consistently working to help make advances in medicine, Dr. Lobe also has over 200 publications to his credit. Overseeing the business aspect of Regenevda is Lindsey Combs. She is responsible for sales, staff, accounting, facility management, and business development. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, Ms. Combs has been working in the anti-aging field for over 10 years and has been a California Licensed Esthetician since 2003. Being one of the very few physicians in the country to hold the most advanced board certification (FAARM), Dr. Lobe is able to offer Stem Cell Therapy at the Regenevda clinic. Inside each persons own body, there are special cells in nearly every organ and tissue that have the ability … Continue reading →