Today's issue of The Lancet focuses on epilepsy, and aims, together with content in The Lancet Neurology and The Lancet Oncology, to highlight the challenges and achievements in the global campaign against this disorder. Epilepsy is a costly and complex public health problem. According to WHO, epilepsy accounted for about 05% of the global burden of disease in 2005, or more than 7 million disability-adjusted life-years. The prevalence and burden of epilepsy is especially high in poor countriesmore than 85% of the global burden of epilepsy occurs in low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LLMIC). Effective drugs to control seizures and associated comorbidities are available, and are widely used in high-income countries. However, worldwide, up to 30% of people with epilepsy have seizures uncontrolled by available drugs; for many others, adverse effects or contraindications make drug use untenable, leaving non-drug management or surgery. Investigations into the molecular mechanisms that lead to epileptogenic changes have shown promise in preclinical models; this information could lead to more antiepileptogenic drug candidates entering clinical trials. Although many inexpensive antiepileptic drugs are available, and surgical options exist for patients who are resistant to the drugs, the epilepsy treatment gapie, the proportion of patients not seeking medical treatment … Continue reading →

ScienceDaily (Sep. 27, 2012) The burden of epilepsy in poorer parts of the world could be readily alleviated by reducing the preventable causes and improving access to treatment, according to a review article published September 27 in the Lancet. The researchers call for greater recognition from international and national health agencies to address the management of epilepsy in the developing world. Despite being one of the most cost-effective disorders to treat, there are twice as many people living with epilepsy in low- and lower-middle-income countries than higher income nations and more than 60% of those affected in these regions are not accessing any appropriate treatment. Lead author Professor Charles Newton, who works in the Wellcome Trust programmes in Tanzania and Kenya, said: "Epilepsy needs to be brought into the agenda of non-communicable diseases. It was not mentioned in the UN General Assembly Meeting in New York to address the global burden of non-communicable diseases, and yet it represents a substantial burden of ill health." Epilepsy is a common disorder, particularly in poor areas of the world, but deriving accurate figures on the epidemiology of epilepsy in low- and lower-middle income countries is very difficult. There have been very few surveys … Continue reading →

Public release date: 27-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Jen Middleton j.middleton@wellcome.ac.uk 44-207-611-7262 Wellcome Trust The burden of epilepsy in poorer parts of the world could be readily alleviated by reducing the preventable causes and improving access to treatment, according to a review article published today in the Lancet. The researchers call for greater recognition from international and national health agencies to address the management of epilepsy in the developing world. Despite being one of the most cost-effective disorders to treat, there are twice as many people living with epilepsy in low- and lower-middle-income countries than higher income nations and more than 60% of those affected in these regions are not accessing any appropriate treatment. Lead author Professor Charles Newton, who works in the Wellcome Trust programmes in Tanzania and Kenya, said: "Epilepsy needs to be brought into the agenda of non-communicable diseases. It was not mentioned in the UN General Assembly Meeting in New York to address the global burden of non-communicable diseases, and yet it represents a substantial burden of ill health." Epilepsy is a common disorder, particularly in poor areas of the world, but deriving accurate figures on the epidemiology of epilepsy in low- and … Continue reading →

27 September 2012 Last updated at 19:54 ET Epilepsy is twice as common in low and middle-income countries as it is in the developed world, according to an international team of researchers. They say the higher incidence is linked to increased risk factors, including head injuries and infections such as pork tapeworm and river blindness. And more than 60% of sufferers in those countries receive no appropriate treatment, they say in the Lancet. A Lancet editorial said epilepsy had to be a global health priority. Epilepsy is a condition in which disturbances to the brain's normal electrical activity cause recurring seizures or brief episodes of altered consciousness. There are about 40 different types. Epilepsy is not a mental illness, but can develop after injury or damage to the brain. About 85% of the global burden of epilepsy occurs in low and middle-income countries. Writing in the Lancet, researchers led by Prof Charles Newton, of the University of Oxford, say the death rate in developing countries is much higher than in developed ones - and that the reason for this is likely to be a failure to treat people with the condition. It is time for all governments to take epilepsy … Continue reading →

An $8.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will be used to launch an autism research center that Emory University and other partners say will establish Atlanta as a national leader in exploring the causes of the developmental disorder. The Autism Center of Excellence will bring together more than 25 researchers and physicians in eight laboratories. Participants include Emory's pediatrics department, the university's Yerkes National Primate Research Center and the Marcus Autism Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Researchers from Florida State University also will collaborate. The cooperative, called ACE, will be one of three similar enterprises around the country. The others are in Los Angeles and Boston. "That's quite an achievement for the state of Georgia," said Dr. Ami Klin, an Emory professor of pediatrics and director of the Marcus Autism Center who will lead the new partnership. "But it's a moment of promise. We must turn that promise into tangible benefit for the children and families affected by autism." Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. Symptoms usually appear in toddlers. The cause is not known, though autism is linked to biology and abnormal brain chemistry. One … Continue reading →

STORY HIGHLIGHTS New York (CNN) -- A milestone for 16-year-old Jaden Lake, who has autism, is sometimes as basic as a kiss. He's the son of Canadian Parliament member Mike Lake, who traveled to New York this week in the shadow of the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorders, believed to affect roughly 1 in 88 children in the United States. Lake and his wife, Debi, say it's often the small victories that count most when raising the eldest of their two children. "When he was 11, I remember my wife phoning me and saying, 'Jaden just kissed me for the first time,'" Lake said. The revelation came when Debi had been teaching their son to blow, using a straw she placed in his mouth. "She noticed that when she pulled it out," a kissing sound sprung from his puckered lips, he said. "She used that to teach him how to kiss." Autism is defined as one group of developmental problems within autism spectrum disorders, which surface in early childhood and come with varying degrees of severity, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It's not clear what causes the disorder and there is no … Continue reading →

Starting Monday, Utah families who have young children with autism can apply for free treatment provided by a new pilot project but if too many seek help, theyll need luck to win a slot. About 250 kids can be served through the Medicaid-funded portion of the project, which is open to children who are not covered by the low-income public health insurance plan. If more children apply than can be helped, which is likely, applications will be ranked at random, similar to a lottery, explained Utah Department of Health spokesman Tom Hudachko. How to apply Children between the ages of 2 and 6 who meets certain requirements can apply for autism treatment through the Medicaid-funded portion of a state pilot project. Applicants need not be on Medicaid. To be eligible, kids must: Be clinically diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Be a U.S. citizen and Utah resident. Have been born between April 1, 2007 and October 31, 2010. Not have assets, such as a bank account or trust fund, in his or her name in excess of $2,000. More: Autism treatment slots open Monday for young Utah kids … Continue reading →

Residents living in and around Lehigh Acres can be screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke. The complete screening package now includes a new Heart Rhythm screening, checking for irregular heartbeat, which is a major risk factor for stroke. The Lehigh Regional Medical Center is sponsoring the event, presented by Life Line Screening, on Thursday, Sept. 20, at First Baptist Church of Lehigh, at 507 Sunshine Blvd. N. Appointments will begin at 9 a.m., said Diann Cimring, the marketing director. A stroke, also known as a "brain attack," is ranked as the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Screenings are fast, painless and affordable. They help identify potential health problems such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms and hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk is also offered and is appropriate for both men and women, Cimring said. Register for a package of five screenings for $149. A single screening costs $60. Combining Life Line Screening's preventive service with Lehigh Regional's diagnostic and treatment abilities creates a continuity of care that is unsurpassed in this … Continue reading →

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE MKT: CUR) announced it has been approved to commence a clinical trial to treat motor deficits due to ischemic stroke with its spinal cord stem cells (NSI-566) at BaYi Brain Hospital, in Beijing, China, through its subsidiary, Neuralstem China (Suzhou Neuralstem Biopharmaceutical Company, Ltd.). The trial approval includes a combined phase I/II design and will test direct injections into the brain of NSI-566, the same cell product tested by Neuralstem in a recently-completed Phase IALS trial in the United States. The trial is expected to begin early next year. Ischemic strokes, the most common type of stroke, occur as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. Post-stroke motor deficits include paralysis in arms and legs and can be permanent. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061221/DCTH007LOGO ) "China is rapidly moving to become a prominent player in the field of stem cell transplantation and regenerative medicine," said Karl Johe PhD, Chairman of Neuralstem's Board of Directors and Chief Scientific Officer. "We are honored and excited to begin this process at BaYi Brain Hospital in Beijing, China. BaYi is one of the premier neurological hospitals in China, and we … Continue reading →

When a person has a stroke, time lost before treatment is brain loss. Before Cleveland Regional Medical Center joined the Telemedicine Program at Mischer Neuroscience Institute (MNI), located at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, people who suffered a stroke in Cleveland, Texas, and the surrounding areas had to be transported to Houston to receive the highest quality care. Now, thanks to telemedicine, they have access to neurological expertise and treatment close to home. To be most effective in treating the most common type of stroke, which is ischemic stroke, a special clot-dissolving drug called tPA must be administered as early as possible after the onset of symptoms, says Lisa Paxton, RN, who is medical director of the emergency center at Cleveland Regional Medical Center. Guidelines require that its used within the first three hours following the stroke, which can make the short window of opportunity difficult for people who dont live close to a large medical center or a community hospital linked to a telemedicine program. The availability of highly advanced stroke and neurological care at Cleveland Regional Medical Center is made possible by the RP-Lite Remote Presence Robotic System, a teleconferencing technology that wirelessly links Cleveland Regional Medical Center to … Continue reading →