LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --NeuroSigma, Inc., a Los Angeles-based medical device company, announced today that its Monarch eTNS system for the adjunctive treatment of epilepsy and depression will make its debut at the 10th European Congress on Epileptology, which takes place in London, England from September 30 to October 4, 2012. "This conference represents an outstanding opportunity to put the Monarch in the hands of many healthcare professionals who will be future advocates of the system in the European Union. Our team looks forward to forming alliances and introducing a new paradigm for the management of epilepsy," said Leon Ekchian, Ph.D., NeuroSigma's President & CEO. NeuroSigma was invited by the conference organizers to lead a Satellite Symposium on September 30th, focused on trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) for the treatment of epilepsy and neuropsychiatric disorders. The presentations on eTNS will cover the following topics: The presenters will be Christopher DeGiorgio, M.D., NeuroSigma's Vice-President, Neurology, and Professor of Neurology at UCLA, Ian Cook, M.D., NeuroSigma Senior Medical Advisor and Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA and Colin Kealey, M.D., NeuroSigma's Manager of Business Development. The symposium will include the first public presentation of long-term data on the efficacy of eTNS for … Continue reading →

HATFIELD, England, September 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Globalsoliddose manufacturing forEisai'snew epilepsy medicine Fycompa (perampanel) to start at 100 millionUKbased,purpose built,EMEA research and commercial regional headquarters Eisai has announced that their UK production facility has received its licence for solid dose manufacturing for their new first in class partial epilepsy treatment, Fycompa (perampanel). Discovered and developed in the UK and Japan, Fycompa was launched first globally in the UK on 12 September 2012. Manufacturing will take place at the company's European, Middle-East, Africa (EMEA) and Russia headquarters, situated in Hatfield, UK, representing a significant boost to both the local economy and the wider UK life-sciences environment. The investment is linked to a comprehensive neurosciences research and development (R&D) programme focusing on illnesses affecting the brain such as dementia and epilepsy. In addition to bolstering the company's product discovery, packaging and supply infrastructure, the increased investment will support a host of partnership initiatives between the NHS, UK academic institutions and commercial partners. Eisai recently presented phase I data for Alzheimer's Disease modifying treatment, the UK/Japan discovered BACE inhibitor E2609, confirming proof of mechanism for preventing amyloid beta by inhibiting BACE. This is added to the continuing development of novel monoclonal antibody BAN2401, … Continue reading →

By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Sept. 24 (HealthDay News) -- More and more children are growing up with autism, and although many treatments and interventions are now available, clinical studies on the use of medications in teens and young adults are lacking, according to new research. "The majority of (older) individuals with autism spectrum disorders appear to be taking medications that we have very little evidence for," said the study's lead author, Dr. Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, medical director of the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Vanderbilt Brain Institute in Nashville, Tenn. "In the absence of sufficient evidence, parents and people with autism should find a clinician who tells you what's known and unknown about the potential benefits and risks of any medication," he said. "It should be a shared decision-making process." Results of the study were published online on Sept. 24 in the journal Pediatrics. Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders that impair social development and communication. Autism spectrum disorders also may cause repetitive movements and even self-abusive behavior, such as head banging, according to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). It is estimated that about one in 88 American children … Continue reading →

By Carol Davis PUBLISHED: 17:30 EST, 24 September 2012 | UPDATED: 17:30 EST, 24 September 2012 Mel Strzebrakowska was just 15 and celebrating her fathers birthday at home when she suffered her stroke. She remembers nothing about that day apart from waking up in intensive care. I tried to scramble out of bed, but my legs collapsed, and my right hand wouldnt work either, says Mel, now 24, a retail assistant from Warlingham in Surrey. On suffering a stroke at 15: 'I couldn't take it in. I was so young. I couldn't believe it had happened to me,' said Mel Strzebrakowska I didnt know what was wrong. Then the doctors told me Id had a stroke. 'I couldnt take it in. I was so young. I couldnt believe it had happened to me. Every year around 150,000 Britons suffer a stroke, where either a blockage in the blood supply deprives the brain of oxygen, or a bleed in the brain causes damage to nerve cells and function. Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Go here to read the rest: Botox jab: Mel could hardly use her hand after a stroke at just 15, but Botox jabs … Continue reading →

WHEN Lina Brohier experienced headaches and muscle and speech problems four years ago, she never suspected she was on the verge of suffering a stroke. The Reservoir residentthought strokes were something that only affected older people, not knowing there was an arteriovenous malformation in her brain, an abnormal connection between blood vessels that can cause a stroke at any age. Mrs Brohier was only 31 when she suffered a stroke in August 2008 while driving home one night. "My right arm fell off the steering wheel, before I knew it the same thing had happened to my leg and I slumped in the seat," she said. "I rang a family member and they drove me to hospital." If she'd known how serious it was, Mrs Brohier would have called 000 as it's important stroke victims receive medical treatment as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of permanent brain damage. Mrs Brohier spent a fortnight in hospital and then two months in rehabilitation recovering from the stroke, which left her with no muscle movement on the right-hand side of her body. "It's basically relearning how to brush your teeth and butter toast and take a shower. It's difficult." Mrs Brohier … Continue reading →

By Peggy McCarthy, Conn. Health I-Team Writer A recent study that discovered a genetic link to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) could ultimately lead to breakthroughs in treatment or prevention, but advances are at least a decade away because additional research is needed, according to the studys lead researcher. Ultimately, there could be significant implications for the military where PTSD prevalence is estimated to be at least twice that of the general population because of severe trauma associated with combat duty. Were onto something important, said Mark W. Miller, Ph.D, the researcher. Miller is a clinical research psychologist in Boston for the VAs National PTSD Center, and is an associate professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. But he said studies with more participants that replicate his findings are needed before talking about policy implications or screening or anything like that. Dr. Joel Gelernter, a Yale psychiatrist and chief of the VAs Molecular Genetics lab in West Haven, was not involved in this study, but does research on the genetics of PTSD. He said if the Boston study results are replicated in future research, it opens the possibility for much-needed, new drug development for treatment of PTSD. Drug … Continue reading →