Children who suffer from epilepsy face a "profoundly concerning" variability in the quality of care they receive, depending on where they live, according to a new report published today. Epilepsy, which can have a devastating impact on educational attainment and badly disrupt the lives of sufferers, is the most common serious neurological condition diagnosed in the UK affecting one in 200 children or around 60,000 youngsters. Charities called for urgent action after the first national audit of epilepsy services for young people found that barely half of families are offered the support of a qualified epilepsy nurse within a year of their child being diagnosed. The role is seen as vital in monitoring medication, advising schools that can be overly restrictive of children with the condition, and providing support to parents. England offered the worst level of specialist nursing support, according to the survey of children's NHS services conducted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Only 47 per cent of units offered the service compared with 77 per cent in Wales, 73 per cent in Scotland and 100 per cent in Northern Ireland. Half of children diagnosed with epilepsy do not achieve their full educational potential, said … Continue reading →

There is a postcode lottery of care for children who suffer from epilepsy, leading doctors have warned. The standard of care patients receive is "variable", according to the first national audit of epilepsy services for young people. The report, conducted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, found "significant gaps" between recommended practice and delivered practice throughout the UK. The college said that two in five children do not see a paediatric neurologist when required and 47% of units did not have a specialist epilepsy nurse. Paediatrician and report author Dr Colin Dunkley said: "We've seen marked steps forward in epilepsy care for children in recent years - the majority of children are now being seen by paediatricians with expertise and many are getting detailed diagnoses and being prescribed the most appropriate medicines first time. "But there are certain areas that need to be improved if we're to give children and young people the best possible medical treatment and ongoing care to help manage their epilepsy and maximise their learning and quality of life." Royal College of Nursing chief executive and general secretary Dr Peter Carter added: "Epilepsy is clearly being treated very well in many parts of … Continue reading →

There is a postcode lottery of care for children who suffer from epilepsy, leading doctors have warned. The standard of care patients receive is "variable", according to the first national audit of epilepsy services for young people. The report, conducted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, found "significant gaps" between recommended practice and delivered practice throughout the UK. The college said that two in five children do not see a paediatric neurologist when required and 47% of units did not have a specialist epilepsy nurse. Paediatrician and report author Dr Colin Dunkley said: "We've seen marked steps forward in epilepsy care for children in recent years - the majority of children are now being seen by paediatricians with expertise and many are getting detailed diagnoses and being prescribed the most appropriate medicines first time. "But there are certain areas that need to be improved if we're to give children and young people the best possible medical treatment and ongoing care to help manage their epilepsy and maximise their learning and quality of life." Royal College of Nursing chief executive and general secretary Dr Peter Carter added: "Epilepsy is clearly being treated very well in many parts of … Continue reading →

ScienceDaily (Sep. 23, 2012) A team of scientists with The Cancer Genome Atlas program reports their genetic characterization of 800 breast tumors, including finding some of the genetic causes of the most common forms of breast cancer, providing clues for new therapeutic targets, and identifying a molecular similarity between one sub-type of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Their findings, which offer a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms behind each sub-type of breast cancer, are reported in the Sept. 23, 2012 online edition of the journal Nature. The researchers, including a large group from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, analyzed tumors using two basic approaches: first, using an unbiased and genome-wide approach, and second, within the context of four previously known molecular sub-types of breast cancer: HER2-enriched, Luminal A, Luminal B and Basal-like. Both approaches arrived at the same conclusions, which suggest that even when given the tremendous genetic diversity of breast cancers, four main subtypes were observed. This study is also the first to integrate information from six analytic technologies, thus providing new insights into these previously defined disease subtypes. Charles Perou, PhD, corresponding author of the paper, says, "Through the use of multiple different technologies, … Continue reading →

ScienceDaily (Sep. 23, 2012) The most comprehensive analysis yet of breast cancer shows that one of the most deadly subtypes is genetically more similar to ovarian tumors than to other breast cancers. The findings, published online Sept. 23 in Nature, suggest that most basal-like breast tumors and ovarian tumors have similar genetic origins and potentially could be treated with the same drugs, says the study's co-leader Matthew J. Ellis, MD, PhD, the Anheuser-Busch Chair in Medical Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The other co-leader is Charles M. Perou, PhD, at the University of North Carolina. Basal-like tumors account for about 10 percent of all breast cancers and disproportionately affect younger women and those who are African-American. The new research is part of The Cancer Genome Atlas project, which brings together leading genetic sequencing centers, including The Genome Institute at Washington University, to identify and catalog mutations involved in many common cancers. The effort is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "With this study, we're one giant step closer to understanding the genetic origins of the four major subtypes of breast cancer," says Ellis, who treats breast cancer patients at the Siteman Cancer Center … Continue reading →

NEW YORK Scientists reported Sunday that they have completed a major analysis of the genetics of breast cancer, finding four major classes of the disease. They hope their work will lead to more effective treatments, perhaps with some drugs already in use. Don't miss these Health stories Many of us have done it -- checked our phones to read a new text or send a quick tweet as we stroll down the street. While we know we should watch where were going, we think, worst case: well bump into the person in front of us, or trip. But experts are blaming texting and walking on the rising number of pedestrian injuries and deaths among teens. The new finding offers hints that one type of breast cancer might be vulnerable to drugs that already work against ovarian cancer. The study, published online Sunday by the journal Nature, is the latest example of research into the biological details of tumors, rather than focusing primarily on where cancer arises in the body. The hope is that such research can reveal cancer's genetic weaknesses for better drug targeting. "With this study, we're one giant step closer to understanding the genetic origins of the four … Continue reading →