HOUSTON, Aug. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyberonics, Inc. (CYBX), a global leader in medical devices for the treatment and management of epilepsy, today announced it will participate in the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference on Monday, September 10, 2012, in New York. Dan Moore, Cyberonics' President and Chief Executive Officer, will speak at 1:50 PM Eastern Time. A live audio webcast of the presentation can be accessed by clicking on the Investor Relations link on the Cyberonics home page at http://www.cyberonics.com on September 10, 2012. No slides will be presented at the conference. About Cyberonics, Inc. and the VNS Therapy System Cyberonics, Inc. is a medical technology company with core expertise in neuromodulation. The company developed and markets the VNS Therapy System, which is FDA-approved for the treatment of refractory epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression. The VNS Therapy System uses an implanted medical device that delivers pulsed electrical signals to the vagus nerve. Cyberonics markets the VNS Therapy System in selected markets worldwide. Additional information on Cyberonics and the VNS Therapy System is available at http://www.cyberonics.com. Contact Information Greg Browne, CFO Cyberonics, Inc. 100 Cyberonics Blvd. Houston, TX 77058 Main: (281) 228-7262 Fax: (281) 218-9332 ir@cyberonics.com See original here: Cyberonics To … Continue reading →

Jaison Henderson, of Ventura, knows a lot about autism. Both of his half-brothers have been diagnosed with the disorder and his wife is a behavior analyst who works with autisticchildren. Henderson said people often mistakenly pity those with the development disorder, which affects the ability to communicate and interact, but he says that's because they don't understandit. "There's no real need to feel sorry for these people. In their own minds, they don't feel sorry for themselves," hesaid. To raise awareness and money, he and best friend Tyler Treves, both members of the group Rubberneck Lions, are putting on a concert. The alternative indie band will play from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday at Zoey's Caf, 185 E. Santa Clara St. in Ventura. Proceeds will benefit the Center for Autism Understanding, Support, and Education (CAUSE) and STAR of California, a division of Support and Treatment for Autism and RelatedDisorders. CAUSE is a nonprofit agency based in Ventura that enables mental health workers to develop the specialized skills needed to treat children with autism and theirfamilies. Henderson and Treves have been playing with Rubberneck Lions since high school almost 10 years ago. They are both graduates of Ventura High School and … Continue reading →

Click photo to enlarge Dr. Komaroff Dear Dr. K: I've read that early treatment of autism can make a big difference. But what are the early signs of autism? Dear Reader: You're right my colleagues who are experts in autism say that early recognition and treatment really can help. Autism (also called autism spectrum disorder, or ASD) is a developmental disorder of the brain. Kids and adults with autism have problems communicating and interacting socially. They also may have unusual behavior patterns, interests and activities. Symptoms range from mild to severe. Autism symptoms are usually apparent by the time a child is 2 or 3 years old. What should you look out for? Children with autism may not show signs of it during their first year. Those who do may not hit typical developmental milestones on schedule. For example, they may not smile at the sound of their mother's voice, point out objects to catch someone's attention or maintain eye contact. And they may respond negatively to being touched or cuddled. Behaviors become more apparent in toddlers and young children. For example: Disordered play. A toddler with autism usually prefers to play alone and is unlikely to engage in make-believe … Continue reading →

Ask Dr. K Anthony Komaroff Q I've read that early treatment of autism can make a big difference. But what are the early signs of autism? A You're right -- my colleagues who are experts in autism say that early recognition and treatment really can help. Autism (also called autism spectrum disorder, or ASD) is a developmental disorder of the brain. Kids and adults with autism have problems communicating and interacting socially. They also may have unusual behavior patterns, interests and activities. Symptoms range from mild to severe. Autism symptoms are usually apparent by the time a child is 2 or 3 years old. What should you look out for? Children with autism may not show signs of it during their first year. Those who do may not hit typical developmental milestones on schedule. For example, they may not smile at the sound of their mother's voice, point out objects to catch someone's attention or maintain eye contact. And they may respond negatively to being touched or cuddled. Behaviors become more apparent in toddlers and young children. For example: - Disordered play. A toddler with autism usually prefers to play alone and is unlikely to engage in make-believe play. He … Continue reading →

By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Aug. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Adding the clot-busting drug Plavix to a daily dose of aspirin is no better than taking aspirin alone to prevent a second stroke in people who have had a type of stroke that is typically caused by chronic high blood pressure, a new study shows. In fact, the combination increased the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and death, the Canadian researchers report. "Antiplatelet therapy is standard for the prevention of a second stroke," said study author Dr. Robert Hart, a professor of neurology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. "We wanted to see if combining two antiplatelet drugs, aspirin with clopidogrel [Plavix], would work better and prevent more strokes." "We were disappointed that the combination of aspirin plus clopidogrel only showed a non-significant trend in reducing stroke," Hart said. "On the other side, the two together caused more bleeding and higher mortality. The higher mortality was completely unexpected." "It is clear that the two drugs together should not be routinely used in people with lacunar stroke," he added. Lacunar strokes occur in the small blood vessels in the brain and are most likely due to chronic high blood pressure; they … Continue reading →