SLOUGH, England, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the launch of the 2012 Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award that aims to raise awareness about epilepsy across the globe. The award is a joint initiative of the International Bureau for Epilepsy and biopharmaceutical company UCB and recognises journalists who have excelled in reporting on this often-misunderstood condition. Epilepsy is the most common, serious neurological condition, affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide.[1] Now in its fourth year, the annual Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award recognises original and informative reporting on epilepsy, attracting a growing number of high-quality entries from around the world, with 49 entries from 24 countries received last year. "Despite advances in the understanding and treatment of epilepsy, many people living with epilepsy continue to face prejudice and ignorance. By recognising remarkable, thought-provoking and most importantly accurate journalism, we can help to increase understanding of the condition and continue the IBE's mission to improve the quality of life of all people with epilepsy and their families," commented Mike Glynn, award judge and President of IBE. "At UCB we have a passion for enabling people with epilepsy to enjoy normal everyday lives. We are committed to improving the lives of … Continue reading →

HUDSON Columbia Memorial Hospital has a new way to fight strokes. The hospital is using a new clot-busting drug known as Tissue Plasminogen Activator, or TPA. The New York state Department of Health certified the hospitals stroke center in March for its ability to treat stroke victims more effectively. The hospital made the announcement at an event meant to bring attention to its new center, and was attended by the administrator of the New York Statewide Program for the Designation of Hospitals as Primary Stroke Centers. Along with the new drug, the hospitals radiologic technologists, who are on site 24 hours a day, have been trained to provide neurological CT scans of the brain to determine if there is any bleeding, said Medical Director Norm Chapin. Chapin said that more than 150 people were trained as part of the new requirements that go along with being designated a stroke center. According to a statement from the hospital, those include formal training for the staff to handle acute stroke patients, a plan for providing long-term, post-stroke treatment and formal stroke training for ambulance personnel. With the TPA drug, the stroke victims see an average improvement of 50 percent, said Keene. According … Continue reading →

Newswise ATHENS, Ohio (June 11, 2012)Scientists have found new genetic information that shows how harmful bacteria cause the acute diarrheal disease shigellosis, which kills more than a million people worldwide each year. The research, which could lead to the development of future treatments, was published today in the journal PLoS ONE. The study was led by Ohio University scientist Erin Murphy and doctoral student William Broach, with contributions from University of Nevada, Las Vegas and University of Texas at Austin researchers. When the disease-causing bacterium Shigella invades a human host, environmental conditions there, such as changes in temperature or pH, stimulate a genetic expression pathway within the bacterium that allows it to survive and cause disease. Central to this genetic pathway are two proteins, VirF and VirB. VirF functions to increase production of VirB which, in turn, promotes the production of factors that increases the bacteriums virulence, or ability to cause illness in its host. Its like a domino effect, said Murphy, assistant professor of bacteriology in the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Murphy and Broachs new study, however, suggests that production of VirB can be controlled independently of VirF. It also shows that the VirF-independent regulation is … Continue reading →

In Early Study, Procedure Helps Teens Halt Insulin Injections June 11, 2012 (Philadelphia) -- In an early study, an experimental stem cell procedure helped 15 teens with type 1 diabetes stay off of insulin injections for about 1.5 years, on average. The study was very small, and the procedure is not ready for widespread use. "We now have a unique approach with some positive findings, but it's still early. We need to better understand the biology behind the treatment and follow patients for long-term side effects," Robert E. Ratner, MD, chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association, tells WebMD. This is the latest of several stem cell studies to show promising results for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, Ratner notes. In the new study, 15 of 28 teens with type 1 diabetes who got an experimental treatment using their own stem cells went into remission and did not need insulin injections for an average of about 1.5 years. The "cocktail treatment" combines stem cell therapy with drugs that suppress the body's immune system. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The experimental treatment is called autologous nonmyeloablative hematopoietic … Continue reading →