Stem cell therapy may one day be used to cure disorders such as Fragile-X syndrome, or Cystic fibrosis and other genetic maladies. Matthew Vella The Maltese government wants the European Commission to abandon plans to provide funds for research activities on stem cells that involve "the destruction of human embryos". In a declaration on the ethical principles for the Horizon 2020 programme, which is an 80 billion fund for the EU's programme for research and innovation to create new jobs, the Maltese government said it wanted more detailed guidelines on the bioethical principles that will guide research programmes. Horizon 2020 will allow the financing of research on human stem cells - both adult and embryonic - as long as it is permitted by the national laws of member states. The fund however will not finance human cloning, genetic modification, or the creation of human embryos intended for the purpose of research or stem cell procurement. The European Commission does not explicitly solicit the use of human embryonic stem cells, but Horizon 2020 allows the use of human stem cells according to the objectives of the research, and only if it has the necessary approvals from the member states. The Maltese … Continue reading →

By Kim Walter -- kwalter@nvdaily.com The Virginia Comprehensive Epilepsy Program in Winchester was recently named a Level 4 Epilepsy Center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, making it one of three in the state with the top designation. The program is a collaboration of the Winchester Medical Center and two local practices, Winchester Neurological Consultants, Inc. and Virginia Brain and Spine Center, Inc. Being named a level 4 center means it provides intensive testing, monitoring and treatment options to patients of all ages. Dr. Paul Lyons, a neurologist and epileptologist, and Dr. Lee Selznick, a neurosurgeon, work closely as a team with patients, from diagnosis to treatment and recovery. "About one percent of the population is affected by epilepsy ... it's not a rare condition," Lyons said. It is the third most common neurological disorder in the United States, yet epilepsy is also among the least understood of major chronic medical conditions. "The cornerstone of treatment for epilepsy is an accurate diagnosis," he said. To assure a patient is properly diagnosed, Winchester's program conducts rigorous testing and evaluations. Lyons said that once diagnosed, it still has to be determined what kind of medication is best for that particular patient. … Continue reading →

Credit: WSAV National, state and local autism experts will convene at the "2012 Lowcountry Autism Forum," Saturday, June 16, at Seacoast Church, 750 Long Point Road in Mt. Pleasant, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. By: News Release | WCBD News 2 Published: May 31, 2012 Updated: May 31, 2012 - 3:52 PM Mt. Pleasant, SC - National, state and local autism experts will convene at the "2012 Lowcountry Autism Forum," Saturday, June 16, at Seacoast Church, 750 Long Point Road in Mt. Pleasant, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The admission-free event is open to the public. News 2's Carolyn Murray will be the emcee for the morning session. Physicians, therapists and software vendors will also participate in the forum sponsored by the Lowcountry Autism Spectrum Disorders Consortium (LASD) and MUSC Project REX, an outpatient treatment program for children with autism. Keynote speakers at the forum will include Dr. Joe Horrigan, Assistant Vice President and Head of Medical Research and Leslie Long, Director of Housing and Adult Services, both from Autism Speaks, the nations largest autism science and advocacy organization. Some other speakers are: Dr. Carol Page, Director, South Carolina Assistive Technology Program, USC School of Medicine; Dr. Jane Charles, MUSC … Continue reading →

Public release date: 31-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Rhiannon Bugno biol.psych@utsouthwestern.edu 214-648-0880 Elsevier Philadelphia, PA, May 31, 2012 Autism is a developmental disorder that affects social and communication skills. Irritability is a symptom of autism that can complicate adjustment at home and other settings, and can manifest itself in aggression, tantrums, and self-injurious behavior. These disruptive behaviors are frequently observed in children with autism, which may considerably affect their ability to function at home or in school. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdoses, but it may have other applications related to its effects in the brain. NAC helps maintain and restore glutathione, which play a key role in the antioxidant defense system. Additionally, cysteine as supplied by NAC treatment, stimulates a protein, the cystine-glutamate antiporter, resulting in the decrease of glutamatergic neurotransmission. NAC has two resulting effects: 1) it may protect brain cells by raising the level of a protective antioxidant metabolite called glutathione, and 2) it may reduce the excitability of the glutamate system by stimulating inhibitory receptors. These drug actions are important because, although the causes of autism are unknown, it is clear … Continue reading →

College Station Medical Center (The MED) has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Associations Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes The MEDs commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations. In earning the award, The MED achieved at least 12 consecutive months of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement indicators and achieved at least 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures during that same period of time, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care. These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients. In addition to the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke award, The MED has also been recognized as a recipient of the associations Target: Stroke Honor Roll, for improving stroke care. Over the past quarter, at least 50 percent of the hospitals eligible ischemic stroke patients have received tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, within … Continue reading →

Public release date: 31-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Stephanie Burns sburns@bmjgroup.com 44-207-383-6920 BMJ-British Medical Journal Women with irregular heart rhythm (known as atrial fibrillation) have a moderately increased risk of stroke compared with men, suggesting that female sex should be considered when making decisions about anti-clotting treatment, finds a study published on bmj.com today. Several studies have suggested that women with atrial fibrillation are at higher risk for ischaemic stroke (caused by an interruption of the blood supply to the brain) than men, but other studies found no such difference. If few or no other stroke risk factors exist, doctors need to know whether female sex is important in making decisions about anti-clotting treatment. So researchers based at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the University of Birmingham in the UK decided to investigate whether women with atrial fibrillation have higher risk of stroke than men. The study involved over 100,000 patients with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation at any Swedish hospital or hospital affiliated outpatient clinic. Participants were tracked for an average of 1.2 years (a total of 139,504 years at risk - a term that adds up the time each person in the study was … Continue reading →