TRENTON — Some parents look back at the moment their child was diagnosed with autism and remember it as the worst day of their lives. Not Meredith Blitz-Goldstein. The Verona mother said she already knew there was something seriously wrong with her 2-year-old son, Matthew. When he spoke, he uttered a word or two. He seldom made eye contact or slept through the night. Until he was diagnosed with a milder form of autism known as "pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified," she didn’t know how to help him. "I was very happy to have the diagnosis. I knew the monster I was dealing with. The diagnosis was like handing me the ticket to go forward," Blitz-Goldstein said. This is why she is among a growing number of parents alarmed by the recent news that the American Psychiatric Association has proposed a narrower redefinition of autism — one that focuses on children who exhibit the most disruptive behavior and difficulty communicating and forming relationships. Milder forms of autism, such as Asperger’s syndrome or Matthew’s diagnosis, would be dropped from the manual for mental disorders — the definitive reference guide for health professionals, researchers and schools, as well as from insurance … Continue reading →

Saturday, February 18, 2012    Last updated: Sunday February 19, 2012, 9:43 AM Max Braverman, 10, is obsessed with bugs and cannot handle any change in plans. Linda (Sandra Bullock) comforts her son, Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn), who has Asperger's syndrome, in 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.' 'Parenthood's' Max Braverman (Max Burkholder) also has Asperger's. Jake Bohm, 11, does not speak or make eye contact and cannot tolerate being touched — not even by his father. Oskar Schell, 9, is fixated on finding the lock to a key that his father — who died on 9/11 — left behind. These characters — from the TV shows "Parenthood" and "Touch," and the Oscar-nominated film "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" — have Asperger's syndrome or (in the case of Jake) another autism-spectrum disorder. Add these depictions to other recent projects about adults on the autism spectrum — including HBO's Emmy-winning "Temple Grandin," and the movies "Adam," and "Mozart and the Whale" — and you've got a much wider view than "Rain Man" presented in 1988. Why is this a hot topic in film and television right now? "The awareness is so much more heightened now than it's ever been in the past," says … Continue reading →

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Experts at Charleston Area Medical Center are working hard to give stroke victims a fighting chance at recovery. The Advanced Stroke Life Support course has been offered at CAMC's General Hospital for two years. The program is offered to paramedics and first responders from all over the region and has been taken by more than 50 first responders from Kanawha, Putnam, Lincoln, Cabell and Monroe counties. Deb Rectenwald, the registered nurse who coordinates the course, said the program expands on the skills paramedics are taught about recognizing the signs of stroke and taking steps in the precious minutes that follow. A stroke is caused when the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is cut off by either a blood clot or debris in the artery, according to the Mayo Clinic's website. Strokes also can be caused by bleeding in the brain, the website said. Some of the signs paramedics are trained to look for are taught on the Cincinnati Stroke Scale. Using the acronym F.A.S.T., first responders look at the person's face for signs of a droop on one side or both; check their arms to see if they drift when the person is asked … Continue reading →

EDMOND, OK--(Marketwire -02/19/12)- The team of veterinarians at White Oaks Veterinary Clinic in Edmond announced that the animal hospital is now offering pet stem cell therapy. This new regenerative medicine for pets helps animals suffering from degenerative joint disease or arthritis. Based on the research and technology provided by a company called Stemlogix, White Oaks Veterinary Clinic can now offer affordable, same-day stem cell therapy to dogs suffering from these debilitating conditions. The Stemlogix technology enables the Edmond veterinarians to extract adult stem cells from a pet's own body fat, virtually eliminating the risk of rejection or negative reaction. "I see far too many otherwise healthy pets at our veterinary clinic that have been hobbled by the effects of arthritis," Dr. Jennifer Bianchi said. "We're thrilled to be able to offer this holistic solution which harnesses the pet's own healing power to aid in the pain relief process. Our main goal with stem cell therapy is to reduce long-term inflammation and slow the progression of cartilage damage. The motto at our veterinary hospital is, 'Quality service at a great value.' Being able to provide stem cell transplants in about two hours at an affordable rate helps us live up to … Continue reading →

RAS AL KHAIMAH - A host of prominent scientists and researchers on Sunday were brought together Sunday by the 4th Annual International Workshop on Advanced Materials (IWAM 2011) to addressing topics dealing with research in areas such as the use of advanced materials in developing clean and renewable forms of energy, nanomedicine for improved diagnostics and therapy, environmental remediation and water purification and conservation. His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah on Sunday opened the conference at the Al Hamra Convention Centre. The workshop is organised by the Ras Al Khaimah Centre for Advanced Materials (RAK- CAM) under the patronage of Shaikh Saud, brings together world’s leading materials scientists who will undertake in-depth discussions on the fundamental science and applications of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology. In his opening speech, Shaikh Saud said scientists and specialists are expected to provide solutions to environmental, health and clean energy challenges. He further underscored international events which seek to intensify research cooperation among universities and institutions as well as to present the latest developments and provide a platform for exchanging views and expertise. The 3-day gathering will focus on new developments in the field of … Continue reading →