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Serious traumatic spinal cord injuries rising among older people in the U.S.

The number of serious traumatic spinal cord injuries is on the rise in the United States, and the leading cause no longer appears to be motor vehicle crashes, but falls, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.

28 Jan 2014

Number of serious traumatic spinal cord injuries is on the rise in US, shows study

28 Jan 2014

NICE approves MabThera for treating severe forms of GPA and MPA

Today the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has approved the use of MabThera for two potentially life-threatening auto-immune diseases, GPA and MPA, which result in the inflammation and damage of small blood vessels and frequently involve multiple organs. The two diseases affect over 13,000 people in the UK and are characterised by the breaking down of specific areas of tissue in the body that, if not treated, can lead to organ damage, organ failure and even death.

24 Jan 2014

Research reveals new information about the genetic complexity underpinning schizophrenia

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai today announced the publication of two papers in the journal Nature that reveal new information about the genetic complexity underpinning schizophrenia. These collaborative studies represent the largest exome sequencing efforts to date to elucidate this mental illness, and together found that the disorder is likely caused by far more rare genetic mutations than previously suspected.

23 Jan 2014

Researchers discover new gene involved in severe childhood epilepsy

A European consortium of epilepsy researchers has reported the discovery of a new gene involved in severe childhood epilepsy. Using a novel combination of technologies, including trio exome sequencing of patient/parental DNA and genetic studies in the tiny larvae of zebrafish, the EuroEPINOMICS RES consortium found that mutations in the gene CHD2 are responsible for a subset of epilepsy patients with symptoms similar to Dravet syndrome - a severe form of childhood epilepsy that is in many patients resistant to currently available anti-epileptic drugs.

23 Jan 2014

Targeting symptoms, rather than disorders, might help reduce work impact of mental health issues

Symptoms such as insomnia and emotional distress account for much of the work impact of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, reports a study in the February issue of Medical Care.

23 Jan 2014

Study shows that older people who enjoy life more show slower declines in physical function as they age

People who enjoy life maintain better physical function in daily activities and keep up faster walking speeds as they age, compared with people who enjoy life less, according to a new study in CMAJ.

20 Jan 2014

Patients with MS could stave off disease symptoms by increasing vitamin D intake

For patients in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), low levels of vitamin D were found to strongly predict disease severity and hasten its progression, according to a new study led by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) investigators in collaboration with Bayer HealthCare.

20 Jan 2014

Study: People with learning disabilities largely invisible within hospitals

Hospital patients with learning disabilities face longer waits and mismanaged treatment due to a failure to understand them by nursing staff, says a new report.

20 Jan 2014

Cedars-Sinai researcher to receive 2014 Troland Research Award

Ueli Rutishauser, PhD, assistant professor of neurosurgery and director of human neurophysiology research in the Department of Neurosurgery and the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai, will receive a 2014 Troland Research Award at the National Academy of Sciences annual meeting April 27.

16 Jan 2014

Health law's prevention funds diverted to other programs in $1T spending bill

New details emerge about the cut to the health law's Prevention and Public Health Fund in the $1 trillion spending bill, but a jobless benefits extension in Congress stalls. In the meantime, a mental health plan pushed by President Obama will get spending bill funds.

16 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 15, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services that people who get their health insurance through high-risk insurance pools will have an extra two months before this program ends.

15 Jan 2014

FAMPYRA now available in Ireland for symptomatic treatment of walking impairment in MS patients

Biogen Idec today announced that FAMPYRA (prolonged-release fampridine tablets) has been made available in Ireland for the symptomatic treatment of walking impairment in adults with Multiple Sclerosis. FAMPYRA is a prescription drug and is licensed for use in all types of the disease, including the progressive forms. FAMPYRA is available by way of retail pharmacy on a private payment basis.

15 Jan 2014

More independent work environments may lead to reductions in autism symptoms

More independent work environments may lead to reductions in autism symptoms and improve daily living in adults with the disorder, according to a new study released in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

15 Jan 2014

Attenuated psychosis syndrome shows clinical significance

The community prevalence of attenuated psychosis syndrome is sufficient to make it a valid addition to the DSM-5, but only with revisions to the current criteria, findings from the BEAR Study show.

9 Jan 2014

Viewpoints: Health law debate on contraceptive coverage; Cuccinelli: No investigators for Medicaid fraud; 50 years after the famed report on smoking

The Little Sisters of the Poor, an organization of Roman Catholic nuns that runs nursing homes around the country, is testing the contraceptive coverage mandate of the Affordable Care Act. Last week, we're sorry to say, the nuns won a temporary reprieve from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Under the law, most employers are required to provide their employees with health insurance that covers birth control. But the Obama administration agreed to a compromise for nonprofit religious groups that object to contraception, exempting them from paying for such coverage. Instead, insurers agreed to absorb the cost. All the religious organization has to do is fill out a simple form attesting to its situation. Unfortunately, even that was too much for the Little Sisters of the Poor (1/7).

9 Jan 2014

Hebrew University research could lead to efficient and fast-acting antidepressant drugs

The World health Organization calls depression "the leading cause of disability worldwide," causing more years of disability than cancer, HIV/AIDS, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases combined.

8 Jan 2014

IQWiG study finds no added benefit of teriflunomide

Teriflunomide (trade name: Aubagio) has been approved in Germany since August 2013 for adults with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy specified by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA).

8 Jan 2014

10 simple points to know and monitor alcohol intake

Much the same way individuals are encouraged to know their blood pressure and cholesterol numbers to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a new editorial in the Journal of Psychopharmacology urges the European public to know and monitor their alcohol intake number using a simple 10 point plan.

7 Jan 2014

Synthetic cannabinoid molecule created for osteoarthritis

Chemical compounds synthesised in the laboratory, similar to those found in cannabis, could be developed as potential drugs to reduce the pain of osteoarthritis.

7 Jan 2014

Disability News and Research

Serious traumatic spinal cord injuries rising among older people in the U.S.

Number of serious traumatic spinal cord injuries is on the rise in US, shows study

NICE approves MabThera for treating severe forms of GPA and MPA

Research reveals new information about the genetic complexity underpinning schizophrenia

Researchers discover new gene involved in severe childhood epilepsy

Targeting symptoms, rather than disorders, might help reduce work impact of mental health issues

Study shows that older people who enjoy life more show slower declines in physical function as they age

Patients with MS could stave off disease symptoms by increasing vitamin D intake

Study: People with learning disabilities largely invisible within hospitals

Cedars-Sinai researcher to receive 2014 Troland Research Award

Health law's prevention funds diverted to other programs in $1T spending bill

First Edition: January 15, 2014

FAMPYRA now available in Ireland for symptomatic treatment of walking impairment in MS patients

More independent work environments may lead to reductions in autism symptoms

Attenuated psychosis syndrome shows clinical significance

Viewpoints: Health law debate on contraceptive coverage; Cuccinelli: No investigators for Medicaid fraud; 50 years after the famed report on smoking

Hebrew University research could lead to efficient and fast-acting antidepressant drugs

IQWiG study finds no added benefit of teriflunomide

10 simple points to know and monitor alcohol intake

Synthetic cannabinoid molecule created for osteoarthritis

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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