Paralysis News and Research

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Paralysis is the loss of muscle function in part of your body. It happens when something goes wrong with the way messages pass between your brain and muscles. Paralysis can be complete or partial. It can occur on one or both sides of your body. It can also occur in just one area, or it can be widespread. Paralysis of the lower half of your body, including both legs, is called paraplegia. Paralysis of the arms and legs is quadriplegia.

Sialidase improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery and nervous system function: Researchers

Once damaged, nerves in the spinal cord normally cannot grow back and the only drug approved for treating these injuries does not enable nerve regrowth. Publishing online this week in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine show that treating injured rat spinal cords with an enzyme, sialidase, improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery and nervous system function.

10 Jun 2010

Health Canada approves Novartis' Menveo for prevention of meningococcal disease

Novartis Pharmaceutical Canada Inc. announced that Menveo (Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) Oligosaccharide CRM197 Conjugate Vaccine), a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine was approved by Health Canada for active immunization of adolescents (11 to 18 years of age) and adults (19 to 55 years of age) to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135.

8 Jun 2010

GPI executive director announces keynote speakers, panel topics for 2010 World Stem Cell Summit

Bernard Siegel, executive director of the Genetics Policy Institute and co-chair of the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit, announced the selection of keynote speakers for the World Stem Cell Summit, which is taking place at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, October 4-6.

4 Jun 2010

PCA-Rx represents next generation of chelation technology for ASD patients

According to the Center for Disease Control, autism has risen to an epidemic rate of 1 in 100 in the U.S., up from 1 in 150 in 2007. While controversy looms regarding its cause, many parents of autistic children believe a correlation exists with toxin accumulation. To give autism spectrum disorder sufferers a natural alternative to chelation therapy, Maxam Nutraceutics has introduced PCA-Rx.

28 May 2010

Five Prime Therapeutics, Fast Forward partner to develop Multiple Sclerosis therapeutic candidate

Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc., a leader in the discovery and development of innovative biologics, and Fast Forward, LLC, a subsidiary of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, today announced an alliance to fund the development of a FivePrime pre-clinical stage therapeutic candidate for treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Fast Forward will commit up to $1 million to fund the advancement of the therapeutic candidate.

25 May 2010

Phase II ALSTAR trial: Talampanel is safe for ALS patients

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced results from the Phase II ALSTAR trial. The trial was designed to assess efficacy, safety and tolerability of Talampanel (a selective AMPA antagonist) in reducing disease-related functional deterioration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis patients.

18 May 2010

Electrical muscle stimulation prevents critical illness polynueromyopathy

Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) can prevent critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPNM), according to Greek researchers. CIPNM is an acquired limb and respiratory muscle weakness that is a common and serious problem among intensive care unit patients, and can result in prolonged ICU and hospital stay. EMS can also shorten the duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay.

18 May 2010

Adult patients with sickle cell disease may develop cognitive problems: Study

Sickle cell disease may affect brain function in adults who have few or mild complications of the inherited blood disease, according to results of the first study to examine cognitive functioning in adults with sickle cell disease.

12 May 2010

Researchers discover link between sporadic and familial forms of ALS

Researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have discovered a link between sporadic and familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

6 May 2010

WHO announces new guidelines for production, regulation and control of snake antivenoms

With snake bites killing at least 100 000 people a year and countries facing a shortage of appropriate antivenoms, access to and information about available antivenoms is increasingly important. The World Health Organization (WHO) is publishing new guidelines for the production, regulation and control of snake antivenoms and a website with details on where the venomous snakes are located, what they look like, which antivenoms are appropriate, and where they can be obtained.

5 May 2010

Neuralstem's stem cell treatment for ALS featured on CNN with Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Neuralstem, Inc. announced that its stem cell treatment for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease), currently in a FDA-approved Phase I clinical trial, was featured on CNN last night with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, in the piece entitled "Stem Cell Medical Breakthrough".

30 Apr 2010

Summer born babies more at risk of multiple sclerosis, says research

A recent study in Australia has found a link between low exposure to sunlight during the first three months of pregnancy and development of multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life of the baby.

30 Apr 2010

Tel Aviv University researcher pioneers 3-D occupational therapy for children with disabilities

It was her love of ballet that led her to work with children who have motor disabilities. The retired dancer, now an occupational therapist, is pioneering a new "virtual" method to analyze movement patterns in children ― and more effectively treat those with debilitating motor disorders.

28 Apr 2010

WHO experts to examine polio outbreak in Tajikistan

The WHO said it sent six technical experts to assess a small outbreak of polio in Tajikistan, VOA News reports, adding that WHO "says this is the first importation of polio in the European region since Europe was certified as polio-free in 2002."

27 Apr 2010

Aton Pharma acquires the U.S. marketing rights to LODOSYN tablets from BMS

Aton Pharma, Inc., a diversified specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has acquired the U.S. marketing rights to LODOSYN (carbidopa) tablets from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

26 Apr 2010

Merck to market and distribute MBL's Td vaccine in the U.S.

MassBiologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that they have entered into an agreement that provides Merck with exclusive rights to market and distribute MBL's tetanus and diphtheria toxoids adsorbed (Td) vaccine in the United States, with the exception of Massachusetts, where MBL will continue distributing the vaccine.

21 Apr 2010

Contrary to previous studies, people with Moebius syndrome lead successful lives

A smile means happiness, a frown sadness, a raised brow surprise. Even when languages and cultures differ, people have this universal form of communication. But Moebius syndrome, a rare congenital condition causing facial paralysis, can rob people of this basic connection, affecting social interaction.

21 Apr 2010

Migraine attacks leading to a Chinese accent in a British woman

In a bizarre incident a British woman after repeated attacks of migraine headache has started speaking with a Chinese accent. Sarah Colwill, 35, according to experts is suffering from a condition known as Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS).

20 Apr 2010

New York Times examines how developments in India, Nigeria could aid global polio eradication campaign

"A decade after the world's original deadline for eradicating polio, the most tenacious bastions of the crippling virus - Nigeria and India - have recently shown remarkable progress in halting its spread, giving even some of the antipolio campaign's severest doubters hope that it may yet largely achieve its goal,"

15 Apr 2010

Camp Okizu's brain tumor weekend program has new benefactor

Camp Okizu, a non-profit camp in northern California for kids with cancer and their families, has a new benefactor for its weekend program for families of children with brain tumors. In honor of Silicon Valley executive James W. Hebert, who died from a brain tumor at age 54 in 2006, his wife, Ronni Sarmanian, also a former tech executive, has committed to sponsor the event. This annual event, which will be called the James W. Hebert Family Camp, begins April 16 and coincides with Hebert's birthday, April 13.

13 Apr 2010