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.

Botulinum injection used for cosmetic purposes may reduce migraine headaches

A preliminary study suggests the same type of botulinum injection used for cosmetic purposes may be associated with reduced frequency of migraine headaches that are described as crushing, vicelike or eye-popping (ocular), but not pain that is experienced as a buildup of pressure inside the head, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

15 Feb 2010

National MS Society launches We Keep Moving campaign to capture stories of people living with MS

For every person living with and affected by MS there is a unique story about how they move forward with their lives. That is why the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is launching We Keep Moving, a viewer-driven reality campaign that will capture these stories and perspectives through online videos that chronicle how people across the country keep moving forward while living with MS

15 Feb 2010

Innovative nerve graft transplant successful in treatment and prevention of posterior pressure ulcers

The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that an innovative nerve graft transplant performed by Dr. Andrew Elkwood has proven to be successful in treating and preventing posterior pressure ulcers – one of the leading causes of mortality among paraplegics. 49-year old Tory Cavalieri, who underwent the procedure last January, has regained sensation in his posterior and is free of acute pressure sores, which had left him bedridden for years.

9 Feb 2010

Hand amputation distorts visuospatial perception of the action space

We know exactly where an object is when we say it is "within the reach of our hand." But if we don't have a hand, can we still see the object just where it is?

8 Feb 2010

Photocontrolled molecular switch regulates paralysis in animals

In an advance with overtones of Star Trek phasers and other sci-fi ray guns, scientists in Canada are reporting development of an internal on-off "switch" that paralyzes animals when exposed to a beam of ultraviolet light. The animals stay paralyzed even when the light is turned off. When exposed to ordinary light, the animals become unparalyzed and wake up.

4 Feb 2010

CSC, ALS TDI extend collaboration in advancing potential stem cell therapy for ALS

California Stem Cell, Inc. (CSC) and ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) are pleased to announce an extension and expansion of their collaboration aimed at advancing a potential stem cell therapy for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). This effort will build on work that has already been completed as part of this on-going partnership to understand how stem cells, and their derivatives, may be applied to treatment of this fatal neurodegenerative disease.

3 Feb 2010

Scott & White conducts DBS research for Parkinson's patients

At Scott & White Memorial Hospital, a multi-disciplinary team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, neurophysiologist, neuropsychologists and a movement disorders specialist are offering hope to some Parkinson's patients with a treatment called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). DBS involves placing a thin wire that carries electrical currents deep within the brain on Parkinson's patients who are no longer benefitting from medications, and have significant uncontrollable body movements called dyskinesia. Scott & White is also performing research into the effects of DBS on the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease including "drenching sweats," bladder dysfunction, depression, hallucination, anxiety, and dementia as well as intestinal disorders, loss of sense of smell, and sleep disturbances.

27 Jan 2010

Vaccination for children: Pros and cons

ProCon.org, a nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity dedicated to promoting critical thinking, created the new website http://vaccines.procon.org to explore the core question "Should any vaccines be required for children?"

23 Jan 2010

FDA's Ampyra approval wonderful news for people with MS experiencing walking problems

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the marketing of Ampyra™ (dalfampridine, formerly known as fampridine SR, from Acorda Therapeutics) for its ability to improve walking speed in people with any type of multiple sclerosis.

23 Jan 2010

Ampyra receives FDA approval for improving walking in MS patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Ampyra (dalfampridine) extended release tablets to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In clinical trials, patients treated with Ampyra had faster walking speeds than those treated with an inactive pill (placebo). This is the first drug approved for this use.

23 Jan 2010

Neuralstem announces treatment of first ALS patient with spinal cord stem cells

Neuralstem, Inc. announced that the first ALS patient was treated with its spinal cord stem cells yesterday at the Emory ALS Center at Emory University, in Atlanta, GA. A total of up to 18 patients is planned to be treated in this first U.S. clinical trial to evaluate human neural stem cells for the treatment of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease). ALS affects roughly 30,000 people in the U.S., with about 5,600 new diagnoses per year, according to the ALS Association.

21 Jan 2010

InVivo Therapeutics sponsors fundraising event to support patients with spinal cord injuries

InVivo Therapeutics will be the lead champion level sponsor for the black tie gala fundraiser to support the Greater Boston Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, a non-profit organization that offers programs and services to those with spinal cord injury/disease (SCI).

20 Jan 2010

Study shows lack of protease-activated receptors may cause neural tube defects

New research, published by Cell Press in the January 19th issue of the journal Developmental Cell, provides intriguing insight into how the nervous system forms during very early embryonic development.

20 Jan 2010

Fast Forward, JDRF announce collaborative partnership with Axxam SpA

Fast Forward, LLC, the commercial drug development arm of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the leader in research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes in the world today announced a collaborative partnership with Axxam SpA -- a leading company in conducting early-stage discovery research programs for the life science industry -- to develop new treatments for two autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes (T1D).

20 Jan 2010

Complications associated with pediatric cochlear implants are not rare and can often be delayed

Some complications may occur in children receiving cochlear implants, and are highly correlated with trauma to the ear area and inner ear malformation, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

19 Jan 2010

New technique can restore facial movements in paralytic patients

Surgeons from UC Davis Medical Center have demonstrated that artificial muscles can restore the ability of patients with facial paralysis to blink, a development that could benefit the thousands of people each year who no longer are able to close their eyelids due to combat-related injuries, stroke, nerve injury or facial surgery.

18 Jan 2010

Scientists identify gene underlying a disease that causes temporary paralysis of skeletal muscle

Scientists have identified a gene underlying a disease that causes temporary paralysis of skeletal muscle. The finding, they say, illustrates how investigations of rare genetic diseases can drive insights into more common ones.

8 Jan 2010

New research reveals hand amputation may lead to permanent distortions in spatial perception

The space within reach of our hands - where actions such as grasping and touching occur - is known as the "action space." Research has shown that visual information in this area is organized in hand-centered coordinates - in other words, the representation of objects in the human brain depends on their physical location with respect to the hand.

7 Jan 2010

AMT receives Innovation Credit to develop gene therapy treatment for DMD

Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics, a leader in the field of human gene therapy, announced today that it will receive an Innovation Credit of up to EUR 4 million from the Dutch government to support the development of AMT's gene therapy treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

6 Jan 2010

UC researchers receive $2.5 million grant to study treatment for voice disorders

For patients with severe voice disorders, the loss of their voice often means losing their social life, self esteem or livelihood. While existing therapies can treat mild to moderate voice disorders, physicians have a harder time determining effective treatments for those with severe cases.

30 Dec 2009

Paralysis News and Research

Further Reading

Botulinum injection used for cosmetic purposes may reduce migraine headaches

National MS Society launches We Keep Moving campaign to capture stories of people living with MS

Innovative nerve graft transplant successful in treatment and prevention of posterior pressure ulcers

Hand amputation distorts visuospatial perception of the action space

Photocontrolled molecular switch regulates paralysis in animals

CSC, ALS TDI extend collaboration in advancing potential stem cell therapy for ALS

Scott & White conducts DBS research for Parkinson's patients

Vaccination for children: Pros and cons

FDA's Ampyra approval wonderful news for people with MS experiencing walking problems

Ampyra receives FDA approval for improving walking in MS patients

Neuralstem announces treatment of first ALS patient with spinal cord stem cells

InVivo Therapeutics sponsors fundraising event to support patients with spinal cord injuries

Study shows lack of protease-activated receptors may cause neural tube defects

Fast Forward, JDRF announce collaborative partnership with Axxam SpA

Complications associated with pediatric cochlear implants are not rare and can often be delayed

New technique can restore facial movements in paralytic patients

Scientists identify gene underlying a disease that causes temporary paralysis of skeletal muscle

New research reveals hand amputation may lead to permanent distortions in spatial perception

AMT receives Innovation Credit to develop gene therapy treatment for DMD

UC researchers receive $2.5 million grant to study treatment for voice disorders

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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