Monthly Archives: August 2012

Pioneering music therapy for dementia patients developed in East Lancashire

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Pioneering music therapy for dementia patients developed in East Lancashire

12:09pm Friday 10th August 2012 in News By Catherine Pye, Health reporter

DEMENTIA carers are being encouraged to whistle while they work as part of a new scheme to be launched in East Lancashire.

Burnley-based Crossroads Care East Lancashire are looking for about 20 families who want to take part in a trial of a technique called Music Therapy Care Giving (MTC).

The idea, which originated in Sweden, is that carers of dementia patients will be taught to sing while they carry out their day-to-day jobs, with the hope that the patient will join in too.

John Rattigan, trustee of Crossroads Care East Lancashire, is leading the scheme. He said: Research has found that this process leads to patients being more compliant, there is a reduction in medication, and people are being discharged from hospitals.

A grant from the National Gardens Scheme is funding the project, which will see volunteers trained in the technique. They will then go into peoples homes to pass on their skills to a carer.

Mr Rattigan said: For example, if I was looking after my wife at home, a volunteer from Crossroads would come round once a week to show me how to use singing.

They would discuss with me what kind of music my wife likes, from which era, and they would make sure that the songs chosen are ones that my wife is familiar with.

I, as a carer, would then start to sing as I carried out tasks like getting my wife dressed, or preparing food. The hope is that the patient will begin to join in with words and a melody they are familiar with.

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Pioneering music therapy for dementia patients developed in East Lancashire

Dementia patients use Montessori method

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FENNVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - What started as a method for teaching children to teach each other has been put to use to help local adults with dementia.

The Golden Orchards assisted living home in Fennville began implementing the Montessori method in January to help treat dementia patients. Thursday they hosted an open house to show their residents' progress.

In schools, Montessori is an approach to teaching that encourages a free-form style to learning in which older students help in teaching younger students, and the students themselves choosing what activities they want to do.

Dr. Cameron Camp, who was introduced to the Montessori method 15 years ago when his children started in a school that used the program, began developing uses for the dementia community.

"When people ask me what it is that I do, I say I enable persons with dementia to do what they're not supposed to be able to do," Dr. Camp told 24 Hour News 8 when he visited Golden Orchards. "We're not talking about a cure, that's a long way off. What we are talking about, however, is living, and trying to live well."

For adults living with dementia, these techniques can be used to help them try to regain lost motor skills, and give them a role to fill each day.

The staff at Golden Orchards said the focus on freedom during daily activities -- such as residents first setting up blocks then transitioning to story telling at their own will -- is helping them feel less agitated while increasing their motor skills.

In addition to their daily activities, residents also help set up meals for each other as a way of filling a specific role that they do each day.

Dr. Camp said this is part of how people with dementia can feel like they're contributing.

"It's about having a purpose-driven life," said Camp. "Especially to have a reason to wake up in the morning in spite of the fact you have a diagnosis."

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Dementia patients use Montessori method

Delirium increases the risk of developing new dementia 8-fold in older patients

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Public release date: 8-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Genevieve Maul Genevieve.maul@admin.cam.ac.uk 44-012-237-65542 University of Cambridge

Older people who have experienced episodes of delirium are significantly more likely to develop dementia, according to new research. The study is published in the journal Brain today, Thursday, 09August.

When in hospital, older people sometimes become acutely confused and disorientated. This condition, known as delirium, affects at least 15 per cent of older people in hospitals and has long thought to be simply a temporary side effect of other illness (such as an infection, a reaction to a medication or an operation). However, the new research shows that episodes of delirium can have long term effects - increasing the future risk of dementia eight-fold.

Dr Daniel Davis, lead author of the paper from the University of Cambridge, said: "This means that delirium, or the acute causes of delirium, could be a newly discovered cause of dementia. This is important, because although delirium is extremely common, less than a quarter of cases are actually diagnosed in hospitals."

Scientists at the University of Cambridge and the University of Eastern Finland recruited 553 people aged 85 and over, and assessed their memory and thinking over 10 years. Of the patients who had previously experienced at least one episode of delirium prior to the study, 77 per cent also had dementia. In comparison, only 33 per cent of the patients who had no previous history of delirium had dementia. They also recorded the number of episodes of delirium throughout the study.

In people without pre-existing dementia, experiencing delirium resulted in an eight-fold increase in the risk of dementia. In individuals with existing dementia, delirium was associated with an acceleration of dementia severity, loss of independence in physical functioning, and higher mortality.

Dr Davis added: "Worsening confusion and disorientation in older persons does not attract much attention among clinical staff and many believe that delirium is simply an inconvenient consequence of illness. However, this research suggests the possibility that delirium, or the problems giving rise to delirium, may be actually causing brain damage.

"Because some delirium is preventable, it is plausible that delirium prevention may lead to dementia prevention. We now urgently need to test if better delirium care can prevent dementia, or prevent further decline in patients who already have dementia."

The Wellcome Trust-funded study also found, for the first time, that there may be differences in the brains of people who have had delirium compared to those without delirium. Dementia is known to result from a several different pathological processes (e.g. accumulation of abnormal proteins, or blockages in blood vessels). However, this study found that when individuals had both delirium and dementia, these standard neuropathological markers were not enough to explain the dementia. This raises the important possibility that dementia occurring after delirium had alternative pathological processes causing the dementia.

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Delirium increases the risk of developing new dementia 8-fold in older patients

Billericay Gazette published Dementia care centre to open in Billericay

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A LEADING centre for people with dementia has been given the go-ahead in Billericay.

A specialist unit dedicated to patients suffering from the illness will be opened at Mountnessing Court from the autumn after being approved by the board of NHS South Essex.

approved: Ian Stidston from NHS South Essex, mental health commissioner Irene Lewsey and dementia foundation founder Caroline Dearson outside the new unit

The Mountnessing Road centre will encompass organisations involved in caring for people with dementia, bringing together medical, therapeutic, social care, and mental health staff, as well as workers from the Alzheimer's Society.

It will be supported by a consultant psychiatrist and a geriatrician.

The new centre will be a pilot project with initial results assessed in January next year.

Ian Stidston, director of primary care and partnership commissioning at NHS South Essex, said: "This unit will give people the choice to have intensive support away from hospital.

"We want to provide the necessary care they and their carers need so they can stay at home and live as independently as possible, for as long as possible, if that is their wish."

The 22-bed specialist unit, for dementia patients in south west Essex as well as Castle Point and Rochford, will provide rehabilitation seven days a week for up to eight weeks.

During this time, patients will receive intensive, expert care in an environment set up specifically for people with dementia.

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Billericay Gazette published Dementia care centre to open in Billericay

Do more for people with dementia, advocates urge

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Dementia advocates are urging the province to do more for people with the disease after a man with Alzheimer's went missing for five days, leaving a nursing home in Stephenville and then travelling to New Brunswick. The man was found safe in Saint John.

The Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador said the province needs to prepare for a growing population of people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

One of the greatest needs said executive director Shirley Lucas is additional housing.

"If we were to look at the baby boom population, we know that the existing care that we have out there isn't going to meet that demand," Lucas added.

She said new and innovative ways need to be found to provide proper care.

"It's time to look at different housing options, such as secured units for patients," said Lucas.

Because people with Alzheimer's and dementia experience many stages in their illness, there is no onefit solution, she added.

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Do more for people with dementia, advocates urge

Finding Parkinson’s clue offers unshakable hope

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Lorraine Ho

Friday, August 10, 2012

Hope may be stirring for those suffering from an incurable brain disease that causes loss of muscle control.

Spinocerebellar Ataxia affects the cerebellum - a small but key region of the brain - killing nerve cells and triggering genetic diseases, such as Parkinson's and Huntington's.

SCA patients may suffer tremors, gradually lose fine motor skills, and have trouble keeping their balance or coordinating daily movements.

But a team of Chinese University researchers may have an answer to their suffering - as they have found exactly how the disease is triggered.

Toxic ribonucleic acids cause deterioration of the small brain by disrupting the production of proteins called ribosomes - claims the team's findings, published in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"The lack of ribosomes eventually causes programmed cell death ... and leads to the development of SCAs," lead researcher and CUHK School of Life Sciences associate professor Edwin Chan Ho-yin said.

"In theory, therefore, finding a way to revive ribosome supply in patients suffering from SCAs may help in treating the disease."

The territory currently has about 300 patients with symptoms of SCAs, Chan said. DNA tests have shown a third to be confirmed cases.

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Finding Parkinson's clue offers unshakable hope

Finding Parkinson's clue offers unshakable hope

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Lorraine Ho

Friday, August 10, 2012

Hope may be stirring for those suffering from an incurable brain disease that causes loss of muscle control.

Spinocerebellar Ataxia affects the cerebellum - a small but key region of the brain - killing nerve cells and triggering genetic diseases, such as Parkinson's and Huntington's.

SCA patients may suffer tremors, gradually lose fine motor skills, and have trouble keeping their balance or coordinating daily movements.

But a team of Chinese University researchers may have an answer to their suffering - as they have found exactly how the disease is triggered.

Toxic ribonucleic acids cause deterioration of the small brain by disrupting the production of proteins called ribosomes - claims the team's findings, published in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"The lack of ribosomes eventually causes programmed cell death ... and leads to the development of SCAs," lead researcher and CUHK School of Life Sciences associate professor Edwin Chan Ho-yin said.

"In theory, therefore, finding a way to revive ribosome supply in patients suffering from SCAs may help in treating the disease."

The territory currently has about 300 patients with symptoms of SCAs, Chan said. DNA tests have shown a third to be confirmed cases.

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Finding Parkinson's clue offers unshakable hope

Family starts fundraising to buy van for Lynn man suffering from ALS-like disease

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Home > News Family starts fundraising to buy van for Lynn man suffering from ALS-like disease Originally Published on Thursday, August 09, 2012 By Cyrus Moulton / The Daily Item

LYNN Patrick Cogan said he doesn't like to ask for help.

But two years after being diagnosed with a debilitating and degenerative neuromuscular disease called Friedreich's Ataxia, the Cogan family is seeking help raising money for a van and a service dog to help Patrick and money to help provide dogs for other families.

"The time is going to come when I do need help but I'm going to do as much right now as I can," Patrick Cogan said at his apartment on Wednesday. "The goal is to raise money for a van." He said he already has a service dog, which was donated to the family, "but (the trainer) doesn't get any federal funding and so whatever we can give back to them we will."

Cogan said he was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia in December 2010. He said he and the family believed for years that another and more benign disorder was causing the pain in his feet, and balance and coordination problems that had bedeviled him since childhood. But he went to see a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital after suffering several falls. He recalled the neurologist's advice when she gave him the diagnosis.

"'Don't Google it,' the neurologist told me, and gave me one website to visit to learn about the disease," he said. "So I Googled it, and it scared the crap out of me."

Patrick's mother Helen Cogan described Friedreich's Ataxia as "the evil cousin of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease," which she said is a similar but more well-known - and well-researched - disease.

The Cogans referred to the disease as "life-shortening," and Patrick Cogan said most patients eventually succumb to heart disease or lung problems as a result of the disease.

Patrick said he is thankful he is not at that stage.

But the disease has begun to impact his life. He reports difficulty typing and texting - unfortunate since he just got an unlimited texting plan on his phone, he joked. He increasingly uses a wheelchair since he feels safer in public in a chair than when he is using a walker or arm crutches.

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Family starts fundraising to buy van for Lynn man suffering from ALS-like disease

Local teen looks to take autism campaign national, make Lou. first in research

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by Joe Arnold

WHAS11.com

Posted on August 9, 2012 at 6:47 PM

Updated yesterday at 7:01 PM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- A local teenager who has spent years raising money and awareness for autism said she has a big dream - to make Louisville the home of autism research.

We first introduced you to Michaela Riggle eight years ago, then just 7-years-old and already battling to find a cure for her 4-year-old brother who was diagnosed with autism.

She started the Beading to Beat Autism campaign where she, along with help from others, sold hand-made beaded bracelets to raise money for autism research.

Michala is now 15-years-old and is still looking out for Evan. Evan has come a long way, but despite progress his family said autism still dominates their lives.

She started the Beading to Beat Autism campaign where she, along with help from others, sold hand-made beaded bracelets to raise money for autism research. After five years of selling bracelets, Michala is now taking her effort to the next level, a local campaign to raise $5 million to buy land and hire staff for a Louisville autism and research facility.

She's asking 60,000 of her Kentuckiana neighbors to pledge $7 per month for one year. But that's just the start. Michala hopes to take Campaign 7 national raise hundreds of millions of dollars and make Louisville the home of autism hope.

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Local teen looks to take autism campaign national, make Lou. first in research

Autism research foundation looks to expand

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Autism research foundation looks to expand

It began as a movement started by a 10-year-old girl to fight autism. Now, Michala Riggle is impacting the world of autism research yet again.

In 2007, Michala got national attention for selling homemade beaded bracelets for $3 each.

She wanted to raise $200,000 for an autism study her younger brother, Evan, was in, along with other autistic children at Kosair Children's Hospital.

Within six months, her Beading to Beat Autism campaign exceeded her goal.

"What we're here to announce today, we're going to kick off Campaign 7," said Riggle.

Five years and $500,000 later, Michala's mission has grown just like she has. Evan, now 12 years old, is doing well with his treatment. With their success, Michala and her family have set another goal, called Campaign 7.

"We're going to kick that off and we're going to try and get people to commit donating $7 a month for one year so we can raise the money to buy the land we want the center in and hire staff and kick off our national campaign to raise the money," said Riggle.

The center will be a world-class autism research and treatment facility built in Louisville. It will include an autism school and a bigger warehouse for the beading operation.

The facility, named the We Believe International Autism and Research Treatment Center, will be built on 40 acres in eastern Jefferson County.

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Autism research foundation looks to expand

‘Treating the whole person with autism’ sets direction for parent-clinician collaboration

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Public release date: 9-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jane E. Rubinstein jrubinstein@rubenstein.com 212-843-8287 Autism Speaks

NEW YORK, N.Y. (August 9, 2012) Over 400 attendees from across the U.S. and around the world participated in the first national conference for families and professionals, "Treating the Whole Person with Autism: Comprehensive Care for Children and Adolescents with ASD."

Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, organized and hosted the conference in collaboration with educational partners at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH), The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

"Autism Speaks' Autism Treatment Network (ATN) is a key initiative aimed at improving the health and well-being of individuals with ASD," remarked Daniel Coury, M.D., ATN medical director and chief of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital. "It provides "whole person," family-centered medical care which aims to address the individual's and the family's unique set of needs and challenges. We're excited to build upon these efforts through this national conference with Autism Speaks and our other conference partners."

The conference provided a forum for both families and professionals to learn about current guidance for addressing associated medical issues, and developing approaches to care that integrate behavioral and medical approaches across the lifespan.

"The theme of this conference, treating the whole person, reflects our ultimate goal of helping individuals with ASD to have healthy and successful lives," stated Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., chief science officer at Autism Speaks. These themes were highlighted by the two conference keynote speakers. Ricki Robinson, M.D., M.P.H., co-director of the Descanso Medical Center for Development and Learning, who served as the first speaker, encouraged practitioners to view individuals with ASD through a wide array of "lenses" that together paint a total picture of the child's life. These lenses include the child's physical and mental health, behaviors, intellectual interests and creative pursuits. By seeing the whole child, treatment and care plans can be tailored to address the individuals' needs.

Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D., director of the McCarton Upper School and chair of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research, emphasized the need to continually think of the changing care needs across the lifespan. Dr. Gerhardt stressed the importance of making optimizing adult outcomes a much higher research priority. In particular, he noted the need to identify and focus on meaningful knowledge and skills vital for independence and fulfillment. This emphasis on care across the lifespan was further supported in the presentation by Marsha Mailick Seltzer, Ph.D., professor and director of the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin. A key point was the importance for researchers, clinicians, and advocates to expand their view of autism beyond childhood and to consider individuals with ASD within the context of their families. Her team's research on adolescents and adults with ASD looks at how ASD symptoms change across the lifespan. They observed in their data that overall there is stability or some improvement in symptoms and behavior problems over time. However, they noted that there can be stage-related changes, a critical one being the exit from high school, after which improvement in symptoms slows. Moreover, after high school, income level becomes a risk factor in the worsening of problem behaviors with those in low income groups at greatest risk regardless of intellectual ability.

The conference included general science sessions providing recent developments on health-related issues for individuals with ASD, and concurrent sessions tailored to families and professionals, respectively, that provided practical examples and discussion on the identification, management and treatment of medical conditions often associated with ASD. The sessions addressed immune dysfunction in autism, metabolic dysfunction, gastrointestinal dysfunction including the GI microenvironment and impaired carbohydrate digestion, nutrition, sleep disorders, the prevalence and management of psychiatric disorders and challenging behaviors, an overview of cognitive behavioral therapies, and the trajectories of development during adolescence and adulthood. The meeting concluded with family perspectives on how to coordinate and provide care both at home and in the clinical setting.

Some highlights include the presentation by Alessio Fasano, M.D. which was focused on the relationship between genes and environment in the GI problems in individuals with ASD. Dr. Fasano, professor of pediatrics, medicine and physiology, and director of the Mucosal Biology Research Center and the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, noted that progress is being made in the field to better understand the biology of the gut environment but that to be effective in leading to treatments, it is going to be important to integrate the findings across these areas to "connect the dots" in building a full picture of the nature of GI disorders in ASD. Brent Williams, Ph.D., associate research scientist at Columbia University reported on his on-going research looking at impaired carbohydrate metabolism in individuals with ASD, which highlights that GI dysfunction may be attributable to distinct molecular and microbial mechanisms in individuals with ASD.

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'Treating the whole person with autism' sets direction for parent-clinician collaboration

'Treating the whole person with autism' sets direction for parent-clinician collaboration

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Public release date: 9-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jane E. Rubinstein jrubinstein@rubenstein.com 212-843-8287 Autism Speaks

NEW YORK, N.Y. (August 9, 2012) Over 400 attendees from across the U.S. and around the world participated in the first national conference for families and professionals, "Treating the Whole Person with Autism: Comprehensive Care for Children and Adolescents with ASD."

Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, organized and hosted the conference in collaboration with educational partners at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH), The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

"Autism Speaks' Autism Treatment Network (ATN) is a key initiative aimed at improving the health and well-being of individuals with ASD," remarked Daniel Coury, M.D., ATN medical director and chief of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital. "It provides "whole person," family-centered medical care which aims to address the individual's and the family's unique set of needs and challenges. We're excited to build upon these efforts through this national conference with Autism Speaks and our other conference partners."

The conference provided a forum for both families and professionals to learn about current guidance for addressing associated medical issues, and developing approaches to care that integrate behavioral and medical approaches across the lifespan.

"The theme of this conference, treating the whole person, reflects our ultimate goal of helping individuals with ASD to have healthy and successful lives," stated Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., chief science officer at Autism Speaks. These themes were highlighted by the two conference keynote speakers. Ricki Robinson, M.D., M.P.H., co-director of the Descanso Medical Center for Development and Learning, who served as the first speaker, encouraged practitioners to view individuals with ASD through a wide array of "lenses" that together paint a total picture of the child's life. These lenses include the child's physical and mental health, behaviors, intellectual interests and creative pursuits. By seeing the whole child, treatment and care plans can be tailored to address the individuals' needs.

Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D., director of the McCarton Upper School and chair of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research, emphasized the need to continually think of the changing care needs across the lifespan. Dr. Gerhardt stressed the importance of making optimizing adult outcomes a much higher research priority. In particular, he noted the need to identify and focus on meaningful knowledge and skills vital for independence and fulfillment. This emphasis on care across the lifespan was further supported in the presentation by Marsha Mailick Seltzer, Ph.D., professor and director of the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin. A key point was the importance for researchers, clinicians, and advocates to expand their view of autism beyond childhood and to consider individuals with ASD within the context of their families. Her team's research on adolescents and adults with ASD looks at how ASD symptoms change across the lifespan. They observed in their data that overall there is stability or some improvement in symptoms and behavior problems over time. However, they noted that there can be stage-related changes, a critical one being the exit from high school, after which improvement in symptoms slows. Moreover, after high school, income level becomes a risk factor in the worsening of problem behaviors with those in low income groups at greatest risk regardless of intellectual ability.

The conference included general science sessions providing recent developments on health-related issues for individuals with ASD, and concurrent sessions tailored to families and professionals, respectively, that provided practical examples and discussion on the identification, management and treatment of medical conditions often associated with ASD. The sessions addressed immune dysfunction in autism, metabolic dysfunction, gastrointestinal dysfunction including the GI microenvironment and impaired carbohydrate digestion, nutrition, sleep disorders, the prevalence and management of psychiatric disorders and challenging behaviors, an overview of cognitive behavioral therapies, and the trajectories of development during adolescence and adulthood. The meeting concluded with family perspectives on how to coordinate and provide care both at home and in the clinical setting.

Some highlights include the presentation by Alessio Fasano, M.D. which was focused on the relationship between genes and environment in the GI problems in individuals with ASD. Dr. Fasano, professor of pediatrics, medicine and physiology, and director of the Mucosal Biology Research Center and the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, noted that progress is being made in the field to better understand the biology of the gut environment but that to be effective in leading to treatments, it is going to be important to integrate the findings across these areas to "connect the dots" in building a full picture of the nature of GI disorders in ASD. Brent Williams, Ph.D., associate research scientist at Columbia University reported on his on-going research looking at impaired carbohydrate metabolism in individuals with ASD, which highlights that GI dysfunction may be attributable to distinct molecular and microbial mechanisms in individuals with ASD.

Read more here:
'Treating the whole person with autism' sets direction for parent-clinician collaboration

Olympic Horse Used Stem Cell Therapy

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Ravel, a horse competing at the 2012 London Olympics, underwent stem cell therapy treatment that helped heal a possibly career-ending injury to one of his legs, according to the Helen Woodward Animal Center in California.

Ravel, a regular client of Rodrigo Vazquez of Equine Surgical Services at the center, is believed to be the first Olympian to benefit from a stem cell-based treatment. Ravel is now the highest scoring horse on Team USA at the Olympics.

"Ravel is a high-impact athlete," Vazquez said. "He runs the same risks as any other athlete in a high performance sport and he gets hurt like any other athlete too. But he is something special. He works hard and he's focused and he thrives in his sport. He just didn't want to quit."

The 15-year-old equine athlete, owned by Akiko Yamazaki, was united with his rider Steffen Peters in late 2006. Since then, the team has made history, with Ravel excelling in dressage, which is one of three Olympic equestrian disciplines. It involves riding and training a horse in a manner that develops obedience, flexibility and balance.

Ravel and Peters were the highest placing American pair at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and have won numerous competitions over the years, including the prestigious Rolex/FEI World Cup in dressage.

Before these victories, Ravel sustained the leg injury. Jessica Gercke, a spokesperson for the Helen Woodward Animal Center, told Discovery News that staff working with competitive horses like Ravel do not wish to reveal detailed information about medical conditions and treatments, since that might affect the perceptions of judges or others.

Vazquez, however, did share that regular check-ups, vaccinations, dentistry and the "emergency treatment with a new technology based on stem cell therapy" helped to heal Ravel after an eight-month break in training.

Adult stem cells can reproduce and differentiate into different types of cells. They continue to be a focus of study for scientists hoping to treat a number of diseases in humans and non-human animals. In horses, to repair cartilage and tendon tissues, scientists have been looking into stem cells derived from bone.

"Bone derived cells in horses are most often obtained from an aspirate (material drawn by suction) of either the hip or sternum with apparent minimal discomfort" to the horse, according to David Frisbie, an associate professor at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine. "The procedure typically takes less than 15 minutes and can be done standing under light sedation."

Results of clinical studies on horses suggest that stem cell treatment can improve healing rates, overall outcomes, and decrease re-injury rates almost by half. Further studies are needed, however, to better determine dosage and timing specifics.

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Olympic Horse Used Stem Cell Therapy

Summer school students help scientists advance stem cell research at USC

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Listen Now [4 min 28 sec] Listen Now [4 min 28 sec]

For many Southern California high school students, summer is synonymous with surf, sand and sun. But, for some of Los Angeles' top math and science students, the lure of the beach and traditional summer fun fizzles fast when compared to microscopes, slide kits and real-life stem cell research.

Armed with little more than protective gear and enthusiasm, 20 overachieving teenagers have been clocking 40-hour weeks in the lab at USC's Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research.

Among them is 17-year-old Brian Tom of Lincoln Heights.

Its fascinating because stem cells have all this potential to heal these degenerative diseases like Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's," says Tom, a senior at Bravo Medical Magnet in Los Angeles. "It's amazing how you can create multiple tissues from one cell."

Stem cells offer promise as a treatment or cure for many diseases because they can be can induced to morph into other cell types such as brain, muscle or skin cells. Stem cells can also divide without limit, which gives them the potential to repair and replace damaged tissue.

You can just imagine the possibilities," says Sophie McAllister, a 17-year-old senior at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. McAllister works with a USC mentor on cardiac cell regeneration.

Two programs, one goal

McAllister and nine other students are in a program that's privately funded by two donors with ties to USC. Meanwhile, Tom and his summer school classmates are studying under a statewide program funded by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), a voter-created agency that funds stem cell research throughout California.

CIRM has invested $1.7 million in nine high school summer programs statewide for three years.

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Summer school students help scientists advance stem cell research at USC

International Stem Cell Corp Announces Second Quarter 2012 Financial Results

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CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwire -08/09/12)- International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) ("ISCO" or "the Company"), a California-based biotechnology company focused on therapeutic and research products, today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012.

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2012 totaled $1.06 million compared to $1.11 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The decrease in revenue was due largely to lower sales generated from Lifeline Cell Technology (LCT). LCT and Lifeline Skin Care (LSC) each accounted for approximately 50% total revenue in the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to 52% and 48%, respectively, in the corresponding periods the prior year. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was $2.13 million compared to $2.63 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The decrease in revenue was due principally to fewer sales generated from LSC, partially offset by LCT's higher sales generated from larger distributors. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, LSC generated $1.07 million or 50% of total revenue, compared to $1.66 million or 63% of total revenue for the corresponding period in 2011. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, LCT generated $1.06 million or 50% of total revenue, compared to $0.97 million or 37% of total revenue for same period in 2011.

Research and development expenses (R&D) were $0.87 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012, representing a decrease of approximately 23% compared to the corresponding period in 2011. The decrease was due primarily to lower consulting expenses associated with various research projects, lower stock-based compensation expense, lower laboratory-related expenses, and lower personnel-related spending. The decrease was partially offset by higher stem cell line research and testing expenses. R&D expenses were $1.80 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, compared to $2.13 million for the same period in 2011. The 15% decrease was due primarily to lower consulting expenses associated with various research projects, lower stock-based compensation expense, lower laboratory-related expenses, and reduced travel expenses, partially offset by higher stem cell line research and testing expenses and higher personnel-related spending associated with higher headcount and increased research activities.

The Company continues to invest in its sales and marketing initiatives. Marketing expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2012 were $0.55 million, an increase of 58% from the same period in 2011. The increase was primarily driven by investments in marketing and promotion, advertising, higher shipping and logistic expenses, additions of sales and customer service staff, higher consulting expense and higher commission paid to various strategic partners. The increase was partially offset by a reduction in commission paid to a consultant who promoted, marketed, and sold skin care products through various proprietary mailings and employee stock-based compensation. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, marketing expenses amounted to $1.04 million, reflecting an increase of $0.38 million or 57%, as compared to $0.66 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The substantial increase was primarily driven by increased investments in marketing support, promotion, and advertising, higher consulting expense, higher shipping and logistic expenses, higher personnel-related expenses resulting from higher headcount in the sales and marketing of the skin care products, and higher commission paid to various strategic partners. The increase was partially offset by a reduction in sales commission paid to a consultant who promoted, marketed, and sold skin care products through various proprietary mailings and lower employee stock-based compensation.

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2012 were $1.76 million, down 18% compared to the same period in 2011, as a result of ongoing operational efficiency initiatives. The decrease resulted largely from lower employee stock-based compensation, reduced employee-related spending resulting from lower headcount, lower professional accounting fees, and lower corporate support expenses. The decrease was partially offset by higher legal fees relating to our corporate activities, and higher consulting expense. General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were $3.79 million, reflecting a decrease of $0.58 million or 13%, compared to $4.37 million for the same period in 2011. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower employee stock-based compensation, the absence of stock-based compensation incurred for services provided by a consultant, reduced employee-related spending resulting from lower headcount, and lower corporate support expenses. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in legal fees relating to our corporate expenses, higher consulting expense, and higher professional accounting fees related to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance efforts.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $4.29 million at June 30, 2012 compared to $1.34 million as of December 31, 2011, due primarily to two financing transactions totaling approximately $6.9 million completed in the first six months of 2012 partially offset by normal business operations.

"We have made solid progress across our entire organization in the first half of this year," stated Dr. Andrey Semechkin, ISCO's CEO and Co-Chairman, "and I'm pleased to see that the operational efficiencies we implemented in the second quarter are resulting in lower administrative expenses. Going forward we will continue to look for further opportunities to improve our organization effectiveness and reduce expenses. As you may have read in my shareholder letter, following a detailed analysis of our research priorities, we concentrated our resources on the most promising therapeutic programs and this has already resulted in exciting achievements and progressed our programs closer to clinical development."

Q2 2012 Highlights:

Conference Call and Webcast Details:

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International Stem Cell Corp Announces Second Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Stem cells may prevent post-injury arthritis

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Public release date: 10-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary Jane Gore mary.gore@duke.edu 919-660-1309 Duke University Medical Center

DURHAM, N.C.-- Duke researchers may have found a promising stem cell therapy for preventing osteoarthritis after a joint injury.

Injuring a joint greatly raises the odds of getting a form of osteoarthritis called post-traumatic arthritis, or PTA. There are no therapies yet that modify or slow the progression of arthritis after injury.

Researchers at Duke University Health System have found a very promising therapeutic approach to PTA using a type of stem cell, called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), in mice with fractures that typically would lead to them developing arthritis. Their findings could lead to a therapy that would be used after joint injury and before signs of significant osteoarthritis.

The scientists thought the stem cells would work to prevent PTA by altering the balance of inflammation and regeneration in knee joints, because these stem cells have beneficial properties in other regions of the body.

"The stem cells were able to prevent post-traumatic arthritis," said Farshid Guilak, Ph.D., director of orthopaedic research at Duke and senior author of the study.

The study was published on August 10 in Cell Transplantation.

The researchers also thought that a type of mice bred for their super-healing properties would probably fare better than typical mice, but they were wrong.

"We decided to investigate two therapies for the study, said lead author Brian Diekman, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in the Guilak lab. "We thought that stem cells from so-called superhealer mice would be superior at providing protection, and instead, we found that they were no better than stem cells from typical mice. We thought that maybe it would take stem cells from superhealers to gain an effect as strong as preventing arthritis after a fracture, but we were surprised and excited to learn that regular stem cells work just as well."

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Stem cells may prevent post-injury arthritis

NASA Sets Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission Launch Events Coverage

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) are set to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket Aug. 23. The 20-minute launch window for the twin probes at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41 begins at 4:08 a.m. EDT.

Launch commentary coverage, as well as prelaunch media briefings, will be carried live on NASA Television and the agency's website.

RBSP will explore space weather -- changes in Earth's space environment caused by the sun -- that can disable satellites, create power grid failures and disrupt GPS service. The mission also will allow researchers to understand fundamental radiation and particle acceleration processes throughout the universe.

Prelaunch News Conference

A prelaunch news conference on NASA TV will be held at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Press Site at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20.

Briefing participants are:

-- Michael Luther, deputy associate administrator for programs, NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington

-- Tim Dunn, NASA launch director, Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

-- Vernon Thorp, program manager, NASA Missions, United Launch Alliance, Denver, Colo.

-- Richard Fitzgerald, RBSP project manager, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md.

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NASA Sets Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission Launch Events Coverage

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover to get software upgrade

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As NASA's Curiosity Mars rover prepares for its surface mission, it will download the latest version of its operating system.

With NASA's Mars rover Curiosity safely on the Red Planet, mission controllers are now preparing the robotic explorer to begin its mission on the Martian surface.

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Engineers have been testing theCuriosity rover's instruments and systems ever since the spacecraft touched down on Mars on Sunday (Aug. 5 PDT; Aug. 6 EDT). So far, Curiosity is performing flawlessly, NASA officials said, and the next major procedure is to send the rover new software for its transition from its landing phase into the two-year long haul on the surface of the Mars.

"We're about to upgrade our software on the rover," Mike Watkins, Curiosity mission manager Mike at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., told reporters in a news briefing Thursday (Aug. 9). "Just like we upgrade our operating system on our home computer or laptop or something, we're going to do the same thing."

The new software will help mission controllers drive the $2.5 billion Mars rover, use its science instruments and operate its robotic arm.

"We want to switch to this new flight software that's optimized for surface operations," Watkins said.

Mission managers count Curiosity's days in "Sols," which are the number of full Martian days the rover has spent on the Red Planet. [Gallery: 1st Mars Photos by Curiosity Rover]

Curiosity will begin this software transition on Sol 5, which translates to Saturday (Aug. 11) on Earth. The software upgrade process is expected to last roughly four days, Watkins explained. During this time, all other activities, including science, will temporarily be put on hold.

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NASA's Curiosity Mars rover to get software upgrade