[3 of 12] Bruteman Live! Concert 2012 (Foosih Dogs and Diamonds) – Video

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[3 of 12] Bruteman Live! Concert 2012 (Foosih Dogs and Diamonds)
Part 3 of 12 (Foolish Dogs are man #39;s best friend but diamonds are a girl #39;s best friend), video from the 2012 Bruteman Live! Philanthropy Concert for Ataxia Research in London, Ontario, Canada. Proceeds donated to the Canadian Association for Familial Ataxias, http://www.lacaf.org. Staring "Bruteman" Roger Foley, Sarah Smith, Laura Gagnon, Dana Hartman, Kristin Dawn, Pete Comrie, Ken Ross, the Ill At Will dance crew, the Brute Beauties, and more. Concert from October 20th 2012 at London, Ontario #39;s Wolf Performance Hall, concert a part of the Canadian Ataxia Conference lineup of events.From:CAFAcentralViews:0 0ratingsTime:04:23More inEntertainment

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[3 of 12] Bruteman Live! Concert 2012 (Foosih Dogs and Diamonds) - Video

[2 of 12] Bruteman Live! Concert 2012 (With My Own Eyes) – Video

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[2 of 12] Bruteman Live! Concert 2012 (With My Own Eyes)
Part 2 of 12 (With My Own Eyes), video from the 2012 Bruteman Live! Philanthropy Concert for Ataxia Research in London, Ontario, Canada. Proceeds donated to the Canadian Association for Familial Ataxias, http://www.lacaf.org. Staring "Bruteman" Roger Foley, Sarah Smith, Laura Gagnon, Dana Hartman, Kristin Dawn, Pete Comrie, Ken Ross, the Ill At Will dance crew, the Brute Beauties, and more. Concert from October 20th 2012 at London, Ontario #39;s Wolf Performance Hall, concert a part of the Canadian Ataxia Conference lineup of events. http://www.bruteman.com http://www.sarahsmithmusic.com http://www.canadianataxiaconference.com http://www.lacaf.orgFrom:CAFAcentralViews:0 0ratingsTime:07:36More inEntertainment

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[2 of 12] Bruteman Live! Concert 2012 (With My Own Eyes) - Video

To Your Good Health: Keloid is scar that won't stop growing

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Question: I am a 26-year-old black woman. All through high school, I begged my mother to let me get my ears pierced. She said to wait until I graduated from college and was on my own. I did. On each ear, the piercing left a huge scar. The doctor called it a keloid. What are keloids and what is their treatment?

Answer: Keloids are scars that form far too much scar tissue. The result is an unsightly, overgrown and sometimes disfiguring scar. Scars from surgery, from an inadvertent cut and from procedures as innocuous as ear piercing can become keloids. People of Asian and African descent are particularly vulnerable to developing such scars.

I don't want to discourage you, but keloid treatment often involves a recurrence of a keloid scar. Plastic surgeons and dermatologists are the doctors to consult for possible correction.

I'll give you some examples of how keloids are treated:

One way is injecting them with potent cortisone drugs, such as triamcinolone. A good response occurs in 70 percent of patients, but the recurrence rate is also high.

Excision of the scar followed by triamcinolone injections into the newly healing tissues is another method.

Silicone gel sheeting can reduce the size of a keloid. The sheeting is cut to cover the keloid and is taped in place. It's left on the keloid for up to 24 hours, then washed and reapplied. The sheet is replaced about every two weeks.

Freezing the keloid,

Radiation after surgical excision is another way to remove keloids.

Use of a laser in combination with cortisone injections has its proponents.

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To Your Good Health: Keloid is scar that won't stop growing

Prisoner supporters stage protest

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25 October 2012 Last updated at 10:43 ET

Campaigners who claim keeping a disabled man in a London prison will shorten his life have staged a protest outside the Ministry of Justice.

Daniel Roque Hall, 30, was jailed in July after admitting trying to smuggle cocaine worth more than 300,000 in his wheelchair from Peru through Heathrow.

He was sent to Wormwood Scrubs, but suffered heart failure within weeks.

The Ministry of Justice said it ensured that all prisoners had the same access to NHS services as everyone else.

An application for a judicial review regarding his case was rejected by a judge at the High Court last week.

Mr Hall who has Friedreich's ataxia, which causes loss of physical co-ordination, remains in hospital.

He has impaired speech, diabetes and a weakened heart, and was being cared for round-the-clock before he was sent to prison.

The judge who sentenced Mr Hall to three-and-a-half years in prison at Isleworth Crown Court asked Wormwood Scrubs for an assurance that it could meet all his medical needs.

The prison said it could.

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Prisoner supporters stage protest

Woman living with ataxia wants to ‘live each day’

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By PETER BAUMANN/lbedit9@laramieboomerang.com Saturday, October 06, 2012

On her left arm, above two sky blue bracelets, is a scar.

A year and a half after accidentally burning herself, its still there, and it shouldnt be.

For Shawna Hysong, scars, bruises and broken toes linger much longer than they would for the average 21 year-old woman.

The reason is the word on her two bracelets: Ataxia.

I didnt even know it was a word until they told me I had it, Shawna said. I was like, What is that?

Before being diagnosed in 2010 with Ataxia with Oculomotor Apraxia 2 (AOA2), Shawna thought she was merely clumsy. Falling down was common, and in high school she would have to brace herself against a railing or wall to go up stairs.

I thought that everybody kind of had these symptoms but that they covered them up better than I did, she said. I knew something was off when I started feeling not safe going up and down the stairs.

A neurological disorder passed on through genes, AOA2 affects everything. Shawna uses a cane to walk; her vision is bad enough that she cant drive, her hands incapable of holding a pen and writing. As the disorder progresses, it shrinks the part of the brain responsible for motor control.

I would just say that it makes me really clumsy, she said. My cerebellum is shrinking, thats what causes ataxia, this form anyway. There are lots of different forms of ataxia, and they all kind of affect people differently.

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Woman living with ataxia wants to ‘live each day’

Patient Advocates Tell of Struggles in Getting Drugs Developed for Rare Diseases

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HORSHAM, Pa., Oct. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --A panel of parents who became patient advocates after their children were diagnosed with rare diseases will discuss their struggles and successes in navigating the drug development process on Monday at a Washington, D.C., conference sponsored by DIA and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).

The work carried out by these parents through rare disease associations can be one of the most important factors in getting lifesaving help for their children. For many parents, the news that their child has a rare disease has changed the course of their lives, including their leaving other careers to work full time to advance the development of therapies to treat severe illnesses that may affect as few as 500 people in the United States. Five of these parents and one patient will speak at the 2012 U.S. Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products.

"People are going along living their lives and then learn their child has a rare disease. These parents are diving into a world unknown to them to navigate the complicated path to find a treatment," said Peter L. Saltonstall, NORD president and CEO. "We see it over and over again. The result can be critical funding and advocacy for groundbreaking research."

Patient advocate Ron Bartek lost his son, Keith, to Friedreich's ataxia, a genetic disease that affects the heart and muscles. There is no treatment for the disease. Bartek and his wife, Raychel, founded the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance, working tirelessly to raise money for research and clinical trials to advance the likelihood of developing an effective treatment.

Bartek said pharmaceutical companies showed no interest in developing a drug for the disease because it is so rare. Fourteen years later, he is confident that clinical trials under way will result in the first treatment for the diseasethanks to the money the alliance raised for research and clinical trials.

"They got interested because we did all of that," said Bartek. "It's almost purely a financial decision. Whether a treatment gets developed often depends on the ability of patients or their advocates to get the process started."

Pharmaceutical companies traditionally have turned their attention to developing therapies for diseases that affect larger patient populations. Because the drug development process is very expensive, time-consuming and challenging, companies have had few incentives to commit the resources to develop therapies that affect very small numbers of patients. However, data show a recent renewed interest by pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the development of rare disease therapies.

Other panelists include:

WHAT:

Panel discussion for members of the media featuring advocates for rare disease patients at the U.S. Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products

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Patient Advocates Tell of Struggles in Getting Drugs Developed for Rare Diseases

Three Continents, One Gene: DNA Detectives Track Down Nerve Disorder Cause

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Gene mutation responsible of inherited ataxia found through sophisticated genetic analysis of Asian, European & American families

Newswise ANN ARBOR, Mich. A global hunt for the cause of a crippling inherited nerve disorder has found its target. The discovery opens the door for better diagnosis and treatment of this particular disease but also for better understanding of why nerves in the brains movement-controlling center die, and how new DNA-mapping techniques can find the causes of other diseases that run in families.

In a new paper in the Annals of Neurology, a team from Taiwan, France and the University of Michigan Health System report that mutations in the gene KCND3 were found in six families in Asia, Europe and the United States that have been haunted by the same form of a disease called spinocerebellar ataxia or SCA. The disease causes progressive loss of balance, muscle control and ability to walk.

The new paper finds the disease gene in a region of chromosome 1 where a Dutch group had previously shown linkage with a form of SCA called SCA19, and the Taiwanese group on the new paper had shown similar linkage in a family for a form of the disease that was then called SCA22.

The Dutch group has just published results in the same issue of the journal, zeroing in on the same gene as the U-M/Taiwanese/French groups.

The gene governs the production of a protein that allows nerve cells to talk to one another through the flow of potassium. Pinpointing its role as a cause of ataxia will now allow more people with ataxia to learn the exact cause of their disease, give a very specific target for new treatments, and perhaps allow the families to stop the disease from affecting future generations.

But the findings also have significance beyond ataxia. The researchers also show that when KCND3 is mutated, it causes not only poor communication between nerve cells in the cerebellum but also the death of those cells. Its information that could aid research on other neurological disorders involving balance and movement.

Margit Burmeister, Ph.D., the U-M geneticist who helped lead the work, notes that the gene could not have been found without a great deal of DNA detective work and the cooperation of the families who volunteered to let researchers map all the DNA of multiple members of their family tree.

We combined traditional genetic linkage analysis in families with inherited diseases with whole exome sequencing of an individuals DNA, allowing us to narrow down and ultimately identify the mutation, she says. This new type of approach has already resulted in many new gene identifications, and will bring in many more.

U-M neurologist Vikram Shakkottai, M.D., Ph.D., an ataxia specialist and co-author on the paper, notes that the new genetic information will help patients find out the specific cause of their disease a reassuring thing in itself.

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Three Continents, One Gene: DNA Detectives Track Down Nerve Disorder Cause

Research and Markets: Spinocerebellar Ataxias – Pipeline Review, H1 2012

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/pgsg7h/spinocerebellar_at) has announced the addition of Global Markets Direct's new report "Spinocerebellar Ataxias - Pipeline Review, H1 2012" to their offering.

Global Markets Direct's, 'Spinocerebellar Ataxias - Pipeline Review, H1 2012', provides an overview of the Spinocerebellar Ataxias therapeutic pipeline. This report provides information on the therapeutic development for Spinocerebellar Ataxias, complete with latest updates, and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects. It also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Spinocerebellar Ataxias. 'Spinocerebellar Ataxias - Pipeline Review, H1 2012' is built using data and information sourced from Global Markets Direct's proprietary databases, Company/University websites, SEC filings, investor presentations and featured press releases from company/university sites and industry-specific third party sources, put together by Global Markets Direct's team.

Scope

- A snapshot of the global therapeutic scenario for Spinocerebellar Ataxias.

- A review of the Spinocerebellar Ataxias products under development by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.

- Coverage of products based on various stages of development ranging from discovery till registration stages.

- A feature on pipeline projects on the basis of monotherapy and combined therapeutics.

- Coverage of the Spinocerebellar Ataxias pipeline on the basis of route of administration and molecule type.

- Profiles of late-stage pipeline products featuring sections on product description, mechanism of action and research & development progress.

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Research and Markets: Spinocerebellar Ataxias - Pipeline Review, H1 2012

Global Market for Neurodegenerative Disorder Treatments to Reach $23.5 billion in 2017, Weakness Disorders Treatments …

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FARMINGTON, Conn., Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Learn about the global market for progressive ataxia and weakness disorder treatments and the factors that will influence the long-term development of neurodegenerative disorders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets; learnabout the treatments that are most likely to be commercialized in the next five years.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121031/CG03571)

Global Information Inc (GII) is announces the availability of four significant market research reports from our premium research partner BCC Research.

Pharmaceutical biotechnical companies, research institutes and physicians will find these new studies to be of interest.

Global Markets for Treatments for Syndromes of Progressive Ataxia and Weakness Disorders

The global market for treatments for syndromes of progressive ataxia and weakness disorders was valued at nearly $14 billion in 2011 and should reach nearly $15 billion in 2012. Total market value is expected to reach nearly $23.5 billion in 2017 after increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%.

Key areas of growth in the neurodegenerative disorder market include: Friedreich's ataxia, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease, Machado-Joseph disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive bulbar palsy, hereditary spastic paraplegia, hereditary neuropathies and multiple sclerosis.

The report discusses applications for neurodegenerative disorder treatment and therapy technologies, with emphasis on small-molecule and monoclonal antibodies technology. The report also covers significant patents and their allotments in each category.

An Executive Summary for this report and free sample pages from the full document are available at http://www.giiresearch.com/report/bc252617-global-markets-treatments-syndromes-progressive.html

Focus on Progressive Ataxia

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Global Market for Neurodegenerative Disorder Treatments to Reach $23.5 billion in 2017, Weakness Disorders Treatments ...

The ghoulish facts about Halloween candy and your dog

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Halloween is just around the corner and what do dogs like more than getting into the cupboard and sniffing out the Halloween candy? Most pet owners know that chocolate is toxic to dogs, but did you know that xylitol-containing gum/candy/baked goods, macadamia nuts and raisins are also potentially toxic to dogs?

What is xylitol and why is it bad for dogs?

Xylitol is a common sweetener used in sugar-free gum, candy, mints, baked goods and oral-care products. While safe in humans, xylitol causes an unsafe drop in blood sugar in animals. Xylitol tricks the pancreas into releasing a large surge of insulin which causes a sudden drop in blood glucose. In large doses, xylitol can cause liver toxicity/failure and death.

How much does my dog have to ingest in order to be dangerous?

A 10 pound (4.5 kg) dog can eat as little as a stick and a half of gum to become hypoglycemic. The dose of xylitol that can cause hypoglycemia is anything greater than 0.1 grams per kilogram of body weight. A typical stick of gum will contain 0.3 to 0.4 grams of xylitol. Anything above 0.5 grams per kilogram of body weight of xylitol may potentially cause liver failure.

What are the clinical signs of xylitol toxicity and how fast do they occur?

Signs of xylitol toxicity can occur as quickly as 30 minutes after ingestion. These signs can include vomiting, weakness, depression, ataxia, collapse and seizures. Some dogs may be asymptomatic up to 72 hours post-ingestion. In these cases, the animal may be experiencing liver toxicity without hypoglycemia.

What do I do if I think my dog has ingested xylitol-containing gum or candy?

Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible. There they will induce vomiting, place him/her on IV fluids with dextrose for at least 24 hours and monitor blood glucose, electrolytes, liver enzyme activities and blood clotting times.

Why are macadamia nuts toxic to dogs and what are the signs of toxicity?

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The ghoulish facts about Halloween candy and your dog

Hawthorne: Unknown ailment spreads to more horses in affected barn

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Three more horses have become seriously ill in a barn on the Hawthorne backstretch, bringing to five the total number of animals afflicted with an as-yet undiagnosed sickness, according to Dr. Dawn Folker-Calderon, the state-employed veterinarian at Hawthorne.

But as of Tuesday afternoon the outbreak remained confined to horses stabled in Barn A, suggesting isolation protocols introduced Sunday might have kept the illness from jumping into Hawthornes general horse population.

In response to the sicknesses, Kentucky, Florida, and Louisiana have banned horses shipping to or from Hawthorne.

A horse in Barn A, a 74-stall barn on the west side of the Hawthorne backstretch, became neurologically distressed late Saturday night after showing symptoms of an upper-respiratory ailment, including fever. A second horse followed a similar pattern Sunday before the three new cases were reported Tuesday. The afflicted horses displayed ataxia, or loss of coordination, that makes it impossible for a horse to stand. Laboratory test on the original two cases were being performed Tuesday with results expected sometime Wednesday. No diagnosis has been made, but symptoms are consistent with equine herpesvirus, a highly contagious viral disease.

One of the first two horses to fall ill had to be euthanized Tuesday, Dr. Folker-Calderon said. The body was sent to the University of Illinois for a necropsy. Other horses in Barn A have run a fever but all have responded to treatment. The horses in the affected barn trained by Jim DiVito, Roger Brueggemann, Mickey Goldfine, and Joe Kasperski are not allowed to leave the premises, while people exiting the barn must perform disinfecting procedures upon departure. Dr. Folker-Calderon said shes been in regular contact with officials at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. A quarantine of the Hawthorne backstretch could be imposed, depending on Wednesdays lab results.

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Hawthorne: Unknown ailment spreads to more horses in affected barn

Spirituality and suicide: grace in the face of tragedy

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Mother discusses reclaiming life after daughters suicide in new book

BUTLER, Pa. (PRWEB) October 18, 2012

When her daughter left a heated argument and stabbed herself to death in the other room, Vaughn picked up the pieces.

In her new memoir Afterglow: A Test of the Human Spirit, Vaughn shares her story of triumphing after tragedy.

I vowed to share my experiences to show there is light at the end of the tunnel, Vaughn says. I was able to get through my childs suicide with a zest for life.

Vaughn says she also sought to provide a resource for the day-to-day realities of mourning, which she couldnt find during her own grieving process.

Vaughn also shares, page by page, her story of an unstable early life, two unsuccessful marriages and surviving domestic abuse.

Her two daughters, one who committed suicide, suffered from the genetic disorder Ataxia, which affects muscle coordination.

For years I yearned for a solid foundation and self worth, she says. Its all the more meaningful now, and I have such gratitude for life.

Afterglow: A Test of Human Spirit

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Spirituality and suicide: grace in the face of tragedy

Intellect Neurosciences Issues Letter to Shareholders

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NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intellect Neurosciences, Inc. (ILNS), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of disease-modifying therapeutic agents for proteinopathies, today issued the following Letter to Shareholders from Dr. Daniel Chain, Chairman and CEO.

Dear Shareholder,

I am encouraged by several recent developments that reinforce my confidence in our corporate strategy. Intellect's origins are rooted in my pioneering work from the late 90's that stimulated development of the monoclonal antibodies, which several global pharmaceutical companies have tested as treatments for Alzheimer's disease. While the recently reported Phase 3 clinical trial results for bapineuzumab fell short of expectations, the Alzheimer's community is encouraged by the demonstration using biomarkers that the drug had engaged the target, reduced the amount of plaque and slowed neurodegeneration based upon the decrease in the amount of tau protein measured in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Similarly, Phase 3 data from Lilly's solanezumab appeared to show some clinical benefit in a pooled analysis of early Alzheimer's patients. Lilly is anticipated to present biomarker data at a conference later this month.

As I wrote in my recent blog, the presenters and expert panelists at the American Neurological Association (ANA) annual meeting in Boston last week conveyed a strong sense that Intellect is correct in its belief beta amyloid (A) plays a central and causative role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and that immunotherapy represents a realistic path forward. The next-generation drugs will have an improved probability of success because of the lessons we have learned, especially the need for earlier intervention and careful criteria for the selection of patients to improve homogeneity in clinical trials.

Importantly, these data support our investment in IN-N01, a next-generation antibody drug candidate that recently completed the humanization process. As explained in our joint announcement with MRC Technology on September 19, we anticipate IN-N01 will have an improved safety profile, which means that it can be used at higher, more frequent doses than the other amyloid-beta antibodies in development. The enhanced dosing likely will result in stronger clinical efficacy, particularly if administered to early stage or presymptomatic patients. We believe IN-N01 could be developed rapidly by using biomarker signals during Phase 2 trials in patients with mild disease, similar to Lilly's approach for solanezumab. This approach should offset the increased costs associated with lengthy trials anticipated to be required in presymptomatic patients. IN-N01 is patent protected until at least the mid-2020s in the United States, Europe and Japan.

With several license agreements to date and products in clinical development for Alzheimer's disease and Friedreich's Ataxia, Intellect has established an impressive track record of being at the forefront of tomorrow's therapeutic candidates for neurodegeneration. Moreover, based upon conversations with several pharmaceutical companies, we anticipate further transactions for a number of our preclinical assets, which have the potential to generate significant revenues for Intellect, long before any of our products reach the market.

Pipeline activities:

Our antibody-drug conjugate platform, CONJUMAB, provides potential development of two independent antibody-based products from the same starting material, our compound, IN-N01. Our recent agreement with Lonza, with whom we signed a letter of intent, was an important step in the development of our first ADC, CONJUMAB-A. We are excited to have reached a point at which Lonza is now manufacturing the preclinical materials for the drug optimization and drug selection program, and look forward to testing these compounds in the near future. With sufficient financial resources, we could reasonably expect to file two INDs within two years, one for CONJUMAB-A initially focused on age-related macular degeneration and a second for IN-N01 for a second indication such as familial Alzheimer's disease or traumatic brain injury, both of which could qualify as orphan diseases.

Patent news:

We remain determined to secure our ANTISENILIN patents still under review by the USPTO and hopeful that this can be accomplished over the next few months. The demonstration using biomarkers that bapineuzumab reduces amyloid plaque and neurodegeneration in the brain of Alzheimer's patients provides compelling new evidence in support of the ANTISENILIN platform technology. Similarly, we plan to continue with the appeal process that we initiated in February to overcome the challenge to our patents in Europe.

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Intellect Neurosciences Issues Letter to Shareholders

Midlander helps spread awareness about ataxia at Detroit Walk and Roll

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Denise Keyser said she had no clue what ataxia was when first diagnosed with the disease by her neurosurgeon.

I had no idea what he was talking about, the Midland resident said. Until I started trying to walk, and I would randomly fall.

Ataxia.org says ataxia is a group of degenerative diseases connected with the nervous system, the hereditary and sporadic ataxias, which cause a lack of coordination that can affect the fingers, hands, arms, legs, body, speech and eye movements.

Keyser was diagnosed after she went through brain stem surgery in May 2011. On Saturday, she will be walking in the Detroit Walk and Roll with her husband and daughter to help raise awareness about ataxia.

Ataxia can affect anyone at any time, said Michael Parent, the executive director of the National Ataxia Foundation in a news release. Many times people do not know that they carry an ataxia gene until they have children displaying signs of ataxia.

There are about 150,000 people in the United States who are diagnosed with ataxia, and to help spread the word about the disease and find a cure, an annual International Ataxia Awareness Day was created by the National Ataxia Foundation in conjunction with several other organizations. The 13th year of awareness will be recognized on Sept. 25.

Keyser said it took her a while to feel comfortable sharing her story.

Three months ago I kind of came out of my fog, she said. I decided that Im stuck with this, so I may as well do something about it.

Keyser recently spoke to a class of psychology students at Central Michigan University about ataxia, and said being involved with distributing information is something she hopes to keep doing.

I thought, Theres a reason for this happening to me, Keyser said. Now Im starting to let people know about it.

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Midlander helps spread awareness about ataxia at Detroit Walk and Roll

Annual ceremony keeps ataxia in the public eye

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Mary Jane Damiano poses at her "Proclamation Wall" located in her home. She holds the 2010 joint proclamation from County Executive Joanie Mahoney and Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner.

North Syracuse So that their condition is not forgotten, people afflicted with a disease commonly known as ataxia, along with families and friends, observe a national day that brings attention to the affliction and to the need for research to find a cure. Spearheading the observance locally is Mary Jane Damiano of North Syracuse, who has a hereditary version of the crippling affliction known as Friedreich's ataxia.

Damiano will again host a ceremony marking the 2012 International Ataxia Day at 1 p.m. Sept. 22 at the North Syracuse Community Center, 700 South Bay Road. Each year, elected leaders from the community, county and state send proclamations recognizing the disease and the need for research to find a cure. A candle is lit symbolizing hope and unity in the fight against Ataxia.

The public is invited to the ceremony. Refreshments will be served.

This year, people can also bring used cell phones to the ceremony for recycling. Proceeds from this will go to ataxia research through the National Ataxia Foundation.

Damiano is leader of the Central New York Ataxia Support Group. Even while confined to a wheelchair and having her own difficulties with muscle and nervous system coordination, Damiano is determined to bring her ailment to the attention of the community. Because of its similarity to muscular dystrophy, the Muscular Dystrophy Association locally and nationwide helps support people afflicted with ataxia. More information on ataxia is available on the web at ataxia.org/chapters/CentralNewYork/default.aspx.

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Annual ceremony keeps ataxia in the public eye

Canadian Ataxia Conference 2012, Hosted by London, Ontario

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LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct 12, 2012) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

The Canadian Ataxia Conference exists to elevate Ataxia awareness throughout the country while also raising funds for disability support and medical research for a cure.Ataxia is a neurological hereditary disease that has over 50 different gene types, experts believe that there are over 100 types yet to be identified.The many forms of Ataxia destroy mobility and central nervous system functions.

The Canadian Ataxia Conference 2012 will take place on Saturday, October 20th in the Central Library building, 251 Dundas St,. London, Ontario. This year''s conference supports two charities, Canadian Association for Familial Ataxias (CAFA) and Fight Ataxia Project. The Conference consists of a townhall, concert, and banquet.

11 am - The Fight Ataxia Town hall begins in Stevenson & Hunt room with speakers Jonas Cepkauskas, Dr. Teesta Soman, Dr. Jitender Sadhev, and other research presentations.

5 pm - "Bruteman Live!"Philanthropy concert begins in Wolf performance hall with musicians Bruteman, Sarah Smith, Ken Ross, Pete Comrie, Laura Gagnon, Dana Hartman,Ill at Will crew, and others.

6 pm - The CAFA Ataxia Banquet begins in the Stevenson & Hunt room with speakers Chelsey Sommerfield and Dr. Marie Caron.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20121012-CanadianAtaxiaConferenceimageLGA.jpg

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Canadian Ataxia Conference 2012, Hosted by London, Ontario

'Ride 4 Avi' motorcycle ride and fundraiser held in Summit on Sept. 23

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The Akian family of Summit will be hosting their third annual charitable fundraiser, Ride 4 Avi: A Tour to Cure on Sunday, Sept. 23, in honor of their 10-year-old son, Avedis; who is affected by an ultra rare, progressive disorder called ataxia telangiectasia (A-T).

The days activities include a state police escorted motorcycle ride followed by a Family Fun Day. Riders can register from 10-11 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus, Shunpike Road in Summit. Motorcyclists will enjoy a light continental breakfast followed by a 60-mile ride of some of New Jerseys most scenic countryside. The Family Fun Day will take place at the Knights of Columbus from noon3 p.m. Tax deductible donations are $20/rider, $10/adult, and $5/child.

Admission includes a BBQ lunch and live entertainment by the Mudbelly Blues Band. A la carte childrens activities include inflatables, face painting, art and crafts, raffles, fall-themed activities, carnival games and treats. All donations from the days events will benefit the A-T Childrens Project, a non-profit organization committed to funding first rate research centered around finding a life saving treatment or cure for A-T.

Avedis, a student at Jefferson School, was diagnosed with A-T in 2009 after a seemingly healthy early childhood. Ataxia Telangiectasia is a rare, genetic disease; that affects only 470 kids in the U.S. Children with A-T lack the ATM gene, which provides instructions for making A-T protein. The protein helps control the rate at which cells grow, divide and repair themselves after injury which is a daily occurrence. The ATM protein also plays an important role in regulating the nervous and immune systems. A-T, in and of itself is not a fatal disease, it is the consequences of the lack of protein that predispose the affected to life threatening cancers, compromised immune systems and atrophy of the cerebellum, that leads to overall loss of coordination. There is no known treatment or cure.

Children with A-T are usually unable to walk by the age of ten and slowly lose their abilities to control movements to read, write, speak, chew and swallow. Those with A-T maintain normal to above normal intelligence and are keenly aware that they are becoming trapped inside a body that no longer works. Although Avedis has significant disabilities on the exterior, he is like every other boy his age on the inside and enjoys boy scouts, roller coasters, playing Wii and watching classic cartoons. Avi would like to grow up to be a chef and own a motorcycle.

Due to the fact that research funds are limited, grassroots fundraising, like this event are essential to fund the private research that is being conducted on A-T, including a promising study done at Rutgers University that has shown the ability to stop the progression of the disease in mice. Avedis and his family have raised $30,000 over the past two years and are hoping to achieve $50,000 this year. For more information about the days activities log on to ride4avi.com.

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'Ride 4 Avi' motorcycle ride and fundraiser held in Summit on Sept. 23

Golf for a Cure for Ataxia raises awareness, money

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CICERO, N.Y. -- Golfers hit the links in Cicero to help raise money and awareness of a deadly, but not widely known condition. The 9th annual Golf for a Cure for Ataxia was held at Northern Pines Country Club on Sunday.

Ataxia refers to a set of symptoms that affects a person's ability to coordinate movement. It currently affects at least 150,000 Americans. All of the money raised through the event benefits the Bob Allison Ataxia Research Center.

"All their efforts are put to finding a cure, but right now, their efforts are to find something to slow this thing down, because at the present time, there's nothing to help the people with this disease," said Jim Ciecierski, Golf for a Cure for Ataxia Director.

The tournament has raised more than $200,000 since it began. If you'd like to learn more about Ataxia, or make a donation, visit joanneciercierski.net.

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Golf for a Cure for Ataxia raises awareness, money

The dizzy spells that mean you need to see the doctor

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By Jill Foster

PUBLISHED: 21:29 EST, 13 August 2012 | UPDATED: 21:29 EST, 13 August 2012

Nigel Kilvington was on holiday in Lanzarote with his wife Hazel when he realised something was not quite right with his balance.

I noticed I was wobbling while going up and down stairs, he says.

My balance felt off and then my speech was slurring a little.

Ataxia is Greek for 'lack of balance or order'. There are at least 50 types - many of which are rare

It was worrying, but as Hazel is a nurse we knew it wasnt an emergency because the symptoms had not happened suddenly.

'We wondered if it was the heat.

I felt fine in other respects, so I didnt seek medical attention in Lanzarote I waited until I got home a few days later, says the 44-year-old, who works for U.S. bank Citigroup in London.

At home in Brentwood, Essex, Nigel visited his GP.

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The dizzy spells that mean you need to see the doctor

UP student fights disease with bike ride

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University of Portland senior Sam Bridgman is coordinating a bike ride to raise money for Friedreich's ataxia research.

The Sept. 22 ride is the first in the Northwest and one of six Ride Ataxia events across the country to benefit the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance. The nonprofit organization is working toward finding a cure for the rare, degenerative neuro-muscular disorder.

Bridgman says he hopes the ride will increase public awareness about the debilitating disease, which affects about one in 50,000 people -- including Bridgman -- in the United States.

"Because there is no treatment or cure," he says, "it is essential that we fund research in order to find a cure, so that a lot of people out there will be able to live normal lives."

The event has raised $18,326 so far, and organizers hope to raise at least $30,000. The cost is $20 ($25 if registering on the day of the race) for participants who can meet a $150 fundraising minimum by race day; $50 (or $55 if registering the day of the race) without a fundraising minimum. You can also help fund-raise for no additional fee as a "virtual cyclist" without participating in the event.

Participants can choose from a flat, beginner-level six-mile route, or an intermediate route of either 12-, 25-, 37- or 50-mile lengths along Sauvie Island.

A packet pickup will take place 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 21 at event sponsor Outback Steakhouse in Beaverton, and registration will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22. All events will begin at Sauvie Island Academy, 14445 N.W. Charlton Road. All registered participants will receive a Ride Ataxia T-shirt, and Outback Steakhouse will provide lunch following the ride.

The event is limited to the first 300 participants; same-day registration is available if space permits. Register at rideataxia.org/portland.

To read The Oregonian's earlier coverage of Bridgman and how the UP community has come to his aid, go to ORne.ws/sam-bridgman.

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UP student fights disease with bike ride