Articles - October 2008 en-us http://www.thescizone.com/news N/A http://www.thescizone.com/news michael@thescizone.com 20 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1715/1/Simple-steps-reduce-spinal-cord-injury/1.html With fair weather and more tolerable temperatures, the arrival of fall months often draws people outdoors to enjoy a variety of activities. However, as people spend more time outdoors, their exposure to high-risk behavior increases.This increase in high-risk behavior can often lead to higher rates of injury, especially potentially disabling or fatal spinal cord injuries. Fortunately, careful attention to surroundings and safety can often help people avoid these life-threatening accidents. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1714/1/Researchers-develop-therapy-to-treat-paralysis/1.html A team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio are developing a new therapy that will help paralysis victims regain control of their muscles.Functional Electrical Stimulation uses electric currents to stimulate muscles that no longer receive messages from the brain."When someone has a spinal cord injury, it's like they cut an electrical wire," Brian Heidenreich, associate professor of psychology, said. "The neurons that control muscles in the spinal cord are still there, but they don't get any messages from the brain." michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1713/1/Paralyzed-vet-finds-freedom-donning-a-wet-suit/1.html Jim Hay knows a thing or two about adventure and he certainly isn't one to shy away from a challenge.So he was more than ready to pull on a wet suit, strap on a tank, gear and goggles and head into the deep end of the pool during a scuba diving excursion at the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center."You are really flying underwater. It's an amazing feeling," said Hay, a Vietnam veteran from Albuquerque. "It wasn't really scary, it was more exciting. It is just relaxing, fun and it's totally awesome." michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1712/1/Leo-Maxam-The-Green-Room-Disabled-surfer-will-ride-in-Cold-Water-Classic-today/1.html Inside the competitors' tent at the O'Neill Cold Water Classic you'll find a long rack of brightly colored and stickered-up surfboards, all stashed by pro surfers preparing to paddle out for their heats. One board in particular stands out. It's longer, wider and has handle bars mounted onto the front of the deck, designed specially for a surfer without the use of his legs.The board belongs to Christiaan "Otter" Bailey, one of only two paralyzed professional surfers in the world. Lying prone, Bailey will ride his customized six-finned surfboard out at Steamer Lane today as part of the Life Rolls On Foundation expression session.  michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1711/1/New-UAB-lab-helps-spinal-cord-patients-cope/1.html A new lab at UAB's Spain Rehabilitation Center offers spinal cord injury patients a look at how technology can help them overcome disabilities, particularly in using computers and other electronic equipment.The Dr. Samuel L. Stover Assistive Technology Laboratory is being dedicated at 12:15 p.m. today at the Center for Psychiatric Medicine. The lab is named for a former chairman of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's department of physical medicine and rehabilitation."We want to empower patients with information," said Phil Klebine, project coordinator for the lab.  michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1708/1/Never-Ever-Boy-from-Quincy-proving-doctors-wrong/1.html Quincy native Trevor Akers is called a "Never Ever Boy" at a physical therapy clinic in Fayetteville, Ga.That's because after a motorcycle accident in July 2003 in Quincy, doctors told him he would "never ever" walk again because of the severity of his spinal cord injury.But Akers "never ever" accepted that verdict."Don't let anybody break you down," he said. "A lot of people doubt. They say, 'That guy will never walk again.' That drives me to want to prove to those people that it is possible, and the harder you work for it, the more you'll get back."  michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1710/1/Nerve-repair-biodetectors-proton-therapy-microscopic-medical-devices/1.html Despite the success of organ transplantation surgery, many people in need of transplants die while on the waiting list because of the scarcity of donated organs. Artificial, lab-grown organs offer one potential solution to the problem. One novel engineering technique involves the use of modified thermal ink-jet printers to "print" cells, creating the complex three-dimensional structure of real tissues. A lingering question, however, is how well cells survive the process.Bioengineering graduate student Xiaofeng Cui of Clemson University tested this with a comprehensive study of changes in heat shock protein expression and the morphology of cells after printing. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1709/1/Botox-Injections-Bring-Relief-to-Victims-of-Stroke-Spine-Brain-Injury/1.html Best known for its use by individuals, celebrities and models to stave off “Father Time” and eliminate facial lines and wrinkles, the Botox injection is gaining increasing attention for its use in the treatment of a debilitating and painful condition known as spastic paralysis.Also referred to as spasticity, spastic paralysis often occurs following a stroke, spinal cord injury, or brain injury. It is estimated that spasticity affects from 19 to 38 percent of stroke patients, often affecting the hands and wrists. Spastic paralysis results from the damage to the portion of the nervous system that controls and coordinates the movement of voluntary muscles (which are the muscles that allow us to walk, throw a ball, grip a pen, play the piano, sit in a chair, etc.) michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1707/1/Races-help-local-spinal-cord-research/1.html More than 200 people heard about work with adult stem cells to treat Parkinson’s disease and innovative physical therapy to restore function and feeling to paralyzed limbs at a kickoff dinner and fundraiser on Oct. 10, as part of the fifth annual Oceano Dunes Beach Race and Festival (see related story).The festival is a three-day event to raise money for two area nonprofit foundations: SCI Research Advancement, a Santa Ynez Valley foundation dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries, and The Clayton Memorial Foundation in San Luis Obispo, which helps injured motorcycle riders. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1706/1/Warnings-about-stem-cell-therapy-tourism/1.html Australian scientists are worried about what they describe as a growing industry of stem cell tourism.More and more people suffering spinal cord injuries, paralysis, cancer and other conditions are travelling to India and China for stem cell treatment.One Indian Doctor who offers foreign patients embryonic stem cell therapy is speaking at a fundraising event in Melbourne tomorrow night. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400