Archive for the ‘Spinal Cord Injury’ Category

Public release date: 11-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Bryan Alary bryan.alary@ualberta.ca 780-492-0436 University of Alberta

(Edmonton) People with spinal cord injuries and reduced mobility now have access to specialized exercise equipment in an inclusive community setting, thanks to a partnership between the University of Alberta and the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre (Northern Alberta) Society.

Two new functional electrical stimulation (FES) rehabilitation therapy machines are now available at the Saville Community Sports Centre, operated by the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the U of A. FES is a form of exercise for people with spinal cord injuries, stroke and other neuromuscular disorders that involves sending electrical currents to paralyzed or weakened muscles so they contract to restore some degree of functional movement.

The new FES equipment and staffing support was provided by the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre (Northern Alberta) Society. One of the machines, called the RT 200 elliptical, allows users to exercise their arms and legs at the same timea rarity among such equipment in Canada.

"Through the incredible support of partners like the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre (Northern Alberta) Society, the University of Alberta has established itself as a leader in adapted physical activity rehabilitation in Canada," said Karen Slater, associate director of the Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement, which runs the community FES transition program in collaboration with the society and Saville Community Sports Centre.

"This partnership allows us to bring in technology that no one else is using in a community setting in Canada. That means we can provide a better service to our users so they can live healthier, happier, more independent lives."

The value of independence and inclusivity cannot be underestimated given that many FES machines are located in hospitals and rehabilitation settings, said Louise Miller, president of the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre (Northern Alberta) Society.

"This allows people to go to a fitness centre where everybody else is working out. You can go and exercise next to your friend or family member. You can go when you want," said Miller.

Miller co-founded the not-for-profit society in 1987, a few years after life-saving surgery left her with paraplegia. A former nurse, she felt more could be done for people with spinal injuries and has spent the last 25 years working to create opportunities for people to maintain their quality of life.

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Partnership provides inclusive workout

On a warm summer night in 1978 , Robb Dunfield and two friends climbed up into a house under construction near Jericho Beach to get a better view of the pillowy tall ships floating in the harbour.

They stepped out onto a balcony where the railing had not yet been built. Instead, there was merely a board tapped into place with a nail at either end.

It gave way quickly and Dunfield, then an athletic 19-year-old with a zest for adventure, plunged 30 feet into the darkness. Down, down he went, crashing into an abyss. In those few moments, his life changed irrevocably.

A church minister who was out walking his dog found him and called an ambulance.

When Dunfield regained consciousness several days later in the hospital, he remembers apologizing to his parents for all the trips they were having to make to his bedside.

In those first days, his life hovered in the balance.

He was under a "do not resuscitate" order. He went into cardiac arrest. That same church minister, who happened to be a friend of his family, gave him the last rites.

Slowly, reality sank in. Having broken his back at the second vertebra from the top of the spinal cord, he would never use his arms or legs again.

At first, he could breathe on his own and had some movement in his shoulder. But within a couple of days, he lost that, too. He was told he likely wouldn't live beyond another two years.

Thirty-four years later, Dunfield, at 52, sits in a wheelchair, his body completely immobilized from the neck down.

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Living with a spinal cord injury

. Approximately 86,000 Canadians are living with a spinal cord injury, with 4,300 new cases each year.

. One in three people in Canada will be disabled for three or more months before the age of 65.

. Canadians with a spinal cord injury are re-hospitalized 2.6 times more often than the aver-age Canadian. They also require three times more contact with a physician and 30 times more hours of home care service.

. People with a spinal cord injury have a life expectancy of 15 to 30 fewer years than the average Canadian.

. The financial care requirements over a lifetime for some-one with a spinal cord injury can range from $1.6 million to $3 million, depending on the level of paralysis.

. The economic cost of traumatic spinal cord injury is estimated at $3.6 billion a year in Canada.

. More than 60 per cent of people living with a spinal cord injury are unemployed.

. Rick Hansen's original tour 25 years ago raised $26 mil-lion, which has been leveraged into $245 million in direct investments.

. The Rick Hansen Foundation supports numerous projects and programs, such as the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, and has funded organizations like the Canadian Paraplegic Association and the Neil Squire Foundation, which offer vital assistance to those living with spinal cord injuries and to their families.

. The foundation has also worked with schools, municipalities and community groups to create 47 accessible play-grounds in B.C., while the Rick Hansen School Program provides teaching tools to more than 1,000 Canadian schools.

Original post:
Spinal cord injuries in Canada

WEDNESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- An increasing number of wheelchair breakdowns are causing people with spinal cord injuries to be left stranded, hurt or unable to keep their medical appointments, according to a new study.

In the report, published online in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh researchers suggested that changes in Medicare reimbursements may be contributing to this growing problem.

The researchers found that more than half of wheelchair users had a breakdown within six months. A growing number of these breakdowns resulted in injuries and other health and safety concerns.

In conducting the research, Dr. Michael Boninger, of the University of Pittsburgh's physical medicine and rehabilitation department, and colleagues examined an ongoing survey study of more than 700 people with spinal cord injury who were confined to a wheelchair for a minimum of 40 hours each week. The participants provided information on the wheelchair problems they experienced and what happened as a result of their breakdowns.

The study revealed that the rate of wheelchair breakdowns surged between 2006 and 2011. During this time, roughly 53 percent of wheelchair users reported at least one breakdown requiring repairs within six months -- up from 45 percent between 2004 and 2006. The average number of repairs per person also surged from 1.03 in 2004-2006 to 1.42 in 2006-2011.

"It is possible that this increase in the number of repairs is the result of a decrease in wheelchair quality resulting from changes in reimbursement policies and a lack of enforcement of standards testing," the study authors noted in a journal news release.

The researchers also found the rate of adverse consequences of breakdowns jumped to 30.5 percent in 2006-2011 from 22 percent in 2004-2006. The total number of consequences per wheelchair user was also twice as high.

Power wheelchairs, particularly those with power seats, were more problematic than manual models, accounting for almost two-thirds of all problems reported by users.

Racial and ethnic minorities reported a greater number of breakdowns. The study authors pointed out that these patients were also less likely to have a backup wheelchair available to them.

Moreover, the study showed wheelchairs paid for by Medicare or Medicaid had higher rates of breakdowns and resulting problems than those covered by private insurance or other sources, including the Veterans Administration.

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Wheelchair Breakdowns on the Rise, Study Finds

The Buccaneers signed Eric LeGrand on May 2. LeGrand's return to the field in October was voted by Sports Illustrated readers as the Best Moment of 2011.

AP

"I want to make sure Eric is a part of what we do, somehow. Eric's always going to be a part of my life." -- Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano to me, upon being named coach of the Bucs in January, about the fate of Eric LeGrand, the former Rutgers defensive tackle who suffered a spinal-cord injury in a 2010 game.

When Greg Schiano told his kids they'd be moving to Florida, because he was going to become the coach of the NFL team in Tampa, one of them said: "What about Eric?''

What about Eric. It's something Schiano has been thinking about since the day LeGrand made a hard tackle against Army at the Meadowlands -- Oct. 16, 2010 -- and didn't get up. He broke two vertebrae and suffered a serious spinal cord injury, and his football career was over. Life would be challenging enough, never mind thinking about football.

LeGrand and Schiano got closer after the injury. A lot closer. "He was my coach before,'' LeGrand told me Sunday. "Now he's part of my family.''

How'd that happen?

"After I had the accident,'' LeGrand said, "I was laying in my hospital bed. My mom was with me every day. But she needed some relief at night, so about 11 o'clock, every other night, coach Schiano came into the room. I was so scared I couldn't sleep most of the time. But I'd look over and there he'd be. He'd talk to me, about everything. And if I'd doze off, I'd wake up and there he'd be, with his computer in his lap, doing the work he was supposed to be doing but he was seeing me instead. That happened every other night. We got close. He became a lot more than a coach to me.''

As LeGrand rehabbed and put the pieces of his life back together, he still thought about football. And he thought of it this spring. Had his career not been ended in the middle of his junior season, there's a chance he would have been picked on day two or three of this year's draft. LeGrand doesn't give in to pity much, but when he was watching the draft on TV late last month, he said at one point, "That could have been me.''

And so last Tuesday, when Schiano called to tell him something, football was still on LeGrand's mind. According to LeGrand, Schiano told him, "I want to offer you a contract. I want you to be our 90th man.''

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LeGrand honored by Bucs contract; mail

The Buccaneers signed Eric LeGrand on May 2. LeGrand's return to the field in October was voted by Sports Illustrated readers as the Best Moment of 2011.

AP

"I want to make sure Eric is a part of what we do, somehow. Eric's always going to be a part of my life." -- Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano to me, upon being named coach of the Bucs in January, about the fate of Eric LeGrand, the former Rutgers defensive tackle who suffered a spinal-cord injury in a 2010 game.

When Greg Schiano told his kids they'd be moving to Florida, because he was going to become the coach of the NFL team in Tampa, one of them said: "What about Eric?''

What about Eric. It's something Schiano has been thinking about since the day LeGrand made a hard tackle against Army at the Meadowlands -- Oct. 16, 2010 -- and didn't get up. He broke two vertebrae and suffered a serious spinal cord injury, and his football career was over. Life would be challenging enough, never mind thinking about football.

LeGrand and Schiano got closer after the injury. A lot closer. "He was my coach before,'' LeGrand told me Sunday. "Now he's part of my family.''

How'd that happen?

"After I had the accident,'' LeGrand said, "I was laying in my hospital bed. My mom was with me every day. But she needed some relief at night, so about 11 o'clock, every other night, coach Schiano came into the room. I was so scared I couldn't sleep most of the time. But I'd look over and there he'd be. He'd talk to me, about everything. And if I'd doze off, I'd wake up and there he'd be, with his computer in his lap, doing the work he was supposed to be doing but he was seeing me instead. That happened every other night. We got close. He became a lot more than a coach to me.''

As LeGrand rehabbed and put the pieces of his life back together, he still thought about football. And he thought of it this spring. Had his career not been ended in the middle of his junior season, there's a chance he would have been picked on day two or three of this year's draft. LeGrand doesn't give in to pity much, but when he was watching the draft on TV late last month, he said at one point, "That could have been me.''

And so last Tuesday, when Schiano called to tell him something, football was still on LeGrand's mind. According to LeGrand, Schiano told him, "I want to offer you a contract. I want you to be our 90th man.''

Continue reading here:
Peter King: Schiano, Bucs honor LeGrand's perseverance with contract; mail

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Dublin - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bx4hvt/acute_spinal_cord) has announced the addition of Global Markets Direct's new report "Acute Spinal Cord Injury - Pipeline Review, H1 2012" to their offering.

Global Markets Direct's, 'Acute Spinal Cord Injury - Pipeline Review, H1 2012', provides an overview of the Acute Spinal Cord Injury therapeutic pipeline. This report provides information on the therapeutic development for Acute Spinal Cord Injury, complete with latest updates, and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects. It also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Acute Spinal Cord Injury. 'Acute Spinal Cord Injury - 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 Acute Spinal Cord Injury.

- A review of the Acute Spinal Cord Injury 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 Acute Spinal Cord Injury 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: Acute Spinal Cord Injury - Pipeline Review, H1 2012

Source: ISNA, Tehran

Iranian researchers managed to design and build a machine which helps the patients suffering Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) increase their movement abilities.

An Iranian faculty member of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Amir Massoud Arab told ISNA that there is no treatment for the trauma and that rehabilitation plays a significant role in helping the patients to return to their previous condition to some extent.

Arab noted Functional Electrical Stimulation-Assisted Rowing Machine has been made inside the country by Iranian experts and would increase the movement activities of SCI sufferer. It aims to functionalize the rehabilitation objectives.

A Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence.

Spinal cord injuries are described at various levels of "incomplete", which can vary from having no effect on the patient to a "complete" injury which means a total loss of function.

Arab noted patients' lack of movements as well as their dependence on wheelchair is considered to be of major threats for the SCI sufferers and the designed machine would decrease their dependency and let them have more activities.

He said the advantages of rowing exercise comparing to other ones is that upper limbs would be involved in movement as well as the lower limbs which would help the operation of the patients' heart, adding the machine has been tested on a number of patients and the results were satisfying.

Iranian lecturer pointed out the machine possesses a fly wheel which is equipped with magnetic brakes with 9 resistance level, adding there is a chair equipped with a dorsal so that the patient do not have any problem while sitting on it.

Originally posted here:
Iran builds machine to help SCI patients' movements

NEWARK, Calif., May 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM - News) today announced that Armin Curt, MD, FRCPC, Professor and Chairman, Spinal Cord Injury Center at the University of Zurich, and Medical Director of the Paraplegic Center at the Balgrist University Hospital and principal investigator for the Company's Phase I/II clinical trial in chronic spinal cord injury, will provide a progress report on the trial on Thursday, May 17 at the Interdependence 2012 Global SCI Conference. Interdependence 2012, which is being held in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 15-17, 2012, is jointly organized by the Rick Hansen Institute, a Canadian not-for-profit organization committed to accelerating the translation of discoveries and best practices into improved treatments for people with spinal cord injuries, and the Rick Hansen Foundation.

In addition, on Thursday, May 17, Stephen Huhn, MD, FACS, FAAP, Vice President and Head of the CNS Program at StemCells, Inc., will make a presentation on neural stem cell transplantation in neurological disorders. Dr. Huhn will describe the scientific and preclinical rationale for the Company's extensive clinical development program which encompasses all three elements of the central nervous system -- spinal cord, brain, and eye. StemCells was the first company to receive authorizations from the US Food and Drug Administration and Swissmedic to conduct clinical trials to evaluate purified human neural stem cells as potential therapeutic agents.

The goal of Interdependence 2012 is to bring together international healthcare and research facilities to showcase their work through presentations, workshops and exhibits and discuss how to advance research, implement new best practices and shape the next generation of spinal cord injury research.

About the Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Trial

The Phase I/II clinical trial of StemCells, Inc.'s HuCNS-SC(R) purified human adult neural stem cells is designed to assess both safety and preliminary efficacy. Twelve patients with thoracic (chest-level) neurological injuries at the T2-T11 level are planned for enrollment. The Company has dosed the first three patients all of whom have injuries classified as AIS A, in which there is no neurological function below the injury level. The second and third cohorts will be patients classified as AIS B and AIS C, those with less severe injury, in which there is some preservation of sensory or motor function. In addition to assessing safety, the trial will assess preliminary efficacy based on defined clinical endpoints, such as changes in sensation, motor and bowel/bladder function.

All patients will receive HuCNS-SC cells through direct transplantation into the spinal cord and will be temporarily immunosuppressed. Patients will be evaluated regularly in the post-transplant period in order to monitor and assess the safety of the HuCNS-SC cells, the surgery and the immunosuppression, as well as to measure any recovery of neurological function below the injury site. The Company intends to follow the effects of this therapy long-term, and a separate four-year observational study will be initiated at the conclusion of this trial.

The trial is being conducted at Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, a world leading medical center for spinal cord injury and rehabilitation, and is open for enrollment to patients in Europe, Canada and the United States. For information on patient enrollment, interested parties may contact the study nurse either by phone at +41 44 386 39 01, or by email at stemcells.pz@balgrist.ch.

Additional information about the Company's spinal cord injury program can be found on the StemCells, Inc. website at http://www.stemcellsinc.com/Therapeutic-Programs/Clinical-Trials.htm and at http://www.stemcellsinc.com/Therapeutic-Programs/Spinal-Cord-Injury.htm, including video interviews with Company executives and independent collaborators.

About Balgrist University Hospital

Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich is recognized worldwide as a highly specialized center of excellence providing examination, treatment and rehabilitation opportunities to patients with serious musculoskeletal conditions. The clinic owes its leading international reputation to its unique combination of specialized medical services. The hospital's carefully-balanced, interdisciplinary network brings together under one roof medical specialties including orthopedics, paraplegiology, radiology, anesthesiology, rheumatology, and physical medicine. More information about Balgrist University Hospital is available at http://www.balgrist.ch.

Continued here:
StemCells, Inc. to Provide Progress Report on Spinal Cord Injury Trial at the Interdependence 2012 Global SCI ...

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) Penn State alumni elected three new members to the university board of trustees, including a well-known former football player who recovered from a spinal cord injury and a businessman who has criticized the board's actions after Jerry Sandusky's arrest in a child sex-abuse scandal.

Alumni elected lawyer Adam Taliaferro, who played for the late coach Joe Paterno; prominent donor and outspoken board critic Anthony Lubrano; and retired U.S. Navy captain Ryan McCombie.

Election results were announced Friday following more than three weeks of online voting that drew a record turnout of at least 37,000. The new trustees begin their three-year terms July 1.

All three newcomers have expressed varying degrees of criticism of the board, but no one more so than Lubrano, who has been especially critical of the board's ouster of Paterno days after Sandusky was charged in November. Alumni sent a message that they were dissatisfied with the board's decisions, Lubrano said following the trustees meeting during which election results were announced.

But Lubrano added in a statement, ''Though I have been an outspoken critic of the manner in which (the board) handled the firing of Coach Paterno and the events that followed, I understand the importance to all of us to heal as a Penn State community.''

Current members have already started reaching out to alumni watchdog groups that called for change, board chairwoman Karen Peetz said. She did not anticipate problems working with the new trustees.

''I think the board is always open to discussing what the issues are, whether it's incoming members or people who are already on the board,'' she said after being asked if the election sent a message to trustees.

Taliaferro, who practices law in Cherry Hill, N.J., led the election with 15,629 votes, followed by Lubrano, a financial services executive from Exton, with 10,096 and McCombie, a 1970 graduate who lives in State College, with 4,806.

Taliaferro, a 2005 graduate, is a former defensive back for Paterno who became well known for his courageous recovery from a career-ending spinal-cord injury suffered his freshman year in 2000 during a game at Ohio State. He also won election last year as a freeholder in Gloucester County, N.J.

''At the end of the day, we're going to have to work together to come up with solutions to problems going forward,'' Taliaferro said in a phone interview. McCombie was attending a commissioning ceremony on campus and did not attend the meeting.

The rest is here:
New PSU trustees elected in Sandusky aftermath

Daniel Dudek suffered a spinal cord injury five years ago while serving in Iraq, so sports quickly took a backseat to survival. He was paralyzed below both of his knees as a result of an improvised explosive device that hit him in the back, killing one of his comrades.

At first, Dudek, a lieutenant colonel in the Army, could walk with crutches. Then he was confined to a wheelchair. Then came spells of never-ending pain, especially in his nerves.

When Dudek swung a golf club and muscled out a few shots, he started living again. A lot of the obstacles in front of me were just illusions I had put in front of myself, he said.

Accelerating the recovery process through the benefit of sports is the point of the Warrior Games, the third annual event for 200-plus wounded, injured and ill service members and veterans from all five branches of the U.S. military that kicked off Tuesday at Air Force.

PHOTO GALLERY: DAY 1 OF THE WARRIOR GAMES

RAMSEY: Marine competes, lives with courage

The Army-operated Warrior Transition Command features 10,000 soldiers at 29 locations across the country, most of whom are involved in adaptive sports during six-plus months of rehabilitation. Since 2007, there have been 22,000 soldiers sent back to the Army, with a majority having recovered from traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Warrior Transition Command head Darryl Williams, a brigadier general in the Army, tells recovering soldiers, Your life is upside down, but you need to get off the couch and get after it and focus on your ability. Williams dubbed the Warrior Games not some sorry story thats happening this week. This isnt a bad-news story. None of these soldiers want anybody feeling sorry for them. This is about them seizing the day and celebrating and being the best. They signed up to be Army soldiers, and they are still Army soldiers.

A Warrior Transition Command branch chief in charge of plans, policy and procedures, Dudek is competing in swimming and track and field at the Warrior Games, and he also has dabbled in cycling, skiing and triathlon. A lot of things that I used to do, I could still do, Dudek said. I could just do with an adaptive piece of equipment. Plus, Dudek has regained his confidence. We want everybody to excel with whatever injury they have, he said. But when theyre in the pool against me, its me who is going to get the gold.

Adaptive sports initially werent attractive for Jasmine Perry, an Army specialist whose left leg was amputated below the knee in 2006 following a 2005 training accident at Fort Carson. The word adaptive makes me feel different, and I didnt want to feel like I was different than my friends, said Perry, now stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

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Warrior Games a platform for disabled military to speed up recovery

Posted by J. Robert DavisMay 01, 2012 11:06 PM

When I was a baby lawyer, cutting my teeth on brand spanking new Texas tort reform (texaswatch.org) in the mid-nineties, I ended up mostly with the cases and clients no self-respecting lawyer would stoop to represent. I didnt mind. One of my proudest achievements as a trial lawyer was a $1,600.00 dollar jury verdict taken with a client nobody cared about. My client thought it was a pretty good verdict too.

Those were hungry years and when a fellow trial lawyer called me one day about some work I was all ears. But he didnt want my baby trial lawyer skills, which were meager at best. He asked if I could write an outline for him on the questions to ask a doctor in deposition. Well I was flattered but quick to point out that I had taken maybe only 10 or so doctor depositions at that point in my illustrious young career. Heck, he knew more than I did about deposing doctors.

Not just any doctor and not just a simple outline, he said. I have a huge case and my client is permanently paralyzed from the waist down and I want to depose his Physiatrist (aapmr.org). I want an outline that is so detailed and complete that it delves into even the smallest nuances of life with a spinal cord injury. I want to know things and ask questions that only a person with a spinal cord injury would know to ask, he said. I want to ask questions that make the corporate defense attorneys cringe when they hear the answers.

I asked him about his clients injury. He is a T-4, he said. That is not an injury from the waist down, I reminded him, the 4th thoracic vertebrae is mid chest. First you need to know the basic science of a spinal cord injury (www.spinalcord.org). A cervical injury affects arm and hand function and causes quadriplegia. An injury below the cervical level, T-1 down through the lumbar and sacral levels causes paraplegia. If your client is injured from the waist down, their lesion likely occurred at the very lowest thoracic level or at the lumbar or sacral level. Although both are paraplegics, for example, there are significant differences in the level of function between a T-2 and T-12.

It was my first and only work as a consulting expert witness. The outline was 18 pages in length and contained the most grim and dark aspects of caring for a spinal cord injury. The trial lawyer called me after the deposition. He said his clients Physiatrist was very impressed with his knowledge of SCI and really warmed to the task of answering even the toughest questions. The defense attorney pulled him aside afterward and asked how the heck he knew all that stuff about SCI!

He settled the case not soon after the treating physiatrist deposition. A few years later I was privileged to represent my first client with a spinal cord injury. I discovered that I had misplaced the outline while preparing for the Physiatrist deposition. I never could find that thing. But it didnt matter. I know it all by heart.

The rest is here:
When you need an attorney AND an expert on spinal cord injury!

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Neuralstem, Inc. (CUR) announced that Karl Johe, PhD, Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, will present at the Fourth International Spinal Cord Injury Treatments and Trials Symposium, in Xi'an, China on Friday, May 4, at 1:00 PM (http://iscitt.org/iscitt4/). Dr. Johe's talk, entitled "Human spinal cord-derived neural stem cells (HSSC) for treatment of neurological diseases," willreview the readiness of Neuralstem's cells to enter clinical trials in China, as well as provide an overview of the US clinical programs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) and in spinal cord injury. Neuralstem has an ongoing FDA-approved Phase I trial testing the safety of its cells in the treatment of ALS and has submitted an IND (Investigational New Drug) to the FDA to initiate trials with its cells in chronic spinal cord injury. Neuralstem's wholly-owned subsidiary in China, Neuralstem China(Suzhou Neuralstem Biopharmaceutical Company Ltd.), is developing cell therapy treatments for chronic motor disorder from stroke in collaboration with BaYi Brain Hospital in Beijing.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061221/DCTH007LOGO )

About Neuralstem

Neuralstem's patented technology enables the ability to produce neural stem cells of the human brain and spinal cord in commercial quantities, and the ability to control the differentiation of these cells constitutively into mature, physiologically relevant human neurons and glia. Neuralstem is in an FDA-approved Phase I safety clinical trial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, and has been awarded orphan status designation by the FDA.

In addition to ALS, the company is also targeting major central nervous system conditions with its cell therapy platform, including spinal cord injury, ischemic spastic paraplegia and chronic stroke. The company has submitted an IND (Investigational New Drug) application to the FDA for a Phase I safety trial in chronic spinal cord injury.

Neuralstem also has the ability to generate stable human neural stem cell lines suitable for the systematic screening of large chemical libraries. Through this proprietary screening technology, Neuralstem has discovered and patented compounds that may stimulate the brain's capacity to generate new neurons, possibly reversing the pathologies of some central nervous system conditions. The company has received approval from the FDA to conduct a Phase Ib safety trial evaluating NSI-189, its first small molecule compound, for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Additional indications could include schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and bipolar disorder.

For more information, please visit http://www.neuralstem.com or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding potential applications of Neuralstem's technologies constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, uncertainty of clinical trial results or regulatory approvals or clearances, need for future capital, dependence upon collaborators and maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Neuralstem's periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

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Neuralstem Chief Scientific Officer To Present At Spinal Cord Injury Conference In China

Public release date: 25-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Carolann Murphy CMurphy@kesslerfoundation.org 973-324-8382 Kessler Foundation

West Orange, NJ. April 25, 2012. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) has awarded its 2012 Apple Award to the article by Mark Nash, PhD, et al, entitled, "Safety, tolerance, and efficacy of extended-release niacin monotherapy for treating dyslipidemia risks in persons with chronic tetraplegia: a randomized multicenter controlled trial." The article, (doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2010.06.029) which was published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in March 2011, is based on a study conducted in spinal cord injury (SCI) research centers in Florida, New York, New Jersey and California. The study was supported by a SCI Collaborative Research Project (grant no. H133A111105) from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, and Kos Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Nash accepted the award at the annual ASIA meeting on behalf of the authors. Drs. Nash, John Lewis, and Armando J. Mendez are affiliated with the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida. Their co-authors are Trevor A. Dyson-Hudson, MD, of Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, Yaga Szlachcic, MD, and Florence Yee, PharmD of Rancho Los Amigos National Research Center, Downey, CA, and Ann M. Spungen, EdD, and William A. Bauman, MD, of the James Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Dr. Dyson-Hudson acknowledged the many challenges to carrying out a multi-center clinical trial. "However," he commented, "results from rigorously controlled collaborative studies like this one provide the necessary evidence to support the usage of interventions in persons with SCI and provide the foundation for clinical guidelines in this population."

The Apple Award is named for David Apple, Jr., MD, medical director emeritus of Shepherd Center and a well known SCI researcher. The Apple Award acknowledges excellence in publishing in SCI rehabilitation research. This annual prize is given at the ASIA meeting,. The award for the best published paper by a clinician or researcher in the preceding calendar year is now in its sixth year. The award is sponsored by ASIA, Shepherd Center, and Thomas Land Publishers, Inc.

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About the SCI Model System

The Spinal Cord Injury Model System program, sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, US Dept of Education, provides assistance to establish innovative projects for the delivery , demonstration, and evaluation of comprehensive medical, vocational, and other rehabilitation services to meet the needs of individuals with spinal cord injury. Model system centers across the United States work together to demonstrate improved care, maintain a national database, participate in independent and collaborative research and provide continuing education relating to spinal cord injury.

About Kessler Foundation

Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, is interim director of Spinal Cord Injury Research at Kessler Foundation. He is also co-director of the Northern New Jersey SCI Model System, one of 14 NIDRR- funded regional systems in the U.S. Kessler Foundation is one of six centers in the US with model systems for both spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury (Northern New Jersey TBI System).

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Spinal cord injury researchers win Apple Award for article on niacin for dyslipidemia

Scientists at Northwestern University in Chicago, with funding from the National Institutes of Health, have successfully bypassed the spinal cord and restored fine motor control to paralyzed limbs using a brain-computer interface.

The researchers have created a neuroprosthesis that combines a brain-computer interface (BCI) thats wired directly into 100 neurons in the motor cortex of the subject, and a functional electrical stimulation (FES) device thats wired into the muscles of the subjects arm. When the subject tries to move his arm or hand, that cluster of around 100 neurons activates, creating a stream of data which can then be read and analyzed by the BCI to predict what muscles the subject is trying to move, and with what level of force. This interpreted data is passed to the FES, which then triggers the right muscles to perform the desired movement.

The end result is a computer network that effectively replaces the nervous system and restores remarkably accurate fine motor control to a paralyzed arm watch the video below and be amazed. You will notice that, as always with bleeding edge science, the subject of this study is a rhesus monkey rather than a human but our anatomy is very, very similar to that of our primate cousins.

The novel element of Northwesterns neuroprosthesis is the introduction of a brain-computer interface. At the moment, state-of-the-art solutions use FES devices with pre-programmed basic movements (arm lift, hand open, etc.) that are triggered by small muscle movements in non-paralyzed muscles. With the BCI, rather than listening for second-hand signals, around 100 neurons from the specific region of the motor cortex that handles arm and hand movements are used. As you can see from the video, not only is this approach responsive, it seemingly allows for a whole range of grasping movements.

Now, its important to bear in mind that were a long way away from human trials these monkeys had a multi-electrode array directly implanted into their brains but, even so, we should still be very excited. This is a hugely important step towards bionic implants that make paralysis a thing of the past. It might even be the answer to other neurological diseases, such as Parkinsons. The research paper (paywalled) notes that, worldwide, 130,000 people per year sustain spinal cord injury with half of those becoming paralyzed from the neck down.

Even healthy humans especially those of transhumanist stock might want to replace or augment their nervous system with a computer network. Due to slow clockspeed and neuron-neuron signal propagation, human reaction time is fairly lackluster but what if we had a computer coprocessor and electrical wiring that kicked in, when needed? Like modern cars that have complex timing and power control systems, what if humans could run faster or stay awake longer if we had a computer system to help out? Youd be able to connect to your on-board (on-brain?) computer via your smartphone, of course, and tweak various settings

Read about decoding brain signals and bionic eye implants

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Researchers create brain-computer interface that bypasses spinal cord injury paralysis

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels. A spinal cord injury often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury. It results in a change, either temporary or permanent, in its normal motor, sensory, or autonomic function. Patients with spinal cord injury usually have permanent and often devastating neurologic deficits and disability. (SOURCE: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth, http://www.emedicine.medscape.com, http://www.mayoclinic.com)

THINGS YOU DIDNT KNOW: The International Standards for Neurological and Functional Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) is a widely accepted system describing the level and extent of injury based on a systematic motor and sensory examination of neurologic function. The following terminology has developed around the classification of spinal cord injuries:

Tetraplegia (replaces the term quadriplegia): Injury to the spinal cord in the cervical region with associated loss of muscle strength in all 4 extremities.

Paraplegia: Injury in the spinal cord in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral segments, including the cauda equina and conus medullaris. (SOURCE: http://www.emedicine.medscape.com)

SYMPTOMS: The ability to control ones limbs after a spinal cord injury depends on two factors: the place of the injury along the spinal cord and the severity of injury to the spinal cord. The lowest normal part of the spinal cord is referred to as the neurological level of the injury. The severity of the injury is often called "the completeness" and is classified as either complete or incomplete. Spinal cord injuries of any kind may result in one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

Loss of movement

Loss of sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch

Loss of bowel or bladder control

Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms

Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility

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'Rewalk' this way: The paralyzed get back on their feet

31-03-2012 00:11 Project Walk in conjunction with SCI Business Solutions, has recently released our brand new Telehealth Program . Initial entry into this program is limited to only 200 "Pilot" members. These members will receive a large discount for joining our "Pilot" program and helping us develop this system for future spinal cord injury clients who may or may not be able to visit a Project Walk facility.

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Spinal Cord Injury - Home Workout - Video

Eric LeGrand took the stage Wednesday in front of an audience of 70 people at the Busch Campus Center to present his outlook for the future, reflecting the events theme of Dont Stop Believing.

Dr. Wise Young, his physical therapist and mentor, held the microphone for LeGrand as he recalled his injury during the Oct. 16, 2010 Scarlet Knights football game against Armys Black Knights in the Meadowlands Stadium.

When I first got hurt, I was laying on that field, and I felt like I knocked the wind out of myself, LeGrand said. Coach [Greg] Schiano came running up to me and said you just got to keep praying, you just got to fight.

LeGrand said he saw his mother before he was taken off the field and assured her that he would be all right.

After seeing his mother, LeGrand said he blacked out and was unable to remember anything that happened until the following Wednesday, four days after his injury.

The first year, you face things youve never faced in your whole life, LeGrand said.

Young, director of the Unversitys W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience said he first met LeGrand about six weeks after his injury.

Young said he told LeGrand that he was working on therapies for chronic spinal cord injuries and that he wanted LeGrand to feel that he was not alone.

I want to make sure that Eric understands that we are here working for him, Young said. Hes my hero. He always was poised. He always had this confidence that he was able to do this.

LeGrand said he began therapy with a lot of stretching and soon progressed to therapies, such as what he called the standing frame where LeGrand would be able to stand with assistance from a mechanical frame.

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LeGrand expresses hope in research

VANCOUVER, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - The Rick Hansen Institute (RHI) and Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) today thanked the Harper government for partnering in their vision of an accessible and inclusive society and a cure for paralysis after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Today's Federal Budget announcement will support essential advancements in research for a cure for paralysis after spinal cord injury, and make a positive difference by promoting the translation of promising research discoveries and best practices into real, practical benefits for the more than 86,000 Canadians with spinal cord-related injuries and illnesses.

"The Government of Canada has been a critical partner in my 25 year journey towards a healthier and more inclusive world, and we are extremely grateful for their continued support," said Rick Hansen. "This renewed federal investment will allow us to further advance in our collective goal of achieving a cure for paralysis after spinal cord injury and achieve better medical care and outcomes as we assist SCI patients in becoming more active members of the community. While much has been accomplished, I truly believe our best work is in front of us."

The Rick Hansen Institute and the Rick Hansen Foundation are committed to advancing clinical research studies in such priority areas as reduction of paralysis and secondary complications; the implementation of validated best practice guidelines in SCI care nationally and build capacities for hospitals to adopt these standards; and the expansion of the pan-Canadian SCI clinical research network to enhance collaboration between Canadian and international SCI experts.

"Together we are solidifying Canada's position as a global leader and a world-class SCI centre of excellence," added Hansen. "The path we are taking is reducing hospital visits, readmissions from secondary complications, and the financial burden that comes with the injury, as we work towards a world without paralysis after SCI. We are grateful for not having to take the path alone".

About RHI: The Rick Hansen Institute's goal is creating a world without paralysis after SCI. It works towards this goal by accelerating research and translating clinical findings into practical solutions to develop new treatments, improve care and reduce the cost burden on taxpayers.

About RHF: In 1987, following the Man In Motion World Tour (MIMWT), Rick established the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to continue his quest for an accessible and inclusive society and a cure for spinal cord injury (SCI). Under Rick's leadership, RHF functions as a social innovator - finding collaborative solutions to challenges in the community and the resources necessary to implement those solutions. RHF has been successful in leveraging the original $26M raised during the MIMWT to more than $245M in support of people, programs and research in pursuit of a healthier and more inclusive world. As part of the 25th Anniversary campaign, the Rick Hansen Foundation has launched a national public fundraising campaign to support ongoing programs and initiatives. For ways to get involved, or to make a donation, please visit http://www.rickhansen.com.

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Renewed Federal Government Investment Gives Further Hope to Canadians living with Spinal Cord Injury

UQ research with the potential to develop improved treatment options for spinal cord injuries has received funding for four years from SpinalCure Australia.

Dr Marc Ruitenberg from UQ's School of Biomedical Sciences has been awarded a prestigious Career Development Fellowship to support ongoing research into the inflammatory response to spinal cord injury.

There is overwhelming evidence that the inflammatory response to spinal cord injury is a double-edged sword," Dr Ruitenberg said.

"Some aspects can cause additional damage while others appear to be contributing to tissue repair.

Our ultimate research goal is to understand which aspects of the inflammatory process worsen injury outcomes, to enable the development of new and effective anti-inflammatory therapies that can improve recovery.

Dr Ruitenberg's laboratory is concentrating on the innate immune system because of the dominant role that it is thought to play in the inflammatory pathology associated with spinal cord injury.

He is also actively involved in the development of ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to study the injured spinal cord and to aid better translation of promising research findings from the laboratory bench to the clinic.

This fellowship is a major boost to the research activities in Dr Ruitenberg's laboratory and will accelerate the development of better treatment options for spinal cord injury.

The award is being funded in partnership with The University of Queensland for 2012-2015.

Media: UQ School of Biomedical Sciences, Avril Johnston-Craig, 07 3365 1536, 0408 160 784, a.johnstoncraig@uq.edu.au

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Spinal cord injury research receives funding boost

Speeders and others nabbed for moving violations would have to hand over an extra $1, $5 or $10 for spinal cord injury research at UAB under a bill bill in the Alabama Legislature.

The bill -- named for University of South Alabama student T.J. Atchison, who was paralyzed in a 2010 car accident -- is expected to raise up to $500,000 a year to help find a cure for spinal cord injuries. It has passed the Alabama Senate and a version has been sponsored in the state House. On Wednesday its supporters toured the Spain Rehabilitation Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which would administer the money.

"I've told T.J. and his mom and dad all this time that if we get this passed it would be a miracle," said state Sen. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, who sponsored the bill. "Now I think the miracle's going to happen."

The T.J. Atchison Spinal Cord Injury Act was developed with help from Roman Reed, who persuaded California lawmakers to set aside millions for spinal cord injury. Since its passage in 1999, the bill named for Reed has raised more than $125 million for research.

If it becomes law, the Atchison act would charge an extra $1 for basic moving violations, $5 for aggravated violations such as reckless driving or following too closely and $10 for DUIs. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, Reed said.

The money would be administered by Candace Lloyd, a UAB researcher. She said the funded research would have two main aspects: on finding a cure and seeking to alleviate the side effects that paralysis patients experience.

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Bill in Alabama Legislature would bring spinal cord research money to UAB

Posted: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 4:00 am | Updated: 7:09 am, Tue Mar 27, 2012.

The former Pine Tree ISD administration building is filled with vendors selling their wares lots of bling, cosmetics, sunglasses, watches, pashmina ponchos, scarves, purses, cookware, kitchen items, T-shirts and more. The vendors, all women, giggle as they talk to each other and customers alike.

A stranger wouldnt know its a fundraiser for Pine Tree High School sophomore Christopher Sartor, who suffered a spinal cord injury in September while lifting weights at school under the supervision of the high school coaching staff.

No, I dont know him, Sassy Lady Designs vendor Evelyn Hughes said. But Chris is one of ours. And in Pine Tree, we take care of our own.

We still consider ourselves a small community.

Terry Barrett, teacher and sponsor of the Pine Tree Leadership Class, said the students are always involved in community activities, so doing a fundraiser for the student wasnt ever a question.

At Pine Tree, we take care of our own, she said, echoing the phrase that came up repeatedly. This has been a tremendous change of lifestyle for Chris ... and for his family. With this change has come many out of pocket expenses for his family. We are trying to help alleviate part of the burden.

Barrett said the class brainstormed about possible fundraising activities.

There are so many car washes and dinners, she said. The class settled on holding a bazaar and charging per booth. The exception is Masquerade, which is donating a percentage of its proceeds.

During the event Monday, a teenage girl picked up earrings, exclaiming, Oh, mom, can I have these?

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Pine Tree comes to the aid of student with spinal cord injury

A benefit fundraiser for two young girls seriously injured in a car accident two weeks ago will be held at Say Cheese Pizza in Mount Shasta Monday, April 2.

A portion of all in-house sales between 5 and 9 p.m. will be donated to the benefit for Ashlynn and Alexis Myrtle account at PremierWest Bank.

Alexis, age 4, suffered a severe head injury in the March 16 accident, and underwent surgery to repair her right eye. She is recovering well but is having some problems coming to terms with the traumatic incident, said Becky Gordon, a family friend who set up the PremierWest community fund.

Ashlynn, 3, suffered a spinal cord injury and is paralyzed from the waist down. Shes now getting used to her wheelchair, said Gordon.

She loves being in it. Shes learning how to use it... its a little hard, because her arms are so short, but shes working on her upper body strength, Gordon said, adding Ashlynn is resilient and "always has a smile on her face."

Ashlynn and Alexis recently moved from Mount Shasta to Redding with their mother, Amanda Pevehouse. They previously attended Chestnut Preschool in Mount Shasta.

The girls were improperly restrained in the back seat of their fathers car when it drifted off the road and hit a concrete bridge abutment in Cottonwood on the evening of March 16, according to the California Highway Patrol. Their father, Nicolaas Myrtle, pleaded not guilty last week to felony DUI and two counts of child endangerment.

While Alexis is recovering at Mercy Medical Center Redding, Ashlynn was transferred to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where shes getting specialized care for pediatric spinal injuries.

Pevehouse, who has full custody of the girls, has been traveling back and forth between Redding and San Jose to be with both her daughters.

Donations for the family of Ashlynn and Alexis can be made at any PremierWest Bank branch. The account number is 68016754. Donations can also be made the night of the benefit at Say Cheese in a donation jar at the front counter.

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Benefit for injured girls planned for April 2

From being unable to move the majority of his body in 2008 to taking steps with leg braces today, Mount Shastas Corben Brooks is proving that a spinal cord injury isnt the end of the world.

Three and a half years after a high school football injury left him a quadriplegic, Mount Shastas Corben Brooks is focused on recovery while in New Delhi, India, where hes receiving a third round of stem cell treatments not yet available in the United States.

The ever-optimistic 20 year old can now stand with minimal assistance, take steps with leg braces, wiggle his toes, partially close his hands and feel the majority of his legs.

Corben said hes looking forward to Labor Day Weekend, when his family will host Thunder in the Park in Mount Shasta, an event which will include the raffle drawing for a custom built motorcycle dubbed Corbens Ride, as well as live music, a chili cookoff, pancake breakfast and a poker run. Thunder in the Park will coincide with the Mount Shasta Police Departments Show & Shine car show in attempt to keep visitors in Mount Shasta the entire weekend.

Without the support of our community and countless other people I wouldn't be where I am today, Corben said via email from India last week. I can honestly say that without the help from my family, friends, this wonderful community and all who have so generously gone out of their way to help me, I would not be in the remarkable position that I am today. Thank you is nowhere near an adequate enough word to express my thanks.

Though he knows stem cell treatments are controversial, Corben said after each treatment he sees more function and sensation in his body for up to nine months after returning home.

So far on this trip I have gained new sensation and feeling in the back of my legs and hamstrings and additional feeling on my left foot, Corben said.

The results of a recent MRI also showed encouraging results, said Corben.

What we saw was the stem cells have been reducing the amount of scar tissue in my spinal cord at the injury site, Corben said. With the scar tissue being reduced, my nerves are given the opportunity to reestablish a connection. And we believe that is why I have been seeing continual recovery during and after these treatments.

Since his last visit in 2011, Corben said his walking has improved greatly, thanks to the help of his trainer back at home, Lisa Pigoni.

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Corben Brooks continues on road to recovery

21-03-2012 15:41 Spinal cord injury treatment. http://www.projectwalk.org exists to provide an improved quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries through intense exercise-based recovery programs, education, support and encouragement.

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Spinal Cord Injury - James A., "Project Walk" Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video