Spinal Cord Injury Research Continuing

Spinal cord research has made strides in recent years, good news to the 5.6 million paralyzed people currently living in the United States.

2012-11-27

November 27, 2012 (Press-News.org) Spinal Cord Injury Research Continuing

Spinal cord research has made strides in recent years, good news to the 5.6 million paralyzed people currently living in America and the 12,000 new people hospitalized for spinal cord injury (SCI) every year. However, progress is being made in fits and starts, and new research continues to battle this devastating injury.

Promising New Research

Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, offered a variety of potential future solutions to SCI, from reducing pain in the injured patient to actually curing the affliction.

Jacqueline Bresnahan, PhD, of the University of California, San Francisco is an expert in SCI injuries. In a press release at Neuroscience 2012, Dr. Bresnahan wrote: "[f]rom understanding immune cell responses to the healing power of social contact, researchers are finding new ways to treat and rehabilitate [SCI] patients."

The press release from the October event highlighted the following studies:
-Intact but nonfunctioning nervous system tracts were successfully reactivated by stimulating certain areas of the brain in mice, speeding their recovery from SCI
-Electrical currents in clothing can be attached to SCI patients that promote muscle movement and helps to avoid painful and occasionally life-threatening bedsores
-One study found carbon monoxide accelerated healing in rats with SCI, possibly by increasing immune cells and limiting damage by "free radical" cells
-Social behavior and contact following an SCI appears to lessen pain in peripheral nerve injuries

These are just a few of the varied studies that are encouraging researchers in the field that solutions may not be far away.

Creative Solutions

Other methods are showing promise as well. In France, for example, researchers trained paralyzed mice to use their legs even while severing spinal cord connections to their brains. Researchers injected the mice with a cocktail of synthetic neurotransmitters at the site of the break, and then electrically stimulated the broken area. The electrochemical combination simulated brain transmissions and allowed automatic responses by the mice. Eventually, the mice re-grow connections to the brain, and could again walk voluntarily.

California Bill to Provide Funding for Research Vetoed

Not all research involves smooth sailing. In California, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a paralysis research bill this year that would have added a $1 surcharge to traffic tickets in California. The money would have gone towards the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research program. The program, an attempt to use seed funds for research projects and collaboration for spinal cord injury treatment, began in 2000 and dedicated $1 million a year to the project for the next five years. In 2004, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger renewed the program until 2011. However, funds dried up during California's economic troubles of the recent past and the program remains unfunded.

Progress Being Made

Because spinal cord injuries can be so devastating to its sufferers, the medical and research community has put a large amount of time, effort and money to help cure and treat SCIs. However, there is still a long way to go, and many SCI sufferers face a difficult and expensive path to rehabilitation.

Those who have suffered spine injuries in an accident that have required surgery or left them with debilitating residuals such as constant pain, reduced functionality or paralysis, should contact a personal injury lawyer who is experienced at handling cases involving traumatic spine injuries and has a proven track record of success to potentially obtain compensation for their traumatically caused spine injury.

Article provided by Biren Katzman Trial Lawyers
Visit us at http://www.ca-truckinjurylawyers.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

New Study Shows Bedsores Linked to Patient Fatalities

2012-11-27

New study shows bedsores linked to patient fatalities When we come to the conclusion that we must turn over the care of a loved one to a nursing home, it is common for that difficult decision to be accompanied by fears about his or her continued well-being. One of the dangers associated with nursing home care is the development of bedsores, also referred to as pressure ulcers. Recently, a new study revealed that the consequences of these injuries can be far more serious than previously understood. Bedsores occur when the tissue and skin on an individual are injured, ...

Respond Intelligently to Debt Collector Harassment

2012-11-27

Respond Intelligently to Debt Collector Harassment Each year, millions of Americans find themselves in significant debt. Too often, debt brings with it not only constant worry about bills and finances, but also harassing phone calls from unscrupulous bill collectors. Fortunately, consumers do have rights and there are some basic steps people can take to protect themselves from creditor harassment. Make a Plan If debt collectors begin making harassing phone calls to your home, it is important to come up with a plan on how to address them. Designate one person in ...

How Oklahoma Courts Determine Child Custody

2012-11-27

How Oklahoma courts determine child custody If you are an Oklahoma parent going through a divorce, you may be worried about whether you or your spouse (or neither) is going to get custody of your child. The answer to this question is quite complex, as it involves a consideration of many factors. Like in many other states, Oklahoma courts make child custody decisions based on what it believes are in the "best interests of the child." There is no simple definition of this term, as it generally refers to the analysis that courts make when deciding what types ...

Estate Planning Issues for Same-Sex Couples in Maryland

2012-11-27

Estate Planning Issues for Same-Sex Couples in Maryland Many states across the U.S. have brought same-sex marriage to a vote in recent elections, bringing to light the plight of unmarried same-sex couples who nonetheless consider themselves a cohesive family. Maryland recently voted to recognize same-sex marriage, becoming the first state in the union to vote for same-sex marriage. While the issues surrounding same-sex marriage are myriad, one complication is estate planning. Many of the protections in place for married couples are not available to same-sex couples. ...

Feds Push for Mandatory Ignition Interlocks in All Maryland DUI Cases

2012-11-27

Feds Push for Mandatory Ignition Interlocks in All Maryland DUI Cases Maryland transportation safety advocates and other groups that favor tougher intoxicated driving laws may soon have a new tool in their arsenal: federal funding for states that require ignition interlock devices for all drivers convicted of driving under the influence -- even first-time offenders. Current Ignition Interlock Law in Maryland Under current Maryland law, ignition interlock devices are mandatory for drivers convicted of a second or subsequent DUI offense, but they generally are not ...

Football Revealing the Consequences of Youth Head Injuries

2012-11-27

Football Revealing the Consequences of Youth Head Injuries Football is widely considered the most popular sport in America. From the Super Bowl to Friday Night Lights, football plays a large role for many families and communities. Youth football is as popular as ever; USA Football estimates almost 3 million kids under age 14 play tackle football. That number hasn't dropped in the last half-dozen years. But as a contact-heavy sport, legitimate concerns exist regarding brain injuries caused by tackling. The science on brain injuries and their effects have greatly increased ...

Dog Bites and Liability in Massachusetts

2012-11-27

Dog Bites and Liability in Massachusetts Animal control officers in Dennis, Massachusetts, reported an unprecedented uptick in dog bites and other animal attacks recently. Members of the Cape Cod community suffered 13 animal bites in just two months in the summer of 2012, with nine occurring in July alone, Wicked Local Dennis reported. A veteran animal control officer said she had never before witnessed so many bites in such a short period. Preventing Dog Bites The primary responsibility for preventing dog bites and other animal attacks lies with the person who ...

Community Efforts, FMCSA Regulations Help Mitigate Truck Crashes

2012-11-27

Community efforts, FMCSA regulations help mitigate truck crashes Commercial vehicles are probably the most dangerous vehicles traversing the roadways today. An 18-wheeler can carry a maximum weight of 80,000 fully loaded. It's no wonder communities and policing authorities are cracking down on commercial truck drivers in order to prevent unnecessary truck accidents. Community efforts Community efforts all across the nation have been launched to help improve truck safety and mitigate injuries and fatalities caused by these massive vehicles. Just last month, Operation ...

All Eyes on Texas 130 -- Will Risks Materialize at 85 MPH?

2012-11-27

All eyes on Texas 130 -- will risks materialize at 85 mph? The Texas Department of Transportation recently opened a new stretch of highway connecting San Antonio and Austin. With a speed limit of 85 miles per hour, the new road has the distinction of having the highest posted speed limit of any road in the United States. Built to alleviate traffic congestion between Austin and San Antonio, the 41-mile stretch of Texas 130 has a toll of around 15 cents per mile. It is the state's first public-private toll road, and toll proceeds will be shared between the state and ...

Prominent Massachusetts Doctor Charged with DUI

2012-11-27

Prominent Massachusetts doctor charged with DUI Allegations of driving under the influence (DUI), also known as operating under the influence or OUI, can happen to anyone. Just recently, a prominent physician was accused of a DUI violation when leaving a local grocery store at 8:30 in the morning. The doctor has a reputation for saving lives and was honored with a "Doctor of the Year" award in 2009. Dr. Kristin Howard was charged after she was involved in an accident when leaving the store. The doctor pled not guilty and is fighting the charges. An OUI ...

UT Health San Antonio awarded $3 million in CPRIT grants to bolster cancer research and prevention efforts in South Texas

Manhattan E. Charurat, Ph.D., MHS invested as the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Insilico Medicine’s Pharma.AI Q4 Winter Launch Recap: Revolutionizing drug discovery with cutting-edge AI innovations, accelerating the path to pharmaceutical superintelligence

Spinal Cord Injury Research Continuing

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: