Breakthrough Could Help Heal Spinal Cord Injuries Without Pain

AURORA, Colo., Sept. 22 (AScribe Newswire) — Researchers at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine say manipulating embryo-derived stem cell precursors prior to transplanting them holds the key to using stem cell technologies for repairing spinal cord injuries in humans.

In the online Journal of Biology, Dr. Stephen Davies, an associate professor of neurosurgery reports his research team has produced two types of spinal cord support cells called astrocytes (“star” cells) from the same embryo-derived stem cell-like cells called Glial Restricted Precursor cells (GRPs) that have remarkable effects on the injured spinal cord. Continue Reading »

Breakthrough in spinal injury treatment

Manipulating embryo-derived stem cells before transplanting them may hold the key to optimizing stem cell technologies for repairing spinal cord injuries in humans. Research published in BioMed Central’s open access Journal of Biology, may lead to cell based therapies for victims of paralysis to recover the use of their bodies without the risk of transplant induced pain syndromes.

Dr. Stephen Davies, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, reported that in collaboration with researchers at the University of Rochester, NY his research team has transplanted two types of the major support cells of the brain and spinal cord, cells called astrocytes. These two types of astrocytes, which are both made from the same embryo-derived stem cell-like precursor cell, have remarkably different effects on the spinal repair process. Continue Reading »

Stimulator Helps Spinal Cord Patients Take Giant Steps

theDevice Helps Paralyzed Pull Ankle, Toe Upwards

Eleven-thousand people in the United States suffer from spinal cord injuries each year.

Men are more at risk than women for this type of injury, accounting for 80 percent of them. Those between the ages of 16 and 30 are most likely to suffer such an injury. Most of the time, a spinal cord injury will result in permanent paralysis and loss of sensation below the area of the spine where the injury took place.

A quadriplegic or tetraplegic is paralyzed throughout most of their body, including their arms and legs while only the lower body of a Paraplegic is paralyzed. Continue Reading »

The First 72 Hours After SCI: Clinical Practice Guidelines

The Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine has released “Early Acute Management in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury,” a guide to managing the critical first days after spinal cord trauma.

The guideline is published by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), which manages and funds the Consortium.

During the first few days after an SCI, when life-saving interventions dominate the care of the spinal cord injured individual, efforts at preserving life, limiting the severity of the injury’s effects and improving long-term outcomes are vitally important. Continue Reading »

Everett to be honored in Bills season opener

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Kevin Everett will be honored while attending Buffalo’s season opener against Seattle on Sunday, a year after the former Bills tight end sustained a severe life-threatening spinal cord injury.

Everett, who has since made a remarkable recovery, is scheduled to be present to receive the Professional Football Writers of America’s Halas Award, which goes to the individual in the NFL who overcame the most adversity to succeed last season. Continue Reading »

Research aims to put tongues in control of devices

ATLANTA (AP) — The tireless tongue already controls taste and speech, helps kiss and swallow and fights germs. Now scientists hope to add one more ability to the mouthy muscle, and turn it into a computer control pad.

Georgia Tech researchers believe a magnetic, tongue-powered system could transform a disabled person’s mouth into a virtual computer, teeth into a keyboard – and tongue into the key that manipulates it all.

“You could have full control over your Environment by just being able to move your tongue,” said Maysam Ghovanloo, a Georgia Tech assistant professor who leads the team’s research. Continue Reading »

Two Oakdale men headed to Beijing for paralympics

Jon Rydberg and Dan James will be representing their hometown of Oakdale and their country by heading to Beijing this September to compete in the U.S. Paralympics.

This is Rydberg’s second Paralympics and he will be competing in singles and doubles wheelchair tennis.

“It’s one of the coolest things you can do,” Rydberg said. “Representing your country, your state, everything like that. It’s a whole package deal.”

James is the coach of the U.S. Paralympic tennis team and Beijing will be the third Paralympics he has coached in. James echoed Rydberg’s sentiments about how it feels to be a part of the games. Continue Reading »

Family, friends rally to help chef fight back from injury

Family, friends rally to help chef fight back from injury

It happened in an instant. Dave Hartung was driving home from work the day after Christmas when a car darted from the shoulder of Interstate 97 and across two lanes to reach a ramp to U.S. 50.

The vehicle smashed his car. While describing the crash to state troopers, Hartung now realizes, he was in shock. He went home to Severn and only in a few hours did he realize he was in pain, he said. Continue Reading »

Ex-quadriplegic bikes to Tulsa

In a stop on a nationwide tour, he encourages others with disabilities.
Wiggling a single toe was the impossible goal Aaron Baker dreamed about achieving in 1999.

Nine years later and more than 1,500 miles into his trek, Baker is pedaling a specially made, three-wheel bicycle across the country to show others what it means to beat the impossible.

“I’m crazy enough to ride a bicycle all the way here from San Francisco,” Baker said.

With more than 2,500 miles to go, Baker rode through Tulsa on Tuesday as part of his Rise Above Tour to speak to members at The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, 815 S. Utica Ave., a center that has helped people with disabilities in Tulsa since 1959. Continue Reading »

Diabetes and Spinal Cord Injury

People with spinal cord disorders are more Prone than most to developing type 2 diabetes. But the condition can be managed and even reversed with diet, exercise and medications.

“You are diabetic.” No one wants to hear these words and when they do, they are likely to be in shock or disbelief. “Sure, I’m in a wheelchair, overweight and I don’t get much exercise, but nobody in my family has diabetes,” may be a typical response.

Surprisingly, genetics plays only a limited role in the development of type 2 diabetes, but diabetes now afflicts almost 1 in 10 Americans and a recent study showed that 2 in 10 spinal cord injured veterans are diabetic. Continue Reading »