Juvenile Onset MS faster to Progress but Slower to Disable than Adult Onset MS

"The average time to reach the secondary progressive phase of the disease is longer in patients who develop MS in childhood than in adult onset MS. . . .Reaching the next stage of disability is almost 10 years longer in pediatric-onset patients." So report researchers fromthe Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence located at Women and Children's Hospital, and the William C. Baird MS Center in Buffalo General Hospital (BGH), both Kaleida Health affiliates and UB teaching hospitals.

Chemical May Help Down Syndrome Sufferers

"Increasing the levels of a message-carrying chemical in the brain may help prevent some of the memory deficits in Down syndrome that hinder learning and make it hard for the brain to develop normally, researchers said. " A research report from the New York Times

Medical Marijuana for Under 18s

the New York Times reports on a new patient population for this controversal treatment.

Several Bay Area [California] doctors who recommend medical marijuana for their patients said in recent interviews that their client base had expanded to include teenagers with psychiatric conditions including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
“It’s not everybody’s medicine, but for some, it can make a profound difference,” said Valerie Corral, a founder of the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana, a patients’ collective in Santa Cruz that has two dozen minors as registered clients. Read about it here.

Curry v. Cancer

WSJ Health blog reports on a British study that has reveled that extract found in the bright yellow curry spice turmeric can kill off cancer cells the efficacy of redolent curry in storming the defenses of cancer cells. A plus for those take away Indian meals.

Better and Faster Vaccines

"Scientists have identified a protein that could enable more vaccines to be delivered through the mouth or nose, thus strengthening the body’s defenses where the body first encounters many bacteria and viruses." A pathologist at Emory has zeroed in on "M cells, a type of cell found in the intestines that may be a key to effective mucosal vaccines." Futurity.org reports on this promising development in a blog posting for October 27.
For more information, look at Emory health sciences news: http://emoryhealthsciences.org

More Hospitals Are Using Video to Connect Patients With Specialists Far Away, Speeding Treatment"

"Doctor, Can You See Me Now? " looks at how video is aiding diagnosis by connecting " local and regional hospitals to large urban medical centers where most specialists practice. The video hookups, which usually include high-definition TVs, a camera, and Internet-connected medical equipment, provide a way for smaller hospitals to tap these specialists' expertise when necessary. That boosts the chances patients will receive timely treatment and lowers transfer rates. "

CDC: "Very Sobering" Flu Season

The CDC has characterized this year's flu season as very serious. "Unprecedented activity," "unusual toll in the pediatric age group" and number of hospitalizations are among the measures. Here , from Effect Measure, a public health forum, is a thorough and very informative article to explore the CDC's stance.