Neurological Disorders

Spinal Cord Disorders

Research Latest News

Vitamin D Linked to Overall Health - [10/10/08]

Summary: Vitamin D has been linked to improved overall health. This vitamin affects 36 organ tissues in the body including bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and uterus tissues. It has also been linked to improving immune systems, insulin secretion, heart health, blood pressure, muscle, brain activity, and decreased risk of cancer. For most adults 200-600 IU of daily vitamin D is recommended, but some experts recommend up to 2000 IU daily.

Comment: Vitamin D has previously been thought to improve bone health, but this study shows that it can affect all areas of health. By increased intake of vitamin D people with spinal cord disorders can experience improved health.

Read article - Medical News TODAY October 10, 2008

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Efforts to Reduce Ethnic and Racial Disparities - [09/29/08]

Summary: This article outlines current efforts are being made to reduce racial and ethnic health care disparities. These include the Respira program, which focuses on providing asthma education and outreach to Hispanic communities. Another program is a lecture that seeks to improve knowledge of blood pressure management and diabetes. Other efforts involve grants to increase levels of minority students in medical programs, and campaigns to increase medical literacy in minority communities.

Comment: Racial and ethnic disparities exist in most areas of medical care including spinal cord disorders. These disparities can often be dangerous to the health of minority people. These programs are aiming to close the gaps in health care, which can result in better care for people with spinal cord disorders.

Read article - Medical News TODAY September 29, 2008

Safety Gaps During Sign Out - [09/22/08]

Summary: Patients may experienced lower quality of care during sign outs, which is the transfer of a patients during a shift change. Researchers used oral sign-outs and written sign-outs to compare to reports of subsequent errors. It was found that doctors are often more confused about the patient information rather than factual details. Examples of such problems are doctors not fully understanding the clinical condition, or doctors not knowing the reasoning behind a test.

Comment: It is suggested that sign-out procedures become a part of medical school curriculum to raise the quality of patient care. Patients should also be aware that after and during a sign-out their doctors may not be fully informed about their conditions and test. Being able to close these safety gaps at sign-out can allow patients to receive the best care possible.

Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com September 22, 2008

More Americans Seeking Health Information - [08/22/08]

Summary: Recent statistics show that in 2007 56% of Americans adults, which is more than 122 million people, attempted to find information about a personal health concern from a source other than their physician. This statistic is up from 38% in 2001. Education levels were a key factor in determining whether a person sought medical information, 72% of those with a graduate degree compared to 42% of those with only a high school diploma. The number of Americans using the internet for medical information doubled from 16% in 2001 to 32% in 2007.

Comment: More than half of the people reported that the information changed their general approach to their health care, and 80% reported that the information helped them better understand treatments of their condition or illness. Doctors are always a good source of medical information, but it can often be hard to consult a doctor with every concern. Finding more information on medical conditions, such as spinal cord disorders, can help patients better understand their health.

Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com August 22, 2008

Many Find Need for American Health Care Reform - [08/07/08]

Summary: In a recent study researchers found that about 82% of Americans believe that the health care system in America needs to be reformed. 90% believed that the presidential candidates need to develop health care reform plans to improve the quality and coverage of health care. 90% also believe that it is important to have one doctor responsible for their primary care and for coordinating care with specialists. 90% also reported believing that having access to their medical records, and doctors having the same access was important.

Comment: Spinal cord disorders require the best medical care possible, and many people in America do not believe that they are getting the level of care that they need. People with spinal cord disorders, and all other people in America, can affect their health care system by contacting their representatives and voicing their concerns and thoughts about the current health care system.

Read article - Medical News TODAY August 7, 2008

Rise in Deaths from Home Prescription Use - [07/29/08]

Summary: Researchers examined the death rates from the incorrect use of prescriptions in the home, called FMEs. There are four types of FMEs as classified by the researchers. Type one is the domestic use of prescriptions with street drugs or alcohol, which has increased by 3,196% between 1983 and 2004. Type 2 is the domestic use of prescriptions without drugs or alcohol, which has increased 5%. Type 3 is the non-domestic use of prescriptions with drugs or alcohol, and has increased 564%, and type 4 is the non-domestic use of prescriptions without drugs or alcohol, and has increased by 555%.

Comment: While many of the medications involved were safe in a clinical setting is has been suggested that they are more dangerous when used at home, since an incorrect dose or use with drugs or alcohol are more likely. It is suggested that more research is done about the safety of medications at home or work and that patients are especially careful when taking prescriptions at home.

Read article - Medical News TODAY. July 29, 2008.

High Costs of Surgical Errors - [07/28/08]

Summary: Medical errors occurring during or after surgery may result in 1.5 billion dollars in costs annually, and these errors could be preventable. Among the highest causes of these costs is acute respiratory failure, which costs an average of 28,218 dollars, and post operative infections which cost an average of 19,480 dollars extra. It was also found that one out of ten patients who died within 90 days of a surgery died because of a preventable error, and that one third of these deaths occurred after the patient was discharged from the hospital.

Comment: Surgery is often involved in treating spinal cord disorders, and this information shows that patients and doctors need to be careful before, during, and after surgery to avoid preventable and costly errors. Patients also must be careful after being discharged from the hospital to follow the instructions given by their medical team carefully.

Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com July 28, 2008

Doctor Instructions Often Misunderstood - [07/18/08]

Summary: A new study shows that most people, about 78%, do not completely understand their doctor's instructions upon leaving the emergency room. Many of these people, about 80%, also are not aware that they do not comprehend all of the instructions given. 34% of the comprehension deficits were in the category of post emergency department care, meaning that one-third of the people in the study did not completely know what to do when the got home from the hospital.

Comment: Follow-up care after leaving the emergency room is very important to the recovery of the patient. If they do not fully understand their instructions they could encounter complications. People should always be careful to completely understand their doctor’s instructions, whether leaving the emergency room or just a normal checkup, to be sure that they will receive the best care possible.

Read article - Medical News TODAY July 18, 2008

Botulinum Toxin is an Effective Treatment for Neurological Disorders - [05/05/08]

Summary: The drug Botulinum Toxin has been shown to be safe and effective for treating cervical dystonia, a condition of involuntary head tilt or neck movement, and spasticity and other forms of muscle overactivity that interfere with movement in adults and children with an upper motor neuron syndrome. The drug, which is injected into affected muscles, is the most effective treatment for numerous movement disorders.

Comment: Botulinum Toxin may also be effective for treating lower back pain, hemifacial spasm (involuntary facial contractions), blepharospasm, (involuntary eye closure), some voice disorders (adductor laryngeal dystonia), focal limb dystonias (such as writer’s cramp), essential tremor and some forms of spastic bladder disorders.

Read article - American Academy of Neurology. May 5, 2008.

New Process May Help Treat Spinal Cord Injuries - [04/17/08]

Summary: University of Minnesota researchers have discovered that each segment or region of the spinal cord has its own "generator" that controls rhythmic movements such as walking. They were able to map where each of these generators reside. This insight could help lead to treatments for central nervous system maladies such as Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injuries.

Comment: The study also found that dopamine, a human hormone used to treat Parkinson's disease, can turn on the generators. These findings suggest that movement disorders could possibly be treated by focusing on the chain reaction that occurs within the series of generators when a neuron fires--good news for patients with Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological disorders.

Read article - Medical News Today. April 17, 2008.