Traumatic Brain Injury

Treatment, Research Pay Off

By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service BETHESDA, Md., March 26, 2013 - Service members who have suffered severe traumatic brain injuries and psychological ills can benefit from an intensive four-week program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence here. Dr. James Kelly, the center's director, said that when service members with severe TBI fail to respond to conventional medical treatment, they often are referred to NICoE's program, which finds the best methods to treat their conditions on an individual basis. The patients must also have a co-existing psychological health issue, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or anxiety, Kelly said. "If you add together all of those things in a person, that's a very complex human condition," he said. "It is our job to characterize that complex condition ... and its effects on the brain, and look at what works to help them." The only center of its kind, the Defense Department's NICoE offers a wealth of medical and alternative approaches for such service members, with medical professionals such as neurologists, therapists and counselors working in an interdisciplinary team approach, Kelly explained. Because the team members are located in the same facility, he added, an occupational therapist and a speech therapist, for example, could see a patient together, discuss different approaches, and learn from each other. And because the teams comprise a variety of specialists, "every day we can ask, 'Did we hit the mark?' and if not, we say "Let's try something different tomorrow,'" Kelly said. "Whatever patients need, they get," the director said, adding that NICoE does not operate in an assembly-line format, but rather as a "compact, intensive care" outpatient program that treats different patients with individualized forms of care that fit their particular needs. "There's a whole menu of things we have available to them," Kelly said. "Not everybody gets the same 'dose' of sleep therapy, counseling or acupuncture, [because] everybody's individual needs are addressed." Another key ingredient in treating service members with TBI is having their family members immersed in the treatment plan whenever possible, the doctor said. "We do our best to encourage [families to come to NICoE] because they are affected as well," he noted. When service members finish the NICoE program, they are equipped with a thorough discharge summary of their diagnostic evaluations, treatment plans, counseling and rehabilitation work to take home to their doctors, Kelly said. "We think highly of the existing system and the health care providers," he added. "Even though we have a unique opportunity that doesn't exist anywhere else, it's an unfair comparison to [put NICoE up against] anything else. I fully recognize our colleagues are doing good work." Stood up two and a half years ago, NICoE is considered the DOD hub of TBI research, Kelly said. The center also is designed to influence TBI and PTSD treatment in the military health system with its cutting-edge approach. Located on the campus of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, NICoE partners in TBI research with other organizations, including the nearby Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the National Institutes of Health, among others in academia, Kelly said. The concept for NICoE began when DOD invited Kelly, a former neurology consultant for the Chicago Bears football team, to join a group of doctors to examine how to treat service members who were exposed to blast injuries and other head trauma, Kelly said. NICoE was privately funded by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which also oversaw the construction and equipment of the $65 million 72,000-square-foot center. NICoE's research, education and patient care have proven so successful, Kelly said, satellite clinics around the country now are in the works. "We're being seen as a model to export, rather than just consult, on cases, so the project has led to satellite clinics because of the success of [our] concept," Kelly said. Like NICoE, the clinics will be built with $100 million in philanthropic donations through the work of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. The clinics will be built at Fort Bragg, N.C.; Forts Bliss and Fort Hood in Texas; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Campbell, Ky.; Fort Belvoir, Va.; and Camp Lejeune, N.C. NICoE officials estimate each of those clinics will see about 1,200 patients with TBI and PTSD per year. The most severe combat-related cases will still be cared for at the NICoE here. The clinics also will benefit from NICoE's advanced research practices. Service members fill out questionnaires before and after their stay, Kelly said. "We compare the differences" he added,, "and they are striking." The staff also observes service members' actions and records vital signs to show changes, he said. Relief from headaches, sleep disturbances, balance issues and vision concerns improves the quality of their lives are noted, Kelly said. Patient data is compiled and used in NICoE's research work to determine which treatments seem to help service members the most. Another measure of success in the program is when former patients visit NICoE to advise the staff of how much their lives have changed for the better since their treatment, the director said. Kelly said he sees the future of TBI research as "very specific" to characterize TBI on anatomical, physiological and emotional levels. Researchers also will look at the best forms of intervention that help to relieve symptoms and treat basic issues. "We need to know what a person's concussion looks like, compared to another's," he said. "Why do some people recover more quickly than others, and what can we do to help them?" So far, the NICoE staff knows that certain approaches produce success, such as the patients' complete immersion into the intensive care program and the interdisciplinary team approach, Kelly said. And when service members realize they have a TBI diagnosis and accompanying psychological issues that are real and treatable, they feel relieved and appreciate knowing there's something to work on, Kelly said. "They're validated by that," he added. The center's director emphasized again that his staff's ability to help patients doesn't mean they weren't getting good care before they were referred for the NICoE program. "Our successes with patients who have been through [another] system should not be seen as a reflection of inadequate care," he said. "Our job is to try something new, and that's what we've done."

Biographies: Dr. James P. Kelly  Related Sites: National Intrepid Center of Excellence  Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund  Satellite Clinics

CMC organizing 8th National Stroke Conference

Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 1:15 PM
250 delegates from all over India will be participating
Health Minister Pb MM Mittal will be the Chief Guest
Ludhiana, 25 Feb.2013:(Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria): The department of Neurology at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana is organizing the 8th National Stroke Conference of Indian Stroke Association from March 1st to 3rd in Hotel Park Plaza. Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian the Organizing Secretary mentioned that about 250 delegates from all over India will be participating in the conference. He also added that 16 International and 25 National faculty will be delivering talks on various aspects of stroke in the conference. The honourable Health and Family Welfare Minister of Government of Punjab Shri Madan Mohan Mittal will be the Chief Guest during the Inauguration of the conference on March 1st at 5 pm. Dr Abraham G Thomas Director of CMC and the Patron of the conference lauded the efforts of the department of Neurology in bringing this conference to Ludhiana.

A special session on ABC of stroke is being planned on March 1st focusing on neurology trainees, physicians and general practitioners.  Dr Yashpal Singh the joint Organising Secretary mentioned that the latest advances in stroke treatment like clot bursting therapy (thrombolysis) will be discussed in the meeting.  Sessions on newer technologies and treatments will be the highlight of March 2nd program.  On March 3rd there will be a symposium on research and ongoing clinical trials in the area of stroke. The approach to long term problems after a stroke will be dealt in the last session of the conference.

There will be two parallel programs during the conference. On March 1st there will be a three hours teaching course on “Stroke”in the CMC Hospital auditorium for the MBBS students, junior doctors and Nurses. On March 2nd and 3rd a National skills workshop is being arranged in CMC Hospital auditorium on Stroke rehabilitation. This is for students, physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists. This workshop is being organised by Dr Santosh Mathangi, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and College of Physiotherapy (Mr Dheeraj KV and Mrs Benjamin, Vice-Principals).

The registration for the conference is still open and the organising committee has subsidised the registration fee for Physicians and Indian Medical Association members. Ten credit hours will be available from the Punjab Medical Council. The details are available in the conference website:  www.isacon2013.org
National Stroke Conference in Ludhiana

बनें चिर युवा//डेढ़ साल बाद बिकने लगेगी G5 औषधि

9.02.2013, 09:33
नोवोसिबीर्स्क में विकसित औषधि के सारे प्री-क्लीनिकल टेस्ट पूरे

                        © फ़ोटो: ru.wikipedia.org

नोवोसिबीर्स्क के वैज्ञानिकों ने “संजीवनी” खोज ली है| उन्होंने एक अद्वितीय औषधि बनाई है जो मज्जा से स्टेम सेल यानी तना–कोशिकाएं बनवाती है| ये कोशिकाएं किसी भी रुग्ण अंग के पुनरुज्जीवन की क्षमता रखती हैं| सो, इस चमत्कारी औषधि की बदौलत व्यक्ति सदा युवा और स्वस्थ रह सकेगा|

स्टेम सेल से चिकित्सा का तो आजकल फैशन पूरे ज़ोरों पर है| इनसे दिल का दौरा (इन्फेर्क्शन), मस्तिष्क-आघात (ब्रेन हैमरेज) तथा कई तरह की गंभीर चोटों का इलाज करने में मदद मिल सकती है| सौंदर्य-उपचार यानी कोस्मेटोलोजी में तो इनकी सहायता से त्वचा को फिर से युवा बनाने के दावे किए जाते हैं| समस्या बस इतनी है कि इन कोशिकाओं के उपयोग की जो विधि इन दिनों प्रचलित है वह निरापद नहीं है, इस औषधि का विकास करनेवाली कंपनी के जनरल डायरेक्टर आंद्रेई अर्तामोनोव बताते हैं|

देखिए, आजकल काम कुछ इस तरह होता है: अस्थि-मज्जा से ताना-कोशिकाएं निकाली जाती हैं| फिर उन्हें विशेष द्रव्य में रखकर उनकी संख्या बढ़ाई जाती है और इसके बाद उन्हें “रोगी” की रक्त-प्रणाली में पुनः प्रवेशित किया जाता है| ध्यान देने की बात यह है कि इन कोशिकाओं का मल्टीप्लिकेशन मानव-शरीर के बाहर होता है| मानव शारीर में इन्हें डाले जाने के बाद इनका विभेदीकरण कैसे होगा यह कोई नहीं कह सकता – ये रुग्ण अंग में पहुँच कर उस अंग की कोशिकाओं का पुनर्निर्माण कर देंगी तो व्यक्ति स्वस्थ हो जाएगा, लेकिन अगर ये स्वस्थ अंग में पहुँच जाएं तो वहाँ क्या होगा? ह्रदय में पसली उग आई तो? दरअसल ऐसी कोशिकाएं मानव-शरीर के लिए “पराई” ही होती हैं|

अब नोवोसिबिर्स्क के वैज्ञानिकों ने इस समस्या का हल ढूँढ लिया है| उन्होंने G5 कोड-नाम वाली औषधि बनाई है| यह मनुष्य की अस्थि-मज्जा को नई तना-कोशिकाएं बनाने की “प्रेरणा” देती है| ये नवनिर्मित कोशिकाएं स्वयं ही विक्षत अंग को ढूँढ लेती हैं, और उसका “पुनर्निर्माण” कर देती हैं| विशेषज्ञ के शब्दों में G5 औषधि इन “मरम्मती-कोशिकाओं” को “घर” प्रदान कराती है, वे शरीर से बाहर नहीं जातीं| यह पुनरुज्जीवन औषधि है| अब तक संसार में इसका कोई समरूप नहीं है, आंद्रेई अर्तामोनोव कहते हैं:

आज के दिन में ऐसी कोई औषधि नहीं है| हमारी G5 अस्थि मज्जा को अपनी ही तना-कोशिकाएं बनाने की “प्रेरणा” देती है और ये कोशिकाएं मानव शरीर के भीतर ही रहती हैं| ज्यों-ज्यों मनुष्य की आयु बढ़ाती है, त्यों-त्यों उसके शरीर में तन-कोशिकाओं की संख्या कम होती जाती है, अतः हमारे अंगों के पुनरुज्जीवन की प्रक्रिया रुक जाती है, हम बूढ़े होने लगते हैं| अब चिकित्सा-विज्ञान में इस बात के प्रयास हो रहे हैं कि शरीर स्वयं अपने को बहाल करता जाए| 

आज तक सारी चिकित्सा लक्षणों को दूर करने वाली ही है| दर्द हो रहा है – दर्दहारी गोली दवाई ले लो| मानव शरीर में अंतर्निहित क्षमता का उपयोग करना कहीं अधिक मुश्किल काम है, लेकिन सही रास्ता यही है| इसी की बदौलत हम सब “युवा और सुखी हो पाएंगे, यह याद कर पाएंगे कि बचपन में हम कैसे थे|”

नोवोसिबीर्स्क में विकसित औषधि के प्री-क्लीनिकल टेस्ट सारे पूरे हो गए हैं| शीघ्र ही क्लीनिकल टेस्टिंग भी शुरू होगी| यह आशा की जा सकती है कि डेढ़ साल बाद G5 औषधि बिकने लगेगी|(रेडियो रूस से साभार)  
बनें चिर युवा//डेढ़ साल बाद बिकने लगेगी G5 औषधि Care, Health, Medicine, Traditional, Life, New Concept, Research,