Blog Archive

Can Olfactory Ensheathing Cells (OECs) Be Used for Spinal Cord Injuries? If So, What Are Implications for Spinal Cord Accident Victims?

A new research paper by Jenny A.K. Ekberg and James A. St. John from Australia offers hope to those paralyzed due to spinal cord injuries. Olfactory Ensheathing Cells for Spinal Cord Repair: Crucial Differences Between Subpopulations of the Glia, published on October 7, 2015, in the online journal, Neural Regeneration Research, analyzes the possibility of transplanting olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) into the spinal cord injury site as a way to restore sensation and movement. This complex theory holds promise for those paralyzed in accidents. What Are OECs and How Can They Spinal Cord Injuries? Per the researchers, “the olfactory nervous …

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Great Results from Study on Novel Surgery for Spinal Cord Injuries

Imagine the joy of being able to grasp a pen, feed yourself or even drive a car after years of being a quadriplegic. All nine patients who participated in a recent study regained some use of their lower arms and hands after undergoing an innovative surgical technique. Doctors connected their uninjured nerves in their upper arms with damaged nerves in their lower arms. The surprisingly positive results of this intervention offer hope to others who have suffered similar injuries. The study, Nerve Transfers to Restore Upper Extremity Function in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: Update and Preliminary Outcomes, took place at Washington University …

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Cooling Someone to Reduce Severity of Brain Injury Does Not Work, Says New Research

Every year, two million people around the world experience traumatic brain injuries (TBI); fifty thousand of these victims succumb to their injuries and die. Common causes of TBIs include road accidents involving cars, trucks or motorcycles; serious falls; sports and playground accidents; and assault. Given the size and scale of this health problem, researchers across the globe have been investigating diverse treatment ideas. One common method used by caregivers in Europe and North America involves cooling the body temperature of head injury patients to between two and five degrees below normal. Doctors give patients ice cold IV drips and cover …

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The Surprising Relationship Between Childhood Traumatic Brain Injuries and Alcohol Abuse

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) have long been associated with alcohol consumption. In fact, research suggests that between 33 and 50 percent of all concussion victims were intoxicated at the time of their injury. Zachary M. Weil, Ph.D., assistant professor of neuroscience at Ohio State University, wanted to understand whether people who suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries as children were more likely to become heavy alcohol drinkers as adults, leading them to be involved in vehicular accidents. He recently led a study using mice to examine his hypothesis and published some fascinating results. Weil and four co-authors concluded that “In females, childhood …

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Train Derailment: Do I Need an Attorney?

If you are involved in a train derailment and are injured, we advise you to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The attorney can investigate the matter to determine if the derailment, and therefore your injuries, or loved one’s death, are the result of another’s improper conduct, or lack thereof. If you or a loved one have been injured or killed as a result of a train derailment, call Roberts Accident Law, LLC 720-515-7058. Train accident statistics – http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/default.aspx