Child with CP and Family Facing Deportation Because of Child's Burden on Medical/Educational System - One Victory, for now...

MONTREAL - A family from France who were told they could not remain in Canada because their 8-year-old handicapped daughter would be an “excessive burden” on social services has won a reprieve after the intervention of Quebec Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil.

David Barlagne’s family will be allowed to stay in Montreal, after an agreement between the federal and provincial immigration departments, Weil’s spokesperson Renaud Dugas said Wednesday.

“We had discussions with (Ottawa) and found a solution that will allow the family to stay,” Dugas said.

The family were facing expulsion from Canada in July after Canadian immigration officials rejected Barlagne’s application for permanent residency status, saying his daughter, Rachel, was deemed “medically inadmissible” because she has cerebral palsy.

Her “excessive burden” on social services would have amounted to $5,259 a year in special educational costs.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Barlagne+family+allowed+stay+Canada/4647341/story.html

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Barlagne+family+allowed+stay+Canada/4647341/story.html#ixzz1KMva94o8

Having Both Autism and Epilepsy Linked to Raised Death Rates

Study found nearly 40% of brain tissue donors with autism also had epilepsy

FRIDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- People with both autism and epilepsy have a much higher death rate than those with autism alone, a new study finds.

Researchers examined brain tissue donated to the Autism Speaks Autism Tissue Program, and found that 39 percent of the donors with autism also had epilepsy, which is significantly higher than the estimated rate of epilepsy among the general autism population.

The study authors also examined data from the California State Department of Developmental Services, and found that people with both autism and epilepsy have an 800 percent higher death rate than those with autism alone.

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/651985.html

Mortality in Individuals With Autism, With and Without Epilepsy

Previous studies show higher mortality rates among individuals with autism than the general population. Comorbidity with epilepsy is an assumed, often ill-defined factor in the increased mortality rates of individuals with autism. Data from the Autism Tissue Program, a tissue donation program established to support biomedical research on autism, show that approximately one-third of its brain donors with autism also had epilepsy. Analysis of new data from the California State Department of Developmental Services is consistent with past reports showing that there is a higher than expected rate of mortality in individuals with autism and epilepsy than autism alone. Accurate, complete and accessible records on cause of death are necessary not just for brain research, but also for understanding risk factors that contribute to early death in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Various national health care and state developmental disability agency initiatives to reduce risk of mortality are described.

Jane Pickett, PhD jane.pickett@autismspeaks.org

1. Autism Tissue Program; Autism Speaks, Director, Brain Resources and Data, San Diego, California

http://jcn.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/04/04/0883073811402203.abstract

Levetiracetam for Treatment of Neonatal Seizures

Abstract

Neonatal seizures are often refractory to treatment with initial antiseizure medications. Consequently, clinicians turn to alternatives such as levetiracetam, despite the lack of published data regarding its safety, tolerability, or efficacy in the neonatal population. We report a retrospectively identified cohort of 23 neonates with electroencephalographically confirmed seizures who received levetiracetam. Levetiracetam was considered effective if administration was associated with a greater than 50% seizure reduction within 24 hours. Levetiracetam was initiated at a mean conceptional age of 41 weeks. The mean initial dose was 16 ± 6 mg/kg and the mean maximum dose was 45 ± 19 mg/kg/day. No respiratory or cardiovascular adverse effects were reported or detected. Levetiracetam was associated with a greater than 50% seizure reduction in 35% (8 of 23), including seizure termination in 7. Further study is warranted to determine optimal levetiracetam dosing in neonates and to compare efficacy with other antiseizure medications.

Journal of Child Neurology

http://jcn.sagepub.com/content/26/4/465.abstract

Predictors of Outcome in Term Infants With Neonatal Seizures Subsequent to Intrapartum Asphyxia

Neonates with distress, EEG, and neurology evaluations in infants...from the Journal of Child Neurology

The objective of this study was to define potential clinical prognostic factors for term infants with neonatal seizures subsequent to intrapartum asphyxia. The authors completed a retrospective analysis of 62 term infants with clinical neonatal seizures subsequent to intrapartum asphyxia. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the independent prognostic indicators of an adverse outcome. A total of 23 (37%) infants had a normal outcome, 34 (55%) survived with 1 or more neurodevelopmental impairments (23 cerebral palsy, 28 global developmental delay, 15 epilepsy, with 18 combination of two, and 9 all three), and 5 (8%) died. Six variables were associated with an adverse outcome, but only the presence of meconium aspiration, a low (≤ 3) 1-minute Apgar score, seizure type other than focal clonic, and moderately severely abnormal electroencephalography (EEG) background findings were independently associated with an adverse outcome. Signs of acute distress are predictors of adverse outcome, alongside seizure semiology and moderate to severe EEG background abnormalities.

http://jcn.sagepub.com/content/26/4/453.abstract

Announcement from the Food & Drug Administration: Topamax (topiramate): Recall

Announcement from the Food & Drug Administration: Topamax (topiramate): Recall - Musty Odor

ISSUE: Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is recalling two lots of Topamax (topiramate) 100mg Tablets. The recall stems from four consumer reports of an uncharacteristic odor thought to be caused by trace amounts of TBA (2,4,6 tribromoanisole). While not considered to be toxic, TBA can generate an offensive odor and a small number of patients have reported temporary gastrointestinal symptoms. There have been no reported serious adverse events caused by the presence of TBA in Topamax.

BACKGROUND: Topamax is indicated as initial monotherapy in patients 10 years of age and older with partial onset or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures; as adjunctive therapy for adults and pediatric patients ages 2 − 16 years with partial onset seizures, or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and in patients 2 years of age and older with seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; and for adults for the prophylaxis of migraine headache.

RECOMMENDATION: Patients taking Topamax 100mg Tablets who experience an uncharacteristic odor associated with their medication should return the tablets to their pharmacist, and contact their healthcare professional if they have questions.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

• Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
• Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

Read the MedWatch safety alert, including a link to the Press Release, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm251556.htm

Autism Now Series: A Viewer's Guide

Series starts tonight....

Autism Now Series: A Viewer's Guide

BY: MAUREEN HOCH

The PBS NewsHour is launching a special series of reports, both on-air and online, about a puzzling disorder that touches many lives across the U.S.: Autism Now will take a unique -- and uniquely personal -- look at how the condition impacts families, schools and communities....

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/04/viewers-guide-autism-today.html

First episode here.....

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/jan-june11/autism_04-18.html

"Frankly, I have a personal motive in telling it, because it's about my grandson Nick, who is 6 and lives in Cambridge, Mass." - Robert McNeil

Curr Opin Pediatr. 2006 Feb;18(1):26-9.

Congenital muscular torticollis: current concepts and review of treatment.

Do TT.

Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. twee.do@cchmc.org

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to better understand the spectrum of disease in torticollis, which is the third most common pediatric orthopaedic diagnosis in childhood. Besides the benign muscular tightness of the sternocleidomastoid muscle leading to the classic head position, the differential diagnosis of the wry neck include sequelae to inflammatory, ocular, neurologic or orthopedic diseases. Patients present with a stiff and tilted neck, and therefore require a thorough and systematic work-up, including a complete physical and neurologic examination and cervical spine radiographs.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent findings show that magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and neck is no longer considered cost-effective, or necessary, in congenital muscular torticollis. Observation and physical therapy, with or without bracing, is usually an effective treatment in most cases, especially if instituted within the first year of life. Botox has recently been shown to be an effective intermediate method of treatment for more resistant cases of congenital muscular torticollis. In those presenting after the age of 1 year, there is an increased rate of sternocleidomastoid muscle lengthening. The lengthening may improve the range of motion, but not necessarily the plagiocephaly, facial asymmetry, or cranial molding.

SUMMARY: It is important to differentiate muscular from nonmuscular torticollis. Congenital muscular torticollis is benign; missing a case of nonmuscular torticollis could be potentially life threatening.