According to a story recently published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, a new study has shown that antidepressants, often prescribed to victims of traumatic brain injuries to cope with the emotional fallout of their trauma, also help to renew brain cells.
Traumatic Brain Injury Victims Getting More Out of Their Scripts
The study gave imipramine, a commonly prescribed antidepressant, to injured lab mice. Researcher, Dr. Jason Huang, associate professor of neurosurgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center and chief of neurosurgery at Highland Hospital in New York, found that the mice treated with imipramine showed 70% more brain cell growth than the mice that were not treated with the drug. In addition to cell growth, the treated mice also displayed, through behavioral testing, improved memory skills.
Huang commented on the results of the study:
“What we propose in this study is that if you give [the drugs] right after the injury, in addition to the other treatments the patient is getting, we think additionally it could improve their cognitive function.”
The cell growth takes place in the section of the brain called the hippocampus – the area that controls memory. This explains the memory improvements seen in the mice treated with imipramine. While the drug stimulated much cell growth and improved cognitive functioning, it did nothing in the way of mobility or motor functions. So at this point, it is clear that antidepressants may revive a brain injury victim’s wits, but not necessarily their previous physicality.
Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia
Victims of traumatic brain injuries face life long complications – from cognitive set backs to physical limitations. TBI can change lives; not only of it’s victims, but also that victim’s family and friends. To treat and care for someone dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury can be difficult and costly. Few people are prepared to make the financial and physical commitment to providing the kind of care that is necessary to sustain a good quality of life. And unfortunately, TBI is often brought about by the negligence of someone else.
If your loved one recently suffered a traumatic brain injury and you believe another party is responsible, you probably have a list of questions regarding your legal rights. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Psychosocial problems are not a definite side effect of birth defects and generally, when children have their cleft lip operated upon soon after birth they will have a strong recovery and a healthy social life. The risk in adolescents is far greater when they suffer from birth defects and this may lead to self-esteem, social, and behavioral issues. As children grow older, dealing with a cleft lip may lead to issues relating to self concept, relationships with their peers, and worries with their appearance. During the preschool years, ages three through five, children who have a cleft lip or cleft palate tend to be on par with peers without any oral malformations with regards to self-concept. As children grow older however, they may feel increased pressure and face more social issues. As children have increased interaction with other kids, children who have clefts tend to have more dissatisfaction with relationships with peers and have an increased level of social anxiety. With age, children will generally experience increased social anxiety and pressures with regards to their cleft. These visible deformities may yield a stigma and it is best to have birth defects treated as soon as possible in order to limit the social issues children face as they age.
Those who suffer from migraines understand exactly how debilitating they can be. Headaches can be extremely draining, especially when people are constantly awaiting their arrival. It is not uncommon for people to constantly think about when the next migraine will strike and how it will hinder their lifestyle. It is also extremely inconvenient to be forced to change plans at a moments notice . Therefore, it may be in the best interest of those who suffer from migraines to lay out certain contingency plans. 
As New Jersey and Pennsylvania 
The Avista Healthcare nursing home, located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey was routinely inspected twice between December 2008 and November 2010. During this time period, 10 separate deficiencies were cited. The nursing home was cited for failing to properly procure and serve food in a sanitary manner. As we have often highlighted in our previous posts, proper nutrition is imperative for good health and bedsore prevention in nursing home patients. 
It is much easier to prevent bed sores and pressure ulcers from forming than it is to treat them once they occur. Therefore, it is important for nursing homes and caregivers to be vigilant in their care. One important strategy as this 
Both the protection and the monitoring of the patient’s skin is imperative to prevent pressure sores from forming, and to identify their stages early before they have a chance to worsen. One of the important steps nursing homes must be taking is the proper bathing of the skin. Only mild soap and warm water should be used, and he skin should only be gently patted dry. Harsh cleansers are not necessary, nor is harsh rubbing with towels. Talcum Powder should be used on skin that is more likely to retain moisture, and dry skin should be properly moisturized. One of the most important things nursing homes must do is to properly inspect the skin of patients that are most susceptible to acquiring bed sores. These are the patients that are bed ridden or wheel chair bound. 
According to Francis Dorrity, the Ordonez’s attorney, Emily was admitted to the Bayonne Medical Center at 1:30 am on August 15, 2005 with the beginning pains of labor. All tests showed a healthy baby. But at 9:32am, the machine monitoring the baby’s heart rate showed a rapid drop from 140 beats per minute to a dangerous 60 beats per minute. 
Tiffany Busone and her mother sued the Bellevue Maternity Hospital (now known as the Bellevue Women’s Center) for negligently delivering Tiffany on July 15th, 1984. Tiffany was deprived of oxygen for nearly 15 minutes while doctors failed to properly resuscitate her. She now suffers permanent brain damage because of it. 
The state of Texas has recently awarded Seton Hospitals with the first annual “Quality Award” for their extremely successful push to reduce