An innovative program shows promise in helping deaf, hard of hearing children develop literacy skills

An innovative program shows promise in helping deaf, hard of hearing children develop literacy skills -

These can be some of the most powerful words in the developing the capacity of a child to read and write. For children who are deaf or hearing impaired, hearing and living in bilingual households, the "come play with me" invitation becomes even more crucial to the development of their literacy.

This is why the Family Centre USC Caruso for communication early childhood is to be creative to meet the challenges that children with hearing loss face the loss learn to listen, speak, read and to write. His innovative program - called "Come Read with Me" - is an intervention was three intensive weeks and research project funded by a grant to help develop early literacy skills in oral deaf and hard-of-hearing children from bilingual (English-Spanish). houses

Through the program, USC aims to support all those involved in the education of a child - the children, their parents and teachers of deaf people in the greater Los Angeles

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program is the creation of an interdisciplinary team of experts: Education Specialist Debra K. Schrader, Karen C. Johnson audiologist, speech therapist speech Dianne Hammes Ganguly and biostatistician Laurel Fisher. From 2013 to present, Come Read with Me over 50 children aged 4.5 to 8 years, 41 parents and caregivers from homes where Spanish is spoken by at least one parent and 16 full-time teachers and language specialists in special education programs and in private practice. The program primarily serves families and educators in Los Angeles County.

The results are promising.

Children become readers and writers
assets During the summer session, children receive daily lessons in shared reading, dialogic reading, writing and awareness of speech sounds. They learn the concepts of print and word knowledge developed through interactions with peers, parents and teachers.

Parents say their children are more engaged in reading and writing at home. After a three-week session, the children demonstrate increased the sound conversational turn in reading activities and more focused interaction during writing activities.

Parents become change agents
Parents receive 12 hours of group instruction on how to develop the reading and writing of their children at home. With this knowledge, they start to look like agents of change who can actively help their children acquire literacy skills. They share their new strategies with other parents, and many families have returned for another summer in the program.

"Parents are hungry for information and knowledge," said Johnson, who is the principal investigator of the research project and an associate professor of clinical otolaryngology at the Keck School of Medicine. "Their enthusiasm is inspiring As one mother said:" I think I understand - books are my daughter gain wisdom. '. "

The late president of Caruso USC Department of Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, John K. Niparko, MD, who has defended the program from the beginning, noted instances of deaf children who use their new literacy skills to teach others in their family to read.

teachers feel more Prepared
teachers report feeling better equipped to help the deaf and hard of hearing students in the classroom. They receive five days of professional development to give them new strategies in teaching phonological awareness, shared reading, and writing. They also benefit from a daily coaching and mentoring during the summer program.

"Teachers take it to the class and to their peers room," said Schrader. "The participants have begun to share their new knowledge with other teachers through professional development in their schools. This is an effective way to support more language and literacy."

"Come Read with Me is having a ripple effect," said Dianne Hammes Ganguly. "Children are more engaged in reading and writing activities. Parents learn new ways to help their children become better readers and writers. and teachers acquire additional skills to help parents and children during the learning process. Support all three groups is essential to the child success. "

UChicago Medicine and the attorney for health care wins NIH grant to find new ways to prevent type 1 diabetes

UChicago Medicine and the attorney for health care wins NIH grant to find new ways to prevent type 1 diabetes -

The University of Chicago Medicine and Hospital attorney / health care attorney for the children received a five-year, $ 1.8 million grant from the national Institutes of health to find new ways to delay and prevent diabetes type 1. the grant will establish the first type 1 diabetes TrialNet Clinical Center in Chicago.

TrialNet, long-term, international collaboration managed by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the NIH, is working to identify people at risk or in the early stages of type 1 diabetes -. mainly by the inclusion of family members of people who have diabetes

once identified, the researchers offer individuals the opportunity to participate in studies that introduce prevention and treatment tactics that experts believe may have an impact on disease progression. Because early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is the key to successful treatment, previous TrialNet studies have shown the effectiveness of this early intervention. The results show people at risk for type 1 diabetes who participated in TrialNet "the way Prevention Study" were more likely to be diagnosed early, which in turn leads to better outcomes for patients

"Having a TrialNet center in the Chicago area is a great opportunity for families of people with type 1 diabetes in our community," said Louis Philipson, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and pediatrics and Director University of Chicago Medicine Kovler Diabetes Center. "We are very pleased to work with our lawyer friends to reach the largest number of patients and families as possible."

By participating in TrialNet center, patients in the Chicago area will have access to advanced studies designed to prevent and treat type 1 diabetes TrialNet Chicago Center contribute to the overall screening of 15,000 to 20,000 people each year TrialNet network to achieve the research objectives.

"in people with type 1 diabetes, the importance of early diagnosis can not be overstated, "said NIDDK Director Griffin P. Rodgers, MD. "Early diagnosis means that people are less likely to develop diabetic ketoacidosis, early diagnosis of life-threatening conditions prognosis. Means as people can often control their diabetes more quickly, which can slow the loss of insulin-producing cells and can delay complications. "

downtown Chicago will join a network of 18 clinical centers TrialNet working in cooperation with over 0 locations across the US, Canada, Finland, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

"We are excited to partner with the University of Chicago for a TrialNet center," said Kanika Ghai, MD, director of the Division of Endocrinology at the Hospital of the Children's Lawyer . "This is an extraordinary opportunity to better serve children and adults in our community who are at risk for diabetes type 1. This will allow us to offer studies that evaluate new approaches to the treatment and prevention of diabetes Type 1. "

diagnostic Valley fever often overlooked by primary care physicians

diagnostic Valley fever often overlooked by primary care physicians -

For patients with pneumonia or flu symptoms during live or have visited the west or to the southwest of the United States, particularly in Arizona and central California, experts recommend infectious disease doctors suspect the valley fever, an often overlooked fungal infection. Early diagnosis allows for better management and reduces unnecessary tests and treatment, the updated guidelines of notes issued by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Each year, an estimated 150,000 persons receive the infection, called coccidioidomycosis, originally dubbed fever San Joaquin Valley, and about 0 die, note the guidelines. Valley fever is endemic in desert areas from West Texas, Arizona and northern Mexico in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California, and an area in south-central Washington State . Some areas of Central and South America are home to both fungi

The fungi that cause infection -. Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii - live in the desert floor. Fungal spores become airborne when the wind blows dust around, are easily inhaled and settle deep in the lungs, causing pneumonia, a lung infection that can range from mild to severe.

"There is an equal opportunity bug, and everyone who is exposed has the same chance of being infected," said John N. Galgiani, MD, lead author of the guidelines, professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and director of the Centre fever of the valley for excellence, Tucson. "in many patients, it is more debilitating than mononucleosis. These patients feel awful, they can not get out of bed or go to work and often they are sick for weeks or months. Many fear they have cancer or another disease and get a proper diagnosis puts a name to the disease and dispel this fear "

updates guidelines. - Written by a multidisciplinary committee headed by infectious disease specialists - are now much more oriented toward primary care clinicians who are usually the first to see and treat patients with pneumonia They can ignore the valley fever as a potential cause of the disease and prescribe. unnecessary tests (such as blood and imaging tests and biopsies) and therapy (such as antibiotics or steroids).

"valley fever is underdiagnosed in part because directives past were directed to the specialists, while most of these patients first see their primary care physicians, many are not aware how common this infection, "said Dr. Galgiani. "About a third of pneumonia cases in Arizona are caused by valley fever. Physicians should ask patients with pneumonia on their travel history and if they have recently traveled to endemic areas, and should take account of valley fever. "

Although 60 percent of people of valley fever have a mild infection with little or no symptoms, others may have fever, fatigue, cough, headache, chest pain, skin rashes and joint pain. in extreme cases, it can cause severe pneumonia, holes in the lungs (cavities), lung nodules, skin lesions and meningitis. pregnant women and people who are immunosuppressed (those with HIV who had a transplant organ or take medication for rheumatic diseases) or who have diabetes are at very high risk of complications.

50 to 80 percent of people who are infected do not require medication. Their immune system eventually rid their body of the infection and they will become immune to future infections. However, they may benefit from physical therapy and should be seen by a health care provider regularly for two years to ensure that their symptoms are worse, the guidelines say.

Those who need treatment should be treated with anti-fungal drugs such as fluconazole. The drug does not cure the infection, but removes the symptoms. The guidelines indicate that some patients with more severe disease, including Coccidioides meningitis, will stay on antifungal therapy for life.

guidelines recommend treatment with fluconazole for women suffering complications from valley fever who are in their second or third trimester of pregnancy. This is a change from previous guidelines (published by IDSA in 05), who recommended that pregnant women be treated with amphotericin B, which does not harm the fetus, but is very toxic to the mother and requires treatment intravenously three times per week. Fluconazole is not toxic to the mother, can be taken orally, although not recommended during the first quarter, appears safe during the second and third trimesters, the guidelines say. The infection itself is not harmful to the fetus.

The guidelines indicate valley fever can be diagnosed by simple blood tests called for enzyme immunoassays (EIA), which test for antibodies against the fungus. Because it can take weeks or months for an EIA to show a positive result, taking a sputum culture of mushroom is another option.

The guidelines include recommendations for primary care providers who can handle the mild and moderate cases of valley fever, once they have made the right diagnosis, Dr. Galgiani said. Patients with complications and more serious infections should be called infectious disease specialists.

Prostate cancer management varies by race

Prostate cancer management varies by race -

By Kate Bass , B.Sc.

a study published in the Journal of Urology® indicates that treatment for prostate cancer at low risk, rather than watchful waiting, is more likely to be sought by black men

the prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. There is a gland size of a walnut, located below the bladder and in front of the rectum, which produces some sperm components.

Prostate cancer is common, with more than a million diagnostic being performed per year. The incidence of prostate cancer is higher in men and cancer deaths in the African American prostate are almost 2.5 times more common in this group of men from the general population.

Although prostate cancer can grow and spread quickly, it is relatively slow growing in most cases. For this reason, it is common practice for men diagnosed with prostate cancer early not to receive treatment immediately

Instead, they are regularly checked -. watchful waiting -for signs or symptoms of aggressive cancer growth. However, some men choose to have treatment to eradicate the tumor or have prostate surgically removed despite a low risk, slow-growing prostate cancer.

The researchers analyzed the management of over 2,000 patients diagnosed with low risk prostate cancer at Kaiser Permanente Northern California between 04 and 2012. Since this is an ethnically and economically diverse population, comparisons different socio-demographic groups could be made.

Because Kaiser Permanente Northern California is a large, integrated health system covering a diverse population, it was possible to independently assess ethnic and economic influences on the choice of treatment. "

Stephen Van Den Eeden, co-principal investigator of the study.

The results showed that race / ethnicity fact influenced the decision to undergo treatment despite the 'watchful waiting is indicated clinically. Among the study population, non-Hispanic black men were more likely than white men to choose to have an independent active treatment of clinical measures.

Interestingly that among those who remained under surveillance, fewer non-Hispanic black men underwent repeat biopsy within 24 months of diagnosis compared with non-Hispanic white men.

These results are as important clinicians are increasingly reluctant to require men to undergo series re-biopsies because of complications, but black men are known to have a greater likelihood of progression of prostate cancer, which suggests that clinicians should be particularly vigilant in monitoring the black men on active surveillance. "

Scott P Kelly, co-head researcher.

Although there are differences between ethnic groups in the active treatment absorption rates in men on active surveillance, the main trigger to start active treatment was a change in clinical results showing an increased risk of disease progression, as the Gleason score and the test-specific antigen of the prostate.

Nevertheless, the findings on ethnicity highlight the importance of ensuring that the tools used in prostate cancer management are racially and culturally adapted to each patient. We must ensure that the treatment is not influenced by race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

Researchers find new ways to treat breast cancer in hormone receptor positive

Researchers find new ways to treat breast cancer in hormone receptor positive -

A leading scientist based at Keele University in North Staffordshire was awarded a grant of around £ 20,000 per research charity breast cancer Campaign to find new ways to treat breast cancer in hormone receptor positive, the most common type of the disease.

Up to 80% of breast cancers overproduce estrogen receptor (ER), and many also overproduce the progesterone receptor (PR), which drive tumor growth. drugs "anti-hormones" exist to halt the growth of these cancers by blocking the activity of the hormone receptors, but sometimes the cancer can become resistant to these drugs. New research by Professor Gwyn Williams and Dr. Mark Pickard will aim to find new ways to stop these receptors work of hormones, which could lead to new treatments for this type of breast cancer.

In the West Midlands breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with around 4,400 new cases diagnosed each year and more than 1,000 women die sadly disease on average each year

Professor Williams said :. "Cancer hormone receptor positive breast can sometimes become resistant to the drugs used to treat it. Grant that I get from the breast cancer campaign will allow me to find new ways to prevent the growth of these breast cancers, which could eventually lead to new ways to treat the disease and ultimately save lives. "
ER or PR are overproduced in cells up to 80% of breast tumors and when activated causes the cancer cells to multiply, stimulate the growth of the tumor. They do this by binding to DNA in places that have specific genetic codes, and the activation of genes that cause the cell to multiply and survive.

Professor Williams and Dr Pickard will create short pieces of DNA in the laboratory that could act as "decoys", imitating the DNA parts that normally bind ER or PR. These can then be used as drugs to block ER or PR binding to the DNA of the cancer cell of the breast, and so prevent stimulate breast cancer growth. Professor Williams and Dr Pickard will test if ER and PR bind to these fragments, and to study the effect they have on breast cancer cells grown in the laboratory.

Katherine Woods, Research Communications Manager at Cancer Campaign, said: "Research Professor Williams in this area is vital and could ultimately lead to new treatments to slow the growth of breast cancers that overproduce ER or PR, the most common form of the disease. "

" it would improve the chances of survival for thousands of patients and bring a little closer to our goal that by 2030, we identified causing various tumors to grow and progress -. This allows us to choose the best treatment for each patient "

Bio-Rad expands its product range by launching two human recombinant antigens

Bio-Rad expands its product range by launching two human recombinant antigens -

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOB), a global provider of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, announced today the release of two human recombinant antigens, expansion of the company's critical raw materials portfolio for the vitro diagnostics market. These cell cultures and recombinant antigens provide customers with Bio-Rad reliable critical assay components for use in the lungs and diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

The line of Bio-Rad Critical raw materials are intermediate goods and semi-finished products which are used to re-manufacture in standards, controls, calibrators and research on the future development of 'test.

"Bio-Rad is pleased to offer an expanded range of products to better support our customers," said Conrad Maurais, Product Manager, Bio-Rad "With the introduction of
culture cell derived SCCA-1 and HE4 antigen we allow customers the opportunity to reduce their dependence on human antigens fluids and strengthen the integrity of their supply chain for these critical raw materials. "

The new antigens include:

• HE4 antigen :. used as an aid in monitoring recurrence or progressive disease in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and endometrial

• Antigen 1 squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA-1) :. used for the detection, staging and monitoring response to therapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

The researchers milestone in the mechanisms that cause leukemia understanding

The researchers milestone in the mechanisms that cause leukemia understanding -

mutations scientists from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have found genes that lead to acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children of Type -. the most common childhood cancer worldwide

The study was conducted in children with Down syndrome - which are 20-50 times more prone to childhood leukemia than other children - and involved the analysis of the DNA sequence patients at different stages of leukemia.

The researchers found that two key genes (called RAS and JAK) can mutate to transform normal blood cells into cancer cells. However, these two genes mutate together, as it seems to exclude the other. This discovery means that we can begin to identify which of the two genes are mutated in patients and thus more effectively target their cancer at lower doses (reduced toxicity for the patient) with fewer side effects.

This discovery is an important step in understanding the biological mechanisms causing leukemia and bring scientists closer to developing a tailor individual treatment.

Currently, one in six children in the general population does not respond well to standard treatment for leukemia, and / or suffers a relapse and toxic side effects of therapy. These poor response and toxicity figures are even in children with Down syndrome.

The study was a collaboration between researchers from Blizard Institute, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore and medical schools QMUL the Universities of Geneva and Padua, and is published in the main newspaper Nature Communications .

Dean Nizetic, cellular and molecular biology professor at Queen Mary University of London, and Professor of Molecular Medicine at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore, commented: "We believe that our results are a breakthrough in understanding the underlying causes of leukemia and ultimately we hope to design a more suitable and effective treatment for this cancer, with less toxic drugs and fewer side- effects. This could benefit all children affected by the disease and possibly reduce the number of deaths related to side-effects. "

" Through our research, we know people with Down syndrome show signs of accelerated aging and a greater accumulation of DNA damage compared to the general population of similar age. However, paradoxically, they seem to be protected against the most common cancer in adulthood. Also, some people with Down syndrome appear to be protected against other diseases related to aging, such as dementia, atherosclerosis and diabetes. Therefore, the study of cells of people with Down syndrome may provide important clues in understanding the mechanisms of aging, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and a number of other common conditions. Further research is needed in this important area. "

Finding suggests that aspirin may play a role in reducing mortality from breast cancer

Finding suggests that aspirin may play a role in reducing mortality from breast cancer -

The researchers found that women who were prescribed regularly of aspirin before being diagnosed with breast cancer are less likely to have cancer that spreads to the lymph nodes than women not on aspirin prescription. These women are also less likely die of their breast cancer.

The study of Irish patients funded by the Irish Health Research Board and Irish Cancer Society and published by the American Association for Cancer Research in the Journal Cancer Research , analyzes the records from the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI), and prescription data from general medical services (GMS) pharmacy claims database.

"Our results suggest that aspirin may play a role in reducing mortality from breast cancer by preventing the spread of cancer to nearby lymph nodes," said Dr. Ian Barron, the lead author who conducted the research at Trinity College Dublin, and works in the Johns Hopkins University, USA.

"We analyzed data from 2,796 women with breast cancer stage I-III. We found that women prescribed aspirin in the years immediately before their breast cancer diagnosis were statistically significantly less likely to develop a breast cancer * positive lymph nodes than non-users. The association was stronger among women prescribed aspirin regularly and women prescribed higher doses of aspirin. We now need to establish how and why this is the case. "

The results are consistent with two other major studies. The first is an analysis of cardiovascular trials where aspirin use pre- diagnosis was associated with a statistically significant reduction in risk of developing metastases and of dying from cancer.

the second is an observation from in vivo models of breast cancer, suggesting a possible mechanism by which aspirin may reduce the risk of cancer spreading to other parts of the. body

Professor Kathleen Bennett, co-author of the Department of pharmacology and therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin said: "Our study was observational and these results do not mean that women should begin taking aspirin as a precaution aspirin can have serious side effects.. We still need to identify exactly how aspirin can prevent breast cancer from spreading to the lymph nodes; including women, or the types of breast cancer are most likely to benefit from taking aspirin; and that the optimal dose may be. . Research to help answer the following questions is funded by the Irish Cancer Society as part of its first National Cancer Center Research Collaborative, BREAST-Predict "

Dr Graham Love, Executive Director of the Research Council Irish health said: "These results have great potential to help improve our understanding of how to increase the Irish and global survival rate of breast cancer."

Researchers receive funding of $ 2 million PCORI to analyze the use of decision aids in the treatment of breast cancer

Researchers receive funding of $ 2 million PCORI to analyze the use of decision aids in the treatment of breast cancer -

A research team at 'Dartmouth Institute for health policy and clinical practice has received $ 2 million funding allocation from the research Institute of patient-centered outcomes (PCORI) to conduct a research project that could change the way that women and their doctors make decisions about breast cancer surgery. Led by Associate Professor Anne-Marie Durand, PhD, the project will compare the care that incorporates the use of two effective decisions aids-- a Grid ™ option and an option Picture Grid ™ - with the usual care received by women newly diagnosed with early breast cancer stage (stages I to IIIA).

One in eight women will develop breast cancer. The diagnosis is traumatic and life changing, and information about treatment options can be overwhelming and confusing, especially for women of lower socioeconomic status (SES) and health literacy.

"It is an extremely difficult time in everyone's life," Smith said, "But we believe that the use of new tools such as decision aids Option Grid women will be able to obtain better information, have more productive conversations with their physicians, and ultimately will be better able to choose the surgery and the treatment option that is right for them. "

The multi-site, three-year study will include 1,000 patients recruited from four major cancer centers. The researchers hope to show that women who are able to use decision aids in their care are more usefully involved (and their doctors) in creating a treatment plan for themselves, have less anxiety, less regret making, and better quality of life than women receiving usual care (which generally only includes decision support).

The research team will also determine whether the Image Grid option may reduce the communication and decision-making disparities between women of high and low SES. (Although the grid option is a one-page summary of treatment options and tradeoffs associated presented in tabular form, the Photo Grid option also includes a simple text and images.)

"women with low SES are choosing mastectomy more often than women of higher SES," said Durand. "but the goal of our research is not to lower the rate of mastectomy in women, but the decisions they make are high quality, which means that they are based on the best information available and aligned with their priorities, values ​​and wishes. We believe Grids picture option can help do this. "

On each research site, a patient's partner will work with a research assistant to recruit patients and collect and analyze data.

" Patient and other partners interested parties were and continue to be involved throughout the study, "said Durand. "Their contribution will also be essential when thinking about a secondary objective of our project is to develop strategies that promote the dissemination and sustainable use of decision aids."

Scientists found a promising new method for detecting and treating the recurrence of ovarian cancer

Scientists found a promising new method for detecting and treating the recurrence of ovarian cancer -

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine have found a new way promising to monitor and treat ovarian cancer recurrence - a difficult disease to detect that claims many lives. A new study from George Vasmatzis, Ph.D., of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the Mayo Clinic, include liquid biopsies from blood tests and DNA sequencing can detect cancer return of ovary long before a tumor reappears. This could lead to early intervention and more effective treatment, individualized. Dr Vasmatzis's research on the "Quantification of Somatic chromosome rearrangements in Circulating free DNA Cell-De ovarian cancer" is published in the July 20 Scientific Reports .

"With liquid biopsies, we should not expect that the growth of the tumor to obtain a DNA sample," explains Dr. Vasmatzis. "This important discovery makes it possible for we detect disease recurrence earlier than other diagnostic methods. We can repeat the liquid biopsies to monitor the progression of cancer. This gives hope for a better treatment plan over time. "

The study was performed on 10 patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Blood was drawn before and after . surgery investigators compared the DNA of liquid blood biopsies DNA tissue samples of the tumor, using mate-pair sequencing. - A exome sequencing all inexpensive that can reveal genetic changes that contribute to tumor growth

"in this study, blood taken prior to and after surgery, and surgical tissue was used to identify DNA fragments with abnormal junctions that can not be seen in the DNA tumor of this patient, "says Dr. Vasmatzis." the next-generation sequencing companion pair was used to identify specific DNA changes in the tumor to create an individualized follow-up group for a liquid biopsy. This allows us to tailor treatment for each patient rather than using a standard treatment may not work for everyone. "

When post-surgery DNA matched that of the tumor, patients were later found to have had a recurrence of ovarian cancer. However, when the post-operative DNA did not match the DNA of the tumor, patients were found to be in remission.