CIGNA Offers Free Nine-Month Autism Education Series Starting In September
Starting in September, CIGNA will offer a series of free monthly telephone seminars to help people better understand the physical, mental, and emotional challenges in children who may display the symptoms of developmental disorders like autism and Asperger syndrome. These one-hour seminars are open to any parent or caregiver who is interested in learning more about autism and autism spectrum disorders. Registration isn't required and people can choose to listen to the entire series or any individual session that interests them...

Value Of Oxygen Therapy In End-Of-Life Care Challenged By Study
Millions of patients with advanced disease in palliative care settings receive oxygen therapy to help them breathe more easily. But a new study from Duke University Medical Center says roughly half of them don't benefit from the intervention, and among those who do benefit, it doesn't make a bit of difference whether they get pure oxygen or just plain old room air - both offer equal benefit. "Offering oxygen when patients begin experiencing shortness of breath has become standard care in many places, but the practice is not based on rigorous scientific investigation," says Dr...

U.S. Neurologists Agree On Protocols For Treatment Of Infantile Spasms
Researchers from across the U.S., as part of the Infantile Spasms Working Group (ISWG), established guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of infantile spasms (IS). The goal of the ISWG is to improve patient outcomes by creating protocols that educate pediatricians on early diagnosis and treatment options. Full details of this study appear online in Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy. Infantile spasms-known also as West syndrome and named after Dr...