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Study identifies factors correlated with cerebral palsy
October 04, 2006
Several factors, including maternal infection during pregnancy, very preterm birth, and certain findings on brain MRI scans were correlated with cerebral palsy, according to a study in the October 4 issue of JAMA. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings have been reported for specific clinical cerebral palsy (CP) subgroups or lesion types but not in a large population of children with all CP subtypes. Additional information about the causes of CP could help identify preventive strategies, according to background information in the article.
Martin Bax, D.M., F.R.C.P.C.H., of Imperial College London and Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, and colleagues examined the correlates of CP in a population sample and compared clinical findings with information available from MRI brain scans. The study included 585 children with CP who were born between 1996 and 1999; 431 children were clinically assessed and 351 had a brain MRI scan at 18 months of age or later. The research was conducted at eight European study centers (North West London and North East London, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Lisbon, Portugal; Dublin, Ireland; Stockholm, Sweden; Tübingen, Germany; and Helsinki, Finland).
The researchers found that 39.5 percent (158 of 400) of the mothers reported an infection during the pregnancy, including 19.2 percent who reported a urinary tract infection and 15.5 percent who reported taking antibiotics during the pregnancy. Fifty-one children (12 percent) were known to be from a multiple pregnancy, with 48 from a twin pregnancy and 3 from a triplet pregnancy. This compares with a population rate of multiple pregnancy of about 1.5 percent. In addition, 235 children (54 percent) were born at term, whereas 47 children (10.9 percent) were very preterm (born less than 28 weeks gestation), 69 (16 percent) were born between 28 and 31 weeks, and 79 (18.3 percent) were born between 32 and 36 weeks gestation. Emergency cesarean deliveries were performed in 32.3 percent of births.
Among children with clinical evaluation, 351 (81.4 percent) had a brain MRI scan assessed for the study. The scans showed that white-matter damage of immaturity (brain areas affected due to not being fully developed) was the most common finding (42.5 percent). Only 11.7 percent of these children had normal MRI findings. There were good correlations between the MRI and clinical findings.
"Not only do MRI scans help reveal the pathologic basis of the condition but, also, the findings have strong correlations with clinical findings. This may be useful in helping parents, clinicians, and others involved in the care of children with CP to understand the nature of the children's condition and to predict their needs in the future. Therefore, all children with CP should have an MRI scan," the authors write.
"We think it is not unreasonable to assume that with increased awareness of possible preventive measures, over the next decade the rate of CP could be reduced substantially, thus reducing the burden on families and saving tremendous sums of money for health services," the researchers conclude.
JAMA and Archives Journals
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Related Cerebral Palsy Current Events and Cerebral Palsy News Articles Cerebral Palsy Current Events and Cerebral Palsy News RSS Brain-damaged children often have cold feet Many wheelchair-using children with neurological disorders have much colder hands and feet than other children, and most receive no special help even though they have had these problems for a long time, is revealed in at thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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New clue into how brain stem cells develop into cells which repair damaged tissue The joint research, funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the UK MS Society as well as the National Institutes of Health and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, was conducted by scientists at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and University of Cambridge and was published today (01 July) in the journal Genes and Development.
MS study offers theory for why repair of brain's wiring fails Scientists have uncovered new evidence suggesting that damage to nerve cells in people with multiple sclerosis accumulates because the body's natural mechanism for repair of the nerve coating called "myelin" stalls out.
Debate on administration of magnesium sulfate to pregnant women to prevent cerebral palsy in preterm infants Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most prevalent chronic childhood motor disability with an estimated lifetime cost of nearly $1 million per individual.
MIT robotic therapy holds promise for cerebral palsy Over the past few years, MIT engineers have successfully tested robotic devices to help stroke patients learn to control their arms and legs. Now, they're building on that work to help children with cerebral palsy. More Cerebral Palsy Current Events and Cerebral Palsy News Articles
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Teaching Motor Skills to Children With Cerebral Palsy And Similar Movement Disorders: A Guide for Parents And Professionals
by Sieglinde Martin (Author)
(2007 Independent Publisher Award Bronze Medalist, Health/Medicine/Nutrition category) All children with cerebral palsy and other conditions that result in gross motor delays need help and reinforcement to learn basic motor skills, usually with assistance from a physical therapist. Because the degree of developmental delay varies greatly from child to child, a thorough motor evaluation is an important step before establishing a specific therapy plan. This new guide, written by an experienced physical therapist, provides parents with a complete understanding of how the physical characteristics of cerebral palsy and similar conditions--muscle tightness and weakness, increased or decreased flexibility, abnormal reflexes, impaired sensory perception--affect a child's ability to sit,...
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Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide for Caregiving (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)
by Freeman Miller MD (Author), Steven J. Bachrach MD (Author)
When a child has a health problem, parents want answers. But when a child has cerebral palsy, the answers don't come quickly. A diagnosis of this complex group of chronic conditions affecting movement and coordination is difficult to make and is typically delayed until the child is eighteen months old. Although the condition may be mild or severe, even general predictions about long-term prognosis seldom come before the child's second birthday. Written by a team of experts associated with the Cerebral Palsy Program at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, this authoritative resource provides parents and families with vital information that can help them cope with uncertainty. Thoroughly updated and revised to incorporate the latest medical advances, the second edition is a...
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Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Parents' Guide
by Elaine Geralis (Editor)
A revised and updated edition of this classic primer for parents provides a complete spectrum of information and compassionate advice about cerebral palsy and its effect on their child's development and education. The second edition, written by the same team of medical specialists, therapists, educators, and parents, covers these important areas: Diagnosis, Medical Issues, Family Life, Legal Rights, Early Intervention, Coping, Therapies, Treatment, Development, Advocacy, Special Education, Daily Care. New to this edition is information on the latest treatments for seizures; medications for muscle spasticity and drooling; treatments for gastroesophageal reflux; communication devices and toys; advice on dealing with insurance companies; inclusion during preschool years and...
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Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Manual for Therapists, Parents and Community Workers (Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Manual for Therapists, Parents,) ... Palsy: A Manual for Therapists, Parents,)
by Archie Hinchcliffe (Author)
This book is a practical guide to the effective treatment of cerebral palsy in children. It provides a set of principles by which to observe and analyze individual patients' problems and then plan treatment. With the help of this book, non-specialists working with children with cerebral palsy can make decisions and choose the appropriate therapeutic activities for each child. It includes examples of how to apply these principles to real-life situations, using easy-to-follow descriptions and illustrations. New to this revised edition is a chapter on sensory integration problems with children with cerebral palsy, which looks at ways of evaluating and then dealing with these problems. The author also integrates theory with practical skills more closely.
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The Heart's Alphabet: Daring to Live with Cerebral Palsy
by James Grimm (Author)
Having never uttered a word in his life, 40-year-old Jim Grimm profoundly and joyfully touches the lives of all who come to know him. Born with cerebral palsy and unable to communicate verbally or move of his own volition, Jim has turned what by all accounts is a severely isolating lifelong disability into a gift for connecting deeply with others. The Heart's Alphabet is Jim's self-told story, painstakingly spelled out, letter by letter, with the assistance of an interpreter. It is a tale of personal perseverance, a tribute to loving families, and -- most of all -- a testament to the possibilities that lie within each of us.
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Nathan's Wish: A Story About Cerebral Palsy
by Laurie Lears (Author), Stacey Schuett (Illustrator)
Nathan lives next door to Miss Sandy, a raptor rehabilitator. She’s very busy taking care of injured birds of prey, like owls and hawks. Nathan wishes he could help Miss Sandy with some of her chores, but he is confined to his wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. Then Fire, an owl with a broken wing, comes to Miss Sandy. Fire is desperate to fly and Nathan can’t wait for Fire to get her wish. But on the day Fire tries to fly, she cannot do it. Miss Sandy says the owl’s wing will never be strong enough. The light goes out in Fire’s eyes and she stops eating. Nathan desperately searches for a way to help Fire, not realizing that what he finds will help transform his life as well.
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Physical Therapy of Cerebral Palsy
by Freeman Miller (Editor)
This book is a derivative of Dr. Miller’s well-regarded Cerebral Palsy and focuses on rehabilitation techniques. The book discusses the theory and techniques used by physical and occupational therapists, and also provides suggestions for implementing an Individual Education Plan. Tables and algorithms are included to help in the decision-making process for determining what treatment would be most beneficial. Chapters in section one deal with fundamental aspects of cerebral palsy management, from understanding motor impairment, to evaluating equipment use, to navigating the relationship with the families of patients. In section two, physical therapists cover specific rehabilitation techniques, including neurodevelopment therapy, hippotherapy, and assistive devices. On the accompanying...
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Olympian Labs Magnesium Citrate, .5lbs Glass (Pack of 2)
by Olympian Labs
Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in soft tissues and is a vital catalyst in enzyme activity, especially the activity of those enzymes involved in energy production. Magnesium functions in the conversion of carbohydrates, protein, and fats to energy. It also plays a role in the synthesis of the genetic material within each cell and removal of excess toxic substances. Poor magnesium intake affects all tissues, especially tissues of the heart, nerves and kidneys. Deficiencies of this mineral may interfere with the transmission of nerve and muscle impulses, causing irritability and nervousness.
Warning Signals: Check with your doctor before you take any dietary supplement, including vitamins and minerals. If your doctor starts you on a supplement, watch for warning...
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ABC News 20/20 A Moving Journey
ABC News correspondent Bob Brown profiles the remarkable Bill Porter of Portland, Oregon. Born with cerebral palsy, Porter nonetheless became a door-to-door salesman in Portland, struggling up to 10 miles a day on foot while selling household products for the Watkins Company. Friendly and persistent, in time Porter became the top grossing Watkins salesman in the United States. His story was told in the 2002 TNT cable movie Door To Door, with actor William H. Macy as Porter and Kyra Sedgwick as Porter's friend and assistant, Shelly Brady.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
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My Perfect Son Has Cerebral Palsy: A Mother's Guide of Helpful Hints
by Marie A. Kennedy (Author)
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