Brain Injury Law Blog : Head Injury : Coma : Personal Injury : Las Vegas Nevada Lawyer & Attorney Tim Titolo

A new 5 year study is underway to determine how to recognize and treat post traumatic brain stress disorder.

Military and civilian researchers from across Texas will be involved in a five-year study of the best way to detect and treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

The $33 million project will be led by the University of Texas Health Science Center and open to soldiers serving or being treated at Texas military installations, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Few studies have been conducted that look for the best way to treat veterans and active duty personnel, said Alan Peterson, a retired U.S. Air Force psychologist and health science center professor.

The study will evaluate current forms of the standard treatment and medications. In addition, it will include neuro-imaging to observe changes in brain and genetic studies to search for genes that may place some people at greater risk for the disorder.

Read more from the United Press International.

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Nationwide Affiliate Teleconference

Thank you to everyone who participated in the March 18, 2008 teleconference. Susan Connors highlighted BIAA's goals and accomplishments for 2007, and reviewed the priorities for 2008. Affiliates shared new information, resources and program ideas. Minutes from the teleconference are available at: http://www.brain-injury.org/affiliation.htm. Upcoming nationwide teleconferences will be announced in the Flash.

BIAA Accomplishments for 2007 now available

BIAA 2007 goals and accomplishments are available at http://: http://www.brain-injury.org/affiliation.htm
To receive printed brochures of the accomplishments please send an email to cfeller@biausa.org.

Current BIAA Sign -on Letters

BIAA sign on letters are posted to the STAR site at http://www.brain-injury.org/advocacy.htm on weekly basis. Please remember to check the site for weekly updates.

Newman's Own Award

The purpose of the Newman's Own Awards is to recognize and reward volunteer and/or non-profit organizations that improve the quality of life for active duty, Reserve, and Guard military families. Eligible programs can support veterans as part of the proposed benefit, but the focus must be on active duty, Reserve, and Guard.

Sponsored by three organizations (Fisher House Foundation, Newman's Own, and Military Times Media Group), a total of $75,000 is available for innovative plans to improve the quality of life for military families, up to a maximum of $15,000 each.
The proposal must be postmarked faxed or email by May 2, 2008. For more information, contact the Fisher House Foundation:

Telephone: 1-888-294-8560
Email: info@fisherhouse.org
Website: http://www.fisherhouse.org/programs/newmans.shtml

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I came across this brief explanantion of some of the topics I will be presenting with Dr. Joseph Wu of University of California, Irvine, in next week's Brain Injury Association of America Conference in Las Vegas.  Here CT, MRI,fMRI, Spect and PET are discussed.  These diagnostics show us the structure and metabolism of the brain.  EEG (not discussed below) reveals electrical activity of the brain.

Dr. Wu is the Director of the Brain Imaging Center and will be discussing advances in Positron Emission Tomography technology and use in brain injury detection.  This information was derived from Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2007:

Brain Imaging

Several commonly used diagnostic methods give images of the brain without invading the skull. Some portray anatomy—that is, the structure of the brain—whereas others measure brain function. Two or more methods may be used to complement each other, together providing a more complete picture than would be possible by one method alone.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), introduced in the early 1980s, beams high-frequency radio waves into the brain in a highly magnetized field that causes the protons that form the nuclei of hydrogen atoms in the brain to reemit the radio waves. The reemitted radio waves are analyzed by computer to create thin cross-sectional images of the brain. MRI provides the most detailed images of the brain and is safer than imaging methods that use X rays. However, MRI is a lengthy process and also cannot be used with people who have pacemakers or metal implants, both of which are adversely affected by the magnetic field.

Computed tomography (CT), also known as CT scans, developed in the early 1970s. This imaging method X-rays the brain from many different angles, feeding the information into a computer that produces a series of cross-sectional images. CT is particularly useful for diagnosing blood clots and brain tumors. It is a much quicker process than magnetic resonance imaging and is therefore advantageous in certain situations—for example, with people who are extremely ill.

Changes in brain function due to brain disorders can be visualized in several ways. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures the concentration of specific chemical compounds in the brain that may change during specific behaviors. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) maps changes in oxygen concentration that correspond to nerve cell activity.

Positron emission tomography (PET), developed in the mid-1970s, uses computed tomography to visualize radioactive tracers (see Isotopic Tracer), radioactive substances introduced into the brain intravenously or by inhalation. PET can measure such brain functions as cerebral metabolism, blood flow and volume, oxygen use, and the formation of neurotransmitters. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), developed in the 1950s and 1960s, uses radioactive tracers to visualize the circulation and volume of blood in the brain.

Brain-imaging studies have provided new insights into sensory, motor, language, and memory processes, as well as brain disorders such as epilepsy; cerebrovascular disease; Alzheimer's, Parkinson, and Huntington's diseases (see Chorea); and various mental disorders, such as schizophrenia.

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This information was derived from Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2007:

Brain Imaging

Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), introduced in the early 1980s, beams high-frequency radio waves into the brain in a highly magnetized field that causes the protons that form the nuclei of hydrogen atoms in the brain to reemit the radio waves. The reemitted radio waves are analyzed by computer to create thin cross-sectional images of the brain. MRI provides the most detailed images of the brain and is safer than imaging methods that use X rays. However, MRI is a lengthy process and also cannot be used with people who have pacemakers or metal implants, both of which are adversely affected by the magnetic field.

Computed Tomography or CT

Computed tomography, also known as CT scans, developed in the early 1970s. This imaging method X-rays the brain from many different angles, feeding the information into a computer that produces a series of cross-sectional images. CT is particularly useful for diagnosing blood clots and brain tumors. It is a much quicker process than magnetic resonance imaging and is therefore advantageous in certain situations—for example, with people who are extremely ill.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of fMRI

Changes in brain function due to brain disorders can be visualized in several ways. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures the concentration of specific chemical compounds in the brain that may change during specific behaviors. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) maps changes in oxygen concentration that correspond to nerve cell activity.

Positron Emission Tomography or PET

Positron emission tomography (PET), developed in the mid-1970s, uses computed tomography to visualize radioactive tracers (see Isotopic Tracer), radioactive substances introduced into the brain intravenously or by inhalation. PET can measure such brain functions as cerebral metabolism, blood flow and volume, oxygen use, and the formation of neurotransmitters. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), developed in the 1950s and 1960s, uses radioactive tracers to visualize the circulation and volume of blood in the brain.

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Why is it that when a group of soldiers share a horrific battle experience, some are able to work through it and get on with their lives while others suffer the persistent anxiety, emotional numbness and bomb-blasted nightmares of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

The answer, researchers have long believed, is that an individual's response to trauma — whether in battle, or as result of a natural disaster, a violent crime or some other horror — depends not only on the intensity of that trauma but also on a complex interplay of past experiences and genetic factors. A new paper, published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, provides remarkable support for this explanation and identifies a specific gene that influences susceptibility to PTSD.

Read the whole Time Article by clicking here http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1723204,00.html?xid=rss-health

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A boater who was killed when a ray jumped out of the water in the Florida Keys and hit her face died of skull fractures and brain injuries, not from the animal's poisonous barb, a medical examiner said Friday.

Judy Kay Zagorski, 57, a community leader around her hometown of Pigeon, Mich., was in the front of a boat going 25 mph on Thursday when a 75-pound spotted eagle ray leapt from the water and hit her in a freak collision.

Monroe County's medical examiner, Dr. Michael Hunter, determined that the cause of death was "blunt force" head injury and that the collision with the ray killed her off Marathon, about 50 miles northeast of Key West.

Hunter's report noted she suffered "multiple skull fractures and direct brain injury resulting in sudden death," said Jorge Pino, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

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Archeologists recently unearthed remains in Greece that appear to be evidence of brain surgery on a woman who died 1800 ago!

A bone expert who studied the finds said the skeleton belonged to a woman up to 25 years old who had suffered a severe blow to the crown of her head, Graikos said. The operation was apparently an attempt to save her life.

He said the clearly defined shape of the hole left in the woman's skull was a sign of relatively sophisticated surgery.

"She probably did not survive the operation, as the wound was very large, and there are no signs of healing around the edges," Graikos told The Associated Press.

The discovery in Veria appears to be similar to several others made in other parts of the former Roman Empire, said Simon Mays, an expert on human skeletal remains at English Heritage, a body which advises the British government.

"That kind of operation dates back a long way ... the earliest example dates back about 5,000 years ago in Europe," said Mays, who was not connected to the Greek excavation.

In early examples, cruder holes were made in the skull by slowly scraping the bone away around the edges, but more precise instruments were used in Roman times, he said.

"We know that (brain) surgery was carried out in the Roman empire, and some of the Roman textual sources give quite precise instructions as to how it should be carried out," Mays said.

"This probably fits in with a pattern about what we know (the Romans) could do

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Insurance companies are once again trying to preserve their income by cutting health care.  The rising cost of CT and other neuroimaging techniques is prompting insurance companies to look for ways to decrease their use.

There is certainly an argument that doctors have been placed in the unenviable position of having to protect themselves by practicing "defensive medicine."  But more compelling is the information neuroimaging provides in saving lives or prescribing proper care.

It is no wonder that diagnostic tests increase as technology increases.  Moreover, doctors' ability to see and treat disease increases with the use of neuroimaging technology.  Just as the Hubbell telescope  allows us to see things in outer space previously unseen and allows us to create theories of Relativity, we are better informed and able to understand that sun does not evolve around earth but earth around sun.

Fortunately health insurance companies do not dispute such theories and facts - but if they could save money doing it I bet they would!

Read the article in today's Newsday.

To read more click Study by Center for Studying Health System Change http://hschange.org/CONTENT/968/

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The work of Lakoff and Moskowitz has shown the value of understanding 21st century jurors attitudes and beliefs.  "Biconceptualism" is in and polarized conservative and progressive is out.

And, of course, David Ball and his comtemporaries have taught us all the value of focus groups in assessing the potential verdicts in cases.

Now a neuroscientist at Berkley is teaming with other specialists to expand the work of cognitive science.  Dr. Knight's name popped into the news when it was announced that Nielsen Co., still the world leader in "audience measurement," had made what it called a "strategic investment" in a theretofore unheard-of California company called NeuroFocus, where Dr. Knight additionally serves as chief science adviser and where Dr. A.K. Pradeep, who holds a PhD in engineering, serves as chief executive officer. Together they blend the science side and the business side of an enterprise that uses brainwave analysis to, they assert, unlock the Holy Trinity of advertising. As in:

Are you paying attention?

Are you emotionally engaged?

Have you retained the information that the advertiser is trying to implant in that brain of yours?

As for focus groups, on that subject Dr. Knight's animus is unvarnished. "They're a little bit like juries where it's eight to four for acquittal on the first vote. Then it's 12 to nothing for guilty four days later and it's usually because of social factors and group dominance and all those kinds of behaviours that emerge in a group situation."

"The simple fact is the brain makes behaviour," Dr. Knight continues. "If you can effectively measure the brain, which we think we can ... We can give you information that's not available by any other methodology. You just can't get it in conventional marketing."

This exciting field of cognitive science is making great strides in a variety of fields.  To read more click here http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080315.RCOVER15/TPStory/?query=brain+guy

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This is a reminder of the upcoming Las Vegas seminar put on by the BIAA I am presenting at.  For more information click here http://conferences@biausa.org.

The Brain Injury Association of America invites you to its 2008 National Legal Conference. BIAA's Brain Injury Litigation Strategies 2008 will help you discover the winning strategies of the nation's most experienced brain injury plantiff's and defense attorneys while learning the science of brain injury from leading medical experts.

Space is limited - don't miss out on the Brain Injury Litigation Strategies 2008...REGISTER TODAY!
PROGRAM


THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2008

Opening Remarks 8:30am - 9:00am
Gregory J. O'Shanick, MD
Susan H. Connors

Plenary Session 9:00am - 10:00am
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Panel
Robert P. Granacher, Jr, MD, MBA
Gregory J. O'Shanick, MD

Plenary Session 10:15am - 11:15am
Advances in Functional Neuroimaging
Joseph C. Wu, MD
Timothy R. Titolo, Esq.

Plaintiff's Breakout 11:15am - 12:30pm
Effective Use of Demonstrative Evidence
Thomas W. Malone, Esq.
Robert Shepherd

Defense Breakout 11:15am - 12:30pm
Developing a Theme for the Defense
E. Dale Adkins, III, Esq.
Plenary Session 1:45pm - 3:15pm
Anatomy of the Case: Introduction to the Case
Randall H. Scarlett, Esq.
Dwight D. Murray, Esq.

Plenary Session 3:30pm - 4:45pm
Focus Group/Mock Trial Panel
Matt Milano, PhD
John M. Fitzpatrick, Esq.
E. Dale Adkins, III, Esq.
Philip C. Jacobson, Esq.
Jeffrey Breit, Esq.

Plenary Session 4:45pm - 5:45pm
Mock Cross & Direct Examination of a Medical Expert
Randall H. Scarlett, Esq.
Robert Granacher, Jr, MD, MBA
Dwight D. Murray, Esq.


FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2008

Plaintiff's Breakout 8:00am - 8:30am
Turning Defense Tactics to the Plaintiff's Advantage
Stephen M. Smith, Esq.
Michael V. Kaplen, Esq.

Defense Breakout 8:00am - 8:30am
Impact of Bell Atlantic vs. Twombly on Defense of a Traumatic Brain Injury Case
Dwight D. Murray, Esq.

Neuropsychological Testing: How it Benefits the Defense
Robert Granacher, Jr, MD, MBA
Plenary Session 8:30am - 9:30am
Understanding Brain Anatomy
David A. Hovda, PhD

Plaintiff's' Breakout 9:30am - 10:30am
Using Law to Win!
David A. Ball, PhD

Defense Breakout 9:30am - 10:30am
Defending a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Case
David T. Patterson, Esq.
Plenary Session 10:45am - 11:30am
Effective Advocacy in Mediation
Hon. Robert L. Harris, ret.
Charles G. Monnett, III, Esq.
Philip C. Jacobson, Esq.
Plaintiff's Breakout 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Cross Examination of Defense Experts
Dorothy C. Sims, Esq.
David A. Ball, PhD, Esq.
Defense Breakout 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Trial Strategies
John M. Fitzpatrick, Esq.
Plaintiff's Breakout 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Developing the Right Mix of Witnesses
Dianne J. Weaver, Esq.

Defense Breakout 3:00pm - 4:00pm
How to Handle the Sympathy Factor
Nicholas McConnell, Esq.

Plenary Session 4:15pm - 5:00pm
A Survivor's Perspective
Becky Bro, M.Ed., CRC

Register Now

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This is a reminder of the upcoming Las Vegas Conference I am presenting at.  For more information please click: http://www.nbi-sems.com/seminfo/nbi-moreinfoEmailTrack.asp

Prosecuting and Defending Catastrophic Injury Cases

March 27, 2008 - Las Vegas, NV

Who Should Attend:

This intermediate-to-advanced program will provide an in-depth look at catastrophic injury cases for:

Attorneys
Risk Managers
Casualty Adjusters
Other Insurance Representatives

Program Highlights:

Las Vegas, NV
March 27, 2008
Learn More or Register Now
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(Check-in: 8:30-9:00 a.m. )
Faculty:
John Mitchell Cobeaga
Robert E. Murdock
Timothy R. Titolo

Location:
Gold Coast
4000 W Flamingo Rd
Las Vegas , NV
702-367-7111
More Info


Master the Critical Elements of the Catastrophic Injury Case

While no two catastrophic injury cases are the same, they all involve careful analysis of the fragile human condition and a delicate balancing act between proving severe injuries and shortened life expectancy. Take an in-depth look at damages, experts, case themes and trial procedure as accomplished faculty share their time-tested strategies and firsthand experience winning catastrophic injury cases. This seminar also includes an exclusive opportunity to learn the methodology of calculating damages from a seasoned forensic economist. Register today!

Stay in the loop on recent rulings and reinterpretations of personal injury law.
Understand the innate liability and evidentiary issues of catastrophic injury cases and how to use them to your advantage.

Get inside the head of a seasoned forensic economist to better understand how damages are calculated and what general damages can typically be overlooked.
Learn the importance of timely preparation, necessary discovery and work-up inherent in the CI case.

Incorporate five tried-and-true tactics into your repertoire to uncover the full extent of damages.
Uncover the secrets to selecting a persuasive forensic economist, vocational rehabilitation specialist and other CI experts.

Be prepared to meet any argument head on with advanced trial techniques in your back pocket.
Avoid the pitfalls of evidence admission that are sure to sink your case.

Learn how to sway the jury with effective storytelling, demonstrative evidence and well-written instructions.

Discover the critical factors in determining which cases to settle and which to try.

Continuing Education Credits:
Continuing Legal Education This course has been approved for 6.0 CLE credits by the Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education, which includes 1.0 hour of ethical considerations.
Self-study credit is available.

Insurance This program has been submitted to the Department of Business and Industry, Division of Insurance. The submission of the application does not guarantee that the course will be approved.

Credit related questions? Contact our credit specialists: (866)240-1890 - credit@nbi-sems.com


Mail Fax Phone Online

NBI, Inc. - PO Box 3067 Eau Claire, WI 54702 1.715.835.1405 1.800.930.6182 www.nbi-sems.com


Walk-in Registrations? Space permitting, we are happy to accommodate! If you plan to register at the door, feel free to call ahead so we can confirm availability.

Can't Attend? Order Materials. We recognize that a key program benefit is the opportunity to network with faculty and program participants, but you don't need to miss out on content! Materials ship about two weeks following the program, but you can reserve your audio recording and reference manual today! Browse our extensive collection of related education products by visiting our online bookstore.

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This just in from Laura with the BIAA.

Recently, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) appears to be deemphasizing medical rehab research, including valuable research related to TBI. BIAA is working as part of a coalition of advocacy groups to send NIDRR a message that resources for medical rehabilitation research (referred to by NIDRR as "health and function" research) needs to be increased, not decreased. We need your help!

In the past six months, NIDRR has eliminated funding for four Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RTCs) focused on medical rehabilitation research, including centers focused on neuromuscular research, arthritis, TBI community reintegration, and spinal cord injury. Four additional medical rehab RTCs (stroke, MS, aging with a disability, and psychiatric aspects of disability) have been delayed and NIDRR intends to announce these grants with a greater focus on employment and vocational rehab.

As an advocate for increased TBI services and research, you are encouraged to join NIDRR's national meeting/conference call on NIDRR's long range plan scheduled for Wednesday, March 19th, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and express your views. The toll-free conference call number is (800) 762-6085. An operator will ask if you would like to submit input or just listen to the event. The operator will track the order of the people who want to provide input.

(Note: There are other ways to submit comments as well by the end of March if you cannot make the call. Please contact Laura Schiebelhut, BIAA's Director of Government Affairs, at lschiebelhut@biausa.org, if you have questions.)

We suggest making some or all of the following points:

1. NIDRR has served as the nation’s lead federal agency on rehabilitation and disability research - including valuable research on TBI - and as such has maintained a broad portfolio of research as reflected in its current Long-Range Plan. This research portfolio includes three broad domains designed to enhance the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the areas of employment, community living, and health and function, including medical rehabilitation research.

2. This approach is to be commended as it recognizes the critical interplay between medical rehabilitation research, health and functioning, and the ability to return to school or work where appropriate.

3. A shift in focus at NIDRR away from health and function research is unwise and seriously erodes our nation's ability to solve the important questions that confront people with disabilities in seeking to return to functional and fulfilling lives after the onset of a disabling condition.

4. NIDRR should continue and re-emphasize the importance in its funding priorities of health and function research, including medical rehab research.
Please see the press release below for further information. Thank you.
# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2008
NATIONAL VIDEOCONFERENCE AND WEBCAST TO SOLICIT INPUT ON THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH 2010-2014 LONG-RANGE PLAN
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) today announced a national videoconference to solicit remarks regarding NIDRR’s long-range plan for fiscal years 2010-2014. The purpose of the videoconference is to obtain ideas from the public on the content and direction of the new NIDRR long-range plan.
NIDRR, a component of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the US Department of Education, is the major federal agency sponsoring disability research.
Videoconference: The videoconference will take place:
March 19, 2008
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST
There are several ways to participate:
• Attend in person at one of the eight sites across the country;
• Access the meeting via webcast; or
• Participate in a toll-free teleconference.
To learn more about locations and methods of participation and how to RSVP, please visit www.neweditions.net/nidrrlrp.
Other Input Opportunities: If you are unable to participate in the videoconference, webcast or teleconference, there are several alternate ways to submit comments through March 31, 2008.
Comments may be submitted via email, using the following address: NIDRR-Maibox@ed.gov
or through the Web, using the following address: www.neweditions.net/nidrrlrp
or by mail:
Donna Nangle
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Room 6029
Washington, DC 20202-2700

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Green Valley Ranch Resort is currently sold out for the Brain Injury Litigation Strategies 2008 conference dates. The hotels below are suggested as alternatives. 

Sunset Station

A sister property to Green Valley Ranch Resort, located approximately 12 miles away.

1301 W. Sunset Rd | Henderson, NV 89014

(888) 786-7389

Current Room Rates (note these are not guaranteed rates)

Thursday 4/3/08: $69.00

Friday, 4/4/08: $109.00

Saturday, 4/5/08 $109.00

Mandalay Bay

There is a scheduled and capacity limited shuttle between Green Valley Ranch Resort and Mandalay Bay.

3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South | Las Vegas, NV 89119

(877) 632-7800

Current Room Rates (note these are not guaranteed rates)

Thursday 4/3/08: $119.00 - $139.00

Friday, 4/4/08: $199.00 - $219.00

Saturday, 4/5/08 $219.00 – 239.00

Homewood Suites by Hilton® Henderson South Las Vegas
10450 South Eastern Avenue
Henderson,  Nevada 89052
1-702-450-1045

Current Room Rates (note these are not guaranteed rates)

Thursday 4/3/08: $189.00-$199.00

Friday, 4/4/08: $189.00-$199.00

Saturday, 4/5/08 $189.00-$199.00

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This week was an another extremely eventful one on Capitol Hill, including passage of legislation to reauthorize the TBI Act by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee!
On Tuesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health approved the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 (H.R. 1418) and forwarded it on for consideration by the full Committee.

Yesterday afternoon, the full Energy and Commerce Committee passed the bill, and the legislation is expected to be brought up on suspension for consideration on the House floor when Congress reconvenes after a two-week recess set to begin on Monday, March 17.

Also this week, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) joined the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, and a variety of other advocacy groups, in successfully conducting Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill. The day’s events drew the participation of several Members of Congress and their staff.

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Earlier this evening, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health approved the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 and forwarded it on for consideration by the full Committee. The bill which was passed by the Subcommittee tonight was a slightly amended version of H.R. 1418.
The bill is now ready to be taken up by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee. This is a very positive development towards the goal of getting the TBI Act reauthorized before the end of this year, and a very exciting development for Brain Injury Awareness Month!

The Brain Injury Association of America is a strong lobby in Washington, DC for the rights of the Brain Injured.  The BIAAs efforts are to applauded and supported.

The BIAA is sponsoring an educational conference in Las Vegas next month.  To learn more click here.

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A Judge in Ontario ruled that motorcycle helmet laws trump religious freedom.  Mr. Badesha, a practicing Sikh, and the human rights commission maintain the helmet law discriminates against Sikhs because their religion obliges them to cover their long hair with nothing more than a turban.

Part of the lawsuit involved testing whether the Turbans maintain themselves at high rates of speed.  The court was told earlier that Mr. Badesha raced a motorcycle around an Ontario speedway to test whether turbans unravel at high speeds.

The bizarre image of Mr. Badesha's experiment last year -- conducted under the auspices of the Ontario Human Rights Commission -- was evoked during his constitutional challenge to a law that forces motorcycle riders to wear a helmet.

Judge Blacklock was told that, in order to disprove a Crown theory that turbans unravel at high speed and cause accidents, Mr. Badesha drove around Cayuga Speedway at 110 kilometres an hour.

His turban held fast.

Nonetheless, the Turban was trumped by the Helmet in the name of public safety.

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Dr. Brian Levine of the Rotman Research Institute and the University of Toronto, whose study appears in the journal Neurology, finds brain volume loss occurs when tissue dies follwoing brain injury.  Levine found losses involved both frontal and posterior brain regions, and the damage was greatest to white matter: tissue that makes up the brain's communication network.

Levine studied brain scans taken from 69 traumatic brain injury patients whose head injuries ranged from mild to moderate or severe. The researchers used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging or MRI to study changes in brain volume a year after the injury.

They ran a computer analysis of these images and found that even patients with mild brain injuries with no apparent scarring had less brain volume.

These findings, published in a widely recognized journal, will help physcians in assisting patients.  Levine said the study does not mean that people who have had mild head injuries will have a disability, but it might help to explain why some people never quite recover from their head injury.

"You hear this all the time from people, that they're not the same. A lot of times doctors don't know why," Levine said.

According the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least, 1.4 million people in the United States suffer a traumatic brain injury each year.

At least 5.3 million Americans, or about 2 percent of the U.S. population, need help to perform activities of daily living as a result of their brain injuries.

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Please note the updated logistical information (below) for Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill, taking place this Wednesday, March 12, 2008 in Washington, D.C.

In addition, please click on the "Take Action" tab in the upper right hand corner of this email to call your representatives in Congress and urge them to attend at least one of the day's events!

Congressional Brain Injury Awareness Day
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Capitol Hill – Washington, D.C.

To celebrate March as Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force is hosting a "2008 Brain Injury Awareness Day," on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, on Capitol Hill.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Brain Injury Awareness Fair
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

First Floor Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building

Advocacy Training Session
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 1116 Longworth House Office Building

Congressional Briefing on “Traumatic Brain Injury and Community Needs”
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
H-137 United States Capitol Building

Congressional Reception Celebrating Brain Injury Awareness Day
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
1100 Longworth House Office Building

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U.S. scientists have demonstrated living human nerve cells can be engineered into a network that might be used to repair nervous system damage.

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers created a three-dimensional neural network -- a mini nervous system in culture -- that can be transplanted en masse, said Professor Douglas Smith, director of the school's Center for Brain Injury and Repair.

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U.S. scientists have demonstrated living human nerve cells can be engineered into a network that might be used to repair nervous system damage.

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers created a three-dimensional neural network -- a mini nervous system in culture -- that can be transplanted en masse, said Professor Douglas Smith, director of the school's Center for Brain Injury and Repair.

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 An Indiana man serving a prison sentence for causing brain damage to his infant daughter more than five years ago could face new charges following her death.

Prosecutors are awaiting autopsy reports on the cause of death for 5-year-old Sabrina Herron, whose mother found her unresponsive in bed on Friday. She was pronounced dead a short time later at Columbus Regional Hospital.

Her father, Matthew Herron, is serving a 20-year prison sentence he received after pleading guilty in 2006 to a felony charge of battery. He was charged with shaking Sabrina in 2002 when she was 3 months old, causing permanent brain damage.

To Read the entire story go to http://www.theindychannel.com/news/15470494/detail.html?rss=ind&psp=news

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The Wall Street Journal published an article yesterday about the efficacy of the Fake Bad Scale.  Recently added to the MMPI personality test, the scale has generated heated controversy.

On one side are injury victims and their lawyers. who have the backing of Dr. Butcher, among others, and point out that the scale gives false conclusions.  On the other side is Dr. Paul Lees-Haley, the creator of the scale, backed by insurance companies and its lawyers, purporting the test is valid only in the subset of personal injury lawsuits.

Dorothy Clay-Sims, a Florida lawyer has lead the effort to expose the Fake Bad Scale as a tool that will, almost without exception, find anyone who takes it, a malingerer.

Read the full article here: http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB120466776681911325-lMyQjAxMDI4MDA0NTYwNjU3Wj.html

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Researchers find that women's spines are evolved to curve at the lower vertabrae to reduce back pressure during pregnancy.  Women actually lean back as a result of the curvature.

The interesting news is that this makes them less likely to tip over!  And we all know  - Women wobble but they don't fall down!

Read the Full New York Times article by going to:  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/science/13pregnant.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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Mike Smith, who was to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his fellow Dave Clark Five members next month, has died of pneumonia in England.

The singer and keyboardist was 64 when he died this week at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, his U.S. agent Margo Lewis told the BBC Friday.

Lewis said the pneumonia was a result of complications from a 2003 spinal cord injury that left Smith paralyzed from the waist down.

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A Special Report in New Scientist  that scans reveal propensity of agression in teenagers was released today.  Specific brain anatomy is proportionate to agressive behavior.  Amygdalas were bigger in both sexes of adolecents demonstrating aggression when confronted in controlled tests.

For those who have children in adolesence, this information may, at least, make some sense of parenting this age group.

To read more click here. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/brain/dn13373-its-not-fair-brains-may-compel-teens-to-tantrum.html?feedId=brain_rss20

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Laura Schiebelhut [grassroots@biausa.org] asked me to post this update for all those interested in keeping up on the latest congressional activity.

Brain Injury Awareness Month Fair On Capitol Hill
More Info
The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force is hosting a "2008 Brain Injury Awareness Day," on Capitol Hill, March 12, 2008.

To celebrate March as Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force is hosting a "2008 Brain Injury Awareness Day," on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, on Capitol Hill.

Multiple events are planned, which are designed to educate Members of Congress and their staff about brain injury. These events include an Awareness Day Fair, which will feature exhibits and informational materials from individuals and organizations working in the field of brain injury. The day will also include a Congressional Briefing focused on the topic of "Traumatic Brain Injury and Community Needs." The end of the day will feature an early-evening Congressional Reception sponsored by various national advocacy organizations, including the National Brain Injury Treatment and Training Foundation (NBIRTT), the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) and the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA).

 BIAA invites all advocates to attend "2008 Brain Injury Awareness Day" events, and help educate Members of Congress and their staff. The Day also represents an important opportunity to network with others interested in helping increase brain injury awareness.

2008 Brain Injury Awareness Day Schedule of Events

Brain Injury Awareness Fair
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

First Floor Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building
Congressional Briefing on “Traumatic Brain Injury and Community Needs”
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

1116 Longworth House Office Building
Congressional Reception Celebrating Brain Injury Awareness Day
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

2105 Rayburn House Office Building

Please RSVP by Monday, March 3, 2008, to Hope Mandel in Congressman Bill Pascrell's office if you wish to attend and/or exhibit materials during the Awareness Fair. You may also contact Hope at (202) 225-5751 or Becky Wolfkiel in Congressman Platts' office at (202) 225-5836 with questions or for more information. In addition, as always, you may contact Laura Schiebelhut, BIAA's Director of Government Affairs, at lschiebelhut@biausa.org, or 703-761-0750 ext. 637, for further clarification.

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Blast Injuries and veteran brain damage is gaining attention as the war in Iraq continues.  Here is an article that addresses how the brain is injured in explosion events and how the brain may actually become increasing damaged as the trauma continues.

Blasts cause delayed brain trauma

Improvised explosive devices have killed at least 1,600 soldiers in Iraq since the United States invaded in 2003. Thanks to high-tech body armor, new helmets, and better resuscitation techniques, many more soldiers now survive blasts. But this has revealed a new problem: Blast exposure, especially repeated exposure, can cause brain damage so subtle that soldiers may not realize they've been wounded. Ibolja Cernak, director of the Biomedicine Business Area at the Applied Physics Laboratory, says that these mild brain injuries can lead to gradual neurodegeneration, similar to Alzheimer's disease.

Most experts acknowledge that explosions can injure the brain even when there is no direct blow to the head. The prevailing argument has been that waves of compressed air emanating from the blast shake the skull with enough force to strain or stretch the brain, not unlike what happens in a bad car crash. "It's like a turbo-charged whiplash," says Ross Bullock, a professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami.

But Cernak's research suggests a different mechanism. She posits that energy from the explosion compresses the abdomen and chest, generating oscillating waves in large blood vessels such as the aorta. These waves, she says, then carry that energy, at the speed of sound in water, to the brain, where it induces slight physiological changes in brain structures — for instance, slowing a cell's metabolism or altering the permeability of its membrane — that can lead to delayed neuronal cell death. The effects can cascade over time. Symptoms such as balance problems and impaired speech may manifest months or years after the blast. Cernak calls this syndrome blast-induced neuro-trauma (BINT).

"If what she's saying is true," says Jeff Bazarian, a brain injury expert at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, "then how the brain gets injured by a blast is very different than how it gets injured in a car accident." Not everyone is convinced that Cernak is right, but if she is, her hypothesis has implications for body armor design. Armor currently used in the field contains hard plates that could, according to Cernak's hypothesis, concentrate the power of a blast and make neurological damage worse.

Cernak began her career at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade. During the fighting that followed the collapse of Yugoslavia in the late 1980s, she was one of the first to study the neurological effects of blast injuries, sometimes collecting blood samples on the battlefield minutes after an explosion. Today most of her research takes place in the lab, where she replicates blast pressure waves using a shock tube, and studies their effect on rodents.
"I've been fighting since 1990 with the military medical community to convince them that BINT exists," Cernak says. "It is still a fight, but finally this problem is getting acknowledged." —Cassandra Willyard, A&S '07 (MA)

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