General Announcements

New Studies Recruiting Patients with Overactive Bladder

Is an overactive bladder causing you to live an under-active life?

If you have a spinal cord injury or have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and suffer from an overactive bladder, you may want to learn if you qualify for one of the Dignity Studies.

The purpose of these studies is to determine the effectiveness and safety of an investigational medication for controlling symptoms of overactive bladder in patients with these conditions. In a previous medical research study, this investigational medication reduced the frequency of urinary incontinent incidents in spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis patients.

Qualified participants will have had a spinal cord injury or have multiple sclerosis, experience frequent incontinent episodes due to an overactive bladder, may be using self-catheterization to control their bladder, and are looking for alternative treatment options. Potential participants will be evaluated to further determine their eligibility. Investigational study medication, medical exams, and lab tests will be provided to you at no charge.

If you are interested and want to learn about a study location near you, visit www.dignitystudy.com or call 1-888-61-STUDY (1-888-617-8839) to complete a questionnaire to determine if you might qualify to participate.

Drug Being Studied In Clinical Trials May Control Spasticity Without Causing Drowsiness for People With Spinal Cord Injuries

For more information, read the news release posted on Shepherd's Web site at: www.shepherd.org/news/media/press/28.asp.

ABPMR SUBSPECIALTY EXAM IN SCI

The 2007 SCI Medicine Examination was administered November 5, 2007, at Pearson Professional Centers nationwide. The examination application deadline was July 1, 2007. For further information on schedules, fees, and requirements, visit the ABPMR web site at www.abpmr.org, or contact the ABPMR at 507-282-1776 or by e-mail at office@abpmr.org.

NURSES AND THERAPISTS TARGETED FOR ASIA EDUCATIONAL GRANTS-EXPERTISE TO BE SHARED INTERNATIONALLY

The ASIA board of directors has announced a new initiative to encourage its nurse and therapist members to apply for funds for international opportunities to instruct colleagues outside of the United States about SCI. Supported by the Sell Research and Education Fund, these opportunities are available on an annual basis. For additional information, please contact Patricia Duncan, in the Central office at Pat_Duncan@shepherd.org.

Below is a testimonial from Kathleen Dunn, MS, RN, CRRN-A, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Rehab Case Manager at the SCI Center in the VA Hospital in San Diego. Kathleen, a long time ASIA member, visited Brazil recently, with support from the Sell Fund for education projects.

"In 2001, I was invited to teach SCI care at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) at Riberao Preto in Brazil. I had been invited through my previous friendship with an Assistant Professor in their School of Nursing. I agreed to do this as a volunteer, and the University was willing to pay my local expenses and housing, but not airfare. Looking for additional financial support, I applied to ASIA for the G. Heiner Sell grant for small education projects, and was pleased to be awarded this grant at the annual meeting in 2002. I flew to Brazil and spent a week teaching about SCI care in interdisciplinary classes for the acute and rehabilitation teams at the USP Medical Center. I made rounds on the wards, met staff and patients, participated in home visits, and taught a one-day seminar at the School of Nursing. The SCI team in Brazil was incredibly eager for new information on state-of-the-art SCI care! Everyone was very friendly, anxious to make contacts and wanted to continue educational exchanges with their peers in the United States. With very limited resources, the team there is challenged to provide care under conditions that we do not have to confront in this country. I came away from this experience not only with many new friends and colleagues, but with a renewed appreciation for what we have available for our SCI clients in the United States. I would encourage other ASIA members to reach out internationally and find ways to share our wealth of knowledge and resources with colleagues in less fortunate countries. The Sell grant is one way that ASIA supports these efforts for the international community."

THE BONE AND JOINT DECADE 2000-2010 INFOLETTER

The Bone and Joint Decade periodically publishes an infoletter about the latest achievements in SCI. Visit www.boneandjointdecade.org to read all about it.

2002-2011 PROCLAIMED NATIONAL BONE AND JOINT DECADE

On March 21, 2002, President George W. Bush proclaimed the years 2002-2011 as the National Bone and Joint Decade, recognizing the importance of promoting a healthy musculoskeletal structure for all people from childhood through adulthood. In 1997, ASIA was one of the first endorsing associations of the Bone and Joint Decade when it was first proposed for international celebration. ASIA is proud to see that this special decade has received Presidential proclamation.

The web site for the proclamation is:
www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020325-5.html.

The web site for information on the Bone and Joint Decade is: www.usbjd.org.

Read the December 2007/January 2008 Newsletter.

CERVICAL SPINE AND SPINAL CORD INJURY GUIDELINES

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons have combined their efforts to produce clinical practice guidelines that are of interest to ASIA members. The document, entitled "Guidelines for the Management of Acute Cervical Spine and Spinal Cord Injuries", has been published as a supplement to the March 2002 edition of the journal Neurosurgery. (Neurosurgery 50(Suppl 3):S1-S199, 2002. The series of guidelines is published in 22 chapters on a variety of cervical spine and spinal cord injury topics, with recommendations stratified into "Standards", "Guidelines", or "Options" based upon the strength of the evidence. Editorial commentary is also included to present alternative viewpoints. In one of the more controversial chapters, the use of methylprednisolone in acute SCI was felt to be an "Option" for treatment of persons with acute SCI "that should be undertaken only with the knowledge that the evidence suggesting harmful side effects is more consistent than any suggestion of clinical benefit" (Neurosurgery 50(Suppl 3):S63-S72, 2002. The Comments section of the Supplement contains a rebuttal of this position by Michael Bracken, the Principal Investigator for the National Acute Spinal Cord Study Group, the authors of the NASCIS studies.