Progress in ALS Research - Mice Study May Be Good News for Humans

Based in Milwaukee, neurosurgeon Dr. Melissa Macias tends to patients with a variety of nervous system and spine disorders. As part of her commitment to patients, Dr. Melissa Macias follows new developments in the field of neuroscience and spine care. 

New research from the University of South Florida may bring good news to the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a type of neurodegenerative disease that leads to problems with muscle control.

In a new study, researchers found that stem cells transplants from human bone marrow helped improve outcomes in mice with ALS. These mice experienced improved motor function and nervous system conditions as a result of repairs made to their blood-spinal cord barriers. 

This is remarkable because these symptomatic mice are very similar to human patients. Researchers hope that this discovery will advance human stem cell treatments related to the spinal cord and blood-spinal cord barrier.

Preparing for a MEDICO Volunteer Assignment in Central America

An established Wisconsin neurosurgeon, Dr. Melissa Macias handles a wide range of conditions of the brain and spinal cord and emphasizes individualized treatment modalities. A world traveler, Dr. Melissa Macias has volunteered with the secular nonprofit MEDICO, Mission to Honduras, which offers people in Nicaragua and Honduras a combination of medical, optometric, and dental care. 

The volunteering process with MEDICO is simple for those with skills needed to meet humanitarian goals. Spanish fluency is not a requirement, as interpreters are on hand, and special medicines and immunizations are not required. That said, the Zika virus is endemic to the region and spread by mosquitos. With no approved vaccines in place yet, participants are encouraged to work closely with medical care providers in ensuring the best possible combination of travel medicines prior to travel. 

MEDICO volunteers sometimes offer to bring medical supplies for distribution to communities in need. While the nonprofit encourages donations of supplies, it is important to contact the organization first and discuss whether the specific supplies are relevant to actual community needs. Participants are encouraged to bring small gifts, from pencils to toothbrushes, that children encountered within villages and a clinical setting will enthusiastically accept.

Lobbying to Support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Dr. Melissa Macias provides surgical services to patients as a neurosurgeon with Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Involved philanthropically with her community, Dr. Melissa Macias has supported a number of organizations, including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This organization funds research to combat blood cancers.

In addition to raising money for the organization, individuals can give back in several other ways, such as lobbying for key legislation. The organization has called on individuals to contact their congressional representatives and push for key legislative changes, such as changes to the structure of Medicare Part D. Because seniors with life-threatening conditions often require medications on a “specialty tier,” they remain unable to pay despite Medicare assistance. The Part D Beneficiary Appeals Fairness Act is a bipartisan bill that would make cancer medications more affordable.

Another important piece of legislation is the Patients’ Access to Treatment Act, which helps individuals with cancer receive the care they need without facing astronomical out-of-pockets expenses. Individuals can also call upon Congress to restore funding for cancer research. Since 2003, federal funding for cancer research has fallen 24 percent.

The Emergence of Classical Mythology in Renaissance Art

With previous experience serving as a neurosurgeon for the Swedish American Health System in Illinois, Melissa Macias currently practices at the Aurora Neuroscience Innovation Institute in Wisconsin. In her leisure time, Melissa Macias enjoys cultural activities in her local area and maintains a membership at the Milwaukee Art Museum. A current exhibit on display at the institution examines “Gods and Heroes: Classical Mythology in European Prints.”

This unique exhibit explores works from the Renaissance era to the early 20th century that reflect an abiding interest by artists in exploring European mythological roots. With the decline of the Roman Empire and rise of Christianity, mythological figures were pushed to the peripheries of learning, in areas such as astrology and astronomy, where constellations took mythology-derived forms. 

It was the role of 15th century Renaissance artists in Florence to bring back classical forms to ancient mythology in works that also incorporated Medieval allegory. Prominent among these was Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Sculptors from the 16th century such as Michelangelo and Correggio also found inspiration for their realistic depictions of the human body in works of classical antiquity. 

The emergence of printed works that reflected this trend began in the 16th century with numerous illustrated editions of the works of Ovid. Techniques used to illustrate the ancient Roman myths included engravings, woodcuts, and etchings and were under the direction of individuals such as George Sandys, who employed the engraver Salomon Savery and the artist Francis Clein.

The Risk Factors Associated with Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

 


Melissa Macias is a well-established Wisconsin physician who emphasizes minimally invasive neurosurgery techniques, including those involving the use of robotics. Knowledgeable about the full range of neurological maladies, Melissa Macias has experience in treating vascular disorders, which involve the arteries and veins that bring oxygen-rich blood from the brain to areas throughout the body.

A number of neurological diseases have vascular complications at their root, with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) most common among older people. Challenging to diagnose, the condition involves perforations in cerebral capillaries, arterioles, and venules. Related to cognitive decline, it is the cause of nearly half of all dementia cases and is associated with approximately one in five strokes worldwide.

A 2008 study published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke found that age, current smoking habits, and elevated blood pressure correlated positively to the progression of white matter lesions causing CSVD. Analyzing a population aged 60-90, the Rotterdam Scan Study also determined that women were at higher risk of the disease than men. One of the key risk factors influencing the development of CSVD is hypertension and it is there that preventative treatments are currently focused.