Orphan designated drug SAGE-547 was recently used successfully to treat super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) in two pediatric patients. The report by Broomall et al [1] is available at the Annals of Neurology(online ahead of print).  SAGE-547 is being developed by Sage Therapeutics.

Super-refractory status epilepticus is frightening version of status epilepticus, which on its own can be a life-threatening condition (35,000 of a total of 150,000 die from it each year).  When a patient presents with status epilepticus, they are usually treated with benzodiazepines, and if no response, they are treated with second-line, anti-seizure drugs.

This is a follow up to my article, "Marijuana and Colorado, a Doctor's Perspective". The venture capitalists are moving in. This was inevitable, as I talked about it in my article. It has become difficult for any investor to ignore the glaring reality of an American "Medical Cannabis economic boom" coming sooner than most are ready for. Start paying attention.

The latest on Novus from Venture 17 and The Trinity Venture Capital Group. Read on.

While teaching my campus based class on Professional Development this term, it became evident that I needed to write this article. It seems every term, the subject of “What should I do with my money, Dr. Counce?” always comes up. They are truly eager to learn, but young college students in their twenties struggle with the task of managing their money, let alone getting it to work for them. And really, because no one has ever shown most of them this part of the free enterprise system we live in.

Honestly, how many of you who went to public schools like I did, ever learned about economics and investment vehicles before college?

Between now and the end of 2014, the US Department of Labor is predicting a thirty percent increase in the number of health care jobs. This will amount to approximately five million new employees in the field of health care and one out of every five of these jobs will be in the field of health services. The challenges facing health care organizations will be immense as they try to develop and implement strategic plans to recruit and train a quality workforce. Retention of these employees will be a key factor in minimizing operating budgets due to the high cost of employee turnover, which in a study conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), can amount to up to fifty percent of payroll dollars.