Clinical trial in Mississippi gives Huntington’s patients hope
(Story courtesy of the University of Mississippi Medical Center Office of Communications and Marketing) Sometimes, Nathan Wilmoth falls down without catching his foot on something or getting an unintentional push. It’s not unusual for his wife, Heather, to give him a little explanation that introduces the front end of a conversation, or to wait patiently for him to work through his thoughts. That includes Nathan deliberating a choice between, say, dining at McDonald’s or Burger King. And sometimes, Nathan shakes, but Heather is ready. “I say, ‘Let’s go get a glass of milk so we can turn it into a milkshake,’” she said. “We really do have a warped sense of humor.” Left to Right: Heather Wilmoth, Nathan Wilmoth, and Dr. Juebin Huang (Image courtesy of the University of Mississippi Medical Center) That’s part of their life with Huntington’s Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that kills healthy nerve cells in the brain. That process leads to loss of thinking and reasoning skills, memory, coordination, speech and movement. It’s rare, and it’s genetic. Nathan, 42, comes by the gene for Huntington’s from his mother. He was tested for it in 2016 after a relative urged them to get life insurance to protect their baby. “It turned out that we had it,” Heather said. It’s their disease, not just Nathan’s. Together, they manage the symptoms and their “new normal,” and they’re hopeful for treatment that can put the brakes on a fatal disease. “When I saw him back in 2017, he had a lot of problems in motor control and speech, lots of fidgeting of his arms and legs, and difficulty sleeping,” said Dr. Juebin Huang, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and an HD care specialist. “He lost his ability to work because of this.” Dr. Juebin Huang (Image courtesy of the University of Mississippi Medical Center) Through a multidisciplinary approach that pulls in a neurologist, psychiatrist, neuropsychologist, genetic counselor, social worker, registered nurse care coordinator, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapist and other specialties, Nathan and UMMC patients with HD receive a full array of care. That includes education about their disease and how it impacts the entire family. “Our genetic counseling service is the only one that can provide relevant HD services in Mississippi,” said Huang, a neurologist. “What’s unique for Huntington’s at UMMC is that we offer care as a real team.” Thanks to education efforts in the state, better coordination of referrals from physicians, plus a public awareness campaign that the Wilmoths have championed, more Mississippians are getting help with a disease that is often misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed or simply baffling to providers who fail to recognize it. Left to Right: Nathan Wilmoth and Dr. Juebin Huang (Image courtesy of the University of Mississippi Medical Center) “Our HD clinic has grown tremendously over the past two years. We’ve almost doubled the number of patients we see,” Huang said. The symptoms of HD are often described as having ALS, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease – simultaneously. There are about 41,000 people nationwide with HD, and another 200,000 who are at risk, according to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. “We estimate that there are about 100-200 people in the state who are suffering from HD,” Huang said. “Some of them were diagnosed in the community, and they were told there was nothing they could do about it and to go home and deal with it. Often, they don’t know where to find a doctor willing to take care of them.” That underscores the need for awareness and access to the right team of providers, Huang said. “We have a dedicated specialty clinic for this devastating condition,” he said. “Although there’s no cure, over the last decade there have been two medications approved by the FDA to treat the motor symptoms of HD. We have so much more to offer now than 20 years ago.” The Wilmoths’ sense of humor about their disease got a kick-start on April 15, 2016, a date Heather can readily cite, and for good reason. “Our son Haden had tried to eat a Tide pod the night before,” she said. “Nathan was across the street getting his diagnosis, and I was at Batson (Children’s Hospital). Haden was just over a year old, and thank goodness, had only taken a little bite.” “My mother had it, and her biological father had it,” Nathan said of HD. Even so, “I was kind of shocked” to get the news. “When I was first diagnosed, I only shook.” Looking back, Heather said, “we can see what the signs were. Nathan was a diesel mechanic, and he had dropped some expensive parts at work. We just didn’t realize what it was.” There’s more than a glimmer of hope for the Wilmoths, however. UMMC is collaborating with the University of Alabama-Birmingham on HD care, including the chance for Huang’s patients to take part in large and promising clinical trials. Left to Right: Heather Wilmoth, Nathan Wilmoth, and Dr. Juebin Huang (Image courtesy of the University of Mississippi Medical Center) UAB has been designated by the Huntington Disease Society of America as one of 50 Centers of Excellence for 2020. UMMC is designated a tier below that, a Level 1 Partner HD Clinic, that allows its physicians and researchers to work hand-in-hand with a Center of Excellence. The beauty of the relationship, in addition to taking part in the research possibilities, is the chance to treat patients together and to refer patients between the two programs, Huang said. Dr. Victor Sung, associate professor of neurology in UAB’s Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics and director of its Huntington’s Disease Clinic, is working with Huang and the Wilmoths to further the collaboration and offer additional treatment to Nathan. Nathan is part of a two-year, gene therapy clinical trial at UAB that seeks “not just treatment of symptoms,” Sung said. “It’s a curative-type trial. It’s obviously very exciting for patients, and the Wilmoths were very excited to get into it. “The problem is
Mississippi State blows out Ole Miss 69-44 in regular season finale
Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics Both of the matchups between Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the 2019-20 season ended in blowouts with each team claiming a victory in the rivalry series. Today’s game was dominated by the Bulldogs as the regular season in college basketball comes to a close. Below, check out analysis of the game and what’s next for both teams from SportsTalk Mississippi beat reporters Brian Hadad (MSU) and Brian Scott Rippee (Ole Miss). Mississippi State Makes Final Statement for NCAA Tournament in 69-44 Win Over Ole Miss By MSU Beat Reporter Brian Hadad Bulldogs hammer the Rebels behind stifling defense If you could go back to November and tell Ben Howland that his team would finish 4th in the SEC and grab a double-bye in the SEC Tournament, he’d have felt very confident that not only was his Mississippi State team comfortably in the NCAA Tournament but would likely be a pretty high seed. Some unexpected non-conference losses combined with the overall weakness of the SEC have the Bulldogs on the outside looking in as the regular season comes to a close. The Bulldogs made their final statement before the postseason on Saturday, as they ran their in-state rivals from Ole Miss up and down the Humphrey Coliseum court, taking a 69-44 win over the Rebels. PERRY PUNISHES REBELS That stare down pic.twitter.com/zj5fUVPanb — SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 8, 2020 Ole Miss had no answer for Reggie Perry, as he dominated the undersized Rebel front court early and often. Perry finished the night with 22 points and 14 rebounds, his 17th double double of the season. Ole Miss tried a variety of defenders on Perry, but nobody had success. State scored 30 of their points in the paint on Saturday, where the Rebels only had 16. TYREE TRAPPED Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics Breein Tyree dominated Mississippi State in the first meeting in Oxford, torching the Bulldogs for 40 points. Ben Howland made an adjustment for today’s game, deciding to double team Tyree off ball screens with Abdul Ado, and that change gave Tyree’s worst game of the season. Tyree was 4-13 shooting for only 11 points, and had three turnovers. Nick Weatherspoon, who played what he called the worst game of his life in Oxford, had 11 points, 6 assists and zero turnovers as he hounded Tyree on the defensive end. State’s defense is what failed them in Oxford, today it led them, as they held the Rebels to 29.4% shooting. WHAT’S NEXT? Here is the 2020 @SEC Tournament Bracket #SECMBB pic.twitter.com/x1RjX5RSr4 — Craig Pinkerton (@SEC_Craig) March 8, 2020 Mississippi State will enjoy a double-bye, not having to play until Friday as a result of their fourth-place finish in the conference. They will take on the winner of Florida/Georgia vs. Ole Miss at 2:30 PM, so its possible the Bulldogs could go another round with their rivals. State probably needs at least two wins to get back into the conversation for an at-large berth, and their path would include a win over Kentucky should they get to Saturday. Ole Miss ‘not competitive’ in blowout loss at Mississippi State to end regular season By Ole Miss Beat Reporter Brian Scott Rippee STARKVILLE —The game was played on Mississippi State’s terms and the lopsided result was indicative of that. Ole Miss lost its season finale in Starkville 69-44. All-SEC forward Reggie Perry staked his claim around the rim and the Rebels offered little resistance. Perry scored 22 points and snared 14 rebounds. Eighteen of those came in the first half as the Bulldogs rode Perry to an 18-4 run to close the first half that proceeded a 39-25. The game quickly devolved into a farce in the final 20 minutes. The Bulldogs opened the second half on an 8-0 spurt, never offering Ole Miss a glimmer of opportunity to claw back into the game. When these two clubs met last month, it ended in a puzzling result after Breein Tyee went for a career-high 40 points in a blowout win for Ole Miss. This game followed a more believable script. The Bulldogs are a disastrous matchup for Davis’ bunch on the interior and Ben Howland exploited that fact possession after possession. As a physical Mississippi State group played the role of aggressor, with Perry at the tip of the spear, it entangled Ole Miss’ hapless forwards in foul trouble. The Bulldogs shot 24 free throws with 19 makes. The Rebels committed 19 fouls. “Just a man amongst boys,” Ole Miss Kermit Davis said. “Too physical. Too Big. Too strong. It’s amazing, we could guard him at home but not here. We couldn’t do anything. In that first half, when he was wound tight, we couldn’t even get to the double team. Give him credit. He’s a really good player.” The Bulldogs hammered Ole Miss on the glass to the tune of a 42-30 advantage. Mississippi State grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, compiled 30 paint points and 16 second-chance points. That, coupled with the way they defended Tyree, rendered Ole Miss completely helpless. Tyree’s 11 points on 4-13 shooting was a far cry from his first crack at Mississippi State — a 40-point masterpiece that might be the defining moment of his career. Howland and the MSU backcourt assured that wouldn’t happen again. They doubled hard off ball screens, interrupting Tyree’s dribble and coaxing him further away from the basket. “They trapped him and Breein takes one dribble and puts the ball over his head,” an exasperated Davis said. “When you trap good players, they make you pay. Breein didn’t do that. He’s struggled with that all year. . . He has to prove he can do that and we haven’t done that. Take an extra dribble or two, find someone open them pay for the double team.” The suffocating tactic disrupted Ole Miss’ entire half-court offense. Tyree was unable to shoulder the heavy scoring burden he’s had to lug all season Nick Weatherspoon cut off
McRae Announces $2 Million Now Returned to Rightful Owners of Unclaimed Property
Mississippi State Treasurer David McRae today announced $2 million has been returned to the rightful owners of the unclaimed property since he took office in January. In total, the Office of the Treasury has processed and closed 1,083 unclaimed property claims. “This is money folks are entitled to, so we’re going to be proactive about finding them and returning it,” said McRae. “We’re holding open houses in counties across the state. We’re doing our own investigative work. We’re sending out letters to those who we believe are the rightful owners. I am thrilled to have returned $2 million already, but we’re just getting started. Start your search at treasury.ms.gov.” After five years of no contact, banks, credit unions, insurance companies, retail stores, and others are required to turn over any assets for which they are unable to find the rightful owner. The Treasury Department’s Unclaimed Property Division is charged with trying to locate the owners of such assets and return the money to them. You are invited to begin your search for unclaimed property on the Treasury Department’s website: treasury.ms.gov. The post McRae Announces $2 Million Now Returned to Rightful Owners of Unclaimed Property appeared first on News Mississippi.
Maxwell: 5G Creates Opportunity for Mississippi
By Dane Maxwell, Chairman of the Mississippi Public Service Commission On February 27th, Senator John Thune of South Dakota introduced a piece of legislation titled The Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act geared to increase the number of workers enrolled in 5G training programs and to grow the overall workforce in the telecommunications industry. 5G technology can deliver speeds up to 100 times faster and connect 100 times more devices compared to current 4G networks and will have a major impact in the way we communicate, educate our students and conduct business in the future. I believe this creates tremendous opportunities here in Mississippi for our community colleges (expanded curriculum and training); businesses and industries (enhanced efficiencies and productivity); and those who live and work in rural settings (access and communication). While 5G technology is here and can be seen in large cities like New York, Atlanta and Dallas, there is still a great deal of work that must be done to get this much-needed infrastructure deployed to rural states like Mississippi. A major hurdle for us will be to establish and manage the workforce required to maintain these new 5G networks. It is estimated that 5G will create 50,000 new jobs per year throughout the initial deployment phase, with the potential to reach three million jobs. This creates an incredible opportunity for Mississippi to be a leader in this area of workforce development and training as well as help close the digital divide that many Mississippians feel, particularly in rural areas. We are fortunate to have the leadership of Senator Roger Wicker, who is the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, and great champion of similar legislation like The Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act. This legislation created more access to high-speed technology for farmers in Mississippi. The nationwide deployment of 5G is the next step in closing the urban-rural gap and will have a significant impact in areas like healthcare, education, agriculture, small business growth and streaming services, just to name a few. As Chairman of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, two of my top goals are to encourage economic development and identify new avenues to build a stronger, more sustainable workforce. The deployment of new technologies like the 5G network is a victory in both of these areas. I look forward to working closely with our state and federal leadership, industry leaders and educational institutions across the state to find solutions and partnerships that will bring more reliable networks and higher-paying jobs to Mississippi. The post Maxwell: 5G Creates Opportunity for Mississippi appeared first on News Mississippi.
Over 20 fire deaths in Mississippi in 2020
We will spring forward an hour on Sunday, but even though most clocks will automatically update, State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney says to use the time change as a reminder to test smoke alarms. So far, there have been 23 fire deaths in 2020. In 16 of those fires, there were no working smoke alarms in the home. Chaney says, “If you cannot afford smoke alarms, call your local fire department. They may be able to install alarms for free.” “This is also a good time to talk to your children and other family members in your home about what to do if there is a fire. Create an escape plan and make sure everyone knows where to meet outside of the home, in case of fire,” Chaney said. The Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office recommends the following safety tips: Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button. Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. Replace the smoke alarm immediately if it doesn’t respond properly when tested. Smoke alarms should be placed in every sleeping area and common hallways and on every level of the home. Large homes may need extra smoke alarms. A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet from the stove. Create an escape plan and make sure all family members know where to meet once out of the home. Click here for more smoke alarm and fire safety tips. The post Over 20 fire deaths in Mississippi in 2020 appeared first on News Mississippi.
Bill to extend special needs scholarship program passes Senate
A bill extending the life of Mississippi’s ‘Education Scholarship Accounts’ program has passed through the Senate. The program is currently set to expire at the end of June, but if passed, SB 2594 would extend the program through June 2024. The scholarships ($6,765) are provided to families with special needs students; allowing them to seek out a school that best suits their needs. Authored by Senate Education Chairman Senator Dennis Debar, the bill passed through the chamber by a 41-10 vote. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann voiced his support for the bill, stating that it is imperative for Mississippi’s special needs students. “This legislation allows children who have special needs to continue receiving critical services at a school which has a program addressing those needs. It also adds accountability for taxpayer dollars,” Hosemann said. “Providing children with these services is a moral, ethical, and legal obligation. I also support increasing funding for our public school special education services.” In 2019, the Mississippi Department of Education stated that the program was funded to provide 695 ESAs. The bill will now move over to the House for consideration. The post Bill to extend special needs scholarship program passes Senate appeared first on News Mississippi.
Health officials closely monitoring COVID-19
Information provided by the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) The University of Mississippi Medical Center is closely monitoring novel coronavirus cases throughout the world and in the United States. As of March 5, Mississippi has no confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan City in China’s Hubei Province in late 2019. Officials say Mississippians remain at low risk for the respiratory illness. Most acute care hospitals in Mississippi have the facilities necessary to screen, isolate and care for COVID-19 patients. UMMC says the Medical Center currently is not caring for any potential COVID-19 patients. If this changes, they have a highly skilled medical team trained to respond. In recent weeks, UMMC has taken action to protect patients, their families, and employees including: Working hand in hand with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) and the S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are processes in place to identify who should be screened for COVID-19, as well as answer questions from the public. If testing is needed, patient samples will be forwarded to MSDH. A Medical Center leadership team is spearheading preparations and response, and UMMC’s approximately 10,000 employees are being educated on COVID-19 protocol, measures they should take if they have contact with a potential COVID-19 patient, and steps they and the public can take to avoid infection. All patients who come to clinics and hospitals will be asked about their travel history and possible or confirmed contact with someone with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Patients at all clinic locations are being asked to use a facemask if they have a fever and cough. Remember, the influenza season remains very active in Mississippi, and Medical Center infectious diseases specialists say that’s the immediate threat to residents. Anyone who has not been immunized against the flu is urged to do so. Read the Medical Center’s updated news release on COVID-19. View the latest COVID-19 information from the CDC. Access information from the MSDH. View a dashboard of global COVID-19 cases, including confirmed U.S. cases, from Johns Hopkins. The post Health officials closely monitoring COVID-19 appeared first on News Mississippi.
Absentee voting deadline nears ahead of primary elections
Saturday is an important day ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections in Mississippi. If you won’t be able to make it to the polls on Tuesday, tomorrow is the in-person absentee voting deadline, and Circuit Clerk’s offices will open across the state from 8 a.m. to noon. The mail-in deadline is Monday, March 9th at 5 p.m. According to Secretary of State Michael Watson, around 10,500 of the 15,000 requested absentee ballots have been filled out and returned, which is 8,000 less than were turned in during the 2016 primaries. “As we’ve traveled around the state during our 82-county tour meeting with Circuit Clerks and Election Commissioners, we’ve consistently heard reports of lower than normal numbers regarding absentee voters,” said Secretary Watson. “Our office has been spreading the word and encouraging Mississippians as often as we can to get out and vote in the upcoming Primary Elections, so we hope those numbers will see a spike this weekend. Additionally, we’ll continue our efforts to drive up the turnout on Election Day. Too many men and women fought for our right to vote for us not to give it our all. We’ll continue to remind voters of what an honor the right to vote is and encourage them to get to the polls.” On Tuesday, you’ll vote in the Presidential primary and several Congressional races in Mississippi. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters can find their polling place and a sample ballot by visiting the Secretary of State’s Polling Place Locator. The post Absentee voting deadline nears ahead of primary elections appeared first on News Mississippi.
Mississippi’s Senate Democratic Caucus endorses Joe Biden
16 members of the state’s Senate Democratic Caucus announced their support for Joe Biden for U.S. President. The members include: State Senator Juan Barnett- Forrest, Jasper, and Jones Counties State Senator Barbara Blackmon- Attala, Holmes, Leake, Madison, and Yazoo Counties State Senator David Blount- Hinds County State Senator Hob Bryan- Itawamba, Lee, and Monroe Counties State Senator Albert Butler- Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, and Jefferson Counties State Senator Angela Ford-Turner- Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, and Oktibbeha Counties State Senator John Horhn- Hinds and Madison Counties State Senator Hillman T. Frazier- Hinds County State Senator Robert L. Jackson- Coahoma, Panola, Quitman, and Tunica Counties State Senator Sampson Jackson, III- Kemper, Lauderdale, Noxubee, and Winston Counties State Senator David L. Jordan- Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Leflore, and Tallahatchie Counties State Senator Sollie B. Norwood- Hinds County State Senator Derrick T. Simmons- Bolivar, Coahoma, and Washington Counties State Senator Sarita Simmons- Bolivar, Sunflower and Tallahatchie Counties State Senator Joseph C. Thomas, Sr.-Madison, Yazoo, Sharkey, Humphreys, Sunflower, and Washington Counties State Senator Tammy Witherspoon- Adams, Amite, Pike, Walthall, and Wilkinson Counties The senators join Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson who announced his endorsement of Biden on Thursday. Thompson said, “Joe Biden has spent his whole life serving something bigger than himself. He has fought beside us in every fight that matters. Our country is in dire need of moral leadership that can end today’s division and hate and bring our country together. Joe has shown that he has character and unmatched skills to lead us and get things done.” Mississippi’s primary election will be held Tuesday, March 10th. The post Mississippi’s Senate Democratic Caucus endorses Joe Biden appeared first on News Mississippi.
Mississippi Senate passes teacher licensure bill
A bill revising licensure requirements has cleared the Mississippi Senate unanimously, paving the way for hundreds of students to become trained as teachers. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann announced that Senate Bill 2511 would allow college students to enter a School of Education if they have achieved a 21 ACT score, OR a 3.0 grade point average on pre-major coursework, OR a passing score on the Praxis Core, the test traditionally used in teacher certification programs. The law currently requires a 21 ACT score AND a 2.75 grade point average in content coursework. “More than 50 of our school districts are facing a critical shortage in teachers this year. Many of our other districts face shortages in specific subject areas like special education and math,” Hosemann said. “This bill will open up the pipeline of teachers flowing through our universities and colleges to help address this dire situation. I am grateful for Senate Education Chairman Dennis DeBar’s commitment to this issue.” All of the Schools of Education in Mississippi’s private and public universities and colleges across the State support the change, citing the 21 ACT requirement as an obstacle blocking more than 350 students from becoming teachers. Click here to track Senate Bill 2511. The post Mississippi Senate passes teacher licensure bill appeared first on News Mississippi.