Paralyzed man can stand and walk again, thanks to spinal implant

Here's an amazing story to end your week on a high note: a 25-year-old paraplegic is now walking again, thanks to a groundbreaking procedure developed by neuroscientists at the University of Louisville, UCLA and Cal Tech. The Oregon man, Rob Summers, was paralyzed below the chest in 2006, after getting hit by a speeding car. This week, however, doctors announced that Summers can now stand up on his own and remain standing for up to four minutes. With the help of a special harness, he can even take steps on a treadmill and can move his lower extremities for the first time in years. It was all made possible by a spinal implant that emits small pulses of electricity, designed to replicate signals that the brain usually sends to coordinate movement. Prior to receiving the implant in 2009, Summers underwent two years of training on a treadmill, with a harness supporting his weight and researchers moving his legs. This week's breakthrough comes after 30 years of research, though scientists acknowledge that this brand of epidural stimulation still needs to be tested on a broader sample of subjects before any definitive conclusions can be drawn. Summers, meanwhile, seems understandably elated. "This procedure has completely changed my life," the former baseball player said. "To be able to pick up my foot and step down again was unbelievable, but beyond all of that my sense of well-being has changed." We can only imagine.

MedicalXpress

University of Louisville

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Cassidy Arrested In New Jersey, Suspected Of Murder

Philadelphia rapper Cassidy has reportedly been arrested by New Jersey cops Saturday (May 14) while traveling in the Garden State on an arrest warrant.

The Philadelphia Police warrant squad called the Hackensack Police Department on Saturday morning to tell officers there was an open warrant for Hackensack resident Barry Reese, also known as the rapper Cassidy, Hackensack police Lt. Timothy Lloyd said.

"The warrant was for violating probation, but Reese is also a suspect in a murder and two attempted murders in Philadelphia, Lloyd said. Philadelphia police knew from a prior investigation that the rapper lived in Hackensack."

Cassidy was reportedly caught off guard when approached and arrested.

Philadelphia police told their Hackensack counterparts "to consider this person armed and dangerous," and this was a "high-risk warrant."

Officers from the Hackensack Police Emergency Response Team and the police department's juvenile bureau watched Reese's home Saturday on Reilly Court.

Reese left his house about 1:30 p.m. and was followed by police to a local convenience store, Lloyd said. An undercover ERT officer went in the store and positively identified Reese, he said. When Reese came out of the store, "the ERT units moved in and conducted a felony motor vehicle stop."

Reese "was very surprised the officers who arrested the rapper "did an outstanding job," he said. "Without the proper teamwork going on, this could have spiraled out of control quickly."

No one was injured in the arrest, Lloyd said. Reese, 28, will be brought to the Bergen County Jail Annex to await extradition to Philadelphia, Lloyd said.

source : hiphopwired.com

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Magnet Boy's big attraction

A six-year-old Croatian boy astounds his family and friends with his 'magnetic' body.

Ivan Stoiljkovic is reportedly able to stick metallic objects such as spoons, mobile phones and even frying pans to his body.

And his family, who live in a village near Koprivnica, say he can carry up to 25kg of metal stuck to his torso at a time.

He demonstrated his special talent to local journalists by taking off his shirt and sticking cutlery, a frying pan and even dumbbells to his body.

And his family claim he also has the ability to heal people with his hands, alleviating his grandfather's stomach pains and taking away the pain of a neighbour who hurt his leg in a tractor accident.

Ivan's grandfather, Ivo Stoiljkovic, said when his grandson laid his hands on his stomach they became extremely hot and the pain simply went away.

Ivan is also said to be much stronger than other children his age and is able to easily carry bags of cement as heavy as 50lbs.

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Legless acrobat follows his dream

A former shoeshine boy who was born without legs is following his dream of becoming an acrobat.

Lv Li, 30, from Shidao County, Dengfeng, Henan Province, now makes a living by performing acrobatic stunts in the street.

Lv's ambition is to be admitted to an acrobatic troupe - although he says he will be happy to continue performing on the street if he's unsuccessful.

"I love acrobatics, and I feel happy when doing it," he said.

"My health is not so good these days, and the cities are getting stricter with street performers. But I will carry on for as long as I can."

His routine, which includes handstands, snake charming, and fire-breathing, regularly attracts big crowds in the cities where he performs across the region.

His determination to overcome his disability has moved many people who have seen him perform, including a businessman who says his example stopped him from taking his own life.

The man, who was depressed after his wife had an affair, said: "I thought that if a disabled person could live so positively, how could I have any reason to give up on life?"

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Kung fu trolley dollies

High flying air hostesses are being taught high kicking kung-fu skills - to deck drunk passengers who try to grope them.

The Chinese stewardesses are taking classes in deadly Wing Chun which teaches students how to knock an aggressor out cold within seconds.

Airline bosses say their flight attendants have to deal with at least three cases a week where amorous drunks try to paw them.

"It is for their own safety and the safety of other passengers that they learn how to defend themselves.

"This kung fu works best at very close range so it is ideal for a plane," said instructor Sifu Lu Heng.

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Police officers 'appear in porn film'

Two Los Angeles traffic officers face losing their jobs after they appeared in a porn video while on duty.

The two uniformed men reportedly spank and fondle a blonde actress in broad daylight in the film, reports the LA Times.

The Los Angeles Police Department and City Attorney have joined a rapidly escalating investigation into the parking enforcement officers.

The case first surfaced in January this year when TV station KCBS showed stills from the film to LA's Department of Transportation.

Officials then responded by saying the cars appeared to be their vehicles but the officers could not be identified from the pixelated images.

Now, another station, KNBC-TV Channel 4, reports that the porn video itself has surfaced on an adult subscription website.

It shows the blonde actress approaching a city traffic officer and jumping into his arms. The officer spanks the woman and fondles her bare breasts, the station said on its website.

A second officer is spanked by the actress, who then gets into an official city car and performs lewd acts on herself, according to KNBC's account.

Agency spokesman Amir Sedadi said: "After we were provided the names of the individuals allegedly involved in the misconduct, both employees were immediately placed on administrative leave."

The Los Angeles Police Department, City Attorney, and Personnel Department had all agreed to assist in the investigation and provide recommendations, he added.

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