Tears and a runny nose can be unpleasant on a windy day, but these mucosal secretions play a vital role in protecting the body from viruses and other malicious microbes. Unfortunately, mucus is also adept at washing away medication designed to treat infections and inflammation that occur when an infectious agent is successful in penetrating the body's defenses [More]
Author Archives: Fredricko
Source:Stem Cell Blowback from Proposition 71
Proposition 71 last week once again
stood in the way of action by the $3 billion California stem cell
agency.
This time it was a bit of minutia
embedded in state law that prevented the agency's governing board
from going forward. The result is that the board will have to hold
another meeting in August to approve matters that need to be acted on
in a timely fashion.
embedded in state law that prevented the agency's governing board
from going forward. The result is that the board will have to hold
another meeting in August to approve matters that need to be acted on
in a timely fashion.
The minutia involves the supermajority
quorum requirement for the board, the percentage of board members
needed to conduct business legally. Proposition 71, the 10,000-word
ballot initiative that created the agency in 2004, stipulates that 65
percent of the 29 members of the board be present for action.
quorum requirement for the board, the percentage of board members
needed to conduct business legally. Proposition 71, the 10,000-word
ballot initiative that created the agency in 2004, stipulates that 65
percent of the 29 members of the board be present for action.
Here is what happened: Late last
Thursday afternoon, CIRM directors were moving fast after a long day
of dealing with $151 million in research awards. But as they
attempted to act on proposed changes in the agency's important
intellectual property rules, one of the board members left the
meeting, presumably to catch a flight. The result was that the
meeting quickly ended after it was decided to deal with the IP
proposal and another matter during a telephonic meeting this month.
Thursday afternoon, CIRM directors were moving fast after a long day
of dealing with $151 million in research awards. But as they
attempted to act on proposed changes in the agency's important
intellectual property rules, one of the board members left the
meeting, presumably to catch a flight. The result was that the
meeting quickly ended after it was decided to deal with the IP
proposal and another matter during a telephonic meeting this month.
The quorum problem has plagued the CIRM
board since its inception, although the situation has eased since
J.T. Thomas, a Los Angeles bond financier, was elected chairman in
2011. A few years back, the board also changed its rules to allow a
limited number of board members to participate in meetings by
telephone, reducing the pressure on board members to physically
attend meetings.
board since its inception, although the situation has eased since
J.T. Thomas, a Los Angeles bond financier, was elected chairman in
2011. A few years back, the board also changed its rules to allow a
limited number of board members to participate in meetings by
telephone, reducing the pressure on board members to physically
attend meetings.
The obvious solution would be to change
the quorum to 50 percent, a reasonable standard. However, the board
is legally barred from doing that. To make the change would require a super, supermajority vote, 70 percent of
each house of the state legislature and the signature of the
governor. That is another bit that is embedded in state law, courtesy of Proposition 71. To attempt to win a 70 percent legislative vote would involve a political process
that could be contentious and also involve some horse-trading that
the stem cell agency would not like to see.
the quorum to 50 percent, a reasonable standard. However, the board
is legally barred from doing that. To make the change would require a super, supermajority vote, 70 percent of
each house of the state legislature and the signature of the
governor. That is another bit that is embedded in state law, courtesy of Proposition 71. To attempt to win a 70 percent legislative vote would involve a political process
that could be contentious and also involve some horse-trading that
the stem cell agency would not like to see.
Why does the 65-percent quorum
requirement exist? Normally, one would think such internal matters
are best left to the governing board itself. It is difficult to know
why former CIRM Chairman Bob Klein and his associates wrote that
requirement into law. But it does allow a minority to have effective
veto power over many actions by the governing board.
requirement exist? Normally, one would think such internal matters
are best left to the governing board itself. It is difficult to know
why former CIRM Chairman Bob Klein and his associates wrote that
requirement into law. But it does allow a minority to have effective
veto power over many actions by the governing board.
Of course, there is another way to look
at the problem: CIRM board members could change their flights and
stick around until all the business is done. But that would ignore
the reality that all of them are extremely busy people and have
schedules that are more than full.
at the problem: CIRM board members could change their flights and
stick around until all the business is done. But that would ignore
the reality that all of them are extremely busy people and have
schedules that are more than full.
All of this goes to one of the major policy issues in California -- ballot box budgeting and the use of initiatives that are inflexible and all but impossible to change, even when the state is in the midst of a financial crisis in which the poor, the elderly and school children are the victims. One California economist has called the situation "our special hell."
For more on some of the other problems
created by Proposition 71, see here(cap on size of staff, which took legislation to remove), here (board cannot nominate its ownchairman), here (dual executive arrangement).
created by Proposition 71, see here(cap on size of staff, which took legislation to remove), here (board cannot nominate its ownchairman), here (dual executive arrangement).
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
$20 Million in Stem Cell Irony
A bit of irony popped up this
week in the wake of approval of $151 million in awards by the
California stem cell agency.
One of the awards was $20 million to
StemCells, Inc., of Newark, Ca., which is also fighting hard for
another $20 million from the state research enterprise.
StemCells, Inc., of Newark, Ca., which is also fighting hard for
another $20 million from the state research enterprise.
However, back in 2008, Kenneth
Stratton, general counsel for the firm, put some distance between his
company and the agency, which is handing out $3 billion in toto.
Stratton, general counsel for the firm, put some distance between his
company and the agency, which is handing out $3 billion in toto.
Stratton said,
"We will take CIRM money last. We
don't want to be in a position where, years from now, we are actually
forced to sell [our products] in California at a loss."
But last week, Martin McGlynn, CEO of
StemCells, said in a press release,
StemCells, said in a press release,
“We are extremely grateful to CIRM
for its support.”
Times have changed for both the company
and CIRM, which is in the process of altering the intellectual
property rules that offended Stratton in 2008. The changes were due
to be approved last Thursday, but action was put off by the CIRM
board. It was overwhelmed as it dealt with the record pace of appeals
by researchers who were scrambling to overturn negative decisions by
grant reviewers.
and CIRM, which is in the process of altering the intellectual
property rules that offended Stratton in 2008. The changes were due
to be approved last Thursday, but action was put off by the CIRM
board. It was overwhelmed as it dealt with the record pace of appeals
by researchers who were scrambling to overturn negative decisions by
grant reviewers.
StemCells' application for another $20
million is one of those being appealed. The board will take it up
again in either September or late October, after it undergoes
additional scrutiny by the agency.
million is one of those being appealed. The board will take it up
again in either September or late October, after it undergoes
additional scrutiny by the agency.
CIRM is touting its IP changes as being
more friendly to business. They also can be made retroactive to cover
awards to business made in the past. CIRM directors expect to meet by
telephone, probably in August, to approve the new IP rules.
more friendly to business. They also can be made retroactive to cover
awards to business made in the past. CIRM directors expect to meet by
telephone, probably in August, to approve the new IP rules.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Study finds coffee may calm Parkinson's disease
Drinking too much coffee can give the average Joe the jitters, but scientists say caffeine may have the opposite effect on people with Parkinson's disease.
The Canadian study found that drinking between two and four cups of coffee a day can help control tremors, opening the door to new treatment options for the progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects more than 10,000 Kiwis.
Symptoms can include tremors, stiffness of muscles, depression, disturbance of normal sleep, fatigue and lack of sense of smell.
Parkinson's New Zealand chief executive Deirdre O'Sullivan said she was excited by the research but expressed caution at the small scale of the study.
The effect of caffeine on the healthy human brain was widely known but she had not heard any research into its effects regarding Parkinson's, she said.
Coffee could also lead to negative effects, so she said it was probably not wise for those suffering from the disease to dramatically increase their intake until more research had been done.
The study was one of the first in humans to show that caffeine can help with movement impairment in people who had the disease, said study author Ronald Postuma, of McGill University in Montreal.
Previous studies have found that people who drink caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinson's.
Sixty-one sufferers - whose symptoms included daytime sleepiness and some motor symptoms - were given either a caffeine supplement or placebo pill.
Members of the caffeine group were given 100 milligrams of caffeine twice a day for three weeks, then 200 milligrams twice a day for three weeks, which is the equivalent of between two and four cups of coffee a day.
Original post:
Study finds coffee may calm Parkinson's disease
Study finds coffee may calm Parkinson’s disease
Drinking too much coffee can give the average Joe the jitters, but scientists say caffeine may have the opposite effect on people with Parkinson's disease.
The Canadian study found that drinking between two and four cups of coffee a day can help control tremors, opening the door to new treatment options for the progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects more than 10,000 Kiwis.
Symptoms can include tremors, stiffness of muscles, depression, disturbance of normal sleep, fatigue and lack of sense of smell.
Parkinson's New Zealand chief executive Deirdre O'Sullivan said she was excited by the research but expressed caution at the small scale of the study.
The effect of caffeine on the healthy human brain was widely known but she had not heard any research into its effects regarding Parkinson's, she said.
Coffee could also lead to negative effects, so she said it was probably not wise for those suffering from the disease to dramatically increase their intake until more research had been done.
The study was one of the first in humans to show that caffeine can help with movement impairment in people who had the disease, said study author Ronald Postuma, of McGill University in Montreal.
Previous studies have found that people who drink caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinson's.
Sixty-one sufferers - whose symptoms included daytime sleepiness and some motor symptoms - were given either a caffeine supplement or placebo pill.
Members of the caffeine group were given 100 milligrams of caffeine twice a day for three weeks, then 200 milligrams twice a day for three weeks, which is the equivalent of between two and four cups of coffee a day.
Original post:
Study finds coffee may calm Parkinson's disease
Wearable monitoring system for Parkinson's patients
PARIS European researchers said they are developing a wearable monitoring system that automatically regulates the delivery of medication to Parkinson's patients.
The EU-funded REMPARK (Personal Health Device for the Remote and Autonomous Management of Parkinsons Disease) project aims to develop a Personal Health System, featuring closed loop detection, with response and treatment capabilities, for the improved management of Parkinsons disease patients.
The REMPARK system is composed of two elements. The first element is a bracelet equipped with a sensor for measuring tremor in patients, and an inertial system worn at the waist on a belt made of biocompatible material. The second part, the size of a mobile phone, is equipped with sensors and can process and wirelessly transmit the data collected.
The next step will consist in including a central server where all the data from patients will be stored, processed and analyzed to assess how each patient is evolving. Researchers suggest it will support supervising medical teams in their decision process.
Led by CETpD, the research project gathers Teknon Medical Centre, Telefnica R&D, the European Parkinsons Disease Association, research centers and companies based in Germany, Portugal, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Sweden and Belgium.
The REMPARK project, which will run until 2015, has an overall budget of 4.73 million ($5.2 million).
------------------------ If you found this article to be of interest, visit Medical Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of clean technologies. And, to register to our weekly newsletter, click here.
Read the original here:
Wearable monitoring system for Parkinson's patients
Wearable monitoring system for Parkinson’s patients
PARIS European researchers said they are developing a wearable monitoring system that automatically regulates the delivery of medication to Parkinson's patients.
The EU-funded REMPARK (Personal Health Device for the Remote and Autonomous Management of Parkinsons Disease) project aims to develop a Personal Health System, featuring closed loop detection, with response and treatment capabilities, for the improved management of Parkinsons disease patients.
The REMPARK system is composed of two elements. The first element is a bracelet equipped with a sensor for measuring tremor in patients, and an inertial system worn at the waist on a belt made of biocompatible material. The second part, the size of a mobile phone, is equipped with sensors and can process and wirelessly transmit the data collected.
The next step will consist in including a central server where all the data from patients will be stored, processed and analyzed to assess how each patient is evolving. Researchers suggest it will support supervising medical teams in their decision process.
Led by CETpD, the research project gathers Teknon Medical Centre, Telefnica R&D, the European Parkinsons Disease Association, research centers and companies based in Germany, Portugal, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Sweden and Belgium.
The REMPARK project, which will run until 2015, has an overall budget of 4.73 million ($5.2 million).
------------------------ If you found this article to be of interest, visit Medical Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of clean technologies. And, to register to our weekly newsletter, click here.
Read the original here:
Wearable monitoring system for Parkinson's patients
New hope for eyes damaged by Parkinson's disease
Scientists have discovered a new avenue for the treatment of vision loss, one of the complications of Parkinson's disease.
Gentle, non-invasive treatment with a soft infra-red light can potentially protect and heal the damage that occurs to the human retina in Parkinson's disease, says Professor Jonathan Stone from The Vision Centre and the University of Sydney.
"Near infra-red light treatment has long been known to promote the healing of wounds in soft tissues such as skin. Our recent studies are showing that it can also protect the retina of the eye from toxins which attack its nerve cells," Professor Stone said.
"We have been studying a mouse 'model' of Parkinson's disease, in which such a toxin is used to create a Parkinson-like condition. The toxin targets brain cells which use a particular signalling molecule called dopamine, and the infrared light - in the right dose and with the right timing - blocks the toxic effect."
The toxin also kills certain key retinal cells which are important in giving sharpness to the retina's coding of visual images. Infrared light also protects these retinal cells and reduces the damage.
The new results suggest that infra-red radiation will be effective in Parkinson's disease, Professor Stone said. Because the radiation is effective at low intensities, with no known toxicity, there are few barriers if any to trials in humans.
"As shown in these studies on mice, protection or rescue of neurons in the brain - and as we know now, in the retina - is better than the best established treatments for Parkinson's disease," Professor Stone said. "The challenge now is to translate these findings, made in mouse models, to human patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.
"Diseases such as Parkinson's are seriously debilitating; for the individual the need is immediate. There is every reason for clinical trials to be carried out as soon as possible."
As to the potential benefits for Parkinson's patients, he says: "Principally, we anticipate there would be a preservation of acuity, the clarity with which we can see detail and contours in the visual world. The same treatment should be protective for the brain as well, preventing or slowing the otherwise relentless progress of the disease. As always, we will need rigorous trials, to know what can be achieved."
It is no surprise, Professor Stone observed, that the same treatment works for both the brain and the retina. "The retina of the eye is really part of the brain - the only part outside the skull. It has to be outside the skull, so it can function as an eye. In many ways the retina is the most accessible part of the brain, and many discoveries about the brain have begun in the retina.
Here is the original post:
New hope for eyes damaged by Parkinson's disease
New hope for eyes damaged by Parkinson’s disease
Scientists have discovered a new avenue for the treatment of vision loss, one of the complications of Parkinson's disease.
Gentle, non-invasive treatment with a soft infra-red light can potentially protect and heal the damage that occurs to the human retina in Parkinson's disease, says Professor Jonathan Stone from The Vision Centre and the University of Sydney.
"Near infra-red light treatment has long been known to promote the healing of wounds in soft tissues such as skin. Our recent studies are showing that it can also protect the retina of the eye from toxins which attack its nerve cells," Professor Stone said.
"We have been studying a mouse 'model' of Parkinson's disease, in which such a toxin is used to create a Parkinson-like condition. The toxin targets brain cells which use a particular signalling molecule called dopamine, and the infrared light - in the right dose and with the right timing - blocks the toxic effect."
The toxin also kills certain key retinal cells which are important in giving sharpness to the retina's coding of visual images. Infrared light also protects these retinal cells and reduces the damage.
The new results suggest that infra-red radiation will be effective in Parkinson's disease, Professor Stone said. Because the radiation is effective at low intensities, with no known toxicity, there are few barriers if any to trials in humans.
"As shown in these studies on mice, protection or rescue of neurons in the brain - and as we know now, in the retina - is better than the best established treatments for Parkinson's disease," Professor Stone said. "The challenge now is to translate these findings, made in mouse models, to human patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.
"Diseases such as Parkinson's are seriously debilitating; for the individual the need is immediate. There is every reason for clinical trials to be carried out as soon as possible."
As to the potential benefits for Parkinson's patients, he says: "Principally, we anticipate there would be a preservation of acuity, the clarity with which we can see detail and contours in the visual world. The same treatment should be protective for the brain as well, preventing or slowing the otherwise relentless progress of the disease. As always, we will need rigorous trials, to know what can be achieved."
It is no surprise, Professor Stone observed, that the same treatment works for both the brain and the retina. "The retina of the eye is really part of the brain - the only part outside the skull. It has to be outside the skull, so it can function as an eye. In many ways the retina is the most accessible part of the brain, and many discoveries about the brain have begun in the retina.
Here is the original post:
New hope for eyes damaged by Parkinson's disease
Caffeine helps Parkinson’s patients move: study
Drinking coffee may help people with Parkinsons disease move with greater ease, although getting steady jolts of caffeine doesnt appear to alleviate the daytime sleepiness that affects certain patients, a study suggests.
In the Canadian-led study, researchers set out to see if caffeine could help overcome whats called daytime somnolence, a symptom that affects some patients with the progressive neurological disease.
While they didnt find an appreciable wake-up effect among subjects taking caffeine, the researchers were surprised to find that javas main ingredient appeared to enhance patients mobility.
What was significant was the movement improvement, said principal investigator Dr. Ronald Postuma, a neurologist at McGill University Health Centres research institute. And this was present both on motor symptoms, but also on the objective scoring in the motor exam.
To conduct the study, 61 people with Parkinsons disease who showed symptoms of daytime sleepiness and some motor impairment were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo pill or a caffeine tablet. Participants chosen for the study were not big coffee drinkers on average, they drank only about one cup per day.
Those in the treatment group took a pill containing 100 milligrams of caffeine twice daily for three weeks, then 200 milligrams twice daily for three weeks the equivalent of between two and four cups of coffee per day.
After six weeks, those getting caffeine supplements averaged a five-point improvement in Parkinsons severity ratings compared to those getting placebo, the researchers report in Wednesdays online issue of the journal Neurology.
The biggest problem with Parkinsons disease that affects peoples lives is the slowing of movements, Postuma said from Montreal. You move less, you have smaller movements and you do them more slowly. And then you also have some stiffness and rigidity.
And those were the things that improved, he said. So patients would move faster, their movements were more fluid, they can get dressed quicker, they can walk quicker. Their muscles are less stiff because their underlying disease is essentially improved.
The caffeine group averaged a three-point improvement in the speed of movement and amount of stiffness compared to the placebo group. However, there were no changes in reported quality of life, depression or sleep quality in participants.
Coffee May Help Control Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease
August 3, 2012
Connie K. Ho for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online
Coffee lovers take note: coffee may have health benefits related to Parkinsons disease. A new study examined the influence coffee has on the disorder. Based on the results, researchers believe that coffee can help control movement, easing the symptoms of Parkinsons. The findings are featured in the online issue of Neurology, a journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Studies have shown that people who use caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinsons disease, but this is one of the first studies in humans to show that caffeine can help with movement symptoms for people who already have the disease, explained study author Dr. Ronald Postuma, a member of the American Academy of Neurology and a researcher at the Researchers Institute of the McGill University Health Center, in a prepared statement.
In the study, 61 participants who showed symptoms of Parkinsons disease, such as daytime sleepiness, were split into two groups. One group took a placebo and the other group took a pill with 100 milligrams of caffeine twice a day for three weeks then 200 milligrams twice a day for three weeks. The second group consumed the equivalent of caffeine from two to four cups per day.
Following a six-week exam period, the group that was given caffeine supplements showed a five-point average in improvement in Parkinsons severity rating as compared to participants who were given the placebo.
This is a modest improvement, but may be enough to provide benefit to patients. On the other hand, it may not be sufficient to explain the relationship between caffeine non-use and Parkinsons, since studies of the progression of Parkinsons symptoms early in the disease suggest that a five-point reduction would delay diagnosis by only six months, noted Postuma in the statement.
The group that took caffeine also showed an average of three-point improvement in body stiffness and body movement as compared to those who were in the placebo group.
The people who received caffeine supplements experienced an improvement in their motor symptoms (a five-point improvement on the Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale, a rating scale used to measure the severity of the disease) over those who received the placebo, suggested Postuma in the statement. This was due to improvement in speed of movement and a reduction in stiffness.
However, caffeine did not positively improve daytime sleepiness, depression, or quality of life in the participants; its also important to take note that, as the study was done in a short amount of time, the influence of caffeine may decrease over time.
Excerpt from:
Coffee May Help Control Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease
Coffee May Help Control Symptoms Of Parkinson’s Disease
August 3, 2012
Connie K. Ho for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online
Coffee lovers take note: coffee may have health benefits related to Parkinsons disease. A new study examined the influence coffee has on the disorder. Based on the results, researchers believe that coffee can help control movement, easing the symptoms of Parkinsons. The findings are featured in the online issue of Neurology, a journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Studies have shown that people who use caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinsons disease, but this is one of the first studies in humans to show that caffeine can help with movement symptoms for people who already have the disease, explained study author Dr. Ronald Postuma, a member of the American Academy of Neurology and a researcher at the Researchers Institute of the McGill University Health Center, in a prepared statement.
In the study, 61 participants who showed symptoms of Parkinsons disease, such as daytime sleepiness, were split into two groups. One group took a placebo and the other group took a pill with 100 milligrams of caffeine twice a day for three weeks then 200 milligrams twice a day for three weeks. The second group consumed the equivalent of caffeine from two to four cups per day.
Following a six-week exam period, the group that was given caffeine supplements showed a five-point average in improvement in Parkinsons severity rating as compared to participants who were given the placebo.
This is a modest improvement, but may be enough to provide benefit to patients. On the other hand, it may not be sufficient to explain the relationship between caffeine non-use and Parkinsons, since studies of the progression of Parkinsons symptoms early in the disease suggest that a five-point reduction would delay diagnosis by only six months, noted Postuma in the statement.
The group that took caffeine also showed an average of three-point improvement in body stiffness and body movement as compared to those who were in the placebo group.
The people who received caffeine supplements experienced an improvement in their motor symptoms (a five-point improvement on the Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale, a rating scale used to measure the severity of the disease) over those who received the placebo, suggested Postuma in the statement. This was due to improvement in speed of movement and a reduction in stiffness.
However, caffeine did not positively improve daytime sleepiness, depression, or quality of life in the participants; its also important to take note that, as the study was done in a short amount of time, the influence of caffeine may decrease over time.
Excerpt from:
Coffee May Help Control Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease
Caffeine may provide some Parkinson's relief
A new, small study found people with Parkinson's disease who took caffeine pills saw slight but noticeable improvements in movement problems related to the condition.
The findings warrant further study, Canadian researchers said. And there are still questions - such as if patients would develop a caffeine tolerance, eventually blunting the benefits of coffee or caffeine pills.
"It's a bit too early to say, Everybody should be drinking coffee,'" said lead researcher Dr. Ronald Postuma, from McGill University in Montreal.
"Does it really make a difference over years of Parkinson's disease? I don't think we know."
Still, he said, caffeine is generally safe, so it could be worth trying for some patients with Parkinson's who aren't doing great and also have trouble with sleepiness.
About 50,000 to 60,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease every year, according to the National Parkinson Foundation. Typical symptoms include shaking and trouble with movement and coordination.
There's no cure for the disease, but some medications can make symptoms less severe.
As much as four cups of coffee
For the new study, Postuma and his colleagues randomly assigned 61 people with Parkinson's and in their mid-60s, on average, to six weeks of caffeine pills or identical drug-free placebo pills.
Participants in the caffeine group took 100 milligrams when they woke up and again after lunch for the first three weeks, then were bumped up to 200 milligrams twice a day for the rest of the study.
Continued here:
Caffeine may provide some Parkinson's relief
Caffeine May Help Treat Parkinson's Disease
By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Caffeine has previously been linked to a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, but now new research says the ubiquitous stimulant may also help treat disease symptoms.
In a small study of 61 people with Parkinson's disease, Canadian researchers found that giving the caffeine equivalent of about three cups of coffee per day improved motor symptoms, such as slow movement and stiffness. Interestingly, caffeine didn't significantly improve daytime sleepiness, a common symptom in Parkinson's disease.
"Caffeine treats Parkinson's disease," said the study's lead author, Dr. Ronald Postuma, an associate professor in the department of neurology at McGill University in Montreal.
"There was a modest effect on sleepiness that didn't reach statistical significance, but I think it was clear that it helps patients," he said. "Where we saw the most potential benefit from caffeine was on motor aspects and symptoms. People felt better and were more energetic. You could see on the exam that they were better."
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder that causes shaking, stiffness, slow movements and difficulty with balance. More than one million Americans have Parkinson's disease, and more than 50,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year, according to the National Parkinson Foundation.
In the current study, published in the Aug. 1 online edition of the journal Neurology, half of the group of Parkinson's patients was randomly assigned to receive caffeine treatment, while the other half received an inactive placebo.
To be included in the study, the volunteers had to consume less than 200 milligrams (mg) of caffeine daily -- about two cups of coffee -- and they couldn't have any heart rhythm problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or an active ulcer.
For the first three weeks of the study, those receiving caffeine were given 100 mg of caffeine twice daily -- once when they got up and again at lunchtime.
During the second three weeks, the dose was increased to 200 mg twice daily.
Read this article:
Caffeine May Help Treat Parkinson's Disease
Caffeine may provide some Parkinson’s relief
A new, small study found people with Parkinson's disease who took caffeine pills saw slight but noticeable improvements in movement problems related to the condition.
The findings warrant further study, Canadian researchers said. And there are still questions - such as if patients would develop a caffeine tolerance, eventually blunting the benefits of coffee or caffeine pills.
"It's a bit too early to say, Everybody should be drinking coffee,'" said lead researcher Dr. Ronald Postuma, from McGill University in Montreal.
"Does it really make a difference over years of Parkinson's disease? I don't think we know."
Still, he said, caffeine is generally safe, so it could be worth trying for some patients with Parkinson's who aren't doing great and also have trouble with sleepiness.
About 50,000 to 60,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease every year, according to the National Parkinson Foundation. Typical symptoms include shaking and trouble with movement and coordination.
There's no cure for the disease, but some medications can make symptoms less severe.
As much as four cups of coffee
For the new study, Postuma and his colleagues randomly assigned 61 people with Parkinson's and in their mid-60s, on average, to six weeks of caffeine pills or identical drug-free placebo pills.
Participants in the caffeine group took 100 milligrams when they woke up and again after lunch for the first three weeks, then were bumped up to 200 milligrams twice a day for the rest of the study.
Continued here:
Caffeine may provide some Parkinson's relief
Caffeine May Help Treat Parkinson’s Disease
By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Caffeine has previously been linked to a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, but now new research says the ubiquitous stimulant may also help treat disease symptoms.
In a small study of 61 people with Parkinson's disease, Canadian researchers found that giving the caffeine equivalent of about three cups of coffee per day improved motor symptoms, such as slow movement and stiffness. Interestingly, caffeine didn't significantly improve daytime sleepiness, a common symptom in Parkinson's disease.
"Caffeine treats Parkinson's disease," said the study's lead author, Dr. Ronald Postuma, an associate professor in the department of neurology at McGill University in Montreal.
"There was a modest effect on sleepiness that didn't reach statistical significance, but I think it was clear that it helps patients," he said. "Where we saw the most potential benefit from caffeine was on motor aspects and symptoms. People felt better and were more energetic. You could see on the exam that they were better."
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder that causes shaking, stiffness, slow movements and difficulty with balance. More than one million Americans have Parkinson's disease, and more than 50,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year, according to the National Parkinson Foundation.
In the current study, published in the Aug. 1 online edition of the journal Neurology, half of the group of Parkinson's patients was randomly assigned to receive caffeine treatment, while the other half received an inactive placebo.
To be included in the study, the volunteers had to consume less than 200 milligrams (mg) of caffeine daily -- about two cups of coffee -- and they couldn't have any heart rhythm problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or an active ulcer.
For the first three weeks of the study, those receiving caffeine were given 100 mg of caffeine twice daily -- once when they got up and again at lunchtime.
During the second three weeks, the dose was increased to 200 mg twice daily.
Read this article:
Caffeine May Help Treat Parkinson's Disease
MS hope: Alzheimer's disease molecule can actually REVERSE multiple sclerosis, say scientists after shock discovery
Maligned molecule found to have beneficial anti-inflammatory effect
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 05:43 EST, 3 August 2012 | UPDATED: 06:11 EST, 3 August 2012
A molecule that causes Alzheimers disease could reverse paralysis caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), a study has found.
The much-maligned molecule, known as A-beta, has until now been known as the chief culprit behind Alzheimers.
But it is also found in multiple-sclerosis lesions, which occur when immune cells invade the brain and spinal cord and attack the insulating coatings of nerve cells.
The nerve signals then get mixed up leading to blindness, loss of muscle control and difficulties with speech, thought and attention.
A woman with multiple sclerosis: The progressive condition attacks the nerve cells and over time can leave sufferers wheel-chair bound
Scientists from Stanford University in the United States wanted to investigate the role the molecule played in MS.
They used a mouse model that mimics several features of the disease - including the autoimmune attack on myelinated sections of the brain. They then injected A-beta into the rodents belly.
Original post:
MS hope: Alzheimer's disease molecule can actually REVERSE multiple sclerosis, say scientists after shock discovery
MS hope: Alzheimer’s disease molecule can actually REVERSE multiple sclerosis, say scientists after shock discovery
Maligned molecule found to have beneficial anti-inflammatory effect
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 05:43 EST, 3 August 2012 | UPDATED: 06:11 EST, 3 August 2012
A molecule that causes Alzheimers disease could reverse paralysis caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), a study has found.
The much-maligned molecule, known as A-beta, has until now been known as the chief culprit behind Alzheimers.
But it is also found in multiple-sclerosis lesions, which occur when immune cells invade the brain and spinal cord and attack the insulating coatings of nerve cells.
The nerve signals then get mixed up leading to blindness, loss of muscle control and difficulties with speech, thought and attention.
A woman with multiple sclerosis: The progressive condition attacks the nerve cells and over time can leave sufferers wheel-chair bound
Scientists from Stanford University in the United States wanted to investigate the role the molecule played in MS.
They used a mouse model that mimics several features of the disease - including the autoimmune attack on myelinated sections of the brain. They then injected A-beta into the rodents belly.
Original post:
MS hope: Alzheimer's disease molecule can actually REVERSE multiple sclerosis, say scientists after shock discovery
Unique cell type in multiple sclerosis
Published: Aug. 1, 2012 at 11:58 PM
BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers said a type of immune cell that contributes to multiple sclerosis may help in the development of new drugs to treat autoimmune disorders.
Dr. Bibiana Bielekova, an investigator at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health, said the discovery helps define the effects of one of the newest drugs -- daclizumab -- under investigation for treating MS.
Clinical trials have shown daclizumab appears to help quiet the autoimmune response in MS patients, but its precise effects on the legions of cells that make up the immune system are not fully understood, Beilokova said.
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, showed one effect of daclizumab is to thin the ranks of lymphoid tissue inducer cells, which are known to promote the development of lymph nodes and related tissues during fetal life, although their role during adulthood has been unclear.
The study is the first to implicate lymphoid tissue inducer cells in any human autoimmune disorder, Bielekova said.
"While further study is required to confirm the role of lymphoid tissue inducer cells in autoimmunity, our results point to the cells as a promising target for the development of new drugs to treat autoimmune disorders," Bielekova said in a statement.
Visit link:
Unique cell type in multiple sclerosis
"Everyday Matters" Brings Unique Resources to People Affected by Multiple Sclerosis
NEW YORK, Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Five people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been selected from nearly 1,200 entries to receive one-on-one support as they set out to overcome a challenge that affects their everyday life. Their journeys will be chronicled as part of Everyday Matters, a first-of-its kind program that draws on practical and scientific applications of positive psychology to engage and inspire those living with or affected by MS.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/55567-everyday-matters-multiple-sclerosis/
Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes people thrive. Research in this field has found a strong connection between an individual's mindset, social support system, and well-being. Using positive psychology, these individuals will address key aspects of their lives: wellness, work/education, relationships, family, and empowerment. These five topics represent aspects of life that matter most to the MS community, according to a June 2012 poll by the National MS Society.
"We've only just launched and are already thrilled by the level of interest Everyday Matters has received from the community," said National MS Society President and CEO Cyndi Zagieboylo. "This interest underscores the desire people have to define how they want to live their lives, addressing aspects that are most central to who they are as individuals, rather than being defined by their MS."
Guiding Everyday Matters is renowned positive psychology expert Shawn Achor, author of the bestselling book, The Happiness Advantage. "Our hope is to empower the MS community through simple techniques and inspiring stories," said Shawn. "Each of these individuals brings their own background, experience and perspective to the program. We can all learn from them as they practice new strategies for approaching unique yet relatable goals."
The following individuals will help to illustrate how positive psychology can help make a difference in the everyday lives of people living with MS:
Michelle Clos, a life coach certified by the International Coach Federation who is living with MS, has personally benefited from positive psychology and will work hand-in-hand with these individuals through personalized coaching sessions designed with their unique goals in mind.
"I know first-hand that 'staying positive' can become that much more challenging after being diagnosed with a chronic and unpredictable disease like MS," said Michelle. "Yet, I also know that it is possible. I have so much confidence in these five individuals and look forward to working with them each week toward achieving their personal goals, and showing the entire MS community what we can accomplish."
Each participant's journey is being chronicled in a video series produced by Kristen Adams, an Emmy-award winning producer living with MS, as well as through personal text, video, and photo journals showcased on http://www.everydayMSmatters.org. The site also offers toolkits and other resources related to positive psychology, wellness, work/education, relationships, family, and empowerment.
Everyday Matters is a joint program developed by the National MS Society and Genzyme, a Sanofi Company.
Original post:
"Everyday Matters" Brings Unique Resources to People Affected by Multiple Sclerosis