A tetracycline derivative for the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy .....

A chemical cousin of the common antibiotic tetracycline (PTK-SMA1) might be useful in treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a currently incurable disease that is the leading genetic cause of death in infants. This is the finding of a research collaboration involving Adrian Krainer, Ph.D., of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and scientists from Paratek Pharmaceuticals and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

About SMA :

SMA is caused by mutations in a gene called Survival of Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1), resulting in a decrease in the levels of SMN protein in the motor neurons of the spinal cord -- the cells that control muscle activity. Without the protein, these neurons degenerate, and infants born with the mutations progressively lose the ability to move, swallow, and breathe. There are no approved therapies for the treatment of SMA.

Mode of action of PTK-SMA1 :

The new molecule boosts the levels of SMN protein in cells by fixing a mistake in a cellular processing mechanism called RNA splicing. The drug candidate targets the splicing of a gene called SMN2, which is essentially a back-up copy to the SMN1 gene that’s mutated beyond repair in SMA patients. SMN2 doesn’t compensate for the loss of SMN1, however, because it produces too little functional protein. Most of the protein that is produced is missing a single important piece, without which the protein rapidly degrades. The significance of this finding is in the fact that “PTK-SMA1 is the only small molecule known to specifically alter RNA splicing by directly and solely targeting the splicing reaction” . Other molecules that affect splicing also affect other cellular processes, thus diluting their potency, and potentially increasing the risk of side effects. PTK-SMA1 has the added advantage of being a derivative of tetracyclines, which are nontoxic and have demonstrated safety in humans...

Source : http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/1/5/5ra12.abstract.

Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Restores Walking Ability In Rats With Neck Injuries..

The first human embryonic stem cell treatment approved by the FDA for human testing has been shown to restore limb function in rats with neck spinal cord injuries -- a finding that could expand the clinical trial to include people with cervical damage.

More....Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Restores Walking Ability In Rats With Neck Injuries

Simvastatin prevents progression of Parkinson's Disease ?

About Simvastin :
Simvastatin, (marketed under the names Zocor, Simlup, Simcard, Simvacor) is a hypolipidemic drug belonging to the class of pharmaceuticals called "statins". It is used to control hypercholesterolemia and to prevent cardiovascular disease. Simvastatin is a synthetic derivate of a fermentation product of Aspergillus terreus. When I was working with Bangalore based company, the sister company was working on it and now its marketing too.

Recently researchers from the Rush University, have found an interesting fact that Simvastin, may prevent Parkinson's disease from progressing further. The authors have shown that the activity of one protein called p21Ras is increased very early in the midbrain of mice with Parkinson's pathology. Simvastatin enters into the brain and blocks the activity of the p21Ras protein and other associated toxic molecules, and goes on to protect the neurons, normalize neurotransmitter levels, and improves the motor functions in the mice with Parkinson's.

If the researchers are able to replicate these results in Parkinson's patients in the clinical setting, it would be a remarkable advance in the treatment of this devastating neurodegenerative disease. Hope some relief to the sufferers of Parkinson disease....

Ref : http://www.rush.edu/webapps/MEDREL/servlet/NewsRelease?id=1304

Mayan Calendar / 2012 Hoax Explained

Mayan Calendar / 2012 Hoax Explained...

But don't miss the movie based on this story..

Sprycel (Dasatinib) for ovarian cancer ?

Dasatinib, is a cancer drug produced by Bristol-Myers Squibb and sold under the trade name Sprycel. Dasatinib is an oral dual BCR/ABL and Src family tyrosine kinases inhibitor approved for use in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) after imatinib treatment and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). It is also being assessed for use in metastatic melanoma. Its named after Jagabandhu Das, who was a member of the large discovery and development team at Bristol Myers Squibb.

Recently, researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that Sprycel, significantly inhibited the growth and invasiveness of ovarian cancer cells and also promoted their death. The drug, when paired with a chemotherapy regimen, was even more effective in fighting ovarian cancer in cell lines in which signaling of the Src family kinases, associated with the deadly disease, is activated. The researchers are excited because of the fact that "recent gene expression studies have shown that about one-third of women have ovarian cancers with activated Src pathways", so the drug could potentially help 7,000 ovarian cancer patients every year. Gottfried Konecny (lead researcher) said, it also inhibits the focal adhesion kinase and ephrin receptor, (drug is known to inhibit in many pathways) also associated with ovarian cancer. Though clinical trials are still to be established , its a remarkable achievement. More details .....

Electricity from sugarcane biomass...

Engineer Vikram Seebaluck of the University of Mauritius and energy technology Dipeeka Seeruttun of the Royal Institute of Technology, in Stockholm, Sweden, have demonstrated that an optimal blend of sugarcane agricultural residues (30%) mixed with 70% sugarcane bagasse (the fibrous residue left after sugar production) can be used to generate electricity at a cost of just 0.06 US dollars per kilowatt hour. That figure is on a par with the costs of other renewable energies, including wind power at $0.05/kWh.

Currently, sugarcane bagasse is burnt for onsite heat and electricity production at sugar factories and surplus electricity is exported to the grid. That still leaves 24 tonnes per hectare of waste in the fields. As per the claim by the researchers, the waste has a similar energy content to bagasse, which could make it technically viable to use this material together with bagasse in a more effective way for electricity production. The 30:70 mixture of waste and bagasse reduces the risk of fouling or slagging of the furnaces used to burn the material. I would say a kannada proverb "kasadinda rasa"..(meaning sweet solution from the waste)

Ref : http://www.inderscience.com/search/index.php?action=record&rec_id=29081&prevQuery=&ps=10&m=or

Cequent Pharmaceuticals proposes the first test of an orally administered RNA interference drug in humans

Cequent Pharmaceuticals proposes the first test of an orally administered RNA interference drug in humans

Cholesterol-lowering drugs associated with reduced risk of gallstone disease

Cholesterol-lowering drugs associated with reduced risk of gallstone disease

Anti-aging products from Schisandra Chinesis..

Schisandra (Magnolia Vine) is a genus of shrub commonly grown in gardens. Species include S. chinensis, S. glaucescens, S. rubriflora and S. rubrifolia. (picture right side : Schisandra Chinensis). In traditional Chinese medicine it is used as a remedy for many ailments: to resist infections, increase skin health, and combat insomnia, coughing, and thirst.

Recently, Glissandra Skincare Inc, announced the launch of three anti-aging products. As per the claim by the company, the key ingredient is Glissandrin,™ an exclusive suite of powerful extracts from the Schisandra berry (see above picture).

In both in-vitro and in-vivo studies, the proprietary Glissandrin formulation has proven effective in improving the visible signs of skin aging. Glissandrin does not change the cells, it nourishes them with a unique combination of natural ingredients and advanced technology, thereby supporting the healthiness of the skin cells and helping to sustain their natural ability to combat the leading causes of skin aging.

Ref : http://www.glissandra.com/story.html

Researchers discover cells that protect the respiratory tract from developing an allergic response

Researchers discover cells that protect the respiratory tract from developing an allergic response