New Drug Combo Could Repair the Brains of Alzheimer’s Patients

Neurons receive, process, and transmit all the impulses in our brains. Essentially, they’re the building blocks of the human nervous system, and once they’re damaged by Alzheimer’s disease or some other brain injury, they’re done for — they have no regenerative abilities.

In contrast, the glial cells that support and insulate neurons do have regenerative abilities, and now, researchers think they've found an efficient way to actually transform glial cells into neurons — a discovery that could lead to a pill to repair brain damage.

Molecular Report

Based on a previous study, the team knew it was possible to convert human glial cells into neurons using a sequence of nine tiny molecules. However, the large number of molecules and specific sequence made transitioning the research from the lab to something that could work in a clinical environment difficult.

In a study published on Thursday, the  team describes how it found a way to streamline the process of creating neurons out of a type of glial cells called astrocytes with remarkable success.

“We identified the most efficient chemical formula among the hundreds of drug combinations that we tested,” a researcher said in a press release. “By using four molecules that modulate four critical signaling pathways in human astrocytes, we can efficiently turn human astrocytes — as many as 70 percent — into functional neurons.”

Dream Delivery

 The team acknowledged in the press release that it still has a long road ahead before its latest research will be able to help people with brain damage, but it’s extremely optimistic about the future.
“The most significant advantage of the new approach is that a pill containing small molecules could be distributed widely in the world, even reaching rural areas without advanced hospital systems,” research leader said.

“My ultimate dream is to develop a simple drug delivery system, like a pill, that can help stroke and Alzheimer's patients around the world to regenerate new neurons and restore their lost learning and memory capabilities,” he continued. “Our years of effort in discovering this simplified drug formula take us one step closer to reaching our dream.”

 

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Drug Combination Generates New Neurons from Neighboring Cells

In a study published in Stem Cell Reports, scientists at Penn State University have developed a drug cocktail that converts neighboring cells—often known as glial cells-- of damaged neurons into functional new neurons. The study could open doors to treating stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and brain injuries. Glial cells normally provide support and insulation for neurons.

" The biggest problem for brain repair is that neurons don't regenerate after brain damage, because they don't divide," explain researchers. "In contrast, glial cells, which gather around damaged brain tissue, can proliferate after brain injury. I believe turning glial cells that are the neighbors of dead neurons into new neurons is the best way to restore lost neuronal functions."

The current research study tested various numbers and combinations of molecules that will identify a streamlined approach to the reprogramming of astrocytes, a type of glial cells, into neurons. The result was chemically converted neurons that can survive for a while in a culture dish. These neurons form robust neural networks that send electrical and chemical signals for communication—just as normal neurons do.

"We identified the most efficient chemical formula among the hundreds of drug combinations that we tested," says a researcher. "By using four molecules that modulate four critical signaling pathways in human astrocytes, we can efficiently turn human astrocytes -- as many as 70 percent -- into functional neurons."

"The most significant advantage of the new approach is that a pill containing small molecules could be distributed widely in the world, even reaching rural areas without advanced hospital systems," he said. "My ultimate dream is to develop a simple drug delivery system, like a pill, that can help stroke and Alzheimer's patients around the world to regenerate new neurons and restore their lost learning and memory capabilities."

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       
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Cocktail of diabetes and hypertension drugs kills cancer cells

A combination of drugs for diabetes and hypertension may offer an effective new way to combat cancer, suggests a new research.
In their experiments, the researchers found that the combination of the diabetes drug metformin and the antihypertensive drug syrosingopine drives cancer cells to programmed "suicide". 

"We have been able to show that the two known drugs lead to more profound effects on cancer cell proliferation than each drug alone," said study first author Don Benjamin from the University of Basel in Switzerland.

"The data from this study support the development of combination approaches for the treatment of  cancer patients," Benjamin noted.
Metformin is a widely prescribed drug for the treatment of Type-2 diabetes.

Besides its blood sugar lowering effect, it also displays anti-cancer properties. The usual therapeutic dose, however, is too low to effectively fight cancer.

At higher doses, the anti-diabetic drug inhibits the growth of cancer cells but could also induce unwanted side effects.

The new research published in the journal Science Advances showed that the anti-hypertensive drug syrosingopine enhances the anti-cancer efficacy of metformin.

The study showed the cocktail of these two drugs is effective in a wide range of cancers.

"For example, in samples from leukemia patients, we demonstrated that almost all tumour cells were killed by this cocktail and at doses that are actually not toxic to normal cells", Benjamin said.
"And the effect was exclusively confined to cancer cells, as the blood cells from healthy donors were insensitive to the treatment," Benjamin noted.

In mice with malignant liver cancer, enlargement of the liver was reduced after the therapy. Also the number of tumour nodules was less -- in some animals the tumours disappeared completely.
The researchers found that the drugs interrupt the vital processes which provide energy for the cancer cell.

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