Study fnds mechanism to heal injured nerve fibres

Researchers found new mechanisms that enable the regeneration of nerve fibers, which could open up new treatment approaches for the brain, optic nerve and spinal cord injuries.

The brain, spinal cord and optic nerves are referred to collectively as the central nervous system. The nerve fibers called axons are unable to grow back following injury meaning that damage is permanent.

It is possible to partially restore the regenerative capacity of nerve cells in the central nervous system by eliminating the inhibiting protein PTEN. However, a knockout of this kind also triggers many different reactions in the cells at the same time, which often lead to cancer, explained a Prof.

As a result, the direct inhibition of this protein is not suitable for therapeutic approaches in humans. What's more, the originally postulated mechanism underlying the renewed regenerative capacity following PTEN knockout could not be confirmed in further studies, causing the researchers to seek alternative explanations.

While investigating this as-yet unclear mechanism, the researchers were able to show for the 1st time that PTEN knockout significantly inhibits an enzyme called glycogen synthase kinase 3, GSK3 for short.

This enzyme, in turn, blocked another protein called collapsin response mediator protein 2, CRMP2.
this meant that the PTEN knockout prevents CRMP2 from being inhibited by GSK3.

If we directly prevent this 2nd step, i.e., stop the inhibition of CRMP2, we can also achieven the regeneration-promoting effect in a more specific manner, explained the researcher.

The activation of CRMP2 itself is not known to have any carcinogenic effect.

Although we have so far only shown these effects in genetically modified mice using gene therapy approaches, these findings open up various possibilities for the development of new drug approaches, explained the neuropharmacologist.

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/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                       https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                     FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                   

                                https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Scientists Can Now Grow Perfect Human Blood Vessels in The Lab

The latest game changer in diabetes research might not be a new drug or a therapy. Instead, it could be a system of human blood vessels virtually identical to the ones currently transporting blood throughout your body.

What makes these blood vessels special is that they are the first ones grown in a lab - and they've already generated a new lead in diabetes treatment.

When a person has diabetes, their blood vessels often exhibit an abnormal thickening of what's known as the "basement membrane."

This thickening impairs the transfer of oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissues, which can cause a plethora of health problems ranging from kidney failure and blindness to heart attacks and strokes.

In a study, researchers  detail how they were able to coax stem cells into growing into human blood vessel "organoids," the term used for three-dimensional, lab-grown cellular systems that mimic the characteristics of organs or tissues.

They then placed the lab-grown blood vessels in a petri dish designed to mimic a "diabetic environment."

They found that the basement membrane thickened in a way that was "strikingly similar" to the thickening seen in patients with diabetes, according to a researcher.

The researchers then went on the hunt for a chemical compound that could prevent this thickening in their lab-grown blood vessels and found one: an inhibitor of the enzyme γ-secretase.

The team's study suggests that inhibiting γ-secretase in patients could be a helpful diabetes treatment, but according to a researcher, there are potential uses for lab-grown blood vessels far beyond diabetes research.

"Being able to build human blood vessels as organoids from stem cells is a game changer," he said. "Every single organ in our body is linked with the circulatory system."

"This could potentially allow researchers to unravel the causes and treatments for a variety of vascular diseases," he continued, "from Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular diseases, wound healing problems, stroke, cancer and, of course, diabetes."

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/       
                                                                                                                                                                      FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/           
                                                                           FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com   

Precision cancer therapy effective in both children and adults

Three quarters of patients, both adults and children, with a variety of advanced cancers occurring in different sites of the body responded to larotrectinib, a novel therapy that targets a specific genetic mutation. Results of this multisite phase 1/2 trial have been published in the journal on February 22, 2018. Unlike most cancer therapies, this oral treatment is based on the genetic traits of the tumor and not the organ where the cancer originated. 
 
An acquired genetic defect, TRK fusions accelerate cancer cell growth. Larotrectinib is highly selective for inhibiting this process. Fifty-five patients, ranging from 4 months to 76 years of age, with 17 unique tumor types, were treated with larotrectinib. Three quarters of patients enrolled responded to therapy and 86% of responding patients remain on study or have undergone curative surgery. No patients discontinued treatment due to drug-related side effects.

Several pediatric patients that enrolled in the study had infantile fibrosarcoma, a type of cancer that harbors a TRK fusion and is difficult to treat since it responds poorly to chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is also not a good option since it has devastating long-term effects for young patients.

"This is truly a magic bullet for our patients with TRK-positive cancer," said a researcher, who helped design the pediatric part of the study. "In some cases, this cancer can be treated surgically - often requiring amputation or another disfiguring surgical procedure. After treating our patient with infantile fibrosarcoma with larotrectinib, the cancer shrunk sufficiently and we were able to surgically remove the tumor while preserving the patient's leg."

This study is part of a noteworthy drug development program. Typically, testing of new therapies in a pediatric population is done after the drug is licensed for adults, if at all. However, larotrectinib was simultaneously studied in children and adults. A special liquid formulation was developed for administering appropriate doses to very young patients. This early pediatric focus helped to accelerate clinical development by aiding in the rapid accrual of appropriate patients.

The government granted larotrectinib breakthrough therapy designation that resulted in an expedited review. Drugs may qualify as breakthrough therapies when preliminary clinical data indicate that the new treatment offers substantial advantages over existing options for serious or life-threatening diseases. 

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-                      
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                     

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Common Antiseptics can Harm Cells

Researchers have suggested that a common class of chemical compounds may be de-energizing mammalian cells. These chemicals, quaternary ammonium compounds, or "quats," are often used in household products as anti-microbials. A report indicates that many items we consume or have in our homes including lozenges, mouthwash, toothpaste, eye drops, shampoo, lotion, or household cleaners, could be inhibiting mitochondria and estrogen signaling in cells.
 

"Disinfectants that we are putting on and in our bodies, and using in our environment, have been shown to inhibit mitochondrial energy production and the cellular estrogen response," explained the senior author.  "This raises concern because exposure to other mitochondrial-inhibiting drugs, such as rotenone and MPTP, is associated with increased risk for Parkinson's disease."

The researchers assessed how mitochondrial function was impacted by over 1,600 chemical compounds used in pharmaceuticals and household products. Quats were found to inhibit both estrogen signaling and mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are critical cell powerhouses that create vital energy. Estrogen is important to the regulation of a woman’s menstrual cycle and sexual development.

 As exposure to quats is also interrupting the sex hormone, estrogen response in cells, it could also potentially cause reproductive harm in animals or humans, and others have shown that quats cause reproductive toxicity in animals," author said.

In a study, it was found that exposure to quats (via lab disinfectant) caused reduced fertility and reproductive problems in mice. A link was also found between quats and birth defects in mice and rats.

"Our study in cells provides a mechanism for their observations in laboratory animals," noted  a  researcher. "They demonstrated that quat exposure caused reproductive toxicity in both females and males. The anti-estrogenic effects we see in cells could explain the female reproductive toxicity they observed, such as less estrus cycles and lower breeding rates.”

A growing number of studies find that quats may not be as safe as previously believed," commented an associate professor, who was not affiliated with this study. "The fact that six out of the ten most potent mitochondrial inhibitors were quats shows that this class of chemicals likely affects living systems. The results from this study are concerning because almost everyone is exposed to quats on a regular basis."

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-                        

HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                              HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM

New breast cancer drug may also combat other types of cancer

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-
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM      

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR CROCHET DESIGNS- http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com/

The drug, Palbociclib targets the rapid division of tumour cells by inhibiting the activity of the enzymes CDK4 and CDK6.

 

A new oral drug whose efficacy in combating breast cancer has been demonstrated alone and in combination with endocrine therapy also has potential to fight other types of cancer, new research has found.

 Palbociclib targets the rapid division of tumour cells by inhibiting the activity of the enzymes CDK4 and CDK6, which propel cell division and increase in number in most cancers.

It is the first CDK4/6 inhibitor to be approved for the treatment of breast cancer, researchers said.

"All living cells undergo cell division and palbociclib's unique capacity to halt the cell division process (also known as the 'cell cycle') therefore has potentially broad applicability," said the study's lead author Amy S Clark, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

"Pairing palbociclib with other anti-cancer therapies such as endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy can create a powerful combinatorial effect with real promise for addressing a variety of cancers," said Clark.

For example, amplification of CDK4 is reported in a high percentage of melanomas and esophageal cancers.

Targeted therapy uses medication and other interventions to more accurately identify and attack cancer cells, usually while doing no or little damage to normal cells.

"This drug has minor effects on normal cells other than neutrophils (white blood cells)," said the study's senior author, Peter J O'Dwyer, a professor at Penn.

"In tumours, it can cause shrinkage, or more commonly, arrest of growth. As we discover new functions for the CDK4/6 target of this medicine, we are likely to use it in combinations to make other anti-cancer agents work better," said O'Dwyer, also director of the Developmental Therapeutics Programme at the Abramson Cancer Centre (ACC) in US.

In addition to inhibiting the cell cycle, palbociclib has been shown, for example to alter several recently described non-cell cycle functions of CDK4/6, a finding expected to expand its therapeutic role, O'Dwyer added.

Assessing 130 relevant publications in the literature, as well as interpreting their own continuing studies, the team found that in addition to its safety and effectiveness in fighting certain types of breast cancer, early trials of palbociclib have shown promise of effectiveness in cases of lymphoma, sarcoma, and teratoma, tumours that while rare, often afflict younger patients.

A phase 2 trial showed that, among 17 patients with previously treated mantle-cell lymphoma, palbociclib resulted in one complete response and two partial responses.

Although, median progression-free survival was four months, five patients had progression-free survival greater than one year.

Another phase 2 trial with 29 sarcoma patients treated with palbociclib showed a progression-free survival of 66% at 12 weeks, researchers said.

The study was published in the journal JAMA Oncology.