International patient alliance to fund Spanish Friedreich's ataxia gene-therapy project
(Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)) The gene therapy-based research project to tackle Friedreich's ataxia launched in November in labs at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, in Barcelona, and the "Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa", in Madrid, has received 100,000 US$ per year for two years from the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - January 28, 2014 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Agilis and Intrexon partner to develop DNA-based therapeutics for rare genetic disease
US-based synthetic biology companies Agilis Biotherapeutics and Intrexon have entered into an exclusive channel collaboration (ECC) agreement to develop DNA-based therapeutics for Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), a rare genetic neurodegenerative disease. (Source: Pharmaceutical Technology)
Source: Pharmaceutical Technology - January 3, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
The Top 7 Tox Articles of 2013
As we celebrate the year just ending, and welcome in 2014, let’s pause and remember some of the articles in the field of medical toxicology that most impressed TPR during 2013. The following 7 papers are listed in chronological order (links connect to TPR‘s discussion of each article):
Pediatric Marijuana Exposures in a Medical Marijuana State. Wang GS et al. JAMA Pediatr 2013 July;167:630-3 With several states legalizing recreational marijuana — and many more allowing medical marijuana — cases of inadvertent pediatric exposure to cannabis will undoubtedly increase, and it is important for emergency practi...
Source: The Poison Review - December 31, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical 2013 medical toxicology top articles Source Type: news
Increased gait variability is associated with the history of falls in patients with cerebellar ataxia - Schniepp R, Wuehr M, Schlick C, Huth S, Pradhan C, Dieterich M, Brandt T, Jahn K.
Falls are common in patients with cerebellar ataxia (CA). Identification of gait variables associated with a higher risk of falls allows us to detect fallers and initiate protective procedures early. Gait variability, which is increased in CA patients, is ... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - December 2, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Ergonomics, Human Factors, Anthropometrics, Physiology Source Type: news
Patients and scientists join forces to tackle Friedreich's Ataxia
(Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)) The Spanish Federation of Ataxia -- in representation of the GENEFA Platform for a Friedreich's Ataxia cure --, the Babel Family association for biomedical research into Friedreich's Ataxia, the "Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa", and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine have signed an agreement through which these patients' associations will fund, by means of donations, a 3-year research project addressing Friedreich's Ataxia. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - November 14, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
In-home measurement of the effect of strategically weighted vests on ambulation - Wallace R, Abbott C, Gibson-Horn C, Skubic M.
Strategically weighted vests are currently being used to treat patients with Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, and ataxia. While studies have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of these vests, there has been very little research into the mechan... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - October 23, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Age: Elder Adults Source Type: news
Patients with autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia have more risk of falls, important balance impairment, and decreased ability to function - Aizawa CY, Pedroso JL, Braga-Neto P, Callegari MR, Barsottini OG.
OBJECTIVES: To assess balance and ability to function in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia. METHODS: A total of 44 patients with different spinocerebellar ataxia types 1, 2, 3, and 6 were evaluated using the Tinetti balance and gait assessment and the f... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - September 4, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Ergonomics, Human Factors, Anthropometrics, Physiology Source Type: news
Typhoid presenting as acute cerebellar ataxia
Typhoid fever, also called typhoid, is caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi, both of which are acquired by ingestion of contaminated food and water. The global disease burden is approximately 21 million cases annually, with nearly 216,510 deaths reported during the year 2000 (). The clinical presentations of typhoid fever are variable, ranging from isolated high-grade fever to focal organ involvement. Approximately 10% of untreated cases of typhoid fever develop complications, and among these, atypical neurological manifestations can present as headache, delirium, typhoid me...
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - August 12, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Moiz Salahuddin, Muhammad Qamar Masood Source Type: news
Gut bacteria linked to immune system cancer, lymphoma
Scientists say they have discovered that specific bacteria found in the intestines are major contributors to lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells in the immune system. The researchers, from the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) at the University of California in LA (UCLA), studied mice with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), a genetic disease that is associated with a high rate of B-cell lymphoma in humans and mice. Their study is published in The Journal of Cancer Research... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - July 17, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Lymphoma / Leukemia / Myeloma Source Type: news
Gut Bacteria Linked To Immune System Cancer Lymphoma
Scientists say they have discovered that specific bacteria found in the intestines are major contributors to lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells in the immune system. The researchers, from the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) at the University of California in LA (UCLA), studied mice with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), a genetic disease that is associated with a high rate of B-cell lymphoma in humans and mice. Their study is published in The Journal of Cancer Research... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - July 17, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Lymphoma / Leukemia / Myeloma Source Type: news
UCLA researchers find link between intestinal bacteria and white blood cell cancer
This study is the first to show a relationship between intestinal microbiota and the onset of lymphoma," Schiestl said. "Given that intestinal microbiota is a potentially modifiable trait, these results hold considerable promise for intervention of B-cell lymphoma and other diseases."
The scientists also were able to create a detailed catalog of bacteria types with promoting or protective effects on genotoxicity and lymphoma, which could be used in the future to create combined therapies that kill the bacteria that promote cancer (as antibiotics do) and increase the presence of the bacteria that protect from cancer ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - July 16, 2013 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
Movement Disorder Docs Meet Down Under
SYDNEY (MedPage Today) -- Parkinson's disease will get the main spotlight at the annual meeting of the Movement Disorder Society next week, but dystonia, tics, ataxia, spasticity, and other disorders will share the stage here. (Source: MedPage Today Geriatrics)
Source: MedPage Today Geriatrics - June 14, 2013 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: news
Positive Effects Of Interferon-Beta In Mice With Spinocerebellar Ataxia 7
The group of genetic conditions known as spinocerebellar ataxias currently have no treatment or cure and are always fatal, in the case of affected children, at an early age. Symptoms include a progressive lack of co-ordination of gait, and poor co-ordination of hands, speech and eye movements, due to a failure of co-ordination of muscle movements. Now researchers from France and the US have found a new way of controlling the symptoms and significantly improving the physical condition of animal models of the disease, the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics heard. Dr... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - June 11, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology / Neuroscience Source Type: news
What are manifestations of inadvertent pediatric marijuana intoxication?
3.5 out of 5 stars
Pediatric Marijuana Exposures in a Medical Marijuana State. Wang GS et al. JAMA Pediatr 2013 May 27 [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract
In October 2009, the US. Justice Department decided not to prosecute medical marijuana users and suppliers who were conforming to state laws. As a result, in Colorado the use of medical marijuana skyrocketed. The effects of this change — especially on children — are not yet completely understood.
The goal of this paper, from the Rocky Mountain Poison Center and the University of Colorado School of Medicine, was to compare the number of children seen in a tertiary-care pe...
Source: The Poison Review - June 4, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical marijuana pediatric ingestion THC Source Type: news
Reducing Levels Of Ataxin-1 May Be The Answer In Neurodegenerative Disorders
In some neurodegenerative diseases, and specifically in a devastating inherited condition called spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1), the answer may not be an "all-or-nothing," said a collaboration of researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital and the University of Minnesota in a report that appears online in the journal Nature. The problem might be solved with just a little less... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - May 31, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Alzheimer's / Dementia Source Type: news
