Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

Jan. 3, 2013 For several years, neurologists at UCLA have been building a case that a link exists between pesticides and Parkinson's disease. To date, paraquat, maneb and ziram -- common chemicals sprayed in California's Central Valley and elsewhere -- have been tied to increases in the disease, not only among farmworkers but in individuals who simply lived or worked near fields and likely inhaled drifting particles. Now, UCLA researchers have discovered a link between Parkinson's and another pesticide, benomyl, whose toxicological effects still linger some 10 years after the chemical was banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Even more significantly, the research suggests that the damaging series of events set in motion by benomyl may also occur in people with Parkinson's disease who were never exposed to the pesticide, according to Jeff Bronstein, senior author of the study and a professor of neurology at UCLA, and his colleagues. Benomyl exposure, they say, starts a cascade of cellular events that may lead to Parkinson's. The pesticide prevents an enzyme called ALDH (aldehyde dehydrogenase) from keeping a lid on DOPAL, a toxin that naturally occurs in the brain. When left unchecked by ALDH, DOPAL accumulates, damages neurons and increases an … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/t9s7xm/how_selegiline) has announced the addition of the "How Selegiline ((-)-Deprenyl) Slows Brain Aging" book to their offering. This e-book is a reference on Selegiline ((-)-Deprenyl) effects on the brain. Selegiline, described in thousands of research papers, is registered in over 60 countries. At present, more than one hundred preparations containing selegiline circulate in the global market under different brand names. They are widely used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, major depression and as a geroprotective / anti-aging drug. ((-)-Deprenyl) selegiline, the first selective inhibitor of B-type MAO which, in contrast to the known MAO inhibitors, did not potentiate the effect of tyramine but inhibited it. The compound could be combined with levodopa in Parkinson's disease without signs of hypertensive reactions. The DATATOP study in the USA revealed that (-)-deprenyl delayed the onset of disability associated with early, otherwise untreated Parkinson's disease. The age-related decay of the supply of the brain with phenylethylamine (PEA), due to the progressive increase of MAO-B activity in the aging brain, and dopamine, due to the better than average decline of the dopaminergic neuronal activity during the postdevelopmental phase of life, are irresistible biochemical lesions of aging. The … Continue reading →

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Amarantus BioScience, Inc. (AMBS), a biotechnology company discovering and developing treatments for diseases associated with protein misfolding and apoptosis, today announced that Dr. John W. Commissiong, CSO will present results of its Parkinson's disease neurorestoration animal studies at the OneMedForum SF 2013 conference on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 1:40pm PT. The conference will take place at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco, CA.The presentation will be webcast live at the link: http://onemedplace.com/forum/webcast/ Dr. Commissiong, Amarantus' Chief Scientific Officer, will be presenting results of the Parkinson's experiments including detailed review of behaviour, histology, densitometry and stereology data for MANF and how they compare with results obtained for GDNF. Thereafter, current Amarantus advisor Dr. Joseph Rubinfeld will provide his views on areas of significant commercial potential for MANF beyond Parkinson's disease. OneMedForum SF 2013 is an international healthcare conference where emerging private and small cap public companies present to, and meet with investors of all types including high net worth individuals, alternative investors, asset managers, hedge funds, institutional investors, and venture capitalists. SPEAKER BIOS Dr. John Commissiong, Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Commissiong has served as the Chief Scientific Officer and a Director of … Continue reading →

Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced the signing of an agreement with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc. (Otsuka) to co-develop NTCELL for the treatment of Parkinsons disease and other neurological disorders. LCT will receive an upfront payment of A$3m within 30 days of signing. In addition, Otsuka will fund all development costs, estimated at $2m, to complete the previously announced Phase I trial of NTCELL in Parkinsons disease. LCT will receive a further milestone payment of $2m when the first patient in the Phase I Parkinsons trial has been safely implanted with NTCELL. This is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2013. In return, LCT has granted Otsuka an exclusive option to jointly develop and commercialise NTCELL in Parkinsons and other neurological diseases, including hearing loss, through Diatranz Otsuka Limited (DOL), the 50:50 joint venture formed between LCT and Otsuka. If Otsuka exercises this option it will subscribe for $20 million of additional equity into DOL to fund the ongoing development of NTCELL in Parkinsons disease through to market approval and to further develop NTCELL in other neurological diseases. At the same time LCT will transfer the intellectual property for therapeutic use of NTCELL in … Continue reading →

LONDON (ShareCast) - AIM-listed pharmaceutical company Vernalis (Berlin: BBP2.BE - news) has published positive results for a Receptor Occupancy study of an antagonist with potential applications for Parkinson's disease and other Central Nervous System indications. The study examined the relationship between dose, plasma concentration and blockade of the so-called "A2A (MDD: A2A.MDD - news) " receptor using positron emission tomography scanning and included a preliminary evaluation, using functional magnetic resonance imaging of the effects of V81444, the particular antangonist, on cognitive function. The study demonstrated that full A2A blockade could be achieved with single doses that were within the range of doses previously shown to be well tolerated with no safety concerns. As such, the study has provided confirmation of the appropriate dose to be used in the forthcoming clinical proof-of-concept trial. Vernalis now plans to initiate, in the first half of next year, a Phase IIa proof-of-concept study to further evaluate the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of V81444 in patients, together with an evaluation of efficacy in a target patient population. Ian Garland, Chief Executive Officer of Vernalis, commented: "We are very pleased with these results and are already actively preparing for the continued development of this exciting programme … Continue reading →

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarantus Bioscience, Inc. (AMBS), a biotechnology company developing new treatments and diagnostics for Parkinson's disease and Traumatic Brain Injury centered on its proprietary anti-apoptosis therapeutic protein MANF, today announced the launch of a suite of online digital corporate communication channels to maintain on-going direct communication with shareholders. The Company has launched official portals on various social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and The Chairman's Blog. The Chairman's Blog is an online communication portal where Amarantus executives will be able to address important topics as they relate to the treatment of apoptosis-related disorders such as Parkinson's and Traumatic Brain Injury, as well as specific points of discussion as they relate to key events at Amarantus. President & CEO Gerald E. Commissiong penned the Company's inaugural blog post "MANF: Arresting cell death in Parkinson's disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cardiac Ischemia and more." The blog post can be found online at the official Amarantus Chairman's Blog profile provided below. "In this environment where there is an increasing need for open dialog and transparency with shareholders, the channels implemented today will allow for streamlined and efficient communication with our shareholders, while maintaining compliance with all … Continue reading →

TURKU, FINLAND--(Marketwire - Dec 11, 2012) - Biotie today reported top-line data from a Phase 2b study evaluating its adenosine A2a antagonist tozadenant (SYN115) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients experiencing levodopa related end of dose wearing off. The study met its primary endpoint of a statistically highly significant decrease in 'off' time vs. placebo, as well as demonstrating efficacy across multiple secondary endpoints. Full data from the study will be disclosed at upcoming medical conferences and in scientific publications. In the 420 patient study, tozadenant displayed clinically relevant and statistically highly significant effects on PD across multiple pre-specified evaluation metrics including: a decrease vs. placebo in 'off' time, an increase in 'on' time, an improved score on UPDRS part III and UPDRS parts I-III combined, as well as improvements on clinician- and patient-assessed global impression scores. Additionally, the study identified the minimally efficacious and maximum feasible dose levels, as well as clinically useful target doses for Phase 3. Tozadenant was generally well tolerated in the study. "This trial met all the objectives to be expected of a Phase 2 study", said Dr. Stephen Bandak, CMO of Biotie Therapies Corp. Dr. C Warren Olanow, Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at the … Continue reading →

New Delhi, Dec. 8 -- Once considered as a very effective remedy to beat stress and manage painful joint pains, acupuncture has today found wide acceptance as a treatment to manage chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and joint pains caused by arthritis and sinusitis. It is also used to manage the side effects of cancer therapy and Parkinson's disease, improve impaired vision, and even bring people out of paralysis and coma. "It is being increasingly used as an analgesic for painless childbirth and to smooth out wrinkles in place of Botox, where it is proving to be a safe option with efficient results," said Delhi-based practitioner Raman Kapur, who heads the department of acupuncture, Ganga Ram Hospital. It has also shown results in children suffering from attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and other learning disabilities. "It is completely safe provided it is conducted by an experienced practitioner," said Kapur, who organised a two-day international conference and workshop to showcase new treatment trends in acupuncture to doctors, acupuncturists and physicians from across India. Inserting needles into the body sounds painful, but Kapur assures there is a painless procedure as well. "For people who are apprehensive of needles, we have laser … Continue reading →

Linus Bike promotes the findings of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute after a study using cycling as treatment showed neurological improvement in victims of Parkinsons Bohemia, NY (PRWEB) December 06, 2012 According to Medical News Today, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute had announced at the Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting in Chicago their findings on the study. Jay L. Alberts, co-researcher Chintan Shah, and other colleagues from the Cleveland Clinic, according to Medical News Today, used functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) to investigate the effect of exercise on 26 patients aged from 30 to 75 with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease. They found increases in task-related connectivity between the primary motor cortex and the posterior region of the brain's thalamus, and conclude that faster pedaling rate was the key factor in these improvements, which were still present at follow-up. Some of the results were similar to patterns of activation during deep brain stimulation of Parkinson's patients, which is a costly and invasive treatment for late stage disease, reported Medical News Today. China Reevers, representative of Linus Bike, offered support for the study and hopes that further research will lead to a … Continue reading →

TEL AVIV, Israel, December 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Elbit Imaging Ltd. ("EI" or the "Company") (TASE, NASDAQ: EMITF) announced today that on December 3, 2012, Elbit Medical Technologies Ltd. ("Elbit Medical") (TASE:EMTC-M) (in which the Company holds approximately 90%), announced that InSightec Ltd. ("InSightec") (in which Elbit Medical holds approximately 64%, and 52.15% on a fully diluted basis) has been awarded the European CE mark for its transcranial focused ultrasound system, ExAblate Neuro, with respect to the treatment of neurological disorders in the brain, including essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and neuropathic pain. Treatment options for patients suffering from neurological disorders, who do not respond to drug treatments include deep brain stimulation, radiofrequency ablation and radiosurgery, which are invasive or involve ionizing radiation and are associated with recognized radiation risks and high risk of complications and side effects. As opposed to the above, InSightec elaborated, ExAblate Neuro offers a non-invasive treatment with no ionizing radiation by treating tissue deep in the brain through an intact skull. MR guided Focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) combines therapeutic acoustic ultrasound waves with continuous MRI guidance. The MRI enables physicians to visualize, plan, guide, monitor and control the treatment, while the ultrasound acoustic energy destroys the targeted … Continue reading →