National (PRWEB) May 01, 2014 What do you believe in? What drives you? What gets you up and out of bed in the morning? Is it money? Is it family? Is it hope? For families living with a loved one fighting Friedreichs ataxia (FA), it is the belief that one day there will be a treatment and a cure for this debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuro-muscular disorder. Meet Ryelee Burris. She is 8 years old. She was diagnosed with FA when she was 5 years old. Ryelee sat in her wheelchair at the starting line of cycling fundraiser to benefit the Friedreichs Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) holding a sparkly sign that said, "Cure FA. We believe." Ryelee believes in a cure. Like the thousands of people living with FA, she hopes and believes. But she needs more than that, she needs action. Help FARA raise awareness by joining us in a new social media initiative leading up FA Awareness Day on May 17, 2014 called We Believe. Complete the downloaded sign telling us what you believe in and take a photo with it: http://curefa.org/_pdf/FA-Awareness-Day2014.pdf. Then, upload your pictures at: https://www.facebook.com/CureFA. To learn more about Ryelees story go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ryelee-Burris-Story/599141860128996. FARA will … Continue reading →

Background Friedreich's ataxia is a progressive degenerative disorder caused by deficiency of the frataxin protein. Expanded GAA repeats within intron 1 of the frataxin (FXN) gene lead to its heterochromatinisation and transcriptional silencing. Preclinical studies have shown that the histone deacetylase inhibitor nicotinamide (vitamin B3) can remodel the pathological heterochromatin and upregulate expression of FXN. We aimed to assess the epigenetic and neurological effects and safety of high-dose nicotinamide in patients with Friedreich's ataxia. Nicotinamide was generally well tolerated; the main adverse event was nausea, which in most cases was mild, dose-related, and resolved spontaneously or after dose reduction, use of antinausea drugs, or both. Phase 1 showed a dose-response relation for proportional change in frataxin protein concentration from baseline to 8 h post-dose, which increased with increasing dose (p=00004). Bayesian analysis predicted that 38 g would result in a 15-times increase and 75 g in a doubling of frataxin protein concentration. Phases 2 and 3 showed that daily dosing at 356 g resulted in a sustained and significant (p … Continue reading →

TWIS Minion / Science Island Hangout - May 1, 2014 Ed Dyer, Ulysses Adkins and Jani Turunen talking about Ganymede's "club sandwich" oceans, NASA's space life rafts, stem cells therapy regenerating heart muscles, blood and cartilage. Show... By: Edward Dyer … Continue reading →

Home > News > health-news Sydney, May 1 : The humble teeth can come to rescue your brain. Researchers at University of Adelaide have discovered that stem cells taken from teeth can grow to resemble brain cells and can be used in the brain as a therapy for stroke. "Stem cells from teeth have great potential to grow into new brain or nerve cells and this could potentially assist with treatments of brain disorders, such as stroke," explained Kylie Ellis, a commercial development manager with the University's Adelaide Research & Innovation (ARI). In the University's centre for stem cell research, lab studies have shown that stem cells from teeth can develop and form complex networks of brain-like cells. The reality is that treatment options available to the thousands of stroke patients every year are limited. "Ultimately, we want to be able to use a patient's own stem cells for tailor-made brain therapy that does not have the host rejection issues commonly associated with cell-based therapies," Ellis noted. Another advantage is that dental pulp stem cell therapy may provide a treatment option available months or even years after the stroke has occurred, she added. "We can do this by providing an … Continue reading →

May 1, 2014 Image Caption: This is the distinct neuronal-like appearance of a mouse-derived dental pulp stem cell following the induction process. Credit: Dr. Kylie Ellis, University of Adelaide. University of Adelaide University of Adelaide researchers have discovered that stem cells taken from teeth can grow to resemble brain cells, suggesting they could one day be used in the brain as a therapy for stroke. In the Universitys Centre for Stem Cell Research, laboratory studies have shown that stem cells from teeth can develop and form complex networks of brain-like cells. Although these cells havent developed into fully fledged neurons, researchers believe its just a matter of time and the right conditions for it to happen. Stem cells from teeth have great potential to grow into new brain or nerve cells, and this could potentially assist with treatments of brain disorders, such as stroke, says Dr Kylie Ellis, Commercial Development Manager with the Universitys commercial arm, Adelaide Research & Innovation (ARI). Dr Ellis conducted this research as part of her Physiology PhD studies at the University, before making the step into commercialization. The results of her work have been published in the journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy. The reality … Continue reading →