Medical Research Watch

Macular Degeneration Reversed by Embryonic Stem Cells

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness, may soon have a stem cell treatment to reverse the condition.

Scientists as the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields eye hospital pioneered the study. Embryonic stem cells are used to replace degenerated cells, with promising success. An artificial membrane carries the stem cells and is placed in the back of the retina.

According to some surgeons, although it will take several years to perfect and bring to market, the treatment, once offered, could be done within perhaps an hour as a routine procedure.

For more information on this, please visit: http://www.breakthroughdigest.com/eye-ailments/stem-cells-demonstrated-to-reverse-macular-degeneration-blindness/.

Brain Enzyme Role in Schizophrenia-like Symptoms

Within the brain is an gene known as DISC1, or “disrupted in schizophrenia 1”. Researchers at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have been focusing on the role that a key enzyme may have on DISC1. The enzyme is known as glycogen synthaw kinase 3 beta, or GSK3B.

Understanding the relationship between DISC1 and GSK3B may provide for future treatments in schizophrenic-like symptoms, which include disorganized thoughts, hallucinations and delusions, among others. Lithium, a common drug used to treat schizophrenia also works on the GSK3B enzyme as when the enzyme is inhibited, the schizophrenic-like symptoms are reversed. The new study focuses on identifying how DISC1 functions normally and the interaction between DISC1 and GSK3B.

For more information please visit http://www.breakthroughdigest.com/schizophrenia/blocked-enzyme-reverses-schizophrenia-like-symptoms/#more-2069.

Mutated Genes Identified In Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma is the most common of all childhood cancers and is characterized by a tumor in the cerebellum. Funding provided by the Canadian Cancer Society has allowed researchers to focus on identifying eight genes that, when mutated, appear to have some responsibility for the development of this childhood disease.

These eight genes, when functioning correctly, appear to be responsible for creating a protein that alerts the brain when to stop growing. So far, the research indicates that when the genes have mutated, the message to stop growing may not occur, and the brain continues to grow, ultimately leading to cancer.

The hope of the study is that drugs may be able to be developed that can be used to target those proteins responsible for the messaging. As a result, children with medulloblastoma could more readily survive and hopefully experience less severe side effects.

For more information on this study, please visit http://www.breakthroughdigest.com/brain-news-ailments/researchers-discover-gene-mutations-that-cause-childhood-brain-cancer/#more-2046.

Teriparatide New Bone Healing Treatment

An alarming statistic, and not one that is commonly known is that approximately one quarter of all women with hip fractures will die as a result of complications. There are six million bone fractures per year in the United States and approximately 5% of those fractures will heal poorly in incompletely. For fractures such as hip fractures, where there is little that can be done but wait for time to heal the break, the drug Teriparatide appears to be making news.

Patients who have been put on Teriparatide, a drug known for being effective with osteoporosis, seem to be healing faster after taking the drug. Bone fractures can be particularly difficult for older individuals as the healing process is not as swift as it is when we are children. However, after taking Teriparatide, many patients are experiencing a much quicker healing period.

The research is particularly promising and the National Institute of Health has funded a new clinical study to further research the impact of this drug on the healing process in bone fractures.

If you would like more information about this very promising study, visit http://www.breakthroughdigest.com/stem-cell-research/scientists-discover-technique-to-jumpstart-bones-healing-process/.