#100: Quest for the Best in Neurology, Installment #6 [27:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (351)

Part 2 of a 2-part mini series.

After we give you a quick recap on Part 1 from last week…

Hear these reports:

1. Neurons Can be Generated From Glial Cells. Glia cells are stem cells in the brain, and using specific transcription factors they can be induced to differentiate into functional nerve cells. With this remarkable discovery, we have yet another means of potentially replacing – regenerating - damaged brain cells after injury or disease, by transforming the endogenous glia cells into neurons.
2. Getting closer to being able to transplant stem cells into the human brain. Stem cells implanted into the hippocampi of mice increased new nerve cells by 65% and new astrocytes rose by essentially 125%.
3. Implanted cardiac stem cells prevented life-threatening arrhythmias. Essentially 100% of the control mice developed V-tach (the mice that had myocardial infarctions, but were not given the stem cells). But the mice that were given the stem cells (after having an MI) had the same risk of developing V-tach as healthy mice which did not have MIs. Explained by stem cell gene’s ability to synthesize cellular protein Connexin 43.
4. Human embryonic heart stem cells condition – bring health to - mice hearts after MIs. The stem cells - epicardium derived stem cells - had what was described as “an almost instant stimulating effect on the surrounding heart tissue.”
5. Elsevier Launches New Journal: “Stem Cell Research.” The new journal will focus on “high-quality research in all aspects of stem cell science. Report describes stem cell therapy (regenerative medicine) as “a field growing faster than any other in the life sciences.”
6. Stem cell therapy rescues motor neurons in ALS model. The researchers saw almost 100 percent protection of the motor neurons. However, the motor neurons apparently could not maintain their synaptic connections with the muscles they control. More research needed to explain why.
7. Nanomedicine Opens The Way For Nerve Cell Regeneration. Researchers at the university of Miami demonstrated that magnetic nanoparticles result in ‘mechanical tension’ that stimulates the growth of axons. And researchers at University of California, Berkeley use nanofibers containing growth factors to provide what is described as a ‘bioactive matrix’ on which neurons can regrow.

Next week’s show: Our 7th installment of Reign Over Pain - Commanding news you can use to benefit your hurting patients. Here are a few topics on which we’ll be presenting news: Migraine and Serotonin Syndrome, Postpartum Headache, fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy.