#100: Quest for the Best in Neurology, Installment #6 [27:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (234)

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.

 

 #99: Quest for the Best in Neurology, Installment #5 [22:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (210)

Part 1 of a 2-part mini series.

Hear these reports:

1. Simple Cocktail Turns Human Skin Cells (Fibroblasts) into Embryonic Stem Cell-Like Cells: the ‘right to life’ issues may now be out of the equation.
2. Rapid decision (as result of #1): California Stem Cell Agency heavily funds research on the non-embryonic stem cells: the ‘skin-cell-to-stem-cell discovery’ is already influencing the plans at the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine - just one week after the Japanese scientists announced their dramatic breakthroughs in Cell.
3. Remote-Presence Robots Help Extend Reach of Neurologists: Thirty (30) robots deployed throughout some Michigan hospitals maximize the coverage by stroke neurologists and endovascular specialists. Their remote robotic presence cuts the time needed to respond to stroke patients from 2 hours (or more), down to just 10 minutes or less.
4. Software Helps Build Perfect Robotic Hand: Scientists in Shanghai and Portsmouth are working on intelligent software that will take us one step closer to building the perfect robotic hand. Along with stem cell therapies, this technology also has the potential to revolutionize medicine. Development of robotic hands, which can perform tasks with the dexterity of a human hand, is described as “one of the holy grails of science.”

Other Web Links:

• Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation’s patent claim on all human embryonic stem cells.
• Patent on process using stem cells to generate nerve cells.
• CellCyte Genetics Corporation’s approval of its patent for methods to direct and deliver stem cells to target organs in the body.

Citation: Yamanaka, et al.: “Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Adult Human Fibroblasts by Defined Factors.” Publishing in Cell 131, 5, November 30, 2007. www.cell.com

Next week’s show: Part 2 of Quest for the Best in Neurology (installment #6). We’ll report on how nanomedicine is opening new paths in our quest for nerve cell regeneration; also milestones in the regeneration of brain cells; and how stem cell therapy rescues motor neurons in an ALS model. We’ll also touch upon research related to the heart stem cell therapy we mentioned in todays show (Part 1): how stem cells train the heart following a heart attack. And we’ll cover a number of other stem-cell-related headlines too.

 

 #44 - Quest for the Best in Neurology #4 [34:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (348)

Our fourth installment of Quest for the best in Neurology.

Publication Date: 11/17/06.

Show Notes:

1. Palliative Care recognized as new subspecialty.
2. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy benefits kids with brain injury.
3. Punch biopsy: key to small fiber neuropathy.
4. 2004 report on chronic fatigue languishes at hhs.
5. Blastomere advance: will it quell stem cell debate?
6. And last, but not least: mussels dosed with Prozac (not to their benefit), and Hollywood officials use DNA to track ocean sewage back to its source: Malibu homes by the sea.

Show Links:
http://www.nhpco.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm
http://www.capc.org/
http://www.nationalconsensusproject.org/
http://www.dermpathdiagnostics.com/
http://www.clinical-labs.org/members/companies/index.shtml

 

 #35 - Quest for the Best in Neurology [34:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (348)

Publication date: September 15, 2006

 

 #24 - Quest for The Best in Neurology: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (391)

Clinical applications of contemporary neuroscience findings

 

 #7 - Quest for the Best in Neurology: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11)

Publication date: March 3, 2006

 

 #1: Quest for the Best in Neurology [30:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (16)

Publication date: January 18, 2006

Note: This episode was the first episode of STAT and was published as a Perspicacity installment (’insights into neurological diseases’).  The Perspicacity theme was deemed more appropriate for Quest for the Best in Neurology installments and so on February 12, 2008 this inaugural episode of STAT was recategorized as a Quest for the Best installment.