Taking an idea from the laboratory bench to the patient bedside is called translational research, a slow and painstaking process. "It's difficult and obstacle prone," Dr. Gendelman said, "but when the results bear fruit, it's exceptionally rewarding."
Although the pilot study group was small, the results are so encouraging the research group will move ahead with a Phase II clinical trial, Dr. Gelbard said.
Michael Boska, Ph.D., associate professor and director of radiology research at UNMC and one of the authors of the pilot study, helped develop special imaging methods to detect early brain disease in animal and human populations.
"The earliest sign of a brain disorder like HIV-related dementia is a change in metabolism of the brain's nerve cells," Dr. Boska said. "By using high-resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRSI), we were able to show a reverse change in metabolism in the brains of those patients taking valproic acid. That was a good indication this therapy was successful."
Prior clinical trials aimed at protecting neurons from HIV-related injury have been unsuccessful, and the neuro-scientific community at large is closely watching the progress of this research.
"Dr. Gelbard and his colleagues have dispelled many concerns that had been previously raised regarding valproic acid use in HIV-infected persons, showing that the drug appears to be safe, well tolerated and does not affect anti-retroviral efficacy," said Joseph R. Berger, M.D., chairman of neurology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.
Anti-retroviral therapy is the standard drug treatment for HIV and AIDS. While extremely effective at controlling the virus in the patient's body, this therapy can't prevent the virus from produc
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Contact: Michael Wentzel
Michael_Wentzel@urmc.rochester.edu
585-275-1309
University of Rochester Medical Center
13-Mar-2006