DEET brain effects in animals warrant caution
... many of the surviving brain cells showed signs of degeneration and damage consistent with the presence of harmful byproducts called oxygen free radicals (also known as reactive oxygen species), which can damage DNA and cell membranes in the brain and the nervous system. The most severe brain cell changes and se...Leprosy bug provides clues to early nerve degeneration
...e is the earliest effect observed, followed by the degeneration of nerve axon that carries the nerve impulses. M. ...M. leprae does not need to enter the cell to cause degeneration of the myelin sheath. "This suggests that binding of M. leprae to the surface of the myelin sheath ...Damaged DNA synthesis enzyme shown to cause progressive muscle weakening
... the first symptoms of which is often the muscular degeneration known as progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Recently, this disease was linked to a mutation (called Y955C) in one of the cell's genes that produces the enzyme (DNA polymerase gamma) that is responsible for replicating mitochondrial DNA. In their...Researchers identify genes associated with aging of the retina
...the most pressing disorders is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a progressive eye disease that affects the retina and results in the loss of one's fine central vision. "While we still don't know what causes AMD, we do know that the strongest factors are age and family history," says. Swaroop. "We are likel...Adult stem cells selectively delivered into the eye and used to control angiogenesis at TSRI
...s in the back of the eye. In diseases like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, aberrant vascular formation occurs later in life. The vascularization in both diseases involves endothelial cells working in concert with another specialized cell--star-shaped cells called "astrocytes." These astrocytes, wh...Bile acid inhibits cell death in Huntington's disease
...gical disorder caused by selective and progressive degeneration of neural cells. In the study, led by Walter Low, Ph.D., professor of neurosurgery in the university's Medical School, a dose of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) was administered subcutaneously once every third day for six weeks in mice with the HD ......has a direct link to a form of early-onset macular degeneration that primarily affects males. The finding is impor... ultimately help scientists understand how macular degeneration progresses, and it raises an intriguing question: How can a single gene cause two very different eye...Scientists identify a new kind of genetic problem in muscular dystrophy
...common). People with FSHD have progressive muscle degeneration that primarily affects the face, shoulder blades, and upper arms, although other muscles also deteriorate. Despite intensive efforts, researchers have been unable to identify any genes that are altered in this disorder. In the new study, Rossella T...Scientists at TSRI receive $9.6 million to develop treatment for common cause of vision loss
...esult of complications from diabetes. Both macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are characterized by abnormal angiogenesis. In the case of macular degeneration, new blood vessels grow under the retina. In diabetic retinopathy, abnormal vessels grow on top of the retina. The effect is much the same; the v...Ambitious plan to give sight to the blind
...se blinded by diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. These diseases damage rods and cones in the eye that normally convert light to electrical impulses, but leave intact the neural paths to the brain that transport electrical signals. Eventually the input from rods and cones c...Alzheimer's disease may originate in the brain's white matter
...cond, the current study suggests that white matter degeneration might be caused by a disease of the oligodendrocytes, whose main job is to produce the myelin sheath. A defective myelin coating could leave the axons unprotected, resulting in serious disturbances in nerve conduction and damage to brain functions, R...OXiGENE, foundation fighting blindness sign research agreement for phase I/II clinical trial
...a retinal disease known as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).In the area of oncology, OXiGENE has already completed Phase Iclinical trials of CA4P. A Phase Ib combination trial of CA4P and thechemotherapeutic agent Carboplatin is now being conducted andproceeding as planned at the University of Pennsylva...Acorda Therapeutics acquires CeNeS neuregulin products
...erve impulse conduction and eventually even to the degeneration of nerve fibers. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that GGF2 can stimulate the cell growth necessary to protect and regenerate damaged myelin sheath. Neuregulins also have been shown to enhance survival and function of both peripheral and CNS ne...Secretary Abraham announces next steps for artificial retina project
...na could help those blinded by age-related macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa where neural wiring from the eye to brain is intact, but the eyes lack photoreceptor activity. The artificial retina is a device that captures visual signals and sends them to the brain in the form of electrical impulses. The...Lab engineers develop microelectronics for artificial retina project
...eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration or those who are legally blind due to the loss of photoreceptor function. In many cases, the neural cells to which the photoreceptors are connected remain functional. Project leader Dr. Mark Humayun, of the University of Southern California, has sho...A new study sheds light on how the tongue restores its ability to taste following surgery
...sms. The second goal was to investigate taste bud degeneration in sodium-restricted and control rats during the corresponding functional sensitive period(s). To accomplish this, a monoclonal antibody to keratin 19 was used to immunohistochemically label taste buds at various times after unilateral CT section. Ke...Chemicals used to protect soldiers in 1991 Gulf War can damage testes, animal studies show
...iven together, the chemicals caused extensive cell degeneration and cell death with various structures of the test... chemicals and stressful conditions. Similar cell degeneration occurred in the seminiferous tubules, where developing sperm are produced, and Sertoli cells that su...UW researchers discover gene mutation associated with a form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
...t-Marie-Tooth disorders are characterized by nerve degeneration in the hands and lower arms and in the feet and lower legs. The nerve damage leads to muscle weakness and loss of sensation in these parts of the body. Affecting about 1 in 2,000 people, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorders are the most common inherited neu...Coat-color gene mutation mimics neurodegeneration of prion diseases
...at produces a black coat color in mice also causes degeneration of neurons similar to that observed in prion-caused diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases and "mad cow disease." The scientists say that their findings could improve understanding of how the renegade proteins, called prions, destroy the brains...Prion disease may be caused by buildup of cellular trash, say Stanford researchers
...onge. "No one really understands how or why spongy degeneration develops," said Gregory Barsh, MD, PhD, professor ...r coat color gene, Attractin, developed spongiform degeneration and body tremor. Because mahoganoid mutants share their darkened coat color with Attractin mutants, ...