Archive for the ‘Spinal Cord Injury’ Category

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire -07/30/12)- Lpath, Inc. (LPTN), the industry leader in lipidomics-based therapeutics, has brought scientists one step closer to finding a treatment for spinal cord injury with the creation of Lpathomab, an antibody that reverses much of the damage caused by trauma to the nervous system.

As published by the American Journal of Pathology, Lpathomab can be used as a drug to reduce the size of a spinal cord injury (SCI) and improve functional behavioral outcomes in experimental animal models. The antibody works as a molecular sponge by soaking up lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a molecule that can damage neurons and promote scarring in the central nervous system.

In collaboration with scientists at the University of Melbourne, the antibody was tested in mice that had partially severed spinal cords. A key finding of the study was the significant efficacy of administering Lpathomab after an injury, thus demonstrating a potential therapeutic benefit. Currently, there are no FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of neurotrauma such as SCI and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

"This groundbreaking research provides new hope for therapeutic treatments for many forms of neurotrauma, including SCI and TBI, as well as other forms of neurodegenerative disorders," said Roger Sabbadini, vice president and founder of Lpath and co-author on the paper.

The research team was comprised of Lpath scientists and collaborators from the University of Melbourne, the O'Brien Institute and Monash University.

LPA is a well-validated drug target as a promoter of tumorigenesis, metastasis and fibrotic disease, as well as plays a significant role in neuropathic pain and now neurotrauma. Lpath and its Melbourne collaborators have recently shown that Lpathomab provides protection against neuronal cell death and scarring in experimental models of TBI and will present this work as a platform talk at Neuroscience 2012, the upcoming Society for Neuroscience meeting (www.sfn.org/am2012). Lpath will also present work at the meeting that demonstrates the ability of Lpathomab to mitigate neuropathic pain.

Ongoing studies are directed toward examining Lpathomab's activity against a range of CNS disorders in which cell death is observed, including Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. The role of LPA in the nervous system has been described in a recent review published in the International Review of Cellular and Molecular Biology (Frisca et al., vol. 296:273-322).

Lpathomab was generated using Lpath's proprietary ImmuneY2 technology. This drug-discovery engine provides Lpath with a platform from which to generate antibodies against bioactive lipids, opening up a new array of drug-discovery possibilities. About 1,000 bioactive members of the lipidome are believed to exist, but the number could be considerably larger as the study of lipidomics continues to expand. Nature Reviews stated that bioactive lipids promise to occupy center-stage in cell biology research in the twenty-first century.

Lpath utilized ImmuneY2 to discover an antibody against another bioactive lipid, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). This antibody, sonepcizumab, is formulated as iSONEP for ocular delivery and as ASONEP for systemic delivery. Both of these drug candidates will be further investigated in Phase 2 trials later this year.

About LpathSan Diego-based Lpath, Inc. (LPTN), a therapeutic antibody company, is the category leader in lipidomics-based therapeutics, an emerging field of medicine that targets bioactive signaling lipids for treating a wide range of human disease. Lpath's ImmuneY2 drug-discovery engine has the unique ability to generate therapeutic antibodies that bind to and inhibit bioactive lipids that contribute to disease. The company has developed three drug candidates, two of which -- iSONEP for wet AMD and ASONEP for cancer -- have completed Phase 1 clinical trials. Lpath entered into an agreement with Pfizer (PFE) in 2010 that provides Pfizer an exclusive option for a worldwide license to develop and commercialize iSONEP. For more information, visit http://www.Lpath.com.

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New Published Paper Shows Efficacy of Lpath's Anti-LPA Antibody, Lpathomab, in Spinal Cord Injury Models

BALTIMORE, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & Whiteattorneys Andrew G. Slutkin and Jamison G. White recently settled a medical malpractice case for $4 million on behalf of a 48 year-old man who suffered a spinal cord injury following his health care providers' failure to timely diagnose and treat a herniated disk in his neck that was pressing on his spinal cord. In the lawsuit, the man alleged that he initially presented to a hospital's emergency room with a week-long history of excruciating neck pain, tingling in his arm and recent weakness in his leg. Despite these clear warning signs that the spinal cord was being compressed, and the added knowledge that the man had failed pain medications and steroids that his orthopedic surgeon had prescribed just a few days earlier, the health care provider in the emergency room dismissed his concerns, diagnosed him with a muscle strain and sent him home, attorney Andrew Slutkin said.

Just three hours later, while at home, the man suddenly developed weakness in both his arms and legs. He was subsequently transported to a second hospital where health care providers failed, over the next 5 hours, to take him for an emergent MRI, the only radiology study that would have confirmed or ruled out a spinal cord injury. Once an MRI was eventually performed later that evening, it confirmed the presence of a large herniated disk compressing the man's spinal cord. Shockingly, despite this clear danger to the man, the neurosurgeon who was contacted chose not to come into the hospital that evening to perform surgery to remove the disk and decompress the spinal cord. Overnight, the man's weakness progressed to complete and irreversible spinal cord injury.

About Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White's Civil Litigation and Catastrophic Medical Practice Division

Andrew G. Slutkin and Jamison G. White are experienced trial lawyers who concentrate their practice in complex civil litigation primarily representing plaintiffs in catastrophic injury matters, such as complex medical malpractice cases, wrongful death cases, product liability cases and cases involving major collisions. They also handle a select number of business litigation matters.

Mr. Slutkin and Mr. White annually obtain million dollar plus settlements and verdicts for their clients. In fact, they have been lead trial counsel in some of the largest multi-million dollar injury verdicts and settlements in the area.

Mr. Slutkin and Mr. White are part of the STSW team, an AV rated law firm by Martindale-Hubbell. STSW, a full-service law firm, is widely regarded as one of the premier litigation firms in the mid-Atlantic region. They have achieved extraordinary success for their clients across Maryland and throughout the United States. For more information about the depth and breadth of their services, please visit http://www.mdattorney.com.

CONTACT: Karen McGagh, 1-443-632-4217, karen@karenmcgagh.com

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Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White Recovers $4M on Behalf of Disabled Father of Three Children

Youve been in a terrible accident. Everyone says that you are lucky to have survived, and you are. But a severe spinal cord injury means you cant use your hands for the simplest tasks. Your family brushes your teeth and dresses you each day. Youve lost bowel and bladder control. Sex will never be the same. But there is an alternative: a neuroprosthesis (a prosthetic nervous system) could restore function to your body, part by part.

This remarkable technology exists, but you cant have it.

Its all economics, explains Julie Jacono, director of Case Western Reserve Universitys Institute for Functional Restoration (IFR), a nonprofit corporate surrogate that is pushing forward the final stage of testing for a platform of six neuroprostheses. The various implantable devices can each restore function to different parts of the bodyallowing paralyzed patients to do things like stand again or move their hands. Its incredibly promising. But because so few people suffer from spinal cord injuries, it isnt profitable for a company to take the technology to market.

Most of us assume that once discoveries are uncovered in the lab, theyll eventually make their way to patients. Its a field of dreams story, that if you build it they will come, says P. Hunter Peckham, bioengineering professor and executive director of the Institute. But I think we all know that thats not the way any of these things work.

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, there are about 270,000 people in the U.S. with spinal cord injuries. Compared to the number of people suffering from more common conditions like diabetes or heart disease, says Jacono, we are a decimal point in potential market size.

They may not be hugely profitable, but the devices allow people to move again. Using an implantable pulse generator and series of electrodes, the devices create a parallel nervous system. Electrical stimulation runs through the wires to muscles and organs, thus returning function to the hands, bowels and bladder, restoring trunk control, cough reflex, relieving pressure sores, or even helping people stand again. The team is rolling out a plan to integrate multiple devices and wire them across a network.

Thus far, theyve yet to run across a patient for whom the devices dont restore some function. Peckham describes what hes seen with the upper extremity device: turn it on, and they regain hand function. Turn it off again, theyre paralyzed.

In the world of spinal cord injury theres exactly the kind of technology that people have had access to for decadeswheel chairs, assistive technology. Then theres the hope of a cure, through stem cells or some kind of natural, neurological regeneration. Theres no timetable to that, says Jacono. What we can deliver is a true reversal of spinal cord injury, for select functions, and we can do that in the near term.

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Circumventing the Market to Relieve Paralysis

For one brief moment, the black and yellow Ottawa jersey draped over Matt Bollig's chest made him look like he was just another football player in a room full of them. But that moment slid away as his jersey slid to his lap, revealing his white back brace and forcing his teammates and a slew of other supporters to face a tough reality.

Tough for everyone except Bollig, that is. The Braves' junior quarterback hasn't stopped believing he can regain movement in his legs since his weight room injury last week occurred.

"I'm going to make it through this," said Bollig, a high school football standout from Chanute, Kan. "I don't want to boast or anything, but I'm going to make it through this."

The 20-year-old will take that unbridled optimism to Craig Hospital in Denver, Colo., where he began spinal cord rehabilitation on Tuesday. Before he left, doctors, teammates, coaches, friends, and family waited in line in an overflowing hospital room to say their goodbyes.

That send-off party included more surprise guests: Chiefs Ambassadors Tony Adams, Anthony Davis, Ken Kremer, and Bill Maas.

In a speech he delivered to Bollig's supporters, Maas said he knew playing career could end at any time, and was saddened to hear about a local player who had football taken away too soon.

"We go through the fear of something of this nature happening to one of us," said Maas on behalf of the Ambassadors. "I want you to know that your football brethren, from the Kansas City Chiefs to Ottawa to Chanute are all going to be pulling for you in your rehab."

The four former players also presented Bollig with a host of Chiefs gifts, including a special No. 6 jersey.

It wasn't Ryan Succop's No. 6 jersey, either. Bollig wore the number at Ottawa, and the Chiefs made sure he received his own number before taking on the next stage of his recovery in Denver.

"It was pretty amazing," said Bollig, a life-long Chiefs fan. "There's a video of me at my first birthday party and in the background, the Chiefs game is on. That means a lot to me. I grew up with the Chiefs."

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Chiefs visit local college QB with spinal cord injury

Researchers at Imperial College London have developed an affordable technology that could allow millions of people suffering from ailments like Parkinsons, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury to interact with computers--using just their eyes. The finding brings new hope to many patients that computing--and the many improvements to quality of life the computing brings--could soon be relatively simple and affordable for those who are paralyzed or otherwise disabled.

Its anyones nightmare--to suffer an injury or be diagnosed with a disease that could lead to locked-in syndrome. One feature of locked-in syndrome, though, is that occasionally mobility remains in one part of the body--the eyes. Famously, the French author of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly dictated his memoirs solely through eye-movements--one letter at a time, and with the help of an assistant.

That wont work for everyone, obviously--and nor would the expensive eye-tracking technology of years past. But the Imperial College eye-tracking technology was created with off-the-shelf materials, bringing the cost of the system down to just 40.

"We have built a 3D eye tracking system hundreds of times cheaper than commercial systems and used it to build a real-time brain machine interface that allows patients to interact more smoothly and more quickly than existing invasive technologies that are tens of thousands of times more expensive, Dr. Aldo Faisal, one of the researchers, said of the project. This is frugal innovation; developing smarter software and piggy-backing existing hardware to create devices that can help people worldwide independent of their healthcare circumstances."

The researchers demonstrated how people could play the game of Pong using just eye movements. (The video has an oddly downbeat ending, don't you think, for such a hopeful technology?)

So how does it work? The device is made up of two video game console cameras, which are attached to a pair of glasses, just outside the line of vision. That data can be transmitted over Wi-Fi or USB into a Windows or Linux computer. The device also pairs up with a bit of software that help infer just where the eyes are looking. As the video indicates, the cameras are able to discern just where the pupil is pointing; from this, it can be inferred just where on the screen a users looking. In fact, it even allows you to infer more than that--using a set of detailed calibrations, researchers can even determine how far in 3-D space the user is looking. The researchers speculate novel uses for such technology: for instance, an eye-controlled wheelchair that can determine where you want to go, just by looking.

The Imperial College team is not the only one to have tried its hands at this sort of technology, of course; among others, the University of Minnesota has been at this for some time. Back in January, Tobii Technology presented some gaze interaction tech that was actually aimed at consumers. Tobii mentioned some medical applications, but actually had in mind not patients but rather medical technicians who could use the tech to rapidly scan through photographs, scans, or X-rays, reported the LA Times.

Heres a case where consumer technology and medical technology are involving in tandem and influencing each other. Wherever it catches on first, its good news for everyone--and particularly for the millions of patients for whom this could open up new ways of interacting with the world.

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Controlling a Computer with Your Eyes

Public release date: 18-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: David Eve cellmedicinect@gmail.com Cell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair

Tampa, Fla. (July. 18 , 2012) Two studies published in a recent issue of Cell Medicine [2(2)] report on the therapeutic efficacy of stem cell transplantation in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Cell Medicine is freely available on-line at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/cm.

Mensenchymal stem cell transplantation in spinal cord injured rats promotes functional recovery

Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), multipotent stem cells with the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types with renewal capacities, has been found to enhance laboratory animal function after induced spinal cord injury. However, the biological mechanism of the functional enhancement has not been clearly defined.

In an attempt to gain a clearer picture of the mechanism, a team of Korean researchers transplanted MSCs derived from human umbilical cord blood into the tail veins of laboratory rats immediately after spinal cord injury. The intravenous route was selected because the researchers felt that injection into the damaged site could further traumatize the injured spinal cord, although intravenously injected MSCs risk being eliminated by the host immune system.

"We found that MSCs express immunomodulatory effects during the acute phase following SCI," said study corresponding author Dr. Sung-Rae Cho of the Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea. "In our study, MSCs suppressed activated micoglia and inflammatory cytokines, increased anti-inflammatory cytokines and, consequently, promoted functional recovery in SCI rats." They reported "modest but significant improvement" in a number of functional test scores in the rats subjected to transplantation when compared with control group animals not subjected to cell transplantation. The researchers suggested that their study not only confirmed the established link between microglial activation and inflammatory cytokines, but also demonstrated that functional recovery might be attributed to immunomodulatory effects rather than cell replacement. They also recommended that autologous (self-donated) MSCs, rather than human-derived MSCs, should be used in subsequent studies to "suppress undesirable immune response."

Contact: Dr. Sung-Rae Cho, Department and Research Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea 120-752 Tel: +82 2 2228-3715 Fax: +82 2 363-2795 Email: srcho918@yuhs.ac

Citation: Seo, J. H.; Jang, I. K.; Kim, H.; Yang, M. S.; Lee, J. E.; Kim, H. E.; Eom, Y-W.; Lee, D-H.; Yu, J. H.; Kim, J. Y.; Kim, H. O.; Cho, S-R. Early immunomodulation by intravenously transplanted mesenchymal stem cells promotes functional recovery in spinal cord injured rats. Cell Med. 2(2):55-67; 2011.

Bone marrow cell transplantation coupled with stimulating factor offers neuroprotective and angiogenic effects in ALS animal models

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New studies show spinal cord injury and ALS respond to cell transplantation

Friends and family of a Lincoln County man who suffered a spinal cord injury Saturday in Lake Norman say he is making slow but steady recovery and might be moved out of intensive care Wednesday.

Adam Dancoff, 21, a Lincolnton firefighters for more than a year, suffered a broken vertebra when he dived from a boat into the lake. Dancoff apparently didnt realize the water was shallow in that area, and he lost the ability to move his legs.

Dancoff was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center. According to information posted by family and friends on a special Facebook page, he underwent surgery Sunday and has remained in intensive care.

On the Facebook page, family members said doctors have little if any hope that Dancoff will regain movement in the lower part of his body.

However, he has been working to regain mobility in the rest of his body. With the help of nurses, he was able to sit in his hospital bed Tuesday.

Family and friends say they hope that Dancoff can be moved to a rehabilitation center later this week.

You can follow Dancoffs progress on the Facebook page.

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Firefighter battles spinal cord injury

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a novel device called the Mobile Music Touch -- a wireless glove intended to improve motor skills in people who have suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury.

The gadget, which looks like a workout glove with a small box on its back, is meant to be used in combination with a piano. The device vibrates the wearers fingers, identifying which keys they are meant to play.

The glove was tested on people who had tetraplegia -- partial paralysis in their limbs. The patients had sustained their injuries a year prior to the study. During this time frame after receiving a paralyzing injury, people in rehab rarely see significant improvement in their limb movement for the rest of their lives.

However, while learning to play piano with the MMT, several patients saw improvement in their fingers motility.

After our preliminary work in 2011, we suspected that the glove would have positive results for people with SCI, Tanya Markow, a PhD graduate of Georgia Tech as well as the projects leader, said in a release.

But we were surprised by how much improvement they made in our study. For example, after using the glove, some participants were able to feel the texture of their bed sheets and clothes for the first time since their injury.

Markow worked with patients with SCI over the course of eight weeks, requiring them to practice piano for 30 minutes, three times a week. Half of them wore the glove, the other half did not. Hooked up to a computer or other MP3 playing device, the MMT played a song such as Ode to Joy while the corresponding notes on the keyboard became illuminated. The glove would then vibrant the corresponding finger, signaling the wearer to tap the illuminated key.

Not only did participants practice piano with the MMT glove, but they used it in day-to-day activities as well. For two hours a day, five days a week, participants wore the glove, only feeling the vibrations a technique that was revealed to help them learn to play piano faster.

To test the effectiveness of the glove, patients were required to perform various grabbing and sensing tests at the studys completion. Those who used the glove performed significantly better than those who did not use the glove.

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Wireless glove teaches music, helps those with spinal cord injuries

Newswise Georgia Tech researchers have created a wireless, musical glove that may improve sensation and motor skills for people with paralyzing spinal cord injury (SCI).

The gadget was successfully used by individuals with limited feeling or movement in their hands due to tetraplegia. These individuals had sustained their injury more than a year before the study, a time frame when most rehab patients see very little improvement for the remainder of their lives. Remarkably, the device was primarily used while the participants were going about their daily routines.

The device is called Mobile Music Touch (MMT). The glove, which looks like a workout glove with a small box on the back, is used with a piano keyboard and vibrates a persons fingers to indicate which keys to play. While learning to play the instrument, several people with SCI experienced improved sensation in their fingers.

Researchers at Georgia Tech and Atlantas Shepherd Center recently completed a study focusing on people with weakness and sensory loss due to SCI.

After our preliminary work in 2011, we suspected that the glove would have positive results for people with SCI, said Ph.D. graduate Tanya Markow, the projects leader. But we were surprised by how much improvement they made in our study. For example, after using the glove, some participants were able to feel the texture of their bed sheets and clothes for the first time since their injury.

Markow worked with individuals with SCI who had limited feeling or movement in their hands. Each suffered a spinal injury more than a year prior to the study. The eight-week project required study participants to practice playing the piano for 30 minutes, three times a week. Half used the MMT glove to practice; half did not.

The MMT system works with a computer, MP3 player or smart phone. A song, such as Ode to Joy, is programmed into a device, which is wirelessly linked to the glove. As the musical notes are illuminated on the correct keys on the piano keyboard, the gadget sends vibrations to tap the corresponding fingers. The participants play along, gradually memorizing the keys and learning additional songs.

However, these active learning sessions with MMT were not the primary focus of the study. The participants also wore the glove at home for two hours a day, five days a week, feeling only the vibration (and not playing the piano). Previous studies showed that wearing the MMT system passively in this manner helped participants learn songs faster and retain them better. The researchers hoped that the passive wearing of the device would also have rehabilitative effects.

At the end of the study, participants performed a variety of common grasping and sensation tests to measure their improvement. Those who used the MMT system performed significantly better than those who just learned the piano normally.

Some people were able to pick up objects more easily, said Markow. Another said he could immediately feel the heat from a cup of coffee, rather than after a delay.

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Musical Glove Improves Sensation, Mobility for People with Spinal Cord Injury

16th July, 2012

A paraplegic who helps other spinal cord injury victims, a couple who have dedicated their lives to helping underprivileged and refugee children break the cycle of poverty and a blind teacher who pushes his blind students to excel in their studies these four Malaysians were recognised by Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd in the 6th F&N Out-Do Yourself Award (OYA).

The recipients were selected by a panel of judges headed by former Chief Justice Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Hj Abdullah and comprising distinguished editors from leading media publications in Malaysia, for going beyond the call of duty to perform extraordinary deeds involving civic consciousness and compassion.

Launched in conjunction with F&Ns 125th anniversary in 2008, the F&N OYA is aimed at recognizing ordinary individuals for various acts of selflessness ranging from bravery, chivalry, civic consciousness and promoting nation building to outstanding sports or academic achievements.

The 6th F&N OYA was presented to Leonard Chua, Elisha, Petrina Satvinder and Koh Chai Swee.

OYA Patron, Tan Sri Shahrir bin Abdul Samad handed out the awards alongside Tengku Syed Badarudin Jamalullail, F&N Holdings Bhd Chairman, Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Hj Abdullah and Dato Ng Jui Sia, F&N Holdings Bhd CEO. The recipients are awarded a cheque for RM5,000, certificate, plaque and F&N products.

Nominees for the award are identified largely based on stories written or highlighted through common mass media channels. Dato Ng said that while these mediums have been a rich source of inspirational stories, F&N is mindful that there are many deeds that have not been highlighted due to various unavoidable factors.

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Three F&N Out-Do Yourself Awards presented for civic consciousness and compassion

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/4xw677/acute_spinal_cord) has announced the addition of GlobalData's new report "Acute Spinal Cord Injury (ASCI) Therapeutics - Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2019" to their offering.

Pharmaceutical Research into Spinal Cord Injuries Will Stretch into Next Decade

Drugs under development to treat those affected by acute spinal cord injuries are not expected to emerge within the current decade, leaving the market largely open to new entrants, according to a new report issued by pharmaceuticals intelligence provider GlobalData.

The new report* shows that there have been no treatment options approved for Acute Spinal Cord Injury (ASCI) by either the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA), so off-label generic drugs dominate the market.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) refers to damage to the spinal cord which results in the loss of mobility and feeling. SCI usually occurs due to a sudden traumatic blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae, caused by injuries involving the head, pelvic fractures, penetrating injuries close to the spine, or injuries caused by a fall from a significant height. The classification of SCI into acute and chronic phases is based on the period of time the patient has suffered with the condition.

In USA, Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate (MPSS) is prescribed as off-label drug used for treating inflammation in ASCI, acting to reduce swelling in the spinal cord. However, it is also associated with certain adverse effects, such as reduced immunity, infections and gastrointestinal bleeding, among others. This has led European physicians to prescribe other off-label drugs instead, including anticoagulants, proton pump inhibitors, antihypotensives, antidiabetic, Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) analogs and antibiotics. However, all these medications have their limitations in treating ASCI.

The absence of effective treatment options clearly signifies that current competition in the ASCI therapeutics market is weak. Therefore, significant opportunity exists for novel products that can provide better treatment, and lead to better recovery from injury.

Companies Mentioned

- Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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Research and Markets: Acute Spinal Cord Injury (ASCI) Therapeutics - Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2019

A substance found in the zebrafish could point the way toward avoiding paralysis in cases of spinal cord injury, a study found.

When a person suffers a spinal-cord injury, cells known as glia prevent blood from pouring into the wound by forming a scar. But at the same time, the scar prevents axons, nerve cells that communicate with the brain, from penetrating the scar. And that is what causes paralysis.

But in zebrafish, a tiny member of the minnow family, the glia allow the axons to penetrate, resulting in a complete regeneration of the spinal cord within two months. You cant tell theres been any wound at all, said researcher Peter Currie, of the Monash Universitys Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI).

A protein called fibroblast growth factor (fgf) is responsible for the different response in humans and zebrafish.

The hope is that fgf could eventually be used to promote better results in spinal cord repair in people, Currie said in a statement.

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Tiny Fish Could Cure Spinal-Cord Injuries

"Janne's Next Step" is a Unique Documentary that Chronicles a Man's Fight to Walk Again After a Devastating Spinal Cord Injury

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

"The basis of Locomotor Training is the discovery that the spinal cord has a complicated circuitry that can control locomotor," said Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton, Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology and Physiology and of Neurology at UCLA. "Our research has proven that the spinal cord can actually re-learn how to walk after a spinal cord injury, without input from the brain."

After Janne Kouri suffered a tragic diving accident that nearly cost him his life, he was told he would never walk again. He underwent an experimental activity-based rehabilitation treatment called Locomotor Training that was developed by Dr. Reggie Edgerton (UCLA) and Dr. Susan Harkema (University of Louisville) in partnership with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Locomotor Training re-teaches the spinal cord how to control motor functions, like walking, through repetitive motion. It was developed and perfected with the help of lab animals and brave people, like Janne. After months of intensive training, Janne began to regain function in his feet, then in his legs, and today Janne can take steps with a walker.

Janne is now helping hundreds of others living with spinal cord injuries through his nonprofit organization, NextStep Fitness -- the first community facility in the U.S. to offer Locomotor and activity-based training at its state-of-the-art facility in Los Angeles. With this optimistic story of human triumph over tragedy, "Janne's Next Step" shows viewers how dedicated experts at UCLA, University of Louisville and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation are developing incredible, cutting-edge treatments to help those living with spinal cord injuries walk again. For more information about the film or screening event, please email info@fbrmedia.com.

FBR Media is an award-winning production studio that creates striking digital content across multiple platforms. Its latest TV series, Bench to Bedside, tells inspirational true stories about people and animals living with serious illnesses and the incredible biomedical research that could save their lives. FBR Media is a registered trademark of the Foundation for Biomedical Research.

SOURCE FBR Media

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World Premiere of "Janne's Next Step" on Los Angeles' KTTV on July 29

FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2000 file photo, trainers examine Penn State cornerback Adam Taliaferro after he was injured in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State, in Columbus, Ohio. Taliaferro inspired the schools alumni after he recovered from a spinal cord injury on the football field so serious that doctors once feared he would never walk again. More than a decade later, it's Taliaferro now trying to help his alma mater through a challenging period as he assumes his new post as a trustee at the school rocked by the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

Chris Putman, File, Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. Former Penn State defensive back Adam Taliaferro inspired fans and alumni after he recovered from a spinal cord injury on the football field so serious that doctors once feared he would never walk again.

More than a decade afterward, it's Taliaferro who is now trying to help his alma mater through a challenging period.

The football player-turned-lawyer is one of three new alumni-elected members of the university's Board of Trustees officially taking their seats when the board holds its next meeting Friday in Scranton. Taliaferro, financial services executive Anthony Lubrano and retired Navy SEAL Capt. Ryan McCombie assume the posts at a crucial time for Penn State: as the school awaits the findings of an internal investigation, led by former FBI Director Louis Freeh, into the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

Of the three trustees, Taliaferro is the most well-known by virtue of his motivational recovery from a severe neck injury after his helmet hit the knee of Ohio State tailback Jerry Westbrooks on Sept. 23, 2000, in Columbus. He has since written a book and started a foundation to help athletes recovering from similar injuries.

"It's not just something I'm doing to put it on my resume," Taliaferro, now a lawyer in suburban Philadelphia, said in a recent phone interview. In November, Taliaferro also won election as a Democratic member of the Board of Freeholders in Gloucester County, N.J.

"It's a great opportunity to help a place that's really given me a lot over my whole life," he said of Penn State.

Name recognition turned Taliaferro into an early favorite in the race for three alumni trustee seats up for election this past spring. Nine of the 32 seats on the board are filled by alumni; the rest are filled by various means, including appointment or by university or state officials.

Taliaferro came in first with more than 15,600 over 37,000-plus votes cast a record turnout sparked by criticism by many alumni over the board's actions in the frantic weeks following Sandusky's arrest in November.

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New trustees seek to help Penn State heal

SHORT HILLS, NJ--(Marketwire -07/05/12)- The late actor Christopher Reeve's son, Matthew Reeve, will make a Keynote Address at the upcoming Connections 2012 conference held by the Spinal Cord Injury Network at Sydney's Convention and Exhibition Centre on 13th August 2012.

Christopher Reeve's attendance at the Making Connections: NSW Premier's Forum in 2003 put the spotlight on spinal cord injury research including embryonic stem cell research.

Award-winning filmmaker Matthew Reeve said he hoped his visit would inspire collaboration towards a healthier, participative and more inclusive community for people with spinal cord injury.

"Connections 2012 brings together researchers, healthcare professionals, the paralysis community and other key stakeholders in a single interactive forum to discuss ways to accelerate progress in key areas of spinal cord injury research.

"Together we can build strength and capacities that derive from synergy," he said.

Spinal Cord Injury Network Chief Executive Dr Stephanie Williams said she felt honoured by Matthew's commitment to spinal cord injury research and highlighted the importance of the upcoming Connections 2012 conference.

"Each day in Australia one person sustains a spinal cord injury. Life is changed forever with devastating consequences.

"Connections 2012 aims to facilitate discussion and knowledge transfer between a range of multi-disciplinary stakeholders to work towards better solutions for people with spinal cord injury," Dr Williams said.

International speakers also include cellular transplantation expert Dr James Guest from the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and rehabilitation research expert Emeritus Professor Volker Dietz from the Balgrist Hospital in Zurich. Together with Australian experts, the speakers will review key issues in spinal cord injury research today which include:

The Spinal Cord Injury Network is an alliance of leading scientists, healthcare professionals, community members and other key stakeholders who are working together to improve treatments and find a cure for spinal cord injuries.

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Matthew Reeve Flies Down Under for Spinal Cord Injury Research: Continues Superman's Legacy

A curry spice may do more than just add some flavor to your dishes -- it could also help to preserve the ability to walk in people who've had a spinal cord injury, according to a new animal study.

Published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, found that consuming lots of omega-3 fatty acids -- which have a myriad of health benefits, in their own rite -- and curcumin -- found in the curry spice turmeric -- is linked with maintenance of brain functioning and reparation of nerve cells after damage to the spinal cord.

"While surgery can relieve the pressure and prevent further injury, it can't repair damage to the cells and nerve fibers," study researcher Dr. Langston Holly, an associate professor of neurosurgery at the UCLA School of Medicine, said in a statement. "We wanted to explore whether dietary supplementation could help the spinal cord heal itself."

The study was done in rats who all had something similar to the human cervical myelopathy, which is a spine-related disorder that affects walking. One group of rats was fed a diet high in sugar and saturated fats (mimicking a Western diet), while the second group of rats was fed the same diet but with docosahexaenoic acid (found in omega-3s) and curcumin. The third group of rats was just served a regular rat diet.

Then, the researchers examined how the rats walked week after week. Even after as little as three weeks, researchers found that rats that just ate the saturated fat and sugar diet had more walking problems than the other rats, while rats with the DHA and curcumin had fewer walking problems after six weeks of observation.

Researchers also wanted to see how the diets may have impacted the actual spinal cords. They found that the rats fed the saturated fat and sugar diet had more evidence of damage to the cell membrane. Meanwhile, rats that were fed the DHA and curcumin only had evidence of as much damage as the rats fed the regular rat diet.

In 2010, UCLA researchers published a study in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics showing that curcumin could actually make chemotherapy more powerful against tumors in the head and neck, MyHealthNewsDaily reported.

Specifically, curcumin seemed to enhance cisplatin, which is the chemo drug used to treat those specific cancers, according to MyHealthNewsDaily.

And earlier this year, researchers from Chiang Mai University found that curcumin may help to lower the risk of heart attack among recent heart-bypass patients when taken alongside the normal drug treatment regimen, Reuters reported. That study was published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Also on HuffPost:

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Curcumin Could Preserve Walking Ability Among Spinal Cord Injury Patients

SUFFERERS of spinal cord injuries are finding it difficult to cope and become heavily dependent on their families and friends as only a few of them are able to secure jobs after being discharge from the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre (SJGRC), a study has found.

The study was done by social worker Opal Minott and senior medical doctor at the SJGRC Dr Rory Dixon, and involved the analysis of the 104 patients who had been discharged from the centre since 2010. The research team looked at the health care, income level, nutrition, recreational activities, and the level of assistance received by these patients upon their release.

"What we have found is that some of them, even though they left the institution in fairly good health, when they go home, because of the challenges that they face, they come back in a very severe state and quite a few of them have died because of complications, secondary to social neglect or not being able to cope once they go out there," said Dr Minott, explaining that a number of the patients live in rural areas and find it difficult to journey to Kingston for follow-up treatment.

Findings of the study were presented during last Wednesday's SJGRC seventh annual symposium which was held under the theme 'The social impact of spinal cord injuries in Jamaica'. More than 90 per cent of patients seeking treatment at the centre suffer from spinal cord injuries, primarily from gunshot wounds and motor vehicle accidents.

Dr Dixon said although the free health care system exists, it is of little benefit to those who suffer from spinal cord injuries.

"What people don't know until they are actually in the situation is that most of the appliances, devices and assistance that you'll need are not covered under free health care. So let's say somebody who had a motor vehicle accident has a spinal cord injury and is paralysed from the waist down, one of the first things they are going to need is a wheelchair and a wheelchair costs anywhere between $15,000 to $20,000 depending on the specification. If the injury is much higher up, then they'll need a motorised chair which starts anywhere from US$2,000; and that's just for mobility," he explained.

Meanwhile, Chairman for the South East Regional Health Authority, Lyttleton 'Tanny' Shirley lamented the fact that many of the patients were gunshot victims who were now finding it challenging to cope in the general society.

"People with spinal cord injury are mostly dependent on others for assistance to complete many routine tasks associated with daily living, such as... bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, dieting, community access, and recreational activities. Such persons, where possible, desire to become gainfully employed," he said.

The study show that of the 104 patients, 77 were alive, 16 had died, and 11 could not be located. Of those participants who were found, only eight of them were earning an income. Recreational activities, which are crucial for rehabilitation, were kept at a minimal, as these were seen as secondary to visiting the doctor, for example.

"It is my hope that the findings of this critical survey will be used for the betterment of the rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury," said Shirley.

Excerpt from:
Spinal cord injury sufferers face difficulty adjusting, securing jobs

Washington, June 27 : Taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements and turmeric, an Indian curry spice, may benefit people with spinal-cord injury.

UCLA researchers have discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient of curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury.

The findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

"Normal aging often narrows the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and injuring tissue," explained principal investigator Dr. Langston Holly, associate professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

"While surgery can relieve the pressure and prevent further injury, it can't repair damage to the cells and nerve fibers. We wanted to explore whether dietary supplementation could help the spinal cord heal itself," Holly stated.

The UCLA team studied two groups of rats with a condition that simulated cervical myelopathy a progressive disorder that often occurs in people with spine-weakening conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Cervical myelopathy can lead to disabling neurological symptoms, such as difficulty walking, neck and arm pain, hand numbness and weakness of the limbs. It's the most common cause of spine-related walking problems in people over 55.

The first group of animals was fed rat chow that replicated a Western diet high in saturated fats and sugar. The second group consumed a standard diet supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and curcumin, a compound in turmeric, an Indian curry spice. A third set of rats received a standard rat diet and served as a control group.

Why these supplements? DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid shown to repair damage to cell membranes. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that previous studies have linked to tissue repair. Both reduce inflammation.

"The brain and spinal cord work together, and years of research demonstrate that supplements like DHA and curcumin can positively influence the brain," said co-author Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, professor of neurosurgery.

"We suspected that what works in the brain may also work in the spinal cord. When we were unable to find good data to support our hypothesis, we decided to study it ourselves," he noted.

More:
Omega-3 fatty acid and turmeric help spinal cord heal itself

Newswise UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

Normal aging often narrows the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and injuring tissue, explained principal investigator Dr. Langston Holly, associate professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. While surgery can relieve the pressure and prevent further injury, it cant repair damage to the cells and nerve fibers. We wanted to explore whether dietary supplementation could help the spinal cord heal itself.

The UCLA team studied two groups of rats with a condition that simulated cervical myelopathy a progressive disorder that often occurs in people with spine-weakening conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Cervical myelopathy can lead to disabling neurological symptoms, such as difficulty walking, neck and arm pain, hand numbness and weakness of the limbs. Its the most common cause of spine-related walking problems in people over 55.

The first group of animals was fed rat chow that replicated a Western diet high in saturated fats and sugar. The second group consumed a standard diet supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and curcumin, a compound in turmeric, an Indian curry spice. A third set of rats received a standard rat diet and served as a control group.

Why these supplements? DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid shown to repair damage to cell membranes. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that previous studies have linked to tissue repair. Both reduce inflammation.

The brain and spinal cord work together, and years of research demonstrate that supplements like DHA and curcumin can positively influence the brain, said coauthor Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, professor of neurosurgery. We suspected that what works in the brain may also work in the spinal cord. When we were unable to find good data to support our hypothesis, we decided to study it ourselves.

The researchers recorded a baseline of the rats walking and re-examined the animals gait on a weekly basis. As early as three weeks, the rats eating the Western diet demonstrated measurable walking problems that worsened as the study progressed. Rats fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin walked significantly better than the first group even six weeks after the studys start.

Next, the scientists examined the rats spinal cords to evaluate how diet affected their injury on a molecular level. The researchers measured levels of three markers respectively linked to cell-membrane damage, neural repair and cellular communication.

The rats that ate the Western diet showed higher levels of the marker linked to cell-membrane damage. In contrast, the DHA and curcumin appeared to offset the injurys effect in the second group, which displayed equivalent marker levels to the control group.

Levels of the markers linked to neural repair and cellular communication were significantly lower in the rats raised on the Western diet. Again, levels in the animals fed the supplemented diet appeared similar to those of the control group.

See the original post here:
Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Curry Spice Repair Tissue Damage, Preserve Walking Ability in Rats with Spinal-Cord Injury

ScienceDaily (June 26, 2012) UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

"Normal aging often narrows the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and injuring tissue," explained principal investigator Dr. Langston Holly, associate professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "While surgery can relieve the pressure and prevent further injury, it can't repair damage to the cells and nerve fibers. We wanted to explore whether dietary supplementation could help the spinal cord heal itself."

The UCLA team studied two groups of rats with a condition that simulated cervical myelopathy -- a progressive disorder that often occurs in people with spine-weakening conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Cervical myelopathy can lead to disabling neurological symptoms, such as difficulty walking, neck and arm pain, hand numbness and weakness of the limbs. It's the most common cause of spine-related walking problems in people over 55.

The first group of animals was fed rat chow that replicated a Western diet high in saturated fats and sugar. The second group consumed a standard diet supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and curcumin, a compound in turmeric, an Indian curry spice. A third set of rats received a standard rat diet and served as a control group.

Why these supplements? DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid shown to repair damage to cell membranes. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that previous studies have linked to tissue repair. Both reduce inflammation.

"The brain and spinal cord work together, and years of research demonstrate that supplements like DHA and curcumin can positively influence the brain," said coauthor Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, professor of neurosurgery. "We suspected that what works in the brain may also work in the spinal cord. When we were unable to find good data to support our hypothesis, we decided to study it ourselves."

The researchers recorded a baseline of the rats walking and re-examined the animals' gait on a weekly basis. As early as three weeks, the rats eating the Western diet demonstrated measurable walking problems that worsened as the study progressed. Rats fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin walked significantly better than the first group even six weeks after the study's start.

Next, the scientists examined the rats' spinal cords to evaluate how diet affected their injury on a molecular level. The researchers measured levels of three markers respectively linked to cell-membrane damage, neural repair and cellular communication.

The rats that ate the Western diet showed higher levels of the marker linked to cell-membrane damage. In contrast, the DHA and curcumin appeared to offset the injury's effect in the second group, which displayed equivalent marker levels to the control group.

Levels of the markers linked to neural repair and cellular communication were significantly lower in the rats raised on the Western diet. Again, levels in the animals fed the supplemented diet appeared similar to those of the control group.

Read more:
Curry spice, omega-3 fatty acid preserve walking ability following spinal-cord injury

Public release date: 26-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Elaine Schmidt eschmidt@mednet.ucla.edu 310-794-2272 University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences

UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient of curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

"Normal aging often narrows the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and injuring tissue," explained principal investigator Dr. Langston Holly, associate professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "While surgery can relieve the pressure and prevent further injury, it can't repair damage to the cells and nerve fibers. We wanted to explore whether dietary supplementation could help the spinal cord heal itself."

The UCLA team studied two groups of rats with a condition that simulated cervical myelopathy a progressive disorder that often occurs in people with spine-weakening conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Cervical myelopathy can lead to disabling neurological symptoms, such as difficulty walking, neck and arm pain, hand numbness and weakness of the limbs. It's the most common cause of spine-related walking problems in people over 55.

The first group of animals was fed rat chow that replicated a Western diet high in saturated fats and sugar. The second group consumed a standard diet supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and curcumin, a compound in turmeric, an Indian curry spice. A third set of rats received a standard rat diet and served as a control group.

Why these supplements? DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid shown to repair damage to cell membranes. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that previous studies have linked to tissue repair. Both reduce inflammation.

"The brain and spinal cord work together, and years of research demonstrate that supplements like DHA and curcumin can positively influence the brain," said coauthor Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, professor of neurosurgery. "We suspected that what works in the brain may also work in the spinal cord. When we were unable to find good data to support our hypothesis, we decided to study it ourselves."

The researchers recorded a baseline of the rats walking and re-examined the animals' gait on a weekly basis. As early as three weeks, the rats eating the Western diet demonstrated measurable walking problems that worsened as the study progressed. Rats fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin walked significantly better than the first group even six weeks after the study's start.

Next, the scientists examined the rats' spinal cords to evaluate how diet affected their injury on a molecular level. The researchers measured levels of three markers respectively linked to cell-membrane damage, neural repair and cellular communication.

Go here to see the original:
Spinal cord, heal thyself

Public release date: 26-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Gillian Shasby gshasby@thejns.org 434-924-5555 Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group

Charlottesville, VA (June 26, 2012). Researchers from the Department of Neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine and the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology at UCLA have found that a diet enriched with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, and curcumin, a component of the Indian spice turmeric, can protect the injured spinal cord and minimize the clinical and biochemical effects of spinal cord myelopathy in rats. This finding is fleshed out in the article "Dietary therapy to promote neuroprotection in chronic spinal cord injury. Laboratory investigation," by Langston Holly, M.D., and colleagues, published today online in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. DHA reduces inflammation and provides structural material to plasma membranes. Curcumin produces strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Both agents are safe to use and have been documented to have positive effects on the injured brain. Thus the researchers hypothesized that the combined effects of DHA and curcumin could protect the spinal cord from the cascade of cellular and related biological injuries that result from chronic cord injury.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the most common disorder of the spine found in middle-aged patients. Neurological deficits associated with this disorder are related to a primary mechanical spinal injury that is followed by a secondary biological injury. Wear and tear on the spine, due to age or congenital narrowing of the spinal canal, leads to mechanical compression of the spinal cord. This cord compression in turn leads to biological cell injury or death and consequent neurological dysfunction. The primary mechanical injury can usually be corrected by surgery or other management strategies; to date, the secondary biological injury has been more difficult to treat.

The authors set out to develop a noninvasive way to promote neuroprotection from the biological injury that follows spinal cord compression in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. In the laboratory, the authors studied three groups of rats. To simulate cervical spondylotic myelopathy, the researchers placed an expandable polyvinyl alcohol sponge between two laminae of the spine in the animals. This produced delayed myelopathy. After the procedure, the first group of rats was fed a "Western diet" (a form of rat chow high in saturated fats and sugar), whereas the second group was fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin. A third group was given a standard rat diet and the animal's spines were left intact.

The animals' walking ability was examined before the procedure and repeatedly for several weeks following it. The researchers compared each group's walking behavior before and after the procedure and noted any differences between groups. Animals fed the Western diet demonstrated significant gait dysfunction as early as three weeks postoperatively, which continued throughout the six-week test period. Animals fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin displayed no significant difference in walking ability compared with preoperatively and demonstrated significantly better gait function six weeks after the procedure than animals fed the Western diet. Accompanying this paper, the authors provide two videos showing differences in gait function between these two groups.

The authors also examined the effects of diet after spinal injury on the molecular level. They measured levels of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and syntaxin-3 in the region of the rat spine that was compressed as well as in a region lower in the spinethe lumbar enlargementwhere nerves controlling the lower limbs are attached to the spinal cord. The lumbar enlargement was included because cord injury can extend downward from the original site. Significantly higher levels of 4-HNE, an indication of severe cellular membrane damage, were found in both spinal sites in rats fed the Western diet. There was no significant difference between the levels of 4-HNE found in rats fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin and control rats with intact spines. Levels of BDNF and syntaxin-3 were significantly lower in both spinal sites in rats fed the Western diet. There were no significant differences in the levels of BDNF and syntaxin-3 between rats fed the diet enriched with DHA and curcumin and control rats. BDNF is a key factor involved in neural repair and promotes the transmission of information across synapses. Syntaxin-3 plays an important role in the release of neurotransmitters into the synapses.

This study shows that diet can play an important role in the response of the rat body to spinal injury. Rats fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin displayed significantly better walking ability than animals fed a "Western diet" high in saturated fats and sugar. In addition, there were significant differences in the levels of 4-HNE, BDNF, and syntaxin-3 between rats fed the Western diet and rats fed the DHA and curcuminenriched diet. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in any of the parameters examined between rats fed the enriched diet and control rats with intact spines.

On the basis of their findings, the authors conclude: "DHA and curcumin can counteract the effects of chronic spinal cord compression through several molecular mechanisms, resulting in the preservation of neurological function."

###

Read the original post:
Neuroprotective dietary supplements for chronic spinal cord injury

By Tess Stynes

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its Lyrica drug for nerve pain for use by some spinal-cord-injury patients.

The pharmaceutical giant said about 40% of 270,000 patients in the U.S. with spinal cord injuries suffer from neuropathic pain, which can hinder rehabilitation efforts.

"Until now, no FDA approved treatment options were available in the U.S. for people with neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury, a condition which can be extremely disabling," said Steven J. Romano, head of the medicines development group at Pfizer's Global Primary Care Business Unit.

In 12-week and 16-week studies, Lyrica was shown to significantly reduce nerve pain compared to a placebo. In addition, more patients taking Lyrica saw pain reduced by 30% and 50% , respectively, than those that received a placebo.

In addition to efforts to refill product pipelines, pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer have been looking to expand uses of current drugs in an effort to head off the loss of patents on key drugs.

Pfizer, which has posted weaker results lately amid the loss of U.S. market exclusivity for its anticholesterol drug Lipitor, has been studying the potential use of Lyrica to treat other diseases.

Shares closed Wednesday at $22.67 and were inactive premarket.

Write to Tess Stynes at Tess.Stynes@dowjones.com

Corrections & Amplifications

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FDA Approves Pfizer's Lyrica for Some Spinal Cord Injury Patients

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Lyrica (pregabalin) capsules CV for the management of neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury. Lyrica received a priority review designation for this new indication from the FDA. More than 100,000 patients approximately 40 percent of the 270,000 patients with spinal cord injury in the United States - suffer from this chronic, complex pain condition. Neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury can be severely debilitating and may significantly hinder rehabilitation and the ability to regain function.

This milestone represents an important opportunity for physicians to more effectively manage the debilitating neuropathic pain that often accompanies spinal cord injury, said clinical study investigator Diana Cardenas, MD, MHA, professor and chair, department of rehabilitation medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and chief of service for rehabilitation medicine and medical director of Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital, Miami, Florida. Given the clinical challenges of investigating neuropathic pain in this patient population, any advancements in treatment are welcome by physicians and patients alike.

An estimated 12,000 new spinal cord injury patients are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. There are a wide variety of causes for spinal cord injury, including traumatic and non-traumatic causes. Traumatic causes may include motor vehicle accidents, violence, falls and sports injuries. In these instances, a spinal cord injury typically begins with a sudden, traumatic blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae. The damage begins at the moment of injury when displaced bone fragments, disc material, or ligaments bruise or tear into spinal cord tissue. Non-traumatic causes may involve congenital and developmental abnormalities, genetics and metabolism, infections and inflammation, removal of a benign spinal tumor and spinal cord ischemic stroke.

Neuropathic pain can be experienced above, at or below the level of the spinal cord injury, and is typically not confined to one area in the body. Approximately one-third of spinal cord injury patients report below-level neuropathic pain that is severe or excruciating. Patients may experience neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury as early as two weeks after injury and it may persist for up to 25 years.

Until now, no FDA approved treatment options were available in the U.S. for people with neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury, a condition which can be extremely disabling, said Steven J. Romano, MD, senior vice president and head, medicines development group, Global Primary Care Business Unit, Pfizer. The approval of Lyrica for this indication is a significant milestone, exemplifying Pfizers commitment to pursue scientific advancements that address unmet medical needs.

About Lyrica Phase 3 Clinical Studies

The FDA approval is based on two randomized, double-blind, flexibly dosed (150600 mg/day), placebo-controlled Phase 3 trials, which enrolled 357 patients. Among other medications, patients were allowed to continue taking other pain medications, including NSAIDs, opioids and non-opioids. The population of one study consisted of traumatic spinal cord injury patients. The population of the other study consisted of traumatic spinal cord injury patients and patients who had injury to the spinal cord from non-traumatic causes: e.g., removal of a benign spinal tumor or spinal cord ischemic stroke (five percent of patients).

The primary finding in these studies was that Lyrica significantly reduced neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury from baseline throughout the duration of the studies (12 weeks and 16 weeks, respectively), compared to placebo. In addition, more patients receiving Lyrica showed a 30 percent and 50 percent reduction in pain than did patients receiving placebo. In some patients, the reduction in pain with Lyrica was significant as early as week one and continued throughout the duration of the trials.

The most common adverse events in these trials in patients receiving Lyrica were somnolence, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue and peripheral edema.

Read this article:
FDA Approves Lyrica For The Management Of Neuropathic Pain Associated With Spinal Cord Injury Based On Priority Review

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE MKT: CUR) announced that the first patient to receive stem cell transplantation in both regions of the spinal cord has been treated in the ongoing Phase I trial of its spinal cord neural stem cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease). This is also the 16th patient to be treated in the trial altogether and the first patient returning to the trial for a second treatment. In this treatment, the patient received five injections in the cervical (upper back) region of the spinal cord, in addition to the ten he received previously in the lumbar (lower back) region of the spine, for a total of 15 injections. This is the highest number of injections in the trial so far. Patient 16 is also the first patient in the world to receive stem cell transplants in both the lumbar and cervical regions of the spinal cord in an FDA-approved trial. Two additional previously-treated patients are expected to return to the trial this summer in this cohort, provided they continue to meet the inclusion requirements. The trial is taking place at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061221/DCTH007LOGO )

"Transplanting the first of the returning patients represents a major milestone in the trial," said Dr. Karl Johe, PhD, Neuralstem's Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer. "The ability to safely administer multiple dosings to these patients is a key enabling step in administering the maximum safe dose. Not only are we dosing patients for a second time in this cohort, we are now dosing in both the lumbar and cervical regions of the spinal cord for the first time, where the stem cell therapy could support both walking and breathing."

About the Trial

The Phase I trial to assess the safety of Neuralstem's spinal cord neural stem cells and intraspinal transplantation method in ALS patients has been underway since January 2010. The trial is designed to enroll up to 18 patients. The first 12 patients were each transplanted in the lumbar (lower back) region of the spine, beginning with non-ambulatory and advancing to ambulatory cohorts.

The trial then advanced to transplantation in the cervical (upper back) region of the spine. The first cohort of three was treated in the cervical region only. The current cohort of three will receive injections in both the cervical and lumbar regions of the spinal cord. In an amendment to the trial design, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the return of previously-treated patients to this cohort. The first of these returning patients was just treated. The entire 18-patient trial concludes six months after the final surgery.

About Neuralstem

Neuralstem's patented technology enables the ability to produce neural stem cells of the human brain and spinal cord in commercial quantities, and the ability to control the differentiation of these cells constitutively into mature, physiologically relevant human neurons and glia. Neuralstem is in an FDA-approved Phase I safety clinical trial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, and has been awarded orphan status designation by the FDA.

In addition to ALS, the company is also targeting major central nervous system conditions with its cell therapy platform, including spinal cord injury, ischemic spastic paraplegia and chronic stroke. The company has submitted an IND (Investigational New Drug) application to the FDA for a Phase I safety trial in chronic spinal cord injury.

Neuralstem also has the ability to generate stable human neural stem cell lines suitable for the systematic screening of large chemical libraries. Through this proprietary screening technology, Neuralstem has discovered and patented compounds that may stimulate the brain's capacity to generate new neurons, possibly reversing the pathologies of some central nervous system conditions. The company has received approval from the FDA to conduct a Phase Ib safety trial evaluating NSI-189, its first neurogenic small molecule compound, for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Additional indications could include CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), Alzheimer's disease, anxiety, and memory disorders.

Original post:
Sixteenth Patient Dosed In Neuralstem ALS Stem Cell Trial