This story now has a personal interest to me- I have recently been suffering from seizures and have now been referred to a neurologist to investigate the possibility of having epilepsy.
A new implant in the brain can warn of seizures minutes before they occur. Without this, epilepsy is incredibly unpredictable- putting people with the condition at risk, it is hazardous and disruptive. The warning of an imminent seizure helps sufferers stay safe.
Seizures can be described like earthquakes: you can't prevent them from happening, but if you predict them you can prepare to mitigate the effects. The implant is a patch of electrodes that measure brainwaves- it learns patterns of activity that indicate a seizure is about to happen. As this happens, the implant signals to a receiver implanted under the collarbone; alerting the person activating a handheld device with warning lights.
This means an enormous change in the independence and confidence of sufferers.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
'A revolution in mental health'
Upon reading the NewScientist today, I was drawn to one particular article. This outlined the change of diagnosis procedure of mental health away from a symptom based diagnosis, and toward biomarkers and brain scans. This stood out to me as an issue, not only because I suffer from mental health problems myself, but also because such a huge sector of healthcare has been seemingly left behind research wise. You wouldn't diagnose cancer on the basis of a lump- the tissue would be tested- so why have we been diagnosing mental health issues differently, purely based on on symptoms and not on any objective laboratory measure? This would give rise to more accurate diagnoses, and hence improved help for the patient- that is, if the underlying science is reliable. This shift in technique is desirable, but 'to understand the neuroscience in sufficient depth to build a diagnosis would take time'.
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Possible Drug for Autism
Currently, there are no medicines to treat autism's core symptoms.
A meeting in Massachusetts presented the results of the largest clinical trial of a drug for autism. The drug is called arbaclofen- it works by damping down the excessive brain activity. It derives from the already approved drug- baclofen (used to treat spastic muscles); this means that this class of drugs has already undergone safety testing.
150 people with autism either received a placebo or arbaclofen for 12 weeks. Although this drug did not change social withdrawal of the participants, it did make recipients more able to respond appropriate to other people.
Read in more depth: http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/top-ten-lists/2012/arbaclofen-shows-promise-treating-core-symptoms-autism
A meeting in Massachusetts presented the results of the largest clinical trial of a drug for autism. The drug is called arbaclofen- it works by damping down the excessive brain activity. It derives from the already approved drug- baclofen (used to treat spastic muscles); this means that this class of drugs has already undergone safety testing.
150 people with autism either received a placebo or arbaclofen for 12 weeks. Although this drug did not change social withdrawal of the participants, it did make recipients more able to respond appropriate to other people.
Read in more depth: http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/top-ten-lists/2012/arbaclofen-shows-promise-treating-core-symptoms-autism
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Hypothalamus: the Timer of Life
By manipulating the hypothalamus- a small almond shaped part of the brain that controls most of the basic life functions- in mice, researchers have managed to lengthen and shorten the lifespan of mice. This reveals new drug targets that may delay the onset of age-related disease.
Mice were given gene therapy: one group to inhibit NF-kB- a protein complex that becomes more active in older mice (these lived to 1100 days); one group to activate NF-kB (these lived to 900 days); one group to age naturally (these lived to 600-1000 days). The mice that lived the longest also maintained mentally and physically fit for longer- the mice were given cognitive tests against a control and the longest lived mice performed best.
Post-mortem examinations in the longest living mice (with inhibited NF-kB) showed that they had many chemical and physical qualities of younger mice. Further investigations showed that NF-kB reduces the level of GnRH ( a chemical produced in the hypothalamus) which regulates puberty and fertility. Mice injected with GnRH resulted in new neurones in the brain and they lived longer too, with similar lifespans to that of mice with inhibited NF-kB. When injected directly into the hypothalamus, it influenced other brain regions.
Mice were given gene therapy: one group to inhibit NF-kB- a protein complex that becomes more active in older mice (these lived to 1100 days); one group to activate NF-kB (these lived to 900 days); one group to age naturally (these lived to 600-1000 days). The mice that lived the longest also maintained mentally and physically fit for longer- the mice were given cognitive tests against a control and the longest lived mice performed best.
Post-mortem examinations in the longest living mice (with inhibited NF-kB) showed that they had many chemical and physical qualities of younger mice. Further investigations showed that NF-kB reduces the level of GnRH ( a chemical produced in the hypothalamus) which regulates puberty and fertility. Mice injected with GnRH resulted in new neurones in the brain and they lived longer too, with similar lifespans to that of mice with inhibited NF-kB. When injected directly into the hypothalamus, it influenced other brain regions.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Adults 'cured' after HIV baby
Following the apparent cure of the HIV baby (see previous post) reports suggest that therapy similar to that of the baby works on adults too. 70 people that were treated with three antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) a lot earlier than people are normally treated: 35 days-10 weeks after infection. The majority relapsed after their treatment was halted, but 14 of them, 10 out of that being male, were able to stay off the ARVs without relapsing like the others. These 14 still have HIV traces in their blood but only levels that their immune system can keep at bay.
This is not total eradication of the virus, but it does enable them to live a a substantial amount of time without drugs (no ARVs etc). It has been made clear tat early treatment is very important- however, this rapid treatment doesn't work for everyone (56 of the 70 relapsed). The 14 adults were also confirmed not to be 'super controllers' (population, 1%, of people with a natural resistance to HIV)- and researchers are now attempting to identify why it only works on some people, which may expand the future for further functional cures.
The senior advisor on HIV/AIDS strategy at the WHO (World Health Organisation) says 'The big challenge is identifying people early in their infection' and also pointing out that the stigma and potential discrimination means that people are reluctant to have a test for it.
Other researchers are working on a way to eradicate HIV from the body completely- by using drugs that 'flushes out' dormant HIV out of its hiding places in the host. This was supported by the trebled levels of dormant HIV in the blood following taking the drug (vorinostat) as this shows that the virus is being removed from cells. And now, an attempt to find a way to kill the HIV which would now be in the blood after use of drugs flushing it out- and so getting rid of the virus from the body completely. Theoretically, HIV can be 'moped up' if it is released form the plasma in cells (if HIV is unlocked from resisting CD4 memory T-cells).
Vorinostat is histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor- used for treatment of cutaneous lymphoma (brand name- Zolinza). HDAC is an enzyme that contributes to maintaining latency of the genetic material, that is integrated in human cells, of HIV. The idea is to break this HIV latency, thus 'turning on' the HIV genes and the virus to replicate. Vironostat shows the ability to cause mutations (mutangenisis, AMES positive)), which could potentially leads to cancer- although, there were no such events in the study into the drug. This study is hoped to chow that HDAC drugs can be effective and that other less toxic (not AMES positive) can be used to move the 'cure' forward.
This is not total eradication of the virus, but it does enable them to live a a substantial amount of time without drugs (no ARVs etc). It has been made clear tat early treatment is very important- however, this rapid treatment doesn't work for everyone (56 of the 70 relapsed). The 14 adults were also confirmed not to be 'super controllers' (population, 1%, of people with a natural resistance to HIV)- and researchers are now attempting to identify why it only works on some people, which may expand the future for further functional cures.
The senior advisor on HIV/AIDS strategy at the WHO (World Health Organisation) says 'The big challenge is identifying people early in their infection' and also pointing out that the stigma and potential discrimination means that people are reluctant to have a test for it.
Other researchers are working on a way to eradicate HIV from the body completely- by using drugs that 'flushes out' dormant HIV out of its hiding places in the host. This was supported by the trebled levels of dormant HIV in the blood following taking the drug (vorinostat) as this shows that the virus is being removed from cells. And now, an attempt to find a way to kill the HIV which would now be in the blood after use of drugs flushing it out- and so getting rid of the virus from the body completely. Theoretically, HIV can be 'moped up' if it is released form the plasma in cells (if HIV is unlocked from resisting CD4 memory T-cells).
Vorinostat is histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor- used for treatment of cutaneous lymphoma (brand name- Zolinza). HDAC is an enzyme that contributes to maintaining latency of the genetic material, that is integrated in human cells, of HIV. The idea is to break this HIV latency, thus 'turning on' the HIV genes and the virus to replicate. Vironostat shows the ability to cause mutations (mutangenisis, AMES positive)), which could potentially leads to cancer- although, there were no such events in the study into the drug. This study is hoped to chow that HDAC drugs can be effective and that other less toxic (not AMES positive) can be used to move the 'cure' forward.
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Electronic Cigarettes- The Debate
Throughout our lives we are told about the effects of smoking, how bad it is to hour health including increased cancer risk, and yet many still do it. Upon reading my NewScientist, I was drawn to one particular article on electronic cigarettes I have a particular interest in such due to family members using them on-and-off in a desperate attempt to quit for good. However, are they really any help, or just a menace? Some people think that the wide use of e-cigarettes could save many lives, the number of people using them in the UK is thought to reach a million this year (Acting on Smoking and Health, charity, claimed 700 000 people were using them last year); but some people believe that they are doing harm in normalizing smoking.
These 'cigarettes' vaporise solution (including propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine) into aerosol mist, which simulates the act of smoking. They contain nicotine, just like normal cigarettes- which might be around the same amount of a normal one, but the quantity of nicotine can be chosen by the user, with some opting for none at all. The huge attraction for smokers the these devices is that they look and feel just like the real thing- unlike nicotine patches or gum. They are, however, more pleasant for non-smokers around the people using the e-cigarettes as opposed to real ones; they do not produce toxic gas or smell. A 2012 study showed that carcinogens were typically 1000 higher in smoke from standard cigarettes compared to the vapour from electronic ones.
There is uncertainty around the effects of inhaling of nicotine vapour into the lungs; but there are no combustion products to be inhaled, so no tobacco toxins inhaled which could cause lung disease and cancer.
Are e-cigarettes medicines, or simply a form of cigarette to be on general sale? There is a great disparity when it comes to the view of this across countries, for example in Canada and Australia they are not on shop shelves and people can only buy them on-line for their personal use; whereas, in the US e-cigarettes are classifies as tobacco products so they can be sold legally as consumer products. In the next few months, UK regulators could 'provide a model for which way to go'- the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) proposed regulating them as medicines- but would allow them to be continued in retail sale, so that smokers who have already turned to them do not go back to smoking.
Smoking is the world's second biggest avoidable killer (following high blood pressure)- killing 6 million a year. 35% of smokers try to quit each year in the UK, but only around 5% succeed unaided. From a study of of 300 smokers for evidence for whether e-cigarettes help people stop smoking, 9 % quit and a further 20-25% cut intake of real cigarettes by at least half. But how safe are these e-cigarettes? The WHO in 2008 warned that the safety of e-cigarettes had yet to be established.
Action on Smoking and Health (a UK anti-smoking charity) said the use of electronic cigarettes was a 'harm reduction' approach. But they can legally be sold to children, and there are few advertising restrictions- could they be seen as glamorising smoking? They are not regulated medicines like patches or gum, so there are no rules about the purity of nicotine in them. Should the smoking of e-cigarettes be allowed in a public place? The BMA has called for a ban for their use in public places, so there is smaller risk of normalising something that looks like smoking.
How will the regulation change? We can only wait and see...
These 'cigarettes' vaporise solution (including propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine) into aerosol mist, which simulates the act of smoking. They contain nicotine, just like normal cigarettes- which might be around the same amount of a normal one, but the quantity of nicotine can be chosen by the user, with some opting for none at all. The huge attraction for smokers the these devices is that they look and feel just like the real thing- unlike nicotine patches or gum. They are, however, more pleasant for non-smokers around the people using the e-cigarettes as opposed to real ones; they do not produce toxic gas or smell. A 2012 study showed that carcinogens were typically 1000 higher in smoke from standard cigarettes compared to the vapour from electronic ones.
There is uncertainty around the effects of inhaling of nicotine vapour into the lungs; but there are no combustion products to be inhaled, so no tobacco toxins inhaled which could cause lung disease and cancer.
Are e-cigarettes medicines, or simply a form of cigarette to be on general sale? There is a great disparity when it comes to the view of this across countries, for example in Canada and Australia they are not on shop shelves and people can only buy them on-line for their personal use; whereas, in the US e-cigarettes are classifies as tobacco products so they can be sold legally as consumer products. In the next few months, UK regulators could 'provide a model for which way to go'- the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) proposed regulating them as medicines- but would allow them to be continued in retail sale, so that smokers who have already turned to them do not go back to smoking.
Smoking is the world's second biggest avoidable killer (following high blood pressure)- killing 6 million a year. 35% of smokers try to quit each year in the UK, but only around 5% succeed unaided. From a study of of 300 smokers for evidence for whether e-cigarettes help people stop smoking, 9 % quit and a further 20-25% cut intake of real cigarettes by at least half. But how safe are these e-cigarettes? The WHO in 2008 warned that the safety of e-cigarettes had yet to be established.
Action on Smoking and Health (a UK anti-smoking charity) said the use of electronic cigarettes was a 'harm reduction' approach. But they can legally be sold to children, and there are few advertising restrictions- could they be seen as glamorising smoking? They are not regulated medicines like patches or gum, so there are no rules about the purity of nicotine in them. Should the smoking of e-cigarettes be allowed in a public place? The BMA has called for a ban for their use in public places, so there is smaller risk of normalising something that looks like smoking.
How will the regulation change? We can only wait and see...
Friday, 8 March 2013
Speaking for Charity
A short while ago, I was
invited to speak at the Bexley Women’s Aid annual conference, and accepted
without hesitation. After preparing and presenting a 10 minute talk about the
charity’s work in schools and its impact- to a hall of officials- I received useful,
supportive and encouraging feedback. The coordinator was so pleased with my
work that she contacted my head teacher and I received the Head Teacher’s Award
for representing the school in an outstanding way.
I kept in contact with the women working for the charity, and was invited for a meeting to discuss the possibility of volunteering at one of their refuges. I hope to start soon, on a weekly basis to hopefully gain some valuable experience and help BWA offer their support.
I kept in contact with the women working for the charity, and was invited for a meeting to discuss the possibility of volunteering at one of their refuges. I hope to start soon, on a weekly basis to hopefully gain some valuable experience and help BWA offer their support.
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