.gif) VIARTIS
|
|||||||||||
|
|
PARKINSON'S DISEASE NEWS
|
|
|||||||||
|
Parkinson's Disease News covers all significant new research, reports, books, and resources concerning Parkinson's Disease. Articles are chosen on the basis of their medical significance or potential interest. Our overwhelming priority is the facts, regardless of whether they contradict prevailing views or vested interests. Analysis and further information are provided either to explain the background or implications, or to balance misleading claims. If you notice errors or inadequacies, or dispute what is written, or want to propose articles, please e-mail mail@viartis.net.
LOW RESOLUTION VERSION : There is a low resolution version of this web page INTENDED FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT EITHER : use 800x600 resolution on their monitors, or have eyesight difficulties, or have slow Internet speeds. GO TO LOW RESOLUTION VERSION
17th May 2012 - New research NEW GENETIC CAUSE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE Annals of Neurology [2012] 71 (3) : 370-384 (Pankratz N, Beecham GW, DeStefano AL, Dawson TM, Doheny KF, Factor SA, Hamza TH, Hung AY, Hyman BT, Ivinson AJ, Krainc D, Latourelle JC, Clark LN, Marder K, Martin ER, Mayeux R, Ross OA, Scherzer CR, Simon DK, Tanner C, Vance JM, Wszolek ZK, Zabetian CP, Myers RH, Payami H, Scott WK, Foroud T) Complete abstract A new genetic cause of Parkinson's Disease has been discovered. The gene is known as RIT2, which is on Chromosome 18. Although the gene was previously known, it had not previously been linked to Parkinson's Disease. The researchers do not know how the RIT2 gene leads to Parkinson's Disease being more likely.
17th May 2012 - New book MARIJUANA FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE Richard Secklin
3rd May 2012 - New research
CAUSES OF SUDDEN WORSENING IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE
18th April 2012 - News release LEVODOPA-CARBIDOPA INTESTINAL GEL CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS
Participants had had Parkinson's Disease for an average of over 10 years, and experienced an average of over 6 hours "off" time. Their average "off" time decreased by 4 hours per day with LCIG, which was 1.9 fewer hours of "off" time compared to levodopa-carbidopa IR in tablet form. Adverse events occurred in 95% of people on LCIG, and 100% of people on levodopa-carbidopa IR tablets. The most common adverse events were complication of device insertion (51%), abdominal pain (42%), procedural pain (32%), nausea (25%), constipation (21%), orthostatic hypotension (18%), post-operative wound infection (17%), and incision site erythema (16%). Treatment-related serious adverse events were reported in 14% of the LCIG patients, and 21% of the levodopa-carbidopa IR tablet patients. For more information go to the News release. For a printable version of this article click here. In order to refer to this article on its own click here.
9th April 2012 - New research THE COMMUNITY WITH THE WORST PREVALENCE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE Neuroepidemiology [2012] 38 (3) : 154-163 (E.M.Khedr, G.S.Al Attar, M.R.Kandil, N.F.Kamel, N.Abo Elfetoh, M.A.Ahmed) Complete abstract Along the River Nile in Egypt has been found to have one of the world's highest prevalences of Parkinson's Disease. With a prevalence rate of 557 per 100,000 it makes Egypt the country with the world's second highest prevalence of Parkinson's Disease behind Albania. The greatest difference in the prevalence of Parkinson's Disease was between the illiterate and the literate, with a ratio of 3.93 to 1, especially in rural areas. This means that illiterate Egyptians in rural areas along the Nile south of Cairo are far more likely to develop Parkinson's Disease than any other community in the world, with a prevalence rate of 1,103 per 100,000. This difference is probably related to poverty rather than literacy. In some of the villages south of Cairo there are only mud roads and open sewers.
4th April 2012 - News release NEUPRO APPROVED FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the use of UCB's drug Neupro (rotigotine transdermal system) in the U.S.A. for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of advanced stage idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease and as a treatment for moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). The FDA has also approved UCB’s new formulation of Neupro. Neupro will be available in U.S. retail pharmacies in July 2012. For more information go to the News release.
25th March 2012 - New research THE WORLD'S HIGHEST PREVALENCE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE Neuroepidemiology [2012] 38 (3) : 138-147 (Kruja J, Beghi E, Zerbi D, Dobi D, Kuqo A, Zekja I, Mijo S, Kapisyzi M, Messina P.) Complete abstract
22nd March 2012 - News release CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS - DIPRAGLURANT FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE DYSKINESIA
Dipraglurant met its primary objective of demonstrating safety and tolerability in people with Parkinson's Disease. The incidence of adverse events was slightly higher in those taking Dipraglurant (88%) than in those taking a placebo (75%). Adverse events typical with drugs of this kind, such as vertigo, visual disturbances, and feeling drunk, were seen in less than 10% of people taking Dipraglurant, but were not severe. Exploratory efficacy data showed an anti-dyskinetic effect. People taking Dipraglurant had as much as 70 minutes more on-time without dyskinesia than people taking a placebo. During Week 4, patients also reported a reduction in daily off-time of 50 minutes, suggesting an effect on parkinsonian motor symptoms in addition to the observed reductions in dyskinesia. For more information go to Addex Therapeutics. For a printable version of this article click here. In order to refer to this article on its own click here.
14th March 2012 - New research L-DOPA PRODRUG CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS Clinical Neuropharmacology [2012] Mar 7 [Epub ahead of print] (Lewitt PA, Ellenbogen A, Chen D, Lal R, McGuire K, Zomorodi K, Luo W, Huff FJ.) Complete abstract
XP21279 is a new chemical entity being developed for the treatment of
Parkinson's Disease. XP21279 uses naturally-occurring, high-capacity nutrient
transporters in the gastrointestinal tract to generate active, efficient
absorption into the body. Once absorbed, XP21279 is rapidly converted into
L-Dopa, a drug that acts to replace dopamine.
For more information go to
Xenoport. The L-dopa prodrug XP21279 aims to replace
the use of L-dopa, which has many
11th March 2012 - News report NOBEL PRIZE WINNER DIES WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE
7th March 2012 - New research THE DEVELOPMENT OF HALLUCINATIONS IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Movement Disorders [2011] 26 (12) : 2196-2000 (Goetz CG, Stebbins GT, Ouyang B.)
Complete abstract
Although hallucinations commonly occur in Parkinson's Disease, hallucinations are not Parkinson's Disease symptoms. They eventually occur because of the effect of dopaminergic drugs such as L-dopa. Because the effects of these drugs on Parkinson's Disease symptoms wears off over time, higher dosages are usually required to have the same effect. These progressively increasing dosages makes hallucinations progressively more likely. For a printable version of this article click here. In order to refer to this article on its own click here.
4th March 2012 - New research THE EFFECT OF GENDER ON DYSKINESIA
Journal of Neurology [2011] 258 (11) : 2048-2053 (Hassin-Baer S, Molchadski I,
Cohen OS, Nitzan Z, Efrati L, Tunkel O, Kozlova E, Korczyn AD.)
Complete abstract
3rd March 2012 - New research CLR01 CLAIMED TO SLOW PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Neurotherapeutics [2012] Feb 29 [Epub ahead of print] (Prabhudesai S,
Sinha S, Attar A, Kotagiri A, Fitzmaurice AG, Lakshmanan R, Ivanova MI, Loo JA,
Klärner FG, Schrader T, Stahl M, Bitan G, Bronstein JM.)
Complete abstract To determine whether CLR01 was also protective in animals, the researchers used a zebrafish, which is a type of fish commonly used in Parkinson's Disease research because it is easily manipulated genetically, and because some of its biochemistry is similar to that in humans. CLR01 significantly improved zebrafish survival, suppressed the aggregation of α-synuclein, and also reduced cell death caused by α-synuclein. This occurred without evidence of toxicity. The authors consequently claimed that CLR01 stopped the progression of Parkinson's Disease in an animal model, and is therefore a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease.
However, zebrafish do not have Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's Disease was not
simulated in the zebrafish
either. There were therefore no measures of whether or not Parkinson's Disease
symptoms altered as a result of CLR01. So
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| GO TO FEBRUARY 2012 | |||||||||||
|
ARCHIVES 2011 : January February March April May June July August September October November December March April May June July August September October November December March April May June July August September October November December2008 : January February March April May June July August September October November December |
|||||||||||
.gif) |
|||||||||||
| ©2006-2011 Viartis | |||||||||||
| mail@viartis.net | |||||||||||
There
are 18 previously known genetic causes of Parkinson's Disease, known as PARK 1
to PARK 18. They are mutations of specific genes. They do not make Parkinson's
Disease inevitable, but instead to varying extents, depending on the gene, make
Parkinson's Disease progressively more likely. The number of people with
Parkinson's Disease who have these genetic mutations is not known, but estimates
have suggested that as many as 10% to 15% of people who have Parkinson's Disease
have them. For a printable version of this article
E-MAIL NOTIFICATION : If you would like to be
notified by e-mail when any new
articles are added to Parkinson's Disease News, please merely
e-mail
Publisher's
description : Pharmaceutical use of cannabis is not new and history shows
us how this miracle plant has been misinterpreted through an era of ignorance.
Cannabis has been used for thousands of years and the credibility of marijuana
as a therapy specifically for Parkinson’s disease is somewhat new. Marijuana
helps Parkinson’s patients and benefits people suffering from many other
illnesses. What is presently a controversial subject matter as many States one
by one approve the medicinal use of marijuana, this new research book should
help provide medical support for new legislation. Readers are given a brief
history on cannabis, the laws, the medicinal use, medical research, and much
more.
Most
people who experienced a sudden worsening of symptoms recovered fully, but a
third of people experienced recurrent episodes. One in six people suffered
permanent decline. Those people most prone to sudden or transient worsening were
those who had Parkinson's Disease for nearly eight years or more, had more
severe symptoms, had greater use of dopaminergic drugs, and had a greater
prevalence of motor complications. For a printable version of this article
Abbott’s
have announced the results of the Phase 3 clinical trial in the U.S.A. of their
investigational treatment for advanced Parkinson’s Disease. The treatment
involved levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG). The treatment is already
approved in many countries outside the U.S.A. as Duodopa. LCIG contains the same
active medication as Sinemet, which is levodopa-carbidopa IR tablets. LCIG was
administered using a procedurally-implanted tube connected to a portable pump
that delivers the medication directly into the small intestine, where it is
absorbed into the bloodstream, providing a continuous delivery of medication
during the 16 hours a day of pump use. 
Amongst
those in their seventies, more than 7% of Egyptians were found to have
Parkinson's Disease. There were far more people in rural areas with
Parkinson's Disease, with a ratio of 3.2 to 1. Consistent with most other
countries, there were more men than women with Parkinson's Disease, with a male
female ratio of 1.7 to 1. Those with Parkinson's Disease were characterized by a
high prevalence of mood disorders, cognition dysfunction and gastrointestinal
symptoms. For more information go to the
In
April 2008, Neupro was withdrawn from use in the U.S.A. because specific batches
of Neupro had deviated from their specification. In June 2009, UCB proposed new
refrigerated storage conditions to alleviate crystallization on the patches. UCB
made progress in reformulation and remained committed to bringing Neupro to U.S.
patients. For more information go to the
Albania
has been found to be the country with the world's highest prevalence of
Parkinson's Disease by far. The prevalence figures for Parkinsonism were found
to be 800 per 100,000. To put that in perspective, the countries with the next
highest prevalence of Parkinson's Disease (per 100,000) are the U.S.A. with 329
and Israel with 256. Parkinsonism includes some other disorders. So the Albanian figure
for only Parkinson's Disease would be lower, but still far higher than any other
country. The prevalence of neurological disorders in Albania was found to be
high generally. It was not only Parkinson's Disease that is common there.
Albania is one of the poorest nations in Europe, but poverty is not related to
the prevalence of Parkinson's Disease. There are some isolated communities
elsewhere that
have a very high prevalence of Parkinson's Disease. This includes the Amish
religious community in the U.S.A., 
Addex
Therapeutics have announced data from a Phase II clinical trial of Dipraglurant
in people with Parkinson's Disease who have dyskinesia caused by L-dopa.
Dipraglurant is an orally taken drug presently being developed that inhibits
glutamate receptor 5. For more information go to
undesirable
effects
including its rapid breakdown by gastric and peripheral enzymes, only a short
duration in the blood after oral consumption, which leads to fluctuation of drug
plasma concentrations when taken frequently, and a limited period for possible
absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.
Nobel
Prize winning chemist 
Isolated
visual hallucinations dominate the early years of Parkinson's Disease, but
visual plus non-visual hallucinations accounted for progressively higher
proportions of people with Parkinson's Disease.
Hallucination severity was highly associated with somebody currently having
visual plus non-visual hallucinations.
After 6 months with Parkinson's Disease, virtually nobody had hallucinations.
However, after 4 years, over a quarter (26%) of people with Parkinson's Disease
had hallucinations. After 6 years, nearly half (47%) of people with Parkinson's
Disease had hallucinations. After 10 years with Parkinson's Disease, 60% of
people had hallucinations. Once somebody had both visual and non-visual
hallucinations, the risk of continuing to have them was high.
it
could not reasonably be claimed that CLR01 was shown to stop or slow the
progression of Parkinson's Disease, even in animals. A lot of the toxicity that
could occur in humans would not be detectable in zebrafish either. Researchers
measured the effects in terms of
α-synuclein, which does not indicate Parkinson's Disease. It occurs in other
medical disorders and often fails to occur in Parkinson's Disease.
For a printable version of this article