 |
 |
Bill, Sorry but I must side with Bob on this. As miraculous the STN stimulation is it is only a stopgap until a cure is found which is likely to be in the area of neural growth factors. If it does involve a surgical procedure the most likely find will come from stem cell research and neural transplants in which case probably we will need a few more functional neurosurgeons. But there won't be a really large need since a lot of PWP's will not opt for the surgery until the effectiveness of their meds end. Ivan, I am not ruling out the possibility of a viral cause to PD. But a vaccine will only prevent the illness not repair the damage already done. It would be like polio. The vaccine was great but didn't help those of us who had the disease prior to 1955. Charlie ----- Original Message ----- From: Robert A. Fink, M. D. <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, January 31, 2000 5:13 PM Subject: Re: Lobbying for more neurosurgeons > Send reply to: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network <[log in to unmask]> > From: William Harshaw <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Re: Lobbying for more neurosurgeons > To: [log in to unmask] > Date sent: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 17:28:46 -0500 > > > Lang and Lozano in their NEJM review article (Oct. 98) pint out that by > > 2040 neurodgenerative diseases will surpass cancer as the number two > > killer the year 2040 is well within the practice life of a person entering > > neurosurgery today. > > > > I fear the authorities are being typically short-sighted in cutting back > > to > > number of residencies. What will they do when a real shortage develops? > > > > The "authorities" have never been known for their common sense, but > who am I to question the politicians? :-) > > Seriously, I agree that neurodegenerative illness is becoming more > common; but neurosurgery may not be the area where much of it will > be treated. Our state of surgery, albeit much better than even 10 years > ago, is still primitive when it comes to a "cellular" level, and I suspect > that the future of the treatment of neurodegenerative disease is in > physiology and biochemistry. We will still need neurosurgeons, but I > don't think that the ultimate answer to these conditions is surgical. > > > Best, > > Bob > > > ********************************************** > Robert A. Fink, M. D., F.A.C.S., P. C. > 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 > Berkeley, California 94704-2636 > Telephone: 510-849-2555 FAX: 510-849-2557 > WWW: http://www.dovecom.com/rafink/ > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > "Ex Tristitia Virtus" > > ********************************************* >