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KOREA: Cure For Parkinson’s Disease Found (In Rat Experiments) By Kim Tae-gyu Staff Reporter 12-16-2003 16:02 Picture A, left, shows a rat’s brain, which has Parkinson’s disease shown in the white areas on the right side. The right side regains its normal state, indicated in black, after an injection of genetically modified human embryonic stem cells in picture B and C. A Korean research team has made history by being the first to use genetically modified human embryonic stem cells to cure Parkinson’s disease in rat experiments. The Maria Biotech team, a Seoul-based research institute led by Park Se-pill, announced on Tuesday it made the medical breakthrough after a two-year intensive study through government sponsorship. The study will apply further tests on monkeys at the U.S. Emory University early next year and, if the tests prove successful, clinical trials will follow soon, making it possible to apply the newfound technology to humans. ``We are confident there will be positive results in the U.S. and our findings will open a new era in healing brain- related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease,’’ Park told The Korea Times. Park’s team injected two genes, related to generating dopamine, into human embryonic stem cells, and then implanted them in the brains of rats that had Parkinson’s disease. Normal muscle movement will return within six weeks after the surgery. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the brain associated with dopamine deficiency. Symptoms include shaking and difficulties with moving. The team’s research also reaffirms the medical potential of human embryonic stem cells, which are created from the inner cell mass of a week-old human embryo made during infertility treatments. Under the proper culture, the embryonic stem cells can grow and divide indefinitely, with the possibility of developing into almost all types of body tissues. The results can be used for incurable disease-plagued patients. The team’s research will be printed in Neuroscience Letters, an international science journal, which will be published on Dec. 19. An excerpt of the research is already available at the magazine’s Web site ( http://www.neuroscilett.de ). Access is limited to subscribers Researchers anticipate some obstacles en route to full application of the cell replacement therapy in South Korea due to the lack of proper regulations covering the study and usage of the new biotechnology. ``With the development of the genetic treatment, we can free a lot of patients from pains,’’ Park claimed. ``The government must establish proper guidelines so that the new treatment can be used as soon as it is available.’’ [log in to unmask] SOURCE: The Korea Times, South Korea http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200312/kt2003121616002810160.htm * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn