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Parkinson's Clinical Research Newsletter
November 2008
www.PDtrials.org
Greetings!
Thank you for signing up to receive the PDtrials Parkinson's Clinical Research Newsletter. This regular email newsletter provides you with information on Parkinson's disease (PD) clinical trials that are actively looking for participants, as well as news on Parkinson's research and treatments.
PDtrials is a collaborative initiative of Parkinson's organizations and is dedicated to increasing awareness and education about Parkinson's clinical trials. Please contact us if you would like more information about this effort.
New Clinical Trials Safety and Tolerability of Isradipine, a Potential Neuroprotective Agent, in People with Parkinson's Disease
The objective of this study is to establish the safety and tolerability of Isradipine in people with Parkinson's with normal and high blood pressure. It will be enrolling 20 people in the Chicago area who have been diagnosed with PD for less than 5 years. Read more at www.PDtrials.org
Lithium in People with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy or Corticobasal Degeneration
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) are progressive, adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders. Symptomatic treatment is of minimal benefit to individuals with PSP or CBD, and there are no effective disease modifying therapies. In this multicenter, open label study, 45 eligible participants with PSP or CBD will receive the study drug lithium. The primary objective of this study is to determine the safety and tolerability of lithium in people with PSP or CBD. Read more at www.PDtrials.org
A Carepartner's Participation in Clinical TrialsAs the brother of a Parkinson's patient and one of his two principal caregivers, I welcome this opportunity to explain the importance and benefits of caregiver participation in a clinical trial for the treatment of PD patients. While my participation was not a measured part of the trial itself, the experience proved to be valuable to every person involved.
Study Bolsters Link Between PD and Pesticide
For years, researchers have suspected commercial pesticides put people at risk for PD. Now evidence in the San Joaquin Valley suggests it's true. Researchers have found a strong connection between the debilitating neurological disease and long-term exposure to pesticides, particularly to a fungicide that is sprayed on thousands of acres of almonds, tree fruit and grapes in the Valley. The fungicide ziram -- the 20th most-used agricultural toxin in California in 2006 -- emerged as a common factor in a UCLA study of 400 people with Parkinson's in the Valley.
Gout and Parkinson's: Studies Examine Treatment for Gout and the Condition's Protective EffectsThe goal in treating patients with gout is to reduce acute attacks by lowering serum urate levels, which are usually high in this disease. At the same time, high serum urate levels have been shown to lower the risk of developing PD. A new study compared the safety and efficacy of febuxostat, a new drug being developed for gout that was recently approved for use in Europe, and a commonly used drug that has been around for years. Another study examined the link between gout and PD in individuals 65 years and older. The studies were published in the November issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Dance Class 'Uplifting' for Parkinson's Patients Pity is not for the students with Parkinson's who study dance at the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn. Not when one student, well into his 70s, bent crookedly in his chair, lifts his arms gently skyward to the strains of Pachelbel's Canon in D Major. Not when the dancers glide gracefully across the floor behind their instructor, professional dancer David Leventhal.
Mayo Cuts Clinical Trial Services Biz The Mayo Clinic on Wednesday announced it will discontinue its Mayo Clinical Trial Services unit, which provides testing services for clinical trials for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies.
Tell Us Your Story!
At times, we receive correspondence from people living with Parkinson's about their clinical trial experience, and these stories are often featured in the Participant Testimonials section of PDtrials.org. If you have participated in a clinical trial for PD we'd love to hear from you. Sharing your story provides insight into the clinical trial experience that only you can offer. Please email us at [log in to unmask] to contribute your testimonial.
Help Inform Others About Clinical Trials!
Do you find the information in this email bulletin and on PDtrials.org to be a helpful resource? If so, won't you take a moment and send this email bulletin to others?
Just click on the "Forward email" button at the bottom of this page and enter the email addresses of friends, family, support group members, and others who you think would like to learn more about clinical studies.
In This Issue
New Clinical Trials
A Carepartner's Participation in Clinical Trials
Article
Gout and Parkinson's
Dance Class 'Uplifting' for Parkinson's Patients
Mayo Cuts Clinical Trial Services Biz
© 2008 PDtrials. All Rights Reserved.
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