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For those who don't access the WWW, here is the text of an interesting
Parkinson's web page from CytoTherapeutics, Inc. (I'd love to know more
about how this implant is supposed to work; e.g., where is it implanted,
what exectly is contained in the implant, etc.)
 
For web surfers, their URL is:
   http://www.cyto.com/parky.html
 
Or you can get there from our page:
   http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PD_Digest
 
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   PARKINSON'S DISEASE PROGRAM
 
   Parkinson's disease, which affects approximately 500,000 individuals
   in the United States, is a progressively debilitating neurological
   disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity and slowness of spontaneous
   movement. The lack of motor control results from an insufficient
   concentration of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the striatum (a
   portion of the brain) due to the death of dopamine-producing cells in
   the substantia nigra, a related area of the brain. There is no known
   cure for Parkinson's disease nor is there any known method for
   arresting or reversing the fundamental neurodegenerative process that
   results in the death of dopamine-producing cells.
 
   Currently approved therapies for Parkinson's disease include the
   systemic oral administration of drugs such as L-dopa (dopamine's
   precursor), deprenyl (an inhibitor of a dopamine degradative enzyme),
   compounds that stimulate the cellular receptors activated by dopamine
   (receptor agonists) and other related medications. These agents
   generally provide adequate treatment only during the early stages of
   the disease, with patients eventually becoming resistant to, tolerant
   of, or unresponsive to their medications over time.
 
   CytoTherapeutics' NeuroCRIB implant is designed to deliver
   continuous, effective, low doses of dopamine and L-dopa directly to
   the striatum, bypassing the blood-brain barrier and potentially
   avoiding the side-effects associated with the systemic administration
   of current therapies. CytoTherapeutics chose L-dopa and dopamine as
   initial agents for use in its NeuroCRIB implant since these are agents
   with known therapeutic effect in Parkinson's disease.
 
   CytoTherapeutics, Inc. has demonstrated:
 
     * Effectiveness in reversing Parkinson's-like symptoms for more than
       nine months in small animals and for more than six months in
       primate studies. These studies have shown that the therapeutic
       implants are biocompatible and that the implanted cells contained
       in the implants have remained viable, continuing to release L-dopa
       and dopamine.
 
     * Since recent experiments suggest that certain neurotrophic factors
       may prevent the loss of the specific neurons lost in Parkinson's
       disease, the Company is investigating delivery of these factors,
       alone and in combination with neurotransmitters such as dopamine,
       to potentially halt the progression of Parkinson's disease.
 
     * The Company is also investigating the possible use of neural stem
       cells to replace damaged neurons to restore function.
 
   CytoTherapeutics' program for the treatment of Parkinson's disease is
   currently in the preclinical phase. Results from preclinical tests,
   required for entry into human trials, are expected be completed in
   1996.
 
   update: December 1995
 
   [LINK] CytoTherapeutics Home Page.
 
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Margaret Monty                                  [log in to unmask]
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