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Brain protein can boost war on Parkinson's By Leslie Papp (Toronto Star) Toronto researchers sponsering a potential breakthrough in Parkinson's disease are installing a metal "bubble" under ths scalp of patients to feed their brains a new protein. "This is a very exciting project",said Dr Lang, director of the Toronto Hospital's movement disorders clinic. "This is the first attempt, in Parkinson's disease, to actually cause some form of regeneration-to encourage growth of cells. This was not possible before". The hospital is one o six centers across North America involved in a study testing the safety ...unreadable... new drug, designed to boost the .... production of dopamine, a chemical required for brain cells to exchange messages. For some unknown reason .......unreadable ........ symptoms such as tremors, muscle rigidity, balance problems and difficulty walking. Most existing treatment try to ease those symptoms by replacing missing chemicals in the brain. The system being tested delivers a recently discovered protein to the brain using a titanium bubble resting on the skull just under the scalp. About the diameter of a quarter and as thick as three such coins, the bubble is connected to a catheter, or tube, to a fluid chamber deep in the brain. This reservoir gradually releases the protein, called G.D.N.F. (Can't make out the full name) This material appears to increase the survival and growth of the brain's dopamine - producing cells. "It encourages cells that are sick, but not dead, to recover", Said Dr Lang, prof of neurology at the University of Toronto. The supply of protein held in the reservoir is recharged once a month. Five Metro-area patients with advanced Parkinson's disease have so far been treated. Another two have been fitted with the bubble system and are awaiting injections of the drug. Fifty people are to be treated at the six centers, part of a trial with half receiving GDNF, and half getting a placebo, with no active medical ingredient, for six months. After that, patients on the placebl also start receiving the drug. --------------------------------------------------------------------- I appologize for any info I have had to skip, but the fax I received with this info was not of the highest quality. Be assured however that the source I received it from is a good one, to wit: Medtronics of Canada. (producers of pacemakers and units for deepbrain stimulators for Parkinson's patients) I am glad to be able to share this good news with you. Regards, Peter. Netmail 1:229/510 (Online Now) E-mail: [log in to unmask]