Stunning alzheimers' results Cols Disp 2-12-2012

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Alzheimer’s research is called ‘stunning’

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By  Spencer Hunt

The Columbus Dispatch Friday February 10, 2012 12:36 PM

• Comments: 12

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DAVID AHNTHOLZ

Gary Landreth, a neuroscientist at Case Western Reserve University, was lead researcher on the Alzheimer’s study.

A skin-cancer drug could offer hope for the millions of patients coping with the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists at Case Western Reserve University led a study of the drug bexarotene on mice and found that it helped wipe out a protein linked to Alzheimer’s.

Their study, published yesterday in the journal Science, showed that the drug reduced the amount of amyloid beta by as much as 75 percent. The protein damages nerve cells.

The mice returned to normal behaviors three days after treatment with bexarotene, which is marketed as Targretin.

“No one, ourselves included, would have ever imagined that any drug would have worked with this speed,” said Gary Landreth, a Case neuroscientist and lead researcher. “It’s stunning.”

There are an estimated 5.4 million people with Alzheimer’s in the United States.

Amyloid beta is a common substance in human brains, but Alzheimer’s patients lose the ability to clear it from synapses. The researchers suspected that bexarotene’s effect on brain activity might help with Alzheimer’s.

If not cleared, the protein builds up as plaque and blocks synapses, ultimately killing nerve cells, said Dr. Doug Scharre, director of cognitive neurology at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

“The fact that this agent gets rid of the amyloid is very positive,” said Scharre, who was not involved in the study.

Scharre said many researchers speculate that by the time drugs are used in human trials of Alzheimer’s patients, it’s too late to halt serious problems.

“We can’t revive a dead nerve cell,” Scharre said. “If we could attack this at the very early stages of memory loss, we could have much better results.”

Other studies of drugs that showed promise in mice produced little change in human patients, said Maria Carrillo of the Alzheimer’s Association, which has helped fund some of Landreth’s research.

“We’re not sure that this is going to actually show the desired clinical benefits,” Carrillo said. “We owe it to ourselves and our constituents to follow every lead that we have.”

Landreth said he hopes to begin human trials soon.

“I want to be in the clinic within the next few months,” he said.

shunt@dispatch.com

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MARK CLARK (GRANDVIEWOHIO2008)

Hate to be the buzz kill here as alzheimers is on the top of the hideous things you or a love one can get, but, for some reason things work alot better in mice than men.

2012-02-10 06:33:51.0

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MARK BEYER (MARKTBEYER)

Hate to be more than a buzz kill, but if this proves out, the pharma co's are going to score big by putting out their pills at $$$ rate equal to putting their great-great-great grandchildren through Harvard. Thanks USA ... for nothing (yet again). If you don't believe me, look at history. If you still don't believe me, just wait and see.

2012-02-10 07:02:57.0

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LAURA BRADLEY-SEAQUEST (LAURABRADLEY)

Wonderful but it won't be available for several decades. Perhaps it will help my great-grand children.

2012-02-10 07:04:48.0

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LUKE THOMAS (C_ETUDE@YAHOO.COM)

There is NO CURE for Alzheimer's. I think a lot of it comes from the meat people eat due to prions and there are many variations of "mad cow". Keep in mind these researchers are getting BILLIONS of your tax payers' dollars so yeah they are all going to say "stunning" to promote getting more of the government milk and honey. We are also living unnaturally long lives - and brains naturally deteriorate - mostly from lack of use which is most likely the cause of dementia. Diabetes also damages the brain and that's very common all over America. But Alzheimer's, which has to do with PLAQUES in the brain, is similar to Mad Cow so I think it's a variation of that disease, but NOBODY is doing brain biopsies of people who died from Alzheimer's - which is where the research should start - NOT mice.

2012-02-10 07:17:08.0

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BILLY BUSH (TOOBER)

pure *********

2012-02-10 08:23:06.0

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BOB DEMARCO (BOBDEMARCO)

This is really a well written story and should be shared in the Alzheimer’s community. Two issues. “Bexarotene has a good safety and side-effect profile. The Case Western Reserve researchers hope these attributes will help speed the transition to clinical trials of the drug.” Clinical trials with humans are expected to start in the next month or so. Bob DeMarco, Founder Alzheimer’s Reading Room http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/

2012-02-10 09:06:59.0

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VICAR OF HELL (VICAROFHELL)

@Luke Thomas (c_etude@yahoo.com) First off good job on using your e-mail on a public forum, I am sure you don't recieve any spam at all. Second, the government spends about $500 million a year, not "billions". Adviser's are asking for $2 billion a year to make a real impact (projections have patients with Alzheimer's costs at about $1 trillion dollars annually). AIDs research is about $3 billion annually in comparison.

2012-02-10 10:27:02.0

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STEVE BAILLE (SHORTNORTHSTEVE)

Luke: You are woefully uninformed on many of your points. Thanks for telling us what YOU think cause Alzheimer’s….. Without even a shred of scientific evidence.

2012-02-10 12:07:58.0

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BEN G (BEN_G)

Things appear to work better in mice because they don't have lots of complex, long-term memories. I'm sure they can get motor function back but getting back lost memories is a pretty tall order.

2012-02-10 12:36:34.0

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DUFFY MCSWEENEY (DUFFMAC)

We lost my uncle Wally Gray to this disease a couple years ago. Wally was a proud Ohio State grad and migrated to Detroit with his wife Carol and lived in the area most of his life. What I find extraordinary about his story is that he left his brain for research purposes to "that school up north". Even in death, Buckeyes and Wolverines have one common goal... to eradicate Alzheimer's.

2012-02-10 13:28:52.0

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MARK CLARK (GRANDVIEWOHIO2008)

shortnorthlibtard and vicarofstupid stop attacking people and talk about the issues, you libtards.

2012-02-10 17:33:22.0

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SUE WICK (WICK)

So are you guys politicians? Attack the person,Dance around the issue?. I hope they do find away to combat Alzheimer's. I have a friend that has been diagnosed with this condition. She is only 58. It's crazy how fast it takes your life away. Please pray for a breakthrough!!! ONE NATION UNDER GOD-WAKE UP AMERICA!!! Get back under GOD'S covering before it's too late!!!

2012-02-11 12:40:07.0

The Moment You Die ... thanks Bob and friends!

> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:06:41 -0500 (EST)

> Subject: Fwd: [New post] The Moment You Die
>
>
>

> Subject: [New post] The Moment You Die
>
>
> New post on His Fresh Wind Blog
> The Moment You Die
> by pastorzuray
>
>
> Death. We all have one thing in common. There will come a day when we take our last breath and die. It could happen today or we may have the blessing of a long life. The reality of life is that there is death.
>
> If you have ever wandered around a book store you've noticed a growing genera of books known as self-help books. Millions of books are sold yearly to people trying to get their best life now. It doesn't matter what someone's religious or secular world view is, people want to have a long and full life. The problem is, we can't escape the death that comes at the end.
>
> I don't mean to be morbid today, but realistic. My 8th grade daughter Anna has been reading about the Holocaust and the famous young woman Anne Frank. Her class was asked to write a poem expressing the emotions of that dark time. This poem moved me deeply. Take a moment to read it.
>
> Why?
>
> I hear them walking closer and closer,
>
> Their feet pound on the gravel that leads to my house.
>
> I know why they’re coming,
>
> They’re coming for me.
>
> They pound down my house door!
>
> They fire their guns!
>
> I hear the screams of my father, mother, and sister,
>
> Then I hear three thumps on the floor.
>
> I’m still hidden under my bed.
>
> Will they find me?
>
> Will I soon be dead?
>
> Their pounding feet approach my bedroom door.
>
> I hear the shouts, I hear their commands,
>
> The commands that demand my death.
>
> Will I live? Shall I survive?
>
> These thoughts keep frantically going through my head.
>
> BANG!
>
> My door is burst through and the Nazi soldiers enter my room.
>
> They throw my chair on the floor!
>
> They take the papers from inside my desk and throw them everywhere.
>
> Then the man with the star covered boots stops,
>
> Then, he turns toward my bed.
>
> All is quiet, not one sound is heard.
>
> Do I dare to breathe?
>
> Not a chance.
>
> My heart pounds so heard that I’m scared the Nazis will hear it.
>
> The Gestapo walks closer to my bed and then flips it over.
>
> I scream and scream and scream!
>
> But what’s the point, nobody will hear me!
>
> Even if somebody does hear me, they won’t care.
>
> The man grabs me by the arm and pulls me out into the street.
>
> Will he shoot me or will I be spared?
>
> Hundreds of people all around me are covered in blood, bruises and tears.
>
> We are all going to die because of the star on our chest.
>
> I try to escape, but I fail.
>
> I’m much too weak compared to the Nazis grasp.
>
> I try again and then I break free!
>
> I begin to run, but I am stopped by a horrific noise!
>
> Then a sudden pain.
>
> There’s something inside me, a bullet I guess.
>
> Why did they shoot me?
>
> I’m just a kid!
>
> Soon the world goes black.
>
> I know I will never see the daylight again.
>
> When I read this poem I felt as if I was the child under the bed. To think that so many people experienced such a moment is hard to accept. Saddly, the reality that we face in life is that there is death. However, the reality of God is that there is hope. I find it incomprehensible that God gave the world Jesus and the world says "No!" God says there is life in my Son and the world says "Go Away!" God declares that man does not have to earn his eternal life but religion says "DO! DO! DO!"
>
>
>
> I don't know what your plans are when this life comes to an end but let me encourage you to realize we all need a Savior and must put our faith only in Him for Salvation. He promises eternal life to those that would simply believe that Jesus death on the cross is the only hope for having my sins removed. Jesus paid for the gift that brings the hope of eternal life. Don't turn away from the only hope we have.
>
> Our last breath, in this life, will come someday. The good news is, God has given us the way to have eternal life through the sacrifice of Jesus.
>
> “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
>
>
>

>
> For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
>

>
>

> Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
>

>
>

>
>
> Please contact me if you would like to discuss this topic further.
>

>
>
> pastorzuray | February 10, 2012 at 12:13 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/pQ4yE-5q
>
> Comment See all comments
>
> Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions .
>
> Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser:
> http://hisfreshwind.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/the-moment-you-die/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

Columbine father to Congress ... thanks Ramey!

I’m sending the following around again because I believe we (especially me) need to be reminded of the damage our federal government has done to our schools via outlawed prayer. This man takes the issue right to their faces where it belongs. RB

********************************************************************

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bldarrellscott.htm

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.

They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best."

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,

Your words are empty air.

You've stripped away our heritage,

You've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms,

And precious children die.

You seek for answers everywhere,

And ask the question "Why?"

You regulate restrictive laws,

Through legislative creed.

And yet you fail to understand,

That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!

“My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Darrell Scott

Do what the media did not do - - let the nation hear this man's speech. Please send this out to everyone you can. God Bless

Best Dear Abby ... Thanks Doug!

BEST DEAR ABBY YET! DEAR ABBY: My husband has a long record of money problems. He runs up huge credit-card bills and at the end of the month, if I try to pay them off, he shouts at me, saying I am stealing his money. He says pay the minimum and let our kids worry about the rest, but already we can hardly keep up with the interest. Also he has been so arrogant and abusive toward our neighbors that most of them no longer speak to us. The few that do are an odd bunch, to whom he has been giving a lot of expensive gifts, running up our bills even more. Also, he has gotten religious. One week he hangs out with Catholics and the next with people who say the Pope is the Anti-Christ, and the next he's with Muslims. Finally, the last straw. He's demanding that before anyone can be in the same room with him, they must sign a loyalty oath. It's just so horribly creepy! Can you help? Signed, Lost Dear Lost, Stop whining, Michelle. You're getting to live in the White House for free, travel the world, and have others pay for everything for you. You can divorce the jerk any time you want. The rest of us are stuck with the idiot for one more year! Signed, Abby

Romney and Character ... Thanks Judi!

Not intended as a political endorsement, but a character endorsement!

Subject: Romney
To:

I had forgotten this story of Romney efforts to try and save the life of one of his Partner’s children at Bain Capital. I was working on a project in NY at the time—it is a true story and not some journalist/reporters/ political hero tale. Juxtapose that with the “accepted wisdom that” the people on Wall Street only care about the almighty dollar!!
Will

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MAY NOT MAKE THE NEWS AS ITS 16 YEARS OLD-BUT IT SHOULD! On Romney's character.... Sometimes, this facet of Romney’s personality isn’t so subtle. In July 1996, the 14-year-old daughter of Robert Gay, a partner at Bain Capital, had disappeared. She had attended a rave party in New York City and gotten high on ecstasy. Three days later, her distraught father had no idea where she was. Romney took immediate action. He closed down the entire firm and asked all 30 partners and employees to fly to New York to help find Gay’s daughter. Romney set up a command center at the LaGuardia Marriott and hired a private detective firm to assist with the search. He established a toll-free number for tips, coordinating the effort with the NYPD, and went through his Rolodex and called everyone Bain did business with in New York, and asked them to help find his friend’s missing daughter. Romney’s accountants at Price Waterhouse Cooper put up posters on street poles, while cashiers at a pharmacy owned by Bain put fliers in the bag of every shopper. Romney and the other Bain employees scoured every part of New York and talked with everyone they could – prostitutes, drug addicts – anyone. That day, their hunt made the evening news, which featured photos of the girl and the Bain employees searching for her. As a result, a teenage boy phoned in, asked if there was a reward, and then hung up abruptly. The NYPD traced the call to a home in New Jersey, where they found the girl in the basement, shivering and experiencing withdrawal symptoms from a massive ecstasy dose. Doctors later said the girl might not have survived another day. Romney’s former partner credits Mitt Romney with saving his daughter’s life, saying, “It was the most amazing thing, and I’ll never forget this to the day I die.” So, here’s my epiphany: Mitt Romney simply can’t help himself. He sees a problem, and his mind immediately sets to work solving it, sometimes consciously, and sometimes not-so-consciously. He doesn’t do it for self-aggrandizement, or for personal gain. He does it because that’s just how he’s wired. Many people are unaware of the fact that when Romney was asked by his old employer, Bill Bain, to come back to Bain & Company as CEO to rescue the firm from bankruptcy, Romney left Bain Capital to work at Bain & Company for an annual salary of one dollar. When Romney went to the rescue of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, he accepted no salary for three years, and wouldn’t use an expense account. He also accepted no salary as Governor of Massachusetts. Character counts!! (and yes...that's worth reading again!)