Early warning system for Alzheimer's disease

Scientists at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow are developing a technique based on a new discovery which could pave the way towards detecting Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages - and could help to develop urgently-needed treatments. The technique uses the ratio of detected fluorescence signals to indicate that clusters of peptide associated with the disease are beginning to gather and to have an impact on the brain.
Current techniques are not able to see the peptide joining together until more advanced stages but a research paper from Strathclyde describes an approach which could not only give indications of the condition far sooner than is currently possible but could also screen patients without the need for needles or wires.
Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, currently affects around 450,000 people in the UK alone and currently has no cure.
Dr Olaf Rolinski, of the University of Strathclyde's Department of Physics, led the research. He said: "Alzheimer's Disease has a devastating impact on people around the world and their families but one of the reasons it is still incurable is that little is known about how and why the peptide that contributes to the disease aggregates in its initial stages.
"When irradiated with light, the intrinsic fluorescence given off by the peptide is like a communication from a spy. We took samples of the peptide and discovered that, where they were in the type of aggregation linked to Alzheimer's, they produced fluorescence light signals which could be picked up with our technique much earlier than in more conventional experiments, such as those that use the addition of a dye .
"This approach could help us understand better the role of these peptides in the onset of Alzheimer's and discover ways in which the disease could be stopped in its tracks early on. We now want to take the research further so that it can be used in the development of drugs to treat Alzheimer's."

**Source: University of Strathclyde

Decenas de miles de embriones congelados esperan su destino en España

En España, entre un 10% y un 40% de las parejas se desentienden de los embriones congelados que se conservan en los centros donde se les ha practicado una fecundación in vitro. Solo en Cataluña, la única comunidad con un registro, hay más de 61.000 congelados, de los que el 23% (unos 14.000) llevan más de cinco años, según datos de 2008 del Sistema de Información sobre Reproducción Asistida de Cataluña (FIVCAT.NET). Y el número no deja de crecer. En 2001 eran cuatro veces menos.
En estos casos, la ley de reproducción estipula que los comités clínicos deben decidir qué hacer. La realidad es que no lo hacen, con lo que muchos centros acumulan embriones sin un destino y sin fecha límite. Estos óvulos fecundados son los sobrantes de los procesos de fecundación in vitro, y deben guardarse congelados por si la pareja quiere tener más niños, a no ser que ya de entrada indique lo contrario. La ley fija que la pareja debe especificar qué desea hacer con ellos: guardarlos, donarlos para investigación, para adopción o que se destruyan. Cuando tras dos intentos de comunicación, en un periodo de cinco años, la pareja no ha dado señales de vida, se considera que se ha desentendido. Entonces, los comités clínicos de los hospitales y centros pasan a custodiarlos y son responsables de su destino.

Pero, en la práctica, no deciden nada. "Para nosotros es un problema. No nos atrevemos por diferentes motivos. Además, tampoco estamos seguros de que esa pareja no reaparezca", afirma Alfonso de Lafuente, presidente del grupo de ética y buenas prácticas de la Sociedad Española de Fertilidad y director médico del Instituto Europeo de Fertilidad. "Aún no hemos llegado a estar saturados, pero lo estaremos. De momento, vamos comprando contenedores y nitrógeno líquido", dice Joaquim Calaf, director del programa de reproducción asistida de la Fundación Puigvert, en Barcelona. "Será un problema", coincide José Antonio Castilla, responsable del laboratorio de embriología del hospital Virgen de las Nieves, de Granada. "En una década hemos duplicado los embriones congelados. Y, con el aumento de la demanda y la mejora de las técnicas, la previsión es que en dos años se tripliquen", añade.

Una opción sería destinarlos a investigación. "Antes los donábamos al Banco de Células Madre de Andalucía, pero ahora no hay ningún proyecto en marcha con células madre embrionarias", cuenta Castilla. "El problema está en que se deben donar a un proyecto de investigación específico, y no los hay", dice. En la misma situación se encuentran otras clínicas. "Los centros de investigación no los quieren", afirma Marisa López Tejón, responsable del Institut Marqués. En este centro, en 2010, un 48% de las parejas se desentendió de sus embriones. "Hemos notado un incremento, en el 2007 era un 39%. Creemos que es la crisis", afirma.

Esta falta de interés de los científicos choca con la voluntad de algunos progenitores. Entre un 5% y un 10% querría donarlos para investigar. "El entusiasmo por las células madre embrionarias ha bajado, ahora hay otras opciones", relata Calaf. "Lo que querríamos es que hubiese más personas que los diesen en adopción", apunta.

Pero esta opción tampoco es sencilla. La ley contempla que los embriones para adopción deberán ser fruto de óvulos de mujeres menores de 35 años. Y la realidad es que la mayoría de las que recurren a esta técnica para tener hijos son mayores de esta edad. De hecho, recientemente un hospital público catalán solicitó a la Comisión Nacional de Reproducción Humana Asistida (CNRHA) que permitiese que se usasen embriones de mujeres de más de 35 años. La Comisión de Reproducción Humana Asistida de Cataluña apoyaba la iniciativa, pero la respuesta de la comisión nacional fue negativa.

En cuanto a destruirlos, existe un doble motivo por el cual los centros españoles no optan por esta decisión. Por un lado, a pesar de que la ley lo permite, existen reticencias y un temor a las reacciones de los grupos conservadores y religiosos. De hecho, cuando las parejas escogen se trata de la opción menos popular: menos del 10% lo elige.

Por otro lado, la ley estipula que la destrucción no se podrá llevar a cabo hasta que la mujer haya completado su edad reproductiva. Es decir, aproximadamente hasta que se encuentre alrededor de los 50 años. Y que esto deberá certificarse por dos médicos ajenos al centro que los guarda. "¿Cómo vamos a hacer eso con las parejas que no responden?", afirma López Tejón.

En el desentendimiento de las parejas hay centros que ven falta de responsabilidad. Otros, excusan a las parejas argumentando que la carga emotiva que supone decidir les bloquea. "No responden porque cambian de domicilio y no avisan, porque se separan, y no tienen en cuenta que hay unos embriones almacenados... Existe una gran variedad de situaciones", explica Calaf. "También hay muchas que una vez acabado el proceso quieren olvidarse, les resulta incómodo decidir", afirma de Lafuente. "Muchas parejas nos dicen: decide tú por mí", explica López Tejón.

Todos coinciden en que las parejas deberían ser más responsables. "Hay que hacer un esfuerzo para que tomen conciencia de que sus actos tienen una trascendencia de la que tienen que responsabilizarse", afirma Josep María Busquets, responsable de bioética del departamento de Salud de la Generalitat de Cataluña. Desde la Administración catalana se reconoce esta incomodidad de los centros: "No se sienten seguros, sería necesario desplegar alguna instrucción que clarificase mejor qué hacer con estos embriones", dice Busquets. "Algún día, los centros y las Administraciones tendrán que tomar alguna decisión", concluye.

**Publicado en "EL PAIS"

Qué hacer en caso de sangrado nasal según el Blog de Rosa

El sangrado nasal es un suceso frecuente sobre todo en los niños y adolescentes. Sin trauma previo o enfermedad, está ocasionado por la rotura de algún vaso sanguíneo de la mucosa que recubre la fosa nasal.

Ante un sangrado nasal, sienta a la persona con la cabeza recta. No debe tirar la cabeza hacia atrás ya que el sangrado irá hacia la garganta y se lo tragará, dañando la mucosa del tubo digestivo y del estómago y pudiendo provocar vómitos.

Tampoco debes tumbarle, a no ser que haya riesgo de pérdida de conocimiento.

Introduce algodón en las dos fosas nasales dejando fuera cantidad suficiente para poder retirarlo. Haz que respire por la boca con normalidad. Es aconsejable tapar ambos orificios para aumentar la presión localmente.

Presionar la nariz con dos dedos en forma de pinza, sobre el tabique, tapando ambos orificios durante unos 15 minutos.

Aplica frío (con una bolsa de hielo o cold pack) entre las cejas, en la parte superior de la nariz.

Si ha habido trauma facial previo, introducción de cuerpo extraño, si es una persona que padece de hipertensión arterial, o presenta patología circulatoria (arteriosclerosis), si tiene trastornos en la coagulación o toma fármacos antiagregantes, debe acudir a un centro sanitario.

También si el sangrado no cede en 30 minutos tras las medidas aplicadas.

Phase 3 trial finds no benefit from atrasentan added to chemo for advanced prostate cancer

A Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) has determined that patients in a phase III clinical trial given atrasentan in addition to a standard chemotherapy regimen for advanced prostate cancer did not have longer survival or longer progression-free survival than patients on the same chemotherapy regimen who got a placebo rather than atrasentan. Almost 1,000 patients who had advanced, hormone-refractory prostate cancer were given up to 36 weeks of chemotherapy with docetaxel and prednisone. These patients were randomized so that one half got an additional pill with a dose of atrasentan while the other half got a placebo pill. Patients who completed their chemotherapy and showed no progression of the disease were given the option of continuing the additional blinded pill (atrasentan or placebo).
The study's DSMC evaluated a planned interim analysis of trial data and determined the evidence indicating no benefit from the drug was strong enough to close the study early rather than waiting another 18 months as was originally planned. The DSMC did not find evidence that the drug was harming patients.
New patient enrollment to the study stopped in April 2010 and few patients continue to take the study pill. Patients still taking study medication should speak to their doctor about stopping safely and what to do with their remaining pills. Treatment assignment is being unblinded, so patients can learn from their study doctor whether they took atrasentan or a placebo.
The study ("S0421: Phase III Study of Docetaxel and Atrasentan Versus Docetaxel and Placebo for Patients with Advanced Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer") was supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and was conducted by SWOG (formerly the Southwest Oncology Group) with the participation of several other NCI cooperative groups.
Atrasentan for the trial was provided under an agreement with Abbott Laboratories and was distributed by the Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center.

**Source: University of Michigan Health System

USC research shows critical role of placenta in brain development

Research at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California's (USC) Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute shows for the first time that the human placenta plays an active role in synthesizing serotonin, paving the way to new treatment strategies that could mitigate health impacts such as cardiovascular disease and mental illness. The groundbreaking findings, conducted with researchers from Vanderbilt University as part of a Silvio Conte Center of Excellence grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, offer conclusive evidence that the placenta provides serotonin to the fetal forebrain, not through the mother's blood supply, as theorized for the past 60 years. The research, "A transient placental source of serotonin for the fetal forebrain," will be published in the journal Nature on April 21, 2011.
"Our research indicates that the placenta actually synthesizes serotonin, and the serotonin is released from the placenta into the fetal bloodstream where it can reach the fetal brain," said lead author Alexandre Bonnin, Ph.D. "The placenta was seen as a passive organ, but we now know that it has significant synthetic capabilities and has a much more critical role in developmental programming of the fetus than previously thought."
Bonnin's work with Pat Levitt, Ph.D., director of the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and corresponding author on the paper, included the invention of a unique technology known as a "placentometer" that monitors substances that pass through the mouse placenta from mother to fetus. This technology can incorporate genetic models of human disease, and could lead to targeted therapies that treat the mother without affecting the fetus, or vice versa.
"The findings by Dr. Bonnin and his collaborators open the door for future studies examining the potential role for targeted interventions in high-risk pregnancies where a perturbed intrauterine environment might negatively impact fetal brain development," said Istvan Seri, professor of pediatrics, Keck School, and director, Center for Fetal and Neonatal Medicine at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. "However, it will take many more basic, translational and clinical trials and many years until we can provide evidence that approaches like this one work."
Serotonin, a neurotransmitter known to affect wellbeing in humans, also has been implicated in brain, cardiac and pancreas development.
In the early stages of development, neurons that synthesize serotonin develop in the fetal hindbrain, where heart, respiration and other critical functions reside, eventually building their way up to the forebrain, the home of higher cognition and emotional regulation. The study shows that during this gap between hindbrain and forebrain serotonin development, the placenta is an important source of serotonin to the forebrain – a process that could be affected by the mother's nutrition, since her diet is the only source for the essential amino acid tryptophan.
"An altered capacity of the placenta to make and release serotonin could affect the levels of serotonin in the human forebrain as it does in the mouse," said Levitt. "Developmental programming of the fetal brain can set the stage for adult-onset health impacts including heart disease, diabetes and mental illness."
The research relates to a growing body of evidence that subtle, deleterious effects on the fetus as it develops could lead to a lifetime of chronic mental health problems, including anxiety disorders, learning and emotional disabilities and depression.
"Bonnin's research may be of particular importance for early onset brain disorders, such as autism, Asperger's syndrome and pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder, where investigators are considering a role for serotonin based on human genetic studies," said Randy Blakely, Ph.D., director of the Vanderbilt Conte Center and a collaborator on the paper.

*Source: University of Southern California

Use of topical corticosteroids in children with eczema does not have negative side effects

A new study published in the journal Pediatric Dermatology reveals that routine, long-term use of topical corticosteroids (TCS) for treating children with eczema does not cause any significant, negative side effects. Parental phobia of TCS is widespread and leads to poorly managed eczema in children. The commonest fear is that TCS use will "thin the skin." Parents fears are also shared by many health care providers, including pharmacists.
Led by Gayle Fischer, MBBS, FACD, of The University of Sydney, researchers studied 92 children, 70 of which were part of the study/dermatitis group while the other 22 were categorized in a control group. Researchers convinced the parents of these 70 children to use enough TCS to control their children's eczema very well so that they were virtually free of eczema consistently. The 22 children in the control group were not using TCS.
Researchers then evaluated the children by examining them for any signs of skin thinning and by also examining their treated and untreated skin by dermoscopy, a technique which utilizes a mini-microscope to search for even the most subtle signs of TCS side effects.
They found that the children using TCS had no evidence of skin thinning even though they were using enough TCS to produce complete control of their eczema. These children were no different to the children who were not using TCS at all.
"Our results show that normal routine use of TCS does not cause skin thinning, and parents should be reassured. We hope that our work will give them the confidence to use TCS safely and effectively" Fischer notes.

**Source: Wiley-Blackwell

GSK mulls deal for India vaccines unit

GlaxoSmithKline is reportedly eyeing the vaccines division of India's Biological E. Already a leading vaccines supplier in India, GSK would gain greater manufacturing capacity in a BE vaccines buyout, allowing it to boost share on the subcontinent and export greater quantities to international markets, the Economic Times reports.
Officials from GSK's Belgium-based biologicals business recently visited Biological E's manufacturing facility in Shameerpet, India, near Hyderabad, sources told the newspaper. GSK's current plant in Nashik, India, has recently faced difficulties supplying enough vaccines for export, a pharma analyst told the Times. The company has expressed interest in buying vaccine makers with plants approved by international regulators, the analyst said. GSK itself did not comment.
Among Biological E's key products are diphtheria and tetanus vaccines, which have helped the homegrown company capture a "significant share" of the domestic vaccines market. It has some experience working with GSK, Deal Curry reports; Biological E partnered with GSK's Indian unit in developing its pharma business.

*Read more: Report: GSK mulls deal for India vaccines unit - FiercePharma http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/report-gsk-mulls-deal-india-vaccines-unit/2011-04-21#ixzz1KB5yqDy7

**Publishe din "FIERCE PHARMA"