From Molecular Physiology To Therapeutic Applications Of Stem Cells

Article Date: 30 Jul 2009 - 4:00 PDT

Stem cell research promises remedies to many devastating diseases that are currently incurable, ranging from diabetes and Parkinson's disease to paralysis. Totipotent embryonic stem cells have great potential for generating a wide range of different human cells that can be used to restore malfunctioning or damaged cells and tissues in patients. Recent studies have shown that pluripotent stem cells derived from adult bone marrow, the umbilical cord and the placenta could also be induced to differentiate into a variety of different tissues. In this issue, we have invited several scientists in China to summarize their pioneering works in the stem cell research field.

Source/read more: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159333.php

ASIA � CINA

Staminali. Creati topi da cellule adulte riprogrammate

24 Luglio 2009

Sono stati creati i primi topolini a partire da normali cellule adulte riprogrammate e riportate allo stadio di cellule 'bambine', staminali. Uno dei topi, divenuto adulto, come un topolino qualunque, si e' riprodotto ingravidando una topolina e facendo cuccioli sani.
Annunciato in contemporanea dalle riviste Nature e Cell Stem Cell, 'si tratta di un grande risultato scientifico che prova definitivamente che le 'staminali etiche', ottenute riprogrammando cellule adulte e senza il sacrificio di embrioni, sono staminali embrionali a tutti gli effetti che potrebbero un giorno essere usate per terapie su misura di paziente', commenta la notizia il preside della Facolta' di Medicina dell'Universita' di Tor Vergata di Roma Giuseppe Novelli.
Il traguardo si deve a Fanyi Zeng dell'Universita' di Shanghai Jiao Tong e Shaorong Gao del National Institute of Biological Sciences di Pechino. Il primo nato della cucciolata e' stato battezzato 'Xiao Xiao', Piccolo.
Il 'lieto evento' e' importante, dunque, perche' offre la prova regina del fatto che le cellule staminali ottenute a partire da normalissime cellule adulte del corpo, per esempio cellule prese da un lembo di pelle, sono identiche a cellule embrionali: sono totipotenti e possono 'ricostruire' qualunque parte del corpo. Potenzialmente, dunque, ciascuno di noi potrebbe, con un campione di cellule della propria pelle, ottenere una riserva personale di staminali embrionali da usare per riparare organi e tessuti danniggiati del proprio corpo.
E' solo dello scorso anno l'annuncio che con cellule di pelle umana sono state create staminali (battezzate cellule staminali pluripotenti 'indotte' - IPS), in pratica riportando indietro la lancetta del tempo delle cellule adulte umane. Per la riprogrammazione basta inserire nel Dna delle cellule adulte, attraverso dei virus vettori, 4 geni (Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc e Klf4): questi da soli riescono a fare la 'magia' e a ritrasformare le cellule adulte in cellule staminali capaci di generare qualunque altra cellula adulta del corpo (neuroni, cellule muscolari, cellule del sangue etc). Cio' segno' l'inizio di una nuova via verso terapie su misura, per di piu' eticamente accettabile perche' non prevede l'utilizzo di embrioni per ottenere le staminali. Si parlo' dunque di 'staminali etiche', ma mancava la vera prova della totale identita' tra cellule embrionali e cellule IPS, spiega Novelli.
'Questa prova si ottiene solo con l'esperimento eseguito dai ricercatori cinesi - spiega - la 'complementazione tetraploide' che consiste nel creare un animale sano a partire da cellule IPS'.
I ricercatori hanno prima creato varie linee di cellule IPS usando cellule adulte di topo, spiega Novelli, poi hanno preso una cellula embrionale e l'hanno fusa con una IPS ottenendo una cellula con due nuclei (da qui 'tetraploide'). 'Questa cellula, moltiplicandosi, forma la placenta - spiega Novelli; gli scienziati hanno inoculato cellule IPS in questo abbozzo di placenta e dato vita a embrioni interamente formati da cellule IPS'. Alcuni di questi embrioni si sono sviluppati e ne sono nati dei topolini di fatto identici ai topi da cui erano stati prese le cellule per creare le cellule IPS. E' una specie di clonazione, pero', avverte Novelli, 'questo esperimento non e' fatto per clonare (peraltro e' troppo complesso e sarebbe inutile clonare un animale in questa maniera) ma solo per dimostrare la totale identita' tra cellule staminali IPS e cellule embrionali'.

Fonte: http://www.aduc.it/dyn/salute/noti.php?id=267007

The CAFA � Claude St-Jean Foundation invites you to �The Walk to Fight Friedreich�s Ataxia� .

This fundraising event will take place in the Town of Whitby (east of Toronto) September 26th 2009 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

For more information : http://thewalktofightfa.com

Source: CAFA (Canadian Association for Familial Ataxias) - Claude St-Jean Foundation

http://www.lacaf.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=english)

Le blog de Mathias Coppa

Pr�sentation pr�liminaire

A ma naissance, j'�tais un b�b� comme tous les autres, rien ne laissait pr�sager un handicap quelconque et jusque six ou sept ans ma croissance s'est pass�e tout � fait normalement.
Pourtant en marchant, je tr�buchais, je titubais et je me tordais les pieds plus souvent que la moyenne et c'est ce qui a amen� les personnes de mon entourage � se poser des questions. Finalement, apr�s quelques ann�es � avoir encha�ner les consultations et examens m�dicaux, le diagnostic � ataxie de Friedreich � a �t� pos�.

http://mathcopp.skyrock.com/1.html

Chasing Tiny Vehicles: Microscope Shows How Nanoferries Invade Cells

ScienceDaily (July 22, 2009) � In future therapies, synthetic nanoparticles may well be able to ferry medicines and even genes to targets inside the body. These nanovehicles can now be directly tested and optimized using a highly sensitive microscopic method that can trace single particles all the way into a cell.

Nanoparticles are just billionths of a millimeter in size. Exhibiting novel and often surprising properties, they are finding their way into an endless stream of equally innovative products. In medical therapies, for example, tiny nanovehicles could one day ferry drugs or even genes into cells. So far, the only way of testing these approaches has been to wait for the desired effect to show � the activation of a transported gene inside a cell for example. 

Under the direction of LMU Munich physicochemist Professor Christoph Br�uchle, a research group cooperating with Dr. Christian Plank of the Technische Universit�t M�nchen (TUM) has now used a highly sensitive microscopic technique to pursue individual nanoparticles as they make their way into target cells � in real-time and at high spatial and temporal resolution. They tested magnetic nanoparticles that could be used, among other things, in cancer therapy. This approach should also allow a better understanding of existing nanovectors as well as the development of new systems.

Nanoparticles are so small that many barriers in the body simply can't stop them. They can also use the bloodstream to reach any part of the body. Researchers and doctors alike hope that these tiny vehicles will one day be put to work in therapies carrying drugs directly to the seat of a disease. "Even genes can be transported this way," says Plank. "That means we could be seeing new breakthroughs in gene therapy soon, which has seen more than its fair share of setbacks. After all, lacking most are functional transporters." Such vehicles or vectors have been developed mainly from viruses until now. But even deactivated viruses can sometimes trigger unwanted side-effects. Nanoferries, on the other hand, have been tailored to deliver genes or drugs directly to the target without side-effects.

Source/read more: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090720083217.htm

See also:  

http://www.youtube.com/user/AtaxiaUKonline

De: Roger S�mery
Publicado en: Le Petit Solognot
: 22 de julio de 2009

	 St�phane LION, de 43 a�os de edad, un padre con tres hijos, sufre de ataxia
cerebelosa SCA2 es una condici�n gen�tica conocida como dominante de
transmisi�n. La ataxia es un trastorno significa enfermedad neuromuscular que es
una multa la falta de coordinaci�n de los movimientos voluntarios.
	 Disfunciones se han encontrado en la edad de 38 a�os, hay cinco a�os: la
p�rdida de equilibrio en los resultados esguince, ca�da, la b�squeda de un
discurso lento, proceso de tropiezo, un problema de degluci�n. Enfermedad que
evoluciona en una progresi�n debilitantes.
	 St�phane ha sido sometido a diversos ex�menes en Blois, Tours Bretonneau en el
hospital de La Salp�tri�re, en Par�s. Despu�s de confirmado el diagn�stico, los
dos �ltimos hospitales dijeron: "No es, por desgracia, no tiene cura hasta la
fecha y la evoluci�n ser� lenta a un progresivo empeoramiento de los s�ntomas.
Por supuesto, debemos seguir kin�sith�rapique la rehabilitaci�n del equilibrio y
del habla. "
	 St�phane visto un aumento progresivo m�s r�pido de lo previsto: los trastornos
de la marcha y el equilibrio, la utilizaci�n de la ca�a de az�car y despu�s de
caminar 50 metros en silla de ruedas a causa de la necesidad de cansancio
permanente, problemas de coordinaci�n cuatro miembros, lo que resulta en la
degluci�n de alimentos mal, desde el discurso. Se lleva a cabo dos sesiones de
fisioterapia y terapia del habla por semana que son beneficiosas.
	 Tuvo que abandonar su vida de l�der de TI con sus compromisos como Presidente
de la Asociaci�n C�vica Barrio Romo Oriente (su enfoque y su discurso fue
recibido en la direcci�n equivocada) valientemente enfrenta la enfermedad con la
Ayuda reconfortante de su esposa.
	 �l percibe el subsidio de discapacidad para adultos (AAH) 666,96 � uros y el
aumento de la vida independiente (MVA) 104,77 � uros, la ayuda al mes para una
familia de cinco.
	 No hace mucho tiempo, a finales de marzo de 2009, una puerta de esperanza de
presentaci�n: ser tratado en Holgu�n, una ciudad de 360 000 habitantes, Cuba. De
hecho, el n�mero de pacientes con esta enfermedad es importante en esta isla.
Chanfran el Dr. Jorge Rodr�guez, director adjunto del CIDEM (Centro de
Investigaci�n y Desarrollo de Medicamentos) y Luis Vel�zquez P�rez, director del
CIRAH (Centro de Investigaci�n y Rehabilitaci�n de las Ataxias hereditarias) han
avanzado en su labor de investigaci�n y proporcion� algunos progresos .
	 St�phane se aferra a esta placa, pero el rescate de los costes superiores a su
capacidad: 2 300 � para la atenci�n y 2 500 � para gastos de viaje y alojamiento
necesarios 15 d�as de asistencia.
St�phane expres� un cierto cansancio con la ardua frente a la administraci�n.
	 Porque tambi�n hay otras preocupaciones, como la elaboraci�n de su cuarto de
ba�o para poner una ducha de suelo (en italiano), y tambi�n trabaj� para que el
seguro de cr�dito no v�lida h�bitat.
	 La administraci�n, �es buena para los ciudadanos, sobre todo cuando �ste es m�s
reducida por la enfermedad? Continuar su camino de la vida sin ayuda alguna a la
que tienen derecho, porque es complicado. Sin embargo, �cu�ntos de socorro y
consejer�a ser�a beneficioso.
	 St�phane ha creado una asociaci�n para poder optar a determinadas subvenciones
que no puede pasar que a trav�s de la asociaci�n.
Un traitement pour St�phane **
5 rue de Gy
41200  ROMORANTIN
FRANCE
T�l : (33)9 51 74 58 15

** (Tratamiento para St�phane)

From: Roger S�mery
Published in: Le Petit Solognot
: 22 July 2009

	 St�phane LION, aged 43, a father with three children, suffers from cerebellar
ataxia SCA2 is a genetic condition known as dominant transmission. Ataxia means
disorder is a neuromuscular disease which is a fine lack of coordination of
voluntary movements.
	 Dysfunctions were found at the age of 38 years, there are five years: loss of
balance results in sprain, fall, finding a speech slow, stumbling process, a
problem swallowing. Disease that evolves into a debilitating progression.
	 St�phane has undergone various reviews in Blois, Tours Bretonneau in the
hospital in La Salp�tri�re in Paris. After confirmed diagnosis, the latter two
hospitals said: "There is unfortunately no cure to date and the evolution will
be to a slowly progressive worsening of symptoms. We must of course continue
kin�sith�rapique rehabilitation of balance and speech. "
	 St�phane saw a progressive increase faster than expected: disorders of gait and
balance, use of cane and after 50m walk need wheelchair because of fatigue of
standing, problems with coordination four members, resulting in swallowing food
wrong, from the speech. It conducts two sessions of physiotherapy and speech
therapy per week that are beneficial.
	 He had to leave his life of leading IT company with its commitments as
President of Civic Association Neighborhood Romo East (his approach and his
speech was received in the wrong direction) courageously confronts the disease
with the Help comforting his wife.
	 He perceives the adult disability allowance (AAH) 666.96 � uros and increase
for independent living (MVA) 104.77 � uros, aid per month for a family of five.
	 Not long ago, in late March 2009, a door of hope opened: be treated in Holguin,
a city of 360 000 inhabitants, Cuba. Indeed, the number of patients with this
disease is important in this island. Dr. Jorge Rodriguez Chanfran, deputy
director of the CIDEM (Center of Research and Development of Medicines) and Luis
Perez Velazquez, director of CIRAH (Center for Research and Rehabilitation of
hereditary ataxias) have advanced in their research and provided some progress .
	 St�phane clings to this board but the rescue costs exceed its capacity: 2 300 �
for the care and 2 500 � for travel and accommodation required 15 days of
attendance.
	 St�phane expressed a certain weariness with the arduous vis-�-vis the
administration.
Because there are also other concerns, such as the development of his bathroom
to put a shower of soil (in Italian), and also worked to make the insurance
invalid credit habitat.
	 The administration, is it good for citizens, especially when the latter is more
diminished by the disease? Continue its path of life without some aid to which
they are entitled because it is complicated. Yet, how many relief and counseling
would be beneficial.
	 St�phane has just created an association to qualify for certain grants that can
not pass that through the association.
Un traitement pour St�phane **
5 rue de Gy
41200  ROMORANTIN
FRANCE
T�l : (33)9 51 74 58 15

**(Treatment for St�phane)

S.O.S. Un appel de St�phane
De : Roger S�mery
Parution : Le Petit Solognot
le : 22 juillet 2009

         St�phane LION, �g� de 43 ans, p�re de famille avec trois enfants, est
atteint d'une ataxie c�r�belleuse SCA2, c'est une affection g�n�tique de
transmission dite dominante. Ataxie signifie d�sordre, c'est une pathologie
neuromusculaire qui consiste en un manque de coordination fine des mouvements
volontaires.
	 Des dysfonctionnements se sont r�v�l�s � l'�ge de 38 ans, il y a donc cinq
ans�: perte d'�quilibre traduit par entorse, chute, constatation d'une �locution
lente, d�marche titubante, probl�me de d�glutition. Maladie qui �volue vers une
progression invalidante.
	 St�phane a subi divers examens � Blois, � Tours en l'h�pital Bretonneau, � La
Salp�tri�re � Paris. Apr�s diagnostic confirm�, ces deux derniers h�pitaux
d�clarent�: ��Il n'y a malheureusement pas de traitement curatif � ce jour et
l'�volution va se faire vers une aggravation lentement progressive des
sympt�mes. Il faut bien s�r poursuivre la r��ducation kin�sith�rapique de
l'�quilibre et orthophonique.��
	 St�phane vit une progression �volutive plus rapide que pr�vue�: troubles de la
marche et de l'�quilibre�; recours � la canne et au bout de 50m de marche
n�cessit� du  fauteuil roulant, en raison de la fatigue de la position debout�;
troubles de la coordination des quatre membres, de d�glutition entra�nant une
fausse route des aliments, de l'�locution. Il effectue deux s�ances de kin� et
une d'orthophonie par semaine qui lui sont b�n�fiques.
	 Lui qui a d� quitter sa vie professionnelle d'informaticien conduisant son
entreprise avec des engagements civiques comme pr�sident de l'Association de
quartier Romo-Est�(sa d�marche et son �locution �taient per�us dans le mauvais
sens) affronte avec courage cette maladie avec l'aide r�confortante de sa femme.
	 Il per�oit l'allocation adulte handicap� (AAH)  666,96 �uros et une majoration
pour la vie autonome (MVA) 104,77 �uros, d'aide par mois, pour une famille de
cinq.
	 Il y a peu, fin mars 2009, une porte d'espoir s'est ouverte�: aller se faire
soigner � Holguin, ville de 360�000 habitants, � Cuba. En effet, le nombre de
patients atteints par cette maladie est important dans cette �le. Les docteurs
Jorge Rodriguez Chanfran, directeur-adjoint du CIDEM (Centre de Recherche et de
D�veloppement des M�dicaments) et Luis Perez Velazquez, directeur du CIRAH
(Centre pour la Recherche et la R�adaptation des Ataxies H�r�ditaires) ont
avanc� dans leurs recherches et assur� certains progr�s.
	 St�phane s'accroche � cette planche de sauvetage mais les frais d�passent ses
possibilit�s�: 2�300 � pour les soins et 2�500 � pour le voyage et l'h�bergement
n�cessitant 15 jours de pr�sence.
	 St�phane exprime avec une certaine lassitude le parcours ardu vis-�-vis de
l'administration.
	 Car il y aussi d'autres soucis, comme l'am�nagement de sa salle de bain en vue
de mettre une douche de sol (� l'italienne), et aussi celui de faire fonctionn�
l'assurance invalidit� de son cr�dit habitat.
	 L'administration, est-elle bien au service du citoyen , surtout quand celui ci
est en plus diminu� par la maladie ? Poursuivre son chemin vital sans b�n�ficier
de certaines aides auxquelles il a droit parce que c'est compliqu�. Pourtant,
combien de secours et de conseils seraient b�n�fiques ?.
	 St�phane vient de cr�er une Association pour b�n�ficier de certaines aides qui
ne peuvent passer que par le canal associatif.
Un traitement pour St�phane
5 rue de Gy
41200  ROMORANTIN
T�l : 09 51 74 58 15

Association Marocaine  de l'Ataxie de Friedreich  (AMAF)

L'Association Marocaine des malades atteints de l'Ataxie de Friedreich (AMAF) a �t� cr��e � l'initiative d'un groupe de personnes atteintes de l'AF et des membres de leurs familles, le 20 mai 2009 � Oujda.

Site web:  http://www.ataxie.en.ma/

----- Original Message -----
From: GEORGE Chandu
To: Samag
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 7:50 PM
Subject: Read SAMAG Article in SAKSHI Newspaper


Greetings from SAMAG,

Hello all,
Please go through todays SAKSHI paper, under FAMILY edition our SAMAG article
has been printed.
Please find the attached links
http://epaper.sakshi.com/epapermain.aspx
please click on Page 1 - women towards the left hand side, you can see the
article.
Thanks and Regards,
Chandu & Satish +9849852726,+9949019410.
SEEK A MIRACLE ATAXIA GROUP
Please visit our website : www.ataxia.in


Thanks  and  Regards,
Chandu George,
SEEK A MIRACLE ATAXIA GROUP

Please visit our website : www.samataxiagroup.org

Telethon finanzia la ricerca sulle atassie 

Vedi: http://www.atassia.net/nazionale/ATASSIA/news2009/7-luglio-2009-theleton-finanzia-ptogetto-ricerca-taroni.htm

Scientists Shed New Light on Cause of Inherited Movement Disorder

Newswise � University of Utah School of Medicine researchers and their colleagues at University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center have found strong evidence that abnormal calcium signaling in neurons may play an important role in the development of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), a disorder causing progressive loss of coordination, speech difficulty, and abnormal eye movements. Their findings are published in the July 27, 2009 issue of Journal of Neuroscience.

SCA2 is an inherited neurodegenerative disease that predominantly affects neurons called Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, the region of the brain that controls voluntary muscle movements, balance, and posture. It is one of a group of genetic disorders characterized by ataxia, or loss of muscle coordination.

"We have known for some time that, at a molecular level, SCA2 is caused by glutamine repeat mutations in the ataxin-2 gene, but the exact mechanism of Purkinje cell degeneration is not well understood," says Stefan-M. Pulst, MD, University of Utah professor and chair of neurology, member of the Brain Institute at the University of Utah, and contributor author on this study. Pulst's group also discovered the ataxin-2 gene in 1996.

The glutamine repeat mutations found in SCA2 are also found in other neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). It is commonly assumed that these disorders share a common pathogenic mechanism. Ilya Bezprozvanny, PhD, associate professor of physiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and his group had previously uncovered evidence that deranged calcium signaling played an important role in the pathology of HD and SCA3, so they thought that abnormal calcium signaling might also be involved in SCA2.

Calcium signaling refers to the movement or release of calcium ions as a form of cellular communication. Bezprozvanny and his colleagues demonstrated that the mutant ataxin-2 gene strongly associated with an intracellular calcium release channel, increasing the sensitivity of the channel to activation. They also found that enhanced calcium signaling contributed to the death of Purkinje cells in cell culture, but this effect could be attenuated by dantrolene, a stabilizer of intracellular calcium signaling. Bezprozvanny and his colleagues then approached Pulst, who had developed a mouse model of SCA2, in order to test whether these results could be replicated in genetically modified mice.

Source/read more: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/554394/