Science it seems has made another incremental step forward in advancing stem cell technology that will in the not tooooo distant future cure many debilititating diseases ---including Parkinson's---. Watching and listening to BBC News overnight this little gem from researchers....Enjoy...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7306886.stm

Now across the pond in England the catholics are having none of it...12th century mentality by cardinals accussing (yet again) science of Frankenstein science scaremongering has again reared its ugly head. Science will just get on with it and let politics and religion have their spat/debate as they did all those centuries ago when the same ill informed mentality accussed Galileo.....well you know the story the rest is history.

Anyway, combine this research which offers hope to Parkinson's with the new advances made improving ESCR technology and the world is our oyster. Already in just a few short weeks the advances in producing blastocysts for research into curing disease has advanced 100 times.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread41170.html

the UK isn't a Catholic state, as a counterpoint over 200 UK based charities have written to the government supporting this research and 61% of the general UK public agree with the creation of human-animal embryos, if it may help understand diseases, with only a quarter opposed to this research.

Catholicism vs charities / science / public opinion and state, is probably more accurate.

Looks like we are going to kick your bottoms at Cricket mate, not a great 12 months for NZ sport is it !!

Take care,
Neil.

let statistics get in the way of of what's making the headlines in the international press Niel

The UK stem cell hybrids bill may have majority (61) percent public support, and the backing of major charities, sadly there is no reporting of that fact by major international press. All are focusing on Cardinal whatsisname from Scotland and two of his cronies and their irresponsible Frankenstein Easter message. Remember in 03 the U.S. had over 70 percent support for ESCR only for Bush to veto research at government level. The good thing is....science moves on and is getting on with it.

Yeah mate I am devastated about the cricket. We had England on the ropes after day one and a half. And then typhoon Sidebottom struck late on day 2, having us 1 for 101 and all out on 168. Today is the last day, the skies are clear, the day is hot, no hint of rain (shame) and NZ need 453 to win with five wickets in hand. An England victory is assurred. I am sooooooooooo over the Rugby World Cup. We are deep into super 14 and NZ teams are doing well.
We play your lot late into our winter. All the best mate.

My generation does not have time for escr to become a treatment. It's such a long way off . That fight needs to be passed to the next generation.

I think our hope lies in relief of symptoms that can be provided, along with neuronal growth, from trophic factors. They are still looking for the silver bullet. We need to test what they have now and be treated as much as possbile with what they have.
Are they going to downplay this generations' hope for more money for future generations?

Maybe: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum

and the thrust of the UK hybrid work is to create "Parkinson's stem cells" which can then be used for drug testing and understanding why the cell breaks down, so a longer term view.

I agree escr is a medium to long term bet, largely dependent on the politics of the world's largest economy.

Hope you are well,
Neil.

treatment for Parkinson's by one of the 75 programs currently in research mode (some are in early to mid stage trials) looks likely. The evidence is compelling as we strive to move beyond todays 40 year old fix it remedy.

ESCR is the one that grabs the world headlines whenever science comes up with new solutions and advances as has happened over the last few days. I don't think the movers and shakers in science will wait for the next generation to advance ESCR, soooooo much is going on now it's hard to keep track. And with nano medicine expected to be the next huge advance and less than a generation away, science moves forward.

The NIH report on GDFN reminds me of a british comedy "Yes MInister" where much is written but nothing is said. Beaurocrasy at its best. Enjoy

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dIto5mwDLxo

From : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum

"We appraised the evidence provided by both in vitro and in vivo work before proceeding to a critical assessment of the relevant clinical trial data. METHODS: Relevant literature was identified using a PubMed search of articles published up to October 2007. "

There lies the problem. The literature is full of inaccuracies and to a certain extent, controlled by the sponsors. Thus, you get a bunch of nothing; particularly shameless is the publication of this nothingness in journals where biased investigators in the actual research are EDITORS of the journals.

i do not make this up.....book coming soon! Guaranteed more accurate than any report about GDNF. Monkeys in the Middle....the toxicity report for GDNF can be found in a veterinarian's journal.

There was no toxicity in humans. They high dosed the monkeys.

Funny video! Of course entertainment comedians exagerrate.....in real life most people are much better at saying nothing.

paula