GDNF therapy looks promising
 

me thinks this was a 2002 article
 

Podcast on growth factors
 

I think you're right soccertese.

BTW, there was a good update (IMHO) on growth factors about 6 months ago. It's in the form of a podcast (approx. 28 minutes) by the World Parkinson Coalition, on SoundCloud. Here's the link:

6 Stopping Disease Progression: Growth factors by World Parkinson Coalition | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Yes Soccertese, you are right. Sorry about this. I wish it was 2002 when I didn't know much about PD.

That Story was dated 14 years ago. 2002 there were a lot of new treatments etc in trials. Sadly GDNF went the way of pretty much 100% of them (NOWHERE). Still got my fingers crossed, but looks like the predetermined treatment path is the same today as it was in the early 90's. Carb/Lev till it quits working then hope you qualify for DBS.

At least they have DBS pretty much a routine Operation these days and the Stimulators are advanced far beyond what they were in the early days. This disease killed my dad and two Uncles, and now it has it's sights set on me. Hopefully I'm the one to beat it. So come on Scientists Doc's and researchers get your *** in gear.

That was a scary podcast. "After 5 years with the disease we don't think there is enough dopamine generating tissue left in the brain to be recovered by this process."

It was clear they are done with GDNF theories. Moving on to Alphasynuclean theories now.

Good Summary
 

cbrf1wr said: "It was clear they are done with GDNF theories. Moving on to Alphasynuclean theories now."

A pretty good summary (IMHO).

Is NTCELL, the New Zealand pig cell therapy, in the GNDF camp or the alpha synuclein camp? I'm having a hard time understanding the mechanisms behind NTCELL.

Thanks for the interesting conversation.

it's more in the gdnf/bdnf mode of action, rescues damaged neurons. pig cells secrete growth factors so they are not selecting most advanced patients for the LCT phase2b trial.

don't discount fetal neuron implants, they successfully reversed advanced pd and the benefit lasted years. recent autopsies of patients receiving these implants in 1990's, early 2000's, show implanted neurons survived.

canadians and europeans working on improved implant techniques.

as far as LCT, you'd have to go to NZ for the implants if their procedure gets approved.y phase1 pd trials involving drilling a hole in your head has been successful and then most had a failed phase 2 when blinding/placebo added. keep your fingers crossed.

The way we do it in NZ
 

Not scientific stuff just for fun a bit of background to the pig story

Mayor's pigs help people with Parkinson's Disease | Stuff.co.nz

Re the current GDNF trials underway at Bristol UK, I have heard some results should be out about September this year.
Cure Parkinson's Trust | Regenerative trials - GDNF

Hikoi, to whom my thanks, has posted on the Parkinson's Movement/HealthUnlocked forum that the initial results of the latest GDNF trial have been reported [1]:

"Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in Parkinson's disease, delivered via intermittent bilateral intraputamenal infusions using convection enhanced delivery (CED) ... did not meet the primary efficacy endpoint."

The Parkinson's UK position is [2]:

"These initial findings appear disappointing but the full results and analysis may yet reveal positive insights."

There has been a long history of claim and counter-claim about the efficacy of GDNF, but I think that this puts an end to the chances of GDNF being part of a useful therapy for PD.

References:

[1] News

[2] Parkinson's UK - Update on GDNF trial: analysis underway

John

"These initial findings appear disappointing but the full results and analysis may yet reveal positive insights."

There has been a long history of claim and counter-claim about the efficacy of GDNF, but I think that this puts an end to the chances of GDNF being part of a useful therapy for PD.

John[/QUOTE]

Oh well, as in the immortal words of Queen's John Deacon:
"Another one bites the dust"

Sure!!!!
 

:mad:Sure!!!!:mad: