Adv Exp Med Biol
-
Indocyanine green (ICG) emits near-infrared fluorescence when it is excited by near-infrared light. The near infrared fluorescence of ICG was applied to the imaging of cerebral vessels during neurosurgical operations such as clipping of aneurysms. In this study, ICG angiography was applied to extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery to evaluate the hemodynamic changes induced by bypass in moyamoya disease (MD) and non-moyamoya ischemic diseases (non-MD). ⋯ Interestingly, the anastomosed STA supplied blood flow to a larger cortical area in MD than non-MD. The bypass supplied greater extent of blood flow to the ischemic brain in MD than in non-MD. This difference might be caused by the fact that the perfusion pressure was lower in MD than in non-MD.
-
Adult stem cells, especially isolated from bone marrow, have been extensively investigated in recent years. Studies focus on their multiple plasticity oftransdifferentiating into various cell lineages and on their potential in cellular therapy in regenerative medicine. In many cases, there is the need for tissue engineering manipulation. ⋯ We show that one intraperitoneal injection of microencapsulated bone marrow stem cells can prolong the survival of liver failure rat models with 90% of the liver removed surgically. In addition to transdifferentiation, bone marrow stem cells can act as feeder cells. For example, when coencapsulated with hepatocytes, stem cells can increase the viability and function of the hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo.
-
The rare disease community suffers from the absence of reliable epidemiological data on the prevalence and incidence of rare diseases in the national and global populations. The rare diseases community includes all of the stakeholders involved in the research and development and dissemination of products and information for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of rare diseases or conditions. To replace many of the perceived myths with realities, several global efforts are required if we are going to sustain and increase the reported progress with the thousands of rare diseases. ⋯ Providing ready access to the information about rare diseases, patient advocacy groups, research studies and products in research protocols will continue to improve the lives of patients and their families. Many scientists, public and private sector organizations, patient advocacy groups, foundations, and the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical devices industries are committed to translating research discoveries that will be useful in the care of patients with rare diseases over their lifespan. Evidence from well constructed epidemiological studies will provide the evidence that point to the value of additional clinical studies to increase the understanding of rare diseases.
-
The field of histamine research has progressed far from a century ago when the first biological functions of histamine were identified. It is now known that histamine function is mediated by four histamine receptors, which belong to the G-protein-coupled receptor family. While antihistamines that target the first two receptors have enjoyed clinical and commercial success, efforts to find new antihistamines against the histamine H3 and H4 receptors are still in the early stages. Here we will review the therapeutic potential of targeting these new histamine receptors.
-
One of the remarkable and unique aspects of the recent history of rare disease research has been the evolving role of patient advocacy groups and the collaborative partnership that exists among such groups and the scientists who study rare diseases, as well as the government officials charged with overseeing medical research and regulatory processes. This collaboration, which in many respects developed out of necessity on all sides, is unparalleled in other areas of medical research and product development. ⋯ Specific areas of interest include the adoption of the Orphan Drug Act in the U. S. in 1983 and subsequent similar legislation elsewhere in the world; the relationship of patient advocacy groups with government research funding and regulatory entities; the role of patient advocacy groups in seeking to "de-risk" orphan product development through initiatives such as facilitating patient registries and disease natural histories; the role of advocacy groups in ensuring that patients have access to treatments; and the increasing globalization of patient advocacy initiatives.