=============================================================== == == == ----------- ALS INTEREST GROUP ----------- == == ALS Digest (#93, 09 April 1994) == == == == ------ Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) == == ------ Motor Neurone Disease (MND) == == ------ Lou Gehrig's disease == == ----- == == This e-mail list has been set up to serve the world-wide == == ALS community. That is, ALS patients, ALS researchers, == == ALS support/discussion groups, ALS clinics, etc. Others == == are welcome (and invited) to join. Currently there are == == 220+ subscribers. == == == == To subscribe, to unsubscribe, to contribute notes, == == etc. to ALS Digest, please send e-mail to: == == bro@huey.met.fsu.edu (Bob Broedel) == == Sorry, but this is *not* a LISTSERV setup. == == == == Bob Broedel; P.O. Box 20049; Tallahassee, FL 32316 USA == =============================================================== CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE: 1 .. gene therapy & ALS 2 .. neurontin 3 .. BDNF (1) ===== gene therapy & ALS ========== Here is something that came up as the result of a search using the search terms GENE THERAPY and AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS. ========================================================================= Title : Gene delivery to spinal motor neurons. Author : Sahenk Z;Seharaseyon J;Mendell JR;Burghes AH Source : Brain Research 1993 Mar 19;606(1):126-9 MESH Headings: /GE;beta-Galactosidase/GE;/ME!;beta-Galactosidase : /ME;Animal;Biological Transport;Transport;Cell Nucleus : /ME;/PK;DNA/PK;Escherichia coli/GE;Genes!;Genetic : Techniques!;Techniques;Genetic Vectors;Vectors; : Histocytochemistry;Injections;Injections, : Intramuscular;Intramuscular;Lac Operon;Operon; : /CY!;Motor Neurons/CY;Motor Neurons/ME!;Motor : Neurons!;Neurons;Plasmids;Rats;Sciatic Nerve; : Nerve;Spinal Cord/CY!;Spinal Cord!;Cord;Support, : Non-U.S. Gov't;Non-U.S.;Gov't Abstract : This study demonstrates the direct delivery of plasmid : gene constructs into spinal motor neurons utilizing : retrograde axoplasmic transport. The plasmid vectors : contained the Lac Z gene under the control of both : the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and Simian virus (SV)40 : promoters. beta-Galactosidase expression was observed : in alpha and gamma motor neurons by histochemical : staining following direct injection into the sciatic : nerve or gastrocnemius muscle. The presence of LacZ : gene constructs was confirmed by the polymerase chain : reaction (PCR). The ability to introduce gene constructs : into motor neurons allows for the study of gene : regulation and permits the development of gene therapy : strategies for motor neuron diseases including the : spinal muscular atrophies (SMA) and amyotrophic : lateral sclerosis (ALS). : Correspondence address: Z. Sahenk; Department of Neurology; Neuromuscular : Disease Center; College of Medicine; Ohio State : University; Columbus Ohio (USA). : FAX 614-293-4688 ======================================================================== (2) ===== neurontin ========== According to HEALTH NEWS DAILY (Tuesday January 4, 1994): WARNER-LAMBERT's NEURONTIN IS SECOND EPILEPSY DRUG APPROVED IN 1993, after Carter-Wallace's Felbatol (felbamate), following a 15- year approval drought at FDA. Neurontin (gabapentin) was approved Dec. 30 as "adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures with and without secondary generalization in adults with epilepsy," labeling states. The company filed its NDA (20-235) for the anticonvulsant on Jan. 15, 1992. FDA designated the drug a "1P," indicating a new molecular entity given a priority review. Neurontin was recommended for approval by FDA's Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee in December 1992 and designated "approvable" by FDA Dec. 21, 1993. The most common adverse events associated with Neurontin and not seen at the same levels in placebo patients were CNS-related: somnolence (19.3%), dizziness (17.1%), ataxia (12.5%), fatigue (11%) and involuntary rapid eye movements, or nystagmus, (8.3%). Neurontin's principal advantage appears to be its lack of interactions with other anticonvulsants. "Gabapentin is not appreciably metabolized nor does it interfere with the metabolism of commonly co-administered anti-epileptic drugs," labeling states. "Dosages up to 2,400 mg/day have been well-tolerated in long-term clinical studies," labeling adds. "Doses of 3,600 mg/day have also been administered to a small number of patients for a relatively short duration and have been well tolerated." (3) ===== BDNF ========== re: BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) This was taken from the ALS Association's list "Clinical Trials" dated 03/11/94. I am listing here only BDNF trial sites that still have openings. For a complete listing of clinical trial sites one should contact the ALS Associaion at tel 818-340-7500, fax 818-340-2060. == arizona .......... mayo clinic/ e. peter bosch md/ 602-301-7583 == california ....... center neurological study/ r a smith md/ 619-455-5463 university hosp UCSF/ r k olney md/ 415-476-5459 UCLA school of medicine/ m c graves md/ 310-825-7266 == colorado ........ university of colorado/ s r ringel md/ 303-270-7046 == florida ......... university of miami/ w g bradley md/ 305-548-7526 == georgia ......... emory clinic/ l hopkins md/ 404-248-3754 == illinois ......... northwestern university med school/ t siddique md/ 312-908-5886 == kentucky ......... albert chandler med center/ e j karsarskis md/ 606-281-4920 == massachusetts .... brigham and women's hospital/ j m shefner md/ 617-732-5406 == minnesota ........ mayo clinic/ w j litchy md/ 507-284-8953 == missouri ......... washington university school of med/ a pestronk md/ 314-362-6981 == new york ......... strong memorial hospital/ r c griggs md/ 716-275-2559 == ohio ............. cleveland clinic/ h mitsumoto md/ 216-444-6044 == pennsylvania ..... university of pittsburgh/ m giuliani md/ 412-255-4976 == vermont .......... university of vermont/ r tandan md/ 802-656-4177 == wisconsin ........ university of wisconsin/ b r brooks md/ 608-263-9057 == canada ........... university hospital/ m j strong md/ 519-663-3934 university of alberta/ m b brooke md/ 403-492-4019 == end of als 93 ==