Posted: May 17th, 2012 | Author: Michael Courtenay | Filed under: Medicated | Tags: Brain Nerve Rewire, Quadriplegic, Quadriplegic Hand Function Restored, SURGICAL PROCEDURE, Washington University School of Medicine | No Comments »
For the first time, surgeons in the United States have used a new type of operation called nerve transfer to restore hand function in a quadriplegic patient. The paralysed patient suffered an injury to the lowest bone in his neck.
Nerve transfers involve taking nerves with less important roles - or branches of a nerve that perform redundant functions to other nerves - and “transferring” them to restore function in a more crucial nerve that has been severely damaged.
Instead of operating on his spine, doctors at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis used the upper arm nerves to rewire a fresh connection to the patient’s brain. Before the operation, the patient had use of his elbow and shoulder :: Read the full article »»»»
Posted: October 8th, 2011 | Author: Michael Courtenay | Filed under: Applied Science, Medicated, Michael Courtenay, Science, Science News, Toxically Engineered, Washington University School of Medicine | Tags: Cell Metabolism, Diabetes, Kathryn F Mills, NAD, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, NMN, Shin-ichiro Imai, SIRT1, Washington University School of Medicine | Comments Off
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have restored normal blood sugar metabolism in diabetic mice using a compound the body makes naturally. The finding suggests that it may one day be possible for people to take the compound in pill form to treat or even prevent type 2 diabetes. The naturally occurring enzyme, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide - NMN – plays an important role in how cells use energy. Researcher Shin-ichiro Imai says this discovery holds promise for people because the mechanisms that NMN influences are largely the same in mice and humans.
“After giving NMN, glucose tolerance goes completely back to normal in female diabetic mice,” says Shin-ichiro Imai, MD, PhD, associate professor of developmental biology. “In males, we see a milder effect compared to females, but we still see an effect. These are really remarkable results. NMN improves diabetic symptoms, at least in mice.”
Kathryn F. Mills, research lab supervisor said, “We also injected older healthy mice and found that they weren’t adversely affected. It’s good to know that even if the mice are not diabetic, giving NMN is not going to harm them.” Read the full article »»»»
