Re: Antipsychotics treat brain virus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[Guest guest]

Sounds like junk science to me. Reads far too much like a promotion

than a scientific article.

Yah...! ARe they good for strep throat too? or the flu?

>

>

>

>

> A type of drug used to treat schizophrenia can protect brain cells

> from a virus that causes a fatal nervous system disorder, say

> experts.

> The disorder is called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

or

> PML.

>

> It affects people with weakened immune systems, such as people with

> Aids or organ transplant patients.

>

> A US study in Science found the antipsychotic drug clozapine

> appeared to be most effective at preventing the infection without

> side-effects.

>

> This approach may offer hope for the treatment of one of the most

> unpleasant opportunistic illnesses of all

>

> Alcorn, National Aids Manual

> PML is caused by a virus which destroys glial cells that produce

the

> fatty sheath that covers nerve cells.

>

> Most people carry the virus. But a healthy immune system suppresses

> it, and it only causes PML in people with weakened immune systems.

>

> The symptoms of PML include dementia, vision loss, movement and

> speech impairment, paralysis and coma. The condition is always

> fatal.

>

> The scientists found the virus attaches itself to a receptor on the

> surface of glial cells.

>

> That receptor opens and allows the virus to get inside cells.

>

> It normally binds with serotonin, a brain chemical that plays an

> important role in depression and anxiety, leading the scientists to

> investigate if medications which act as serotonin-receptor blockers

> could be effective.

>

> Entry blocked

>

> The team at Brown University and Case Western Reserve University

> focussed on a particular protein, called clathrin within the cells,

> which plays a role in bringing substances into the cell.

>

> They then tested drugs to see which might be effective in blocking

> the action of this protein.

>

> Chlorprozamine, a drug used to control psychotic symptoms such as

> hallucinations and delusions, was found to work.

>

> But it can cause serious side effects, such as lowered blood

> pressure, stiffness and tremors.

>

> This led the team to test seven similar drugs. They found that

three

> others, most notably the antipsychotic clozapine, also prevented

> infection in human glial cells without the side effects.

>

> The team say their research shows that the virus can be stopped in

> its tracks using clozapine and comparable serotonin receptor

> blocking drugs.

>

> They suggest other drugs could have the same effect, and plan

> further studies.

>

> Dr Walter Atwood, a virologist based at Brown University who worked

> on the study, said the drugs may prove to be an effective, ready-

> made therapy for PML prevention or treatment.

>

> He added: " This is very promising. These are generic drugs we can

> take off the shelf that may help a lot of people. "

>

> 'Difficult to treat'

>

> Roth, professor of biochemistry at the Case School of

> Medicine, who also worked on the research, said: " It is likely that

> there are many other drugs with none of the potential side effects

> of antipsychotic drugs that will also block infection. "

>

> Alcorn of the National Aids Manual, said: " This approach may

> offer hope for the treatment of one of the most unpleasant

> opportunistic illnesses of all. "

>

> He added: " PML is now rare in people with HIV but remains extremely

> difficult to treat in patients who succumb to it despite successful

> antiretroviral treatment. "

>

>

>

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4021759.stm

[Guest guest]

Sounds like junk science to me. Reads far too much like a promotion

than a scientific article.

Yah...! ARe they good for strep throat too? or the flu?

>

>

>

>

> A type of drug used to treat schizophrenia can protect brain cells

> from a virus that causes a fatal nervous system disorder, say

> experts.

> The disorder is called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

or

> PML.

>

> It affects people with weakened immune systems, such as people with

> Aids or organ transplant patients.

>

> A US study in Science found the antipsychotic drug clozapine

> appeared to be most effective at preventing the infection without

> side-effects.

>

> This approach may offer hope for the treatment of one of the most

> unpleasant opportunistic illnesses of all

>

> Alcorn, National Aids Manual

> PML is caused by a virus which destroys glial cells that produce

the

> fatty sheath that covers nerve cells.

>

> Most people carry the virus. But a healthy immune system suppresses

> it, and it only causes PML in people with weakened immune systems.

>

> The symptoms of PML include dementia, vision loss, movement and

> speech impairment, paralysis and coma. The condition is always

> fatal.

>

> The scientists found the virus attaches itself to a receptor on the

> surface of glial cells.

>

> That receptor opens and allows the virus to get inside cells.

>

> It normally binds with serotonin, a brain chemical that plays an

> important role in depression and anxiety, leading the scientists to

> investigate if medications which act as serotonin-receptor blockers

> could be effective.

>

> Entry blocked

>

> The team at Brown University and Case Western Reserve University

> focussed on a particular protein, called clathrin within the cells,

> which plays a role in bringing substances into the cell.

>

> They then tested drugs to see which might be effective in blocking

> the action of this protein.

>

> Chlorprozamine, a drug used to control psychotic symptoms such as

> hallucinations and delusions, was found to work.

>

> But it can cause serious side effects, such as lowered blood

> pressure, stiffness and tremors.

>

> This led the team to test seven similar drugs. They found that

three

> others, most notably the antipsychotic clozapine, also prevented

> infection in human glial cells without the side effects.

>

> The team say their research shows that the virus can be stopped in

> its tracks using clozapine and comparable serotonin receptor

> blocking drugs.

>

> They suggest other drugs could have the same effect, and plan

> further studies.

>

> Dr Walter Atwood, a virologist based at Brown University who worked

> on the study, said the drugs may prove to be an effective, ready-

> made therapy for PML prevention or treatment.

>

> He added: " This is very promising. These are generic drugs we can

> take off the shelf that may help a lot of people. "

>

> 'Difficult to treat'

>

> Roth, professor of biochemistry at the Case School of

> Medicine, who also worked on the research, said: " It is likely that

> there are many other drugs with none of the potential side effects

> of antipsychotic drugs that will also block infection. "

>

> Alcorn of the National Aids Manual, said: " This approach may

> offer hope for the treatment of one of the most unpleasant

> opportunistic illnesses of all. "

>

> He added: " PML is now rare in people with HIV but remains extremely

> difficult to treat in patients who succumb to it despite successful

> antiretroviral treatment. "

>

>

>

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4021759.stm

[Guest guest]

> Sounds like junk science to me. Reads far too much like a promotion

> than a scientific article.

> Yah...! ARe they good for strep throat too? or the flu?

> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4021759.stm

<g>

Reminded here of an old skit - Saturday Night Live, Phil Hartman I think -

" It's a floor wax! "

" No, it's a dessert topping!! "

" It's BOTH!! "

Poor Phil.

[Guest guest]

> Sounds like junk science to me. Reads far too much like a promotion

> than a scientific article.

> Yah...! ARe they good for strep throat too? or the flu?

> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4021759.stm

<g>

Reminded here of an old skit - Saturday Night Live, Phil Hartman I think -

" It's a floor wax! "

" No, it's a dessert topping!! "

" It's BOTH!! "

Poor Phil.