Guest guest Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 The brain is highly protected Researchers have found a way to breach the body's natural defences and deliver genes and drugs into the brain. The method shows promise for treating a host of brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease. The brain is protected by a membrane formed by tight connections between the cells that line the blood vessels that supply it. This is known as the blood-brain barrier, and is designed to ensure that the brain is immune from attack from foreign substances circulating in the blood stream. Only a few molecules that are recognised by the cell receptors are allowed to pass through. However, it also means that it has proved virtually impossible to deliver genes or drugs into the brain, unless they are injected directly into its tissue. Even this is flawed, because it is difficult to ensure an even distribution throughout the brain's tissue. New Scientist magazine reports that a team from the University of California, Los Angeles has come up with a way to solve the problem. So far their research has only been tested on primates - but the same principle should apply for humans. The US team has been able to smuggle genes past the brain's defences by hiding them inside fatty spheres called liposomes. These liposomes are coated with a polymer which is impregnated with antibodies similar to those produced by the immune system to fight disease. The presence of these antibodies effectively tricks the cell receptors into letting the liposomes pass, where they can deliver their cargo to brain cells. Good results The US team initially tested the technique in rats, but found that it produced even better results in rhesus monkeys. Dr Savio Woo, director of gene therapy at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, told New Scientist: " To reach the central nervous system through the blood-brain barrier in a non-human primate with this kind of efficiency - that's absolutely fantastic. " The liposomes do not appear to have any toxic side effects. They do deliver genes to other organs besides the brain, but scientists are able to switch gene activity on and off so that they are active only in the desired tissues. The technique has already showed promise as a possible treatment for Parkinson's disease. In lab tests, rats with Parkinson's symptoms showed substantial improvement after they were injected with liposomes containing a gene that boosts production of a crucial enzyme. Separate tests on mice have shown that the liposomes can also deliver treatment which can block the development of brain tumours. Dr Lonser, of the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke who has also carried out research into how to cross the blood-brain barrier, told BBC News Online the latest study was promising. He said: " It may have several exciting potential uses, but additional studies and questions must be answered to determine the precise clinical applications of this technology. " Meadowcroft, Director of Information, Policy and Research at the Parkinson's Disease Society said: " This research appears to offer a major step forward in terms of our understanding of how we can transport genes to the affected parts of the brain. " However, the Parkinson's Disease Society remains cautious of the effectiveness of gene therapy's affect on the overall progression of the disease itself, until findings of large scale clinical trials are published. " Source: BBC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Unsure of why u posted this- read Kayw Kilburn for info on how chemicals inhaled directly effect the brain- " Chemical Brain Injury " - Also Shoemaker states that mycotoxins go directly to the brain -- In , LymeAngl@... wrote: > > The brain is highly protected > Researchers have found a way to breach the body's natural defences and > deliver genes and drugs into the brain. > > The method shows promise for treating a host of brain disorders such as > Parkinson's disease. > > The brain is protected by a membrane formed by tight connections between the > cells that line the blood vessels that supply it. > > This is known as the blood-brain barrier, and is designed to ensure that the > brain is immune from attack from foreign substances circulating in the blood > stream. > > Only a few molecules that are recognised by the cell receptors are allowed > to pass through. > > However, it also means that it has proved virtually impossible to deliver > genes or drugs into the brain, unless they are injected directly into its > tissue. > > Even this is flawed, because it is difficult to ensure an even distribution > throughout the brain's tissue. > > New Scientist magazine reports that a team from the University of > California, Los Angeles has come up with a way to solve the problem. > > So far their research has only been tested on primates - but the same > principle should apply for humans. > > The US team has been able to smuggle genes past the brain's defences by > hiding them inside fatty spheres called liposomes. > > These liposomes are coated with a polymer which is impregnated with > antibodies similar to those produced by the immune system to fight disease. > > The presence of these antibodies effectively tricks the cell receptors into > letting the liposomes pass, where they can deliver their cargo to brain > cells. > > Good results > > The US team initially tested the technique in rats, but found that it > produced even better results in rhesus monkeys. > > Dr Savio Woo, director of gene therapy at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine > in New York, told New Scientist: " To reach the central nervous system > through the blood-brain barrier in a non-human primate with this kind of > efficiency - that's absolutely fantastic. " > > The liposomes do not appear to have any toxic side effects. > > They do deliver genes to other organs besides the brain, but scientists are > able to switch gene activity on and off so that they are active only in the > desired tissues. > > The technique has already showed promise as a possible treatment for > Parkinson's disease. > > In lab tests, rats with Parkinson's symptoms showed substantial improvement > after they were injected with liposomes containing a gene that boosts > production of a crucial enzyme. > > Separate tests on mice have shown that the liposomes can also deliver > treatment which can block the development of brain tumours. > > Dr Lonser, of the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders > and Stroke who has also carried out research into how to cross the > blood-brain barrier, told BBC News Online the latest study was promising. > > He said: " It may have several exciting potential uses, but additional > studies and questions must be answered to determine the precise clinical > applications of this technology. " > > Meadowcroft, Director of Information, Policy and Research at the > Parkinson's Disease Society said: " This research appears to offer a major > step forward in terms of our understanding of how we can transport genes to > the affected parts of the brain. > > " However, the Parkinson's Disease Society remains cautious of the > effectiveness of gene therapy's affect on the overall progression of the > disease itself, until findings of large scale clinical trials are > published. " > > Source: BBC > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 I don't consider myself chemically sensitive but I got a taste of what it may be like when I went into a Bigg's Grocery store and was hit with what seemed like a huge odor of plastics near an aile of that sort of thing. It was so repugnant I hurried to get the couple things I came to get but almost decided to leave and go elsewhere. I should have left since by the time I got outside again I was nauseated and threw up several times. I have never done that before. I hope I'm not 'becoming' chemically sensitive. --- In , " carondeen " <kdeanstudios@...> wrote: > > Unsure of why u posted this- read Kayw Kilburn for info on how > chemicals inhaled directly effect the brain- " Chemical Brain Injury " - > Also Shoemaker states that mycotoxins go directly to the brain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 I sure hope you are not getting chemical sentivity. I always used all that stuff. I had all that stuff on my hair, gell, hair spray, used all the cleaning products but all of a sudden I couldn't handle any of it. In the stores the shoe department is hard, the detergent aisle, any of the wood like in Home Depot, the baby products even hurt my lungs. The vomitming thing doesn't happen often, but it has happened many times sadly once when I visited my sister. Now I am afraid to go see her cuz she is several hours away so I would be stuck. > > > > Unsure of why u posted this- read Kayw Kilburn for info on how > > chemicals inhaled directly effect the brain- " Chemical Brain Injury " - > > Also Shoemaker states that mycotoxins go directly to the brain > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 , What I thought is what a strange and powerful odor and why aren't other people paying any attention to it. They were just going about their business. It seemed like a weird movie in which you are only person noticing something that is obviously wrong. I thought other people would be looking at each other, like 'eew. what's that!!!' and steering away from it but everyone just looked as if they didn't notice. I did wonder if this is what people in my group experience. I hope not. This was a one time experience at this point although I seem to notice odors or stinkiness more than I used to in stores. Do you all have a heightened sense of smell too? --- In , " ldelp84227 " <ldelp84227@...> wrote: > > I sure hope you are not getting chemical sentivity. I always used > all that stuff. I had all that stuff on my hair, gell, hair spray, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Good Question???????????????? What I thought is what a strange and powerful odor and why aren't other people paying any attention to it. You can even tast it when it's really bad also it make my noise feel like it's blowing up. heightened sense of smell. I have this and can't go into stores because of this most just hope it will go away and some will tage you because they know! and don't want any one else to know so they will make others just think you are crazy. Elvira [] Re: Blood brain barrier , What I thought is what a strange and powerful odor and why aren't other people paying any attention to it. They were just going about their business. It seemed like a weird movie in which you are only person noticing something that is obviously wrong. I thought other people would be looking at each other, like 'eew. what's that!!!' and steering away from it but everyone just looked as if they didn't notice. I did wonder if this is what people in my group experience. I hope not. This was a one time experience at this point although I seem to notice odors or stinkiness more than I used to in stores. Do you all have a heightened sense of smell too? > > I sure hope you are not getting chemical sentivity. I always used > all that stuff. I had all that stuff on my hair, gell, hair spray, FAIR USE NOTICE: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 Comments interspersed. S S Ok, middle of the night ponderings. I have never seen this question put to the list in the few months I've been here............ My daughter and I both meet counting rules for mercury toxicity. However, I think I was mercury poisoned primarily in my early thirties (whereas my daughters must be from her infant and childhood vaccinations since there is no other source for her). * If you're mercury toxic and it occurred before your daughter was born than she got part of your load in utero as mercury passes the placenta (and via breastmilk). So my concern is this..... my blood brain barrier obviously was in place at the time of the mercury poisoning. My health problems are primarily endocrine in nature anyway...not mental. Therefore, is it logical to conclude that the mercury in my body has NOT made it into my brain due to the blood brain barrier? *The BBB is a misnomer, it's really a membrane rather than a barrier. It's in there and will end us as Alzheimer's or something similar if you don't get it out. If that be the case...am I not risking acutally PUTTING mercury in my brain by chelating with ALA? I mean ALA binds with mercury and ALA will cross the BBB....so if I put ALA in my bod, as it draws mercury out of other parts of my body...when it crosses the BBB, won't it acutally be carrying with it that mercury INTO my brain? Do I risk redistribution INTO the brain, say at the end of a round? Any thoughts???? Kristi in Alabama ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 Kristi, Not here, but the BBB will let mercury cross. I'm not an expert on BBB by any stretch, but I have read about the autopsies performed on adults who were chronically exposed to mercury, and their brains were full of mercury. It is clearly established, for example, that the more amalgam fillings you have, the more mercury you will have in your brain. I believe it was Burbacher's study that showed how quickly ethyl mercury crosses the BBB where it will convert rather quickly to inorganic mercury. Anita > > Hi ...thanks for you input. I am confused about one thing you said > however, you said that the BBB is a misnomer...that is is a membrane...not a > barrier. So I guess what I'm asking is...does the BBB not prevent mercury from > entering the brain? What is it's purpose? If it DOES prevent mercury from > crossing it...then since my mercury poisoning was in adulthood...I shouldn't have > any in the brain should I...but just in other parts of my body???? I > appreciate so much your insight and comments from others as well. > > Kristi In Alabama > > > ************************************** > See what's free at > http://www.aol.com. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 Kristi, I'm not an expert here, but just wondering that if you have endocrine problems wouldn't that suggest mercury in the hypothalamus or pituitary, both little parts of the brain. In chronic Hg poisoing, Andy says mercury concentrates strongly in the pituitary and hypothalamus. Since ALA crosses BBB, to reduce redistriution(in & out of the brain) I have seen many parents here use DMSA(which doesn't cross BBB) alone for a X number of rounds until the body burden reduces significantly and then add ALA to the protocol. Madhuri > > Ok, middle of the night ponderings. I have never seen this question put to > the list in the few months I've been here............ > > My daughter and I both meet counting rules for mercury toxicity. However, I > think I was mercury poisoned primarily in my early thirties (whereas my > daughters must be from her infant and childhood vaccinations since there is no other > source for her). So my concern is this..... my blood brain barrier obviously > was in place at the time of the mercury poisoning. My health problems are > primarily endocrine in nature anyway...not mental. Therefore, is it logical to > conclude that the mercury in my body has NOT made it into my brain due to the > blood brain barrier? If that be the case...am I not risking acutally PUTTING > mercury in my brain by chelating with ALA? I mean ALA binds with mercury and > ALA will cross the BBB....so if I put ALA in my bod, as it draws mercury out of > other parts of my body...when it crosses the BBB, won't it acutally be > carrying with it that mercury INTO my brain? Do I risk redistribution INTO the > brain, say at the end of a round? Any thoughts???? > > Kristi in Alabama > > > ************************************** > See what's free at > http://www.aol.com. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 Mercury crosses the BBB in one form to get into the brain and then is converted to another form that can't get out of the brain so it essentially gets stuck in there and the only way to get it out is to chelate [properly using ALA]. The hypothalamus and pituitary control the endocrine system and like others say mercury has a high affinity for those glands. Someone with endocrine problems likely has mercury in the hypothalamus and pituitary [brain]. The BBB isn't really a barrier - it is more like a selective membrane preventing or limiting some things from crossing. It does protect the brain to a certain extent - but not from mercury. Whether poisoning was in adulthood or childhood or in utero there would still be mercury in the brain. Quote from Andy Cutler's 'Amalgam Illness' p 31 'The vapor form and inorganic form get into your brain easily. Then they can be oxidized to the inorganic form and mess your brain up.' [and my understanding is that the inorganic form can't get back out without ALA chelation]. J [not SS] > > Hi ...thanks for you input. I am confused about one thing you said > however, you said that the BBB is a misnomer...that is is a membrane...not a > barrier. So I guess what I'm asking is...does the BBB not prevent mercury from > entering the brain? What is it's purpose? If it DOES prevent mercury from > crossing it...then since my mercury poisoning was in adulthood...I shouldn't have > any in the brain should I...but just in other parts of my body???? I > appreciate so much your insight and comments from others as well. > > Kristi In Alabama > > > ************************************** > See what's free at > http://www.aol.com. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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