NO CURE YET BUT THEY’RE TRYIN’

One thing we learn when we have had a stroke is never to give up. Acceptance is one thing, but determination, hope, and lots of pressure on politicians and scientists could help pave the way toward cure and relief. Nearly all of the news in January focused on Ariel Sharon’s stroke – what kind of stroke and every stage of his recovery and surgery. But, closer to home, the politicians and the scientists are also making news. Oh, and one more discovery about aspirin specifically….

New NIH Center Would Tackle Common Diseases

Senators Thad Cochran, R-MS, and Joe Lieberman, D-CT, have introduced legislation that would create a new institute within the National Institutes of Health aimed at accelerating the development of cures for common diseases.

Their American Center for Cures would aim to develop closer links between federally funded biomedical scientists and researchers in private industry. In particular, it would encourage NIH staff to work with small to medium sized biotechnology and bioengineering firms in translational and early stage clinical research. These companies may require additional support in traditionally under-funded stages of product development where private venture capital support is often lacking–the so-called R&D “Valley of Death”. Cochran said the new organization would be given a specific role in finding effective new treatments for some of the most important causes of death and disease in the US population, namely, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Their American Center for Cures would aim to develop closer links between federally funded biomedical scientists and researchers in private industry. In particular, it would encourage NIH staff to work with small to medium sized biotechnology and bioengineering firms in translational and early stage clinical research. These companies may require additional support in traditionally under-funded stages of product development where private venture capital support is often lacking–the so-called R&D “Valley of Death”. Cochran said the new organization would be given a specific role in finding effective new treatments for some of the most important causes of death and disease in the US population, namely, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

http://www.researchresearch.com/news.cfm?pagename=newsStory&type
=default&elementID=57940

Blocking the nerve receptor EP1 reduces brain damage

caused by stroke in mouse models

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered how to block a molecular

switch that triggers brain damage caused by the lack of oxygen during

a stroke. The Hopkins study, conducted on mice, is believed to be the first to demonstrate that a protein on the surface of nerve cells called the

EP1 receptor is the switch, and that a specific compound, known as

ONO-8713, turns it off. The finding holds promise for the development of effective alternatives to anti-inflammatory drugs called COX inhibitors, which have potentially lethal side effects that limit their use.

Sylvain Doré, at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/e4017fc196bfb
479f173f387595d79e5.html

Aspirin Benefit Differs for Men/Women

New research shows low-dose aspirin prevents heart

attack in men but stroke in women, but both sexes still have a greater risk of major bleeding. Low-dose aspirin has a different cardiovascular benefit for women than it does for men, but the risk to both sexes is the same, according to new findings.

It has been shown that people who have had a heart attack can benefit from low-dose aspirin. But there's ongoing debate over who -- if anyone -- should take aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke.

New information comes from an analysis of data collected in six large clinical trials. In those trials, more than 51,000 women and more than 44,000 men took daily aspirin tablets or inactive placebo pills. None of the men and women had previously had heart disease.

http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/117/112567.htm