=============================================================== == == == ----------- ALS Interest Group ----------- == == ALS Digest (#110, 10 July 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 == == 270+ 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 .. percentage of lung capacity loss & ventilators 2 .. Pergonal 3 .. re: Myotrophin 4 .. CA channels 5 .. academic physician and scientist gopher 6 .. Neurosurgery email List 7 .. riluzole (1) ===== percentage of lung capacity loss & ventilators ========== Date : Wed, 6 Jul 1994 07:32:08 -0500 (CDT) >From : "Rose M. Foster" Subject: percentage of lung capacity loss & ventilator Could anyone in the group tell me at what percentage of lung capability loss (or usage) it is typical for an ALS patient to have to go on a ventilator? Rose Foster Willard High School POBox 98 Willard, Missouri 65781 Email rfoster@ozarks.sgl.lib.mo.us (2) ===== Pergonal ========== Date : 07 Jul 94 23:17:24 EDT >From : wayne phillips <70303.173@compuserve.com> Subject: Pergonal Hi. I'm a 35 year old man who's had ALS for 5 1/2 years. I'm interested in hearing the results from anyone who has used or is using the infertility treatment (Pergonal) for ALS as proposed by Dr. Lance Meagher. Thanks in advance, Wayne S. Phillips 70303.173@compuserve.com (3) ===== re: Myotrophin ========== Date : Fri, 8 Jul 1994 11:45:22 -0401 >From : jmack@pipeline.com (John Mack) Subject : Re: Myotrophin Reply-To: clinical_trials@world.std.com ------------------------------------------------------------------ > >Anyone want to tell their experiences with this experimental drug >made by Cephalon? > Myotrophin is also known as insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I). An article about the effect of administering sc doses of recombinant IGF-I appeared in the spring issue of TRANSGENICA (see press release attached). While Cephalon is doing the bulk of the work on myotrophin, you may also want to check with Chiron Corp. in Calif., which is a partner with Cephalon. -------- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: Susan DaltonJuly 1994 (215) 949-0490 Levittown, PA LAUNCH OF NEW JOURNAL DEDICATED TO CLINICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY Pharmaceutical Information Associates, Ltd., of Levittown, Pennsylvania, announces the publication of Transgenica: The Journal of Clinical Biotechnology. This new peer-reviewed journal provides a single recognizable vehicle for the rapid publication of clinically relevant information arising from biopharmaceutical and immunodiagnostic research. Publisher and Editor Lawrence E. Liberti explains the mission of Transgenica: "The past decade has seen the intensive growth of a vibrant biotechnology industry throughout the world. In the United States alone, more than 1800 companies are currently involved in some aspect of biotechnology-related research. The vast majority of these companies have focused their efforts on understanding and modifying disease processes through the use of sophisticated analytical and bioprocess technologies. The ultimate goal shared by these companies is to develop cost-effective biotechnology-based clinical diagnostics and therapeutics to improve the quality of life. "For the medical researcher, a distinguishing characteristic of the 1990s has been the dramatic increase in the amount of information required to adequately assess the value and practical relevance of the advances being made through biotechnology research. Transgenica is designed to be a single, reliable, objective source of information about novel diagnostics and therapeutics. To maintain objectivity and to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, Transgenica is peer-reviewed." Each issue of Transgenica offers several formats for the publication of research results: full-length articles describing the results of original research, brief communications, extended abstracts, emerging technology updates, and editorials. Each issue also carries at least two in-depth reviews of novel therapeutic or diagnostic agents developed through molecular biology techniques. CALL FOR PAPERS The Editor welcomes manuscripts for consideration of publication in upcoming issues of Transgenica. All manuscripts will be peer-reviewed. Prospective authors should send a brief synopsis of their proposed manuscript to: Susan Dalton Managing Editor Transgenica Pharmaceutical Information Associates, Ltd. 2761 Trenton Road Levittown, PA 19056 USA Telephone: (215) 949-0490; Fax: (215) 949-2594. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Transgenica is published quarterly. A one-year subscription (four issues plus all supplements) costs US$60. ------------------------------- John Mack 516-271-0926 Pharmaceutical Information Associates Provides technical and regulatory support to pharmaceutical companies worldwide and publishes newsletters, books and journals for healthcare professionals jmack@pipeline.com or 70411.377@compuserve.com -------------------------------- (4) ===== CA channels ========== CARLSBAD, CALIF. (JULY 5) BUSINESS WIRE - July 5, 1994--Cypros Pharmaceutical Corp. (NASDAQ:CYPR) Tuesday announced that it has received a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for funding the development of neuronal calcium channel blocking drugs for treating neurologic and psychiatric diseases, the third SBIR grant that Cypros has received. Cypros is developing these drugs to treat the type of nerve cell damage that is associated with disorders such as stroke, head injury and chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease). The neuronal calcium channels being targeted by Cypros control the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. When released from a nerve cell, neurotransmitters bind to receptors which activate other nerve cells, a process which serves as the basis for all brain function. Many neurologic and psychiatric disorders are characterized by excessive neurotransmitter release (i.e., stroke, epilepsy and schizophrenia). Many of the neurologic and psychiatric drugs currently being developed by others act by blocking specific neurotransmitter receptors and can disturb the balance of neural function. The Cypros program targets drugs that block neuronal calcium channels and reduce neurotransmitter release, thereby having a more global effect on neuronal activity. There are currently no FDA-approved neuronal calcium channel blockers, and the company expects this new drug class to have broad applications in neurology and psychiatry. CONTACT: Cypros Pharmaceutical Corp., Carlsbad, CA : David W. Nassif, 619/929-9500 (5) ===== academic physician and scientist gopher ========== Date : Sat, 9 Jul 1994 15:54:51 EDT Sender : "Clinical WANS: Design & Usage" : >From : "Don Parsons dfp10%albnydh2.bitnet@uacsc2.albany.edu" : Subject: academic physician and scientist gopher Forwarded by Peter Weiss. DFP ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- FYI - this is also a gopher site at acad-phy-sci.com === ACADEMIC PHYSICIAN AND SCIENTIST - Subscription and Advertisement Information Academic Physician and Scientist is the centralized resource for positions in academic medicine. It is the largest, most comprehensive gathering of positions in academic medicine. The publication is produced bimonthly and includes news from the world of medical education. It is mailed free of charge to every faculty physician, scientist, senior resident and fellow at the 126 medical schools and their affiliated teaching hospitals. To subscribe or advertise a position, please contact our office. Call: (916)939-4242 FAX: (916)939-4249 Email: info@acad-phy-sci.com We welcome your suggestions on how we can improve our service. Best of luck with your search. A collaborative effort of the Association of American Medical Colleges and Academic Physician and Scientist Academic Physician and Scientist Main Line: (916)939-4242 info@acad-phy-sci.com Laurie Powers: System Admin. (916)939-7516 lpowers@acad-phy-sci.com Lisa Larson: President (916)939-4242 llarson@acad-phy-sci.com Martha McGarity Consultant (916)939-7515 martha@acad-phy-sci.com Lesley Hamilton Consultant (916)939-7521 lesley@acad-phy-sci.com Nadine Younger Consultant (916)939-7517 nadine@acad-phy-sci.com Marybeth Morris Consultant (916)939-7519 marybeth@acad-phy-sci.com (6) ===== Neurosurgery email List ========== Topic 1439 Neurosurgery email List bionet.neuroscience 5:56 pm Jun 20, 1994 dmmckali@gibbs.oit.unc.edu) A NEUROSURGERY email list is now available for subscriptions. This list is constructed for many purposes: 1. To compile email adresses of all physicians, residents, and/or basic researchers in neurosurgery. 2. To facilitate communication between those individuals on the internet. 3. To provide a forum for discussion of all aspects of neurosurgery, including clinical, basic science, academic, socioeconomic, and political. To subscribe send a message to: listserv@gibbs.oit.unc.edu On the first line of the message (please leave subject line blank) put: subscribe neurosurgery firstname lastname (for instance: subscribe neurosurgery john smith) The list will be moderated due to the private nature of specific patient care issues. Therefore all requests will be reviewed prior to approval. To facilitate approval, send an email message to: dmmckali@gibbs.oit.unc.edu. Include your full name, institution, department chairperson, email address, and phone number. Full name: Institution or Organization: Position: Department Chairperson (if applicable): Email address: Phone Number: Society Memberships: __ __AANS __ __CNS __ __Society of Neurosciences __ __other (__ __) Mentioning any major society membership will enable quicker verification for subscription approval. Please allow a few days for approval of the subscription. You will be notified. If there are any questions, you may email me at: dmmckali@gibbs.oit.unc.edu Thank you, David McKalip, M.D. Division of Neurosurgery UNC-Chapel Hill 919-966-1374 (Neurosurgery list initiation date: 6-20-94) (7) ===== riluzole ========== =============================================== Title : Block of the rat brain IIA sodium channel alpha subunit : by the neuroprotective drug riluzole. Author : Hebert T; Drapeau P; Pradier L; Dunn RJ Source : Molecular Pharmacology 1994 May;45(5):1055-60 Abstract : The effects of riluzole, a novel neuroprotective drug with anticonvulsant and anti-ischemic properties, were studied on currents carried by cloned rat brain IIA sodium channel alpha subunits expressed in Xenopus oocytes. (i) When the oocytes were held at strongly hyperpolarized potentials to close the sodium channels and riluzole was added to the external solution, the current elicited by test depolarizing pulses was reduced within a few minutes and recovered upon washout of the riluzole. Although the currents were reduced, riluzole did not shift the peak current-voltage relationship. An inhibitory constant of 30 microM was estimated for the low affinity block of closed channels. (ii) Riluzole did not affect the time course of inactivation, and repetitive stimulation at frequencies that did not result in significant accumulation of inactivation did not affect current block. These results suggest that riluzole did not block open channels. (iii) Riluzole increased steady state inactivation by shifting its voltage dependence in the hyperpolarizing direction, by prolonging the recovery from inactivation, and by blocking more effectively at high stimulation frequencies. According to the modulated receptor theory, these results suggest that riluzole binds selectively to inactivated channels, with an inhibitory constant estimated at 0.2 microM. These results show that the riluzole binding site is on the alpha subunit of the sodium channel, and they suggest that stabilization of the inactivated state may underlie the neuroprotective properties of riluzole. ================================================ == end of als 110 ==