"We are beginning the work of trying to understand a disease of the most complicated organ in our body – the brain. It is the last frontier of biology," Dr Stefansson said. "Schizophrenia is a disorder affecting thoughts and emotions. It is therefore a quintessentially human disease, but one that is little understood biologically and which is difficult to diagnose."
Growth hormone - Better Health Channel
The pituitary gland of the brain produces growth hormone, which governs height, bone length and muscle growth. Some people take synthetic growth hormone in the mistaken belief it will help them build muscle size and strength...
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
Last Updated: 9:01pm GMT 19/02/2008
Human trials are about to start of a form of gene therapy that shows great promise in treating one of the worst kinds of cancer.
Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most common and most aggressive of the 100 or so types of brain cancers. The resulting tumours are a surgeon's nightmare, being irregularly shaped, with poorly defined borders. They spread easily and kill between six months and year of diagnosis, given that neither surgery, radiotherapy or drugs can halt the disease.
Now a study in laboratory rats, conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles, supports a plan to launch a Phase 1 human trial of the gene therapy later this year on 20 patients.
Doctors at the Massachusetts General Hospital said a malignant tumour, or glioma, was found on the 76-year-old's left parietal lobe during tests that followed a major seizure over the weekend.
His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes aggressive combinations of radiation and chemotherapy. Patients diagnosed with a glioma are commonly given one to five years to live.
Dr Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, said in a statement that Mr Kennedy "remained in good spirits". "He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition, and is up and walking around the hospital," he said.
An Ireland-based company that uses DNA technology to test and track meat to the original animal and prove that it's what the label promises is now targeting U.S. retailers.
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Source: KansasCity.com
