This is the twice-per-month electronic newsletter for basic, preclinical and translational research news related to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Please forward freely. Direct comments or questions to Joanna Downer, PhD, in the Office of Corporate Communications (4-5105, jdowner1@jhmi.edu).
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IN THIS ISSUE:
+ A Prostaglandin Protects Brain Cells From Stroke Damage
+ Vitamin Supplement Use May Reduce Effects of Alzheimer's Disease
+ Researchers Identify Transplantation Antigens Among Sioux
NEWS BRIEFS:
Memorial Information for Drs. James and Lidia Wenz
Technology Commercialization Symposium Delayed
Lymphoma SPORE Accepting Pilot Projects Until Feb 1
Online NIH Grant Writing Tutorials
Report Examines Oversight of Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing
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Do you have an interesting research finding about one month from publication or presentation? Send manuscripts to Joanna Downer at jdowner1@jhmi.edu or fax to 410-614-8951. Information about awards and honors received by laboratory personnel and others is welcomed also.
For more info on a story, click the accompanying hyperlink.
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:
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1/12/04
A Prostaglandin Protects Brain Cells From Stroke Damage
In experiments in the laboratory and with genetically engineered mice, Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that a likely "bad guy" -- prostaglandin-E2 (PGE-2) -- actually protects brain cells from damage. The findings appear in the Jan. 7 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
The observation was completely unexpected, the researchers say, because PGE-2 causes damage in other tissues and is made by an enzyme, COX-2, known to wreak havoc in the brain after injury.
"Prostaglandins have not previously been implicated in reducing damage from stroke, so our finding provides a completely new strategy for tackling and understanding the condition," says Katrin Andreasson, MD, an assistant professor of neurology and of neuroscience. "It's possible that future treatments for stroke might use drugs to block COX-2 and enhance the effects of prostaglandin-E2, providing sort of a double whammy of protection."
In brain cells and brain slices from mice, PGE2 reduced damage from insufficient oxygen or from over-stimulation. Furthermore, in genetically engineered mice lacking one of the receptors for PGE2, stroke damage was much greater than in normal mice, the researchers report. A possible explanation, at least in part, comes from experiments showing that stimulation of PGE-2's receptor caused increased production of cyclic-AMP, which is known to help the brain.
"We still need to determine whether stimulating the PGE2 receptor hours after a stroke can protect mice from damage," says Andreasson, who is conducting some of those studies now. "If so, pursuing this prostaglandin as a potential clinical target will be of great importance."
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2004/01_12_04a.html
J Neuroscience Jan 7 2004;24(1):257-268.
http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/full/24/1/257
1/19/04
Vitamin Supplement Use May Reduce Effects of Alzheimer's Disease
Antioxidant vitamin supplements, particularly vitamins E and C, may protect the aging brain against damage associated with pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other institutions. The report appears in the January issue of Archives of Neurology.
"These results are extremely exciting," says Peter Zandi, PhD, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in the School's Department of Mental Health. "Our study suggests that the regular use of vitamin E in nutritional supplement doses, especially in combination with vitamin C, may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease."
The researchers examined data from the Cache County Study, a large, population-based investigation of the prevalence and incidence of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Residents who were 65 or older were assessed from 1996-1997 and again from 1998-2000.
The researchers found a trend towards reduced Alzheimer's disease with a combination of vitamin E and C supplements, even after controlling for age, sex, education and general health. However, there was no notable reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's disease with vitamin E or vitamin C alone or with multivitamins, which contain lower doses of the two vitamins.
http://www.jhsph.edu/Press_Room/Press_Releases/Zandi_vitamins.html
Arch Neur Jan 2004;61(1):82-88.
http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/61/1/82
From the Clinic:
1/7/04
Researchers Identify Transplantation Antigens Among Sioux
Johns Hopkins scientists are identifying human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) among different Indian tribes, potentially increasing organ donation and improving matches between organ donors and recipients in these populations. Their new report, published in the January issue of the journal Human Immunology, identifies two new HLA alleles among the Lakota Sioux tribe.
"The findings show that there is a much higher probability of finding a really good organ match among other Native Americans than among other racial or ethnic groups," says Mary Leffell, PhD, director of the Johns Hopkins Immunogenetics Laboratory. "Certain Asian populations share some of the same HLA proteins as the Sioux and also could be good donor choices."
For the study, the research team looked at two tribes of the Lakota Sioux -- the Cheyenne River and the Oglala Sioux -- residing on the Cheyenne River and Pine Ridge reservations in South Dakota.
The researchers found several alleles at high frequency among the Lakota Sioux that also are prevalent in other Native Americans and Alaskans. They found another allele that previously had only been described in the Navajo and Tlingit tribes, as well as two new alleles observed only among the Sioux. In addition, the team identified among the Sioux the two most common extended haplotypes, or groups of alleles thought to be inherited together.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2004/01_07_04.html
Hum Immun. Jan 2004;65(1):78-89
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01988859
Or go to: http://dx.doi.org and enter doi:10.1016/j.humimm.2003.10.001 in the box
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Memorial Information for Drs. James and Lidia Wenz -- A memorial fund has been established to remember Hopkins orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Wenz and Hopkins child psychiatrist Dr. Lidia Wenz, who were killed in a car accident Jan. 20. A memory book will be prepared for the Wenz children. For details see:
http://www.insidehopkinsmedicine.org/news/wenz_funeral_arrangements.cfm#service
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2004/01_20_04.html
Technology Commercialization Symposium Delayed -- Due to inclement weather, Johns Hopkins' Licensing and Technology Development (LTD) and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) are rescheduling the half-day Small Business Innovation Research Symposium, "Commercializing University Technology: From Bench to Market," originally set for Jan. 27. The new date is May 4. Scheduled speakers included Deb Barbara of LTD, representatives from TEDCO, and representatives from the NIH, including NIBIB, NHLBI, and NIMH. For more information on the rescheduled symposium, contact Amy Brady at 410-516-6516 or abrady@jhmi.edu.
http://www.insidehopkinsmedicine.org/news/news_detail.cfm?id=1649
Lymphoma SPORE Accepting Pilot Projects Until Feb 1 -- The Lymphoma SPORE Program will be accepting pilot project proposals of interesting lymphoma/biology projects without a translational focus for awards up to $50,000. Pilot project proposals for this award category can be five pages, including specific aims, background, and experimental design sections. The deadline for submission is Feb. 1, 2004.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/lymphomaspore/default.cfm
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/lymphomaspore/memo.doc
Online NIH Grant Writing Tutorials -- The National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Disease has created a new online resource for grant applications involving animals. NIAID also has tutorials and annotated grant applications that provide information useful for preparation of all NIH grant applications.
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/clinical/researchanimals/tutorial/index.htm
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/default_grants.htm
Report Examines Oversight of Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing -- A new report by the Genetics and Public Policy Center at The Johns Hopkins University outlines policy options to address the scientific and ethical challenges raised by genetic testing of human embryos. The report was released at a public forum, "Custom Kids? Genetic Testing of Embryos," held Jan. 8 in Washington.
http://www.dnapolicy.org/policy/pgdOptions.jhtml
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2004/01_08_04.html
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