A drug that can slow some of physical problems and lessen the outbreak of multiple sclerosis is found to have a potential treatment for spinal cord injuries, a new Japanese study found.
The FTY720 or known as Gilenya is tested by the researcher from the Jichi Medical University School of Medicine and the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Medicine to mice with spinal cord injuries. The drug has recovered some motor function of mice.
Authors wrote that FTY720 has a multiple of treating powers. The Novartis, the drug’s manufacturer, provided the drug to suppress the immune system, which it reduces the inflammation that takes place after the injuries. Researchers explained that SCIs can worsen the damage when inflammatory effects occur.
"The main biological activity responsible for these actions is believed to be immunological, but our data suggest that nonimmunological role(s) of FTY720 are also important in the treatment of SCI," they wrote.
To further confirm that the drug is effective in treating SCIs, experts need to test the drug to larger animals. But, the authors believe that it still has a promise.
There are some experts who are not involved in the study that are bit more skeptical. They think that determining the effectiveness of Gilenya is long way off in treating SCIs in humans, if it really happens.
"Another issue is that in this study, the drug was given immediately after the SCI, and rarely do we have the opportunity to give a drug immediately after this type of injury in humans," said W. Dalton Dietrich, professor and scientific director of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. "One big question is if the drug delivery is delayed, will it work?"
The methylprednisolone, a steroid drug, has found to be effective in some people in restoring a bit of function if taken within eight hours of injury.
But with some other drugs, which clinicians tried to treat with SCIs, they have been no particular effectiveness shown.
According to Dr. Bruce Dobkin, director of the Neurologic Rehabilitation and Research Program at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine, so far, there is no drug that can try to protect the nervous system. They way I see it, the only thing that can help is “rehabilitation”.
Notwithstanding of more and more research into the potential treatments for spinal cord injuries, Dobkin said that promising options have not lived up to their hype.
Ciara Wilson, a wife-to-be and a writer, is refurnishing her home with a modern type of wood fireplace and luxurious swim spa. Her boyfriend likes having fun with her in a swim spa and sometimes they spend time having a cup of coffee alfresco.
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