COMMENTTHE COLLEGE NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO 141 | MAY 2002Enzyme aidsspinal cordregenerationrial enzyme called chondroiti-ecent research by scientistsnase ABC destroys some of theat King’s Centre formolecules in the scar, allowingRNeuroscience Research maynerves a path to grow back along. pave the way for new treatmentsDr Elizabeth Bradbury, leadof spinal cord injuries.author and researcher in theSpinal cord injuries typicallyGuy’s, King’s & St Thomas’arise from car accidents, violence,School of Biomedical Sciences,falls and sports injuries, with ansaid: ‘The enzyme may becomeaverage of two new cases admit-part of a developing arsenal ofted every day in the UK alone.therapies to treat people suffer-In research published lasting from paralysing injuries. month in Nature and supported‘After damage to spinal cordby the Wellcome Trust, scientiststissue, a complex jungle of mole-from the Centre show how ancules is deposited in the scarredarea. Chondroitinase ABC actslike a “molecular machete” cut-Clinical trials involving thisting a path through the jungle of Stem cell licencetreatment as part of a multi-molecules that usually preventtargeted therapy could startspinal cord nerves growing back Professor Peter Braude and Dr Stephen Minger, together with Dr Susanwithin the next five years.Pickering were granted one of the first two UK licences by the Humaninto these damaged areas.Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to produce human ...
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miracle cure. There are stillmany other blocks that mustbe overcome before completespinal cord repair can beachieved in humans. In terms oftreating people, we could seeclinical trials involving thistreatment as part of a multi-targeted therapy starting withinthe next five years.’
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Left: Pr ofessorful eye of dentalNairn Wilson, students andDrHead of Guy’s,Pat Reynolds,King’s & Senior LecturerSt Thomas’ and member ofDental Institute, the team thatlaunches the new helped developdental website the siteunder the watch-
oTfhtehdeeSvtelTohpommeanst’New dentalcampuswebsiteAttmhteherdeeitaimswpeaeoscfuglcaootiinnosgnitdooenrpartebhlsseelaunchedKing’s & St Thomas’ DentalfTuhtuormeaso’fcaBmlopcuks.9ThoenCtohlelegSetAtthtietuetnedlaoufnMcharecdh,aGnueyw’s,frombuyingthecoursethroughInsis working closely with Guy’swebsitethatwillhelpallqualifietdotakingthelecturesandthenand St.Thomas’ NHS Trust ondentists to study and improve the online test at the end.a plan to develop the building,their skills, without having to ‘Our online CPD courses meancurrently underused, as antake time out of their practices. dentists can access top qualityacademic/health centre. TheAt the beginning of this year itteaching at their own conven-College has also received anbecame a legal requirement for ience. It’s particularly gratifying tounsolicited offer from the AgaUK dentists to keep their knowl- know that theprofits from thisKhan Development Networkedge and skills up-to-date througvhenture, unlike those of commer-to develop the site as a librarylifelonglearning,or‘continuouscialcompaniesoefrfingCPD,willand museum. A final decisionprofessional development’ go right baciknto the Dentalon the future of the site will be(CPD).ManyexistingcoursesInstitute,directlbyenefitingdentalmade by the College Councildemandtimeawayfromthesur-educationandthedentistsofin due course.gery, whichcan mean postponed tomorrow,’ Professor Nairnpatient appointments and a loss Wilson, Head of thDeentalof income. TheDental Institute Institutecommented. The websitecourses are entilryeweb-based, address is www.gkt-cpd.org
Skin disease genetic discoveryUrology meetingAsbDtyuedtrhymeaptSuotlbolJiogsyhhnea’dstiInnKsiAtnipgt’rusiltelheaodsfsecrry‘eTethnhisaftaismmilaianekseitsmopistoeretpaionfsttsihdbeilsyecaortveo-ioenpxtceointisanlgtneerbwneactaiavvueesneutreteshaetofmderiesncstseoavrefcrohyrKioEnfugtr’shoepweFaaisrnsctsoIa-nthteoellsrittneaotfimotenheaetlingshown how mutations in a gene carriers of the disease and to skin ageing, scarring or poorRadical Prostatectomy Summitat Denmark Hill in March. Thelead to the development of wound healing,’ John McGrath,College co-ordinator was Peterslliikepisoniddtihpsrrooortdueegirhnootshuitas,taatfnhfeeicntshwefroairtmledid-.Identifying the gene abnormalitystPaorilodof.gey‘s,sWowerhtoohfihneMkadotelhedectuhplarerorteeDsieearrmcha,-UBinsithiani,thmeanDaegpearrtomfetnhteoAfCCESSin lipoid proteinosis is a greatn thisSurgery.achievement.gene produces may be involveddLmieoprssotiicdnoSpmroomutteohinnAsofisrniiscglai,eswgoientnehedodifsisftiohgre-inawiderangeofroles,perhapswitThheamsiesteetirnpgroragrnainmpmaerablleeilng- acting as some sort of biologicalconducted at the Clevelandglue that holds other skinuring symptoms that begin in research new forms of treatment proteins together. We hope toClinic, Ohio and delegates werechildhood. for affected people. It is also develop studies to determine ifkept in touch via a high-resolu-it might be useful in preventingltiivoenlitrnaknesnatalbalnetdicdIeSlDegNaltinesk.iTnhiswrinkles or acting as some sort ofthe UK to watch operations con-‘internal sunscreen’ to preventducted in the US, as well asthe ageing effects of sunlight oninteracting with their Americanthe skin. However, for now justidentifying the gene abnormalitycolleagues in sessions.in lipoid proteinosis is a greatTechnical and theoreticalachievement.apsropsetcattseocftotemcyhnwieqrueescoovferraeddi,caals’Left:The demonstratingwell as the issues behindforehead of a the marked wrin-patient selection and post-oper-South African kling of theative management. The meetingpatient with lipoid foreheadproteinosiswas attended by doctors fromall over Europe and Asia.