Parkinson

Scientists have discovered a new gene mutation that could account for Parkinson's disease in as many as 10,000 Americans. The finding, confirmed in a series of studies published today in the online version of the British journal Lancet, could lead to the first genetic test for the disabling movement disorder, as well as a new generation of medicines. "This is the most common genetic mutation identified in Parkinson's," said William Nichols of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, co-author of one study.

Gunman threatens cabdriver; Annapolis teenager charged An Annapolis teenager has been charged with first-degree assault and other counts after a gun was held to a taxi driver's head and he was threatened Friday, Anne Arundel County police said yesterday. About 9:45 p.m, four passengers were in a cab when of them pulled out a gun and threatened the driver, police said. A struggle ensued between the gunman the taxi driver, whom police have not identified. The vehicle veered off of Route 97 and struck a guardrail near Route 32. The four passengers left the cab and walked north on Route 97. They were apprehended by police a short time later, authorities said.

For William Chappell, brain surgery to control the twitching, poor balance, blurred speech and muscle rigidity of Parkinson's disease "was just so easy -- a piece of cake." And, "this was brain surgery!" the Fort Worth, Texas, resident says, as if he can't quite believe it. Before the surgery, Chappell, 60, sometimes had difficulty separating the symptoms of Parkinson's from the side effects of a combination of drugs he was taking: He took drugs for Parkinson's, several drugs for general anxiety and drugs to stay awake -- because being on so many drugs made him drowsy.

Anthony Scelta's life has changed profoundly. Fa-tigue and muscle pain are common for the former personal trainer. He sometimes shakes uncontrollably, and his medication for Parkinson's disease causes nausea and other debilitating side effects. After he was diagnosed at age 25, which is rare, he tried to continue working, but his symptoms forced him to stop. He could no longer be the upbeat trainer his Manhattan clients deserved. Before long, depression intruded. "I hit rock bottom a few years ago, and I was a mess," says Scelta, 35, who moved to Coral Springs, Fla., nine years ago for the warm weather.

On April 11, 2004, DOROTHY KORAN MILLIGAN; beloved wife of the late Thomas Robert Milligan and devoted mother of Cheryl Ann Milligan and her husband Victor Puotinen; loving grandmother of Stina Puotinen and Erik Puotinen; dear sister of the late Joseph Koran. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Graveside Services will be held in the Skyview Memorial Park, Rte 54, Tamaqua, PA on Wednesday, April 14 at 12 noon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 710 W. 168th St., New York, NY 10032 or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

When a pair of scientists announced that they had isolated the first human embryonic stem cells, some researchers predicted that an experimental treatment for Parkinson's disease would be available in five to 10 years. That was five years ago; no human trials are in sight. A short while later, a neurologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine told patients experiencing the first twinges of Lou Gehrig's disease that he might offer them an experimental stem-cell therapy before the illness paralyzed and killed them.

On January 11, 2004, DARINDA ANN beloved sister of Jean C. Witles and her husband Andrew Witles, Jewell C. Almoney and her husband James T. Almoney; beloved aunt of Michael A. Witles and his wife Maria, Kimberly A. Chenowith and her husband David, and James C. Almoney; loving great aunt of Jamie and Matthew Cleaver, Kyle, Noell and Taylor Witles. Memorial Services will be held at a later date. Those desiring may make contributions to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation Gift Processing Center, PO Box 96268, Washington DC 20090-6268.

MILWAUKEE - A new skin patch to treat Parkinson's disease significantly improved symptoms, according to a study by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin and several other institutions. By using a transdermal patch instead of conventional oral medication, doctors hope to get better control of Parkinson's symptoms while avoiding side effects. The study used a new drug, rotigotine, administered through an abdominal patch. One problem with oral Parkinson's drugs is that levels of the drugs can vary substantially from hour to hour depending on how often the drugs are taken and how quickly they are cleared from the body.

There are times when Janet Reno has to be told to speak up, when her left hand shakes uncontrollably and when she tires too soon. But the former U.S. attorney general says Parkinson's disease has not kept her from kayaking, hiking and running for governor of Florida. And that was the point of her appearance in Baltimore yesterday -- to emphasize that a disease known for its debilitating effects isn't that way for everyone. Reno recounted her experiences with Parkinson's for about 300 fellow Parkinson's patients, doctors and nurses yesterday at a forum sponsored by the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center have been forced to retract a highly publicized paper linking the drug Ecstasy to serious brain damage after discovering that they had actually administered a different drug to most of the animals in their study. In a retraction scheduled for publication next week in the prestigious journal Science - which ran the original results a year ago - the team led by Hopkins neurologist George A. Ricaurte says that a vial labeled as MDMA, the active chemical in Ecstasy, actually contained methamphetamine, a similar but chemically distinct drug known as "speed."