Thursday, April 15, 2010

Rosie's Therapy Muscular Dystrophy UB School of Medicine


Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common genetic disease of boys.  There is no known therapy or cure.  In 1984 Sachs Lab, University at Buffalo's School of Medicine, Dr. Frederick Sachs, UB Distinguished Professor of Biophysics, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and his colleagues, have discovered mechanosensitive ion channels, pores in the cell membrane that open under mechanical stress.  When the genetic defects of dystrophy break down reinforcement of the cell membrane, these channels become activated and let calcium leak into the cell causing the muscles to atrophy.  This is what causes muscular dystrophy.

Sachs Lab made the discovery of the channels when there were no drugs known to affect those channels.  Taking a wild chance on Nature's chemical libraries, they examined venoms from scorpions, centipedes and spiders and in a tarantula venom, they discovered a drug that did work. The drug turned out to be a small, non-toxic, protein.  Keep in mind, everything in a venom is not poisonous.  The lab tested the protein (known as GsMTx4) on isolated dystrophic muscle since dystrophin makes a reinforcing network under the cell membrane, and its loss transfers stress to the membrane. This increased stress turns on the channels producing the calcium leak.

GsMTx4 caused the muscle less likely to be damaged from stress. In collaboration with Dr. Eric Hoffman of the Wellstone Institute for Muscular Dystrophy in Washington, Sachs Lab tested GsMTx4, and after a month of treatment there were no significant side effects.

Sachs Lab is close to having a therapy for muscular dystrophy.

To handle commercialization of GsMtx4 after preclinical testing, Sachs Lab formed Rose Pharmaceuticals, a research-based biotech drug company founded with the specific goal of treating muscular dystrophy.  Rose Pharmaceuticals is located in Buffalo and started by Drs. Fred Sachs, Phil Gottlieb and Tom Suchyna and Mr. Jeff Harvey, and Rosie, the tarantula.
Sachs Lab has found a therapy for muscular dystrophy.  There is no known therapy or medication for this condition.  Sachs Lab and Rose Pharmaceuticals is in need of funding and support in order for this therapy to pass FDA Regulation for pre -clinical testing.  The least amount needed is 1.5 million dollars.  Dr. Frederich Sachs speaks of Rosie's Therapy on my radio show, This is NOT The Apple and information can be found at Sachs Lab at UB School of Medicine and Facebook HERE under: Rosie's Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy.  

You can help the research.  Donate (tax deductible) to the lab by sending whatever amount you feel is appropriate for "unrestricted research funds" to:    Rosie's Therapy for Muscular Dystophy:    Grammostola Spatulata Fund UB Foundation P.O. Box 900 Buffalo, NY 14226.

When this therapy passes FDA regulations and pre-clinical testing, not only will there be a therapy for muscular dystrophy, but this medication GsMTx4, with no known side effects, will also be able to treat other conditions that affect muscle walls such as various heart conditions and everyday chronic and acute pain.   Right now, the only medications available for such conditions, including muscular dystrophy have severe side effects and are addictive.

Please join Sachs Lab, Rose Pharmaceuticals and the UB School of Medicine (all Buffalo based entities), in passing a medication that can literally help millions of people. Currently, everyone at Sachs Lab is funding this endeavor out of their own pockets.

Rose Pharmaceuticals has been featured in The UB Reporter,  Technology Transfer Tactics, Innovations Report.com, Fox News National, Buffalo State News, Futurity.org Health & Medicine, and Channel 2 WGRZ. on National News.

The drug is in preclinical trials at the Wellstone Institute in Washington DC.  There is no toxicity.  There are no known side effects.  There are no known addictive properties.  There is no cure or therapy. 

Until now.

You can help the research.  Donate.
 


© Susan Marie 2010
Sachs Lab, Dr. Frederick Sachs
University at Buffalo School of Medicine
Rose Pharmaceuticals




Monday, April 12, 2010

April is National Poetry Month




In 1996, The Academy of American Poets introduced National Poetry Month, a nationwide month long celebration of poetry to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry all month long every April.  

New York, The East Coast and Western New York can lay claim to poets such as: Billy Collins, Muriel Ruckeyserl, Louise Gluck, Tupac Amaru Shakur, June Jordan, John Ashbery, Frank O"Hara, Walt Whitman, Edgar Allan Poe, Allen Ginsberg, Dylan Thomas, W.H.Auden, Peter Orlovsky, Gregory Corso, and Langston Hughes. 

Celebrations in Western New York include readings at:  Just Buffalo Literary Center, The Screening Room, The Center for Inquiry, The Rooftop Poetry Club, EM Tea Coffee Cup, Talking Leaves, Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, Crane Library, Albright Knox Art Gallery,  Rust Belt Books, Empire State College and many more.  

On April 21st, 2010 at 7:30 pm, The Screening Room will feature two Buffalo poets, Gunilla Theander Kester (The Empty Chair: Love and Loss in the Wake of Flight 3407) and Professor Anthony Hughes (Ph.D. Associate Professor of English, Hilbert College.) 

The Screening Room has open slots available for everyone.  Arrive 7:15 pm to check in, $2 admission for an evening of outstanding poetry.  For more information:  The Screening Room Northtown Plaza Business Center 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst NY 14226 and online:  www.screeningroom.net/.  Whatever you plan to do make it to The Screening Room to listen, read, relax, eat, drink and celebrate the written and spoken word. 

"Stop this day and night with me 
and you shall possess the origin of all poems, 
You shall possess the good of the earth and sun,
there are millions of suns left.  
You shall no longer take things at second or third hand 
nor look through the eyes of the dead, 
nor feed on the spectres in books,
You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me,
You shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself."
- © Walt Whitman "Song of Myself II" (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892.) 
 
 

© Susan Marie

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Thursday, April 1, 2010

Benefit For Jon Croom: Buffalo Firefighter: Pearl Street April 11


On August 24th, 2009, two of Buffalo’s Bravest Firefighters attempted to save the lives of those they thought were in danger. It was a day of great pride, but also of incredible sorrow.
 

Those who knew Jon Croom, knew a man of strength, integrity and purpose. He was a brother, a father, a son, our friend. Jon left behind a daughter, not yet 3 yrs old, and a new son, born only 2 weeks after his death. He never even held this child. It is for this reason that we, Jon’s friends, have come together to lend a hand to what Jon started.  We are earnestly working together to create a college fund for each of his children, Johanna and Jonathan, so that they can experience the same zeal for life that Jon himself enjoyed.   

A benefit in honor of Jon’s life and memory will be held April 11th, 2010, at Pearl Street Brewery.  14 bands, a 50/50 raffle and a basket auction are featured. All of the bands have donated their time, and Pearl Street has graciously donated the space.  100% of the proceeds will go directly to the trust funds in place for the children of Jonathan Croom.

“This gift will show Jon’s kids how much he meant to his friends, and how much this community appreciates the sacrifice he and Lt. McCarthy made for us,” said Jason Hall, owner of Sessions Studio in Black Rock, who graduated with Croom from the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts.

The organizers of this event are seeking in-kind donations to enhance the Basket Auction the day of the event. We are hopeful that you will see the great opportunity to commit, as a community; to the children of our neighborhood Hero, and that you would consider helping us reach our goal.   

For more information, Jay Hall, Sessions Video (716) 447-1508, purchase tickets online HERE and HERE.  Please see event on FaceBook.


 

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Interview Amina Masood Janjua: Defence For Human Rights: Dr. Aafia Saddiqui

© Mr and Mrs. Masood Janjua (Masood is still missing)


Mrs. Amina Masood Janjua speaks of her quest for her husband, Masood Janjua, wrongfully aducted for 4 1/2 yrs. Amina dedicated her struggle to from Defence of Human Rights to locate and bring home people forcibly and wrongfully abducted. Mrs. Janjua speaks of Pakistan and American govt, misunderstandings, how they work in unison to weaken all people, realities of how/why people are abducted, work in Human Rights, and the latest case of Dr. Aafia Saddiqui. Dr. Saddiqui's case to date, is the largest abomination of every human right. The United States government is refusing to set her free. Please click HERE to help free Dr. Saddiqui and assist Mrs. Janjua in finding her husband, Masood, as well as all missing persons. Mrs. Janjua was featured on Frontline World



Dr. Aafia Saddiqui, Before and After Wrongful Abduction 2003