Bergamo 27 novembre 2009 ore 15  Sala Consiglio Provincia di Bergamo  via T.Tasso 8  in occasione della  Prima Giornata Nazionale della Malattia di Parkinson sarà presentato uno studio sui possibili benefici della stimolazione cerebrale profonda (DBS) nei pazienti con una storia breve di malattia di Parkinson.  La DBS è un trattamento ormai consolidato per la cura della malattia di Parkinson in pazienti con una durata lunga di malattia, che, dopo molti anni, non rispondono più alle terapie farmacologiche. Ad oggi esiste solo uno studio in campo internazionale sui benefici della DBS in pazienti in fase precoce di malattia che, seppur con una limitata numerosità campionaria, ha dato positivi risultati preliminari.  Sarà inoltre l’occasione per presentare il Centro di coordinamento provinciale per la gestione in rete della malattia di Parkinson con sede agli Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo.  Programma: Apertura lavori: Marco Guido Salvi,  Presidente AIP Bergamo Saluti: Domenico Belloli, Assessore alle Politiche Sociali e alla Salute della Provincia di Bergamo Leonio Callioni, Assessore alle Politiche Sociali del Comune di Bergamo Carlo Bonometti, Direttore Generale Ospedali Riuniti  Intervengono Claudio Sileo, Direttore Sanitario Ospedali Riuniti “Il  Centro di coordinamento provinciale per la gestione in rete della malattia di Parkinson e i progetti realizzati”  Simonetta Spada, Responsabile Psicologia Clinica Ospedali Riuniti  “Contenuti e finalità dello studio degli effetti della stimolazione cerebrale nella malattia di Parkinson” Roberto Donati, Neurochirurgo Ospedali Riuniti Bruno Ferraro, Responsabile Unità Malattie Extrapiramidali degli Ospedali Riuniti “Prospettive di utilizzo della ricerca”

Idag suger livet mer än lovligt mycket.

Jag har en väldans tajt deadline i skolan som skulle kunna gå att lösa om det inte vore för att min sjuka pappa har en förmåga att behöva mig vid sämsta tänkbara tidpunkt – alltid!

Nu gäller det lägenhetsvisning på en lägenhet som låter väldigt bra förutom att den kan anses ligga i “fel område” och att inflyttningsdatumet ligger helt fel. Men det är ett handikappanpassat boende med hiss, precis som pappa vill ha det. Gode mannen vill få det överstökat, mamma vill att pappa ska få den”perfekta lägenheten” (som självklart inte finns) och jag vill inte behöva ta i det här alls…!

Hittills har dagen, då jag borde ha sysslat med skolgrejer för att hinna, mest gått åt till den här lägenhetsgrejen, kolla upp pappas färdtjänst, hemtjänst, etc. Ja, och så gråt förstås.

Jag känner mig så himla ensam i det här. Det är inte bara en känsla heller för den delen. Mamma, som alltid varit drivande i den här pappaproblematiken, börjar dra sig bort – med all rätt – hon och pappa är inte gifta och hon ska inte behöva ta i det här. Brorsan jobbar utomlands och kommer inte hem förrän till sommaren. Kvar är jag. Bara jag. Lilla ruttna jag som inte alls vill ta i det här.

Att skjuta sig verkar helt plötsligt rätt lockande, inte bara på grund av idag, utan på grund av allt som samlas på hög som jag själv inte klarar att ta tag i. Eller sömntabletter… Eller fly till västindien utan att meddela någon vart man tog vägen. Kan man fly från sig själv och sitt eget liv?

As Paula mentioned on Sunday, we are planning to continue our Downtown Eastside search with a more concentrated effort. This is in part based on some feedback we’ve received from the DTES community at large.

The time commitment is roughly 1-1.5hr min: from 0730 to 0900 and 1130 to 1300 and will involve canvassing specific areas. Ideally we would like to have 3-4 people cover each time slot, everyday for a week.

If you are available, please contact us at: volunteers@findpierre.com

-Tim (tbaur@findpierre.com)

Actor Michael J. Fox participated Saturday on a fund raising event for Parkinson’s disease defeat alongside rockers Steven Tyler, Roger Daltrey and Elvis Costello.

Actress Tracy Pollan, Fox’s wife, explained to those present how important is the raising funds event, keeping the hope up in finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

At the event held in the Astoria Hotel in New York, were present celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Scorsese and Ben Stiller.

Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991, continued to work mainly in TV projects.

It has been two weeks to the day since Pierre went missing.

Hundreds of volunteers; family, friends, friends of friends and even strangers have taken to the parks, waterways and streets to help find Pierre. You have all been unwavering in your commitment and support and I wanted to thank you all and express my utmost gratitude.

To all the volunteers who turned out today to search the Downtown Eastside. We will be following up on some of the sightings mentioned in this area and will be posting information shortly of a more concentrated search.

Paula

Hirnforscher haben Tänzern in den Kopf geschaut und festgestellt: Sie trainieren wichtige Fähigkeiten und senken ihr Demenzrisiko.

WAS SOLL EIN TANZKURS denn bringen? An dieser Frage sind schon viele Frauen gescheitert, die versucht haben, aus einer Couchpotato einen Parkettlöwen zu machen. Jetzt liefert ihnen die Wissenschaft bestechende Argumente. Die Hirnforscher Steven Brown von der Simon Fraser University im kanadischen Burnaby und Michael Martinez von der University of Texas in San Antonio untersuchten erstmals, welche Gehirnregionen beim Tanzen aktiv sind. Dazu legten Brown und Martinez nacheinander fünf weibliche und fünf männliche Amateur-Tangotänzer in den Kernspintomographen und befestigten eine Platte so am Fußende, dass die Füße der Tänzer darüber gleiten und einfache Tangoschritte ausführen konnten. Über Kopfhörer wurde Musik eingespielt. Im ersten Durchgang sollten die Probanden zur Musik Tangoschritte auf der Platte machen, im zweiten Durchgang willkürlich ihre Beine bewegen.

Wie die Forscher erwarteten, waren in beiden Durchgängen die motorischen Gehirnregionen der Probanden aktiv. Doch beim Tango feuerten die Neuronen auch noch an einer anderen Stelle stark: im “Precuneus”. Diese Hirnregion im Scheitellappen ist wichtig für Orientierung und Raumsinn. Sensoren in Muskeln und Gelenken übermitteln Informationen dorthin. Deshalb sprechen die Wissenschaftler auch vom Bewegungssinn. Mit seiner Hilfe nimmt der Mensch Bewegungen und Gelenkpositionen wahr. “Der Precuneus ist eine Art kinästhetische Landkarte, die es dem Menschen erlaubt, seinen Körper im Raum zu navigieren”, erklärt Brown. Beim Tanzen, schließt der Hirnforscher, ist diese Raumwahrnehmung offenbar besonders ausgeprägt.

Wie die Wissenschaftler schon länger wissen, ist das kinästhetische Sinnessystem stark mit anderen Hirnfunktionen wie Gedächtnis, Sprache, Lernen und Emotionen verknüpft. “Bewegung beschleunigt das Gehirn zu maximaler Leistung”, deutet Siegfried Lehrl, Psychologe an der Uni versität Erlangen und Experte für Gehirnjogging, die neuen Befunde. Die Tangotänzer-Studie deckte auch auf, warum rhythmische Musik viele Menschen dazu bringt, mitzuklatschen, zu schnipsen oder mit Kopf oder Fuß zu wippen. Voraussetzung dafür ist, dass das Gehirn Rhythmen erkennt, vergleicht und in Beziehung zu gespeichertem Wissen setzt. Das heißt, je bekannter ein Rhythmus ist, desto stärker wird die Bewegung provoziert.

Steven Brown stellte fest, dass beim Tanzen mit Musik der sogenannte Kleinhirnwurm aktiver ist, als wenn die musikalische Untermalung fehlt. “Diese Hirnregion fungiert als eine Art neuronaler Taktgeber und ist mit den auditorischen, visuellen und somatosensorischen Systemen im Gehirn verbunden”, erklärt Brown. Auch das aus evolutionsbiologischer Sicht sehr alte sogenannte vestibuläre System in Innenohr und Kleinhirn, das den Gleichgewichtssinn steuert, ist notwendig für die Verbindung von Bewegung und Rhythmus. Das unterstützt die gängige These, dass Tanzen und Musizieren in der Menschheitsgeschichte zur gleichen Zeit entstanden sind. Zum Tanzen braucht der Mensch ähnlich komplexe sensomotorische Fähigkeiten wie zum Erlernen eines Musikinstruments.

Doch das Tanzen hat für die Entwicklung des Menschen noch eine weit größere Bedeutung als das Musizieren: Es trainiert die Fähigkeit zum Nachahmen. Die Forscher fanden heraus: Wenn man sich nur vorstellt, Walzer zu tanzen, arbeitet das Gehirn in den gleichen Regionen, wie wenn man tatsächlich Walzer tanzt. Beim Tanzen nur zuzuschauen genügt schon, um die entsprechenden Hirnregionen zu aktivieren – um zwar umso stärker, je bekannter der Tanz ist. “Wir schließen daraus, dass Tanzen früher eine Form der Kommunikation war”, erklärt Steven Brown – und liefert Belege: Bei allen untersuchten Bewegungsabläufen war bei den Tangotänzern eine Region in der rechten Gehirnhälfte aktiv, die der Broca-Region in der linken Hemisphäre als sogenanntes Homolog entspricht.

Zum vollständigen Artikel =>

Quelle: wissenschaft.de

Dogma der Hirnforschung wankt

Bis vor etwa zehn Jahren galt es in der Hirnforschung als unumstößliche Gewissheit, dass das Gehirn nach der Pubertät nur noch abbaut und nicht mehr wachsen kann. Was durch Alter oder Krankheit an grauer Hirnsubstanz verschwindet, ist unwiderruflich verloren, glaubte man. Doch seit Mitte der 1990er Jahre müssen Ärzte und Wissenschaftler umdenken – nicht zuletzt durch neue bildgebende Verfahren in den Neurowissenschaften. Berühmt geworden ist vor allem eine 1997 publizierte Studie an Londoner Taxifahren. Sie belegte, dass bei ihnen der hintere Teil des Hippokampus stark vergrößert war – einer Hirnregion, die unter anderem für das räumliche Orientierungsvermögen zuständig ist. Auch bei anderen hochspezialisierten Berufsgruppen wie Musikern und Schachspielern zeigte sich, dass bei ihnen bestimmte Areale des Hirns deutlich vergrößert waren. Doch waren sie nun Taxifahrer, Schachspieler oder Musiker geworden, weil ihre Hirne anders sind als bei anderen? Oder hatten sich die graue Masse wegen ihrer Tätigkeit und der langjährigen Übung so entwickelt?

Jonglieren: Hochleistungssport für’s Gehirn

Eine Studie der Universitäten in Regensburg und Jena unter der Leitung von Arne May sollte diese Frage endgültig klären. Drei Monate jonglierten junge Erwachsene (Durchschnittsalter 22 Jahre) mindestens eine Minute täglich mit drei Bällen. Die Jonglier-Neulinge sollten die Bälle mindestens 60 Sekunden in der Luft halten – eine enorme Herausforderung für visuelle Wahrnehmung, räumliches Vorstellungsvermögen und Reaktions- und Koordinationsfähigkeit. Dreimal wurden die Hirne der Probanden im Kernspin-Tomografen untersucht: vor dem Training, nach dreimonatigem Üben, und dann wieder nach einer dreimonatigen Übungspause. Nach drei Monaten Training waren zwei Hirnareale der Amateur-Jongleure deutlich vergrößert – vor allem in solchen Bereichen, die für das visuelle Erfassen von Bewegungsabläufen zuständig sind. Dagegen waren diese Areale nach der Trainingspause wieder auf ihr altes Maß geschrumpft.

Neue Hirnzellen für ergraute Köpfe

Dass sich auch bei Erwachsenen das Hirn durch Lernen noch anatomisch verändern kann, war damit bewiesen – eine wissenschaftliche Sensation: Erstmals war das jahrzehntealte Dogma von der Unveränderlichkeit des erwachsenen Gehirns widerlegt. Nun wollten die Forscher wissen, ob die grauen Zellen in jedem Alter nachwachsen – macht es einen Unterschied, ob die Versuchspersonen 22 oder 62 Jahre alt sind? Eine Folgestudie am Institut für Systemische Neurowissenschaften am Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf wiederholt das Experiment im Winter 2006 mit einer älteren Gruppe. 40 Probanden ab Mitte 50 unterziehen sich hier dem Jonglier-Training. Noch ist die Studie nicht abgeschlossen, aber erste Ergebnisse liegen vor – und sie sind spektakulär: Selbst 60jährige Jonglier-Novizen können die Kunst mit den drei Bällen in drei Monaten erlernen. Zwar deutlich langsamer und nicht ganz so gut wie die Zwanzigjährigen aus dem Regensburger Versuch. Die schafften es doppelt so häufig wie ihre älteren Kollegen, die Bälle eine Minute in der Luft zu halten. Dafür scheinen die ersten Analysen in Hamburg aber zu bestätigen, dass auch bei Älteren das Gehirn tatsächlich noch wächst! Mit anderen Worten: Auch bei ihnen vermehrt sich die graue Substanz. Beim körperlichen Training werden die Gehirne der Senioren in den entsprechenden Bereichen größer. Allerdings wissen die Forscher nicht, was da genau wächst – es könnte die Zahl der Hirnzellen selbst oder die Anzahl der Verbindungen zwischen den Zellen sein. Die derzeit gängigen Untersuchungsverfahren können das nicht unterscheiden.

(Das bedeutet ja nicht, dass nun jeder mit dem Jonglieren beginnen müsste, um das Gehirn zu stärken.  Es zeigt sich hier aber erneut, das es viele Beschäftigungen gibt, die dem Gehirn sehr gut tun, und sogar noch Freude machen können, wie z.B. ein Tanzkurs, Kreuzworträtseln, aber auch Spazieren und Jonglieren. Nach Meinung vieler Wissenschaflter kann diese Erkenntnis genutzt werden, um neurologische Erkrankungen wie Multiple Sklerose zu behandeln.)

Zum vollständigen Artikel =>

Quelle, Text und Bild: wdr.de

An update with meeting location for our efforts on Sunday.

• When: Sunday, November 22nd
• Time: 10 AM sharp
• Location: Science World Parking Lot
  • The north end of the parking lot under the Sky Train rail
  • Click the map below, the blue pin is the meeting area
  • We will organize there and then depart by 1030AM
• Clothing: Wear warm, waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear
• Bring: Cell phone, food & water (for yourself as needed)

Note, if you expect to show up after 1030AM, please let me know (tbaur@findpierre.com) so that we can exchange phone numbers. When you arrive in the area I will to direct you to meet up with a team.

We won’t know exactly how many volunteers we have until we perform a headcount in the morning. We will organize the groups, assign team leaders and then distribute the kits (maps, posters and contact numbers). We have a reasonably sized area to cover in a very challenging and dense neighborhood and will be canvassing stores, shelters and churches. Keep this in mind as you prepare.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I will update this blog entry if there is more information to share or to answer questions raised.

Regards,
-Tim (tbaur@findpierre.com)

UPDATE (11/21/2009 at 6.40PM): Map and zones for the search, including pins for shelters (etc) that we’ll want to visit.

View Larger Map

Many of you have been asking how you can help outside of the more formalized search plans (ex. DTES). We are asking for focus to be on a broader search and canvassing of the North Shore, including both West Vancouver and North Vancouver. The area from Dundarave to Second Narrows bridge as outlined in the map below.

It would be best if you could report on what you intend to do and/or have done so that we can update the Search Reports to help reduce duplicated effort. We may also be able to put groups of people in contact with each-other. Emailed reports can be sent to: tbaur@findpierre.com

As always, please keep the following in mind – we request that private property and restricted areas be respected or avoided unless express permission is given. The authorities have the channels to enlist the appropriate personnel accordingly. We do not want anyone breaking the law or putting themselves in harms way to assist with the canvassing and search. We want everyone to return home safely to their homes and loved ones at the end of each day.

To all the volunteers helping search for and spread the message about Pierre, thank you again from Paula and the family.

Friends, Family and Volunteers,

We have updated the missing persons poster, which can be downloaded by clicking the image below. If you can, please use this poster going forward.

The old poster is still available and can be downloaded here.

Friends, Family and Volunteers,

On Monday we made a volunteer request for the search of Downtown Eastside. The majority of those whom responded are available on the weekend and in particular on Sunday. To maximize the effort, we will be organizing the DTES search for Sunday, November 22 at 10AM.

While the meeting location and details are TBD with more information coming on Friday, we wanted to send out a quick note to confirm the date, allowing people to plan accordingly.

If you can participate, please contact us at: volunteers@findpierre.com

Regards,
-Tim (tbaur@findpierre.com)

Someone has saved these two search results using SearchMedica’s new saved searches feature. The first confirms that mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene involved in Gaucher disease are also associated with Parkinson disease. The second reports on a new plant-derived replacement form of the enzyme that is well tolerated and less expensive than a commercial version manufactured in mammalian cell lines.

RESULT: Complete screening for glucocerebrosidase mutations in Parkinson’s disease patients from Portugal
Neurobiology of Aging (PubMed) | Sep 1, 2009

RESULT: A Plant-Derived Recombinant Human Glucocerebrosidase Enzyme—A Preclinical and Phase I Investigation
PLoS One | March 11, 2009

An even more recent multicenter study coordinated by the National Human Genome Research Institute confirms a strong association between this gene and Parkinson disease.

RESULT: Multicenter Analysis of Glucocerebrosidase Mutations in Parkinson’s Disease
New England Journal of Medicine | Oct 22, 2009

Search:  glucocerebrosidase Parkinson’s

Another search, using the name of the manufacturer, reveals that the new drug has already been approved by the FDA to treat Gaucher disease, even though phase 3 trials are still under way. (We see no evidence using the option “The entire Web” of any current efforts to test the drug, velaglucerase, for Parkinson disease.)

RESULT: New Gaucher Drug Goes to Market During Shortage
MedPage Today | Sep 3, 2009

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SEARCH TIP: Searches colleagues have tagged

A box at the top of the left column shows results that other people have been saving on SearchMedica. This allows you for the first time to see for youreself what others have been searching on, without waiting for the next edition of Medical Search Tips.

_____________________________________________________________

OTHER RECENT SEARCHES ON SEARCHMEDICA

Search: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

RESULT: Implications of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Transmitted by Sperm Donation
JAMA | Oct 21, 2009

An investigation that identified cardiomyopathy among 9 of 24 children fathered by the same sperm donor has raised new questions about genetic testing that ought to be required among individuals who wish to donate gametes for infertility treatment. It also may have interesting implications for physicians inquiring into the medical histories behind unusual conditions.

Search: alcohol disease

RESULT: Functional genomic and epidemiological studies reveal novel genes regulating cholesterol metabolism
Genome Medicine | Oct 27, 2009

New methods in genetic research are providing a powerful way to explore the heredity of cardiovascular disease as it relates to cholesterol metabolism. (But what on earth does that have to do with this search term?)

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SEARCH TIP: Let’s get one thing perfectly clear

Why do articles about cholesterol turn up with the search term “alcohol disease”? It’s not quite a mystery. Strictly speaking, cholesterol, which possesses a hydroxyl group, is an alcohol. But it certainly should not be turning up as a synonym for “alcohol” in medical searches! We’ve taken steps to correct that.

Setting that aside, this search term is ambiguous in any case.

Does this person want information about alcohol-associated diseases? Using that more specific search term generates a much more relevant list of results.

Perhaps instead, the intent was to find articles about alcoholism as a disease. Putting that phrase inside quotation marks and using it as a query delivers 29 articles pertinent to that topic.

Search: “alcoholism as disease”

Mary Ann was pretty tired today.  While I managed to get her up, dressed, to the table for pills and breakfast in time to get to her Tuesday morning group, she did not feel up to it.  She had said when I got her up that she didn’t think she would go today, but I thought after waking up fully and being ready to go in time to get there she might change her mind.

She did act pretty tired after she got up and ended up taking a major nap beginning in late morning.  She probably would not have been able to stay alert for the entire length of the group meeting had she gone to it.

After getting up, she ate lunch and we headed out for a bit.  I needed some coffee. After picking up the coffee, I offered to take her and she accepted going to Dairy Queen to use our buy one, get one free coupon for Blizzards.

It was late enough in the afternoon that she ended up changing into her PJ’s and heading to bed very early.  The Blizzard will have to serve as supper.  I suspect there will be some snacking once or twice during the night.

At noon today, I attended a live Seminar on the computer.  They are called Webinars.  The Neurologist was both a clinician and a researcher in Movement Disorders.  This Webinar concentrated on the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s.

The motor symptoms are what people see, stiffness, tremors, shuffling gait, falling, speech problems, problems with swallowing, dyskinetic movements (wavy rather than shakey) caused by the medication.  Then there are many more symptoms that are not visible, that, in fact, have in the past been ignored even by physicians who did not recognize them as part of the Parkinson’s Disease.

It was interesting to hear the list of non-motor symptoms.  It was the story of our last twenty-two years (twenty-three in March).  Long before diagnosis came the first of the sensory symptoms, the loss of Mary Ann’s sense of smell (and taste).  At pretty much the same time the Rapid Eye Movement sleep disorder began, acting out dreams vocally and physically.  While not diagnosed, what sounds very much like sleep apnea also began.  Then came the pain in her left shoulder, going down her arm, the odd feeling in her left hand.

The presenter talked about the fact that in the vast majority of cases, the symptoms begin on one side.  Mary Ann’s symptoms were classic.  As the disease was diagnosed and progressed, early on, the bladder problems and constipation joined the party of symptoms.

Later in the disease process, cognitive issues have arisen, the tip-of-the-tongue frustration as words get lost just before emerging from the mouth (who among us doesn’t share that one). The Orthostatic Hypotension (fainting when erect due to low blood pressure) has come on board with a vengeance.  Hallucinations have also joined the other non-motor symptoms.

Mary Ann’s expression of Parkinson’s includes almost every one of the fifteen or so items listed as possible non-motor symptoms.  Again, they are the ones that are hidden from view.  The presenter pointed to a misconception about Parkinson’s: If she/he looks good, she/he must be doing well — not necessarily so!

One of the benefits of writing this blog, is that I get the chance to describe what is actually going on away from public view as we deal with this disease and its offspring.  When folks ask how Mary Ann is doing, I usually respond with something fairly non-committal, realizing that there is neither time nor interest in the gory details.  Actually, I have the benefit of a cluster of folks who have been in our home with Mary Ann, who understand the behind-the-scenes of what we are experiencing here.  I can share pretty openly with them.  They seem genuinely interested and they know what I am talking about.

There were two areas of disagreement with the presenter today.  She is obviously far more intelligent and knowledgable about Parkinson’s than I am.  Again, she is both a Medical Doctor and a Researcher in Parkinson’s.

She said that in all cases, a change in symptoms that comes on suddenly, in days or a few weeks, cannot be due to a progression in the Parkinson’s Disease.  It only moves very slowly, never quickly.  Her point is well made.  If something changes noticeably, get to the doctor to see what is causing it. Don’t just assume it is the Parkinson’s.  On the other side of it, having lived with Parkinson’s for almost twenty-three years, I am convinced that there are various times when the disease process passes a certain threshold that makes symptoms apparent, symptoms that were not at the same level days or weeks before.  They appear as rapid changes.

My analogy for that is the speech of a toddler.  When words first come, they are indescribably cute, coming one at a time, sometimes at surprising moments.  There is a time of a paucity of speech, just a word here and a word there.  Then all of a sudden, words start getting put together into intelligible streams, short sentences, soon becoming an endless torrent of speech.  It seems to happen so fast, when the process actually has been going on for months in that little mind.  The full speech just bursts out when finally a certain threshold is crossed.

It seems to me that over the years, that is how this disease has progressed, in fits and starts, pleasingly slowly at some times and frighteningly quickly at other times.

The other area of some disagreement was concerning the likelihood of the Parkinson’s leading to dementia.  The presenter seemed to say that the onset of any sort of dementia was just coincidental, not part of the Parkinson’s.  She said it was less likely in the early onset Parkinson’s than in those who were diagnosed later in life.  I had understood the opposite to be so.  Those whose primary symptom, especially at the beginning was tremors, have no more likelihood than anyone else to have dementia later.  At least I read or heard that somewhere.  I cannot guarantee that it is true.  Those whose primary symptom at least at the beginning was bradykinesia, slowness of movement, as was Mary Ann’s, are more likely to have dementia later on.  Again, that is what I have read and/or heard, whether true or not.

The presenter did not seem to be completely conversant with Parkinson’s Disease Dementia, the Dementia with Lewy bodies that can emerge later in the disease.  In fairness, her not mentioning it may have been more a function of the time available in the Webinar than any lack of knowledge.  Her credentials and focus on Parkinson’s and the research she is doing makes clear that she knows whereof she speaks.  I should not presume to question anything that she said.

All in all, the webinar was well done and interesting.  Since I agreed with 98% of what she said, she must have known what she is talking about!  Okay, I know my limitations.  It is just that after so long focusing so much attention on this Disease, watching it progress little by little, following its fluctuations from such an intimate vantage point, it is easy to feel like an expert on it.  The truth is, I am an expert only on one expression of the disease, Mary Ann’s version of Parkinson’s.  On that issue, I will defer to no one, doctor or otherwise.

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

By invitation of the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in Bethesda, MD, Dr. Arthur Fan (Fan Ying) recently lectured more than 20 medical doctors and clinical fellows on current progress, scientific studies, and clinical effectiveness evaluation in the treatment of movement disorders, especially Parkinson’s Disease, with acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

As part of his Jan. 29, 2007 lecture on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) main campus, Dr. Fan showed videos demonstrating the beneficial effects of TCM on Meige’s syndrome (a dystonia) and Huntington’s disease, in addition to Parkinson’s. After the lecture, Dr. Fan answered questions regarding the placement of acupuncture needles in the body and scalp, the differences between manual and electric acupuncture, and the safety of using traditional Chinese herbology in neurological patients.

“In the treatment of movement disorders, which often diminish patients’ quality of life and are difficult to heal with Western medicine, TCM may dramatically improve patients’ lives by decreasing clinical symptoms in some cases,” says Dr. Fan. “For example, after acupuncture, the stiffness and shaking of extremities caused by Parkinson’s will often stop for many days. Also, TCM, including herbology and acupuncture, can improve patients’ sleeping and stabilize their emotions.”

Dr. Fan holds the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) certificate in Oriental Medicine, which comprises Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology and Asian Bodywork. This little-held certificate reflects his expertise in the use of Chinese herbs and therapeutic massage, as well as acupuncture, in the authentic practice of Chinese medicine.

Dr. Fan’s clinical practice is continually enhanced by his evidence-based research in TCM. In China he conducted research in his medical specialty areas under grants from the Chinese Nature Science Foundation. In the United States he has been an active scientific researcher in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) under federal National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. For the University of Maryland medical school, Dr. Fan is currently a consultant for the scientific study of TCM.

As an internationally noted TCM research scholar, he is also a CAM reviewing expert for several well-known medical publication houses including Elsevier and World Scientific. The recipient of several important awards from the Chinese government, Dr. Fan has been the subject of coverage by the international news agency Reuters Health.

//  

www.ChineseMedicineDoctor.us

We are very grateful to all the volunteers who came to Pacific Spirit Park on Sunday to help in our extended search for Pierre. Despite the terrible weather, they covered all trails in the park as well as the waterfront from Spanish Banks to Trail 7. Volunteers looked for Pierre, spoke with walkers and joggers and placed posters where they could.

Paula feels strongly that a thorough search of the Downtown Eastside is important. Therefore, we are looking for two volunteers to coordinate this effort.

If you can help run the search or are willing to participate, please contact us at: volunteers@findpierre.com (include your availability over the next week and particularly on the weekend).

A search plan (time/date) and next steps will be determined. More information to follow.

Sincerely,
Andrea (andrea@findpierre.com) and Sean (sean@findpierre.com)

> Sunday November 15th, Global BC News (Video) – Paula spoke publicly for the first time yesterday afternoon at Spanish Banks

“Pierre, if you are listening, I want you to know that the boys and I will never give up hope and will continue to look for you until you are home with us.  I love you will all my heart, you have been my life partner for over half my life and I intend to spend the other half of my life with you.

To the people of Vancouver, I ask, please continue to keep an eye out for Pierre.  A poster is available at http://findpierre.com. Please print and post it in your neighbourhoods and if you see Pierre, please stay with him and call 911.

On behalf of myself and the boys and our families, thank you to everyone who is participating in the search efforts to find our Pierre.  We sincerely appreciate all of your support.” -Paula

Folks, a quick update for our efforts tomorrow.

Despite the foul weather (at least it isn’t supposed to snow), we are still meeting tomorrow at 9:00am at Pacific Spirit Regional Park Office on 16th Avenue (500m west of Blanca on north side of road). There are 2 important changes to our search plan tomorrow:

• We will not be performing a detailed grid-pattern search as we did in Stanley Park. First, we don’t believe that this is a primary location for him to be found but we do wish to ensure a methodical search has taken place here. Secondly, the entire Pacific Spirit Regional parks area is essentially a protected conservation area and in order to reduce/eliminate any damage to the plants and animals – we are going to limit our search to only the trails. This will dramatically reduce the time that it will take to adequately cover this region.
• Given the first change, we will therefore be redirecting many volunteers back towards the city to the Vancouver Eastside communities to continue canvassing, putting up the missing poster in high-visibility locations and searching parks.

Since we won’t know exactly how many volunteers we have until we perform a headcount in the morning—we ask that everyone still plan to gather at the meeting point so that we can organize the groups, assign team leaders and then distribute the kits (maps, posters, contact numbers, etc.)

Additionally, I have contacted many of the Team Leaders from the search effort on Wednesday in Stanley Park to request your assistance once more. If I have contacted you today, or if you wish to participate as a Team Leader, please come to the meeting location at 8:30am.

Best Regards, Sean (sean@findpierre.com)

PS. In case you don’t normally see the evening news (as I often don’t) here are the links to some TV coverage.

• CBC News Vancouver (segment runs: 9:04-11:12 min)
• CTV News at Six (segment runs: 16:02-16:40 min)
• GLOBAL BC (individual segment aired)

Dear Friends, Family and Volunteers,

First, let me say once again how grateful Paula and her family are to all the volunteers who are helping search for and spread the word about Pierre.

Here are the plans for today (Friday), Saturday and Sunday. Please forward this on to your contacts or those you believe can join the cause, in whatever way that they can.

Today (Friday) & Tomorrow (Saturday) – November 13-14, 2009:

We are asking that the general search today and tomorrow cover:

Additionally, we request that private property and restricted areas be respected or avoided unless express permission is given. The authorities typically have the channels to enlist the appropriate personnel accordingly. We do not want anyone breaking the law or putting themselves in harms way to assist with the canvassing and search. We want everyone to return home safely to their homes and loved ones at the end of each day.

If you need printed posters, they can be picked up after 11:00AM from 1275 W. 6th Ave (the Inspiration/BoConcept Furniture building – ask 2nd floor Receptionist for posters). PDF can also be downloaded here.

Sunday, November 15, 2009:

After the exhaustive search of nearly every square foot of the approximately 1,000 acres of Stanley Park on Wednesday, we believe that there is another large parks area that needs to be covered in the same methodical manner. Our next big goal is a comprehensive grid formation search of Pacific Spirit Park (aka the Endowment Lands) adjacent to the University of British Columbia, which will cover an additional roughly 1900 acres of parks. We are planning to get started at 9am. We initially felt that due to the urgency we would organize this for Saturday, but the inbound inclement weather (-3C with light flurries) might deter some that would like to assist albeit on a day of worship.

Please note the following important information:

We’ll provide the leadership of the effort, maps of the area, a photo of Pierre, and organize the teams. Additionally, volunteers may provide us with their email addresses so that we can keep them informed and place them on this email distribution list.

REMINDER: If you see Pierre, or recall seeing him anytime since Sunday at 5:00PM – we ask that you call 9-1-1.

Sincerely,

Andrea Wadman (andrea@findpierre.com) and Sean Gocher (sean@findpierre.com)

My dearest friends,

I wanted to thank you personally for all your help, love and support yesterday. I was sorry to not be able to physically join the search but I did see the footage of the turnout yesterday at Prospect Point and was incredible touched by the turnout. While it was very emotional to see the vast number of people that came out, it gave me a great deal of comfort during these hard times to know that Pierre is so loved by his friends and that he has touched even those that he has never even met. His spirit transcends no matter where he is.

For those of you who believe in prayer, please continue to pray that Pierre be found.

All my love,

Paula

Dear Friends and Family of Pierre and Paula,

Many, many thanks and much appreciation to all of you who spent the day in Stanley Park looking for Pierre. His family is so extremely grateful to each of you for your diligence and hard work. Although we didn’t find Pierre, you all made a vital contribution to our efforts and by being there you showed your love and concern for Pierre and his family. They feel that support and it is very important to them.

I am attaching a pdf of the missing person poster we were using today.  Please print and distribute it.  Posting it at work places, community centres, libraries, coffee shops and any other locations you see fit will be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Gratefully,

Andrea

1: Missing Persons Poster

Dear Friends and Family,

As you may have already heard personally or on the news, Pierre Parkinson is missing. Pierre is the wonderful father of two young boys, an incredible husband and an amazing friend.

We are organizing an open grid search at Stanley Park tomorrow Wednesday November 11th at 9am. Please meet at Prospect Point Cafe at 9am sharp so we can assess the number of volunteers. Please forward this to anyone that might be willing to help. Stanley Park is huge so the more searchers the better. We will be organizing everyone into groups of approximately ten to search different zones of the park.

Please note the following important information:

• When: Wednesday November 11th
• Time: 9 am sharp
• Location: Prospect Point Cafe in Stanley Park
  • Large covered area outside of the cafe
• Clothing: wear warm, waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear
• Bring: cell phone, flashlight, walking stick or ski pole, food & water (for yourself)

We’ll provide maps of the area, a photo of Pierre, and organize the teams.

We appreciate your help and your friends/family’s help with this important search!

Paula