General

General terms are available that encompass commonly used terms for patients newly diagnosed. ulnar nerve

General Terms

stem cells

Cells that can differentiate into many different cell types when subjected to the right biochemical signals. Stem cells are a promising new therapeutic approach to treating CNS disorder. The most versatile stem cells, called pluripotent stem cells, are present in the first days after an egg is fertilized by sperm.

stem cell transplant

Transplantation of stem cells from various sources has provided improvement in animal spinal neurodegenerative disease models such as stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson's and spinal cord injury. Human trials are promising, but not complete.

spinal muscular atrophy

A hereditary neurological disease in which only the lower motor nerve cells are affected.

spinal cord

Part of the central nervous system extending from the base of the skull through the vertebrae of the spinal column. It is continuous with the brain stem, and like the brain it is encased in a triple sheath of membranes. Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves arise from the sides of the spinal cord.

somatostatin

A chemical necessary for communication between nerve cells.

SOD assay

Bob Brown at Massachusetts General Hospital is completing this project. The SOD assay uses the mutant SOD gene and a series of drugs that are presented to the SOD cells that attempt to prevent the cells' death. He has screened approximately 400 drugs and has had 14 hits thus far. This assay testing is still in progress.

SOD

See superoxide dismutase.

serotonin

An important neurochemical whose effects upon the human brain include mood elevation. Production of serotonin in the brain is increased by ingestion of the amino acid tryptophan (a chemical precursor to serotonin) and the pharmaceutical anti-depressant Prozac (trademarked product of Eli Lilly & Company).

RNA

A long-chain, usually single-stranded. The primary function of RNA is protein synthesis within a cell. However, RNA is involved in various ways in the processes of expression and repression of hereditary information.

Rilutek

The only FDA-approved drug available to treat ALS. It inhibits glutamate release, and prolongs life approximately three months. Riluzole is the generic name of Rilutek.

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