ADVANCE/Gene Therapy & New Medications Will Soon Help Restore Lost Hearing: Noted Otolaryngologist.Lifestyle and Medical Editors ADVANCE...for release 6:00 p.m. July 6 (ADVANCE) PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 6, 2000 Gene therapy and new medications will soon help restore lost hearing, predicts a noted otolaryngologist from the University of Rochester The University of Rochester (UR) is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian research university located in Rochester, New York. The university is one of 62 elected members of the Association of American Universities. (NY) School of Medicine and Dentistry dentistry, treatment and care of the teeth and associated oral structures. Dentistry is mainly concerned with tooth decay, disease of the supporting structures, such as the gums, and faulty positioning of the teeth. . Robert Frisina, Jr., Ph.D., associate chairman of otolaryngology, states in the current (July/August) issue of Reader's Digest Reader's Digest U.S.-based monthly magazine. Founded by DeWitt and Lila Wallace, it was first published in 1922 as a digest of articles of topical interest and entertainment value condensed from other periodicals. New Choices, "In the future, we'll have gene therapy that will stimulate the growth of both hair cells Hair cells Sensory receptors in the inner ear that transform sound vibrations into messages that travel to the brain. Mentioned in: Cochlear Implants in the ears and cells in the brain related to hearing. Although I won't say how far down the road that is, it's only years away." Loud noises can kill the delicate nerve endings in the inner ear called hair cells, notes the article. "The message from the ear to the brain gets distorted when you lose these hair cells," says Frisina. "In addition, as you grow older, normal changes occur in the network of nerves in the brain that process sound. Not only do some cells die, but certain brain chemicals diminish with age." Frisina and his colleagues have studied substances called calcium regulators. He explains, "We've shown that changes in enzymes or proteins that regulate calcium in the parts of the brain used for hearing can lead to a calcium buildup build·up also build-up n. 1. The act or process of amassing or increasing: a military buildup; a buildup of tension during the strike. 2. , which can then kill these brain cells." The calcium you eat does not lead to a buildup in these cells, Frisina stresses in New Choices. "Rather, the systems that control buildup inside the nerve cells become disrupted." He believes researchers will eventually develop medications that will restore these depleted de·plete tr.v. de·plet·ed, de·plet·ing, de·pletes To decrease the fullness of; use up or empty out. [Latin d calcium regulators. |
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