first time that hair cells can be regenerated in an adult mammalian ear by using a drug

I have exciting news :

Researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School have demonstrated for the first time that hair cells can be regenerated in an adult mammalian ear by using a drug to stimulate resident cells to become new hair cells, resulting in partial recovery of hearing in mouse ears damaged by noise trauma. This finding, reported in the Jan. 10 issue of Neuron, holds great potential for future therapeutic application that may someday reverse deafness in humans.

In the experiment, the researchers applied a drug to the cochlea of deaf mice. The drug had been selected for its ability to generate hair cells when added to stem cells isolated from the ear. It acted by inhibiting an enzyme called gamma-secretase that activates a number of cellular pathways. The drug applied to the cochlea inhibited a signal generated by a protein called Notch on the surface of cells that surround hair cells. These supporting cells turned into new hair cells upon treatment with the drug. Replacing hair cells improved hearing in the mice, and the improved hearing could be traced to the areas in which supporting cells had become new hair cells. “The missing hair cells had been replaced by new hair cells after the drug treatment,” Edge said, “and analysis of their location allowed us to correlate the improvement in hearing to the areas where the hair cells were replaced.”
This is the first demonstration of hair cell regeneration in an adult mammal. “We’re excited about these results because they are a step forward in the biology of regeneration and prove that mammalian hair cells have the capacity to regenerate,” Edge said. “With more research, we think that regeneration of hair cells opens the door to potential therapeutic applications in deafness.” :

See :
http://hms.harvard.edu/news/hearing-restored-after-noise-damage-1-9-13

Sep 2012 news on human stem cells restore hearing loss in animals

Dear all

Some updates on using human stem cell for treatment of hearing loss, caused by damage to the nerve line connecting the cochlea to the brain.


"...Stem cells have been differentiated into auditory nerve cells before, but this is the first time that transplanted cells have successfully restored hearing in animals..."


http://www.nature.com/news/human-embryonic-stem-cells-restore-gerbil-hearing-1.11402

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/sep/12/deaf-gerbils-hearing-stem-cell-injections

http://healthland.time.com/2012/09/13/scientists-restore-hearing-in-animals-using-human-stem-cells/

Using Teeth To Help Restore Hearing Loss

I sure can use my teeth for my hearing loss.

Quote ".. Leaving the audiologist's office, she says she almost cried when she heard a sound on her right—high heels clicking on the sidewalk—for the first time in 10 years..." Un-quote.

Sure sound like me..)

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/07/10/using-teeth-to-help-restore-hearing-loss/#ixzz2EBeTPyqd

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/07/10/using-teeth-to-help-restore-hearing-loss/

Gene Therapy trial for blindness now and for Hearing tomorrow ?

hi people

How are you today / tonight ?

Well I wish to share good news . Gene therapy has moved into human trials for blindness. I read at least three gene delivery vehicles are being tested.

It means somehow the scientists are able to overcome some really big obstacles, like how to prevent cancer tumours from forming & how to prevent our own immune system from attacking the invaders, both the vehicles and the healing agents they carry.

A day will come when the vehicles can carry the hair cells generating Atoh1 gene into our inner ear and filled our cochlea with functioning hair cells again !

See
http://www.blindness.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3111:usher-syndrome-gene-therapy-study-begins-in-oregon&catid=67:usher-syndrome&Itemid=123

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2012

hi all

This 2011 has been come back very fast and will be gone in a couple of weeks.

There is some dark clouds gathering in the likes of the euro troubles. I think it could get quite challenging and more people will feel stressed out and perhaps got the sudden hearing loss I have 2 years ago on 4 Jan 2010.

Stress is the No.1 leading cause of all the dreaded illnesses that befall humans.

So let's cheer up!

I have here my favourite Christmas song :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbb3skLR0Bo&feature=player_embedded

Challenges for finding a cure

This is a great article:

http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/articles/haircellchallenge.htm

Test of sudden hearing loss

Just come across this article. Wish I have read it when I got my Sudden Hearing Loss :


http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/articles/medicalemergency.htm