FW: No-surgery liposuction

first the promising news on Acomplia, now this:

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A therapy originally developed to inhibit tumor growth may one day
help those who are trying to slim down. During an experiment at the
University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, researchers injected
obese mice with a new compound that kills blood-vessel cells. The
lucky critters (who had been snacking on high-fat goodies for months)
miraculously shrunk back to their slender, normal weight after just a
month of injections, with no unpleasant side effects.

Researchers say that this non-surgical type of liposuction starves fat
cells by destroying the blood vessels that feed them. Once the cells'
blood supply is cut off, the fat tissue rapidly breaks down and melts
away.

"Unlike many other experimental fat-fighting drugs that prevent new
fat from forming, this drug targets existing fat-storing tissue", says
Mikhail Kolonin, PhD, who conducted the study. Though the treatment
is nowhere near ready for human trials, researchers plan to test it in
monkeys next, hoping that one day it will help people who are obese.

--- Caroline Bollinger, Nov. 2004 issue of Prevention Magazine

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Certainly, there are some unanswered questions in this article (like
how this drug would "know" to target only the blood vessels that feed
fat-tissue, and not any other blood vessels), but I thought it would
be of interest to the NG.

On 16 Nov 2004 14:24:25 -0800, (John G.) wrote:

first the promising news on Acomplia, now this:

Acomplia is associated with ectopic pregnancy and depression. One
reported case of multiple sclerosis. The MS case is significant
because cannabinoids reduce inflammation in the CNS. Acomplia is a
cannabinoid inhibitor and increases CNS inflammation. Cannabinoid
agonists are in development for MS treatment.

A therapy originally developed to inhibit tumor growth may one day
help those who are trying to slim down.

This is in the rat stage. Most angiogensis inhibitors (drugs that
reduce the formation of blood vessels) have severe side effects
because they aren't specific enough to the targeted tissue. We have
blood vessels everywhere, and there are places where you don't want
their growth inhibited.. So the same drug that may suppress your tumor
(or your fat), could also cause you to have a heart attack. Current
angiogenesis cancer drugs carry this risk.

The MD Anderson compound described is a little more promising because
it is specific to fat. But outside of other possible side effects, no
one knows if the compound would work on human subjects

I wrote review articles on both of the above a couple of months ago.

FWIW,

Barbara Hirsch, Publisher
OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS
The latest in obesity research and weight loss drug development
http://www.obesity-news.com/

On 16 Nov 2004 14:24:25 -0800, (John G.) wrote:

first the promising news on Acomplia, now this:

Acomplia is associated with ectopic pregnancy and depression. One
reported case of multiple sclerosis. The MS case is significant
because cannabinoids reduce inflammation in the CNS. Acomplia is a
cannabinoid inhibitor and increases CNS inflammation. Cannabinoid
agonists are in development for MS treatment.

A therapy originally developed to inhibit tumor growth may one day
help those who are trying to slim down.

This is in the rat stage. Most angiogensis inhibitors (drugs that
reduce the formation of blood vessels) have severe side effects
because they aren't specific enough to the targeted tissue. We have
blood vessels everywhere, and there are places where you don't want
their growth inhibited.. So the same drug that may suppress your tumor
(or your fat), could also cause you to have a heart attack. Current
angiogenesis cancer drugs carry this risk.

The MD Anderson compound described is a little more promising because
it is specific to fat. But outside of other possible side effects, no
one knows if the compound would work on human subjects

I wrote review articles on both of the above a couple of months ago.

FWIW,

Barbara Hirsch, Publisher
OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS
The latest in obesity research and weight loss drug development
http://www.obesity-news.com/