Re: Re: Rember

[Guest guest]

This is fascinating.  Thank you for posting this.  Do you think it is possible

to get this stuff prescribed?

Helene

 

 

Subject: Re: Rember

To: LBDcaregivers

Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 3:15 PM

The focus of the previous two posts was the tau-busting drug Rember,

which is methylthioninium chloride (MTC). A Chicago Tribune article

from 7/29 mentions methylene blue:

" The main chemical in Rember is available now in a different

formulation in a prescription drug sometimes used since the 1930s for

chronic bladder infections - methylene blue. However, it predates the

federal Food and Drug Administration and was never fully studied for

safety and effectiveness, and not in the form used in the Alzheimer's

study, Wischik and other doctors cautioned. "

Today's post is about news last week from Children's Hospital in

Oakland; their research institute has been using methylene blue, and

has found that it " may be able to slow or even cure Alzheimer's and

Parkinson's disease. " Because the primary protein at issue in PD is

alpha-synuclein, I'm assuming that the researchers are thinking that

not only does methylene blue block tau but it must block alpha-

synuclein as well. Alpha-synuclein is the key protein in MSA and

LBD.

The study itself says nothing about these proteins; it talks about

slowing cellular aging and enhancing mitochondrial function.

As mentioned below, the brand name for methylene blue is Urolene

Blue. When I asked a neurologist about the use of methylene blue

over the weekend, he said that neurologists have no experience with

this medication and so are probably unlikely to prescribe it for

their patients.

The Oakland study was published in March '08. Perhaps it took the

news story on MTC out of Chicago to renew interest in this Oakland

study?

What follows is last Wednesday's press release from Children's

Hospital & Research Center at Oakland and the abstract of the

March '08 journal article:

http://www.eurekale rt.org/pub_ releases/ 2008-08/chr- cho081508. php

Public release date: 15-Aug-2008

Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland Press Release

Children's Hospital Oakland scientist finds potential Alzheimer's

cure in century-old drug

First study of its kind on a century-old drug could lead to new

treatment for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

August 13, 2008 – Oakland, Calif. – A new study conducted by

researchers at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland shows

that a century-old drug, methylene blue, may be able to slow or even

cure Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Used at a very low

concentration – about the equivalent of a few raindrops in four

Olympic-sized swimming pools of water - the drug slows cellular aging

and enhances mitochondrial function, potentially allowing those with

the diseases to live longer, healthier lives.

A paper on the methylene blue study, conducted by Hani Atamna, PhD,

and a his team at Children's, was published in the March 2008 issue

of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

(FASEB) Journal. Dr. Atamna's research found that methylene blue can

prevent or slow the decline of mitochondrial function, specifically

an important enzyme called complex IV. Because mitochondria are the

principal suppliers of energy to all animal and human cells, their

healthy function is critical.

" The results are very encouraging, " said Dr. Atamna. " We'd eventually

like to try to prevent the physical and cognitive decline associated

with aging, with a focus on people with Alzheimer's disease. One of

the key aspects of Alzheimer's disease is mitochondrial dysfunction,

specifically complex IV dysfunction, which methylene blue improves.

Our findings indicate that methylene blue, by enhancing mitochondrial

function, expands the mitochondrial reserve of the brain. Adequate

mitochondrial reserve is essential for preventing age-related

disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. "

Also impressed is one of Dr. Atamna's co-authors, Bruce Ames, PhD, a

senior scientist at Children's and world-renowned expert in nutrition

and aging " What we potentially have is a wonder drug. " said Dr.

Ames. " To find that such a common and inexpensive drug can be used to

increase and prolong the quality of life by treating such serious

diseases is truly exciting. "

Methylene blue, first discovered in 1891, is now used to treat

methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder. But because high concentrations

of methylene blue were known to damage the brain, no one thought to

experiment with low concentrations. Also, drugs such as methylene

blue do not easily reach the brain.

Dr. Atamna's research is the first to show that low concentrations of

the drug have the ability to slow cellular aging in cultured cells in

the laboratory and in live mice. He believes methylene blue has the

potential to become another commonplace low-cost treatment like

aspirin, prescribed as a blood thinner for people with heart

disorders.

Here's the journal article abstract: (the full article is available

for a fee, probably $25-$50....if someone buys this, please share!)

Federal of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. 2008

Mar;22(3):703- 12. Epub 2007 Oct 10.

Methylene blue delays cellular senescence and enhances key

mitochondrial biochemical pathways.

Atamna H, Nguyen A, Schultz C, Boyle K, Newberry J, Kato H, Ames BN.

Nutrition & Metabolism Center, Children's Hospital Oakland Research

Institute, 5700 Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA.

Methylene blue (MB) has been used clinically for about a century to

treat numerous ailments. We show that MB and other

diaminophenothiazin es extend the life span of human IMR90 fibroblasts

in tissue culture by >20 population doubling (PDLs). MB delays

senescence at nM levels in IMR90 by enhancing mitochondrial function.

MB increases mitochondrial complex IV by 30%, enhances cellular

oxygen consumption by 37-70%, increases heme synthesis, and reverses

premature senescence caused by H2O2 or cadmium. MB also induces phase-

2 antioxidant enzymes in hepG2 cells. Flavin-dependent enzymes are

known to use NAD(P)H to reduce MB to leucomethylene blue (MBH2),

whereas cytochrome c reoxidizes MBH2 to MB. Experiments on lysates

from rat liver mitochondria suggest the ratio MB/cytochrome c is

important for the protective actions of MB. We propose that the

cellular senescence delay caused by MB is due to cycling between MB

and MBH2 in mitochondria, which may partly explain the increase in

specific mitochondrial activities. Cycling of MB between oxidized and

reduced forms may block oxidant production by mitochondria.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are thought to be key

aberrations that lead to cellular senescence and aging. MB may be

useful to delay mitochondrial dysfunction with aging and the decrease

in complex IV in Alzheimer disease.

PubMed ID#: 17928358 (see pubmed.gov for abstract only)

> >

> > CHICAGO, July 29 -- An old drug for urinary-tract infections,

> > methylene blue (Urolene Blue), may hold the key to a therapy that

> can

> > slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease for as long as 19

months,

> > researchers here reported.

> >

> > After 24 months of treatment with 60 mg three times a day of

> > methylthioninum chloride (rember), patients with moderate

> Alzheimer's

> > disease achieved a treatment effect that " was twice the effect

seen

> > with donepezil (Aricept), " said Claude Wischik, Ph.D., of the

> > University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

> >

> > The drug called rember is a formulation of methylene blue made by

> > TauRx Therapeutics, and Dr. Wischik is founder and chairman of

> TauRx

> > Therapeutics. The drug attacks tau, which promotes tangles, as

> > opposed to amyloid plaques. ...

[Guest guest]

years ago i took this med as uro blue for urgency /fequency, it worked wel for

that but one side effect of it is it makes you pee and sometimes poo blue, now i

know if my dad started peeing blue he would try to cut 'it' off as it was

causing cancer. just like a fatty lipoma on his belly/belt line he would use his

fork and poke it till he bled, that would be a draw back that i could see for

some lbd'ers. it would depend how your loved one would react if they saw

themselves pee blue. i am glad to see some old meds are now being explored for 

more current uses as well.  hugs sharon

Subject: Re: Rember

To: LBDcaregivers

Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 7:15 PM

The focus of the previous two posts was the tau-busting drug Rember,

which is methylthioninium chloride (MTC). A Chicago Tribune article

from 7/29 mentions methylene blue:

" The main chemical in Rember is available now in a different

formulation in a prescription drug sometimes used since the 1930s for

chronic bladder infections - methylene blue. However, it predates the

federal Food and Drug Administration and was never fully studied for

safety and effectiveness, and not in the form used in the Alzheimer's

study, Wischik and other doctors cautioned. "

Today's post is about news last week from Children's Hospital in

Oakland; their research institute has been using methylene blue, and

has found that it " may be able to slow or even cure Alzheimer's and

Parkinson's disease. " Because the primary protein at issue in PD is

alpha-synuclein, I'm assuming that the researchers are thinking that

not only does methylene blue block tau but it must block alpha-

synuclein as well. Alpha-synuclein is the key protein in MSA and

LBD.

The study itself says nothing about these proteins; it talks about

slowing cellular aging and enhancing mitochondrial function.

As mentioned below, the brand name for methylene blue is Urolene

Blue. When I asked a neurologist about the use of methylene blue

over the weekend, he said that neurologists have no experience with

this medication and so are probably unlikely to prescribe it for

their patients.

The Oakland study was published in March '08. Perhaps it took the

news story on MTC out of Chicago to renew interest in this Oakland

study?

What follows is last Wednesday's press release from Children's

Hospital & Research Center at Oakland and the abstract of the

March '08 journal article:

http://www.eurekale rt.org/pub_ releases/ 2008-08/chr- cho081508. php

Public release date: 15-Aug-2008

Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland Press Release

Children's Hospital Oakland scientist finds potential Alzheimer's

cure in century-old drug

First study of its kind on a century-old drug could lead to new

treatment for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

August 13, 2008 – Oakland, Calif. – A new study conducted by

researchers at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland shows

that a century-old drug, methylene blue, may be able to slow or even

cure Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Used at a very low

concentration – about the equivalent of a few raindrops in four

Olympic-sized swimming pools of water - the drug slows cellular aging

and enhances mitochondrial function, potentially allowing those with

the diseases to live longer, healthier lives.

A paper on the methylene blue study, conducted by Hani Atamna, PhD,

and a his team at Children's, was published in the March 2008 issue

of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

(FASEB) Journal. Dr. Atamna's research found that methylene blue can

prevent or slow the decline of mitochondrial function, specifically

an important enzyme called complex IV. Because mitochondria are the

principal suppliers of energy to all animal and human cells, their

healthy function is critical.

" The results are very encouraging, " said Dr. Atamna. " We'd eventually

like to try to prevent the physical and cognitive decline associated

with aging, with a focus on people with Alzheimer's disease. One of

the key aspects of Alzheimer's disease is mitochondrial dysfunction,

specifically complex IV dysfunction, which methylene blue improves.

Our findings indicate that methylene blue, by enhancing mitochondrial

function, expands the mitochondrial reserve of the brain. Adequate

mitochondrial reserve is essential for preventing age-related

disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. "

Also impressed is one of Dr. Atamna's co-authors, Bruce Ames, PhD, a

senior scientist at Children's and world-renowned expert in nutrition

and aging " What we potentially have is a wonder drug. " said Dr.

Ames. " To find that such a common and inexpensive drug can be used to

increase and prolong the quality of life by treating such serious

diseases is truly exciting. "

Methylene blue, first discovered in 1891, is now used to treat

methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder. But because high concentrations

of methylene blue were known to damage the brain, no one thought to

experiment with low concentrations. Also, drugs such as methylene

blue do not easily reach the brain.

Dr. Atamna's research is the first to show that low concentrations of

the drug have the ability to slow cellular aging in cultured cells in

the laboratory and in live mice. He believes methylene blue has the

potential to become another commonplace low-cost treatment like

aspirin, prescribed as a blood thinner for people with heart

disorders.

Here's the journal article abstract: (the full article is available

for a fee, probably $25-$50....if someone buys this, please share!)

Federal of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. 2008

Mar;22(3):703- 12. Epub 2007 Oct 10.

Methylene blue delays cellular senescence and enhances key

mitochondrial biochemical pathways.

Atamna H, Nguyen A, Schultz C, Boyle K, Newberry J, Kato H, Ames BN.

Nutrition & Metabolism Center, Children's Hospital Oakland Research

Institute, 5700 Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA.

Methylene blue (MB) has been used clinically for about a century to

treat numerous ailments. We show that MB and other

diaminophenothiazin es extend the life span of human IMR90 fibroblasts

in tissue culture by >20 population doubling (PDLs). MB delays

senescence at nM levels in IMR90 by enhancing mitochondrial function.

MB increases mitochondrial complex IV by 30%, enhances cellular

oxygen consumption by 37-70%, increases heme synthesis, and reverses

premature senescence caused by H2O2 or cadmium. MB also induces phase-

2 antioxidant enzymes in hepG2 cells. Flavin-dependent enzymes are

known to use NAD(P)H to reduce MB to leucomethylene blue (MBH2),

whereas cytochrome c reoxidizes MBH2 to MB. Experiments on lysates

from rat liver mitochondria suggest the ratio MB/cytochrome c is

important for the protective actions of MB. We propose that the

cellular senescence delay caused by MB is due to cycling between MB

and MBH2 in mitochondria, which may partly explain the increase in

specific mitochondrial activities. Cycling of MB between oxidized and

reduced forms may block oxidant production by mitochondria.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are thought to be key

aberrations that lead to cellular senescence and aging. MB may be

useful to delay mitochondrial dysfunction with aging and the decrease

in complex IV in Alzheimer disease.

PubMed ID#: 17928358 (see pubmed.gov for abstract only)

> >

> > CHICAGO, July 29 -- An old drug for urinary-tract infections,

> > methylene blue (Urolene Blue), may hold the key to a therapy that

> can

> > slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease for as long as 19

months,

> > researchers here reported.

> >

> > After 24 months of treatment with 60 mg three times a day of

> > methylthioninum chloride (rember), patients with moderate

> Alzheimer's

> > disease achieved a treatment effect that " was twice the effect

seen

> > with donepezil (Aricept), " said Claude Wischik, Ph.D., of the

> > University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

> >

> > The drug called rember is a formulation of methylene blue made by

> > TauRx Therapeutics, and Dr. Wischik is founder and chairman of

> TauRx

> > Therapeutics. The drug attacks tau, which promotes tangles, as

> > opposed to amyloid plaques. ...