ALS - Apendix

  From “Excitotoxicity Theory” paragraph:

For neurons, prolonged exposure to glutamate causes excessive calcium ions to overload the neurons, activating enzymes that degrade the proteins membranes and nucleic acids (Dong, Wang and Qin). There are three receptors on the neuron which glutamate can exert an excitatory effect which then leads to damage to the neuron (Dong, Wang and Qin). The three receptors are N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) and kainic acid (KA). Each of these receptors when over-activated produces deleterious results for the neuron. Overloading the NMDA receptors leads to increases in excess calcium in the space between cells (known as intracellular space). This increase can lead to “mitochondrial membrane depolarization, caspase [intracellular proteins that mediate apoptosis] activation, production of toxic oxygen and nitrogen free radicals, and cellular toxicity” (Dong, Wang and Qin). Glycine binds to the NMDA receptor to facilitate the receptors functionality and the magnesium ion blocks the NMDA channel (Segala). Partial depolarization of the receptor unblocks the channel.

  From Gene Therapy section (p 20):

Part of the problem is that the technology to decode genomic secrets has not been powerful enough to speedily look at the 6 billion chemical letters, and 20,000 genes that make up the DNA double helix that resides in every cell. (Herper) This is now changing with some of the new technologies that are available. Some of the applications that are currently in use include predicting which drugs to give cancer patients. Genetic mutations in HIV patients are used to determine which drugs will not be effective. (Herper) There are around 6000 rare inherited diseases in which Familial ALS would be included. In some of these rare diseases, because of DNA testing, treatment methods have been changed as the children are diagnosed. (Herper)

  From Detoxification section (p 25):

“Neurotoxins cause damage by disrupting sodium and calcium channel receptors, attacking enzyme reactions involved in glucose production thereby disrupting energy metabolism in the cell, manufacturing renegade fatty acids as saturated very long chain, odd chain and branched chain fatty acids impairing membrane function, stimulating enzymes (PLA2) which uncouple essential fatty acids from the cell membrane and impairing the function of the nuclear receptor PPAR gamma which partially controls transcription (the conversion of instructions held in our DNA to RNA which then leads to translation or protein production in the cell).” (Foster, Kane and Speight)

  From NES Health section (p 40):

“Each cell undergoes, on average, some 100,000 chemical reactions per second – a process that repeats itself simultaneously across every cell in the body. At any given second, billions of chemical reactions of one sort or another occur. Timing must be exquisite…What is the chemical or genetic process that tell…which cell processes happen at which time?…if all these processes are due to simple chemical collision between molecules, how can it work anywhere near rapidly enough to account for the coherent behaviors that live beings exhibit every minute of their lives?” (McTaggart p45-46).

This paper is in honor of Warren Schaeffer, an exceptional
person, adventurous being and a first-class gentleman.