Posted on 12/14/2006 1:19:20 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Pakistani boy leads scientists to pain discovery
By Patricia Reaney
Wed Dec 13, 1:25 PM ET
A young Pakistani street performer and members of three related families have enabled scientists to make a genetic breakthrough that could lead to more effective painkillers.
During his short life, the unnamed boy never felt pain. He was a local celebrity in northern Pakistan where he astonished crowds by plunging knives through his arms and walking on burning coals. He died on his 14th birthday after jumping from a roof.
By studying his case, and other individuals from families in the same clan, researchers have discovered that they all had a rare inherited genetic mutation that stopped them feeling pain.
"All six affected individuals had never felt any pain, at any time, in any part of their body," said Dr Geoffrey Woods, of the University of Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR) in England.
The mutation Woods and his collaborators in Britain and Pakistan have discovered is on a gene called SCN9A. It stops a sodium channel, which produces nerve impulses that convey pain signals to the brain, from functioning. So the otherwise healthy individuals do not experience pain.
Woods, who reported the discovery in the journal Nature, said drugs that block the function of the channel "have the potential to produce new and potentially safer analgesia."
The drug company Pfizer Inc. already has a new pain relief product in preclinical development based on the genetic discovery.
OUCH!
Although it hurts, pain is a useful sensation because it warns people of danger and injury or if something is too hot or too cold. It also has a survival benefit because when people begin to feel pain they change their behavior to avoid it.
Even as babies, none of the individuals with the genetic mutation felt pain. Their appearance, hearing and vision were normal but all had injuries to their lips or tongue caused by biting themselves when they were babies or toddlers. Two had painless scalds as young children.
Dr John Wood, of University College London and a co-author of the study, said the discovery is potentially as important as the identification of morphine and opiate receptors two decades ago which improved understanding about how drugs work and led to the discovery of chemicals in the body that control pain.
"The discovery is really striking. No other single gene deletion has such a dramatic effect on pain perception without other deleterious consequences," Wood said in an interview.
"So this is a major new insight and I think it has the potential for a completely new class of painkilling drugs."
Ping!
So in other words if Hellary was their Senator they would not suffer torture. Amazing!
This is a band-aid on a cancer.
The possible side effects of this gene may outweigh the benefits.
Headline:
Gene breakthrough has no effect on gravity, say researchers.
Man, I hope this pans out! My wife is a,...uh, is in constant pain........
Why on earth would you say that?!?......
But at least he wasn't in pain when he died.
He just went into a peaceful sleep.
pain is a bad deal- so many people suffer incredible pain-= hope they can come up with something- http://sacredscoop.com
Good control exhibited there. You've been trained well. :-)
As per what, exactly?......
Wife trained.
meant to be humorous as I interpreted your post.
Well India has this neighbour thats a big pain in the neck. Can they do something about it?
Look for a sibling of a boy who jumped off the roof.:-)
I would love a good non-opioid pain killer. I deal with chronic pain from two rear-end auto accidents. I get through most my day just dealing with the pain. However I general end up taking a 7.5/200 Vicoprofen every day sometime in combo with a Tramadol, the Tramadol alone will not cover the pain. I stay on the schedule 3 narcotics, because they are a lot less problem for my doctor because of the stupid war on drugs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.