• •

OWIFORTABLE.

Professor Michal Schwartz.

"lower" animals, such as fish, can
repair damaged fibers in the central
nervous system — the spinal cord
and the brain — and restore lost
function. In contrast, mammals,
including humans, can only repair
injuries to the peripheral nerves,
while injuries to the brain or spine
leave them permanently paralyzed or
otherwise handicapped.
The new approach is based on
Schwartz's theory that the loss of this
repair ability occurred in the course
of evolution due to a unique rela-
tionship between the central nervous
and the immune systems. More
specifically, Schwartz believes this
loss was probably dictated by the
need to protect the mammalian brain
from the effects of the immune sys-
tem. While immune cells normally
help to heal damaged tissue, she says,
their access to the brain would dis-
rupt the complex and dynamic neu-
ronal networks that build up during
an individual's lifetime.
Generally, when tissue damage
occurs, immune cells known as
macrophages swarm to the injured
site where they remove damaged cells
and release substances that promote
healing. The central nervous system
of mammals is different in this
egard:-When damaged, it is not
effectively assisted by the immune
system.
Schwartz's team discovered that
this is because the mammalian cen-
tral nervous system has a mechanism
that suppresses the macrophages. As
a result, macrophages are recruited to
central nervous system injuries at a
lower rate, and those that are recruit-
d fail to become optimally "activat-
ed" and effective.
Yeda Research & Development
Co. Ltd., the Weizmann Institute's
technology transfer arm, has submit-
ted patent applications for the new
treatment. 11]

WITH A VERY
CARING STAFF.

Beautiful
Nursing Home.
Quiet Setting,
Overlooking Two
Beautiful Lakes.

THE BEST KEPT SECRET
IN OAKLAND COUNTY.

Medicare & Medicaid Approved

Bortz Health Care on Green Lake

6470 Alden Drive • Orchard Lake

248-363-4121

Please call to mange for our complimentary
limousine to drive you to our elegant
mansion for your personal tour.

Get Results... Advertise in our new Entertainment Section!

Call The Sales Department (248) 354-7123 Ext. 209

7/3
1998

109