Pitt professor's gene therapy trial holds promise for Parkinson's patients

Dr. Mark Richardson performs an MRI-guided brain surgery that uses techniques similar to those that will be used to infuse the experimental gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease.

BY BEN SCHMITT  | Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, 9:00 p.m.

How Parkinson's gene therapy works: 

• Surgeons make one small hole in each side of a patient's skull and use MRI to insert a thin tube into the brain with pinpoint precision. 

• Surgeons deliver a gene known as AADC through this tube, carried by a harmless virus, into the brain. 

• The gene is designed to increase production of an enzyme that helps convert the levodopa drug into dopamine. 

• After infusing the genes, doctors remove the tube and repair the skull. 

Richardson and other researchers are looking for Parkinson's patients between ages 40 and 70 who have been on levodopa for at least three years to participate in the trial. 

The symptoms crept up on Cecilia Alsina as she entered her early 30s: slurred speech, loss of muscle control and excruciating forearm muscle spasms in the middle of the night. 

Tasks like cutting a piece of meat or buttoning a shirt became drawn-out chores. Her handwriting mysteriously shrank to half its size. 

When a doctor uttered the words “Parkinson's disease,” Alsina was six months pregnant and living with her husband in Rochester, N.Y. 

“I definitely had more of a sense of frustration than fear,” she recalled in a telephone interview with the Tribune-Review. “It's hard because your mind is not really affected, particularly in young-onset patients with an active life. Sometimes, you want to do things, and you just can't.” 

She joyously delivered a healthy baby boy, Marc, in 1991, but her Parkinson's symptoms continued to worsen. 

Alsina started experiencing tremendous cramps in her feet that struck unexpectedly when her medications started to wear off. She would drop to her knees until they passed. 

“My feet would twist and turn in such a way that made it impossible to walk,” she said. “It was really difficult to predict when it would happen.” 

A series of events that began with a friend spotting a newspaper article connected Alsina, now 60, to UPMC's Dr. Mark Richardson in Pittsburgh. On April 19, 2014, Richardson, assistant professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, operated on Alsina by implanting thin wires, or electrodes, deep into her brain. He connected the wires to a tiny circuit-like device implanted in her skin below the collarbone. The procedure is known as deep brain stimulation, or DBS. 

The surgery changed Alsina's life and piqued her interest in Richardson's latest venture in the fight against Parkinson's: He's leading a clinical trial to determine if gene therapy can permanently curb tremors, stiffness, mobility impairment and other debilitating symptoms associated with the disease. Richardson is conducting the research along with experts from the University of California at San Francisco on 20 study participants. 

Alsina and the estimated 7 million to 10 million people worldwide who have Parkinson's disease have impaired neurons in their brains that do not produce enough of a chemical known as dopamine. The lack of dopamine causes movement disorders associated with Parkinson's. 

Many patients, like Alsina, take a drug called levodopa as a way to replace dopamine and stave off tremors and other symptoms. But the drug eventually loses effectiveness, and high doses cause other unwanted side effects. 

Before her surgery, Alsina took levodopa every two hours just to get by. But the pills came with side effects: She could not sit still, and her head involuntarily moved constantly. 

“Cecilia's symptoms were like a roller coaster throughout the day,” Richardson said. “Her motor fluctuations were up and down, up and down.” 

The deep brain stimulation, a common therapy to treat Parkinson's, calmed everything. The electrical pulse generator under her collarbone sends signals to her brain to control abnormal movements. It allowed doctors to cut her levodopa dosage by two-thirds. 

“Five minutes after the doctors turned on the device, I was walking around the office without any problems,” she said. “It was very emotional. I was speechless. It was awesome.” 

Still, the device only cancels out abnormal brain activity when turned on. Richardson's hope is that the gene therapy ultimately replaces DBS by making permanent changes in the brain that would wipe out her symptoms completely. 

“I think there's a good chance that, in the next decade, gene therapy will be a viable treatment option for Parkinson's,” he said. 

Alsina is well-aware that the clinical trial could take years. 

“The new work he is doing is going to eventually solve Parkinson's,” she said. “I truly believe that.” 

Cecilia Alsina  

Ben Schmitt is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-320-7991 or bschmitt@tribweb.com.

http://triblive.com/news/healthnews/10039028-74/parkinson-gene-therapy

Parkinson’s Researcher Awarded $50,000 to Develop At-home System for Monitoring Movement Disability

 FEBRUARY 29, 2016 Daniela Semedo,
PhDBY DANIELA SEMEDO,

The Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute(CTSI) at Penn State awarded $50,000 to Harriet Nembhard, a professor of industrial engineering and director of the Penn State Center for Integrated Healthcare Delivery Systems, for new research involving the remote treatment and monitoring of people with Parkinson’s disease.

Professor Nembhard, who is heading a one-year project titled “Precision Health for Parkinson’s Disease: Advancing Translation with Medical Devices and Technology,” notes that Parkinson’s disease is costly both physically and financially, as it requires long-term treatment.  She and her team are working on ways of monitoring movement disorders so that clinicians can quickly detect signs of deterioration in Parkinson’s patients.

“If we are successful in this effort, it would be a tremendous asset in the arsenal to protect Parkinson’s patients against falls and support the ability of patients to remain living in their own home,” Professor Nembhard said in a news release.

Previously, Nembhard and colleagues developed a sensor-based monitoring system (PASS), and observed that gait abnormalities can be detected with the use of non-wearable sensors so as to allow clinicians to evaluate their patients’ adherence to medication and therapy protocols.

In the new project, the team will work to translate PASS technology into a functional tele-health system to remotely treat and monitor disease status and progression.

“The project will enhance the collaboration of engineers and medical professionals and will also engage industry experts — such as emergency medical responders — and health care professionals — such as physical therapists — as advisers at every phase of the treatment,” Professor Nembhard said.

In the U.S, estimates indicate that the direct and indirect cost of Parkinson’s disease, which includes treatment, Social Security support, and lost work income, is around $25 billion each year. “This research is an example of precision health and precision delivery. Organizations that can adapt these tools into their workflow may see both patient and financial benefits,” she said.

Nembhard’s proposal was one of the seven selected for the CTSI’s Bridges to Translation Pilot Project Funding, a program designed to fund groundbreaking research.

http://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2016/02/29/nembhard-receives-funding-to-lead-parkinsons-disease-research/

GENETIC LINK TO PARKINSON'S DISEASE IS BEST HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IN RARE DISEASE

Collaboration Announced Between Researchers at University of California Irvine and Population Diagnostics, Inc. at Rare Disease Event in Southern California

 02/29/16 

The Spooner Girls Foundation, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, (UCI) and Population Diagnostics, Inc. (PDx) announced today a collaborative research initiative focused on the NUBPL gene at the Spooner family's annual fundraising event in Irvine. Thanks to breakthroughs in genetic testing, the Spooners learned that their two daughters have a mitochondrial disorder called Complex I Deficiency, an extremely rare disease caused by mutations in the NUBPL gene. The family's decision to go public with their efforts to help their daughters and other patients diagnosed with this rare disease has led to a groundbreaking collaboration between researchers at UCI and PDx.

PDx's proprietary gene discovery platform has revealed an NUBPL mutation that is believed to be linked to Parkinson's disease. Current data indicates that two NUBPL mutations need to be present in order to cause Complex I Deficiency, while the presence of only one NUBPL mutation may increase the risk for development of Parkinson's disease.

FIRST IMAGE PLACEHOLDER

"Our discovery of NUBPL mutations in a subset of Parkinson's disease patients is a great example of how a rare disease -- Complex I Deficiency -- intersects with a common disease," said Peggy Eis, PhD, co-founder, chief technology officer, PDx. "This gene-based link provides an opportunity to accelerate research required for precision medicine. In our current worldwide initiative, we are collecting data on a larger number of Parkinson's patients to determine how many have mutations in the NUBPL gene similar to those that affect the Spooners."

"We are seeking funding to determine how the mutated NUBPL gene results in mitochondrial defects and to find novel treatments that correct the defects," said Virginia Kimonis, MD, MRCP, a UC Irvine School of Medicine professor who specializes in genetics and metabolism. "The new discovery that NUBPL mutations may be associated with Parkinson's paves the way for new avenues of research and treatments."

The research findings, and their implication for discovering new treatments for Parkinson's, were shared by Dr. Eis and Dr. Kimonis at the Spooner Girls Foundation event, "Especially Beautiful: A Rare Fashion Event," in conjunction with World Rare Disease Day. The fundraising event hosted at Axis Research & Technologies also featured a fashion show with special needs children and teens afflicted with rare diseases serving as models. For more information about World Rare Disease Day visit www.rarediseaseday.org.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
 

Currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $4.8 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.

ABOUT POPULATION DIAGNOSTICS,INC.


Population Diagnostics, Inc. (PDx) is a privately held gene discovery company pioneering the discovery of the genetic causes of disease and predictive drug response. PDx applies its proprietary core competency in gene discovery to unravel the complexity of the human genome for the purpose of revealing novel biomarkers that define disease sub-types that are currently elusive within the ethnically diverse patient populations across the globe. Built on extensive intellectual property, the PDx patented platform is empowering pharmaceutical companies (Rx) to develop targeted therapies and companion diagnostics (CDx) faster and more cost effectively by delivering best-in-class medically actionable data for precision medicine.

Addressing critical health concerns, PDx's platform is currently in clinical studies and strategic discovery alliances to solve complex diseases such as Autism, Peanut Allergy, Endometriosis, neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's, and rare diseases such as PML (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy). PDx is also engaged in finding protective (healthy) genetic variations such as those that extend human longevity. For more information about PDx visit www.populationdiagnostics.com.

ABOUT THE SPOONER GIRLS FOUNDATION


The Spooner Girls Foundation funds research toward treatments and a cure for Mitochondrial Complex I Deficiency. Rick and Cristy Spooner spent 14 years searching for a diagnosis for their daughters Calyn and Ryann's unexplained physical challenges until UC Irvine researcher Dr. Virginia Kimonis diagnosed their rare genetic condition. Fewer than 20 individuals have been diagnosed with this deficiency which causes cognitive delays and challenges with motor control. The documentary, "The Life We Live" tells the inspiring story of the Spooner family and their journey of hope, perseverance & scientific discovery. For more information visit www.spoonergirls.com.

Contact: 
Regina Reynolds

Population Diagnostics

Veriscomm

(323) 929-9938

rreynolds@veriscommunications.com

Kim Sherman

Echo Media Group

(714) 573-0899 ext. 222

kim@echomediapr.com

http://health.einnews.com/pr_news/314138235/genetic-link-to-parkinson-s-disease-is-best-hope-for-the-future-in-rare-disease

Living Cell: Parkinson's clinical trial results due in 2017

 Monday, 29 February 2016

By Fiona Rotherham

Feb. 29 (BusinessDesk) - Australasian biotech company Living Cell Technologies says it will know the outcome of a make or break clinical trial on its regenerative cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease in the first quarter of next year.

If the trial succeeds, LCT’s lead product NTCELL will be the world’s first disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s as existing treatments only deal with the symptoms rather than stopping degeneration of the brain.

The operations of the Australian-incorporated company are based in New Zealand, where it has just launched a Phase 11b clinical trial in Auckland, the last step in securing provisional consent to sell the product to patients with Parkinson’s disease next year.

A total of 18 patients under 65 years old will take part in the trial to be run at Auckland Hospital and Mercy Ascot Hospital with the company having to wait 26 weeks after the last patient is implanted to know whether it has been successful in meeting regulator Medsafe’s conditions on quality, safety, and efficacy.

LCT chief executive Ken Taylor wouldn’t reveal the trial’s cost as it could vary. He’s confident, though, a recent A$2.8 million private placement to high net worth investors including Stephen Tindall, Gary Lane, and Julian Robertson means the company has sufficient funds to foot the bill.

The company was founded in 1999 by Bob Elliott and David Collinson to develop a regenerative cell therapy that involves transplanting cells from Auckland Island pigs into humans. The initial target was type 1 diabetes, which is now being pursued by a joint venture company in the US, while LCT focuses initially on Parkinson’s before considering other central nervous system indications such as Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and motor neurone disease.

LCT has already done some work with the University of Auckland’s Centre for Brain Research on which should be its next step, with Huntington’s looking the most likely. It can’t afford to progress trials of other indicators until the outcome of the Parkinson’s clinical trial is known.

The company has just reported a 40 percent reduction in first-half losses, mainly due to accounting changes to losses in its joint venture company, Diatranz Otsuka Ltd.

The net loss for the six months ending Dec.31 narrowed to A$1.4 million after its half share in DOL was equity-accounted to zero so no future losses will be reported in the statement of profit or loss, the ASX-listed company said. Its share of the joint venture losses during the period was A$70,000, compared to A$1.3 million a year earlier.

Revenue of A$365,545 for the first half of the current financial year was dominated by A$245,244 in research and development grants and was down 53 percent on a year earlier due to reduced income from services that it is no longer providing to the joint venture since it shifted research and development from New Zealand to the US. LCT has a three-year grant from Callaghan Innovation to meet 20 percent of its R&D costs.

The joint venture is developing DIABECELL, a treatment for diabetes, and the costs of research and development and gaining Food & Drug Administration approvals in the US are being borne by its other 50 percent shareholder, Japanese-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory. OPF will pay up to A$15 million for licensing rights in the US and Japan as development milestones are met while the JV company holds the rights for the rest of the world.

“The diabetes programme is longer and harder and requires more funding so it's appropriate that’s done in the US,” Taylor said.

During the half LCT forked out a total A$580,000 for the pathogen-free pig herd and manufacturing plant and equipment from the joint venture in order to secure supply of NTCELL for the Auckland clinical trial and beyond. Additional staff have also been recruited.

The company had A$3.6 million cash on hand at balance date but has since boosted working capital from the proceeds of the private share placement and also hopes a Share Purchase Plan open to existing investors until Mar. 11 will reap around A$1 million, the amount raised in an SPP last year. 

Taylor said that will give the biotech company sufficient funds to last another year.

He said LCT was ahead of competitors in bringing cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases to the market.

LCT’s share price is currently languishing around 5 Australian cents.

(BusinessDesk receives funding from Callaghan Innovation to assist coverage of the commercialisation of innovation)

http://health.einnews.com/article/314049516/RjBM3k-GMpIStZaF

A New Exercise therapy for Parkinson’s disease

Feb. 27, 2016

Argentine tango, tai chi and Pilates are activities you’d expect to find on offer in adult education classes, but emerging research shows these and other exercise therapies may also provide a range of benefits for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Exercise therapy is emerging as a new and exciting area of treatment for Parkinson’s, not only because it can lead to significant improvements in symptoms, but also because it has minimal side effects and comes with a whole lot of additional health benefits.

While it is still early days for research on exercise therapy, says Associate Professor Susan Fox, professor of neurology at the University of Toronto, the evidence is mounting.

“People are recognising that it’s good that these patients are moving and exercising,” says Fox. She says evidence suggests exercise can help improve some of the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s – such as tremor or rigidity – in a similar way to adding in a new drug.

“You’re getting equivalent benefit without the side effects, plus all the other added benefits of exercise,” says Fox. “It’s cheap, easy therapy.”

The role of dopamine

Parkinson’s disease currently affects around one in 350 Australians, and 1 per cent of people over the age of 60 will be diagnosed with the disease.

It’s a degenerative neurological condition caused by the loss of cells that produce dopamine deep inside the brain. Dopamine is message-carrying chemical (or neurotransmitter) that is associated with movement. The loss of these cells, and the resulting depletion of dopamine, leads to a range of motor symptoms, including tremor, rigidity, slowed movement and gait difficulties.

In addition, people with Parkinson’s experience other symptoms, such as depression, sleep problems, lethargy and sometimes dementia, not all of these symptoms seem to be related to dopamine depletion.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but treatments can reduce the severity of symptoms. Most Parkinson’s treatments have focused on trying to boost dopamine levels in the brain using medications. While these have been very effective in managing motor symptoms of the disease, they have significant side effects and their effectiveness reduces over time.

“[But] there’s now some preclinical evidence that when patients move and exercise that it releases dopamine within the brain, so there’s some biological evidence that it may actually have a positive symptomatic effect,” Fox says.

What types of exercise

The big question is what kind of exercise is best.

At a recent Parkinson’s disease conference in Sydney, researchers presented data on everything from tango to tai chi, and how these many and varied forms of exercise therapy can reduce symptoms of the disease.

Associate Professor Colleen Canning and colleagues recently presented at the conference on findings from a study that used exercise therapy to reduce the risk of falls in people with Parkinson’s disease. Falls are a particular problem in Parkinson’s disease, resulting from poor balance and symptoms such as ‘freezing’ – a sudden, temporary inability to move.

“The approach we took was to target three risk factors that exercise could potentially improve, that is, loss of muscle strength, poor balance and freezing of gait,” says Canning, team leader for Parkinson’s disease research in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney.

The largely home-based exercise program consisted of just 40 to 60 minutes of exercises, including balance, stepping and strengthening exercises, three times a week for six months.

The program was particularly effective among people with less severe disease, leading to a 69 per cent reduction in the risk of falls.

“Our results suggest that this particular program has the potential to be quite an effective method of reducing falls in people with lower disease severity,” says Canning. “This is an important finding because that’s the group that often doesn’t get offered exercise, because they don’t have major motor difficulties early on.”

Dance therapy

Dance is one form of exercise attracting interest. A 2009 review concluded that dance appeared to meet many, if not all, of the recommended components for exercise programs specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s disease.

“The benefits of dance include improved balance and gait function as well as improved quality of life,” wrote the review’s author. “Most studies of dance for PD have included primarily individuals with mild to moderate PD [and] while benefits can be obtained with a short, intensive dance intervention, longer interventions may prove to be more effective.”

For example, Argentinian researchers found that a ‘Dance Therapy Program’ involving Argentine Tango did lead to improvements in some Parkinson’s symptoms. Equally importantly, the discovery that their bodies were still able to tango gave many people with Parkinson’s a valuable psychological boost, so the program had a high compliance rate.

Another approach combines exercise with music to help people with Parkinson’s overcome issues such as freezing and shuffling.

The AmbuloSono system, developed by researchers from the University of Calgary, uses music as an incentive to encourage people with Parkinson’s disease to not only take longer steps but to walk faster and further.

The system uses iPod motion sensors to measure stride length and distance walked, and ties to a music program that only switches on above a certain stride length. The device is housed in a pouch strapped above the knee and connected wirelessly to headphones.

“It uses music as a reward, so you have to walk larger steps in order to trigger the music to play and when your step size becomes smaller, the music stops,” says AmbuloSono inventor Professor Bin Hu from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.

The results from a pilot study of 42 participants are promising. Researchers found that over nearly a year, participants stride length increased 10 to 30 per cent and their walking speed increased 10 to 20 per cent over long distances. Furthermore, participants of the study improved in other areas, showing a reduction in fear and anxiety associated with tasks such as using an escalator, and were less likely to avoid physical activity during periods of depression or apathy.

Fox says exercise therapy has been one of the fastest growing areas of Parkinson’s research in the last 12 months, and the results are starting to trickle into clinical practice. While researchers are still exploring questions such as what types of exercise and when, Fox has no qualms about recommending it for her patients.

“I think at the moment, current clinical practice is that we just encourage it at all stages [of the disease] but it certainly would make sense for patients to be starting at a much much earlier stage,” she says.

She encourages all her patients to do a minimum of 30 minutes each day, and it doesn’t really matter what they do, as long as they do it.

“The important thing is to do it regularly so don’t take up something brand new that you’re going to do once and then abandon,” says Fox. “I always say ‘do what you enjoy doing and you’ll continue to do it’

source

http://daysinhealth.info/?s=Parkinson%27s+disease

Young Parkinson's sufferer says tattoos have helped him live with the crippling disease

•  28 FEB 2016
• BY RUHUBIA AKBOR

Shaun Slicker was only 20-years-old when he first began to experience his first symptoms - but it was not until three years later that doctors eventually told him that he had the devastating condition

Shaun Slicker

A dad who was one of the youngest people in the UK to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s has told how getting three quarters of his body covered in tattoos has helped him live with the crippling disease.

Shaun Slicker was only 20-years-old when he first began to experience his first symptoms.

But it was not until three years later that doctors eventually told him that he had the devastating condition.

Shaun, now 30, said: “It started with a tremor in my left foot. I used to play rugby and thought it was a trapped nerve and I was finding it hard to walk.

“My podiatrist referred me to a neurologist and after years of being passed from pillar to post I was eventually diagnosed in 2009.

“At first, it was a relief because it could have been something much worse. It wasn’t a death sentence for me and I knew it was something I could live with.”

The father-of-three has a family history of the condition so knew what to expect.

And in 2011, his sister Kirstie was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s aged 29.

Shaun Slicker was one of the youngest in the UK to be diagnosed with Parkinson's

Shaun, who is father to Casey, seven, Leland, six, and Kenadee, five, said: “I’m doing better now than I thought I would be when I was first diagnosed.

“When I first went to Parkinson’s meetings I was surrounded by elderly people and I thought ‘Is this what I’ve got to look forward to?’

“But Parkinson’s has changed me for the better.

“It’s made me grow up a lot more.”

And Shaun, of Shaw, Oldham , has found his own way to come to terms and cope with his condition – with the help of tattoos. 

He suffers from mobility problems and the side-effects of the strong drugs he takes for the illness, but Shaun says the one thing that makes him feel better is a new tattoo.

His body is now 75 per cent covered and he uses his inks to raise awareness of the condition.

He has been featured in an American tattoo magazine and used his tattoos to raise funds for various Parkinson’s charities over the past 10 years.

Shaun said: “I wasn’t on medication for 18 months and couldn’t walk. The tattoos cheered me up and got me out of that depression. Most of my body is covered now and they gave me peace of mind.

“I finally went back on medication for my well-being and had to have months of physio to learn to walk again.

“Now I’m putting my tattoos to good use for raising money and awareness of the disease,” he said.

http://health.einnews.com/article/313983377/_LjcJx1Z34QxoGVy

Father Jack actor Frank Kelly dies aged 77

Feb. 28, 2016

The Irish actor who played Father Jack in the Father Ted comedy series has died.

Frank Kelly, 77, was the feisty parody of a drunken priest whose role lampooning Catholicism helped make the series a massive hit at home and abroad.

He spent 60 years on screen and stage but revealed last November that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and died exactly 18 years after his Father Ted co-star Dermot Morgan. 

Ardal O'Hanlon, the surviving actor who played the third of the trio of hapless clergymen, said: " Frank was an all-round talent, an institution in Irish entertainment, a very determined professional and he'll be greatly missed by all who knew him." 

As well as appearing on the Channel 4 sitcom, he had more recent roles in Emmerdale and Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie. 

But he is best known for playing the irreverent and foul-mouthed priest Father Jack Hackett. Father Ted writer Graham Linehan tweeted: "Terribly sad news. Thanks for everything." 

Morgan's son Don tweeted about the coincidence of the date of his co-star's death."Isn't life just weird? Frank Kelly going on Dad's anniversary."

The programme about three priests and their housekeeper living on the fictional Craggy Island, somewhere off Ireland's west coast, attracted huge audiences in Ireland, Britain and abroad.

It aired over three series between 1995 and 1998 and won a string of Bafta awards.

Father Jack was an alcoholic and at times violent clergyman who made no attempt to mask his contempt for his fellow priests.

One of his defining quotes was "Drink! Feck! Arse! Girls!"

Father Ted Crilly (Dermot Morgan), Father Dougal McGuire (Ardal O'Hanlon) and Mrs Doyle (Pauline McLynn) were shown to be generally tolerant of his drunken antics.

In a recent interview with the Irish Times about Father Ted, Kelly said: "One of my stand-out memories was filming the consecration of the Holy Stone of Clonrichert up on the Cliffs of Moher, which was shot in the middle of a blizzard, with very high winds.

"I was the one nearest the edge and I nearly went over. It's the nearest I ever came to meeting my maker while working."

The actor beat bowel cancer in 2011 and underwent procedures to remove two small skin cancers in 2014. 

Irish president Michael D Higgins said it was with great sadness that he learnt of the death of Kelly, "the distinguished actor who made such a wide and valued contribution both on the stage and in film".

"He will for ever be remembered for his roles in the theatre and will be recalled with great affection and fondness for his roles on television, including in Wanderly Wagon, Glenroe and the much-loved Hall's Pictorial Weekly.

"His partnership with Dermot Morgan and the team in the Father Ted series brought him wide international acclaim.

"To his wife Bairbre and his family I send deepest sympathy; for theirs is the greatest loss of such a great and loving person.

"Sabina and I were privileged to have him as a friend."

http://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk/news/national/14307744.Father_Jack_actor_Frank_Kelly_dies_aged_77/

Wallace: WT offers free help with voice disorders

February 27, 2016

By Ann Wallace

Ann Wallace

Film and screen actor Michael J. Fox has helped increase the awareness of Parkinson’s disease through his foundation, but did you know that Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the country?

Approximately one million people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the United States, and 7-10 million worldwide.

Many are aware of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease — tremors, difficulty walking and problems with balance — but did you know that talking and swallowing also are affected? As many as 89 percent of patients with Parkinson’s disease have voice disorders, and as many as 95 percent have problems with swallowing.

Another defining characteristic of a person with Parkinson’s disease is a decline in vocal loudness. This affects a person’s ability to communicate at work, at home, in social settings and in all areas requiring communication.

Learning to speak louder has proven to increase intelligibility of speech of a person with Parkinson’s disease.

Fortunately, there is good news for those with Parkinson’s disease who have problems with voice or swallowing.

A new program called SPEAK OUT!® has been developed by the Parkinson Voice Project (www.Parkinson

VoiceProject.org). This program is based on the teaching of Dr. Daniel R. Boone, a speech-language pathologist, who discovered in the 1950s that people with Parkinson’s disease could produce a stronger and clearer voice if they spoke with “intent.”

The goal of SPEAK OUT! is to preserve and improve the voices of those with Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders by strengthening the muscles used for speaking and swallowing, and to teach patients how to speak with intent and deliberation.

Participation in the SPEAK OUT! program also has been reported to improve swallowing performance.

West Texas A&M University now offers the SPEAK OUT! program through WTAMU Speech and Hearing Clinic. If you or a loved one suffers from Parkinson’s disease or if people ask you to repeat, if your voice sounds hoarse, scratchy or breathy, if your family says you speak too softly, if you clear your throat often, if your voice is strong on some days and weak on others or if you cough when you eat or drink, you might be a candidate for SPEAK OUT!

We believe every voice deserves to be heard, and are offering the SPEAK OUT! program free of charge. Participating in SPEAK OUT! has improved the lives of many people living with Parkinson’s disease. Call the WT Speech and Hearing Clinic at 806-651-5100 so your voice will be heard.

Ann Wallace is a communication disorders instructor at West Texas A&M University.

http://amarillo.com/opinion/opinion-columnist/guest-columnist/2016-02-27/wallace-wt-offers-free-help-voice-disorders

SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program by Parkinson Voice Project