SABRI

The South African Brain Research Institute
Annual Report for 2003/2004

SABRI’s pioneering work on substance abuse reaches many more underprivileged South Africans


SABRI’s International collaborations continue and expand


SABRI’s work with nitrous oxide forms the basis of a project funded by the French Government’s CNRS


SABRI’s role in medical education expands

South African Brain Research Institute

Incorporated association not for gain
Reg No 82/000063/08
Fund Raising No. 011-356 NPO
Wedge Gardens
Cnr Modderfontein and Wordsworth Roads
Edenvale 1610
Gauteng , South Africa
P O Box 1315
Highlands North 2037
Johannesburg
South Africa
Telephone (011) 786-2912/13
Fax (011) 786-1766 E-mail: mag@ iafrica.com
Website http://os2.iafrica.com/sabri/

SABRI'S INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS

Despite funding obstacles SABRI’s seminal scientific work has given rise to two projects overseas in Europe and North America .

1. Professor Bernard Roques, a laureate of the Grand Prize by the French Medical Research Foundation (for 2001), has obtained funding from He and his colleagues are currently working on a project funded by the CNRS (Centre Nationale de le Reserche Scientifique) and Air Liquide. This project is based on SABRI’s pioneering research on molecular brain mechanisms underlying pain and substance abuse. This project began in May 2001. The results of these experiments in animal models seem to have confirmed SABRI’s earlier findings in human subjects. We await the French developments with much interest.
   
2. Professor George Rebec, Head of the Neural Science Program at Indiana University has committed considerable time to plan further work in collaboration with SABRI. One grant proposal is almost complete and should be submitted next year and another is in the pipeline. As reported previously he was able to confirm in an animal model the anti-craving effects of psychotropic analgesic nitrous oxide (PAN) on alcoholic craving, discovered at SABRI in humans (in the 1980’s). Professor Rebec has been working on an animal model. A collaborative project has been underway, since January 1998, between Professor Rebec’s group and SABRI. This group recently confirmed in rats the strong anti craving properties of PAN first demonstrated in man by SABRI in the 1980’s.
   
3. A second edition of a book on PAN sedation was published in 2003 ( Clark , M & Brunick, A. Handbook of Nitrous oxide and oxygen sedation, Mosby, St Louis ). The first edition, published in 1999, was a best seller and is used a a standard text on the subject in the U.S.A. and elsewhere in the world. The first edition had numerous references on the work that has been undertaken by SABRI investigators over the years. The executive Director of SABRI was asked to assist in the preparation of the new edition. SABRI is proud to be associated with the new edition.
   

SOUTH AFRICAN PROGRESS

There have been a number of important and exciting developments on the local front.

-As our donors are aware the PAN therapy pioneered and researched by SABRI has been officially accepted since January 1992 and listed by SAMA (S.A. Medical Association) and the medi­cal aid movement (BHF) as a recognised standard treatment for addictive withdrawal states (tariff codes 0203/0204). The gas therapy has been used successfully in more than 50,000 patients world-wide. Since 1990 when it was introduced to Finland , it has been used in other countries including Germany and U.S.A.

When PAN is used the majority of patients can be treated on an out-patient basis. It has another advantage, patients that do not respond within a few minutes of the treatment, a small minority, require intensive in-patient therapy. Thus the therapy is a unique screening test which divides the vast majority that respond rapidly and positively from those requiring more intensive therapy. Thus, the majority of patients receiving it do not need to be absent from work and can continue contributing to the economy, while receiving out-patient treatment. On the other hand, the small minority that do not respond can be hospitalised and receive more intensive therapy. For these reasons the PAN therapy is much more economical than the patented expensive and addictive sedative drug therapies, as well as eliminating costly and often unnecessary bed occupations, saving public health services millions of Rands .

Although the PAN therapy is being used in a number of centres in South Africa , there has been particular interest in the Eastern Cape .

1. SANCA Port Elizabeth has been successfully using the PAN therapy for almost 15 years. Under the outstanding leadership of Ms Heidi Pryer, appointed as the Director of PE SANCA 2 years ago, this centre has become a leading force for the treatment and prevention of substance abuse in the Eastern Cape . As a result, SABRI and SANCA PE are working on collaborative research projects. In order to facilitate this research a human ethics committee has been established to ensure that all research is carried out with the highest ethical standards. Since Ms Pryer’s appointment, the Executive Director of SABRI has visited PE on 3 occasions. On two of these visits he had the honour to be keynote speaker at SANCA PE Societies Annual General meetings. SANCA PE are already planning to start a PAN treatment centre in Uitenhage.
2. SANCA East London, largely as a result of the success at Port Elizabeth , opened a treatment centre using the PAN therapy in October 2003 in their newly refurbished headquarters in East London . The executive travelled to East London and trained further nursing sisters to use PAN for substance abuse withdrawal states and craving. One of these nurses will run the facility in East London . Collaborative research between SABRI and East London is also planned.
   

SABRI’s other research work continues, including investigations on the underlying mechanisms of addiction and craving, the hyperalgesic opioid system (which could lead to almost ideal pain killing drugs, without the side effects of morphine). The new biological principle of gaseous neurotransmission, which may be at the crux of the most basic of life’s functions i.e. respiration, continues to broaden man’s understanding of the wonders of life. The principle of gaseous neurotransmission, a method by which chemical messages are passed from nerve to nerve is probably the most important scientific discovery by SABRI investigators. This, because discovering a new biological principle is regarded by most scientist as one of the ‘Holy Grails’ of science. This breakthrough was confirmed in numerous prestigious scientific journals including Nature and Science.

SABRI'S ROLE IN MEDICAL EDUCATION

For many years now, SABRI has been training health professionals in the use of the PAN therapy. At first only at the Rand Aid Alcoholic Facility near Johannesburg , where the therapy was discovered and pioneered. However, more recently the demand has been increasing and the Executive Director has been travelling throughout South Africa training nurses and doctors in the technique. Many of these training courses have been recognised for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, which enables health professionals to retain their registration with the Health Professionals Council. This vital function of SABRI is likely to expand as more and more health professionals begin to utilise the therapy. Thus SABRI is gaining increasing recognition as a training resource, both in South Africa and abroad. SABRI has trained more than 100 health professionals.

IN MEMORIAM

It is with sadness that we report the death of a SABRI founding Director, Mrs R. Deats. Mrs Deats had been on the SABRI's Board since its founding, 21 years ago. Her interest, support and valued counsel will be sorely missed. The Board and staff of SABRI wish her family sin­cere condolences.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Rand Aid Association’s, assistance has been invaluable, particularly through Mr Leon Gavhalas, the director. Numerous other individuals have provided assistance and valuable exper­tise, including Ms Heidi Pryer and Mrs Nadine Harker from SANCA PE . For want of space many others who have provided invaluable assistance are unfortunately not named. Mr Eddie Maduna who has acted with distinction in many roles at SABRI and more particularly as Administrative Head must be mentioned. Of course, without the generous and contin­ued support of our prestigious corporate and individual sponsors, our vital work would not have been possible. We thank everyone who has assisted.

Dr Mark A Gillman
Executive Director