My MS Log

Posts Tagged ‘multiple sclerosis symptoms’

The battle over how fast and how much to put into the controversial treatment of Multiple Sclerosis is heating up.  Suffers of this terrible disease are  banding together and joining the fight.  There are demanding and rightfully so more research and quicker answers from the MS Society.

 MSRC Comments On Stanford University Reportedly Halting CCSVI …

Medical News Today (press release)
Researchers at Stanford University have halted treatments for chronic
cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) due to two serious adverse
events which may ...
<http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181717.php>

Clinical effect of neutralizing antibodies to interferon beta that persist long after cessation of therapy for multiple sclerosis

Interferon beta (IFNb) is a first-line treatment for people with MS. However, increasing evidence suggests that the presence of neutralising antibodies during treatment is associated with a reduction in treatment efficacy. The authors of this study found that anti-IFNb neutralising antibodies could persist after treatment cessation and were associated with higher disease activity and poorer clinical outcome. Arch Neurol. 2010 Feb 8

http://www.mssociety.ca/en/research/medmmo_20100303.htm

MRI of the corpus callosum in multiple sclerosis: association with disability

The corpus callosum is one of the most important white matter tracts in the brain and forms the major connection between the two cerebral hemispheres, being involved in the performance of complex tasks. The corpus callosum is one of the regions of the brain affected in MS, but its study by conventional MRI techniques has not been satisfactory. The authors found that abnormalities in the corpus callosum can be assessed with new quantitative MRI techniques and are associated with cognitive and complex upper-extremity dysfunction in MS. Mult Scler. 2010 Feb;16(2):166-77

http://www.mssociety.ca/en/research/medmmo_20100303_corpus.htm

Genome-wide Association Study in a High-Risk Isolate for Multiple Sclerosis Reveals Associated Variants in STAT3 Gene

MS is a complex disease of unknown cause where both genes and environment seem to have a role in its pathogenesis. The authors have investigated the impact that some specific genetic variants - recently linked to MS - have on the risk of MS, in an extensive group of people with MS and healthy controls in Finland. They found a specific genetic variant which had a protective role in MS. Interestingly this gene was found to have been previously associated to another autoimmune disease, suggesting a significant role of this gene in immune system and autoimmune disease pathogenesis. Am J Hum Genet. 2010 Feb 12;86(2):285-291.

 http://www.mssociety.ca/en/research/medmmo_20100303_STAT3.htm

 IRM du corps calleux chez le patient atteint de sclérose en plaques : association avec le degré d’incapacité

Le corps calleux est l’un des plus importants faisceaux de substance blanche du cerveau, il constitue la principale voie de communication entre les deux hémisphères cérébraux et joue un rôle dans l’exécution des tâches complexes. Le corps calleux est l’une des régions du cerveau touchées par la sclérose en plaques (SP), mais les résultats de l’exploration de cette structure anatomique au moyen des techniques d’imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM) traditionnelles ne sont pas satisfaisants. Les auteurs ont découvert que les anomalies du corps calleux peuvent être évaluées grâce aux nouvelles techniques d’IRM quantitative et qu’elles sont associées à une dysfonction cognitive et à un dysfonctionnement complexe des membres supérieurs chez les patients atteints de SP. Mult Scler. 2010 Feb;16(2):166-77

 http://www.mssociety.ca/fr/recherche/medmmo_20100303_corpus.htm

Results of Phase II "CHOICE" Study Published, Showing that Daclizumab Reduced Disease Activity in Relapsing MS, and Revealing Novel Immune Mechanism

230 people with relapsing MS taking interferon beta and having disease activity were administered one of two doses of daclizumab (Biogen Idec and Facet Biotech Corp.) or placebo - show that the higher dose reduced disease activity on MRI scans by 72% and the lower dose by 25%. Immune analyses show that this reduction was associated with a dramatic increase in CD56bright NK cells - an unexpected finding. Daclizumab is a laboratory-created monoclonal antibody that blocks the activity of interleukin-2 receptor-alpha, a key immune activator in MS. The drug is approved for use in organ transplant rejection. The Lancet Neurology, Early Online Publication, 16 February 2010

http://www.mssociety.ca/en/research/medmmo_20100304.htm

Les résultats de la phase II de l’étude CHOICE indiquent une réduction de l’activité de la maladie sous l’effet du daclizumab chez des patients atteints d’une forme rémittente de SP, en plus de révéler un mécanisme immunitaire jamais observé auparavant

Au cours de cet essai clinique, 230 personnes atteintes d’une forme rémittente de SP, traitées par l’interféron bêta et présentant des signes d’activité de la maladie ont reçu soit l’une ou l’autre des deux doses de daclizumab (Biogen Idec et Facet Biotech Corp.) à l’étude, soit un placebo. Les clichés IRM réalisés dans le cadre de cet essai ont permis de constater que la plus forte des deux doses avait permis une réduction de l’activité de la maladie de 72 %, alors que la plus faible dose avait réduit cette activité de 25 %. Aussi, les analyses portant sur la réaction immunitaire ont révélé que cette réduction était associée à une augmentation importante du nombre de cellules tueuses naturelles CD56 de forte expression (dites CD56bright), ce qui constitue une observation inattendue. Le daclizumab est un anticorps monoclonal synthétisé en laboratoire dont l’action consiste à bloquer l’activité du récepteur alpha de l’interleukine-2 (IL-2), considéré comme un activateur clé de la réponse immunitaire dans la SP. L’utilisation de ce médicament a déjà été approuvée pour prévenir le rejet de greffes. The Lancet Neurology, version électronique publiée le 16 février 2010

http://www.mssociety.ca/fr/recherche/medmmo_20100303.htm

 The Durham Region Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is currently recruiting for a Chair Person. The Chapter Chair is a member of the chapter executive team and is responsible for presiding at all meetings, oversees the general affairs of the Chapter and ensure all orders of the Board of Directors are carried out. Candidates should be members of the CCFC (or willing to obtain membership), have basic knowledge of board functions, excellent organizational skills, a sense of responsibility and bondable. To apply for this position and obtain further information, contact Debbie at (905) 683-0388 or by email at ms.durham@bellnet.ca