Stu's Views & M.S. News

Phase 3b Trial Evaluates Tysabri as MS Treatment for Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS)

2012-01-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

Biogen Idec and Elan Corporation announced a global Phase 3b study that is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Tysabri as a treatment for secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).

The Ascend study is part of an ongoing commitment of both Biogen Idec and Elan to find ways to improve the well-being of patients with multiple sclerosis. Ascend (A Study to Characterize the Efficacy of Natalizumab on Disability in SPMS) is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with SPMS patients being randomized to receive either Tysabri 300 mg or placebo intravenously every four weeks for 96 weeks. A global study, Ascend is expected to enroll approximately 850 patients in 15 countries.

Study participants will be between the ages of 18 and 58, with a diagnosis of SPMS for at least two years; an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 3.0 and 6.5, MS Severity Score of four or higher; documented, confirmed evidence of disease progression, independent of clinical relapses during the one-year prior to enrollment; and naïve to Tysabri treatment.

“The Ascend trial is investigating whether treatment with Tysabri may prevent worsening in walking, hand movement and daily functioning in these patients,” explains Aaron Miller, MD, member of the Ascend advisory board.

"One hypothesis behind the development of SPMS is that disease progression is a result of chronic inflammation in the brain tissue trapped behind the blood-brain-barrier. This causes destruction of the myelin sheath, which protects the coating around nerve fibers, as well as the progressive loss of nerve cells, which can lead to disability in MS patients,” says Richard Reynolds, professor of Cellular Neuroscience, Imperial College, London. “Preliminary data suggest that Tysabri may hinder this inflammation in the brain and reduce SPMS-related disease progression; therefore, further investigation of this hypothesis is warranted."

Release Date: Jan. 26, 2012
Source: Biogen Idec

via DDmag

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Disclaimer: 'MS Views and News' (MSVN), does not endorse any products or services found on this blog. It is up to you to seek advice from your healthcare provider. The intent of this blog is to provide information on various medical conditions, medications, treatments, and procedures for your personal knowledge and to keep you informed of current health-related issues. It is not intended to be complete or exhaustive, nor is it a substitute for the advice of your physician. Should you or your family members have any specific medical problem, seek medical care promptly.

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Nutrition for the Brain and Nervous System

2012-01-25T14:37:00.002-05:00

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, degenerative disease of the nerves in your brain and spinal column, caused through a demyelization process.

Myelin is the insulating, waxy substance around the nerves in your central nervous system.

When the myelin is damaged by an autoimmune disease or self-destructive process in your body, the function of those nerves deteriorate over time, resulting in a number of symptoms, including:

Muscle weakness
Imbalance, or loss of coordination
Astigmatism and vision loss
Tremors

MS may progress steadily, or acute attacks may be followed by a temporary remission of symptoms.

In the video above, Dr. Terry Wahls tells the inspiring story of how she reversed multiple sclerosis after seven years of deterioration on the best conventional treatments available — simply by changing her diet!

Nutrition for Your Brain and Central Nervous System

Through her research into MS, Dr. Wahls discovered that, for some unknown reason, in addition to the commonly known symptoms, MS patients’ brains also tend to shrink. This roused her curiosity, and led her to research other diseases that have similar brain shrinkage, namely Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease. One common denominator is poorly functioning mitochondria. Mitochondria are like little ‘batteries’ in your cells that manage the energy supply to the cell, and unless you consume the correct nutrients, eventual mitochondrial malfunction is the obvious result.

She discovered that three nutrients in particular are essential for proper mitochondrial function:

1. Animal-based omega-3 fat

2. Creatine

3. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) or better yet the reduced version known as Ubiquinol.

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MS industry insiders are candid in predicting significant changes and growth as novel therapies enter the market

2012-01-25T14:35:00.001-05:00

PRESS RELEASE - Jan. 24, 2012, 8:10 a.m. EST

Industry Insiders Predict Significant Changes in Multiple SclerosisAccording to a new report from Intellent, MS industry insiders are candid in predicting significant changes and growth as novel therapies enter the
market and prices of current therapies are reduced

CHICAGO, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In a new report detailing the Multiple Sclerosis landscape, industry insiders are candid in revealing specific areas of the market where more efficacious current therapies with better safety profiles are in demand. Due to the high cost of current therapies and the invasive nature of interferons, there are many unmet needs in the space. The growth of the market in the next few years is likely to increase exponentially.

The new report examines the current opinions of experts in the field concerning MS treatment options, while also reviewing potential drug treatments in Phase III clinical trials. Combining key opinion leader (KOL) input with a drug development pipeline (including key market drivers and challenges), this report provides readers with a comprehensive view of the MS therapeutic landscape.

The new report features extensive research collected first hand, with transcripts from interviews with industry thought leaders. According to several in the field, there are multiple opportunities for growth in the space as new treatments are developed: "This is an exciting time to be treating patients with multiple sclerosis; exciting in the sense that we have an increasing number of drugs. And it seems like we will probably have at least one a year for the foreseeable future..."

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Merck KGaA Gets EC Approval For Rebif Use Extension For Early Multiple Sclerosis

2012-01-25T14:32:00.000-05:00

1/25/2012 2:57 AM ET
(RTTNews) - Merck KGaA (MKGAY.PK: News) said the European Commission or EC has approved extension of the indication of Rebif, a treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis or MS. This EC approval, based on REFLEX study results, is for the use of Rebif 44 micrograms three times weekly in patients who have experienced a single demyelinating event, an early sign of the disease, and who are at high risk of converting to MS.

Annalisa Jenkins, Head of Global Drug Development and Medical at the Merck Serono division. "Multiple sclerosis has an initial stage when clinical manifestations are not pronounced but irreversible neurological damage is taking place. Throughout the European Union, neurologists will now be able to prescribe Rebif for patients with early signs of this devastating disease."

The new labelling for Rebif is valid immediately in all 27 member states of the European Union. The company still invests in discovering and developing treatment options in this area, including active life-cycle management initiatives for Merck's foundation therapy, Rebif, as well as strengthening its existing and establish new collaborations to advance research and bring innovative solutions to patients living with MS.

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Pot-based prescription drug (Sativex(R)) looks for FDA OK

2012-01-23T19:11:00.000-05:00

In this undated photo provided by GW Pharmaceuticals, a sample of the drug Sativex is shown. Sativex contains marijuanas two best known components_delta 9-THC and cannabidiol_and already has been approved in Canada, New Zealand and eight European countries for relieving muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis. (AP Photo/ GW Pharmaceuticals)

Updated: January 22, 2012 7:33PM

SAN FRANCISCO — A quarter-century after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first prescription drugs based on the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, additional medicines derived from or inspired by the cannabis plant itself could soon be making their way to pharmacy shelves, according to drug companies, small biotech firms and university scientists.

A British company, GW Pharma, is in advanced clinical trials for the world’s first pharmaceutical developed from raw marijuana instead of synthetic equivalents— a mouth spray it hopes to market in the U.S. as a treatment for cancer pain. And it hopes to see FDA approval by the end of 2013.

Sativex contains marijuana’s two best known components — delta 9-THC and cannabidiol — and already has been approved in Canada, New Zealand and eight European countries for a different usage, relieving muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis.

FDA approval would represent an important milestone in the nation’s often uneasy relationship with marijuana, which 16 states and the District of Columbia already allow residents to use legally with doctors’ recommendations. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration categorizes pot as a dangerous drug with no medical value, but the availability of a chemically similar prescription drug could increase pressure on the federal government to revisit its position and encourage other drug companies to follow in GW Pharma’s footsteps.

“There is a real disconnect between what the public seems to be demanding and what the states have pushed for and what the market is providing,” said Aron Lichtman, a Virginia Commonwealth University pharmacology professor and president of the International Cannabinoid Research Society. “It seems to me a company with a great deal of vision would say, ‘If there is this demand and need, we could develop a drug that will help people and we will make a lot of money.’”

NextGen Sciences Launches its 82 Protein Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) CNS Disease Biomarker Assay

2012-01-23T18:37:00.001-05:00

London, UK and Ann Arbor, Michigan, US (PRWEB) January 2012

NextGen Group plc (AIM:NGG) is pleased to announce that its US-subsidiary NextGen Sciences Inc, a leader in biomarker discovery, measurement and qualification, has launched an expanded cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) multiple protein (multiplex) assay, csfdiscovery82, for central nervous system (CNS) biomarker discovery and qualification.

The new assay simultaneously measures 82 human CSF proteins that are thought to have potential as biomarkers in CNS diseases, particularlyAlzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and ALS diseases.

The launch of csfdiscovery82 demonstrates the acceleration in NextGen Sciences strategy of becoming a leading player in the growing CNS biomarker market.

Read more: Click Here

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FDA approves test to screen Tysabri patients

2012-01-23T18:33:00.001-05:00

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a new diagnostic test to help identify patients who have an increased risk of developing a rare brain infection while taking Biogen Idec’s multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri. Tysabri is one of a handful of drugs used to control multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease in which the body attacks its own nervous system. Prescribing of the drug has been tightly controlled by the FDA because of a rare infection that causes inflammation of the brain.
Article source found here

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AMPYRA (R) events near you

2012-01-23T18:31:00.001-05:00

AMPYRA Events provide free educational information and support on AMPYRA. These programs are open to all people living with MS, their families and care partners.

Click here: http://ampyra.com/seminar/ to learn what AMPYRA events might be taking place near you

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The FDA has approved the first test for assessing the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients on natalizumab (Tysabri)

2012-01-20T20:14:00.001-05:00

By Kristina Fiore, Staff Writer, MedPage Today

Published: January 20, 2012

SOURCE: Medical News Today

The Stratify JCV Antibody ELISA test screens for the presence of antibodies to the JC virus, a risk factor for PML in patients with multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease who are taking the monoclonal antibody, the agency said in a statement.

Natalizumab was pulled from the U.S. market in 2005 after the first of some 200 cases of PML came to light, but it was allowed back on the marketin 2006 after the development of a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS).

Risk of PML should be calculated not only by the antibody test results, but should also be based on the length of time the patient has been on natalizumab (more than two years increases the risk) and if the patient is taking other immunosuppresants, the FDA said.

Finish reading

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Turning Basic Research into Better Patient Treatments

2012-01-20T17:09:00.001-05:00

The Myelin Repair Foundation is

Eliminating the Valley of Death

Watch our video to see how the black hole of scientific research called the Valley of Death is preventing treatments from getting into the hands of patients, and why the Myelin Repair Foundation is working around the clock to fix this.

This Video was made possible by Scott Johnson, President and Founder of the Myelin Repair Foundation and MS patient advocate

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HEADLINE NEWS: Novartis drug investigated after 11 deaths

2012-01-20T13:37:00.000-05:00

Jan 20, 2012

LONDON (AP) - A multiple sclerosis drug made by industry giant Novartis is under investigation after at least 11 patients taking the medicine died.

The drug, Gilenya, was licensed last year in the European Union to treat patients with a severe type of multiple sclerosis.

The deaths raise concerns Gilenya could trigger heart problems after patients take their first dose, according to a statement issued Friday by the European Medicines Agency. The agency, which is now investigating the drug, said it isn’t clear if it caused the deaths.

One of the deaths was in the U.S., where a patient died within 24 hours of taking the first dose.

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Forks over Knives - Could degenerative disease be controlled by what we eat

2012-01-20T12:42:00.002-05:00

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation is hosting a FREE screening of Forks over Knives in Fort Lauderdale which examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods. If you are in the Fort Lauderdale area we invite you to join us at our viewing and after party; if you are not in South Florida we encourage you to consider hosting your own screening in your community.

Please contact Nathalie Sloane at nsloane@msfocus.org
or (800) 225-6495 for more information.

Information provided for the MS Foundation by Stu's Views & MS News

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Spasticity and MS

2012-01-20T12:14:00.000-05:00

The National MS Society

and MS Learn Online invite you to view..

Spasticity and MS
and
Spasticity and MS: Management Strategies

Featuring: Drs. Stephen Krieger, Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Susan Bennett.

This two-part series captures comments from people living with multiple sclerosis and the symptom of spasticity. The program also includes perspectives from a neurologist, a nurse practitioner and a physical therapist who discuss:

What spasticity is and it's prevalence
The impact of spasticity
Can spasticity be "triggered"
Management options
The role of rehabilitation

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Having Troubles Concentrating?

2012-01-20T11:50:00.000-05:00

Having Troubles Concentrating?
While MS often introduces memory
and thinking trouble, other distractions
can steal your concentration. Top offenders.

Also See:  • MS Symptoms Explained
  • The Sleep You Need to Manage MS
  • More About MS-Related Fatigue

Information provided by webMD

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"The Treatment and Management of MS Exacerbations"

2012-01-20T11:24:00.000-05:00

A live online webinar on

Thursday, February 2, 2012
7 pm - 8 pm Eastern Standard Time

Register for this webinar
Managing the unpredictability of MS is always challenging, especially for individuals with relapsing-remitting MS. When new symptoms appear or existing symptoms become worse (known as exacerbations or flare-ups), successful management often involves accurately defining the relapse and understanding the variety of treatment options to best address the issue.

Join MS expert Dr. Ben Thrower as he offers valuable insights into understanding the signs and symptoms of an MS exacerbation, provides guidance on when to alert your neurologist, and discusses treatment options including steroids and other effective medications.
Register for this webinar by visiting the following link:support.msassociation.org/exacerbations

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The CCSVI news: International Society for NeuroVascular Disease - who are they and what they do

2012-01-20T11:19:00.000-05:00

The International Society for NeuroVascular Disease is a non-profit professional association devoted to furthering the development of research for neurovascular related diseases - including CCSVI. The society will hold annual scientific meetings and sponsor educational and scientific workshops. Target medical groups include, but are not limited to, Vascular Surgeons, Interventional Radiologists, Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Physicists, and and Technologists.

LEARN MORE

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Therapy May Reverse Multiple Sclerosis Effects due to Myelin Damage

2012-01-20T10:19:00.000-05:00

January 18, 2012 1:37 PM EST

Researchers have found a new therapeutic method that may restore damaged myelin sheaths lost during Multiple Sclerosis in a proof-of-principle study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

The animal study found that exposing old animals to circulatory systems of young animals may regenerate myelin sheaths surrounding the nerves lost during Multiple Sclerosis.

The study was carried about by researchers from Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard University, and the University of Cambridge.

"Aging impairs regenerative potential in the central nervous system," says author Amy J. Wagers, PhD.

Wagers is an associate professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard University and Joslin. She co-led the study with Professor Robin Franklin, director of the MS Society's Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair at the University of Cambridge

Researchers using a surgical technique introduced experimental demyelinating injury in the spinal cord of an old mouse, creating small areas of myelin loss, and then exposing that area to cells found in the blood of young mouse. Immune cells from the young mouse helped old mouse stem cells to restore effective remyelination of the spinal cord.

"This means that, in theory, regenerative therapies will work throughout the duration of the disease," said Franklin.

This could be particularly useful, in treating MS, according to the researcher.

"This impairment can be reversed, however, suggesting that the eventual development of cell-based or drug-based interventions that mimic the rejuvenation signals found in our study could be used therapeutically", said Franklin.

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Initiation of Phase II Clinical Trial of Trimesta™ for Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis

2012-01-20T09:46:00.000-05:00

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Adeona Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: AEN), a developer of synthetic DNA-based therapeutics and innovative disease-modifying medicines for serious illnesses, announced today the initiation of the Phase II clinical trial of Trimesta™(oral estriol) for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS). This clinical trial is intended to enroll 64 relapsing-remitting or secondary-progressive female MS patients at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and is being conducted at by Principal Investigator, Rhonda Voskuhl, M.D., Director, UCLA Multiple Sclerosis Program, Department of Neurology. There is currently no approved therapy for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in MS.

"We are very excited to initiate patient enrollment in this novel clinical trial of Trimesta in which the primary endpoint is improvement in cognition. Statistics show that 50-65 percent of patients affected by MS will develop disabilities due to a reduction in their cognitive processing speed. Despite the fact that cognitive dysfunction is a primary source of work related disability in MS, there remains no treatment to target this disability," said Dr. Voskuhl, Principal Investigator. "The goal of this trial is to address this unmet need for MS patients, potentially improving a person's mental sharpness and ability to continue working."

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trial is based on findings from a previously completed 10-patient, single-agent, crossover Phase I/II clinical trial conducted by Dr. Voskuhl and colleagues at UCLA. The results from the Phase I/II trial demonstrated a statistically significant 14% improvement from baseline in Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) cognitive testing scores in relapsing-remitting MS patients after six months of Trimesta™ therapy (p = 0.04).[i] The PASAT is a measure of cognitive function that assesses auditory information processing speed and flexibility, as well as calculation ability and is widely used in MS to measure cognitive function. Estriol has also been shown to have neuroprotective benefits in animal models of MS, a property not generally shared by currently approved MS therapies.[ii]

The new Phase II clinical trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial intended to enroll 64 relapsing-remitting or secondary-progressive female MS patients. Subjects will be equally randomized to receive either once-daily Trimesta™ (oral estriol) or matching placebo. The primary outcome measure is the average change in PASAT scores at 12 months between each group. Secondary outcome measures include relapse rates (the primary endpoint of the ongoing Phase II clinical trial of Trimesta™ for relapsing-remitting MS), whole brain atrophy determined by MRI and safety. Charitable organizations have pledged to financially support a majority of the new MS clinical trial. Detailed information regarding this clinical trial, including contact information for the clinical site, is available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01466114.

In addition to the clinical trial of Trimesta for cognitive dysfunction in MS, Trimesta™ is also the subject of a separate ongoing 15-center Phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial seeking to demonstrate Trimesta's ability to reduce relapse rates in women with the relapsing-remitting form of MS. With over $8 million in grant funding awarded to date, this separate ongoing Trimesta™ clinical trial should be funded to its completion. Additional information regarding the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis clinical trial is available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00451204.

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StuMSRadio - BLOG TALK is Back with our first show for 2012 on January 25th at 8pm EST

2012-01-18T16:04:00.000-05:00

Yes that's right. On Stuart's Birthday, January 25th, he will be spending time in front of the computer and speaking on Blog Talk Radio with guests Jeffrey Horstmyer, MD of Neurology and with Susan Dorne, Occupational Therapist.

With Doctor Horstmyer Stuart will be asking the doctor to explain MRI
Certain topics on this include: Types of MRI, MRI in managing MS, T1 and T2 - what does all that mean, White Matter/ Grey Matter lesions what's the difference, purpose of Scans with/without contrast and so much more

With Susan - we will discuss Fatigue Management and Therapeutic devices that can help a disabled to person to live more independently

We hope that you will be listening to our program on the internet or calling-in to speak with us or to ask questions via phone, via facebook, or via email

Via the internet (Click): StuMSradio

or CLICK: Multiple Sclerosis-Unplugged

or http://www.blogtalkradio.com/multiplesclerosis-unplugged
Visit the above website to register and be reminded of the program
Click on the above link to listen to our program

or Call (347) 215-9265
then Press 1 - to get connected

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for this event on January 25th at 8pm EST -- where you can listen to this program from anywhere in the world.

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Stuart's Birthday Wish, to fund Myelin Restoration Research

2012-01-18T15:51:00.000-05:00

Hello, and thanks for checking out my Birthday Wish!

For my birthday on January 25th, I'm asking my Facebook / Personal friends and family for a special gift: help me raise $1500 for Support Those Affected By Multiple Sclerosis by helping "MS Views and News" to Provide Education.

I chose Support Those Affected By Multiple Sclerosis by helping "MS Views and News" to Provide Education because Quality of LIFE Matters.

There are so many people that lack information of MS; the treatments/therapeutic options that are available as well as the countless ways of getting support to help the patient and caregiver to better manage the disease..

Please consider giving to my Birthday Wish, and together we can HELP to Provide Research to Restore the Myelin Sheath. If you can't give now, I'd really appreciate if you'd share this page with your friends and /or also ask me how else you can give..

If you are a facebook user, you can give to or share Stuart Schlossman's Birthday Wish, follow the link below:

http://wishes.causes.com/wishes/433789?bws=email_to_friends&m=1ac83f93

If you are not a facebook user, you can donate for this worthwhile cause to fund Myelin Restoration research by clicking here and remarking that the gift is for research

For either link, please add $2.00 so that the full amount intended to be used from your donation to cover the costs of NFG and Paypal, before they send the funding to us.

Thanks so much,

Stuart

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Looking ahead at BG-12 - possibly the next oral medication for Multiple Sclerosis

2012-01-18T15:25:00.000-05:00

Biogen presented positive data for its oral MS drug BG-12 last fall and plans to file for approval in the U.S. this year. In Phase III trials, the drug showed a 44-51% cut in relapse rates. The strong showing suggests the drug could capture market share from Teva's (TEVA) Copaxone, which had $1.02 billion in Q3 sales - up 26% year over year - and Novartis' (NVS) Gilenya, which had 9 month sales of $291 million through Q3 2011. Both of these drugs price between $40-50,000; suggesting BG-12 will be a high priced drug too. With Avonex sales flattening and Tysabri risks remaining, BG-12 is an important drug, which could reignite sales and stabilize Biogen's MS market share.

But, BG-12 isn't the only late stage drug with upside. Later in 2012, we'll get updates on hemophilia factor VIII and factor IX treatments, which are in Phase III trials. And, we'll also get data on Dexpramipexole, in phase III for ALS treatment, later this year too. These treatments offer significant opportunity to expand the company's footprint, particularly in ALS where treatments are lacking and survival is limited to five years from diagnosis.

Biogen is using the substantial cash flow from Avonex and Tysabri to advance these late stage medicines, while rebuilding its early stage program. At the same time, it's returning cash to shareholders through its 20 million share buyback, approved last February. Unlike fledgling biotech plays, such as Pharmasset (VRUS) and Inhibitex Inc. (INHX), both of which were recently acquired for robust premiums, Biogen's franchise is proven.

Information for this article was found here

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Expert: Multiple Sclerosis prevalent in Colorado

2012-01-18T15:20:00.000-05:00

DENVER - Colorado has the highest rate of Multiple Sclerosis in the country. Wednesday morning, University of Colorado Hospital neurologists answered questions on the disease and why the MS rate is so high in Colorado.

"There have been significant advances in the last few years about the cause of MS. There appears to be several different factors. One is genetics; the disease is more prevalent in people from Northern Europe. The second one is low Vitamin D levels early in life, and possibly in in-utero, increase the risk of MS subsequently," University of Colorado Doctor Tim Vollmer said.

He says people in Colorado are normally diagnosed with low-levels of Vitamin D. Some experts believe Vitamin D levels may be low in the state because of Coloradan's use of sunscreen.

Vollmer says new MS research and treatments are progressing at a remarkable rate.

"The field Multiple Sclerosis is one of the most rapidly evolving fields of medicine right now. We have eight FDA therapies and three that are likely to be approved within the next year to 18 months. In the last year or so, we've developed a new blood test that would identify patients who are at risk of some of the serious side effects of the drugs. As a consequence, we can now identify people who are likely to do very well on a certain drug with a very low risk," Vollmer said.

Although there is no cure for MS, there are treatments and medications. MS treatment typically focuses on strategies to treat symptoms and attacks.

"Some of the newer drugs like Tysabri or Genelia in particular have a much bigger impact in preventing disability. In the case of Tysabri, about half to maybe two-thirds [of] patients actually improve over time with that therapy. That's the first time in history we've ever had that treatment available," Vollmer said.

Vollmer says the disease generally presents itself as symptoms that affect the brain and nervous system.

"Symptoms of MS can be anything the brain does; typically it's vision problems, numbness, tingling strength or balance problems," Vollmer said.

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Brain support cells from umbilical cord stem cells

2012-01-17T16:19:00.001-05:00

ORLANDO, Jan. 17, 2012 -- For the first time ever, stem cells from umbilical cords have been converted into other types of cells, which may eventually lead to new treatment options for spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis, among other nervous system diseases.

"This is the first time this has been done with non-embryonic stem cells," says James Hickman, a University of Central Florida bioengineer and leader of the research group, whose accomplishment is described in the Jan. 18 issue of the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cn200082q?prevSearch=Hickman&searchHistoryKey=

"We're very excited about where this could lead because it overcomes many of the obstacles present with embryonic stem cells."

Stem cells from umbilical cords do not pose an ethical dilemma because the cells come from a source that would otherwise be discarded. Another major benefit is that umbilical cells generally have not been found to cause immune reactions, which would simplify their potential use in medical treatments.

Patients Report Controversial Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Improves Their Lives

2012-01-17T12:21:00.000-05:00

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Jan 16, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Although using angioplasty to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) is highly controversial, sufferers often insist it helps -- in some cases dramatically, such as allowing them to walk without a cane. Patients with less severe MS also reported additional quality of life improvements, such as being able to talk more clearly, after having treatment to open blocked blood vessels in the chest and neck, according to research being presented at the 24th annual International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy (ISET).

A controversial theory holds that MS symptoms may be caused by narrowed veins leading away from the brain, which interrupts blood flow between the brain and heart. This condition, called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), is treated with minimally invasive angioplasty to open up those narrowed veins. In the research being presented at ISET, more than 65 percent of patients treated for CCSVI report quality of life improvements three months after treatment.

"The patients reported improvement in common MS symptoms such as brain fog, frozen extremities, dizziness, bladder control and speech, and over time, they continued to improve," said Marco Magnano, M.D., professor of interventional radiology at the Residency of Vascular Surgery of the University of Catania, Sicily. "Although this could be due to the placebo effect, you have to wonder how that alone could help patients get out of the wheelchair, or forgo a cane or crutches."

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COGNITIVE decline and Your Brain

2012-01-16T18:55:00.000-05:00

Multiple sclerosis is notorious for doing damage to the brain's ability to communicate with the rest of the body. But what creates the decline in mental clarity that some patients experience?

It turns out that the brain's communication system and a patient's cognitive abilities are closely connected – but maybe not in the way that you would think.

Researchers have found that people with MS who have an enhanced brain “default mode” experience greater difficulty with decision-making, planning, memory, and other cognitive tasks.

The study was conducted by a team of scientists working at Washington University, the University Medical Center at Hamburg-Eppendorf and the University ofTübingen. They wanted to learn about how structural damage to the brain is connected to cognitive problems caused by MS, and if it's related to how different regions of the brain communicate, or “network.”

MS attacks brain cell branches, hampering their ability to communicate. The brain tries to overcome the damage by redirecting energy to allow signals to go through damaged branches.

But that in itself may create a problem, researchers speculate. With the energy brought in to push signals through broken pathways, the brain might have a harder time reconfiguring itself for cognitive tasks like speaking, movement, and recalling memory.

They looked at 16 patients with early-stage MS, who had been diagnosed within the past four years. The patients were put through behavioral and cognitive tests, brain scans to identify damage, and researchers also evaluated the connectedness of different brain regions.

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** Stu's Views & M.S. News **

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Turning Basic Research into Better Patient Treatments

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Eliminating the Valley of Death

HEADLINE NEWS: Novartis drug investigated after 11 deaths

Forks over Knives - Could degenerative disease be controlled by what we eat

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Having Troubles Concentrating?

"The Treatment and Management of MS Exacerbations"

The CCSVI news: International Society for NeuroVascular Disease - who are they and what they do

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StuMSRadio - BLOG TALK is Back with our first show for 2012 on January 25th at 8pm EST

Stuart's Birthday Wish, to fund Myelin Restoration Research

Looking ahead at BG-12 - possibly the next oral medication for Multiple Sclerosis

Expert: Multiple Sclerosis prevalent in Colorado

Brain support cells from umbilical cord stem cells

Patients Report Controversial Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Improves Their Lives

COGNITIVE decline and Your Brain

Stu's Views & M.S. News