Articles tagged with Multiple Sclerosis
A study by neuroimaging specialists found that MS patients who smoked for six months or less had more brain tissue destruction and brain atrophy than nonsmokers. The study also showed that smoking was associated with increased physical disability and more brain lesions in MS patients.
Researchers link high blood pressure to multiple sclerosis and suggest a safe, inexpensive drug lisinopril could be an effective treatment option. The study found that lisinopril controls blood pressure by blocking an enzyme that converts angiotensin's precursor into the active hormone.
A study published in Neurology found that smoking is associated with an increased risk of brain lesions and brain shrinkage in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Smokers with MS had nearly 17% more brain lesions and 13% larger ventricles compared to non-smokers.
A new experimental treatment, GIFT15, has been shown to completely reverse multiple sclerosis in mice by suppressing the immune response. The treatment, which combines two proteins, may also be effective against other autoimmune disorders like Crohn's disease and lupus.
A study published in Neurology found that nearly 30% of people with benign MS significantly worsened over five years. Cognitive tests and brain scans revealed that men with more brain lesions were nearly three times more likely to experience MS signs compared to women.
The model system will help understand causes of myelin-related conditions, such as diabetic neuropathy and multiple sclerosis. Researchers plan to use the new model to explore origins of diabetic neuropathy and test new drug therapies.
Researchers identified a gene that allows immune cells to start self-destructive processes underlying autoimmune diseases. The study found that the presence of the Batf gene enables T cells to produce inflammatory Th17 cells, which can lead to autoimmune conditions.
Patients with multiple sclerosis who smoke experience a more rapid progression of their disease, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Neurology. Current smokers had significantly more severe disease at the beginning of the study and were more likely to have primary progressive MS.
Researchers found that biochemical signals inhibit oligodendrocyte development, hindering myelin repair in multiple sclerosis. The Wnt pathway's role in myelin production and repair has been identified as a key factor in the disease's progression.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and UCSF have identified the Wnt pathway as a crucial determinant of brain stem cells' ability to repair damaged tissue. The study's findings open up new avenues for developing therapies that block the Wnt pathway, potentially enhancing remyelination in MS patients.
The study identified the B1-receptor as a key player in regulating T cell entry into the central nervous system. Activation of this receptor slows down T cell entry and reduces clinical symptoms of inflammation in multiple sclerosis, suggesting a potential new target for therapy.
Tel Aviv University researchers found that 50% of happiness is genetically determined, with positive psychology exercises improving participants' happiness levels by up to 30%. The study aims to bridge the gap between psychology and clinical medicine, exploring physical benefits of mental well-being.
A study found that the Gpx5 protein helps protect immature mouse sperm from oxidative stress, which is associated with fertility issues and miscarriages. In contrast, high levels of IL-21 are linked to an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases in multiple sclerosis patients treated with alemtuzumab.
Researchers at UCF create first lab-grown motor nerves with nodes of Ranvier, a breakthrough that could improve understanding of demyelinating conditions and enable new drug therapies. The team plans to use the model system to explore the origins of diabetic neuropathy and identify targets for new treatments.
Researchers have identified two new genetic locations linked to Multiple Sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. The discovery offers promising targets for disease susceptibility and may lead to the development of novel therapeutics.
Researchers have gained new understanding of the disease through a groundbreaking animal model, revealing that B cells play a critical role in its development. The study also highlights the importance of aggressive T cells, which attack brain tissue and trigger antibody attacks by B cells.
Women with MS who breastfeed exclusively for at least two months have a lower risk of relapse within a year after birth. Prolonged lactational amenorrhea is associated with a decreased risk of relapse in women with MS.
Researchers found that a diabetes drug, pioglitazone, significantly reduced gray matter loss in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. The treatment showed no adverse reactions and was well-tolerated.
Researchers at McGill University found that statin therapy can inhibit myelin repair in Multiple Sclerosis patients. The study suggests a negative impact of long-term statin therapy on remyelination and oligodendrocyte number.
Two studies in the American Journal of Pathology demonstrate stromal caveolin-1 as a prognostic marker for breast cancer progression, correlating with reduced metastasis levels. Additionally, researchers have identified novel biomarkers for chronic kidney disease progression, predicting progressive renal fibrosis and glomerular filtrat...
A retrospective study of 2,854 Italian patients with MS found leukemia occurred in .74% of those treated with mitoxantrone, significantly higher than previously reported rates. The study highlights the need for careful hematological follow-up to check for acute leukemia.
Multiple sclerosis researchers discover that the immune system targets gray matter in addition to myelin, damaging nerve cell bodies and leading to irreversible destruction of axons. The newly identified protein Contactin-2 plays a critical role in this process.
A new study found that adding oral methylprednisolone to interferon beta-1a therapy significantly reduces the relapse rate in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The treatment was associated with a threefold lower relapse rate compared to placebo.
A new study suggests that adding a steroid drug to multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment can significantly reduce disease activity. Researchers found that participants who received both the steroid and interferon beta-1a had 38% fewer relapses than those receiving only the interferon drug.
A ten-year follow-up study of the CHAMPIONS trial shows that early treatment with AVONEX significantly reduces MS relapse rates and improves patient outcomes. Patients treated immediately after their first episode had a lower chance of experiencing a second attack, with 80% having an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score less t...
UCSF researchers found a correlation between glutamate toxicity and neurodegeneration in MS patients, suggesting a new method for tracking disease progression. The study's findings may lead to improved monitoring of treatment and the development of new therapies.
A new study shows that taking cladribine tablets just a few times a year can dramatically reduce the chances of a relapse or deterioration of multiple sclerosis. Patients who took part in the trial suffered very few side effects, making it an effective oral therapy without constant injections.
Patients who received three infusions of TYSABRI reported significant improvements in general and disease-specific measurements of quality of life (QoL) and cognitive function. Cognitive functioning was assessed by Medical Outcomes Study Cognitive Functioning Scale, with higher scores indicating improved cognition.
Scientists discover that quinoline compounds inhibit S100A9's pro-inflammatory effects on white blood cells involved in immune regulation. This new mechanism may provide insights into the early stages of autoimmune disease development.
Researchers have found promising results with stem cells obtained from a patient's own adipose tissue in treating multiple sclerosis. The treatment, known as stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cell therapy, has shown dramatic improvement in symptoms for three patients with MS.
A new study of 20,000 MS patients and 204,000 controls found a 10% lower overall cancer risk for people with MS compared to those without the disease. However, this came at the cost of higher risks for brain tumors and urinary organ cancers, increasing by up to 44%
A three-year study funded by the MS Society is investigating whether infection with hookworms can lead to an improvement in the severity of multiple sclerosis. The trial, which involves 72 patients, aims to determine if the worms can provide a simple, cheap, natural treatment for the condition.
Researchers at University at Buffalo and Italy's University of Trieste found a potential link between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS). Higher levels of anti-EBV antibodies were associated with increased loss of gray matter and total brain volume over time.
A Phase 3 clinical trial found that fampridine improves walking ability in some individuals with multiple sclerosis, with 34.8% of participants experiencing a significant increase in walking speed. The study suggests that fampridine could represent an important new treatment for MS-related mobility issues.
A Phase III study found that fampridine improved walking speed and leg strength in patients with multiple sclerosis. The drug also showed promise in reducing fatigue and improving endurance. However, adverse events were reported in some patients, highlighting the need for further research on its treatment profile.
A study by American Academy of Neurology reveals that young smokers are 2.7 times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis than non-smokers. Early smoking is identified as a key environmental factor that can be avoided to reduce the risk of the disease.
A study of pregnant women with MS found that those who breastfed exclusively had lower relapse rates than those who did not or stopped early. Women who delayed starting MS treatments to breastfeed also experienced faster return of menstrual periods.
Researchers found a direct link between vitamin D and a genetic variant associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may increase the risk of offspring developing MS later in life.
A phase I/II study of autologous non-myeloablative haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in 21 adults with relapsing-remitting MS found that the procedure can stabilize and may reverse neurological disability. After an average follow-up of 3 years, 81% of patients improved by at least 1 point on a disability scale.
A clinical trial at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine found that patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis experienced significant improvements after receiving an autologous non-myeloablative haematopoietic stem-cell transplant. The disease stabilized in all patients, with 81% showing improvement.
Patients with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis tend to have a higher yearly rate of relapses compared to those diagnosed in adulthood. This discrepancy may suggest greater plasticity and potentially more repair and remyelination in the younger nervous system.
Researchers developed a method to analyze genetic variations in HCV-infected patients, predicting their response to antiviral therapy. This approach may lead to a test that identifies targets for new antiviral drugs.
Researchers used DTI to estimate chronic effects of optic nerve inflammation three months in advance. DTI showed a correlation between damage and lower scores on visual health tests, indicating potential predictive information for MS flare-ups.
A new study found that a third of people with brain abnormalities similar to MS developed the disease within five years. Researchers monitored participants to determine whether they developed symptoms, and 30% had developed MS by average age 5.4 years.
Researchers at Heidelberg University Hospital developed a vaccine that prevents multiple sclerosis in mice by suppressing the harmful immune response. The treatment uses autologous immune cells treated with mitomycin and expresses a self-protein from the nervous system, rendering them non-reactive to the disease.
Researchers created a genetically modified mouse expressing excessive PAD2, resulting in significant myelin loss and behavioral deficits. The study highlights PAD as a potential therapeutic target and marker for early detection of MS and related diseases.
Researchers used MRI scans to detect gray matter damage in MS patients, finding that unnatural darkness was linked to higher risk of disability progression. This new marker shows closer correlations with clinical status than other established markers.
A study published in Neurology found that people with obesity and pre-existing health conditions may experience a delay in being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, or have more severe symptoms at diagnosis. The study suggests that doctors should carefully consider new neurological symptoms in patients with chronic diseases.
Interferon-gamma plays a deciding role in whether immune cells attack and injure the central nervous system in mice. The protein is protective in cerebellums and brainstems but causes nerve cell damage in spinal cords.
A phase II trial of oral fumarate (BG00012) showed a 69% reduction in new gadolinium enhancing lesions and a 32% decrease in annual relapse rate. Longer-term studies are underway to confirm these findings and establish its place in multiple sclerosis treatment.
Phase IIb data show that BG-12 significantly reduced brain lesions in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, with a 53% reduction in T1-hypointense lesions. The treatment also demonstrated favorable safety and potential neuroprotective benefits.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that alemtuzumab may not only stop MS from advancing but also restore lost functions in patients. The study found that alemtuzumab reduces attacks by 74% and disability accumulation by 71% compared to a current treatment.
A new study in mice with an MS-like disease found that the brain's response to a specific immune protein, interferon-g (IFNg), dictates which part of the brain is attacked. This discovery may bring scientists closer to understanding the variable manifestations of human multiple sclerosis.
A new study may have uncovered the cause of Devic's disease by identifying glutamate as a key player in the progression of the disease. The researchers found that an autoantibody called NMO-IgG triggers a toxic build-up of glutamate, leading to damage to nerve cells and their insulating myelin coats.
Researchers found a protein called TREM-2 in the spinal fluid of MS patients, suggesting it may be contributing to the disease. The protein's presence could lead to new pharmaceutical targets for MS prevention and treatment.
A study of 349 children with MS and 2,941 without the disease found that hepatitis B vaccination does not increase multiple sclerosis risk. However, a specific type of vaccine was linked to symptoms in vaccinated children with MS, three or more years after vaccination.
The Montel Williams MS Foundation has awarded $325,000 in research grants to seven institutions studying new treatments for multiple sclerosis, including methods for early detection and restoring depleted myelin. The foundation aims to advance knowledge that will lead to more effective diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
A new MRI contrast medium, Gadofluorine M, has been developed to visualize inflammatory tissue damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). The study found that this medium enabled the detection of more inflammatory lesions in MS patients compared to conventional MRI images and contrast media.
A University of Michigan study found that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have different forms of the disease that require different kinds of treatment. The research suggests targeting specific inflammatory processes in the body could lead to more effective treatments for MS patients.
A new study found that mice immunized with an MS-like condition were protected from the disease when consuming six to eight cups of coffee daily. Caffeine stopped adenosine from binding to a receptor, preventing certain T cells from triggering the disease.