The MS multiple sclerosis symptoms BlogI have created the MS Blog to keep you informed and up-to-date on any news, new treatment drugs and other developments in the fight against MS. Here's how you can subscribe to the MS Blog (no e-mail address necessary). RIGHT-click on the orange RSS button and then copy-and-paste the URL of this site's RSS feed into your RSS reader. Or... click on the Google, My Yahoo!, My MSN, or Bloglines button if you keep a personalized home page there. Follow their instructions.
Once you start, you'll be amazed at how RSS brings the world to you the way YOU want it. Hereditary?Hi. My mom had MS and was only diagnosed by spinal tap as her MRI scans didn't show lesions. I am around the age she was diagnosed and have been experiencing Permalink -- click for full blog post "Hereditary?" Daily pill could stop or even REVERSE multiple sclerosisDoctors have made an 'exciting' breakthrough that could lead to a new treatment to stop - or even reverse the symptoms - of multiple sclerosis. Researchers have discovered that people with MS have significantly lower levels of brain chemicals called neuro ... Spasticity and spasms webcastA webcast on one of the common symptoms of multiple sclerosis has just been launched on the MS Trust website. High dose vitamin D pills 'can double heart condition risk'Taking high doses of vitamin D could more than double the chance of having a type of serious heart complaint, according to results of a large-scale survey. Those with "excess" levels of the vitamin in their blood were 2.5 times more likely than those with normal levels to have atrial fibrillation (AF), a type of heart flutter common in old age which can lead to stroke. More than a million people in Britain are thought to have AF, the vast majority over 70. The results, presented this week at a meeting of the American Heart Association, are perhaps most concerning for post-menopausal women, who commonly take supplements of the vitamin with calcium to help fend off osteoporosis.... Successful phase III results for Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada(TM*)) in Multiple SclerosisGenzyme, a Sanofi company , reports today that the Phase lll CARE-MS ll trial met both of its co-primary endpoints. Relapse rate and sustained accumulation (worsening) of disability (SAD) were significantly reduced in multiple sclerosis patients receiving alemtuzumab (Lemtrada(TM)) as compared with Rebif(R) (44 mcg subcutaneous interferon beta-1a). Results for both of these co-primary endpoints were highly statistically significant. CARE-MS II is the randomized Phase III clinical trial comparing the investigational drug alemtuzumab to interferon beta-1a in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Patients were required to have experienced a relapse while on a prior therapy to be eligible for CARE-MS II. Genzyme is developing alemtuzumab in MS in collaboration with Bayer HealthCare.... Affordable Indian drugs could cut sclerosis treatment costNew Delhi, Nov 13 : Treatment for auto-immune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) that affects the brain and spinal cord and afflicts three out of every one lakh people in the country and millions across the globe may get affordable generic drugs made in India ... New Drug Against Multiple Sclerosis Developed at CambridgeResearchers at the University of Cambridge are excited to announce that the coronation of nearly 30 years of hard work is at hand – a new type of treatment for multiple sclerosis. The condition is currently lethal and incurable, so any breakthrough could ... Genetic variations and glandular fever narrow down MS likelihoodWestern Australian scientists are helping to solve the mysteries of multiple sclerosis (MS) with research finding a link between MS development and past infection with glandular fever. Combined with genetic variations in the immune system, glandular fever has been found to be one of the factors believed to greatly increase the risk of developing MS. A Murdoch University study is working to find out how these factors affect the development of MS. Led by Associate Professor David Nolan and funded by the McCusker Charitable Foundation, the study will work with collaborators who will provide specialist medical care for hundreds of men and women affected by MS in Western Australia.... FDA fast tracks new drug Tovaxin for multiple sclerosiOn November 8, 2011, the FDA granted the drug Tovaxin a "Fast Track" designation. When a drug is designated by the FDA as Fast Track, the review process for the drug is expedited. Ultimately, this means getting the drug approved and to market sooner ... Teaching My Child About My MS: The Madeline FilesWhen Madeline was born, I had been living with Multiple Sclerosis for 13 years, and on that very day I started planning what would be our first conversation about MS. Ok, maybe not that day. But worrying about that conversation was a big part of my ... Tysabri/natalizumab for pediatric multiple sclerosis study resultsIt is estimated about 8,000 to 10,000 children (those who are up to the age of 18) have multiple sclerosis (MS), with 5% of the total number being younger than 16. MS therapies in children are running right along with therapies that were “built” for ... MS cognitive research yields myelin repair surpriseBy taking a different approach, researchers have discovered what could eventually be a new type of treatment. Sometimes in scientific research, taking a new angle can unearth unexpected but welcome discoveries. And that’s what happened when researchers in University College Dublin’s Conway Institute looked at a type of tissue damage associated with multiple sclerosis. It’s early days yet, but by analysing the effects of a cognition-enhancing agent on nerve cells in the lab, they have identified what could eventually offer a new approach to help address the condition.... [ Venous Drainage Not Related to MSExplain that no causal relationship between obstructed blood flow caused by venous narrowing and multiple sclerosis (MS) was found in a combined MRI and ultrasound study. Note that MR venography was more sensitive in detecting internal jugular vein ... Persian spice saffron holds potential treatment for multiple sclerosisWashington, Nov 5 : An active ingredient in the Persian spice saffron may be used to treat diseases involving neuroinflammation, such as multiple sclerosis, according to Medical researchers at the University of Alberta. "We found there is a compound in ... Tovaxin(R) for MS granted fast track designation by FDAOpexa Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that its lead drug candidate Tovaxin(R) has been granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS). The FDA's Fast Track program is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and that demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs. According to the FDA, products with a Fast Track designation often receive priority review, which may offer a significant benefit in that, historically, the review time of a priority product is almost half that of a standard review. Additionally, as per the FDA, Fast Track priority review products are more likely to be approved on the first review cycle than those without the designation. Fast Track also entitles Opexa to more frequent interactions and dialogue with the FDA, further benefiting the development of Tovaxin.... Ocrelizumab drug holds promise for multiple sclerosisAn experimental drug called Ocrelizumab has shown promise in a Phase 2 clinical trial involving 220 people with multiple sclerosis (MS), an often debilitating, chronic autoimmune disease that affects an increasing number of people in North ... Phase III study of BG-12 in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis sparks excitementCiteline, an Informa business unit, and the world's leading research authority on pharmaceutical clinical trials recently reviewed results presented at the 5th Joint Triennial Congress of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and ... The Fear of MS ProgressionWhen I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I was told my first two years would be a benchmark to what “type” of MS I would have for the rest of my life. I’d have to wait to see how many exacerbations I’d have, and how those exacerbations would ... Predicting Progression in Multiple Sclerosis, Plus Other Breakthroughs - Medscape NewsThe neurologist that diagnosed/confirmed my MS was Dr. Zwibel. Howard L. Zwibel, MD: Hello. I'm Dr. Howard Zwibel, Director Emeritus of the Neuroscience Multiple Sclerosis Center in Coral Gables, Florida. Welcome to this Medscape peer-to-peer discussion. It’s my pleasure to be speaking today with Dr. Fred ... Natural Intestinal Flora Involved In The Emergence Of Multiple SclerosisMultiple sclerosis is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. For a long time, pathogens were believed to be such external influences... Oral MS drug BG-12 meets goal of CONFIRM trialBiogen Idec Inc's says its experimental multiple sclerosis drug BG-12 met the main goal of a closely watched clinical trial. The Weston, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company said that a late-stage trial known as CONFIRM showed that BG-12, when given twice a day, cut the annualized relapse rate in patients with multiple sclerosis by 44 percent at two years versus placebo, and by 51 percent when given three times a day. Investors had been waiting to see if the results would be comparable to an earlier trial known as DEFINE, which posted unexpectedly strong results showing BG-12 cut the annualized relapse rate by 53 percent when given twice a day. The results of the two trials were sufficiently similar to send the stock soaring. If approved, BG-12 could significantly strengthen Biogen's position in the increasingly competitive market for multiple sclerosis drugs. It already sells Avonex, which is injected, and Tysabri, which is infused. BG-12 is a pill that would compete with Gilenya, a recently launched pill made by Novartis AG. Oral MS drug Teriflunomide study shows lasting efficacy and safetyThe investigational oral drug teriflunomide (Aubagio) seems to have maintained its effectiveness during up to nine years of follow-up in clinical trial patients with the relapsing form of multiple sclerosis, and no late safety problems have been noticed, researchers said here. The findings came from open-label extensions of phase II and III studies with teriflunomide, which is now under FDA review as a treatment for relapsing-remitting MS. The results were presented in a series of posters at the joint meeting of the European and American Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS).... Breath test to diagnose multiple sclerosis - Times of IndiaScientists have developed a sensor array that can diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) from exhaled breath. Hossam Haick and colleagues report that doctors now diagnose MS based on its characteristic symptoms, which include muscle spasms, numbness ... Paediatric MS: examining utility of the McDonald 2010 criteriaSummary: This relatively small but interesting study from the UK aimed to assess the utility of McDonald 2010 criteria in comparison with 2007 International Paediatric Multiple Sclerosis Study Group (IPMSSG)-recommended criteria for the diagnosis of paediatric multiple sclerosis (PMS). The The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 38 cases of clinically definite relapsing remitting MS from three UK clinics. They found that on baseline scans IPMSSG dissemination in space (DIS) criteria were fulfilled in 68% of scans and McDonald DIS criteria in 84%. The authors therefore suggest that the 2010 McDonald criteria appear more sensitive than IPMSSG and may allow PMS diagnosis at first presentation of CIS in at least a half of cases.... Antibody offers hope for multiple sclerosis treatmentThe first drug to show signs of not just halting multiple sclerosis (MS), but actually reversing the nerve damage caused by the condition, has taken a significant step towards clinical approval. The results of a phase III trial, presented on 22 ... Little support found for vascular MS theory at ECTRIMSOf more than a dozen studies presented here on the chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) theory of multiple sclerosis, most failed to find any support for it. One study presented at the joint meeting of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment & Research in Multiple Sclerosis, found that eight of 15 children with pediatric MS had venous abnormalities when examined with magnetic resonance venography. Another, conducted in 45 healthy controls and 133 adult MS patients, found signs of CCSVI in about half the patients -- but also in one-third of the controls. The other studies all either failed to find CCSVI at all in their participant groups, or it was equally distributed between patients and controls. The latter included one of the largest studies reported so far, with 160 MS patients and 160 healthy controls. Transcranial echo-color Doppler sonography indicated possible CCSVI in 16 patients, but venography found stenoses in only two patients. The authors, from the University Hospital of Padova in Italy, declared in their poster that "CCSVI is definitely not the cause of MS."... Alemtuzumab offers hope for Multiple Sclerosis treatmentThe first drug to show signs of not just halting multiple sclerosis (MS), but actually reversing the nerve damage caused by the condition, has taken a significant step towards clinical approval. The results of a phase III trial, presented on 22 October at the 5th Joint Triennial Congress of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, in Amsterdam, found that 78% of patients treated with the monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab remained free from relapse after two years -- and half the relapse rate of one of the standard therapies, interferon beta-1a (marketed as Rebif, among other names). However, alemtuzumab did not perform quite as well as it had in earlier trials. There was some evidence that it had reversed damage to nerves, but the result was not statistically significant, says Alasdair Coles, a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge, UK, and the UK chief investigator of the Comparison of Alemtuzumab and Rebif Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis (CARE-MS) I trial. High dose vitamin D has no impact on MS study suggestsHigh dose vitamin D does not appear any better than low doses for people with multiple sclerosis, according to an Australian study. The preliminary study, which found supplements ineffective at reducing brain lesions, paves the way for a larger trial seeking definitive answers on whether high doses are beneficial, harmful or neutral. The findings appear today in the journal Neurology.... Brainsway reports positive results in MS studyBrainsway Ltd. has reported positive results in a safety and efficacy trial of its non-invasive proprietary coil to stimulate the motor cortex for the lower limbs in patients with advanced multiple sclerosis. The double blind trial was conducted by Technologies Innovation Distribution SrL on 23 patients at INSPE Medical Center in Milan. Half the patients were treated by the device over three weeks, and half received a placebo. Success was measured as the ability to walk ten meters in six minutes, a standard measurement under the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The patients who received the treatment showed a clear statistical improvement compared with the patients who received the placebo. No side effects were recorded.... Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada™ * ) Significantly Reduces Relapses in Multiple Sclerosis vs Interferon Beta-1a in a Phase III StudyData shows 78 percent of patients treated with alemtuzumab remained relapse-free for two years compared with patients on high dose IFNβ-1a - “These data support the robust efficacy profile and potential that alemtuzumab offers for patients with ... Biogen-Abbott MS Drug Outperforms Placebo Drug Discovery & DevelopmentWESTON, Mass. (AP) - Biogen Idec and Abbott Laboratories said a mid-stage study of their multiple sclerosis medicine daclizumab showed that the experimental drug worked better than placebo at preventing relapse of symptoms of the inflammatory disease. UPDATE 1-Full Biogen MS trial data show robust resultsOct 21 (Reuters) - Full data from a late-stage clinical trial of Biogen Idec Inc's (BIIB.O) experimental multiple sclerosis drug, BG-12, showed robust results across multiple measures and revealed no new safety concerns. Earlier this year the ... Botox cuts MS-related arm tremorsInjections of botulinum toxin A (Botox) were a significant help to multiple sclerosis patients whose disease causes arm tremors, according to a small study reported here. In a placebo-controlled crossover trial involving 25 patients, Botox injected into the affected muscles significantly improved the tremors, said Anneke van der Walt, MBChB, of Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia. The treatment also allowed many of the patients to again perform simple activities such as handwriting and drinking from open cups that the tremors had made difficult or impossible, van der Walt told attendees at the joint meeting of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis... Worsening MS patients turn to the InternetAn Internet survey of MS patients reports that as patients worsen, they are increasingly likely to turn to the Internet rather than their neurologist for MS information (Miller et al. ECTRIMS 2011; abstract P178). A total of 10,259 MS patients in the NARCOMS database were invited to participate in the survey. There were 5,446 respondents (mean age 52.7 years, mean disease duration 13.9 years, female 78%, on treatment 74%). The average Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) score was 3.2, corresponding to gait disability without requiring a cane (for more on PDDS, see http://www.unitedspinal.o...ined-disease-steps-pdds/ ).... Many people with MS report difficulty walking or maintaining balanceWalking difficulties or trouble with balance affect the majority of people with multiple sclerosis, and 70% of people with MS-related walking difficulties report that trouble walking is the most challenging aspect of MS. Yet, 40% of people with MS "rarely or never" discuss walking problems with their doctor, according to the results of a June 2011 survey conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) and Acorda Therapeutics ®, Inc. The results of the survey of more than 1200 adults living with MS were presented today at the 5th Joint Triennial Congress of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands... [ Glatiramer acetate better than Interferon for MS fatigueGlatiramer acetate (GA) reduces fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients more than interferon beta-1b (IFN-1b) after 1 year of treatment, according to a new study. IFN-1b had no impact on two clinical measures of fatigue, while GA (Copaxone) reduced the score on the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) by 20%, and the score on the Fatigue Descriptive Scale (FDS) by 34%, according to a study presented here at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis meeting. Based on the results, the authors, Tatiana Shmidt and a colleague at the Kozhevnikov Clinic for Neurological Diseases in Moscow, Russia, concluded in their poster, "Copaxone is recommended as a first-line imunomodulating drug for patients with severe fatigue." The authors were unavailable for comment at press time.... Stems Cells to Treat Multiple Sclerosis: ECTRIMS 2011You know, I have put off writing about stem cells and multiple sclerosis (MS) for a long time. The reason is simple, albeit kind of lame: it is a complicated topic, which I found a little overwhelming. However... Phase II Study Showed Ocrelizumab Maintained Significant Reduction in Disease Activity for Multiple Sclerosis Patients for Almost Two YearsGenentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced 96-week results 1 from a Phase II study of ocrelizumab in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), the most common clinical form 2 of the ... Treatment with COPAXONE® in Multiple Sclerosis Demonstrated Remyelination and Neuroprotective Effects in a Preclinical SettingTeva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced preclinical data demonstrating reparative and neuroprotective effects of treatment with COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis ... Night shift work boosts MS risk: Swedish studyYoung people who work night shifts end up with a significantly higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm have found. "Our analysis shows a significant connection between working (night ... Canadian study to track MS patients after vein-opening treatments abroadA Canadian doctor is beginning his own before-and-after study of MS patients who are opting for the so-called liberation treatment. Dr. Sandy McDonald, a cardiovascular surgeon in Barrie, Ont., hopes to recruit 250 MS patients for the study, which is aimed at assessing the results of the procedure to unblock neck veins. The study will involve ultrasound imaging of the patient's neck veins and quality-of-life testing before and after patients undergo the procedure, which is not approved in Canada for treating multiple sclerosis. Thousands of Canadians have travelled to centres in the United States, Europe, India and elsewhere that provide the unproven treatment, based on a theory by Italian vascular surgeon Dr. Paolo Zamboni that MS is linked to impaired blood flow from the brain due to blocked or twisted jugular and other neck veins. The technique to correct the condition — which Zamboni calls chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI — involves unclogging the veins with balloon angioplasty, the same technique used to clear blocked coronary arteries. McDonald, who was trained by Zamboni in his specific ultrasound technique to detect CCSVI, provides the diagnostic testing at his clinic in Barrie.... Early use and long-term benefit of Tysabri (ECTRIMS and ACTRIMS)Biogen Idec and Elan Corporation, plc today announced 28 company-supported Tysabri ® (natalizumab) presentations at the 5 th Joint Triennial Congress of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS and ACTRIMS), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Key data indicated patients on Tysabri experienced reduced annualized relapse rates (ARR), particularly in those treated with Tysabri early in the course of their disease. Data also indicated a long-term benefit for patients who had achieved freedom from disease activity early in their treatment course. Data from a separate study showed Tysabri-treated patients experienced improved incontinence-related quality of life (QOL). Additional data sets were presented further supporting Biogen Idec´s and Elan´s efforts to stratify the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in Tysabri-treated patients.... Oral laquinimod shows promise against multiple sclerosis"The life-long, debilitating nature of multiple sclerosis and well-recognized clinical variability, underscore the need for therapies that can slow disease progression and improve patient treatment experience," said Professor Giancarlo Comi ... MS multiple sclerosis symptoms: The web site of one MSer for MSersMS multiple sclerosis symptoms is the site of one MSer for MSers, with lots of valuable info. on how to cope with MS. A content rich site showing tips and strategies to improve your living with MS. Living with MS and Hashimato'sMy name is Tina and this is my story:) I am a married 39 year old mother of 3 precious children that I adore. Two boys ages 12 and 13 and a daughter who Permalink -- click for full blog post "Living with MS and Hashimato's" Researchers Find Pathway To Potentially Block Disease-Inducing InflammationResearchers have discovered a cellular pathway that promotes inflammation in diseases like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis. Understanding the details of this pathway may provide opportunities for tailored treatments of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases... People with fair skin may require vitamin D supplementsA new study suggests that fair-skinned people who are prone to sunburn may also need to take supplements to ensure they get enough vitamin D. Analysis of CCSVI studies suggest strong association with MSA meta-analysis of eight studies of chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency which compared people with MS to healthy controls or those with other neurological conditions found CCSVI more common in people with MS. Natalizumab Reduces Relapses And Disability In Multiple SclerosisTaking the new generation anti-inflammatory drug natalizumab for two years lowers the number of remitting multiple sclerosis patients who experience relapses and progression of disability. This is the main finding of a systematic review published in the latest edition of The Cochrane Library. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that damages a person's nervous system... New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
