Making Connections

Research News


	Summaries of all the latest research findings on MS selected by a team based at the Institute of Neurology, London.

n-Dodecyl-beta-D: -Maltoside Inhibits Aggregation of Human Interferon-beta-1b and Reduces Its Immunogenicity

A group from John Hopkins report initial findings of the success of the compound, dodecylmaltoside, a nontoxic alkylsaccharide surfactant, at reduce aggregation of interferon-beta in vitro.

The researchers suggest that by preventing aggregation of interferon-beta, formation of neutralizing antibodies may be prevented. In experiment where mice were given interferon-beta with and without dodecylmaltoside, it was also found to reduce the immunogenicity in vivo. The authors suggest the results warrant additional tests of dodecylmaltoside as a therapeutic adjuvant in rodent models of multiple sclerosis.

authors: Rifkin RA, Maggio ET, Dike S, Kerr DA, Levy M.

source: J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2011 Mar;6(1):158-62. Epub 2010 Jun 8.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha gene -376 polymorphism and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis: an Egyptian study

This interesting genetics study from Egypt examines for polymorphism at position 376 in the TNF-alpha gene in patients with MS and controls. The GG genotype was found to be significantly more prevalent in patients with PPMS and RRMS, than in healthy controls.

The results are of significance due to the known pro-inflammatory role of TNF-alpha. The results would suggest a possible increased susceptibility towards MS in subjects with the GG genotype.

authors: Nada MA, Labib DA.

source: J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2011 Mar;6(1):142-7. Epub 2010 May 25.

Identification and Clinical Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Cortical Lesions as Assessed by Routine 3T MR Imaging

The authors reviewed cortical lesions in 26 patients with MS using 3D FLAIR and 3D T1-weighted IR-SPGR 3T MR images. The authors were able to identify mixed cortical-subcortical (type I) and purely intracortical (type II) lesions on MR sequences but the technical difficulty of detecting subpial cortical lesions was highlighted once again by this paper.

Cortical lesion number was correlated with the CVLT-II scores. The EDSS scores correlated with cortical lesion number and cortical lesion volume, but not with white matter lesion volume. The paper demonstrates that routinely detectable cortical lesions are related to physical disability and cognitive impairment.

authors: Mike A, Glanz BI, Hildenbrand P, Meier D, Bolden K, Liguori M, Dell'oglio E, Healy BC, Bakshi R, Guttmann CR.

source: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2011 Feb 10. [Epub ahead of print]

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