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Approval given to market Tysabri in Europe

The European Commission gave approval on June 29, 2006 for Biogen Idec and Elan Corporation to begin marketing Tysabri® (natalizumab) as a treatment for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis to delay the progression of disability and reduce the frequency of relapses.

To read more, click here.

MSIF Chief Executive

Due to Christine Purdy's retirement at the end of 2006, MSIF has begun the recruitment process for a new Chief Executive.

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Support MSIF by playing the UK monday lottery 11-17 July

MSIF is one of the charities which will benefit from the monday lottery during the week 11-17 July, 2006.

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MS volunteer honoured in UK Queen's Award for Voluntary Services in the Community

Ann Watson, who has MS, is one of four volunteers at the Whale Hill Centre Association in Middlesbrough, UK, who will travel to the Queen's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London on 20 July, 2006 to recieve a Queen's Award for Voluntary Services in the Community on behalf of the Whale Hill Centre.

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Profile of the Month : January 2008

Ian Douglas

Home: London, UK
Diagnosis: 1992
Occupation: Works with a number of UK charities including the UK MS Society as a Trustee.


English Espanol Italian German

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Stem cells for the treatment of neurological disorders

This paper reviews all the recent efforts that have been done to stimulate the formation and prevent the death of neurons and glial cells using endogenous stem cells within the adult central nervous system. Many common neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, stroke and multiple sclerosis are going to benefit from this therapeutic advance.

authors: Lindvall O, Kokaia Z.

source: Nature. 2006 Jun 29;441(7097):1094-6.

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Childhood multiple sclerosis: A review

This paper reviews the characteristics of MS in childhood. Although children and adults with MS have similar neurological symptoms, laboratory (cerebrospinal fluid) data, and neuroimaging findings, the clinical course, pathogenesis, and treatment of childhood onset MS require further investigation.

authors: Waldman A, O'connor E, Tennekoon G.

source: Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2006 Jun 28;12(2):147-156 [Epub ahead of print]

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Significance of T2 lesions in multiple sclerosis: A 13-year longitudinal study

This article describes a 13-year longitudinal study in 30 patients. The authors show that T2 lesions in relapsing-remitting MS correlate strongly with brain tissue loss and brain tissue integrity 13 years later, and with clinical disease severity, though age significantly impacts the clinical correlation. The results provide direct evidence for the disability threshold hypothesis in MS and support monitoring T2 lesions in relapsing-remitting MS.

authors: Rudick RA, Lee JC, Simon J, Fisher E.

source: Ann Neurol. 2006 Jun 19; [Epub ahead of print]

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Is the frequency of MRI abnormalities in isolated optic neuritis related to the prevalence of multiple sclerosis? A global comparison

This study suggests that isolated optic neuritis is more likely to be associated with MRI abnormalities and to be due to MS in geographical regions where MS is more common.

authors: Swanton JK, Fernando K, Dalton CM, Miszkiel KA, Thompson AJ, Plant GT, Miller DH.

source: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2006 Jun 22; [Epub ahead of print]

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Automated segmentation of multiple sclerosis lesion subtypes with multichannel MRI

This study illustrates a promising method for automated segmentation of MS lesion subtypes (i.e., enhancing lesions, T1 "black holes", T2 hyperintense lesions).

authors: Wu Y, Warfield SS, Tan IL, Wells WM 3rd, Meier DS, van Schijndel RA, Barkhof F, Guttmann CR.

source: Neuroimage. 2006 Jun 21; [Epub ahead of print]

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Functional pathway-defined MRI diffusion measures reveal increased transverse diffusivity of water in multiple sclerosis

In this study Functional MRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging-based fiber tracking were used to define the interhemispheric white matter pathway connecting bilateral supplementary motor areas in 16 MS patients and 16 control subjects. The Nine-hole Peg Test (a test assessing upper limb function) showed significant correlation with transverse diffusivity indicating that probing functional pathways with MRI measures can lead to a better reflection of disease status.

authors: Lowe MJ, Horenstein C, Hirsch JG, Marrie RA, Stone L, Bhattacharyya PK, Gass A, Phillips MD.

source: Neuroimage. 2006 Jun 22; [Epub ahead of print]

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How to successfully apply animal studies in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis to research on multiple sclerosis

This paper reviews the advantages and pitfalls of Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. The authors conclude that over the past 73 years, the EAE model has proved itself remarkably useful for aiding research on MS.

authors: Steinman L, Zamvil SS.

source: Ann Neurol. 2006 Jun 26;60(1):12-21 [Epub ahead of print]

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Brain atrophy after immunoablation and stem cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis

The authors measured brain atrophy in nine patients undergoing immunoablation and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis. Atrophy was 10 times faster than before treatment. These observations suggest that brain atrophy after immunoablation may not be due entirely to the resolution of edema but may be related to chemotoxicity.

authors: Chen JT, Collins DL, Atkins HL, Freedman MS, Galal A, Arnold DL; Canadian MS BMT Study Group.

source: Neurology. 2006 Jun 27;66(12):1935-7.

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Cerebellar cortical atrophy in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

This study demonstrates that myelin-specific autoimmune responses can lead to grey matter atrophy in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. A significant decrease in the mean cerebellar cortex volume in mice with EAE as compared to normal controls was observed. The model described can now be used to investigate neuropathologic mechanisms that lead to the development of grey matter atrophy in this setting.

authors: Mackenzie-Graham A, Tinsley MR, Shah KP, Aguilar C, Strickland LV, Boline J, Martin M, Morales L, Shattuck DW, Jacobs RE, Voskuhl RR, Toga AW.

source: Neuroimage. 2006 Jun 23; [Epub ahead of print]

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Peripheral PDE4 inhibition produced by L-826,141 prevents experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

This study demonstrates that peripheral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibition, produced by a compound labeled as L-826,141, prevents the progression of autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis after the first onset of clinical signs, and suggests that similar compounds may have clinical efficacy in the treatment of MS.

authors: Moore CS, Owens T, Earl N, Frenette R, Styhler A, Nicholson DW, Mancini JA, Hebb AL, Robertson GS.

source: J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2006 Jun 29; [Epub ahead of print]

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Spanish MS Society awards

AEDEM, the MS Society in Spain, held a special event on May 19, 2006 to present the AEDEM 2006 Prizes. The prizes thank the support, work and dedication of institutions, enterprises and individuals for their work for the Society.

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