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New issue of MS in focus on disease courses in MS out soon!

source: MSIF

Issue 14 of our biannual magazine will look in detail at the disease courses of MS.

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Profile of the Month : January 2010

Jyoti Ronghe

Country: India
Age: 47
Diagnosis Year: 1998
Type of MS: Secondary progressive
Profession: Adoption consultant

"I had three general medical practitioners in my family, but none of them had heard of MS. My parents and my husband were sure that it would be curable. When we learnt that it was incurable they were shocked."

Deutsch English Español French Italiano Русский

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Transcranial brain sonography findings predict disease progression in multiple sclerosis

People with MS may develop varying and unpredictable degrees of disability. The authors investigated transcranial sonography, an ultrasound-based technique, to predict disease evolution in a group of people with MS. Using transcranial sonography they found that the detection of iron accumulation in the brain was associated with a more severe disease evolution.

authors: Walter U, Wagner S, Horowski S, Benecke R, Zettl UK

source: Neurology. 2009 Aug 5

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Markedly increased CSF interleukin-6 levels in neuromyelitis optica, but not in multiple sclerosis

Like MS, neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory-demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. However, people with NMO generally have a more severe disease evolution than MS. Because the treatment and prognosis of MS and NMO are different it is crucial to differentiate between them as soon as possible. The authors found that investigating cerebrospinal fluid may be helpful in distinguishing between the two diseases, due to the differing composition of interleukin proteins involved in the immune response.

authors: Uzawa A, Mori M, Ito M, Uchida T, Hayakawa S, Masuda S, Kuwabara S

source: J Neurol. 2009 Aug 5

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Absence of MxA induction by interferon beta in patients with MS reflects complete loss of bioactivity

Interferon beta (IFNb) has been proven to be an effective treatment for MS. However, the response to this treatment is highly variable and often unsatisfactory. It has been proposed that treatment can fail due to the development of neutralising antibodies (NAbs), which seem to hinder or neutralise the therapeutic effects of IFNb. However, there is controversy regarding the effect of NAbs. The authors have shown that, in people with MS treated with IFNb with positive NAbs, the lack of activity of a gene related to the biological effects of IFNb can identify people whose IFNb treatment should be stopped. These results may have important consequences for clinical practice.

authors: Hesse D, Sellebjerg F, Sorensen PS

source: Neurology. 2009 Aug 4;73(5):372-7

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Pilot study of a cognitive intervention program for persons with multiple sclerosis

People with MS may develop cognitive decline which can interfere with normal daily activities. Since no pharmacological treatments have been proven to be effective for cognitive symptoms, rehabilitation strategies aimed at reducing the impact of cognitive decline in daily life are crucial. The authors developed a programme to increase participants' knowledge of their cognitive difficulties and boost their confidence in using self-management strategies. The results of this study were positive, highlighting the potential benefits of programmes designed to teach people with MS how to self-manage cognitive impairments.

authors: Shevil E, Finlayson M

source: Health Educ Res. 2009 Aug 3

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Glatiramer acetate improves regulatory T-cell function by expansion of naive CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+)CD31(+) T-cells in patients with multiple sclerosis

MS is an inflammatory-demyelinating disease with a complex pathogenesis. Amongst several proposed underlying mechanisms, it has been proven that regulatory T-cells appear to be impaired in this disease. Although glatiramer acetate (GA) is an MS treatment best known for its effect on blocking the interaction between myelin and T-cells, additional effects of GA have also been proposed. The authors of this study demonstrated that GA is able to restore the impaired function of regulatory T-cells.

authors: Haas J, Korporal M, Balint B, Fritzsching B, Schwarz A, Wildemann B

source: J Neuroimmunol. 2009 Jul 30

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Chilean MS campaigner nominated for woman of the year

source: Agrupación de Enfermos de Esclerosis Múltiple, Chile

Claudia Opazo Ossandon, founder and spokesperson for Chilean MS group Agrupación de Enfermos de Esclerosis Múltiple, has been nominated for 'Terra Woman of 2009', an online competition run by the Chilean Terra media network.

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Neuropathic Pain awareness campaign

source: MS Ireland

A European-wide awareness campaign has been launched for people suffering from neuropathic pain, a symptom commonly experienced by people with MS.

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Potential treatment for neuropathic pain

source: UK MS Society

A study has identified a molecule that could potentially lead to a new treatment for neuropathic pain, a symptom commonly experienced by people with MS.

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Damaged nerve cells repaired in laboratory

source: UK MS Society

Scientists in the USA appear to have successfully repaired broken nerve connections in laboratory models of spinal cord injury, for the first time. If the technique is developed further it may be applicable to neurological conditions such as MS.

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