Inflammation Fighters in Blood Cells Seen to Attack in Entirely New Way
To reach tissues infected with foreign agents, neutrophils, the body’s first line of defense, need to travel through vessel walls —…
Articles by Inês Martins, PhD
Gilenya-like Therapy Shows Benefit in Secondary Progressive MS Patients in Phase 3 Trial
Patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) who were treated with BAF312 (siponimod), a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) inhibitor, in a Phase…
Only 47% of Primary Care Doctors in England ‘Confident’ in Treating MS Patients
General practitioners (GPs) in England lack confidence in initially assessing and referring onward people with neurological symptoms, especially those with multiple sclerosis,…
Umbilical Cord Blood-derived Cell Therapy Promotes Remyelination in Mice
A cell therapy product derived from human umbilical cord blood cells may be a promising treatment approach for patients with…
MS Progression Slower in People Who Begin Betaseron Therapy at First Signs of Disease, 11-Year Study Says
Relapsing multiple sclerosis patients who begin taking Betaferon/Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) immediately after the first MS-related neurologic symptoms appear may realize slower…
Improving Confidence of RRMS Patients May Enhance Quality of Life, Decrease Depression, Study Finds
Increasing a person’s confidence that they can complete tasks and reach goals in specific situations may benefit patients with relapsing-remitting…
Tysabri’s Success in Impairing the Immune System in RRMS May Be Source of Its Problems
Although Tysabri (natalizumab) is a highly effective in treating patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), some may develop progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy…
Best First-Line Treatment for Aggressive MS May Be Equally Aggressive Immunotherapies
Patients with aggressive onset multiple sclerosis, characterized by a rapidly progressing disease course and accumulation of disability, may benefit from…
Cornell Scientists Tag and Track Lipid Signaling in Cells, a Possible Force in MS Development
Understanding lipid signaling in multiple sclerosis (MS) may be the key to developing more effective therapies for the disease. New…
Genentech Enrolling Relapsing MS Patients in Study of Mechanism of Action for Ocrevus
In addition to a new study sponsored by Genentech to test the experimental MS therapy Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in RMS patients who have had…
Increasing Disability in MS Matched by Rising Financial, Personal and Work-related Burdens
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the U.S. with higher disability scores also have higher rates of health resource utilization, higher healthcare…
Disease Modifying Drugs Seen to Help Protect MS Patients with Benign Status from Greater Disability
Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and people diagnosed with the disease at a younger age are more likely to have a…
Study of Potential Therapy for Relapsing MS That Targets B-Cells Now Recruiting Patients in US
Patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) are being recruited for a clinical trial evaluating an experimental monoclonal antibody called ublituximab, the National MS Society…
Study That May Benefit MS Patients Awarded Grant from National Stem Cell Foundation
A research project that aims to explore how astrocytes can be manipulated to stop or prevent neurodegeneration has received a…
Gut Microbiome in MS Patients Seen to Favor Inflammatory Bacteria in Study
A link indeed appears to exist between multiple sclerosis (MS) and unusual changes in the bacterial composition of the gut, according to…
Side Effects and Convenience of MS Therapies Seen to Determine Patients’ Adherence to Them
Despite the existence of several disease-modifying drugs for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), patients’ satisfaction plays a critical role in…
Brain Atrophy in MS Patients May Soon Be More Easily and Routinely Examined
Detecting brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients requires high quality scans, too expensive and complicated for routine clinical use. But…
ICER Draft Report Evaluating Therapies for RRMS Now Open for Public Comment
The Institute of Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) released the early draft of a paper intended to inform a future report evaluating the…
Tremors Linked to MS Poorly Treated with Symptomatic Medication, Study Finds
Disabling tremors can affect as many as half of all people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but they are inadequately treated because…
Childhood Obesity Linked to Higher Risk of Multiple Sclerosis, Possibly by Altering Vitamin D Levels
Obese children and young adults appear to be at a considerably higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to researchers…
Vaccine to Treat Multiple Sclerosis Showing Promise and Soon to Enter Phase 3 Clinical Testing
A therapeutic vaccine for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), called Xemys, is showing positive results in pre-clinical and clinical trials, and is…
1st Potential Therapy for Primary Progressive MS, Ocrelizumab, Under Priority Review by FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is giving priority review to a request to approve Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) as a treatment for both…
Fingolimod (Gilenya) Seen to Promote Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Mice, Aiding Remyelination
Fingolimod (Gilenya), a drug approved for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to prevent neuroinflammation, may also help these patients…
Study Finds PoNS Neurostimulator Plus Physical Therapy of Benefit to Advanced MS Patients
Helius Medical Technologies announced results of a pilot study, demonstrating the benefits of PoNS Therapy — a combination of the investigational…
Fatigue That Troubles MS Patients Linked to Other Ills Stemming from the Disease
Fatigue, the most commonly reported symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), is associated with disease comorbidities such as depression, irritable…
New PET Tracers May Work to Detect Neuroinflammation in Brains of MS Patients
Novel molecular imaging compounds that detect neuroinflammation in the brain of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have been developed by researchers at…
Myelination Relies on Mechanical Stimuli Like That Used for Bone Repair, Study Finds
Researchers at the University of Buffalo’s Hunter James Kelly Research Institute (HJKRI) discovered that the cells that form myelin in the…
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Targeting Immune Cells Begins Phase 1 Trial
Arrien Pharmaceuticals has initiated Phase 1 clinical trials of their first agent, ARN-6039, a molecule that targets a specific subset…
#CMSC16 – Tai Chi Shown to Improve Balance and Strength in MS Patients
Researchers at Texas Woman’s University identified tai chi as a beneficial therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with impaired balance,…
#CMSC16 – MS Patients’ Speech Limitations and Difficulty in Swallowing May Be Measured Through Phoneme Rate Production
Researchers from Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital found that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who complain of speech limitations or difficulty in swallowing…