Posts by: Jonathan Grinstein

News

A protein that promotes nervous system repair through remyelination — the creation of myelin, the protective sheath around nerve cells — in mice also is found in remyelinating plaques ... Read more

April 11, 2019April 18, 2019

Higher Vitamin D Levels in Rituximab-treated MS Patients Linked to Lower Inflammatory Activity, Study Suggests

News

Rituximab-treated multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who take vitamin D supplements have less inflammatory activity, a study reports. Increased levels of vitamin D were associated with beneficial treatment outcomes, such as ... Read more

March 19, 2019March 22, 2019

Risk Tolerance for Therapies Linked to Age, Sex and Disability

News

Sex, age, disability level, and current disease-modifying therapy use are linked to how multiple sclerosis (MS) patients weigh the potential benefits and safety risks of treatments, new research from ... Read more

March 18, 2019March 19, 2019

Progressive MS Phase 2 Trial of NurOwn Stem Cell Therapy Enrolls 1st Patient

News

The first patient has been enrolled in a Phase 2 multicenter clinical trial testing the use of NurOwn cellular therapy to treat progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics ... Read more

March 15, 2019March 15, 2019

Cleveland Clinic Nevada Joins DELIVER-MS Trial Assessing RRMS Treatments

News

The Cleveland Clinic Nevada is recruiting participants for DELIVER-MS, a clinical trial comparing two common treatment approaches for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Results from the DELIVER-MS trial, titled “Determining the Effectiveness ... Read more

March 14, 2019March 15, 2019

Non-contrast MRI Effective in Monitoring Progression of MS, Study Shows

News

The evaluation of disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be performed without the use of a contrast agent, new research has shown. These ... Read more

March 12, 2019March 25, 2020

Celgene Seeks Approval in European Union for Ozanimod to Treat Adult RRMS

News

An application has been submitted for the use of ozanimod to treat adult patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) within the European Union, according to Celgene, the developer of ozanimod. The marketing ... Read more

March 7, 2019March 11, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – MSCopilot App Shows Promise as Self-Monitoring Tool

News

MSCopilot, a software device designed for the self-assessment of multiple sclerosis (MS), distinguishes between patients and healthy controls, and potentially could be used in clinical practice for the monitoring of MS ... Read more

March 7, 2019March 12, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Forum Leaders Discuss: ‘Will There Be a Cure for MS?’

News

It is a question that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, loved ones, and the larger community have asked for some time: “Will there be a cure for multiple sclerosis?” MS ... Read more

March 6, 2019March 6, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Game-like Smartphone App Used to Test Neurological Disability in MS

News

In the time necessary to perform a standard multiple sclerosis (MS) functional exam, gamified tests on a smartphone app provide much richer and reliable measurements of several distinct neurological functions, ... Read more

March 5, 2019March 7, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Botox Earns High Marks from Patients, Physicians as Treatment for Spasticity, ASPIRE Follow-up Finds

News

Patients with a range of diseases and disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), report high satisfaction with botulinum toxin — also known as Botox — as a treatment for spasticity, ... Read more

March 5, 2019March 5, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Stem Cell Tourism Poses Threat of Complications for Patients, First US Neurologist Survey Says

News

Academic neurologists are seeing many patients with neurological diseases interested in or receiving unapproved stem cell-based treatments, sometimes with negative health and/or financial consequences, according to a U.S. survey ... Read more

March 5, 2019March 5, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Bacterial Epsilon Toxin Found in MS Patients Triggers MS Disease Features in Rodents

News

The levels of epsilon toxin are increased in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and its presence in laboratory rodents replicated some aspects of disease activity, according to data presented at the ... Read more

March 4, 2019March 4, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Cerebrospinal Fluid, Meninges Inflammation Profile Can Stratify MS Patients

News

A method based on cerebrospinal fluid measurements and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can aid in stratifying patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at the time of diagnosis, which may help ... Read more

March 4, 2019March 4, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Two MRI Biomarkers Can Potentially Distinguish RIS from Other Disorders

News

Two new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers — called central vein sign and paramagnetic rim sign — could be useful for differentiating true radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) patients from ... Read more

March 4, 2019March 9, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Asthma More Common in MS Patients Than Public at Large, Study Finds

News

Asthma is significantly more common among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in the general population, a new study shows. The increased prevalence was especially evident in younger and ... Read more

March 1, 2019March 1, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 — Health-related Quality of Life in MS Patients Linked to Comorbidities

News

There is a need for better diagnosis and treatment management of comorbidities — simultaneously occurring disorders — in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), as shown by the impact these ... Read more

March 1, 2019March 7, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 — Use of Ocrevus at Cleveland Clinic Backs Phase 3 Trial Data

News

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) was shown to be a highly effective therapy for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in real-world clinical practice, according to Brandon Moss, MD, from the Cleveland Clinic. The data ... Read more

March 1, 2019March 1, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Leukocyte Telomere Length Shortening is Predictive of Disability Progression in MS, Study Shows

News

As the protective molecular caps of our genetic information — called telomeres — become shorter in certain immune cells, the extent of multiple sclerosis (MS) disability progression increases, regardless of ... Read more

March 1, 2019March 1, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – RRMS Conversion to SPMS Is Preceded by Spinal Cord Atrophy

News

The rate of spinal cord tissue loss is a strong indicator of conversion from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to secondary progressive MS (SPMS), according to a finding presented at the fourth annual ... Read more

February 28, 2019March 1, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – No Evidence of Disease Activity Seen in POMS Adolescents Taking Rituximab, Small Study Shows

News

Data supporting the off-label use of rituximab in adolescents with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) was presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2019. ... Read more

February 22, 2019March 20, 2019

Aubagio, Tecfidera Show Comparable Effectiveness in Relapsing MS, Real-world Phase 4 Trial Finds

Aubagio, News

Aubagio (teriflunomide) seems to be superior to Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) in slowing whole brain shrinkage in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), a new Phase 4 clinical trial shows. However, Aubagio and Tecfidera ... Read more

February 20, 2019February 22, 2019

Vitamin B12, Folic Acid Supplements Yield Multiple Benefits for MS Patients

News

Vitamins B12 and B9 (folic acid) supplements can lower levels of homocysteine (a common amino acid), improve anemia status, and boost self-reported physical health in patients with multiple sclerosis, according ... Read more

February 19, 2019February 27, 2019

Depression, Psychological Distress Symptoms Significantly Affect MS Patients’ Quality of Life, Study Finds

News

Depression and psychological distress symptoms can have a huge effect on the way multiple sclerosis (MS) patients view their well-being, a new study has found. Since depression and psychological distress ... Read more

February 18, 2019February 20, 2019

Protein That Turns Certain T-cells into Inflammatory Agents Identified in Early Study

News

A protein called Satb1 appears to be the “on switch” that turns a type of T-cell called Th17 from its typical protective role into one that is disease-causing, and ... Read more

February 15, 2019February 15, 2019

Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in Blood of Value as Biomarker of MS Activity and Treatment Response, Study Finds

News

Blood levels of a nerve cell-derived component known as neurofilament light chain (NfL) could be used as a biomarker of disease severity and treatment response in patients with relapsing-remitting ... Read more

February 14, 2019February 18, 2019

FDA Asked to Place Cannabis-based Therapy for Progressive MS on Fast Track, MMJ Holdings Says

News

A request for a potential cannabis-based treatment for multiple sclerosis to be given Fast Track designation, speeding its development as it readies to enter clinical testing, is now before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ... Read more

February 13, 2019February 20, 2019

Early-life Antibiotic Use Disrupts Gut Microbiota and Immune System, MS Rat Study Finds

News

Early-life use of antibiotics disrupts gut microbiota in a rat model of multiple sclerosis (MS) and provokes nervous system autoimmunity, ultimately aggravating disease severity, new research shows. Results also indicate ... Read more

February 12, 2019February 14, 2019

MMP-9 Protein a Possible Marker of PML in Tysabri-treated RRMS Patients, Study Suggests

News

A protein called MMP-9 could be a predictive marker of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy development in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who are being treated with Tysabri (natalizumab), a study suggests. The study, ... Read more

February 11, 2019February 14, 2019

Social Cognition Issues Linked to Damage in Specific Brain Region in RRMS Patients, Study Shows

News

Issues with social cognition can occur in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients even without the presence of cognitive impairment, and are related to damage in a specific brain region known ... Read more

February 11, 2019February 18, 2019

Petition Urges NHS England to Make Ocrevus Available for PPMS Patients

News

More than 21,000 people have signed a petition calling for Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) to be made available by the National Health Service (NHS) in England for people with primary progressive ... Read more

February 8, 2019February 8, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Upcoming Forum Will Include Interactive, Case-based Discussion About MS Therapeutic Landscape

News

The Physicians’ Education Resource will host an interactive, case-based discussion on the latest therapeutics in multiple sclerosis (MS). The free educational program, part of the 2019 Americas Committee for Treatment and ... Read more

February 7, 2019February 12, 2019

Discovery of Immune Cell Subtypes in Mice is an MS ‘Breakthrough,’ Researcher Says

News

Previously unknown immune cell subtypes are present in the inflamed brain of mice models of multiple sclerosis, a new study reports. According to the researchers, these subsets of myeloid cells ... Read more

February 6, 2019February 7, 2019

Traditional Dysphagia Therapy Improves Swallowing Function in MS Patients, Pilot Study Shows

News

Rehabilitation using traditional dysphagia therapy improved swallowing function in multiple sclerosis patients with dysphagia, a pilot study shows. Traditional dysphagia therapy, also known as TDT, is a potential rehabilitation strategy ... Read more

February 5, 2019February 5, 2019

MS May Raise Risk of Deep-vein Blood Clots, Possibly by Limiting Mobility, Study Says

News

People with multiple sclerosis may be twice as likely to develop deep-vein blood clots, a condition known as venous thromboembolism, than healthy people do, a study reports. But data ... Read more

February 4, 2019February 5, 2019

Gait Disorders and Depression at Onset May Delay Time to MS Diagnosis, Study Finds

News

Awareness of certain symptoms, particularly gait disorders and depression, could be critical for reducing the time it takes to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) after a patient first contacts a healthcare ... Read more

February 1, 2019February 4, 2019

Medication Use in RRMS Patients Highlights Importance of Better Treatment Management, Study Says

News

Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), particularly those with multiple conditions who are more severely disabled, are more likely to be using several medications at the same time, a study ... Read more

January 31, 2019February 7, 2019

Anxiety and Depression Linked to Cognitive Issues in MS, Other Diseases, Study Finds

News

Anxiety and depression are associated with lower cognitive abilities in patients with multiple sclerosis other and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis, a study shows. These ... Read more

January 30, 2019March 11, 2019

Canadian RRMS Patients Less Likely to Discontinue Treatment with Oral Gilenya, Compared to Injectable or Infusible Therapies

Aubagio, News

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Canada are more likely to comply with their treatment plan and less likely to discontinue the use of the oral disease-modifying treatment Gilenya (fingolimod), compared ... Read more

January 28, 2019February 1, 2019

Decline in Brain Volume Driven by Gray Matter Atrophy in MS Patients Despite Tysabri Treatment

News

The progressive decline in brain volume in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, despite treatment with the disease-modifying therapy Tysabri (natalizumab), is driven by atrophy — shrinkage due to the degeneration of cells ... Read more