Posts by: Jose Marques Lopes, PhD

Jose Marques Lopes, PhD

August 13, 2018August 13, 2018

Treating Patients’ Perceived Stress and Poor Sleep Important as Both Fuel Depression, Study Reports

News

Patients’ perceptions of stress and sleep quality are both linked to their sense of cognitive difficulties and depression, and focusing on these perceptions may be a ... Read more

August 10, 2018August 10, 2018

Hair Loss Seen in RRMS Patients Using Aubagio Often Temporary and Mild, Study Says

News

Hair thinning in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients using Aubagio is usually mild and temporary, and does not require stopping treatment, a small real-world study reports. The research, ... Read more

August 6, 2018August 6, 2018

Loss of Specific microRNA Seen to Lessen Disease Severity and Myelin Loss in MS Mouse Model

News

Removing a specific microRNA molecule — miR-150 – eased disease severity, inflammation, and loss of myelin in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers report. ... Read more

July 30, 2018July 30, 2018

African-Americans Show Better Adherence and Satisfaction with Gilenya Than Injectable DMTs, Phase 4 Study Finds

News

African-Americans with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) show higher adherence and greater satisfaction when treated with oral Gilenya (fingolimod, by Novartis) than with injectable therapies, according to a ... Read more

July 25, 2018July 26, 2018

Immune Response Promotes Remyelination in MS Mouse Model

News

Activation of the immune response mediated by cells called microglia favors remyelination and myelin repair in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new Canadian study using ... Read more

July 19, 2018July 19, 2018

Blocking Protein Receptor Called M3R Seen to Promote Remyelination in Mice Model, Study Reports

News

Blocking a protein receptor called muscarinic type 3 (M3R) could be an effective way to promote remyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, according to a State University ... Read more

July 11, 2018July 18, 2018

Rate of Brain Volume Loss Not Adequate as Marker of Treatment Effectiveness in MS Patients, Study Reports

News

Brain volume loss takes place at a faster rate in the first five years of multiple sclerosis than later in disease course, researchers report in a study ... Read more

July 9, 2018July 10, 2018

NICE Agrees to Add Ocrevus to NHS for RRMS Patients in England and Wales, But Scotland Will Not

News

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients with active disease may now be treated with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab, developed by Genentech) within the National Health Service (NHS) — the subsidized ... Read more

July 9, 2018July 11, 2018

#EAN2018 – Spinal Cord Atrophy Better Marker of Physical Disability in SPMS Than Brain Volume Loss, Study Reports

News

Atrophy seen in areas of the spinal cord is a better predictor of physical disability in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients than loss of brain ... Read more

July 6, 2018July 10, 2018

Medical Cannabis Favored to Treat MS Spasticity and Other Ills by Doctors in Australia, Survey Finds

News

Most general practitioners in Australia favor prescribing medical cannabis to treat spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) or pain in select other diseases, but are not allowed to ... Read more

July 5, 2018July 5, 2018

Cannabidiol Compound, EHP-101, Seen to Prevent Nerve Cell Damage in MS Mouse Model

News

An investigational cannabidiol-derived compound called EHP-101 may help to boost remyelination, prevent nerve cell damage and lower the reactivity of microglia cells — immune cells of ... Read more

June 11, 2018June 11, 2018

Vagus Nerve Signals Could Work as ‘Early Warning System’ for Inflammation in MS and Other Disease, Study Says

News

A new way of interpreting inflammatory signals using the vagus nerve — which carries such signals from throughout the body to the brain — has been ... Read more

June 7, 2018June 8, 2018

Atrophy of Brain Lesions Predicts Disability in MS, 10-year Study Finds

News

Atrophy (shrinkage) of brain lesions correlates with physical disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), new research reports. The study, “Atrophied Brain Lesion Volume: A New ... Read more

June 1, 2018June 7, 2018

Chemical that Stimulates Estrogen Receptors Seen to Promote Myelin Repair Through ‘Good’ Inflammation in Mouse MS Model

News

A chemical compound called indazole chloride promotes repair of myelin, the protective layer of nerve fibers, through “beneficial” inflammation in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis ... Read more

May 25, 2018May 25, 2018

2 Common Tests Used to Assess Deficits in MS Produce Different Results, Study Finds

News

Learning impairments in multiple sclerosis (MS) are detected differently by the two most commonly used neuropsychological tests, a new study by the Kessler Foundation shows. The ... Read more

May 24, 2018May 24, 2018

Brain Stimulation Done at Slower Rates May Be Best for MS and Other Patients as Neurons ‘Tire,’ Study Says

News

A non-invasive procedure using magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain may be more effective in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and other patients if the rate of stimulation is ... Read more

May 17, 2018May 17, 2018

Impact of Early Aggressive vs. Standard Therapy on Disability in RRMS To Be Tested in Trial

News

A Johns Hopkins University-initiated clinical trial is starting to enroll an estimated 900 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients to assess the benefits of switching therapies to prevent ... Read more

May 14, 2018May 14, 2018

B-Cell Changes May Predict Conversion from Clinically Isolated Syndrome to MS, Study Suggests

News

B-cell alterations in peripheral blood may predict the conversion of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to multiple sclerosis (MS), a recent study suggests. Conducted in Turkey, the ... Read more

May 11, 2018May 11, 2018

Akili to Advance Potential Video Game-Based Therapies for MS, Other Disorders

News

Akili Interactive announced it has received a $55 million in financing to develop a digital platform to possibly treat people with cognitive impairment associated with diseases like multiple ... Read more

May 10, 2018May 10, 2018

Molecule Whose Fragments Appear to Block Myelin Repair Identified in Study

News

A molecule responsible for preventing the repair of white matter in the brain, a process critical to treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and cerebral palsy, has been identified. ... Read more

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018

Subtle Myelin Damage May Occur Before Inflammatory Reactions in MS, Study Suggests

News

Subtle changes in myelin, the protective layer of nerve fibers, may be an early event in multiple sclerosis (MS) prior to the inflammatory reaction, a new ... Read more

May 4, 2018May 4, 2018

Fracking Chemicals May Lead to Earlier Onset, More Severe MS, Mouse Study Suggests

News

Exposure to fracking chemicals during pregnancy may aggravate multiple sclerosis (MS) severity and induce an earlier start of symptoms, a new study in mice suggests. The ... Read more

May 4, 2018May 4, 2018

Patients’ Walking Abilities in ‘Real-Life’ Ably Measured Using Wearable Sensors in UK Study

News

Pairing wearable sensors with a computer program enables effective monitoring of the way multiple sclerosis (MS) patients walk in “real life,” potentially helping clinicians to better ... Read more

May 1, 2018

Livestock Disease Toxin May Lead to Development of MS, Study Suggests

News

Exposure to epsilon toxin (ETX), which is mainly found in livestock, could be linked to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), new research suggests. The study, ... Read more

April 30, 2018April 30, 2018

#AAN2018 – New AAN Guideline Favors Advising Patients to Use DMTs Early in Disease Course

News

A new American Academy of Neurology (AAN) guideline recommends that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in general be counseled to start treatment with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) as ... Read more

April 27, 2018April 27, 2018

#AAN2018 – Siponimod Lessens Risk of SPMS Progression Independent of Relapses, Trial Data Show

News

Novartis’ investigational oral treatment siponimod (BAF312) reduces the risk of disability progression in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), a new analysis of Phase 3 trial ... Read more

April 23, 2018April 23, 2018

Epstein-Barr Virus May Increase Risk of MS, Other Diseases, Study Reports

News

Infection with the common Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), a new report from the  Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center says. Besides ... Read more

April 20, 2018May 21, 2018

#AAN2018 – Ocrevus Data Support Sustained Efficacy, Ability to Aid Cognition in RMS Patients

News, Ocrevus

Treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) shows sustained efficacy and an ability to improve cognition in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to data being presented by Genentech, ... Read more

April 12, 2018April 12, 2018

US, Australia Issue Patents on Sonde’s Voice-analysis Technology for Diagnosing Diseases

News

The United States and Australia have issued patents on Sonde Health‘s voice-analysis technology for diagnosing and monitoring multiple sclerosis and other diseases that affect speech. Sonde, which has ... Read more

April 10, 2018April 10, 2018

Professor Earns Research Award for Establishing Use of MRI to Improve MS Diagnosis, Understanding

News

Professor Frederik Barkhof, MD, PhD, has won the 2018 John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research for pioneering the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to ... Read more

April 9, 2018April 9, 2018

#CMSC2018 – Closing Lecture to Focus on Best Use of DMTs

News

When and how to best use disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis depends on key treatment decisions that, partly because the number of DMTs available, can be as ... Read more

April 6, 2018April 11, 2018

New MS Therapy Company, Pipeline, to Focus on Rejuvenating Coating That Protects Nerve Cells

News

A new company called Pipeline Therapeutics will focus on developing next-generation therapies for regenerating the key nerve-protection process that is damaged in multiple sclerosis. Roche, Inception ... Read more

April 5, 2018April 5, 2018

1st Patient Enrolls in Phase 3 Trial of ADS-5102 as Way of Improving Walking Ability, Adamas Announces

News

A Phase 3 trial testing an oral once-a-day therapy — ADS-5102 (amantadine) extended release capsules — in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with walking difficulties has enrolled its ... Read more

April 3, 2018April 4, 2018

Pain Treatment During Labor Does Not Increase Risk of MS Relapses After Delivery, Study Finds

News

A certain type of pain-relief treatment during childbirth does not increase the risk that women with multiple sclerosis will have relapses after delivering, a European study reports. ... Read more

March 28, 2018March 28, 2018

Flex Pharma’s MS Treatment Candidate FLX-787 Improves Cramps, Stiffness, Phase 2 Trial Shows

News

Topline results of an exploratory Phase 2 clinical trial revealed that Flex Pharma‘s treatment candidate FLX-787 improves muscle cramps, spasms and muscle stiffness in patients with multiple ... Read more

March 22, 2018March 22, 2018

Evidence Supports Safety, Effectiveness of Medical Cannabis in MS, Cancer, Other Diseases

News

Medical cannabis is a safe and effective treatment for pain relief and should be integrated into current clinical practice, according to a new evidence overview. Benefits ... Read more

March 20, 2018March 20, 2018

Treatment with Umbilical Cord Stem Cells Safe with Sustained Benefits for MS, Trial Shows

News

Treatment with umbilical cord stem cells was found to be safe and leads to sustained improvements in disability and brain lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, according ... Read more

March 19, 2018March 19, 2018

Poorer Sense of Smell Can Be Evident Even in Early Stages of MS, Study Says

News

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) can indeed have a poorer-than-usual sense of smell, with problems possibly starting at early diseases stages, a small Turkish study reports. ... Read more

March 14, 2018March 14, 2018

MMJ BioScience Obtains First Canadian License to Produce Medical Cannabis

News

MMJ Bio Science has become the first company to obtain a Canadian license to produce medical cannabis, with the initial authorization covering products for multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s disease. The Health ... Read more

March 13, 2018March 13, 2018

High Levels of Protein Can Disrupt Blood-Brain Barrier in MS, Study Finds

News

High levels of a protein called calnexin in the brain may disrupt the blood-brain barrier of patients with multiple sclerosis, a Canadian study suggests. The finding ... Read more