July 9, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #EAN2018 – Spinal Cord Atrophy Better Marker of Physical Disability in SPMS Than Brain Volume Loss, Study Reports 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 volume, a new study reports. The research was presented at the 4th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), recently held in Lisbon,…
July 6, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Medical Cannabis Favored to Treat MS Spasticity and Other Ills by Doctors in Australia, Survey Finds 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 under current laws and say they know little about its use, according to results of a national survey. A study based on its…
July 5, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Cannabidiol Compound, EHP-101, Seen to Prevent Nerve Cell Damage in MS Mouse Model 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 the brain and spinal cord — a study in mouse models of multiple sclerosis (MS) reports. EHP-101, being developed by Emerald Health…
June 11, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Vagus Nerve Signals Could Work as ‘Early Warning System’ for Inflammation in MS and Other Disease, Study Says A new way of interpreting inflammatory signals using the vagus nerve — which carries such signals from throughout the body to the brain — has been found, a study reports. This finding raises the possibility of having a kind of “early warning system” for inflammation, a damaging process in such…
June 7, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Atrophy of Brain Lesions Predicts Disability in MS, 10-year Study Finds 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 Imaging Biomarker in Multiple Sclerosis,” was published in the Journal of Neuroimaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are used routinely on MS patients…
June 1, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Chemical that Stimulates Estrogen Receptors Seen to Promote Myelin Repair Through ‘Good’ Inflammation in Mouse MS Model 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 (MS), a study reports. The preclinical research, “Increase in chemokine CXCL1 by ERβ ligand treatment is a key mediator in…
May 25, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD 2 Common Tests Used to Assess Deficits in MS Produce Different Results, Study Finds 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 research, titled “Comparing the Open Trial – Selective Reminding Test results with the California Learning Verbal Test II in multiple…
May 24, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Brain Stimulation Done at Slower Rates May Be Best for MS and Other Patients as Neurons ‘Tire,’ Study Says 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 slowed, a new study suggests, finding that neurons “tire” with overstimulation and may fail to respond. The research, “Less might be…
May 17, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Impact of Early Aggressive vs. Standard Therapy on Disability in RRMS To Be Tested in Trial 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 or reduce disability. The TREAT-MS study (NCT03500328) will evaluate whether RRMS patients with disease activity while on a traditional first-line disease-modifying therapy…
May 14, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD B-Cell Changes May Predict Conversion from Clinically Isolated Syndrome to MS, Study Suggests 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 study, “Peripheral blood memory B cell frequency predicts conversion from clinically isolated syndrome to multiple sclerosis,” was published in…
May 11, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Akili to Advance Potential Video Game-Based Therapies for MS, Other Disorders 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 sclerosis (MS). The company is focused on creating products with therapeutic potential based on high-quality video game experiences. The financing was led…
May 10, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Molecule Whose Fragments Appear to Block Myelin Repair Identified in Study 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. The research, “A TLR/AKT/FoxO3 immune-tolerance like pathway disrupts the repair capacity of oligodendrocyte progenitors,” was published in The Journal…
May 9, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Subtle Myelin Damage May Occur Before Inflammatory Reactions in MS, Study Suggests 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 University of Calgary study shows. The study, “Biochemically altered myelin triggers autoimmune demyelination,” was published in the journal Proceedings…
May 4, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Fracking Chemicals May Lead to Earlier Onset, More Severe MS, Mouse Study Suggests 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 study, “Developmental Exposure to a Mixture of 23 Chemicals Associated With Unconventional Oil and Gas Operations Alters the Immune System…
May 4, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Patients’ Walking Abilities in ‘Real-Life’ Ably Measured Using Wearable Sensors in UK Study 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 evaluate treatments and judge disability, a small U.K. study reports. The research, “Free-living and laboratory gait characteristics in patients with multiple…
May 1, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Livestock Disease Toxin May Lead to Development of MS, Study Suggests 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, “Evidence of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin associated with multiple sclerosis,” appeared in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal. ETX is one of…
April 30, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AAN2018 – New AAN Guideline Favors Advising Patients to Use DMTs Early in Disease Course 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 early as possible. Considerations on switching and stopping treatments are also presented in the guideline. The report, “Practice guideline recommendations…
April 27, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AAN2018 – Siponimod Lessens Risk of SPMS Progression Independent of Relapses, Trial Data Show 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 results show. Using what the company describes as more accurate methods to assess siponimod effect’s on progression risk, necessary because the…
April 23, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Epstein-Barr Virus May Increase Risk of MS, Other Diseases, Study Reports 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 MS, the Epstein-Barr virus also raises the risk for six other disorders: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, inflammatory…
April 20, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AAN2018 – Ocrevus Data Support Sustained Efficacy, Ability to Aid Cognition in RMS Patients 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, the drug’s developer. The company will detail these findings in a series of oral and poster sessions at the 2018 American Academy…
April 12, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD US, Australia Issue Patents on Sonde’s Voice-analysis Technology for Diagnosing Diseases 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 dubbed its invention vocal biomarker technology, said the U.S. patent is 9,936,914 and the Australian one 2014374349. Both patents cover Sonde’s…
April 10, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Professor Earns Research Award for Establishing Use of MRI to Improve MS Diagnosis, Understanding 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 improve multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and understanding of the disease. The prize, decided by a peer committee, is awarded annually by…
April 9, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #CMSC2018 – Closing Lecture to Focus on Best Use of DMTs 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 challenging for clinicians as they are for patients. DMTs and their optimal use will be covered in the closing lecture of the…
April 6, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD New MS Therapy Company, Pipeline, to Focus on Rejuvenating Coating That Protects Nerve Cells 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 Sciences, and the venture capital firm Versant Ventures laid the groundwork for Pipeline by establishing a partnership in June 2014 that formed the…
April 5, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD 1st Patient Enrolls in Phase 3 Trial of ADS-5102 as Way of Improving Walking Ability, Adamas Announces 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 first participant, Adamas Pharmaceuticals announced. The multi-center, double-blind study (NCT03436199) will assess ADS-5102 in about 570 such patients at five sites…
April 3, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Pain Treatment During Labor Does Not Increase Risk of MS Relapses After Delivery, Study Finds 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. The research involved treatments called neuraxial analgesia, so the scientists titled their study “Neuraxial analgesia is not associated with an increased risk of…
March 28, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Flex Pharma’s MS Treatment Candidate FLX-787 Improves Cramps, Stiffness, Phase 2 Trial Shows 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 sclerosis (MS). The double-blinded trial, conducted in Australia, evaluated an oral dose of 19 mg FLX-787, taken twice daily in liquid…
March 22, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Evidence Supports Safety, Effectiveness of Medical Cannabis in MS, Cancer, Other Diseases 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 also include reduced spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. The overview, titled “Special Issue: Cannabis in Medicine,” was published in the…
March 20, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Treatment with Umbilical Cord Stem Cells Safe with Sustained Benefits for MS, Trial Shows 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 to a clinical trial. The study, “Clinical feasibility of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis,” was…
March 19, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Poorer Sense of Smell Can Be Evident Even in Early Stages of MS, Study Says 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. This work supports previous research noting olfactory problems in MS patients. It also argues that longer disease duration and more relapses are associated…