May 20, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Early Study Supports Nanoparticle Delivery of LIF Protein to Brain LIF, a protein with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, can be successfully delivered to immune cells in the brain using a nanoparticle formulation, and partially reverses induced paralysis in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a proof-of-concept study has found. These findings validate LIF-loaded nanoparticles as…
May 14, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD MS Therapies That Deplete B-cells Appear to Work Against COVID Immunity B-cell-depleting therapies given to adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) affect the production of antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, a study reported. This finding has “consequences” for immunity in this patient group, whether that immunity follows SARS-CoV-2 infection or…
May 12, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD ‘Mom’s Cure’ Fundraiser Supports Work for Early MS Diagnosis via Eye Exam The Autoimmune Registry (ARI) has opened a fundraiser, called “Cure the Mother’s Disease,” to support the development of a tool that might detect multiple sclerosis (MS) in early stages during an eye exam. This fundraiser, …
May 10, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Lower Intestinal Fatty Acids May Contribute to MS in Women Certain fat molecules produced by gut microbes, which have protective immune-suppressing effects and may protect against multiple sclerosis (MS), are lower in women than in men, a case-control study has found. These findings may explain the greater MS susceptibility observed in women, the scientists…
May 7, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Short Film for Hispanic/Latinx MS Patients Found to Improve Perceptions, Attitudes A short film produced for Hispanic/Latinx people who live with multiple sclerosis (MS) improved patients’ understanding of the condition and the effectiveness of treatment, a study found. “Health communication interventions, like film, have been shown to be effective tools in promoting positive attitudes…
May 5, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Relapsing MS Patients May Fare Better on Zeposia Than Aubagio Treatment with Zeposia (ozanimod) significantly reduces the risk of relapse, decreases the proportion of patients experiencing a relapse, and has a better safety profile than Aubagio (teriflunomide) for people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to an indirect comparison of clinical trial data.
April 15, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Immunic Sets Optimal Dose of Oral IMU-838 for Phase 3 Trials in RRMS Interim data from a Phase 2 trial of Immunic Therapeutics’ investigational oral therapy IMU-838 (vidofludimus calcium) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients has established a once-daily, 30 mg dose as the most appropriate for future Phase 3 trials. The…
April 15, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Harvard Professor Wins Dystel Prize for Uncovering MS Immune Mechanisms The 2021 John Dystel Prize for multiple sclerosis (MS) research has been awarded to Vijay Kuchroo, PhD, a professor at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, for his work in uncovering the underlying immune mechanisms that drive the neurodegenerative disorder. “Professor Kuchroo’s…
April 15, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Ocrevus Use Linked to PML in Man, 78, With PPMS, Case Report Says A 78-year-old man with multiple sclerosis (MS) developed the brain infection progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) after two years of treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), a recent case report detailed. Treatment was discontinued and, as the patient’s symptoms worsened, he was moved to off-label…
March 12, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Mouse Study Finds Potential Treatment for Myelin Repair for MS, Aging A decline in the activity of the GPR17 gene is responsible for age-related brain deterioration caused by the loss of myelin, a fatty substance that surrounds nerve cells like a sheath, a mouse study discovered. Researchers identified a small molecule that rejuvenated…
February 17, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Healthy Diet Linked to Better Mental, Physical Life Quality in Dutch Study A healthy diet led to better physical and mental quality of life in Dutch adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially women, a large survey study found. Substantial amounts of vegetables, fruits, fiber, and healthy fats were associated with better overall…
February 16, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD 2 Biomarkers Found to Predict MS Onset in People with Optic Neuritis An antibody analysis has identified two biomarkers that can be used to predict the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) in people with optic neuritis, a study reports. Further research is, however, required to validate these findings…
February 5, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Estrogen-based Therapy Shows Potential to Protect Vision in Mouse Model An estrogen-based therapy, called indazole chloride (IndCl), was shown to protect against optic nerve damage in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study reported. IndCl may help to improve vision in people with the disease, but…
January 13, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD HTR2A Gene Changes Found Only in Progressive MS May Be New Biomarker Scientists have discovered epigenetic changes in a gene called HTR2A, found only in immune cells isolated from people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), a study reported. These findings suggest that such changes — external modifications to DNA that turn genes…
January 8, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Study: Past Long-term DMT Use Tapers Risk of Current MS Progression Long-term use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) has a beneficial cumulative effect compared to shorter treatments, delaying the development of irreversible disability and conversion to secondary progressive MS (SPMS), a recent study…
January 5, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Myelin Ceramides Altered in MS, Study Finds Levels of myelin sheath components called ceramides are altered in the blood of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and may be linked with retinal degeneration and physical disability, a study has found. Specific ceramides were altered only in those with progressive…
December 7, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Prenatal Stress Linked to Worse MS Outcomes in Adulthood in Mouse Study Exposure to stress before birth can worsen the clinical symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) during adulthood, a study in a mouse model of MS suggested. Investigators also found that prenatal stress can change the levels of a protein critical for neurological development, called…
December 4, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Review Study Examines Factors That Affect MS Patients’ Quality of Life Disability, fatigue, depression, cognitive impairment, and unemployment are primary risk factors for a poor quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent review study. Conversely, higher self-esteem, self-efficacy, resilience, and social support were identified as protective factors for quality of life (QoL).
December 3, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Chronic Lesion Expansion in RRMS Contributes to Disease Progression, Study Reveals The expansion of chronic white matter lesions in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) determined the increase in total lesion volume and significantly contributed to disease progression, a study has revealed. The study, “Expansion of chronic…
December 3, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Nasal Delivery of Interferon-beta at Lower Doses Shows MS Treatment Potential in Mice Nasal delivery of Rebif’s active ingredient interferon-beta, loaded in carbohydrate-based nanoparticles, reduced disease progression and nerve cell inflammation in a preclinical mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study demonstrated. This alternate, non-invasive, low-cost treatment strategy…
December 2, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Aubagio Slows Grey Matter, Whole Brain Atrophy in CIS, Study Finds Studied for the first time, Aubagio (teriflunomide) slowed the loss of cortical grey matter and whole-brain volume in people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) during two years of therapy, a study found. The treatment was especially effective in those without brain lesions before treatment.
November 24, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Tysabri Affects Immune System Beyond Known MS Target, Study Finds Lower levels of pro-inflammatory immune signaling proteins were found in the blood of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) treated with Tysabri (natalizumab) and were associated with fewer relapses and less disability, a study has found.
November 6, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Study Flags Possible DMT Risk for MS Patients Over Age 45 The use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) increased the risk of precancerous growth in those older than 45 years of age, according to an age-related adverse events analysis of several dozen clinical trials. …
November 5, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Tysabri Seen as Superior to Gilenya for RRMS in Limited, Head-to-head Study Adults with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) treated with Tysabri (natalizumab) had fewer new and accumulated lesions, and a lower relapse rate than those treated with Gilenya (fingolimod) for 24 weeks, according to…
November 4, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Myelin Restored on Regenerated Optic Nerve Fibers of Mice in Study Using a two-pronged approach, researchers were able to restore myelin on regenerated nerve fibers in a mouse model of optic nerve injury, which has implications for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases associated with myelin loss, a study reported. The study, “…
October 13, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Human Placental Extract Effectively Treats MS Symptoms in Mouse Study Human placental extract eased clinical symptoms, inflammation, and weight and myelin loss in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study reported. Its researchers proposed that placental extracts be investigated as a way of better managing MS symptoms in people. …
October 9, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Almost Half of US MS Patients Surveyed Report Using Cannabis for Nerve Pain, Sleep In a nationwide survey of cannabis-based therapy use among Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS), almost half of respondents endorsed such products, primarily for nerve-based pain and sleep disturbances, and the perceived benefits for sleep and pain were highly correlated. The reported…
October 7, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Rituximab Seen to Affect How B-cells Return After Treatment Stops Rituximab, an investigational B-cell depletion therapy that target CD20 to treat people with multiple sclerosis (MS), has significant effects on the characteristics of B-cells that return after treatment is stopped, with cells being less mature yet more activated toward a pro-inflammatory state, a study showed. Treatment also…
September 2, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Altered Gut Microbiome, Metabolism Found in Japanese RRMS, SPMS Patients, Study Reveals Alterations in gut bacteria and bacterial metabolism were found in Japanese people at different stages of multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy controls, a study reports. Reduced fatty acid synthesis in gut bacteria found in those with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)…
August 31, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Immune T-cells Trigger Early MS Inflammation, Twin Study Reveals A comparison of immune cells isolated from identical twins — in which only one of each pair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) — identified a population of immune-regulating T-cells present in those with asymptomatic brain inflammation, a study has found. …