News

A specific type of channel that facilitates calcium flow is needed for normal development of cells that produce a shield, called myelin, around nerve fibers — a finding that could open up new approaches to regenerating the myelin-producing cells (called oligodendrocytes) lost in multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers now hope to…

This video from Dulci Hill addresses the topic of walking aids. Many multiple sclerosis patients may feel unstable or fatigued when walking and using a cane, wheeled walker or mobility scooter may help to provide stability, aid balance and help you to get around and keep your independence.

Scientists unraveled the 3-D structure of a key receptor linked to inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) — the CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) receptor — when it is bound to two inhibitor molecules simultaneously. This potentially important finding, which allows scientists to see how these molecules fit together, could aid in developing better therapeutics that…

Researchers monitoring the decomposition of an abundant brain protein, called myelin basic protein (MBP), discovered that this protein breaks down differently in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than it does in those without the disease, particularly in two surface regions, and that difference may be the trigger for immune reactions and myelin…

A new study confirmed the involvement of three genetic variants, or mutations, of the interleukin-23A (IL-23A) gene, and one variant of its receptor IL-23R,  in the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) and other related inflammatory nervous disorders, together known as inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDD). Details of this study, “Characterization of…

Alterations in microorganisms in the brains of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients could contribute to underlying disease mechanisms, including demyelination, according to researchers. The study, “Brain microbiota disruption within inflammatory demyelinating lesions in multiple sclerosis,” was published in the journal Scientific Reports. It is widely recognized that the…

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients now taking part in a Phase 2b clinical trial testing the efficacy and safety of the antibody GNbAC1 will be invited to continue with treatment for two more years under a planned extension study, the biopharmaceutical companies GeNeuro and Servier recently announced. Several MS therapies rely on the capacity of antibodies to…

The less oxygen that a mouse with multiple sclerosis (MS) has in the gray matter of its brain, the more mental and physical deterioration it is likely to have, a new study suggests. The study confirms previous research indicating a connection between low oxygen levels in a mouse’s gray matter and the development…

European users of Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection, Teva Pharmaceutical) to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) will no longer see a warning that the drug should not be used during pregnancy. A report assessing this change in the drug’s marketing authorization within the European Union — a process known as…

The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) is inviting researchers and healthcare professionals to submit abstracts to be presented at its 31st Annual Meeting, focusing on developments in multiple sclerosis (MS) research, patient care and treatment outcomes. The 2017 CMSC meeting, organized by the group’s Continuing Professional Education Committee, will take…

In a new and possibly important insight into the workings of the immune system, researchers discovered what it takes for T-cells to start targeting myelin sheets in multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings may also explain why some drugs fail to prevent autoimmunity in MS. The study, “Trans-presentation…

The risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life may be higher for babies born with low levels of vitamin D, according to a new study in the journal Neurology. The study, “Neonatal Vitamin D Status And Risk Of Multiple Sclerosis – A Population-Based Case-Control Study,” was…

A hormonal system that controls blood pressure was also seen to counter inflammatory processes in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) by influencing immune cells to take on a more anti-inflammatory profile. Researchers believe that it might be possible to manipulate the system with drugs, so as to boost anti-inflammatory…

A new ways of delivering drug therapies directly to the brain, overcoming the limitation imposed by the blood-brain barrier (a permeable barrier that protects the brain), has been discovered. The technique — which makes use of lipid bubbles and ultrasound — may pave the way for new treatments against neurological disorders,…

Data from the CARE-MS II clinical trial showed that Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) can lessen pre-existing disabilities in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who failed to respond adequately to previous disease-modifying therapies, according to a study of the trial’s data. The treatment was evaluated against Rebif (interferon beta-1a) therapy. The study, “Alemtuzumab…

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has released a Draft Evidence Report evaluating the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for patients with relapsing-remitting and primary-progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Through Dec. 21, patients, the public, and other stakeholders can access the 82-page report and…

A molecule secreted by a parasite was seen to prevent autoimmune reactions in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). As this molecule, a protein factor or peptide, also worked to prevent diabetes, researchers suggest it might be developed into a potential treatment for autoimmune diseases. The study, “A parasite-derived 68-mer peptide ameliorates…

Researchers have found neural stem cells (immature cells that can become neurons) in the meninges of the brain, a three-layer structure that protects the nervous system, according to results of a new study. The discovery of this pool of stem cells in the adult brain opens new possibilities for the…

Royal Philips recently announced the introduction of the IntelliSpace Portal 9.0, the latest edition of its advanced comprehensive visual analysis and quantification platform for neurological disorders. The platform was presented at the 2016 Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting (RSNA), taking place through Dec. 2 in Chicago. Currently a work in…

Researchers have found a way to harness inflammation with the help of ultraviolet (UV) light, making it possible to design an anti-inflammatory treatment that is more specific and causes fewer side effects. If this approach can be developed for clinical treatment, it likely will have a large impact on the lives of people with…

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded a $45,000 grant to a team of investigators, led by Tia Walker, PhD, at Indiana University Northwest, to support a research project into the role of copper in multiple sclerosis (MS). The award is a first for IU Northwest, and will allow the team to…

Sutter Health, a not-for-profit healthcare network serving more than 100 northern California communities, has been awarded $1.2 million by the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine (CIAPM) to support patients living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and help improve how health matters are targeted and treated across the entire state.

Palliative care helps to ease the symptoms of serious illnesses, providing people with cancer and those with other life-altering diseases, like multiple sclerosis (MS) or cystic fibrosis, a better quality of life, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In the study, “Association Between Palliative Care And Patient…

A recent study published in Nature Communications showed, for the first time, that a protein complex called LUBAC is responsible for controlling the late-stage development of immune T-cells before they are released into the bloodstream. Several types of cells compose the immune system, working together to fight infections or cancer.

Royal Philips will introduce a new suite of magnetic resonance (MR)-based software applications at the upcoming Radiological Society of North America’s 102nd Scientific Meeting and Annual Assembly (RSNA 2016; #RSNA16) Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 in Chicago. Philips’ Ingenia family of digital MRI systems provides radiologists with a unique set…

Dr. Rebecca Coll, a young researcher at the University of Queensland Institute of Molecular Bioscience, won the 2016 Research Australia Discovery Award for her work in identifying promising anti-inflammatory compounds that are able to block the NLRP3 inflammasome — a key driver of inflammation. The discovery could greatly benefit patients with inflammatory diseases,…

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has launched a new website to make access to information and services easier, and a newly designed MS Focus magazine. MS Focus magazine is the foundation’s publication dedicated to common challenges, solutions, and stories of the…

Magenta Therapeutics has completed its first round of financing, raising $48.5 million to develop ways of bringing bone marrow stem cell transplants to more patients with autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), among other illnesses. The new company aims to develop the first complete platform that can overcome the challenges in stem cell transplants,…

Discovery MS, a nonprofit research initiative based at the David H. Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI) in North Carolina, had its official launch recently, and announced a series of research projects into multiple sclerosis (MS). The initiative uses private funding to advance research aiming to develop new prognostic and diagnostic tools for MS.

AXIM Biotechnologies announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will be issuing a patent covering all cannabinoids — both natural and synthetic —  used in a chewing gum delivery system that may be included in its cannabinoid-containing, controlled-release chewing gum products. The USPTO has given the company a Notice of…