News

A new and potentially important mechanism in the development of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis was discovered by scientists at the University of Freiburg, Germany. They identify a protein, called Caveolin-1, that is essential to immune cells called B-cells working as intended to protect a person from pathogens or — in its absence…

British military personnel are at significantly higher risk of dying from multiple sclerosis than people in other occupations, a study reports. University of Southampton researchers had done a previous study of mortality rates by occupation by checking records of residents of England and Wales. They noticed that the death rate among MS patients in the armed forces was much higher than that of people in other professions over three successive decades. MS has a genetic component but is also influenced by environmental factors, including vitamin D deficiency, smoking and certain viruses. Researchers wanted to learn why so many military people die of MS, and the causes. The team looked at the death records of men aged 20-74 between 1979 and 2010. They compared military people's MS-related mortality rates and death rates from all motor neuron diseases with those of other occupations. They also compared rates across social classes, which in the military presumably means lower-ranking enlisted people, higher-ranking enlisted people, and officers. They discovered that the MS-related mortality rate among military people was significantly higher than in other professions. The death rate from MS was also significantly higher than the rate from all motor neuron diseases in the armed forces. Interestingly, military people did not have a higher MS-related death rate when the team divided those in the study into three social classes or when they compared the armed forces mortality rate to those of similar occupations, such as police and fire services. The consistency of the findings, together with the high statistical significance observed, indicated that the results were not due to simple chance or a problem with the study method, the team said. They speculated that the higher military death rate could stem from the close proximity in which military personnel live and work, which could facilitate the transmission of infections that have the potential to cause MS. The results conflicted with those of a study that analyzed hospital admissions due to MS in a population of former military personnel. It reported no increased incidence of MS-related admissions in former military people, compared with non-military controls. Since such cohort studies are less prone to bias, the Southampton team called for more research on the topic.

of the neurons.

The online multiple sclerosis community GeneFo will hold a webinar next week to discuss the latest research findings on how mitochondrial antioxidants may affect MS. The webinar, which will be open to patients who register, will start at 1 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, Aug. 24. GeneFo…

The Twin Cities MuckFest MS is set for Saturday at the Scott County Fair in Jordan, Minnesota. All money raised in the event will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to support its work in helping people living with multiple sclerosis and in advancing research toward better treatments and a cure. The MuckFest MS is a fun mud run that has raised millions for the Society, and requires no special training or equipment — the only things needed, organizers says, are sneakers, a sense of humor and a willingness to get a little mucky. Participants run on a designed 5K course that features super-sized obstacles and lots of mud. A first wave of runners in the Aug. 19 event will take to the course at 9 a.m., followed by successive groups every 20 minutes throughout the day. "We muck it because … We want to end MS," MuckFest MS proclaims on its webpage. "Even though the event is built for laughs from start to finish, we’re on a serious mission to advance cutting-edge research and support the life-changing work of the National MS Society." Runners are advised to wear closed-toe sneakers, and cleats of any kind are not permitted. An older of soiled choice of clothing is welcome, but should be clothes that won't restrict movement and will provide protection as runners move through the obstacles. Pants or shorts are acceptable. Many muckers, organizers say, choose to wear thin work or athletic gloves to better grip obstacles and ropes. All MuckFest MS events are held in wet muddy fields, so there is little flat terrain. They are not ADA-standard accessible, wheelchair runners will have to move through grass and dirt. The organizers, however, promise to do their best to make portions of the event accessible to people with disabilities. Participation is $105 on the day of event, plus processing fee, and those planning to register Saturday are asked to arrive by 10 a.m. Online registration is now closed. Spectators are welcome without charge. According to the MS Society, "the MuckFest MS runners and volunteers have raised over $27 million to support the life-changing work of the National MS Society" to date. "That means more cutting-edge research and continued support for people living with MS in your community." Multiple Sclerosis News Today plans to interview an event participant — Beth Kantor, a retired nurse from Plymouth, Minnesota, who has relapsing MS — after the event. Kantor is also volunteering at this year's MuckFest MS, helping others as they too take to the course. The first wave/start time is at 9:00 a.m Saturday, August 19, and then every 20 minutes throughout the day. More information, including a look at the obstacles, is available here. A blog by past Muckfesters, offering ideas and suggestions, is also available. MuckFest MS runs take place in a dozen U.S. cities each year. AbbVie is the national sponsor, and local sponsors for MuckFest MS 2017 include Acorda and Genentech. A national event sponsor is The Traveler Beer Co.

Health Canada has approved Ocrevus for the treatment of adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with active disease, Roche Canada announced. The approval followed the positive results from the Phase 3 OPERA studies, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of Ocrevus in 825 patients with RRMS. The OPERA 1 and OPERA 2 trials showed that Ocrevus significantly reduced disease activity and disability progression of RRMS patients, with annual relapse rates falling by almost half. Moreover, Ocrevus outperformed Rebif, the standard of care in MS, in slowing worsening of disability and significantly reducing lesions seen on MRI scans over a two-year treatment period. "Ocrevus is a major addition to the treatment options available for MS. The RRMS Ocrevus clinical trial data show a significant reduction in relapses and disease progression, as well as a good safety profile," Daniel Selchen, a neurologist and head of the Division of Neurology at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, said in a press release. "For appropriate patients, Ocrevus will be of great value in reducing the burden of MS." The treatment's approval, however, did not extend to — or mention — people with primary progressive MS, in contrast to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's action in March, which approved Ocrevus for both MS forms. Health Canada did not give address PPMS in its announcement. Estimates are that 100,000 Canadians are currently living with MS, and most have the relapsing form. A number welcomed Ocrevus' arrival for what it offers in their fight against this disease.

The risk of people with multiple sclerosis developing cancer is higher if they have used immunosuppressants than if they haven’t, according to a study that followed more than 1,000 patients for a decade. The findings indicate that the often discussed association between MS and cancer may stem from older types of…

A new study highlights a crucial role for the enzyme protein tyrosine phosphatase N2 in the development of early immune T-cells, and suggests that decreased levels of this enzyme can lead to the production of subsets of T-cells that contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. T-cells, which are a type of immune cells that fight infection, are composed of multiple subsets that have different roles in immunity. Researchers at Monash University set out to characterize the role of PTPN2 in early T-cell development and in the development of T-cell subsets αβ TCR and γδ TCR. To do this, researchers deleted the gene coding for PTPN2 and looked at the resulting T-cell population. Results demonstrated that the deletion of PTPN2 led to the production of γδ T-cells with pro-inflammatory properties that have been associated with many autoimmune diseases by inhibiting certain pathways that regulate proper T-cell development. “This is an important advance in our understanding of critical checkpoints in T-cell development,” Tony Tiganis, principal research fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Monash University in Australia, said in a press release. “It helps decide whether the progenitors go on to become T-cells or something else; if they become one type of T-cell or another type.” Interestingly, there are already drugs that target some of the pathways that PTPN2 regulates, which could lead to the use of existing drugs to treat some of these autoimmune diseases, including MS. “Understanding the mechanisms that govern early T-cell development and how these are altered in human disease may ultimately afford opportunities for novel treatments. This is very exciting,” said Florian Wiede, a post-doctoral candidate at Monash and first author of the study.

Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients have larger quantities of certain antibodies to the stomach ulcer bacterium Helicobacter pylori than those with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RMSS), finds a Greek study which also showed that MS patients in general differ from healthy people in this aspect. Although researchers at the University of Thessaly think…

A patient satisfaction evaluation of three autoinjector devices for delivering multiple sclerosis treatments found that Bayer’s electronic autoinjector Betaconnect was the choice of 57 percent of the 85 people who took part in the study. Higher satisfaction with an autoinjector can lead to better adherence, or patients sticking with treatment,…

The Americas Committee for the Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, otherwise known as ACTRIMS, says its third annual ACTRIMS Forum will take place Feb. 1-3, 2018, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, California. These forums bolster the ACTRIMS mission, which is to foster the careers of young researchers interested in MS by promoting mentor relationships with senior scientists, and giving promising investigators a chance to present their early research findings. ACTRIMS 2017 was a record-breaking year with over 800 people attending. Organizers say 1,000 people will attend this year's conference. The 2018 forum's theme is “Therapeutic Targets in MS: The Frontier and the Future of Disease Modifying Therapy.” ACTRIMS 2018 also features continuing medical education credits for attendees, as well as participation grants for applicable young investigators.

Atara Biotherapeutics recently published an update of the company’s quarterly financial results and operational highlights, including the advancement of its T-cell based immunotherapy strategies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and cancer. One of the investigational therapies featured in the report is ATA188, a potential treatment for MS.

A bacteria present in the gut, called Prevotella histicola, prevented multiple sclerosis from developing in a preclinical mouse model, found researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, along with colleagues at the University of Iowa. Current research suggests that alterations to the gut microbiome residing in human intestines may potentially trigger inflammatory diseases such as MS. In an attempt to identify which gut resident bacteria are capable of modulating immune responses, researchers studied cultured small pieces of intestine tissue extracted from biopsies of patients with celiac disease. The team then isolated three bacteria strains and found that one of species — P. histicola — had the capacity to suppress MS in a preclinical animal model of the disease. “This is an early discovery but an avenue that bears further study," Dr. Joseph Murray, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and the study's lead author, said in a press release. "If we can use the microbes already in the human body to treat human disease beyond the gut itself, we may be onto a new era of medicine. We are talking about bugs as drugs." By investigating how P. histicola modulated immune responses to suppress MS, researchers found that bacteria decreased the expression of two pro-inflammatory cytokines – interferon-gamma and interleukin (IL)-17. Overall results show that P. histicola has immune modulatory activity and can suppress abnormal immune responses, which ultimately prevent autoimmunity. This supports the idea that maintaining a healthy microbial community within our intestines is a potential therapeutic strategy for MS. "Our work is a classic example of a bedside-to-bench and potentially back to bedside study. Recent MS microbiome studies have shown the lack of Prevotella genus in patients with the disease and an increase when patients were treated with disease-modifying drugs," said Ashutosh Mangalam, the study's first author and an assistant professor of pathology at University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine. "And it's not just for MS, because this may have a similar modulating effect on other nervous system and autoimmune diseases."

Children with multiple sclerosis consume less iron, which may affect their immune and nervous systems, according to a study. Most MS cases occur between the ages of 20 and 40, but sometimes children under 18 develop it. Pediatric-onset MS, as it is called, is believed to account for 3 to 5 percent of cases that adults have now. Despite their low frequency, they are important because "the study of factors early in life which could affect their disease may provide important insight into the disease more generally," the researchers from the Network of Pediatric MS Centers wrote. One of the factors that could be important in the onset of MS is diet. But little has been known about how diet influences the risk and progression of the disease, particularly in pediatric MS. In a study funded by the National MS Society, researchers decided to investigate the association between diet and MS in children, according to a press release. The team recruited 312 MS patients 18 and younger from 16 children's hospitals in the United States, and 456 controls without MS. The participants, or their parents, answered a questionnaire dealing with the participants' medical history, their physical development, and whether they were exposed to potentially harmful environmental factors. The questionnaire also covered demographic information and race. Researchers used the Block Kids Food Screener questionnaire to obtain information about the participants' diets, including their intake of fiber, fat, carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and iron. The analysis showed no meaningful link between the consumption of fiber, fat, carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products and children's development of MS. Children with the disease did have lower iron intake than the controls, however. Although in this exploratory study researchers didn’t look at whether there was a cause-and-effect relationship between iron and MS, the results suggested that children with the disease may be less likely to consume iron, a fact that warrants further investigation. Iron is a vital mineral for our body to function properly, and low iron intake may affect the immune and nervous systems. Future studies on the risk of children developing MS should "investigate the role of specific vitamins and minerals," the team said. They should also "investigate the influence of dietary factors on disease outcomes in already established" cases of MS.

University of California medical school researchers are looking for multiple sclerosis patients who want to participate in an international study of the bacteria that live in our gut. The University of California at San Francisco team decided to study the gut microbiome after recent evidence suggested that it is critical in…

Coming down with the flu can provoke relapses in multiple sclerosis patients by activating glial cells that surround and protect nerve cells. In a study in mice, scientists found that activated glial cells increase the levels of a chemical messenger in the brain that, in turn, triggers an immune reaction and, potentially, autoimmune attacks. The flu is caused by the human influenza virus and, despite being unpleasant, usually resolves itself within days. However, for people with MS and other neurological conditions, the flu can lead to disease relapse. Researchers at the University of Illinois investigated what happens in the brain of MS patients during upper-respiratory viral infections, such as the flu. "We know that when MS patients get upper respiratory infections, they're at risk for relapse, but how that happens is not completely understood," Andrew Steelman, an assistant professor at the university and the study's senior author, said in a press release. "A huge question is what causes relapse, and why immune cells all of a sudden want to go to the brain. Why don't they go to the toe?" The team used a mouse model characterized by autoimmune responses within the brain and spinal cord — the type of deregulated immune responses seen in MS patients. Researchers infected the animals with a version of human influenza virus adapted to mice, and looked at changes that occurred in the animal’s central nervous system. While the virus was never detected in the animals' brains, upon infection some of the mice developed MS-like symptoms. "If you look at a population of MS patients that have symptoms of upper respiratory disease, between 27 and 42 percent will relapse within the first week or two," Steelman said. "That's actually the same incidence and timeframe we saw in our infected mice, although we thought it would be much higher given that most of the immune cells in this mouse strain are capable of attacking the brain." The team then investigated how a peripheral influenza infection could contribute to disease onset. They infected a wild-type (normal) strain of mice with the flu virus and looked at alterations in the brain and spinal cord. Scientists found that infection increased the activation of glial cells in the mice's brains. Moreover, it induced infiltration of several immune cells — T-cells, monocytes and neutrophils — into the brain within eight hours of infection. Overall, these findings suggest that the chemokine CXCL5 plays a key role in mediating an autoimmune attack in MS, and might be explored for therapeutic potential.

Spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients can be eased through a combination of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections and rehabilitation. However, caregiver support is required to keep patients on this treatment, according to results of a retrospective analysis. Spasticity, a muscle control disorder characterized by tight or stiff muscles, is a major MS symptom. The condition is significantly detrimental to patients’ quality of life, affecting their general mobility and balance. Several oral anti-spasticity drugs are available. However, “treatment of spasticity in MS is frequently challenging because of the complex clinical picture and the undesired effects associated with oral therapy, such as fatigue, dizziness, and hypotension,” the researchers wrote. Previous studies show that BoNT-A, a toxin that blocks nerve activity in muscles, is an effective therapy for the management of MS-related spasticity. The long-term effectiveness and persistence of BoNT-A use in patients with MS-related spasticity, however, remains poorly investigated. The research team in Italy proposed “to investigate the long-term persistence to treatment with BoNT-A for MS-related spasticity and the determinants of BoNT-A discontinuation in daily clinical setting.” In total, the researchers reviewed data from 185 patients, out of which 121 were considered in their final analysis. They observed that, at the end of the follow-up period, 44% of the patients in the analysis were still being treated with BoNT-A, but 56% had discontinued treatment. Overall, these results “confirm the beneficial effect of combining BoNT-A injections with rehabilitation and highlights the crucial role of caregivers for achieving better long-term outcomes in people with MS suffering from spasticity,” the team concluded.

MSWorld, one of the world’s largest patient-run organizations supporting people with multiple sclerosis (MS), plans its first patient education event, MSWorld Talks, in Pittsburgh on Aug. 14. The all-day conference is free and open to all those in the Pittsburgh area who live with MS, as well as their family…

Advancells says its stem cell-based therapy completely reversed multiple sclerosis (MS) in an Indian pilot trial with only one MS patient. The patient, Rahul Gupta, was diagnosed with MS seven years ago and has since suffered multiple relapses. His disease was progressing fast and he was quickly losing his ability…

TG Therapeutics and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have agreed on a special protocol assessment for a Phase 3 trial program evaluating TG-1101 (ublituximab) to potentially treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). A special protocol assessment (SPA) is a procedure by which the agency officially evaluates the…

For the first time, scientists have shown they can correct gene mutations in human embryos — a breakthrough with implications for multiple sclerosis (MS) and several other diseases. This landmark study was a collaboration involving scientists at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California; the Oregon Health & Science University in…

Myobuddy Products has enlisted a rising fitness star to help it publicize its new Myobuddy Massager Pro, a massaging device that can help anyone from an elite athlete to a person with a muscle condition such as multiple sclerosis. Dakota Rager, who qualified for the national Reebok CrossFit Games competition, is a former Army diver who beat out more than 200,000 men in several regional competitions this year. CrossFit is a workout regimen aimed at improving the body's normal functional movements. The Massager Pro takes a multi-pronged massaging approach, including vibration, heat and percussion therapy, or applying tension to the body. The device's benefits including soothing sore muscles and helping relax tight fascia, or connective tissue surrounding muscles. Myobuddy started an MS Support Program in May to encourage MS patients to try massage therapy and to advance research on the approach. The company said some MS patients report that the Massage Pro helps them sleep better by alleviating their restless leg syndrome. They also report that it relieves muscle tension and fatigue, it added. Myobuddy's website includes information on how to use the Massage Pro for any muscle group. Those with questions can get answers by emailing [email protected] or calling (844) 696-2833. Rager (@ragerdakota), who at 5’4’’ and 169 lbs. is built like a fireplug, said he uses everything he can to give him an edge in competitions. If a massage therapy device is powerful enough to help MS patients, then it can help him, too, he has decided. "I really love the Myobuddy Massager, and have been using it throughout my training," he said in a press release. "It has the perfect combination of vibration and power and really goes deep to soothe my sore muscles and relax my tight ones after rigorous workouts. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants their muscles to feel and perform their very best." At only 25, Rager is already ranked as one of the top 100 CrossFit competitors worldwide. He was just one of 40 men to participate in the Reebok CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin, Aug. 3-6. "We've had a lot of highly influential people in the sports and fitness world deliver organic endorsements for the Myobuddy, and we're extremely grateful for that," said Lillo Furca, Myobuddy's founder and CEO. "We've spent so much time and energy perfecting our massager to ensure that it delivers optimal results. The testimonies are a testament to our team and to our product." The company loves to "hear about how we're helping people who put their bodies in extreme situations on a regular basis," he added.

An exoskeleton developed by Harvard University researchers could restore multiple sclerosis patients’ balance and some of their walking capability, according to a study. ReWalk Robotics is moving toward commercializing the system, developed at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. In addition to MS patients, the exosuit should help people with Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative conditions,…

Two compounds found in sunscreens suppressed multiple sclerosis symptoms in mice, a study shows. The substances, known as salate derivatives, belong to a class of compounds called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Evidence from the 1970s suggested that higher vitamin D levels from getting more sunlight could reduce the rate of MS. Subsequent studies indicated this was unlikely, however. Researchers who noticed that ultraviolet light suppresses MS in mice hypothesized that this could be the reason for the reduced prevalence of the disease in tropical areas. University of Wisconsin researchers wondered if sunscreen would prevent ultraviolet light from suppressing MS in mice. The team, led by Dr. Hector F. DeLuca, an emeritus professor in the university's Department of Biochemistry, chose six commercially available sunscreens, then exposed the mice to UV radiation. Confirming previous findings, they observed that UV radiation decreased the severity of MS. But, unexpectedly, they discovered that when mice were not receiving ultraviolet light, some of the sunblocks suppressed their MS for up to 30 days anyway. An analysis revealed that the salate derivatives homosalate and octisalate were the sunscreen components responsible for suppressing MS. The two are esters of salicylic acid, a common medication for acne, psoriasis, warts, and dandruff. Further analysis showed that homosalate was able to suppress MS by itself, but octisalate needed to be combined with homosalate to achieve significant results. The team also discovered that the salates' effectiveness depended on the dose. The more that homosalate was applied, the better the result, they said. The only adverse effect of homosalate and octisalate was temporary skin irritation. The study indicated that salate esters' ability to suppress MS is not due to their sunblocking ability per se, because some of the sunscreen brands that did a good job of blocking sunlight did not suppress the disease. Salate derivatives are well-known inhibitors of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, or COX. Because COX-2 has been found in MS lesions, salate derivatives might improve MS by suppressing COX, the researchers said. Overall, “salates may be useful in stopping the progression of MS, and may provide new insight into mechanisms of controlling autoimmune disease,” the researchers concluded.

The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) will form a new Physician Assistant Special Interest Group to provide physician assistants (PAs) with a specialized forum to exchange ideas and information on multiple sclerosis (MS) patient care. CMSC is an educational, training, and networking organization for MS healthcare professionals…

Resistance training like weight lifting can protect or even regenerate the nerve cells of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients, slowing the progression of the disease, according to a clinical trial. A hallmark of MS is the brain shrinking faster than normal, and findings from this trial indicates that resistance training can slow the shrinking or even make some brain areas grow. Research has shown that physical training benefits MS patients, helping them alleviate many symptoms, including excessive fatigue and balance control problems. Recent studies suggest that exercise can have a disease-modifying role in MS. This means physical activity can be an important adjuvant, or add-on therapy, for standard-of-care regimens. Researchers followed 35 patients with relapsing-remitting MS for 24 weeks. Eighteen patients did resistance training twice a week, consisting of four lower- and two upper-body exercises. The other 17 patients struck with their normal routines. Before and after the 24 weeks, doctors took magnetic resonance imaging scans, or MRIs, to evaluate patients' brain structures. After the 24 weeks, the scans showed less brain shrinkage in those who had resistance training. Some of their cortical brain regions were also thicker — an indication they were growing. It is not clear why exercise benefits MS patients' brains, nor if exercise has the same effect on all patients. Additional studies are needed to clarify its therapeutic effect, the researchers said. That knowledge could help improve current MS therapies.

The MyoPro electric arm, which uses motors to help multiple sclerosis patients move weakened arms and hands, has obtained a quality designation required for selling medical equipment in Europe. Myomo‘s powered brace, which also helps people with spinal cord and nerve injuries, received what the European Union calls CE Mark certification. The company…

Twenty-four people have now received the multiple sclerosis and psoriasis therapy KY1005 in a Phase 1 clinical trial, according to its developer, Kymab. The Cambridge, England, company creates human antibody drugs for autoimmune diseases. The trial will focus on KY1005 as a psoriasis therapy, although its mechanism of action should work…

Long-term Tysabri (natalizumab) treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) improves physical and mental health and leads to greater satisfaction with therapy, new research shows. The study, ”Long-term natalizumab treatment is associated with sustained improvements in quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis,” appeared in the journal…

Abarca Health has signed a value-based reimbursement contract with Biogen for select products in its multiple sclerosis (MS) portfolio. This is the first time such an agreement applies outcomes-based contracts to cover Medicaid patients in the United States. The deal offers a novel approach to connecting outcomes with the…