June 10, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Targeting Immune Cells Begins Phase 1 Trial Arrien PharmaceuticalsĀ has initiated Phase 1 clinical trials of their first agent, ARN-6039, a molecule that targets a specific subset of immune cells called T helper 17 (Th17), for the potential treatment of patients with relapsing, remitting, and progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). A growing body of evidence has suggested a…
June 9, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – Metabolism in MS and the Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction One June 3, a workshopĀ titled āMetabolism in MS and Related Conditionsā was presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), heldĀ June 1-4 in National Harbor, Maryland. One of the speakers was Dr. David Sheikh-Hamad, professor of medicine-nephrology at Baylor College of…
June 9, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Familial MS Linked to Single Genetic Mutation A single genetic mutation in a gene called Nr1h3, can cause familial multiple sclerosis (MS), reported scientists from the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health. The study, āNuclear Receptor NR1H3 in Familial Multiple Sclerosisā was published in the journal Neuron. The discovery…
June 8, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Sexual Function for MS, Other Patients with Neurological Disorders Can Improve with Help Sexual dysfunction is common for patients affected by neurological disorders, but it does not have to signal the end of a satisfying sex life and intimate lovemaking, according to researchers. Appropriate measures can help patients overcome sexual dysfunction associated with disease. Scientists from around the world discussed the topicĀ at the…
June 8, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – Aging MS Patients Experience Greater Physical Dysfunction There is a greater number of older people with multiple sclerosis than ever before, and the number is likely to continue growing. That combination, of old age with MS, puts people at risk of significantly reduced physical function than those without the disease. This was a key finding of a…
June 8, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – Physical Training with Assistive Devices Improves Mobility for MS Patients The use of assistive devices is ineffective for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a study recently presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting concluded. But physical training using such devices can help improve mobility and the result is usually accompanied by a lower level of signaling…
June 8, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – Tai Chi Shown to Improve Balance and Strength in MS Patients Researchers atĀ Texas Womanās University identified tai chi as a beneficial therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with impaired balance, as it can improve their endurance and strength and decrease fatigue. The results of the study, “The Benefit of Tai Chi for Balance and Gait in People with…
June 8, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – MS Patients’ Speech Limitations and Difficulty in Swallowing May Be Measured Through Phoneme Rate Production Researchers from Mount Sinai Rehabilitation HospitalĀ found that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) whoĀ complain ofĀ speech limitations or difficulty in swallowing cannot produce specific phonemes, which may be a helpful way of objectively quantifying these symptoms in MS patients. The findings wereĀ recently reportedĀ in an oral presentation titled “Rate of…
June 8, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – MS Rehab Clinical Practice Guideline Help Patients Achieve Excellent Results Two case reports from the Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation CentersĀ presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual MeetingĀ demonstrated how a multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical practice guideline for rehabilitation was implemented through the rehab path, highlighting the importance of consistency of practice and continuity of care for…
June 8, 2016 Columns by admin MS is a lonely road. No kidding! Being lonely can be very difficult to define as it is not only the popularly assumed situation of being alone. You can be lonely in a room full of people if you donāt know anyone well enough to speak to them; conversely, you can be happy when alone, in your…
June 7, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Scientists Gather to Discuss Novel Connections Between Gut Microbiome and Brain Disorders Increasing evidence suggests that our gut microbiome is able to regulate brain processes and trigger neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS).Ā Scientists from around the world discussed these themes at the recent Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Copenhagen, Denmark. āThe gut microbiome can influence the central…
June 7, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – Home DVD-Guided Exercise May Help Older MS Patients Improve Physical Function, Quality of Life Positive results from a home-based exercise intervention designed to target flexibility, toning, and balance for older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggests that exercise is important forĀ improving Ā patient quality of life. TheĀ study, “A Qualitative Study of a Home-Based DVD Exercise Intervention in Older Adults with Multiple Sclerosis,” was…
June 7, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – MS Duration and Disability Level Variously Impacts Arm Function Most research in multiple sclerosis (MS) has focused on the impact of the disease on the lower extremities. To balance this, researchers at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Connecticut thoroughly characterized upper arm and hand functions in MS patients, finding that disease duration and disability level differently affected various…
June 7, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – MS Mice Show Reduced Disease Severity After Treatment with Vegetable Compound Research from Indiana University School of Medicine showed that D3T – a compound that triggersĀ copyingĀ of antioxidant genes and production of the antioxidant glutathione – delays disease development and lowers disease severity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal models. The models mimicked multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans, advancing further exploration…
June 7, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – Fingolimod (Gilenya) Offers Consistent Health Benefits in Relapsing-Remitting MS Patients Researchers at the Swedish Neuroscience InstituteĀ inĀ Washington and Novartis Pharma revealed that Gilenya (fingolimod) induced a consistent and significant reduction in disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The results wereĀ recently presented at the June 1-4Ā Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual…
June 7, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – MS Patients, Physical Therapists Have Distinct Decision-Making Processes for Improving Gait, Balance Understanding and combining decision-making processes of both patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and physical therapists to improve balance and gait — the movement of the lower limbs for locomotion — may help optimize patient outcomes. The findings wereĀ recentlyĀ shownĀ in an oral presentation titled “Understanding Engagement Decisions to Maximize Gait…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – Ocrevus (Ocrelizumab) in PPMS Prevented Disability Progression, Lowered MRI Lesion Volume, Study Shows Data recently presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting showed that Roche/Genentechās investigational drugĀ ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) lowered the risk of disability progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), a condition for which no approved treatments exist. The study was presented during the “…
June 6, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – Genentech’s Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) a Promising Therapy for Primary Progressive MS; Interview with Lead Researcher Genentech,Ā a member of the RocheĀ Group, was founded more than 35 years ago and has been focused on a variety of research fields, includingĀ cancer, immunology, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic diseases, and infectious diseases. Genentech has been committed to discovering and developing new medicines for patients with major diseases of the nervous…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #CMSC16 – RRMS Patients’ Five-Year Clinical Outcome Improved Through Combined Immunosuppresive Therapy, Cell Transplantation Results from aĀ Phase 2 clinical trial showed that five-year clinical outcomes of patients with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are significantly improved when patients are treated with high-dose immunosuppressive therapy combined with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation. The study, āFive-Year Outcomes of Halt-MS: High-āØDose Immunosuppressive Therapy and Autologous Hematopoietic Cell…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #CMSC16 – STRIVE Study Confirms Tysabri (Natalizumab) Safety in Early Relapsing-Remitting MS Results from the STRIVE study support the safety of natalizumabĀ (Tysabri) as a therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The study, “Natalizumab in Anti-JC Virus Seronegative Patients with Early Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Interim Results from the STRIVE Study,”Ā was recentlyĀ presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #CMSC16 – Delayed-release Dimethyl Fumarate Benefits Newly Diagnosed MS Patients, According to Study Newly diagnosed patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) show significant improvements when treated with delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF), especiallyĀ in terms of reduction inĀ confirmed disability progression. The study, āEfficacy of Delayed-Release Dimethyl Fumarate in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Using a Composite Measure of Disability,ā was recently presented at the…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – RRMS Patients on Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) Show Slowed Disability Progression Over Five Years A study of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients who had one or more relapses on earlier treatment, showed that alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) improved disability progression over five years, even thoughĀ most patients received treatment only during the first two years. The study showed that alemtuzumab is a viable option for long-term…
June 6, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc #CMSC16 – MS Research Highlights How Sensory Processing, Fatigue, and Cognition Assessment May Improve Clinical Care Melissa A. Colbeck, an investigator at the Occupational Therapy, Health Sciences CentreĀ in Winnipeg, Canada, studied how different sensory processing approaches, cognition, and fatigue influence the quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings suggested that establishing a relationship between the three factors and quality of life…
June 6, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc #CMSC16 – MS Care Should Include Fatigue, Sleep Quality and Inattentiveness Assessment, Study Shows Mayis Al Dughmi, of the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Kansas Medical Center, recently presented her findings on the relationship between fatigue, measured using the Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS), and sleep quality and attentiveness in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings indicate that cognitive…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – MS Patients of African Descent May Fare Better on Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) A study, recently presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting in National Harbor, Md., showed MS patients of African decent might better benefit from treatment with alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) compared to subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (Rebif) – with lower rates of relapses evident over five years…
June 6, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – Assessing and Treating Psychiatric Disorders in MS Patients May Improve Prognosis, Quality of Life Assessing and treating psychiatric disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may improve their quality of life and diseaseĀ prognosis, according to researchers at Harvard Medical School, who presented their work titled “Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Multiple Sclerosis: Assessment and Management” at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – Exclusive Interview with Dr. Rosalind Kalb on MS Care and Family Involvement Dr. Rosalind Kalb, vice president of the Professional Resource Center at the National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ in New York City, recently presented her workĀ at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)Ā June 1-4Ā in National Harbor, Maryland. SheĀ participated in several symposiums, primarilyĀ “Gaining Perspectives on Advanced…
June 6, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc #CMSC16 – Researchers Present Findings Showing Women with MS Have Significant Depression, Fatigue, Decline in Cognitive Function Researchers at the University of Arizona studied the psychosocial symptoms felt by a group of female patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) from the southwestern United States, and found significant relationships between depression, fatigue, and cognitive decline — symptoms also related with poorer quality of life and reduced mental and…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – Hispanic MS Patients Featured in Film to Promote Health, Self-Care The āComprehensive Care in MS and Symptom Managementā session at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting, included a different kind of contribution – Ā the presentation of a short film exposing the health challenges specific to Hispanic patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Intended to promote…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #CMSC16 – MS Patients at Higher Risk for Loneliness, Study Shows Researchers who looked atĀ manifestations of lonelinessĀ found that the burden of loneliness is much higher in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients when compared to healthy people. The study, āLoneliness in Multiple Sclerosis: Putative Antecedents and Manifestations,ā was recently presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)Ā June…