Stanford Researchers Identify Therapy Targets for MS Treatment
A team of researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine have recently identified possible therapy targets that would someday lead to a personalized approach of treating multiple sclerosis patients. The team of researchers that included Dr. Lawrence Steinman, a professor of neurology and neurological sciences also worked with researchers from the University Of Connecticut Health Center. Together, the team was able to catalog all brain tissue proteins that they found to exhibit distinct characteristics associated to the three discrete stages of multiple sclerosis.Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating disease that affects the central nervous system. It usually a condition wherein the immune system attacks the myelin sheath that acts as an insulating cover to protect nerve cells. As the myelin sheath degenerates, the insulation slowly decreases, causing the nerve cells to misfire. This results further to a number of neurological disorders that has affected over 2.5 million people all over the world.
In the said study, the team of researchers was able to encounter a number of unexpected brain tissue proteins that was involved in the progression of multiple sclerosis. The team also tested drugs that were able to block two of the identified proteins in a mouse model of the disease. It resulted in a considerable improvement in the condition of the mice.
According to Dr. Steinman, “Knowing what proteins are most important at a discrete stage of the multiple sclerosis process is the first step toward being able to ‘personalize’ treatment.” The findings can then be someday applied to human patients with identifying the protein targets and then providing personalized treatments for different multiple sclerosis patients exhibiting the disease at its different discrete stages.
Re-evaluating Botox Safety in Treating MS
Botox, or Botulinum toxin has been used as one of the treatments for a number of ailments that included multiple sclerosis. Scientists have discovered that injecting minute quantities of the Botulinum toxin A in overactive muscles result to decreased muscle activity by blocking the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. This makes the target muscle unable to contract for a period that can last from four to six months.
For this reason, Botox has been used to treat a variety of conditions, most notably as a treatment for wrinkles. But recently, there have been reports that the use of Botox for treatment may bring with it certain ill effects that have lead to death on several children who have used Botox or a related drug.
This month, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a public alert on Botox and a similar drug called Myobloc and had them linked to some life-threatening symptoms such as strained breathing and a severe difficulty in swallowing which can further lead to a form of pneumonia. The FDA has advised doctors to monitor patients taking the said drug treatments for severe reactions as they decide on whether to strengthen warnings on the drug labels.
The most adverse reactions to the use of Botox treatment has occurred among children who were treated for cerebral palsy associated limb spascity. It is also important to note that the said drugs are not approved y the FDA for use in children as well as adults. As Botox has been popularly used for cosmetic treatments, their use for treating medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis may also be affected.
Although they might prove to be effective in trying to relive some of the symptoms associated with the disease, some adverse reactions that such treatments might cause may be something to consider before MS patients decide on using Botox for treatment. As of the present, further testing may be required in trying to evaluate just how safe Botox may be as a treatment.
Myths About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis has become quite a misunderstood medical condition. This has led to a number of misinformation of the debilitating disease that has kept a lot of people in fear, all for the wrong reasons. Here are some myths that have been wandering around for a long time now that people should finally know about.
“Multiple Sclerosis is a fatal disease.”
There are people who think that having MS is already like having a death sentence. Studies have shown this to be not the case. Multiple sclerosis in itself may not be such a fatal disease if it is treated at its early stages. Most of the deaths caused by MS are due to complications that happen in the advanced and progressive stages of the disease. Early treatment may help prevent these complications from happening.
“People with MS will eventually end up in a wheelchair.”
Although MS is considered as a debilitating disease, it may not be fair to conclude that everyone who suffers from it would end up in a wheelchair. People with MS might need a wheelchair at times because they might find it hard to walk. But it would not mean that they would lose their mobility that way in the end. MS sufferers need not be wheelchair bound all the time. It is just a way to conserve energy sometimes as most may still have the ability to walk.
“People with MS should stop working.”
Just because people are suffering from Ms does not necessarily mean that they have to stop working. The symptoms that MS may show can make it a hindrance to work at time. But it should not be the reason why one should stop working altogether. People with MS may stop work, but it should not hinder them from being productive. If MS might prove to be a hindrance, a career change may be an exciting opportunity to consider. MS sufferers can exchange a physically draining job for something that may require less effort but might give just about the same kind of fulfillment.
“With enough willpower, you can cure MS.”
Although willpower can get MS sufferers through very tough times, it is in no way enough to cure the condition. As of the present, there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis. The symptoms that sufferers experience may lead them to think that it might be al in their head and can go away with the right amount of willpower. In fact, such symptoms, without the right kind of treatment, won’t go away and would just get worse.
Diet for Multiple Sclerosis
In the fight to curb the threat of multiple sclerosis, scientists are trying to look at nutrition and diet to help what may be a means of managing the different conditions that MS sufferers may find themselves into. Although still considered as an incurable disease, multiple sclerosis sufferers may have a chance of living a more comfortable life by seeking ways to manage the debilitating symptoms brought about by the disease. One factor that may affect MS sufferers can be linked to their diet.One factor that may be closely linked to the development of multiple sclerosis is the consumption of essential fatty acids, mainly that of the omega-3 kind. Omega-3 fatty acids are more commonly known as fish oils. Scientists have discovered that people living in areas such as Japan and the Norwegian Coast where fish consumption is high have a lower incidence of multiple sclerosis than those expected from areas belonging on the same latitude. This shows that diet may also pose as a factor in MS along with geographic location. Scientists believe that it is the Omega-3 fatty acids in fish that may provide some protective measure against multiple sclerosis.
A diet that includes consumption of fish oils, low intake of saturated fats and high intake of unsaturated fats may help in reducing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The Omega-3 fatty acids have been known to help reduce inflammation in certain allergic conditions. Elevating the consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids, scientists believe may have an effect on how some symptoms of MS may eventually develop.
Another nutrient that scientists have discovered to have an effect on MS is the family of carotenoids, mainly alpha- and beta-carotene. Studies have found that exposure to longer periods of light may help in the release of carotenoids in the eye. Aside from helping to curb down allergic inflammation, carotenoids seem to help in preventing MS associated eye damage.
Another possible factor in the development of MS may be linked to vitamin B12 deficiency. A study at the King’s College Hospital in London, England by Dr. E.H. Reynolds showed that MS patients seem to suffer also from vitamin B12 deficiency. Giving MS patients with doses of vitamin B12 seem to offer some neurological benefit although it was initially done for placebo purposes. The surprising result may show the association that the said vitamin may have on multiple sclerosis.
The effect of these nutrients on people with MS suggests that a change in diet may also have an impact on the symptoms that sufferers of the said disease may experience. Although more studies may be needed in order to know just to what extent diet may affect the development of MS, the preliminary studies may have already shown how diet may help reduce certain symptoms that MS may bring and ultimately help prevent the development of the disease.
New MS Target for Treatment Known
A research team composed of an international group of scientists led by those from the Centre Hospitalier de l’Universite de Montreal (CHUM) has identified new therapeutic targets for the possible treatment of multiple sclerosis. The research can provide fresh answers to questions involving the role of novel adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of the said debilitating chronic disease of the nervous system.
The research was conducted by Dr. Alexandre Prat, a CHUM neurologist and researcher and a professor at the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Medicine, along with collaborators from McGill University, Dr. S. David, Dr. N. Arbour from the University of Montreal, Dr. D. Stanimirovic of the National Research Council of Canada and Dr. B. Becher of the University of Zurich. The team found that the adhesion molecule known as ALCAM for Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule, otherwise known as CD166, plays a major role in the movement of certain types of leukocytes to the brain.
The researchers believe that the molecule, which is produced by the endothelial cells of the brain, becomes a novel target that helps restrict migration of immune cells to the brain. This can further help dampen neuro-inflammation and decreasing the lesions on the brain that is characteristic of multiple sclerosis. Being able to understand the molecular processes of brain inflammation is important to the development of new treatments for MS.
Genetic Differences May Play a Role in Successful MS Treatments
It may be a wonder for some people as well as doctors why an MS treatment may work well on one patient and not on another. A recent study has shown that genetic differences may explain why some MS patients respond well to certain treatments while some do not. This study will later on help doctors predict which type of treatments will help different patients.According to an article in the Science Daily website, an international collaboration of researchers which included Dr. Esther Byun of the University of California has identified important genetic differences by comparing the DNA of patients with multiple sclerosis that experienced having reduced symptoms following interferon beta therapy and those who experienced relapses given the same treatment. The team of researchers followed a group of 206 Southern European patients with relapsing-remitting MS for two years after they started interferon beta therapy to treat the disease.
During the said study, the researchers collected DNA samples of each patient in the group. And every three months, the patients were checked how they reacted to the treatment by analyzing their disability levels. The study came up with 99 patients who responded well to the interferon beta treatment while the other 107 patients did not. After dividing the group in two, the researchers used micro arrays to identify certain genetic
The researchers were able to identify the top 35 single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNP’s that were candidates for further analysis. SNP’s are variations or changes that occur in a single base of DNA. The researchers then located these SNP’s in each individual patient to see if the mutations seen in those who responded well to treatment differed from those who did not. After this analysis was complete, an additional 81 patients with MS (44 responders and 35 non-responders) were added into the study. The DNA of responders was again compared to that of the non-responders.
The identification of genetic mutations in the patient’s DNA that affect response to interferon can provide researchers with important new information about how the drug functions in the body. This will help bring scientists one step closer to rational drug design and personalized medicine, the authors of the study note. However, there is a need for additional research to fully predict the treatment outcomes that are based on DNA analysis.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080114162520.htm
Modifying Bone Marrow Cells Help Treat Multiple Sclerosis
Another new means of possibly treating multiple sclerosis has been found with the use of modified bone marrow cells. Researchers from the University of Bonn in Germany have been able to genetically engineer bone marrow cells to treat multiple sclerosis by reducing inflammation brought by the disease as well as clearing tissue debris. This treatment may also be used to deliver drugs more effectively into the central nervous system.
A team of scientists from the University of Bonn have been able to modify myeloid precursor cells to express a protein known as TREM2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2) which is made by a cell from the central nervous system. The modified bone marrow cells were then injected into the veins of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis or EAE, the animal model for multiple sclerosis.
When injected into the affected mice, the scientists found out that the modified TREM2 expressing myeloid precursor cells migrated into the spinal cord of the animals showing EAE symptoms at their peak. The modified cells also helped reduce EAE symptoms and nerve damage in the affected mice. The treatment also helped halt further myelin loss and cleared up cell debris and damaged myelin fragments. What makes it even more promising is that the modified cells only migrated into the spinal cord of mice with EAE. The said migration was not exhibited in healthy mice injected with the same modified myeloid precursor cells.
Multiple sclerosis is a disease where the immune system itself attacks and destroys the myelin around nerve fibers in the central nervous system. Myelin acts as the insulation around these nerves and damage to them may have an effect on how nerve signals are being transmitted. The disrupted nerve signals causes weakness or paralysis on the limbs. Multiple sclerosis may even affect balance and coordination aside from displaying other physically debilitating symptoms.
One of the major challenges in the treatment of multiple sclerosis is the effective delivery of drugs into the central nervous system, most especially, to the lesion site. The blood-brain barrier can restrict the delivery of drugs into the central nervous system when injected intravenously. The problem can further be worsened by the short half-life of certain therapeutic agents used in the treatment of MS.
One way of resolving this problem is by making use of an organ-targeted protein delivery system as was used in the modified TREM2 expressing myeloid precursor cells that was injected on an animal model to treat EAE. The modified bone marrow cells were able to penetrate into the spinal cord of mice affected with EAE and be treated more effectively. This approach has paved the way for developing an effective means of treating multiple sclerosis in humans in the near future.
Source:
Botox Treatments to Ease Bladder Problems in People with MS
There is a new research that demonstrated how Botox injections to the bladder may help relieve bladder problems usually experienced by people suffering form multiple sclerosis or MS. This research, which was funded by the MS Society of UK, was made at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in the UK.
In the said research study, 43 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis and who were also experiencing bladder problems were treated with botulinum neurotoxin type A bladder muscle injections. The said injections helped reduce involuntary contractions in the bladder and so helped in reducing the urgency and the frequency of urination in the test subjects.
Incontinence and other bladder problems are common for people who are suffering from multiple sclerosis. Usually the storage and the emptying processes involved in the bladder is disrupted and therefore is a cause for worry and distress for many multiple sclerosis sufferers. Not being able to “hold on” or urgency in urination is one of the troubling circumstances that MS sufferers find themselves in.
Botox injections in the bladder, as shown by the research has demonstrated how such a treatment may be able to provide significant improvements to incontinence as well as urgency problems that most MS sufferers may experience. The effect of the treatment was seen to last for 10 months and repeat treatments showed similar results.
According to Professor Clare Fowler, a consultant in Uro-Neurology at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, the study was a part of a research investigation and the said treatment is not yet widely available. The said treatment has not yet been licensed and it may take a few more years pending an ongoing study to further understand and verify treatment results.
The said study has been valuable in trying to search for ways as to why such treatments work so well. It also provides a possible treatment making use of a minimally invasive injection technique to people with MS who also suffer from bladder problems as an eventual result of the said disease. Time will tell if this new treatment will be able to become a standard care for people with MS who might need it. An improved bladder control may be able to help MS sufferers with bladder problems lead an improved quality of life.
Source: http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=show&pageid=2338&CFID=5181811&CFTOKEN=57428268
Blood Brain Barrier: Possible Key to Finding MS Cures
A team of scientists consisting of international specialists have suggested a number of strategies in looking for treatments for a number of brain diseases including multiple sclerosis as well as Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke. One of the possible strategies that they found concerns the blood-brain barrier. The team believes that raising awareness in the study of the blood-brain barrier as an integral part of the disease process may someday help in finding a treatment for a variety of brain diseases, including multiple sclerosis.
The blood-brain barrier acts as the gate-keeper in the cells that protects the brain from toxins from the blood and lets in essential nutrients. The blood-brain barrier never chooses which foreign substances enter into the brain so it lock al of them out. Although acting as a safety measure for the brain, it can also lock out certain drugs from getting into the brain, making treatment of brain diseases difficult.
“The blood-brain barrier is woefully understood”, so says William Banks M.D., a professor of geriatrics, pharmacological and physiological science at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and also a member of the international research team. “You can’t get drugs into the brain or understand brain disease without understanding the blood-brain barrier, which is among our most significant recommendations for future research.”
The team of scientists looks at the blood-brain barrier not as a brick wall that stops toxins but as a regulating interface between the brain and the rest of the body. There are times that the blood-brain barrier allows certain substances to pass through that shouldn’t and blocking others that should. Understanding the blood-brain barrier and how it works can help scientists understand certain brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Much of Dr. Bank’s work revolves on understanding the function of the blood-brain barrier in the immune system. Bank’s further explained that the cells that make up the blood-brain barrier help the brain and the immune system communicate with each other. Damage to that communication system may affect the development of diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Changes that happen in the blood-brain barrier could shed light also into the injuries to the central nervous system as well as in the growth of tumors. Further understanding of the blood-brain barrier may require the use of state-of-the-art imaging devices to closely examine how the blood-brain barrier and the central nervous system interact.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071218101237.htm
Drug Combo with Antibiotics May Slow MS Progression
A new study shows that adding antibiotics to medication used to treat multiple sclerosis may have an effect of slowing down the progression of the disease. According to a study that was on the online issue of the Archives of Neurology, a team of researchers from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport conducted a single center trial composed of 15 patients with relapsing-remitting MS.In the said trial, the team, headed by Dr Alireza Minagar, gave a 100 mg dose of the antibiotic doxycycline daily for four months in addition to the patients’ Interferon therapy. At each month of the trial each patient took a neurological exam as well as an MRI scan and blood tests to check the results. After four months, MRI scans from the trial subjects showed fewer lesions on the brain with 60 percent of them showing a 25 reduction in the number of lesions than were present at the start of the said study. In addition, the patients also showed lower scores on their disability tests.
Multiple sclerosis or MS is a debilitating disease that causes inflammation and degeneration of brain tissue. It is usually triggered by yet unidentified antigens as well as other agents. It also affects people that are genetically prone to developing the disease. The most common type of MS is known as relapsing-remitting MS where people experience sudden muscle weakness and spasms without any previous symptoms.
There is currently no known cure for MS. What treatment there is available is geared towards treating the symptoms caused by MS. Medication that is available to treat it include the drug Interferon which is a drug that boosts the immune system and helps the body fight viruses. This is usually taken as a therapy medication for those with relapsing-remitting MS. Interferon is not considered as a cure and does not prevent relapses of the disease or stop the development of new brain lesions.
The authors of the study further noted that the antibiotic doxycycline as well as others that belong to the tetracycline family may be helpful in combating MS as well as other types of inflammatory diseases by slowing down the enzymes that try to attack certain cells found in the nervous system.
They further added that there is a growing interest in developing a combination therapy in patients with MS to stabilize the clinical course, reduce the rate of relapses as well as slow down the progressive course of the disease. The authors also cautioned that further studies might be needed to ensure that the said treatment is safe for a larger number of patients with MS.
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/91379.php
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