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.
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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
Neurological Tests for MS
There are several neurological tests that are used to diagnose for multiple sclerosis. It may be quite unfortunate that there is no single test available that may diagnose multiple sclerosis in people. What doctors depend on is the results of a variety of neurological tests that might help give them the proper evaluation if indeed a person is suffering from multiple sclerosis or not.One of the key signs that doctors use to evaluate if a person has Ms is by checking for Optic Neuritis. It is an inflammation of the optic nerve in the retina that is followed by a demyelination or the degeneration of myelin, the protective fatty protein which acts as a shield to nerve cells.
Optic Neuritis may bring about blurring of vision, loss of some color vision, complete or partial blindness as well as pain behind the eye. Optic Neuritis is one of the symptoms frequently experienced by people developing multiple sclerosis. A test called Visually Evoked Potential Test or VEP is used to detect the speed of nerve transmissions through the optic nerve. It is also an effective diagnostic test for optic neuritis.
The Babinski reflex is also a test usually used for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. This test involves stroking a pointed object at the outside sole of the foot from heel to toe. The normal response is for the toes to curl downwards. People with neurological problems located at the corticospinal tract would have their big toes curling upwards instead. There is another test used also to detect lesions in the corticospinal tract. It is known as the Hoffman’s sign where the neurologist taps the nail of a person’s third or fourth finger. A positive response is given when the terminal phalanx of the thumb flexes.
Another neurological test used for diagnosing Ms is the Doll’s Eye Sign. In this test, the doctor is looking for the dissociation between the movement of the head and the eyes. A positive response is seen when the eyes moves up while the head moves down. Sensory tests are also used to diagnose other neurological symptoms of MS. This is done with the use of tuning forks and pins to test the different levels of sensory perception in selected parts of the body.
Other tests used by doctors in diagnosing for multiple sclerosis include tests for muscle strength which involves the level of resistance of the different muscle groups. Differences in the strength of the left and the right sides are evaluated. Tests for hearing loss are also part of the series of tests for multiple sclerosis. This can be done by the doctor clicking his fingers next to each ear of the patient and having him locate where the sound comes from.
Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is not an easy disease to diagnose. The fact that some of the symptoms it may exhibit can also be similar to some other types of ailments.There are some instances that a condition having MS-like symptoms can be nothing more than some other stress related disorders. There are certain conditions that might imitate common MS symptoms. This can make it difficult for doctors to make an accurate after only a single test.
Currently, there is no single test available that may help provide an accurate diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. In properly diagnosing if one suffers from multiple sclerosis, neurologists depend on studying a patient’s medical history along with a thorough neurological examination wherein the function of the brain and the spinal cord is tested using various methods.
There are a number of neurological tests that doctors use in order to diagnose the onset of multiple sclerosis. There is what is called the Romberg’s sign wherein doctors test for ataxia or the clumsiness of movement not attributed to muscular weakness. This is usually done by letting the patient stand with the eyes closed.
Ataxia can also be evaluated in the different parts of the body through observation of the patient walking normally. Tests such as walking heel to toe as well as with finger to nose may be done to observe involuntary shaking or clumsiness which may be a possible symptom of multiple sclerosis. There is also the heel/shin test for ataxia. This test is also used for detecting cerebellar dysfunction. This is done by lifting the ball of the heel and bringing it towards the knee of the other leg and moved down towards the shin.
Another test used by doctors to diagnose multiple sclerosis is the L’Hermitte’s sign. This is a test used to find lesions on the spinal cord in the neck area. The L’Hermitte’s sign actually describes the sensation of electrical buzzing in the limbs and body brought about by neck movements. The electrical buzzing sensations experienced are also called paraesthesia and may include tingling, partial numbness and sharp pains.
This can be triggered by lowering the head so the chin touches the chest area. The sensation may only last a couple of seconds but it may indicate that there may be lesions in the cervical spine. Neck movements may cause the damaged nerves to stretch and send out erroneous signals to the brain causing the electrical buzzing sensation.
The L’Hermitte’s sign can be linked to multiple sclerosis although it can also be associated with a number of other conditions such as arthritis, disc compression, or possible tumors. This test alone cannot solely tell if one has multiple sclerosis but should be used with a number of other tests in order to have a more accurate diagnosis.
Multiple Sclerosis Self-Care
Coping up with such a disease like multiple sclerosis may not be an easy task. Such a debilitating illness can easy lead one to think that life ahead would be very difficult.
But it doesn’t mean that people with multiple sclerosis cannot live a better and more comfortable life ahead than they might have otherwise expected. It may take some effort, but following simple tips may help a lot in making a person with multiple sclerosis cope up better with daily life.
The best way to cope up with a disease such as multiple sclerosis is by learning how to manage with relieving the symptoms. Apart from treating the symptoms with medication, there are other things that can be done to provide relief to some of the common multiple sclerosis symptoms. One of them is exercise.
Regular aerobic exercise may provide some benefits for those suffering from mild to moderate MS. Regular exercise may be able to improve strength and muscle tone as well as help in improving one’s balance and coordination. Not only that, regular exercise can also help combat depression in such that it gives a person with multiple sclerosis something meaningful to do.
Getting enough rest can also help people with multiple sclerosis deal with common symptoms such as fatigue. Frequent rest periods allow the body to be rejuvenated and make one fell less tired all of the time. Eating a well-balanced diet may also help a lot while dealing with various multiple sclerosis symptoms. A regular healthy and well-balanced diet ensures that one has a strong immune system.
There are also some other things that people with MS should consider when coping up with the disease. This would involve a closer look at otherwise common situation which may trigger MS symptoms. One should learn how to handle or deal with heat on a daily basis. Extreme heat may cause muscle weakness and may trigger similar MS symptoms to come out.
Although most people with MS may not be bothered by heat and might even enjoy taking warm baths and showers, it is important to learn that heat may contribute to the worsening of some of the common MS symptoms. One should take careful steps when dealing with heat especially if one is not sure of how to react. If a worsening of MS symptoms is experienced as a reaction to heat, one should start cooling down right away. A few hours will usually return one to a normal state.
Cooling down is also important for people with MS. This is especially useful for sufferers who frequently experience heat related MS symptoms. Air conditioning may help provide some relief especially if one lives in a hot and humid area. Getting cool baths may also help relieve heat related MS symptoms.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis
Although multiple sclerosis can be a physically limiting disease, there are many ways that people suffering from it can live more normal lives. Although it can be a challenge having to deal with typical MS symptoms such as fatigue, memory lapses and vision problems, it is a matter of knowing how to cope up with them that would spell the difference.Living as normally as possible with multiple sclerosis would mean being able to manage the common symptoms that are associated with the disease. Making the effort to cope up with them is better than putting up your hands in surrender. Although it would really take work and time, managing the MS symptoms that you usually experience would make your day to day life all the more worthwhile.
When it comes to managing fatigue, you should be aware that not all of them may be an MS symptom. Some instances of fatigue can be attributed to the medication that you may be taking for multiple sclerosis. This means that some instances of fatigue can be managed by some type of exercise or physical therapy that can be recommended by your physician.
Aside from fatigue, there are also other side effects that can be brought about by your MS medication. You might experience itching or rashes on some parts of your body. You might also have trouble breathing or feel nauseous after taking your MS medication. Some might even cause an allergic reaction that may happen within two hours after taking your first medication.
Sometimes some people mistake these side effects as a symptom of MS and may feel powerless to do anything. But in fact, these symptoms may come as a side effect rather than be blamed for the MS. And these side effects can be treated. If you find yourself experiencing such side effects, you should tell your doctor about this so that he may be able to give you the proper treatment for it or formulate for a different treatment approach for your MS.
If you find yourself feeling depressed as a symptom of MS, you are just one of the many people who feel the same. You do not have to worry since the depression can be well managed through anti-depressant medication or through counseling. This will greatly help you cope up with your MS and avoid blaming the disease for all your miseries all of the time.
Always make it a point to always talk with your doctor about the symptoms that you experience with MS. Doctor and patient interaction is, as always, important in every type of treatment for whatever type of disease, including MS. By doing so, you are also doing your part in being able to cope better with multiple sclerosis.
Designer Estrogen as a Potential Treatment for MS
The campaign of finding a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS) still rages on. But year after year, scientists and researchers are getting better in understanding this debilitating disorder and are getting closer and closer in finding that eventual cure. Experts are finding new ways in trying to win the battle against MS and helping other people cope up and better handle the difficulties as well as the challenges that comes with the disease.
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system. It is a chronic, inflammatory disease that can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, difficulties in speech and mobility and, in more severe cases, even cause disability. The disease is believed to affect the ability of the neurons in the brain and the spinal cord to communicate to enable the brain to have normal control of the body.
The neurons ability to carry information and provide proper coordination with the brain and the spinal cord to enable normal functions seem to be affected when the myelin sheath, a protective layer of fatty insulation surrounding each neuron, is damaged. This effect usually happens to people with multiple sclerosis. As the myelin sheath is gradually destroyed, it affects how the neurons can effectively carry, receive and transmit electrical signals which further leads to the gradual degeneration of the body’s central nervous system.
Although the cure for the debilitating disorder has yet to be found, researchers and experts on MS have discovered new grounds in trying to combat the disease. Recently, UCLA scientists have been able to show evidence that using a specific form of estrogen might be able to protect the brain from degeneration and yet not increase the risk of developing estrogen-induced cancers.
The study was done by giving laboratory mice with the animal equivalent of multiple sclerosis with a specific form of estrogen to prevent further brain degeneration. Although there are currently a number of medications that help treat the physical symptoms that come with multiple sclerosis, there hasn’t yet been a treatment found that will help prevent the disorder from causing further brain degeneration.
The new findings suggest that there is a potential in the future for a type of “designer estrogen” to be given to MS patients in order to prevent further brain degeneration caused by the disease. This type of estrogen may also be used to fight other forms of brain degeneration caused by other diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease and other forms of spinal cord injuries. What makes this type of estrogen even more promising is that it does not increase the risk of cancers caused by the said hormone such as those cancers that affect the breast and the uterus in women
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