Category Archives: MS Treatment

Highlighting a potential target in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests that triggering a protein found on the surface of brain cells may help slow the progression of these and other neurological diseases. Working with mice, two research teams at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis independently linked the protein to the ability to clear debris from the brain. Such waste builds up both as a byproduct of daily mental activities and as a result of misdirected immune system attacks on brain cells. If too much debris is present in the brain for too long, it can contribute to neurological disease. In one study, appearing online Feb. 26 in Cell, scientists showed that Alzheimer's brain plaques build up more slowly in mice that have a defective version of the TREM2 protein. In another, published Jan. 29 in Acta Neuropathologica, researchers showed that mice lacking the same protein had trouble cleaning up debris in the brain produced by damage to a protective coating on nerve cells. The problem is thought to occur in MS and other neurological disorders. "We've been very interested in identifying ways to control naturally occurring mechanisms that help clean … Continue reading →

Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system, i.e. the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. In severe cases the patient becomes paralyzed and/or blind, while in milder cases there may be numbness in the limbs. Over 350,000 people have MS in the USA. The Cleveland Clinic says that MS-related health care costs are thought to be over $10 billion per year in the United States. According to the National Health Service, UK, approximately 100,000 people live with multiple sclerosis in Great Britain. Symptoms usually appear initially between 15 and 45 years of age. Women are twice as likely to get MS than men. The term Multiple Sclerosis comes from the Latin multus plus plica meaning "fold", and the Greek sklerosis meaning "hardening". With MS the central nervous system (CNS) is attacked by the person's own immune system. That is why MS is known as an auto-immune disease. Nerve fibers are surrounded by myelin, which protects them. Myelin also helps conduct electrical signals (impulses) - i.e. myelin facilitates a good flow of electricity along the nervous system from the brain. Myelin regulates a key protein involved in sending long-distant signals. The myelin … Continue reading →

Comments(0) A GRIEVING woman said her 90-year-old father "died a lonely and undignified death" after Tunbridge Wells Hospital farmed him out to a care home without telling the family. Judith Pryke, of St Luke's Road, has lodged a formal complaint with the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust after her father Ronald was moved to a care home in Staplehurst without her knowledge. Mr Pryke was discharged from the hospital in Pembury in October last year after three months as an inpatient. Against pleas from his family, he was sent to a nursing home his children could not reach without a car, and without speaking to the family. The trust said the placement, at Iden Manor Nursing Home in Staplehurst, was temporary, but Mr Pryke never left and died in care in January this year. Now Ms Pryke, his eldest daughter, is demanding answers after decisions were taken over her and her father's heads about his end-of-life care. She told the Courier: "My dad died a very lonely and undignified death and we couldn't even get to see him. It is appalling what we had to go through. I don't want anybody else to go through what we had to. … Continue reading →

FAYETTEVILLE -- Walk MS: Northwest Arkansas 2015 will be held Saturday, April 18 at Lake Fayetteville. Hosted by the National MS Society, this event aims to raise awareness and funds to support Arkansans affected by Multiple Sclerosis. More than 3,700 Arkansans have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and more than 11,200 Arkansans are affected in some way by the disease. This year, Walk MS has set a goal of $56,000 to support research, assistance and treatment for people living with MS. Walk MS: Northwest Arkansas is a crucial fundraising and awareness event that contributes to the Societys overall mission, says Ray Mack, National MS Society Vice President of Development for Arkansas. We are thankful for the continued support of our corporate partners, volunteers and participants who are committed to the Societys vision of a world free of MS. Together we can achieve the Societys mission to stop disease progression, restore function and end MS forever. This event is one of dozens taking place nationwide this year. Since its founding in 1988, Walk MS has raised over $870 million, helping over 2.3 million people worldwide living with MS. Walk MS: Northwest Arkansas 2015 is a family-friendly, fully accessible event. On-site registration … Continue reading →

Feb. 23, 2015, 9:30 p.m. Woonona's Karen Davies used an MS Australia Go for Gold scholarship to check one item off her bucket list. Supporter: Karen Davies will be poolside at next month's University of Wollongong Mega Swim. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI Woonona's Karen Davies used an MS Australia Go for Gold scholarship to check one item off her bucket list. The scholarship - funded through the 24-Hour Mega Swim events - helped the former high school teacher make it to Canada in 2013 to participate in the centenary celebrations of the school she taught at in 1991. Next month the 59-year-old will be poolside at the University of Wollongong Mega Swim event to support participants as they raise funds for scholarships for others living with multiple sclerosis. "These scholarships allow people with MS to do something that they wouldn't be able to do otherwise," Ms Davies said. "I came to my disability later in life but many younger people diagnosed with MS have had to quit university in order to work out how to live with the disease, they've had to put off their studies and their dreams. "These scholarships have supported such people to get back to their education, … Continue reading →

2014 and early 2015 Operational Highlights: We are pleased with the productive year we had last year, one that was highlighted by completing enrollment in our landmark Abili-T Phase 2b clinical trial of Tcelna in Secondary Progressive MS patients and expanding our pipeline into a second autoimmune disease, said Neil K. Warma, Opexas President and Chief Executive Officer. The Abili-T trial in progressive MS is one that we believe could be an important step in advancing a therapy that has the potential to be the treatment of choice in this patient population that currently has access to very limited treatment options. We continue to treat patients in the trial and expect to report top line results in the second half of 2016. Additionally, with the initiation of preclinical development activities in our second indication, neuromyelitis optica, we believe we have demonstrated our ability to leverage our T-cell technology platform into other disease areas. We also believe the platform could be leveraged even further to other autoimmune diseases. Clinical Development Update Upcoming potential development and regulatory milestones include: Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2014 For the year ended December 31, 2014, Opexa reported a net loss of $15.1 … Continue reading →

Couples have choices in infertility treatments. A recent finding by Marlene Goldman, MS, ScD of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and colleagues, published in Fertility and Sterility, gives doctors and couples a new tool to determine which technique may be more effective for their situation. "As a woman approaches menopause, her level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) rises," explained Goldman. "A higher FSH level is a key indicator that the woman may not be as fertile as necessary to conceive using certain common methods of infertility treatment." The study determined if FSH and estrogen at the upper limits of normal, as measured on day three of the menstrual cycle, could predict treatment success as measured in live birth rates. The essential question was: should women with higher levels of FSH and estrogen be "fast-tracked" to in vitro fertilization (IVF), bypassing the conventional treatment trajectory? Goldman and collaborators recorded no live births in the group with FSH and estrogen at the upper limits of normal, yet when the couples later pursued IVF, 33% were able to have babies. "Some women express a preference to begin treatment for infertility with controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation (COH), whether by pill or injection, along … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise Couples have choices in infertility treatments. A recent finding by Marlene Goldman, MS, ScD of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and colleagues, published in Fertility and Sterility, gives doctors and couples a new tool to determine which technique may be more effective for their situation. "As a woman approaches menopause, her level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) rises," explained Goldman. "A higher FSH level is a key indicator that the woman may not be as fertile as necessary to conceive using certain common methods of infertility treatment." The study determined if FSH and estrogen at the upper limits of normal, as measured on day three of the menstrual cycle, could predict treatment success as measured in live birth rates. The essential question was: should women with higher levels of FSH and estrogen be "fast-tracked" to in vitro fertilization (IVF), bypassing the conventional treatment trajectory? Goldman and collaborators recorded no live births in the group with FSH and estrogen at the upper limits of normal, yet when the couples later pursued IVF, 33% were able to have babies. "Some women express a preference to begin treatment for infertility with controlled ovarian … Continue reading →

By Anna Rose Welch, associate editor The NIH estimates roughly $103 million of its budget will be spent on multiple sclerosis research in 2015. That seems like a small amount of money when it comes to the size of its $40 billion budget. But in doing some digging around, Im seeing signs that there are actually quite a few players big and small in the academic, bio, and pharma realms working in the MS treatment space to benefit the 400,000 U.S. and 2.3 million patients globally. The treatment space for MS is currently populated by some big names. These include Biogen Idecs quartet: Avonex, Tsyabri, Tecfidera, and Plegridy. Theres also Tevas Copaxone, Novartis Gilenya, Merck KGaAs Rebif, and Sanofis Aubagio and Lemtrada. But where does the industry stand in terms of finding new, innovative treatment options for the disease? Here are some of the recent efforts Ive stumbled upon as of late: We might end up seeing more from Novartis besides Gilenya in the future as well. According to the companys website, it has plans to enter its BAF312 in MS into trials sometime before 2019. While all these players have potential drug candidates in the works, a couple of … Continue reading →

Columbus, MS (PRWEB) February 17, 2015 February is Gum Disease Awareness Month, and Dr. John W. Starr is encouraging Columbus, MS residents to learn about the symptoms and risks of untreated periodontal disease. Dr. Starr utilizes the LANAP protocol, a laser based treatment option, to clear the infection and damaged tissue, to help restore oral health. Gum disease in Columbus, MS is a growing public health concern. Across America, millions of adults harbor the disease in their gums, out of sight and unaware of the risks of allowing the gum infection to thrive. Damage to teeth and connective tissue is more likely the longer gum disease is left untreated. Early symptoms can be hard to detect, or may not seem clearly connected to a gum disease, such as: Serious gum health issues, like the ones mentioned above, require a consultation with a dentist. Patients throughout the Golden Triangle area are encouraged to visit Dr. Starr if they suspect they have a gum infection. Dr. Starr will review the different treatment options available, including laser therapy called the LANAP protocol. With this, the doctor uses computer guided laser tools to target areas where bacteria live in the gum line, to clear … Continue reading →