Stu's Views and MS Related News

Stu's Views and MS Related News http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/ MS (Multiple Sclerosis) information - Neurology, Interferons, Rebif, Tysabri, Copaxone, Betaseron, Avonex, Serono, Biogen, Teva, Bayer, Vertigo, MRI, MS Society, Cognitive, stem cell, MS Facts en-us Nucleus CMS v3.32 Â© Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5//nucleus/nucleus2.gif Stu's Views and MS Related News http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/ Medical Care in the 21st Century http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1514 Patient Power-Medical Care in the 21st Century
Vol. 9, No. 497 - By Islanders, For Islanders
- Fort Myers Beach, Florida - August 20th, 2010

In 2010, when someone receives bad news from their doctor, their first stop is often their home computer. This trend is a double edged sword according to many physicians. Their patients are both more knowledgeable about their diagnosis and treatment options, and more likely to run across erroneous information presented as fact. One thing is certain, the days of patients saying, “Whatever you think best, Doctor” are fading away as more people take responsibility for their health care and demand more of their physicians.

The Internet has certainly changed the isolation that many people felt in the past. Someone diagnosed with the rarest of conditions, can, within minutes on the Internet, connect with someone else with the same condition. And sometimes, knowing that you’re not alone is medicine in itself.

That kind of reaching out and connecting helped Ann Cherry, 56, to find information and resources which led her to an alternative treatment for her Multiple Sclerosis (MS) three years ago. Ann was diagnosed with MS in 1998 at the age of 44. Her physician started her on an interferon drug, one that had been available only since 1995. Current cost is about $2500/month. After 8 years of use, both she and her physician agreed that the interferon drug was not helping and she stopped using it. Her physician wanted to try a new, yet more expensive ($7600/month) drug with some scary potential side effects and Ann declined. At about that time, she heard about a drug that was the subject of much talk on an Internet MS discussion group. And that’s when it got interesting.

A primer on MS: MS is a chronic, progressive disease that attacks the Central Nervous System (CNS) which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. In MS, the body’s own defense (immune) system attacks the myelin or protective cover over the CNS nerves. When this cover is damaged, the nerve impulses traveling to and from the brain and spinal cord are distorted or blocked. There are several types of MS. The progress, severity and symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Most people are diagnosed between age 20-50, but MS is also seen in teens and young children as well as older adults. Women are more likely to have MS than men. There are 400,000 people in the US with MS, 2.1 Million world-wide.

With a disease as variable and generally slow developing as MS, research can seem slow, if not glacial. Drugs that may seem helpful in the short run, have to be evaluated over years, even decades, to compare their effects. Recent studies cast doubt on the effectiveness of the interferon drugs for treatment of MS over the long haul. A 2009 study by Boggild, et al, looked at the progression of disability of over 3000 British MS patients who had been given one of the interferon drugs compared to untreated patients. The analysis of that study showed that the progression in disability was worse in those treated (with traditional MS drugs, like interferon) than those untreated. As with most scientific studies, more analysis and additional studies are needed. But at the very least, it points out the conflicting information available to an MS patient.

After Ann rejected the expensive new drug she was offered, she began investigating the use of naltrexone. This is a drug which was approved in 1984 to treat heroin addiction. The drug blocks the opioid receptors in the brain and therefore the pleasurable effects of opioid narcotics like morphine, codeine and heroin. The approved dose of 50 mg created a 24 hour block of the opioid receptors. Doctors began using the drug “off label” or for other reasons. This is legal and common practice. Dr. Bernard Bihari, a Harvard-trained physician and researcher, found that naltrexone also blocked endorphin receptors in the brain. Endorphins help control the immune system. He found that low-dose naltrexone, meaning about 5 mg, as opposed to the 50 mg dose, caused the body to think that there was a shortage of endorphins and triggered a release of more endorphins, which helped the immune system fight off infection, specifically HIV. He later found that low-dose naltrexone (LDN) was effective in reducing relapses of MS, a common component of the disease.

LDN is now prescribed for a variety of diseases, including HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, some cancers, autism, emphysema, MS and other auto-immune diseases. These are all off-label uses like in MS and require further study.

Now, if this were a new drug, there would be a stampede to the FDA to license it and test it. But this was not a new drug, it was an old drug, one that was no longer patented, meaning that there was no big money to be made by testing this drug in MS or other diseases. And so there has been no rush by pharmaceutical companies to champion this potentially life-changing drug. It might have something to do with the cost of the drug. Recall that the costs of the MS drugs offered to Ann previously were $2500-7600/month? Well, lowly LDN costs $20/month. That’s not a co-pay, that’s total cost.

So, Ann had found a potentially helpful drug, all she had to do was get a prescription and try the drug out for herself. She went to her neurologist and asked and was turned down flat. Actually, the neurologist “fired” her as a patient. Surprised, she turned to her online group again, and they came through for her. She was given the name of a physician in Pennsylvania. After a consultation, she was given a prescription for LDN in June, 2007. Filling it was another challenge, but the online group had the answer again and she was directed to a special pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy on the east coast of Florida. The pharmacist was also able to help her find a local physician willing to consider LDN use for MS and who sees Ann every 6 months now.

Within a week of beginning the LDN, Ann noticed results. Her memory improved, her speech improved, her balance improved. She could handle the heat again. For someone who loves our corner of the world, MS brought challenges with handling hot weather. While she still prefers the A/C, she is able to be out in the heat now without collapsing, which happened before she started the LDN.

Ann is quite happy with the effects of taking the LDN for the last 3 years. It has dramatically changed her life. She speaks of not having a single cold or other infection in the last 3 years while taking LDN. She only wishes she had known about it and started using it sooner. She wonders if she might have stopped the progression of her symptoms a bit sooner, allowing her to still walk easily rather than use her scooter to get around. She also is enthusiastic about getting the word out about LDN. She says she wants to prevent anyone from suffering the effects of MS if it can be helped. She also urges anyone with other health issues to think for themselves and consider LDN as an immune system booster.

There is outrage in her voice when she talks about drug companies and the National MS Society, who she claims spent years squashing any word on the benefits of LDN, telling local group leaders to not discuss LDN at meetings. But she’s also happy to see the tide turning for LDN.

The National MS Society website currently has a research report dated March, 2010 in which they describe a clinical trial using LDN that “found benefit for MS patients.” Numerous other studies can be found by searching PubMed.gov. Most of these studies end with the very promising words: “Further studies of LDN in MS are warranted.” The tide has turned, in no small part due to people like Ann Cherry who were willing to look outside the box to find answers and who reached out to others using the Internet.

Missy Layfield
www.islandspaper.com

]]> MS Patient Stories http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1514 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:41:07 -0400 Recommendations on Vitamin D use in Multiple Sclerosis http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1513 June 2-5, 2010 San Antonio Texas

Information provided by: Cherie C. Binns RN BS MSCN

In a talk given by Alan Bowling, MD PhD of the Colorado Neurological Institute in Englewood, Co, Vitamin D usage in Patients with MS was revisited.

For several years now, it has been felt that Vitamin D has a neuroprotective effect on the Central Nervous System in persons with MS and that most of these people test low or deficient in Vitamin D Levels. Supplementation has been thought to be helpful in protecting against further axonal damage and even potentially prevent relapses. To date, Vitamin D has been believed to be free of major adverse side effects and is safe in even high doses of up to 10,000 IU daily for long periods of time. There is anecdotal evidence that persons with MS (PWMS) report feeling better with a reduction in neurological symptoms while on high doses of this vitamin.Dr. Bowling stated that he had been of the impression that Vitamin D was relatively harmless and had strong potential benefit in PWMS but recent studies have shown this vitamin has properties more like a hormone than a vitamin, perhaps because it is fat soluble and stored in fat reserves in the human body. According to Bowling, 100% of African Americans tested in both the healthy and the MS population tested deficient in this vitamin. The same results were found in those of Middle Eastern heritage. These findings are theorized to be , in part, due to the high melanocite concentration in darker skinned individuals which appears to prevent absorption of D from the rays of the sun. With increasingly high usage of sunscreens in today’s society, absorption of D from the sun becomes less likely in persons of all skin types leading researchers to believe that supplementation is the most reasonable way for most people to get the levels they need for neurological health.

After studying the effects of high dose supplementation on the MS population for several years and seeing the “hormone-like” effects of this substance on the human body at high levels of dosing, Dr. Bowling has noted that persons who use Vitamin D supplementation in higher than recommended amounts place themselves at risk for thyroid disease, adrenal disease, and reproductive cancers (prostate, uterine, ovarian and breast).

“Normal levels” of Vitamin D are 20-100 ng/ml in human blood.

Severely deficient persons are those with levels below 10 ng/ml of blood tested and may require 50,000 IU weekly for 4-8 weeks to correct this deficiency. Once that period of dosing is ended, patients need to be retested and if levels are 15 or under, should be prescribed 2000 IU daily. Above 15 ng/ml dosing of 1000 IU daily is suggested. He does not recommend supplementation in persons with blood levels over 35 ng/ml unless they are on calcium supplements for osteopenia or osteoporosis due to bone loss from steroid use or immobility. Vitamin D is necessary for full metabolism of available Calcium. He also recommends that all MS patients with known low levels be tested twice yearly and supplemental dosing adjusted accordingly.

Maximum safe dosing is not to exceed 2000 IU daily in deficient individuals or 1000 IU daily in those with levels in low normal range and as a supplement to Calcium therapy for bone loss.

***These writings were derived from my notes of his talk on Vitamin D supplementation and may not fully represent the intended meaning of the speaker for use of this supplement.***
Cherie C. Binns RN BS MSCN

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]]> Alternative Therapies http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1513 Wed, 9 Jun 2010 13:46:24 -0400 An MS related Q&A With Wendy Booker - Accomplished Mountain Climber and Runner http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1512 "MS Views and News" /"Stu's Views & MS News" notoriety, was recently asked to pose a few questions to Wendy Booker, mountain climber and competitive runner. Wendy has accomplishments and future goals. Read here.

Here are some of the questions Stuart asked of Wendy, and her responses

Questions:
1) What propels you to do what you do in Life?
My life today is nothing like it was before my diagnosis in 1998 with MS. I was going along in life, raising kids, working, being a soccer Mom when I learned I had this disease. MS certainly changed my life, but instead of looking at it as a barrier, MS has propelled me forward to a very different life than I anticipated or expected. Immediately after my diagnosis I decided I wanted to see just how hard and how far I could push back at the disease. The joy of learning what I am able to do despite MS has been continually rewarding and filled with what I now call my “three S’s”… self discovery, serendipity and stubbornness.

2) Where do you see yourself (your MS) in another 20 years?
Continue, to see this answer and other Questions and Answers Whew, in 20 years I’m going to be one rocking old lady! I still plan on pushing back at my disease, re-inventing myself and challenging myself both mentally and physically. I know I will continue my mission of educating and highlighting what people with MS are capable of and demonstrating how we can continue to live a rich and rewarding life despite our disease.

3) Does using a daily medication such as Copaxone, halt, inhibit or make you moderate from doing anything?
I have been taking Copaxone since 1998. Twelve years on therapy, and grateful every single day that there are therapies available. The research is so compelling as to the value of MS therapy that the National MS Society has made it part of their consensus statement that people diagnosed with MS get onto a therapy. I have had 12 years with no side effects, the ability to continue running marathons, climbing mountains and doing whatever I can dream up next; and by staying on Copaxone and being committed to taking the best care of myself possible, I know there are many more adventures out there waiting for me.

4) Does exertion (such as Mountain climbing) cause any additional fatigue (above and beyond what tired any climber would get?
I began climbing in 2002, four years after my diagnosis. I knew nothing about the sport but just like running my first marathon after being diagnosed I wanted to see how hard and how far I could push back at my MS. I have climbed all over the world. A mountain is a mountain no matter what, and it will always present you with something unexpected. Some mountains will take more out of you than others. Some mountains are in your head - some are truly physical. There are times when I have been climbing or running that I am more tired or not feeling 100%. It is the hardest thing to figure out and face. Is it MS? Or is it that I am just tired because I am climbing? No, I don’t get any additional fatigue, I just need to recognize when to say when and know that a wise choice will allow me to run or climb another day. That’s the most important factor.

5) How do you travel with Your meds ?
In the twelve years since I have been taking Copaxone a lot has changed. Not just the ease of the pre-filled syringe but security for the traveling public. I want to again emphasize that my mission has always been to motivate and educate people with MS and the newly diagnosed. So I am always compliant and never miss a dose no matter what the conditions or situation. Traveling with Copaxone is very easy. I have a small plastic container for the syringes and I carry a few doses in my carry on luggage just in case I get separated from my checked bags. The doses in my checked bags I keep in an insulated case (much like an insulated lunch box) with an ice pack in order that they will not get too hot. I also always carry a note from my physician just in case I am asked about the drug. On the mountains I do pretty much the same thing; keeping a few doses in my backpack so they are always with me. The remainder I keep insulated and have even buried in the snow to keep them cool. It has worked great over the many miles and continents I’ve traveled. Think of it… my Copaxone has been on the back of a yak, a sled, on the head of a porter in Tanzania, a kayak in New Zealand, a mule in Argentina. There aren’t many places in the world it hasn’t been!

6) Do you get vertigo and if so, does this get worse from the climbing and fatigue?
Vertigo has always been one of my more pronounced symptoms. I now recognize it and often it starts very subtly so I have made myself aware. I have had trouble with it in the past and it took me some mental toughness to stop thinking and worrying about it recurring. For me, it does not get worse from climbing or fatigue. It is just one of those unpleasant MS symptoms I have had to learn to live with and take care of when it does occur.

I hope to one day, be able to interview Wendy in greater detail. Time will tell...

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]]> MS Patient Stories http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1512 Wed, 9 Jun 2010 12:54:47 -0400 MS Venous Surgery - 'Liberation OR Placebo Effect'? http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1511 By Evra Taylor levy & Eddy Lang, Freelance
(article source see below)

In this article, read about MS, Dr. Zamboni's theory of and for the Liberation Treatment, and information on Zamboni's research

MONTREAL - Miracle cures are not a common occurrence but in the world of multiple sclerosis, the hopes of patients and their loved ones have never been as high as they are right now. The excitement stems from what is being touted as a circulation-improving surgical procedure that seems to promise remarkable results. With dramatic testimonials pitted against a skeptical scientific and regulatory community, the question is whether or not poor vein drainage from the head to the heart is a cause of MS and whether dilating the veins, known as "the liberation treatment," is helpful. We take a hard look at the evidence.Tell me about multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative neurological disease in which the body's own immune system turns against itself, damaging the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. The exact cause is unknown; however, research suggests that environmental and genetic factors are at play. For instance, the disease is more prevalent in certain regions, namely Scandinavia, Scotland, northern Europe and Canada, while in the U.S., it occurs more commonly in whites than in other racial groups.

When MS strikes, the covering that protects the body's nerves - known as the myelin sheath - erodes; and as the disease progresses the nerves may be destroyed. Multiple areas of scarring known as sclerosis, which are viewable on MRI imaging as plaques, can develop, causing the nerve signals between the brain and the rest of the body to slow down or even stop. These short-circuits are what cause the symptoms of MS.

The disease does not affect everyone in the same way, but common symptoms include numbness and fatigue, along with loss of vision, balance, speech and muscle control. The disease is unpredictable: intense flare-ups might be followed by remission. It usually hits between the ages of 20 and 40, and is more common in women than in men.

What are the various types of MS?

In one kind of MS, known as the relapsing-remitting variant, periods of bad symptoms are followed by remission. During relapse, a person will experience loss of function or even new symptoms, while in remission, these partially or fully disappear.

The most severe form of the disease is primary progressive, which causes gradual deterioration. People with secondary-progressive MS originally had the relapsing-remitting form but no longer have periods of remission.

How is MS treated?

Drugs known as disease-modifying therapies target the underlying cause of the disease by reducing the inflammation in the nervous system, which causes symptoms. And steroids are often used to shorten the duration of disease flare-ups.

What is the new theory about the cause of MS?

Going against long-held medical thought, Dr. Paolo Zamboni has postulated that MS stems from a narrowing or blockage in the veins that drain blood from the brain, known medically as CCSVI, or chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. Zamboni thinks this impaired flow of blood from the brain builds up pressure, and that the resulting collection of blood may cause MS symptoms.

The study

Zamboni P, Galeotti R, Menegatti E, et al. A prospective open-label study of endovascular treatment of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. J Vasc Surg 2009 Dec;50(6):1348-58.

What is our understanding of this treatment?

The research that has generated all this interest in a surgical approach to MS has been the unique product of an Italian research team. The first studies used an ultrasound test to show that while non-MS patients had normal circulation in their veins, all of the MS patients had blockages. Furthermore, their testing procedure was reported to be 100 per cent accurate in distinguishing MS from non-MS patients simply on the basis of measuring blood flow.

This led to the second phase of research, which asked if performing a dilation of these narrowed veins through percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, PTA, might improve MS symptoms. The results were impressive. Patients with relapsing-remitting MS experienced some impressive, though possibly not sustained, benefits from the treatment of their CCSVI.

How sound was this research?

Unfortunately, all of the Zamboni studies are severely limited, making it impossible to draw firm conclusions about the connections between blocked veins and MS and, in turn, the benefits of the procedure. The early ultrasound studies were problematic in that the findings have never been confirmed by other labs and it is unclear if the ultrasonographer was biased by knowledge of which of the patients being studied had MS.

The PTA work did not use a control group. As a result, it is likely - given what we know about the placebo effect in MS patients who enter studies of novel treatments - that all of the benefits were the result of the powerful belief in the treatment, rather than anything related to improved blood flow.

The supposed connection between CCSVI, if that condition actually exists, and MS, breaks down on a number of other fronts, including the fact that patients who have impaired blood flow in their veins as a result of surgeries, for example, don't develop MS. Similarly, vessels tend to narrow as we age and yet MS is not a disease of older individuals. The blocked vein theory of MS is so out of keeping with our understanding of the disease that it might be compared to fixing a burned out car radiator by changing the tires of a car.

What's next for research?

In order for a treatment to merit endorsement and funding by government agencies, it has to be proven safe and effective, and provide more benefit than just the psychological boost associated with the placebo effect of a highly touted procedure. If the connection between vein obstruction and MS is confirmed, double-blind studies will need to be conducted to tease out any real benefit to the course of the disease.

Conducting these studies will take time and create delays that will invariably be a source of frustration for hopeful MS sufferers and their loved ones.

Unfortunately, a rigorous scientific approach is the only way to ensure that a well-intentioned but likely ineffective treatment is not used to take advantage of a susceptible group of patients.

article source: Montreal Gazette

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]]> CCSVI http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1511 Tue, 18 May 2010 08:13:15 -0400 New syndicated report covers the use of DMAs for treatment of MS published http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1510 multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as attitudes and perceptions toward these products, advantages and disadvantages, ideal patient types, barriers to growth and expected future use. In addition, respondents were queried about their awareness of and interest in MS products in development.

The study, based on feedback gathered in an on-line survey completed by 100 neurologists in March 2010, found that among the disease modifying agents available, Biogen Idec's Tysabri had the highest percent of neurologists indicating a recent increase in use. However, fear of PML is noted as a leading obstacle to expanded use of the product by 80% of the respondents. Furthermore, patients on Tysabri are significantly more likely to be given a drug holiday compared to other brands and this is usually at the direction of the neurologist as opposed to patient request.Neurologist uptake for Extavia, Novartis's recently launched interferon B-1b, has been reserved with only about one-third of the survey respondents reporting trial. As expected, the majority of neurologists surveyed view Extavia as interchangeable with Bayer's Betaseron. Contact rates for Extavia lagged the other DMA brands and the main message recalled by called-on neurologists was centered on cost/insurance coverage for Extavia. Extavia share is expected to increase significantly for patients with Relapsing Remitting MS in the next six months where Rebif is projected to decline for this patient group.

Another change in practice noted by neurologists is the trial and adoption of Acorda's Ampyra (dalfampridine), a newly approved agent for improvement of walking in patients with MS. At one month post launch, over one-third of the neurologists reported use of the product with more than half of the non-users anticipating trial in the next six months. Projected share estimated suggest that Ampyra could potentially be used in about one-third of neurologists' MS population. The uptake in Ampyra will be explored further in LaunchTrends: New Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis, a three wave report series which will be available beginning in May 2010.

Oral formulations, along with improved efficacy and reduced disability progression, were identified as the greatest needs for new MS agents. Among nine therapies in development that were profiled in the research, interest was rated highest for Novartis's Gilenia and EMD Serono's Movectro. More than one-quarter of the respondents indicated that Gilenia would likely be the product to offer the greatest value to their practice.

SOURCE BioTrends Research Group, Inc.

Online publication - news-medical.net

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]]> M.S. Drug Therapy (A,B,C,R,+ other meds) http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1510 Fri, 7 May 2010 16:03:56 -0400 AN MS Patient's Story on His LIBERATION TREATMENT http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1509 written by : Mark Kalina

Liberation
It is now 3 days after "Liberation Day". Sunday afternoon 12:30 pm. February 28th, 2010.

Three days ago, Dr. Mohsin Saeed at Scripps Clinic opened my left jugular vein with angioplasty and my right jugular vein with angioplasty followed by a stent. The procedure is called by its inventor, Dr. Paolo Zamboni, The Liberation Procedure. It is a revolutionary treatment for an old, disabling disease -- Multiple Sclerosis. Until about 3 months ago, the only theory I knew about MS was that it was an autoimmune disease which attacked and destroyed myelin, the external coating around nerves. For unknown reasons, nerve conduction was slowed while plaques formed in the brain. It was always unclear why or when attacks would happen but they did and were difficult to control. Modern medicine responded with anti-inflammatory drugs and immune suppressants following the line of reasoning that if the disease was caused by an immune response, then stopping the immune response would stop the disease.

I was always leery of this approach because as a doc, I felt I needed my immune system to stay well in the face of my patients who carried diseases. In fact, I was quite proud of my ability to stay well in the face of wintertime time viruses, etc. So even though my life and body had deteriorated significantly over my ten or so years with MS, I kept my head buried in the sand in terms of using the pharmaceutical technologies available to me and my peers with this affliction.Things changed for me in December of 2009. My new friend Federico told me via email about a new approach to MS. Now I am a doctor and he is a xigong practitioner who works as a landscape architect so I was not expecting much. However, I could not have been more wrong. I slowly learned about the vascular theory of MS which was invented and developed by Paolo Zamboni, a vascular surgeon in Italy whose wife suffered with MS. He found that the plaques in the brain of MS patients originated from iron. From this starting point, he found that the source of the iron was back flow of blood from the brain. The backflow was caused by venous blockages in the neck and upper chest. He went on to show that if these blockages were relieved (opened), then the disease stopped its progression and healing ensued. People returned to normal. He did a study of 60 some patients. He described various patterns of blockages (varied locations, etc). The patterns he identified corresponded to the MS variants which had been described:_primary progressive, secondary progressive, relapsing remitting. I learned about this slowly only because the data was sparse at the beginning of my search. I did google searches on line but only found a few things at first. I tried to confirm my research with local experts radiologists, neurologists, my doc friends. Even my friend David Sobel knew nothing about it and he was a neuroradiologist. I would check the internet every day and gradually more information and data were coming forward. There was a diagnostic study being done in Buffalo. There was a neuroradiologist at Stanford who was "trying" some procedures. Something was happening but it was certainly not mainstream and certainly not popular at least to mainstream medicine. I kept on with my search and time passed.
Finally, I convinced Dr. Sobel to do an MRV (magnetic resonance venogtraphy) on me at Scripps Clinic (my old place of employment). Low and behold it showed I had bilateral blocked jugulars! Holy shit! The disease has a new theory and the theory applies to me.

I was SOOOO excited. I had a chance. I could get better. I did not have to continue to become lame rapidly or slowly depending on what kind of day it was. I was back in the game!

My enthusiasm was dampened by my initial attempts to get someone locally to perform what Dr. Zamboni had demonstrated in Italy. I was a candidate for the Liberation Procedure by my MRV, but the world balked. Dr. Dake at Stanford had stopped performing the procedure for unclear reasons. He had decided to do a "trial" and there would be several months until they got up and running. I spoke to him and did get the feeling that he helped people by doing the procedure. Something must have happened in his experience that made him switch gears. He did not say. It was rumored he had complications, maybe even some deaths. I called my contacts. Some did not call back when I asked them to do the procedure on me. Some said I needed to wait for a trial.

Finally, I got to Dr. Mohsin Saeed. I knew of him from my prior work at Scripps. I had never really talked to him. He was recommended by Dr. Paul Teirstein -- the premier interventional cardiologist on the west coast who I knew from Scripps. Incidentally, Teirstein had not heard of any of this work when I first contacted him. He was in Rome at a conference at the time. He put me on hold during our conversation and asked around his table about the Liberation Procedure and Zamboni and the vascular theory of MS. The research was confirmed and he certified that "it was real". He told me to contact Mohsin.

From there, Mohsin and I carried on an email dialogue for a few days. He checked out the theory, the research and the techniques. I was pushing him to do it SOON. I was ready to be opened literally and I wanted it ASAP. Finally, he agreed. Thursday, Feb 25, 6:30 am arrival for bloodwork and prep. 8:30 am Liberation.

I worked the 3 days before the procedure. This was good as I didn't want to think about the procedure. It was good to be busy.
My friend and neighbor Dr. Steve Bierman counseled and hypnotized me 4 days before the procedure. I was happy to be getting "liberated" and I thought I was 100% for it but I was shaking my head "no" during our session even though I didn't realiize it. I was so gungho and had fought so hard to get to this point but I was still saying "no" unconsciously just 4 days before going in. I am defensive by nature and this radical procedure was flying in the face of the "medical establishment." Steve helped me work through my ambiguity and fear and got me fully on track. The last 3 days were just waiting for my time.

Although the lead-up seemed painfully slow, it really was incredibly fast. It was as if my whole life had been preparing me for this moment. My medical training, my personal beliefs about health and healing, my amazing support system all came together for this moment. While my body(and mind) had been deteriorating, I had been in denial for much of my last 10 years. Somehow the procedure brought me back into a world of reality that I had been denying for the past decade. Fortunately, I have an amazing support system which both let me live in denial for so long (while I insisted on lack of acknowledgment) but rallied behind me like a stampeding herd when I was ready to get well. My wife Grace led the charge and my friends and family followed her lead. Never could a person have so much love, support and undying loyalty behind them as I did getting ready for my Liberation. I have spent my life talking about the importance of one's support system in helping health outcomes and it turns out that I truly have the ultimate support system.

The procedure day went smooth. The nurses were top notch and kind. They gave me drugs for the procedure. I remember going in and I remember when it was almost over. Other than that, it was largely a blur. I remember feeling sensations in my neck--aching not really pain. They were brief and tolerable.

The recovery room was unremarkable. I read the paper and ate and rested. Mohsin stopped by and visited briefly. He reiterated that I would need aspirin and plavix to keep the veins open. I went home feeling much the same as when I had come. I awoke the next day feeling exhausted and disappointed. I had it in my mind that I would feel better right away. My energy would return nearly instantaneously. Well, I was wrong, very wrong. I had created that story in my head. Liberation should be instantaneous. That's the way it happened in the movies. Forrest Gump broke out of his leg braces when his girl yelled "Run Forrest Run". I wanted that for me too. Unfortunately, my life is not a movie (yet!).
However, I awoke today and my legs felt a little different; a little lighter. It didn't last long but I know that "things are happening". I got tired. The old feelings returned but I know from very deep down that I have been liberated. My liberation may not be in an instant; I may not be free yet but I am getting liberated. My nervous system is waking up! I started singing this morning. "my eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord...His truth is marching on". I couldn't stop the words from coming. That isn't my song. Those aren't my usual words. They just came.

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]]> CCSVI http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1509 Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:29:28 -0500 Multiple Sclerosis Research - Attn Gulf War Veterans with MS and other autoimmune m-s symptoms http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1508 Veterans Today

Italian Researchers Discover A Possible Onset Mechanism For Multiple Sclerosis

A non-pathogenic bacterium is capable of triggering an autoimmune disease similar to multiple sclerosis in the mouse, the model animal which helps to explain how human diseases work. This is what a group of researchers from the Catholic University of Rome, led by Francesco Ria (Institute of General Pathology) and Giovanni Delogu (Institute of Microbiology), have explained for the first time in a recently published article on the Journal of Immunology.

Multiple sclerosis is caused by an inflammatory reaction provoked by the immune system, leading to disruption of the coating of the nerve fibres in the Central Nervous System.

“We do not know what causes multiple sclerosis”, explains Francesco Ria, immunologist of the Catholic University. “We know that there exists a genetic factor and an environmental factor, but we do not yet possess a satisfactory theory which can explain how exactly this environmental factor works”.

Currently, there are two competing theories in the field: according to a first hypothesis, a virus hides within the brain and what causes the disease is the immunologic antiviral reaction. On the other hand, the second hypothesis states that a viral or bacterial pathogen similar to specific molecules of the Central Nervous System causes an inflammation which provokes a reaction of the immune system. This reaction ends up destroying the brain cells. The latter is called the autoimmune hypothesis.This is the hypothesis that the researchers coming from the Institutes of General Pathology, Microbiology and Anatomy of the Catholic University of Rome have been testing with their two-year long work. To demonstrate the viability of this idea, scientists have fooled the mouse immune system, modifying subtly a bacterium of the common family of mycobacteria (the same family to which also the bacterium causing tuberculosis belongs) to make it look like to myelin, the protein coating nerve cells. This modified mycobacterium is completely innocuous. As all external agents, though, it is capable to trigger the reaction of the T-cells of the immune systems. They intervene to destroy it. Since they are innocuous bacteria, although very common in the environment, and since they induce an immune reaction, they are the ideal bacteria scientists can use to study the environmental factor contributing, together with the genetic factor, to cause multiple sclerosis.

“Normally, T-cells cannot penetrate into the Central Nervous System”, adds Rea, “because the hematoencephalic barrier prevents them from doing so. But the bacterium modifies the characteristics of the T-cells and allows them to overcome the barrier. In 15 days the bacterium disappears completely from the body”.

Yet these T-cells can now enter into the brain. This way, they begin to attack the myelin of the nerve cells, and here is how the immune disease breaks out.

“We basically demonstrate – explains Rea – that in an animal model it is possible to be infected with something not carrying any disease, and later on develop a purely autoimmune disease”.
Yet there is another element in this complex research, sponsored by the Italian Association of Multiple Sclerosis (AISM). “Normally – clarifies Rea – to understand which diseases we have encountered, we measure the antibodies produced by that specific pathogen. But there is a whole world of infectious agents which do not induce the production of antibodies, as is the case in our research: mycobacteria and many other bacteria produce a very low and variable number of antibodies. It is thus very hard to establish whether a population has encountered that specific infectious agent. So, we demonstrate that those infectious agents which are more likely to produce an autoimmune reaction are just those which do not induce antibody production”.

Obviously, this is only the first step to better understand the way this very complex and devastating disease works. Ria and Delogu are not stopping here: “We want to try to understand the exact characteristics which this infectious agent should have”, they explain. “Might it truly be a good experimental model for multiple sclerosis? If we had prolonged the action of the bacteria, would we have favoured or hampered the development of the disease? And what about the myelin-like bacterium protein: where should it lie? On the surface, or inside? These are all questions – conclude the two researchers – which we will be trying to answer in the next years, in the hope to defeat this terrible illness. We could even imagine to develop a vaccine by which we could prevent the immune response associated to multiple sclerosis”.

Source:
Francesco Ria
Catholic University of Rome

Article source: Veterans Today

posted by: Stuart Schlossman-RRMS

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COMMENTS to be left at our blog posting of this article found here]]> M.S. Research Study Reports http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1508 Fri, 5 Mar 2010 07:57:56 -0500 Disease Modifying therapies for Multiple Sclerosis http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1507 MS Views and News
Article Source: MSRC-UK

Disease Modifying Drugs are a group of compounds which alter the progression of MS. They have been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of relapses and slow the development of disability in some people.

Up until June 2006 there were traditionally two types of Disease Modifying Drugs (DMDs) used in the treatment of MS.

These were:
Beta interferon - which comes in two forms, Beta interferon 1a and Beta interferon 1b
& Glatiramer acetate
Although their effect is quite similar, they work in different ways.Beta interferons
Interferons are proteins produced naturally by the human body. They help to fight viral infections and play a vital role in the functioning of the immune system.

There are three types of natural interferon: alpha, beta and gamma. Alpha interferons are used in cancer treatments, and are not thought to be of benefit in treating people with MS. Gamma interferons have been tried in MS, and research showed that they could actually induce MS symptoms.

Beta interferon is known to block the action of gamma interferon, and it is thought that beta interferon acts in MS by reducing both inflammation and the body's autoimmune reaction that is responsible for the inflammation and consequent destruction of myelin.

Two different forms of beta interferon molecule are available as drugs for MS, beta interferon 1a and beta interferon 1b. The differences are due to the manufacturing processes.

Glatiramer acetate
Glatiramer acetate is completely different from beta interferon. It is a laboratory made drug, composed of protein molecules (amino acids) that naturally occur in the human body.

Glatiramer acetate is designed to mimic the effects of the main proteins in myelin. Once injected, the drug is thought to work by connecting to cells in the immune system that can reach the myelin sheath under attack. These cells are thought to switch off inflammation occurring in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and so help brain and spinal column cells recover.

New Disease Modifying Drug (June 2006)

Natalizumab
A new monotherapy Disease Modifying Drug, Natalizumab, was approved in June 2006, by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union (EU). However, due to some incidences of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy*(PML) during clinical trials TYSABRI® is only available through a special distribution program called TOUCHTMPrescribing Program.Under the TOUCHTMPrescribing Program only prescribers, infusion centres, and pharmacies associated with infusion centres registered with the program are able to prescribe, distribute, or infuse TYSABRI®. In addition, TYSABRI® must be administered only to patients who are enrolled in and meet all the conditions of the TOUCHTMPrescribing Program.

TYSABRI® (Natalizumab) is a recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody produced in murine myeloma cells.The specific mechanism(s) by which TYSABRI® exerts its effects in multiple sclerosis have not been fully defined. However, Pharmacodynamic data has shown that TYSABRI® administration increases the number of circulating leukocytes (including lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, and eosinophils) due to inhibition of transmigration out of the vascular space. TYSABRI® doe snot affect the number of circulating neutrophils.

* Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy*(PML) is an opportunistic infection caused by the JC virus that typically occurs in patients that are immunocomprimised.

To continue reading click here to be re-directed to the MSRC-UK website

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.]]> M.S. Drug Therapy (A,B,C,R,+ other meds) http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1507 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:09:26 -0500 FDA Approves: AMPYRA™ (dalfampridine) to Improve Walking in People with Multiple Sclerosis – http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1506

Acorda Therapeutics Announces FDA Approval of
AMPYRA™ (dalfampridine) to Improve Walking in People with
Multiple Sclerosis – Demonstrated by Increases in Walking Speed

· First and Only FDA-Approved Therapy Addressing Walking Impairment

· AMPYRA Previously Referred to as Fampridine-SR

· AMPYRA Expected to be Available by Prescription in March 2010

· Acorda Conference Call Today at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time

HAWTHORNE, N.Y., January 22, 2010 – Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR) today announced that it has received marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AMPYRA™ (dalfampridine), an oral treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed. AMPYRA demonstrated efficacy in people with all four major types of MS (relapsing remitting, secondary progressive, progressive relapsing and primary progressive). AMPYRA can be used alone or with existing MS therapies, including immunomodulator drugs.

“The approval of AMPYRA marks an important milestone for the many people with MS who suffer walking impairment. Difficulty walking is often cited by those with MS as one of the most pervasive and challenging aspects of their disease,” said Ron Cohen, M.D., President and CEO of Acorda Therapeutics, adding “We are enormously gratified to have achieved approval for the only medication indicated to improve walking in people with MS, and we thank all of the clinicians, people living with MS and medical and patient support organizations who joined in this effort over the past decade. Reaching this milestone underscores Acorda’s ongoing commitment to develop innovative therapies for people with neurological diseases.”

“Walking impairment affects a large majority of people with MS, and we are very pleased that the FDA has approved a new treatment that addresses this aspect of the disease,” said John Richert, M.D., Executive Vice President for Research & Clinical Programs at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “Continuing to advance clinical research and expand the range of therapeutic options for people with MS, including treatments for the most debilitating symptoms and challenges associated with the disease, is critical to helping people with MS.”

AMPYRA, which was previously referred to as Fampridine-SR, is an extended release tablet formulation of dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine, 4-AP), which was previously called fampridine. The FDA granted AMPYRA orphan drug status, which will provide seven years of market exclusivity for the drug. In addition, Acorda has several issued patents that cover the formulation and use of AMPYRA.

AMPYRA is administered as a 10 mg tablet twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart. The primary measure of efficacy in its two Phase 3 MS trials was walking speed (in feet per second) as measured by the Timed 25-foot Walk (T25FW), using a responder analysis. A responder was defined as a patient who showed faster walking speed for at least three visits out of a possible four during the double-blind period than the maximum speed achieved in the five non-double-blind, no treatment visits (four before the double-blind period and one after).

A significantly greater proportion of patients taking AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily were responders compared to patients taking placebo, as measured by the T25FW (Trial 1: 34.8% vs. 8.3%; Trial 2: 42.9% vs. 9.3%). The increased response rate in the AMPYRA group was observed across all four major types of MS.

During the double-blind treatment period, a significantly greater proportion of patients taking AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily had increases in walking speed of at least 10%, 20%, or 30% from baseline, compared to placebo. In both trials, the consistent improvements in walking speed were shown to be associated with improvements on a patient self-assessment of ambulatory disability, the 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12), for both drug and placebo treated patients. However, a drug-placebo difference was not established for that outcome measure.

“Walking impairment makes life more difficult for many of my patients,” said Dr. Andrew Goodman, M.D., Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Rochester. “With the approval of AMPYRA, we will have the first treatment option shown to improve walking speed in people with MS.”

Acorda expects AMPYRA to be commercially available in the United States in March 2010. AMPYRA will be distributed exclusively through a network of specialty pharmacies and coordinated by AMPYRA Patient Support Services. Dedicated and experienced customer care agents will be available to help healthcare professionals process prescriptions, work with insurance carriers to facilitate coverage, and help patients to access benefits available through reimbursement assistance and patient assistance programs.

AMPYRA Patient Support Services can be reached at 888-881-1918 for more information about AMPYRA.

The FDA approved AMPYRA with a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program comprising a medication guide and communication plan. The goals of the communication plan are to inform patients about the serious risks, including seizures, associated with use of higher than recommended doses of AMPYRA therapy, and the change of the established name from fampridine to dalfampridine.

AMPYRA will be marketed in the United States by Acorda’s established commercial organization, which successfully launched ZANAFLEX CAPSULES® (tizanidine hydrochloride). The Company plans to double the number of field- based sales professionals to approximately 100 by the time of commercial availability in March.

Under Acorda’s existing license and supply agreement with Elan Pharma International Limited, a subsidiary of Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN), AMPYRA will be manufactured by Elan Drug Technologies using one of their Oral Controlled Release Technologies, the MXDAS™ (MatriX Drug Absorption System) technology.

“We are delighted that AMPRYA will now be available to help people with MS. This approval represents another significant milestone in our successful collaboration with Acorda Therapeutics,” announced Shane Cooke, Executive Vice President and Head of Elan Drug Technologies. “The approval is the culmination of an enormous amount of work and effort over many years and is the second product in which we have collaborated with Acorda. We hope to find additional opportunities to work together in the future.”

Important Safety Information

AMPYRA can cause seizures; the risk of seizures increases with increasing AMPYRA doses. AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with a prior history of seizure. Discontinue AMPYRA use if seizure occurs.

AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (CrCl?50 mL/min); the risk of seizures in patients with mild renal impairment (CrCl 51–80 mL/min) is unknown, but AMPYRA plasma levels in these patients may approach those seen at a dose of 15 mg twice daily, a dose that may be associated with an increased risk of seizures; estimated CrCl should be known before initiating treatment with AMPYRA.

AMPYRA should not be taken with other forms of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, fampridine), since the active ingredient is the same.

Urinary tract infections were reported more frequently as adverse reactions in patients receiving AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily compared to placebo

The most common adverse events (incidence ?2% and at a rate greater than the placebo rate) for AMPYRA in MS patients were urinary tract infection, insomnia, dizziness, headache, nausea, asthenia, back pain, balance disorder, multiple sclerosis relapse, paresthesia, nasopharyngitis, constipation, dyspepsia, and pharyngolaryngeal pain.

For full prescribing information, please visit: www.AMPYRA.com.

About AMPYRA (dalfampridine)

AMPYRA is a potassium channel blocker approved as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed. AMPYRA, which was previously referred to as Fampridine-SR, is an extended release tablet formulation of dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine, 4-AP), which was previously called fampridine. In laboratory studies, dalfampridine has been found to improve impulse conduction in nerve fibers in which the insulating layer, called myelin, has been damaged. AMPYRA is being developed and commercialized in the United States by Acorda Therapeutics, and by Biogen Idec in markets outside the U.S. based on a licensing agreement with Acorda. AMPYRA is manufactured globally by Elan based on an existing supply agreement with Acorda.

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, usually progressive disease in which the immune system attacks and degrades the function of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. More than 400,000 Americans have MS. Most people living with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, and women are affected two to three times more often than men. Worldwide, MS may affect an estimated 2.5 million people.

Research indicates 64%-85% of people with MS have difficulty walking, and 70% of people with MS who have difficulty walking report it to be the most challenging aspect of their MS. Within 15 years of an MS diagnosis, 50% of people with MS often require assistance walking and, in later stages, up to a one third are unable to walk.

About Acorda Therapeutics

Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing therapies for multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and related nervous system disorders. The Company's marketed products include AMPYRA™ (dalfampridine), a potassium channel blocker approved as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), as demonstrated by an improvement in walking speed; and ZANAFLEX CAPSULES® (tizanidine hydrochloride), a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. The Company's pipeline includes a number of products in development for the treatment, regeneration and repair of the spinal cord and brain.

About Elan Drug Technologies

Elan Drug Technologies (EDT) is the world’s leading drug delivery company and is a business unit of Elan (NYSE:ELN). EDT developed dalfampridine, using one of their proprietary Oral Controlled Release Technologies, the MXDAS™ (MatriX Drug Absorption System) technology. EDT aim to deliver clinically meaningful benefits to patients by using their extensive experience and proprietary delivery technologies in partnership with pharmaceutical companies. Products enabled by their technologies are used by millions of patients each day. More information is available at www.elandrugtechnologies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be considered forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including Acorda Therapeutics' ability to successfully market and sell Ampyra in the United States and to successfully market Zanaflex Capsules, the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Amypra, the occurrence of adverse safety events with our products, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain regulatory approval of Ampyra outside of the United States and our dependence on our collaboration partner Biogen IDEC in connection therewith, competition, failure to protect Acorda Therapeutics’ intellectual property or to defend against the intellectual property claims of others, the ability to obtain additional financing to support Acorda Therapeutics' operations, and unfavorable results from our preclinical programs. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Acorda Therapeutics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Acorda Therapeutics may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in its forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements. Acorda Therapeutics disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

CONTACT
AGNES CAO
OFFICE 212-253-8881
==============================================

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]]> M.S. Drug Therapy (A,B,C,R,+ other meds) http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1506 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:14:28 -0500 New Ways to Treat Multiple Sclerosis http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1505 Source: WSJ.com
By THOMAS GRYTA and JON KAMP

Multiple sclerosis seems to damage the central nervous system at a pace faster than the body's own repair mechanism can keep up. In an attempt to find new approaches to treat the disease, scientists are exploring techniques to give the repair process a boost.

An important area of research focuses on ways to help the body regenerate a fatty substance called myelin, which is damaged by attacks brought on by MS patients' own immune system. Myelin protects nerve fibers, or axons, much like insulation on electrical wire. Currently, the principal treatment for MS is with medications that aim to slow the disease's progression, but don't help repair the damage.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory condition that can be disabling in advanced stages. The disease affects an estimated 400,000 people in the U.S. While typically not fatal, it can cause an array of debilitating symptoms, including fatigue, vision problems and even paralysis.

Scientists are tantalized by signs the body can create new myelin. Bruce Trapp, head of the neurosciences department at the Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute, has studied myelin for decades by dissecting brains of deceased MS patients. "We know the MS brain can repair its lesions," or areas of damage, says Dr. Trapp, who founded a small start-up company Renovo Neural Inc., that is trying to grow and activate cells that create myelin.

Myelin-rebuilding research is in the early stages and there is a long road ahead to prove it could work safely in people—it hasn't progressed beyond rodents. Researchers believe it will be important to replace myelin soon after it's damaged, and before harm to nerve fibers has advanced too far.

Research on other MS treatment strategies could yield results first. MS often requires lifelong treatment, and MS drugs brought in more than $8.7 billion in 2009 revenue worldwide, according to Bernstein Research.

Biogen Idec Inc., a Cambridge, Mass., biotechnology company has a big business in MS drugs and is now targeting myelin repair. Biogen biologist Sha Mi discovered a molecule dubbed "Lingo-1" that Biogen believes stops myelin production in adults after axons are well covered. After years of work Biogen researchers found an antibody in 2007 that they believe can safely turn off Lingo-1, and allow myelin regeneration. Biogen plans to launch its first study on humans soon.

Some researchers, though, are wary of any steps that shut off potentially important processes. Likewise, artificially boosting myelin production could trigger unexpected side effects.

While people with MS produce new myelin, the rebuilding effort often doesn't keep pace with the damage, and the efficiency of that process decreases with age even in healthy adults.

In patients with the disease, debris created when myelin falls off can bog down the system, and in the progressive-disease stage many patients enter into a feedback loop of chronic inflammation.

Peter Calabresi, director of the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis Center in Baltimore, is screening already approved medicines, as well as unsuccessful drugs shelved by developers, to see if they can help the cells that grow myelin—oligodendrocyte progenitor cells—develop more efficiently. Finding that an already approved drug, such as an antidepressant, works would be helpful because the side effects are already understood.

Anna Williams, a neurologist at the University of Edinburgh Multiple Sclerosis Centre in Scotland, has focused on trying to direct oligodendrocytes to damaged areas. She and other researchers are also working to trigger those cells to make myelin, which is another important step.

Another approach to fighting MS in the research stage: stem cells transplant. Steven Goldman, head of the cell and gene therapy division at the University of Rochester Medical Center, used this technique to successfully remyelinate the entire nervous system of mice born with no myelin. Such mice usually live four or five months, but some of the mice he treated recovered all neurological function and achieved normal life expectancy.

While promising, this approach presents limitations for MS patients who would likely need repeated transplants. The treatment makes more sense initially for children born without myelin due to a rare genetic disorder, Dr. Goldman says.

"Stem-cell transplant in MS has been historically attractive, but has been overtaken by our understanding of how remyelination works and the potential of the brain's own stem cells," says Robin Franklin, who heads a neural stem cell program at the University of Cambridge in England.

According to Howard Weiner, who directs the Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, there are more leads right now aimed at shutting down the early part of the disease than on repairing damage.

"My own personal view is that I think we're better attacking the pathologic processes that are causing it as opposed to rebuilding after it's happened," Dr. Weiner says.

Write to Thomas Gryta at thomas.gryta@dowjones.com and Jon Kamp at jon.kamp@dowjones.com

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]]> M.S. Research Study Reports http://www.tecnogeeks.com/msviewsandrelatednews/blog5/index.php?itemid=1505 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:24:56 -0500