My post on the ‘Damp Squib’ has upset several close colleagues. I need to explain my reasons for doing it; the main one being is that I am very frustrated that change happens so slowly, whereas shit happens so quickly. The catalyst for our Barts-MS off-label initiative was my sabbatical 5 years ago and kicked-off with a blog post I did on the 3rd October 2014. I am ashamed that it is now 5 years...
Infections problems is a sore that profG openned. CD52 depletes T, B cells and monocytes and is associated with higher infection rate. However, once depleted cells can return if an infection occurs. In contrast ocrelizumab depletes B cells for ever and this was associated with bacterial infections. It tells us something about the immune response and protection from infection. So if you...
The debate about what is active and inactive secondary progressive MS will not be settled by the EMA adopting a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for siponimod, which is now ‘licensed’ for the treatment of adult patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) with active disease. Siponimod reduces disability progression in people with active...
Professor Gavin Giovannoni (Prof G) and his team of clinicians and researchers at Barts and at the Royal London Hospital — like many of their medical colleagues — are in frequent contact with pwMS (people with multiple sclerosis), many of whom are untreated. The reason that these pwMS are on no treatment is often economic. No treatment due to economic reasons and can occur in both developed as...
This study looks at exposure to a vitamin D promoting ultraviolet light and they change rapidly. They make the case that there is a skin-gut pathway to promote health ,but sadly it rather says to me if it can change in a week, what are the studies attempting to link gut microbiome and MS susceptibility really going to find. Get abit of sunlight and you have a different gut microbiome profile. We...
A dark age is when society regresses; it goes backwards in time. The shocking revelations in last week’s New England of Journal of Medicine on the dire situation of some type 1 diabetics upset me and indicates we may be entering a dark age. An age when we are forcing our patients to turn their backs on innovation because they, or society, can’t afford to purchase the necessary medications...
Regardless of from whence you hail, if you’re a woman you are twice as likely to be diagnosed with MS than a man. It is probably one of the most constant and persistent risk factor in MS. Hidden beneath this risk is the effect of hormones on the immune system. For instance, until the age of puberty, the frequency of MS is similar in both boys and girls. The cases start to become female...
This week is alcohol awareness week in the UK and the NHS is encouraging its patients/clients to look in the mirror and ask whether or not they are drinking too much. As part of the holistic management of MS and our marginal gains strategy for managing MS, we are encouraging all pwMS to do the same. Excessive alcohol consumption is bad for MS in several ways. It disrupts your sleep pattern and...
Yep you get it all here folks, top science, neuros waxing lyrical and the down-right daft. So when I saw this little gem, I couldn’t help but write about it. I learn something every day. Hope you do. Whilst we see if ProfG does his monday morning post or maybe he is off somewhere nice. He pops up to Sheffield to do teaching every now and then and its good that he gets to visit “Gods...
For the rodent readers, this is one for you. So those who can’t give a stuff about our furry friends, this is not the post for you. We are always on the look-out for models of MS. In this study they look at the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein T cell receptor transgenic mice where all of its T cells react to this myelin protein. This can get EAE, but generatlly they get apparently sub...
Our new news from the anals of neurology is that a group of people with clinically isolated syndrome who presented 30 years ago, have been followed up. At the population level there are some features that suggest that you may do more badly, but can it tell you where you will be in 30 years from diagnosis.?…I don’t need to give an answer as you know my opinion on MRI correlations. Beta...