Gnanapavan S, Ho P, Heywood W, Jackson S, Grant D, Rantell K, Keir G, Mills K, Steinman L, Giovannoni G.Progression in multiple sclerosis is associated with low endogenous NCAM. J Neurochem. 2013 Mar 15. doi: 10.1111/jnc.12236. [Epub ahead of print] Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system (CNS) disorder characterised by demyelination and neurodegeneration. Although hallmarks of...
Research: North South Gradients in Oz assessed by Drug use
Hollingworth S, Walker K, Page A, Eadie M. and the Australian regional prevalence of multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2013. [Epub ahead of print] BACKGROUND: Over some 50 years, field surveys have shown that the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) increases with increasing distance from the equator in both the northern and the southern hemispheres. Such a latitudinal gradient has been found in...
CCSVI March 2013
Valdueza JM, Doepp F, Schreiber SJ, van Oosten BW, Schmierer K, Paul F, Wattjes MP. What went wrong? The flawed concept of cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2013 Feb 27. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2013.31. [Epub ahead of print] In 2006, Zamboni reintroduced the concept that chronic impaired venous outflow of the central nervous system is associated with multiple sclerosis(MS)...
Don’t Crucify the Messenger!
Sometimes we are the bringers of bad news; we don’t necessarily make the bad news.
So there is no point in venting your ire our way.
Happy Holidays!
Apologies if you think the image is in poor taste; it is Good Friday after all.
Virally Affected B cells are the Centre of EAE
Epub: Anwar Jagessar et al. The Different Clinical Effects of Anti-BLyS, Anti-APRIL and Anti-CD20 Antibodies Point at a Critical Pathogenic Role of γ-Herpesvirus Infected B Cells in the Marmoset EAE Model. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2013 Mar 19. Background: The robust and rapid clinical effect of depleting anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) in multiple sclerosis (MS) demonstrates a critical...
Research: Measuring Nerve Damage
Epub: Kuhle et al. A comparative study of CSF neurofilament light and heavy chain protein in MS. Mult Scler. 2013 Mar 25. BACKGROUND: There is a lack of reliable biomarkers of axonal degeneration. Neurofilaments are promising candidates to fulfil this task. We compared two highly sensitive assays to measure two subunits of the neurofilament protein (neurofilament light (NfL)...
Research Vitamin D in India
Epub: Pandit et al. Association of vitamin D and multiple sclerosis in India. Mult Scler. 2013 Mar. BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent in India. The association between vitamin D status and multiple sclerosis (MS) has not been previously studied in Indians. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to determine whether vitamin D status is associated with MS in India...
Inhibition of Microglia protects Axons
Morsali D, Bechtold D, Lee W, Chauhdry S, Palchaudhuri U, Hassoon P, Snell DM, Malpass K, Piers T, Pocock J, Roach A, Smith KJ. Safinamide and flecainide protect axons and reduce microglial activation in models of multiple sclerosis. Brain. 2013 Mar 20. [Epub ahead of print] Axonal degeneration is a major cause of permanent disability in the inflammatory demyelinating disease multiple...
Doctor Ruth Week
Last week saw three papers published by Doctor Ruth, one was a review. Some of the Ram-Magic is clearly rubbing off. Dobson R, Leddy SG, Gangadharan S, Giovannoni G. Assessing fracture risk in people with MS: a service development study comparing three fracture risk scoring systems. BMJ Open. 2013 Mar 11;3(3). doi:pii: e002508. 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002508. Print 2013. BACKGROUND: Suboptimal...
Laquinimod inhibits dendritic cell function
Epub: Jolivel et al. Modulation of dendritic cell properties by laquinimod as a mechanism for modulating multiple sclerosis. Brain. 2013 Mar 20. Laquinimod is an orally administered compound that is under investigation in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. To understand the mechanism by which laquinimod exerts its clinical effects, we have performed human and murine (IT’S MOUSE...