Inhibiting Hot microglia is what we think we want. Loss of a molecule involved in growth factor signalling results in the formation of more microglia and worsening of inflammatory conditions. Some of you may be interested in this one Voet S, Mc Guire C, Hagemeyer N, Martens A, Schroeder A, Wieghofer P, Daems C, Staszewski O, Walle LV, Jordao MJC, Sze M, Vikkula HK, Demeestere D, Van...
World MS Day 2018
It’s World MS Day today! This annual awareness day has been pioneered by the MS International Foundation (MSIF) and takes place each year at the end of May. Check here for events across the Globe. This years’s World MS Day campaign headline is #bringinguscloser, which the organisers translate as follows: “Research is bringing us closer to ending MS. To...
It’s in the smell of it all
Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2018 May 18;23:74-77. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2018.05.006. [Epub ahead of print] Transient impairment of olfactory threshold in acute multiple sclerosis relapse. Bsteh G, Hegen H, Ladstätter F, Berek K, Amprosi M, Wurth S, Auer M, Di Pauli F, Deisenhammer F, Lutterotti A, Berger T. Abstract BACKGROUND: Impairment of olfactory threshold is a feature of early and active...
MS Trust Symptom Challenge – get involved
The MS Trust are continuing to raise awareness about MS by launching the #MSTrustSymptomChallenge! They want you to demonstrate what it feels like to live with certain MS symptoms. Send them videos explaining MS symptoms so young people can understand them. Could you explain or demonstrate somehow what optic neuritis feels like, or fatigue perhaps? In this video Toby is trying to explain...
Stem cell trial is Safe
Stem cells are the “buzz word” and trials abound. This one reports that they appear safe. However, the question needs to be posed do they work? Are our expectations too high? Rather than write a piece at the end, I have added to the abstract in Magenta Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSC) for the treatment of secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis: A triple blinded...
Scar Wars: Battle of the Labs
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Microglial Control of Astrocytes
There is cross talk between glial cells in the CNS, which will contribute to inflammation and damage. Today we have a science post from animals (If not interested don’t read on) looking at mechanisms of this Microglial control of astrocytes in response to microbial metabolites. Rothhammer V, Borucki DM, Tjon EC, Takenaka MC, Chao CC, Ardura-Fabregat A, de Lima KA, Gutiérrez-Vázquez C...
The neurologists tool kit – Stornoway talk
Photograph: (left to right) myself, Klaus Schmierer, Gareth Pryce, Gavin Giovannoni, David Baker, Stewart Webb, Sarah-Jane Martin, (below) Isle of Lewis. I’ve been asked to put in writing the second of my Stornoway (on the Isle of Lewis) talks. The title is ‘the neurologists tool kit’ and provides an overview of your visit to your neurologist in plain speak. In many ways what is...
Your brain stiffens
Rheology is the study of the flow of matter An interesting brain fact if you are interested Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is a developing technology for quantitatively assessing the mechanical properties of tissue. The technology may be considered to be an imaging-based counterpart to palpation, commonly used by physicians to diagnose and characterize diseases. Apparently brain...
Depression to reduce MS
Sacramento PM, Monteiro C, Dias ASO, Kasahara TM, Ferreira TB, Hygino J, Wing AC, Andrade RM, Rueda F, Sales MC, Vasconcelos CC, Bento CAM. Serotonin decreases the production of Th1/Th17 cytokines and elevates the frequency of regulatory CD4+ T cell subsets in multiple sclerosis patients. Eur J Immunol. 2018 May 2. doi: 10.1002/eji.201847525. [Epub ahead of print Excessive levels of pro...