This the first of our Barts-MS non-personalised, more factual, blog posts. We, Barts-MS, hope you will find this format more agreeable. Happiness is associated with better health outcomes, which may apply to people living with MS and their families. More research needs to be done in this area before any definitive statements can be made in relation to applying happiness therapy as part of the...
Characterizing lymphocyte counts and infection rates with long-term teriflunomide treatment: Pooled analysis of clinical trials. Comi G, Miller AE, Benamor M, Truffinet P, Poole EM, Freedman MS. Mult Scler. 2019 Jun 7:1352458519851981. doi: 10.1177/1352458519851981. [Epub ahead of print] BACKGROUND:In Phase 3 studies, teriflunomide reduced relapse rates and disability progression compared with...
Relationship between the use of electronic devices and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. Khaki-Khatibi F, Nourazarian A, Ahmadi F, Farhoudi M, Savadi-Oskouei D, Pourostadi M, Asgharzadeh M. Cogn Neurodyn. 2019 Jun;13(3):287-292 Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Dirty electricity generated by electronic equipment is...
Pregnancy and Family Planning in Multiple Sclerosis. Langer-Gould AM.Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2019 Jun;25(3):773-792 PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article provides practical guidance on successful management of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) through pregnancy and the postpartum period. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies indicate that most women diagnosed with MS today can have children, breast-feed...
Caesarean section and infant formula feeding are associated with an earlier age of onset of multiple sclerosis. Dalla Costa G, Romeo M, Esposito F, Sangalli F, Colombo B, Radaelli M, Moiola L, Comi G, Martinelli V. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2019;33:75-77 Mode of delivery and lactation are among the earliest factors influencing gut microbiota composition and potentially MS risk, but their...
J Neuroimmunol. 2019 May 16;333:576966. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2019.576966. [Epub ahead of print] Persistence of intrathecal oligoclonal B cells and IgG in multiple sclerosis. Tomescu-Baciu A, Johansen JN, Holmøy T, Greiff V, Stensland M, de Souza GA, Vartdal F, Lossius A. Abstract In multiple sclerosis (MS), B cells are trafficking across the blood-brain barrier, but it is not known...
PML, JCV infection Natalizumab (aka Tysabri), is one of the hard hitters in the DMT world and owing to its mechanism of blocking the ingress of immune cells into the brain, works quickly – achieving control in as little as 4 weeks. In the AFFIRM study, natalizumab reduced the rate of clinical relapse by 68% in the first year! But, one of the drawbacks of stopping the immune surveillance of...
Sometimes you have a question unrelated to the topic of the posts, so post them here.
Thanks to Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky behavioural psychology and behavioural economics have become very sexy. Kahneman & Tversky have spawned an industry of nudge theorists; people who devise ways of getting populations of people to do things that are good for them. People with MS are no different from the general population when it comes to doing what they are told to do. We have major...
Reproductive history of the Danish multiple sclerosis population: A register-based study. Moberg JY, Laursen B, Thygesen LC, Magyari M. Mult Scler. 2019 May 30:1352458519851245. BACKGROUND: A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) may impact the choice of parenthood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the number of live births, abortions and ectopic pregnancies among persons with MS. METHODS: From the...
We were rightly criticised last year for holding a meeting that highlighted the problem of variance in the provision of MS services, in the NHS. without a plan and vision about how to change things. I hope we have listened to you. The follow on meeting that we are hosting next month (8th-9th July) has a more ambitious agenda; it will even come with a 3-year action plan. I have always made the...