Interferon beta does not slow MS progression

Interferon beta does not slow MS progression, new study reveals

By VOXXI Health / VOXXI News Friday, July 20, 2012 

 

 

 

Interferon beta, a biologic response modifying medication, is commonly prescribed in cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) and until recently associated to delays in the progression of the disease. The injectable drug is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring protein, according to the National Library of Medicine.

In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, evidence indicates Interferon beta does not delay the progression of MS as previously thought. It does, however, reduce flare-ups, which warrants continued usage according to researchers.

 
“Treatment with beta interferon was not associated with a delay in progression to disability,” said to WebMD researcher Helen Tremlett, PhD, of the University of British Columbia. “It may be that in subgroups of patients these drugs do slow disease progression, but we were not able to show this.”

For the research, approximately 2,700 MS patients with reoccurring flare-ups, known as relapsing-remitting MS, were followed for a period of 11 years. One-third of the test subjects were placed on interferon beta in the 1990s; one-third was not placed on the medication; one third was evaluated before interferon became available.

At the end of the research study, the interferon beta test group and the non-interferon beta test group reached the standard level of disability — defined as needing a cane to walk 330 feet — within the same time frame.

“We were not able to find a significant association between interferon beta exposure and progression to disability,” said to Health Day Helen Tremlett, an associate professor of neurology at the University of British Columbia.

In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, evidence indicates Interferon beta does not delay the progression of MS as previously thought. (Shutterstock photo)

Tremlett added that mainstream beliefs about interferon beta were based on theories that reducing relapse rates indicated a “beneficial impact” on disease progression. The current research, however, suggest otherwise.

Treatment for MS won’t likely change much, says Timothy Coetzee, chief research officer for the National MS Society. While not beneficial for delaying MS disabilities, interferon beta does reduce the occurrence of flare-ups.

“If patients are taking the existing disease-modifying therapies [such as interferon beta] they should continue to take them,” he said. “Those drugs were approved for treating MS based on strong clinical trial results that found over a two- to three-year period, people did better with the drugs.”

Multiple Sclerosis is an auto immune disease affecting the brain and the spinal cord, states PubMed Health. It affects more than 300,000 people in the United States, generally causing significant disabilities within 10-20 years of diagnosis.

Aside from interferon beta, treatment includes the use of steroids, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, and cholinergic medications to decrease the severity of symptoms. While treatment can decrease MS flare-ups, no cure exists at this time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.voxxi.com/interferon-beta-multiple-sclerosis-ms/#ixzz21CTG27UG

 Source:
Interferon beta does not slow MS progression, new study reveals

 http://www.voxxi.com/interferon-beta-multiple-sclerosis-ms/

Coconut Oil: Is it helpful?

Preface:

This author does not agree with the popularity of coconut oil for its health benefits.  Other articles included in this blog are more positive.  The sources he gives are from 1987 and 2001, so it would seem that science or other evidence has changed some of the thinking around this oil between then and now.  

The makes no mention of Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson's Disease in this article.  These are the health conditions that were referred to as benefiting from coconut oil taken daily.

Because Dean Ornish has been the health Guru that makes the most sense to me, seeing his name in the article gets my attention.  Heart health is of great importance and cocnut oil seems counter intuitive to anyone who has followed Ornish's principles.  At the same time, Viagra was a heart drug that found new uses, we need to keep an open mind. 

If  you hear from credible sources that a natural substance can help  manage symptoms, keep an open mind and look into it.  ....


.............................................................

Coconut Oil: An over-rated, and potentially dangerous source of fat?

 Is coconut oil a health-promoting food? 

Some of the health benefits claimed include: stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, the treatment of candida and pancreatitis, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, improved dental care, and bone strength.

None of these claims have been substantiated by human clinical trails, and in my view, are largely misleading. A bigger concern is the fact that the regular use of coconut oil may actually promote some very deleterious health effects, especially in regard to cardiovascular disease.

Coconut Oil and Cardiovascular Disease

Although there have been no formal coconut oil loading studies in humans that address lipid changes, there is strong indirect evidence that regular use of coconut oil will raise blood cholesterol and increase risk of thrombogenic conditions (e.g. deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attacks, etc).



The human body has no requirement for saturated fat. Dr. William Castelli, the medical director of the Framingham Heart Study and Dr. Dean Ornish have provided compelling evidence that, the lower one’s total saturated fat intake (from all sources), the lower the risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, angina etc. 

Dean Ornish has provided evidence to show that a virtually zero content saturated fat diet, along with moderate exercise and meditation, can reverse atherosclerosis, as demonstrated by angiography studies. 

 

Saturated fatty acids:  

The liver can synthesize saturated fat (primarily palmitic acid), as well as the monounsaturated fat, oleic acid, from carbohydrates consumed in the human diet. 

After age 5, there is no nutritional need for dietary saturated fat or cholesterol. 

 

*Fatty acid composition of coconut oil

Common name	Composition	Mean %
Caproic acid	C 6:0	0.44
Caprylic acid	C 8:0	7.05
Capric acid	C 10:0	6.59
Lauric acid	C 12:0	50.63
Myristic acid	C 14:0	18.10
Palmitic acid	C 16:0	8.26
Stearic acid	C 18:0	3.07
Oleic acid	C 18:1	4.65
Linoleic acid	C 18:2	0.8
Other	C 18:3 C 24:1	0.31

*http://www.kokonutpacific.com.au/OilSales/OilCoconutoil/Oil_specs.html



Online References for Coconut Oil

1. S. Renaud. Thrombogenicity and atherogenicity of dietary fatty acids in rat. Atherosclerosis. Oct 2, 1987
2. Summary of the Scientific Conference on Dietary Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Health (Conference Summary From the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association) Circulation. 2001;103:1034.)

 Source:
Coconut Oil: An over-rated, and potentially dangerous source of fat
 http://www.meschinohealth.com/ArticleDirectory/Coconut_Oil_Over-rated_Potentially_Dangerous_Source_Of_Fat

Laughing yoga cultivates merry mindfulness

NEW YORK | Mon Jul 9, 2012 5:18am EDT

 
(Reuters) - Can't touch your toes? Laugh it off.


Laughter yoga, unlike Pilates yoga, water yoga, aerial yoga and other offshoots of the ancient eastern practice of uniting body and breath, doesn't aspire to sculpted arms and bendy backs.
Laughter yoga just wants you to be happy.

"You may not lose fat, but you will lose the idea that you're fat," said Sebastien Gendry, founder and executive director of the American School of Laughter Yoga.

"People come because it's the exercise they can do and it makes them feel good," said Gendry, who founded the school in 2004. "It's the easiest form of yoga. They can't twist, they can't bend, but they can do this."

A blend of yogic deep breathing, stretching, and laughter exercises that cultivate child-like playfulness, Laughter Yoga was developed 17 years ago in Mumbai, India by Dr. Madan Kataria. Laughter Yoga International now claims 600 clubs in 60 countries.

Gendry, who was born in France, was the first American to train as a certified Laughter Yoga teacher.

Central to Laughter Yoga is the tenet that the body cannot differentiate between pretend and genuine laughter.

"We fake it," Gendry said of the group classes he leads. "We simulate to stimulate. We go through the motions of joy to create the chemistry of joy."

In one exercise attendees are instructed to repeat "ho-ho, ha-ha-ha" while clapping hands; in another they are directed to "picture yourself jumping for joy."

The exercises are unapologetically silly and very short—20 to 40 seconds each in an hour-long class, Gendry said, to facilitate the shift from thinking to feeling.

"The goal is not to work on muscle mass," he said. "It is to overcome critical thinking."
Another goal is to connect with classmates.

"Laughter is a means to an end," he explained. "In hatha yoga (the yoga commonly taught in studios and health clubs), the focus is the breath. In laughter yoga, the focus is the "dristi," or gaze, of the other. It builds community."

It's also easy. Gendry said it usually takes two days to master the fundamentals of the method.

"For those who want to teach, it takes a week," he said. "Truly, this is not rocket science."
New York City-based fitness expert Lashaun Dale, who has been teaching movement, fitness and yoga for over 20 years, said she really enjoyed the Laughter Yoga class she attended.

"It's a hoot," said Dale. "It releases so much stress. You can't help but laugh. First, there's discomfort; then it's hard to stop."

Dale said the class favored gentle, healing movement over the intense stretching and exertion of the vinyasa flow of typical yoga classes.

"It is a way to do movement," she said. "If you're stressed out, you're not taking care of yourself. You can't get fit until you get balanced."

Humor can boost the immune system and lower blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn 10 to 40 calories.

Gregory Chertok, sport psychology counselor and fitness trainer at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center in Englewood, New Jersey, said there is a staggering amount of documented findings on the importance of mood to behavior.

"It (laughing) is not like doing a cardio workout or a plank (exercise)," said Chertok, who encourages his athlete clients to notice their moods. "It's less of a physical, more of a social, benefit. Engaging with people is an enjoyable thing."

Chertok noted that writer and researcher Norman Cousins, whose book "Anatomy of an Illness" influenced Kataria, famously referred to laughter as "internal jogging."

He said the Self-Determination Theory, a psychological theory of motivation, says that anyone seeking a healthy lifestyle must feel three things: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

"A person who is not physically able to do more strenuous yoga may feel more competent and related in a setting like this (laughter yoga)," he said.

Of course, as Pandora discovered to her dismay, even openness has consequences.

"You cannot open up your box of emotions separately," Gendry explained. "Laughter and tears go side by side. The more you laugh, the more you cry. You can't avoid that."



(Reporting by Dorene Internicola; editing by Patricia Reaney and Leslie Gevirtz




 Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/09/us-fitness-yoga-laughing-idUSBRE86809U20120709

Laughing yoga cultivates merry mindfulness | Reuters

Stephen Covey, 1932-2012

"CHANGE IS A CONSTANT" is the name of one of my other blogs.  I think the idea that life is change, choice and principles is a more complete view of the process of making the best of the cards we are dealt..

7/18/2012

Stephen Covey: Life is this: change, choice, principles.

 Judging by the sales numbers, many of us have owned and read Covey's books at one time or another.  Going so far as listening to his best book '7 Habits', in my case to understand his simple message. 

Sometimes given to over thinking, it was difficult for me to realize that his message was a simple, common sense approach, given all the press hysteria he generated.  

Of course, Stephen covey must be approached like P.T. Barnum or any other oif the great self-promoters in American business history.  If you have investigated his Franklin Covey web site you will have seen his marketing machine in action.  He was a huge part of the "Self-Help" industry as indicated by Brian Trac

 Mr. Gilette summarizes Covey's ideas:

 Life is this: change, choice, principles.

 By the Numbers
Stephen Covey, 1932-2012  

By Felix Gillette on July 18, 2012

The prophet Moses delivered the Ten Commandments. The psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross came up with the Five Stages of Grief.

Stephen Covey gave us The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

A luminary in the field of American self-help by the numbers, Covey passed away on Monday, July 16, in a hospital in Idaho from complications following a bicycle accident. He was 79.

Covey published The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in 1989. The book has sold more than 20  million copies.

A former professor at Brigham Young University, Covey left academia to found a management consulting business, the Covey Leadership Center (which merged with Franklin Quest in 1997 to form FranklinCovey). He wrote several other books, including The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, and The 3rd Alternative: Solving Life’s Most Difficult Problems.

In the hours following news of Covey’s death, a panoply of motivational senseis—Tony Robbins, Daniel Pink, Ricky Williams—flooded social networks with words of remembrance and samples of Covey’s inspirational quotes. “There are three constants in life … change, choice, and principles,” Covey wrote.

Covey is survived not just by his wife, nine children, 52 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren but also, to judge by the reaction to his passing, by countless devotees of his numerically specific editorial approach—a style that in recent years has flourished in business writing on the Web.

On Twitter, John Maxwell, the author of 5 Levels of Leadership, mourned the passing of his friend and colleague. Paul Lawrence Vann, the co-author of 101 Great Ways to Enhance Your Career, praised Covey. Jeffrey Hayzlett, a proponent of what he calls “the 118,” aka “the Elevator Pitch 2.0″ (basically, a condensed sales pitch that lasts 118 seconds), noted how much Covey will be missed. James Vickery, the star of a Web video entitled 9 Unmistakable Truths About Cloud Computing, called Covey an “inspiration to all of us.”

“Though we were hardly bosom buddies, I would occasionally get an absurdly generous note from Stephen recognizing this or that that I had done,” wrote management guru Tom Peters in the Washington Post. “I often joked with him that, with the passage of time, I was ripping him off more and more.” Peters’s most recent book is entitled The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence.

“Stephen Covey was a major influence in my life and in the lives of other top speakers, writers, and professionals in the human development movement, especially in business,” says Brian Tracy, the author of numerous books, including The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success and The 21 Success Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires.

 

 

 

The Message:

Life is this: change, choice, principles.

The Man

Devout Mormon, family man with 52 grandchildren.

The Legacy

His books have been sold in 38 languages.

Gillette is a staff writer for Bloomberg Businessweek in New York.

 Source:
Stephen Covey, 1932-2012 - Businessweek

LINK:
 http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-18/stephen-covey-1932-2012



  Stephen R. Covey, Herald of Good Habits, Dies at 79

July 16, 2012

Stephen R. Covey, Herald of Good Habits, Dies at 79

By DOUGLAS MARTIN

Stephen R. Covey won a global following and a five-year run on best-seller lists by fusing the genres of self-help and business literature in his 1989 book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic”.

He died on Monday at a hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was 79. The cause was complications of a bicycle accident three months ago, his family said in a statement. 

Mr. Covey’s book sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, and also became the first audiobook to sell more than a million copies. 

After conferring with Mr. Covey over Thanksgiving in 1994, President Bill Clinton said American productivity would greatly increase if people followed Mr. Covey’s advice. 

More than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies flocked to use a consulting company he had founded. 

Mr. Covey was a bit baffled by his success.

He said he was simply telling people what he thought they already knew:

 the efficacy of good behavior. 

All that people had to do was form habits out of their best instincts, he said, calling his seven nuggets of knowledge natural laws, like gravity. 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People  are: 

1. Be proactive 

2. Begin with the end in mind 

3. Put first things first 

4. Think “win-win.” 

5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood 

6. Synergize 

7. Sharpen the saw; that is, undergo frequent self-renewal. 

..........................................................................

“We believe that organizational behavior is individual behavior collectivized,” Mr. Covey said. 

He expanded the lesson in 2004 in “The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness,” in which he urges people to find their own distinctive voices and to encourage others to find theirs. 

Among his other books, “Seven Habits for Highly Effective Families,” published in 1997, advocates that families come up with mission statements. 

“The Leader in Me,” published in 2008, embodies his ideas for educational reform. 

His goal was to change society, he said, calling his catechism first and foremost an action plan. “What is common sense isn’t common practice,” he declared. 

Mr. Covey was a Mormon, and some saw large elements of Mormon theology in his work, though his language was ecumenical. He denied any Mormon bias in his books, saying he drew inspiration from the Scriptures and from history’s great thinkers. 

In 1996, Time magazine named Mr. Covey one of the 25 most influential Americans, and Forbes called “Seven Habits” one of the top 10 business management books ever.

“Seven Habits” became part of the vernacular. Campaigning in the Iowa Republican primary last year, Mitt Romney referred to the book in offering his “seven habits for highly successful economies.” 

Parodies have cropped up. One, published in 1996, was titled “The 7 Habits of Highly Defective People: And Other Bestsellers That Won’t Go Away.” 

Stephen Richards Covey was born on Oct. 24, 1932, in Salt Lake City, and grew up on an egg farm outside the city. A promising athletic career was cut short by degeneration in his legs, causing him to use crutches for three years as a teenager. 

He entered the University of Utah at 16 and earned a degree in business administration. He spent two years in Britain as a Mormon missionary before returning to the United States to earn an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. 

After another missionary stint, in Ireland, he earned a doctorate in religious education from Brigham Young University. 

His thesis was on “success literature” in American history. 

At Brigham Young, he became an assistant to the university’s president and began teaching his self-help ideas on campus, drawing as many as 1,000 students in a single class.

In 1983 he gambled everything he owned on starting the Covey Leadership Center, a training and consulting concern in Provo, Utah. 

In 1997 it merged with Franklin Quest, founded by Hyrum Smith, a time-management expert, to become the Franklin Covey Company. It now operates in more than 50 countries and had $160.8 million in sales last year. 

In explaining his second recommended habit — Begin with the end in mind — Mr. Covey urged people to consider how they would like to be remembered.

“If you carefully consider what you want to be said of you in the funeral experience,” he said, “you will find your definition of success.”

Source:
Stephen R. Covey, Herald of Good Habits, Dies at 79 - NYTimes.com

 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/business/stephen-r-covey-herald-of-good-habits-dies-at-79.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=business

Baba Shiv: Sometimes it's good to give up the driver's seat - YouTube

"Sometimes it's good to give up the driver's seat" is not the approach needed with multiple sclerosis,in my opinion. Because m.s. is not subject to a cure or even consistently effective treatments, the sufferers needs to educate themselves in healthy habits to maintain a healthy body and mind to better deal with the disease progress.  Passively waiting for a cure is not enough.  We need to find ways to manage our symptoms and to stay healthy, ubeat and engaged in life.

This blog is primarily concerned with SPMS  ...

 

on Jul 18, 2012 by TEDtalksDirector
 

http://www.ted.com Over the years, research has shown a counterintuitive fact about human nature: That sometimes, having too much choice makes us less happy. This may even be true when it comes to medical treatment. Baba Shiv shares a fascinating study that measures why choice opens the door to doubt, and suggests that ceding control -- especially on life-or-death decisions -- may be the best thing for us.

Source:
Baba Shiv: Sometimes it's good to give up the driver's seat - YouTube
 Link:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tal0NkWW1E&feature=player_embedded

How heat affects the body - CBC News Interactive

Great Illustration Interactive



Interactive by Matthew Black & Ruby Buiza, CBC News

CBC stories7 tips to keep cool Toronto breaks heat record Heat warning issued for city of Ottawa The hottest places on Earth


Much of Western Canada is grappling with a heat wave, with temperatures expected to soar to as high as 35 C this week. It's the same weather system that walloped Central Canada and the U.S. late last week.


Here's a look at how this intense heat affects different parts of the human body.


Click on red circle markers for details.





View Interactive
How heat affects the body - CBC News Interactive

http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/heat-related-illnesses/index.html

Multiple Sclerosis Basics - EverydayHealth.com

 Good resource  for information bout most aspects of managing symptoms of m.s.


Multiple Sclerosis Basics - EverydayHealth.com

http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis-basics.aspx

 More scientific exploration of the disease is included because it is heartening to know that many great minds are focused on finding better treatments and maybe a cure will be found along the way, too.  It is all Latin to me but ...  .

Gene link to multiple sclerosis

July 11, 2012 in Genetics

Image of cross-section of a multiple sclerosis patient brain; a lesion is shown in red. Credit: Aiden Haghikia, Calliope A Dendrou, Lars Fugger

(Medical Xpress) -- The biological role of a gene variant implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been determined by researchers at Oxford University.

 

The finding explains why MS patients do badly on a set of drugs used successfully in other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease - something that has been a puzzle for over 10 years.


The study illustrates that understanding the details of how some changes in the DNA code are linked to common diseases can inform clinical practice and guide the treatments that people receive so as to prevent adverse side effects.

The Oxford University team, along with German, Danish and US colleagues, has published the findings in the journal Nature. 

They were funded through the MRC Human Immunology Unit, part of the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, and the Wellcome Trust.

'The hope has been that analyses of the whole human genome would lead to findings that are clinically relevant,' says Professor Lars Fugger of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at Oxford University, who led the work. 'We show that this is possible. It's one of the first such examples, certainly in autoimmune disease.

'Gene scientists in recent years have been successful at identifying hundreds of individual changes, slips and alterations in our DNA that can be reliably linked to the risk of many common diseases such as MS, diabetes and heart disease. 

But it has been difficult to determine which of these DNA changes are causal and what biological role they play in disease. In addition, most of the gene variants only have small effects, each on their own accounting for little of the genetic contribution to disease. This has led some to question the worth of these very large genetic studies, or to suggest that the assumption that decoding the human genome would change medicine has been oversold.

'Some people say that genomic association studies haven't delivered on the promise of decoding the human genome,' says Professor Fugger. 'But the postgenomic era has only just started.'

The researchers investigated one particular genetic variant - found in a gene called TNFRSF1A - which has previously been associated with the risk of developing MS.

The Oxford-led research team used a battery of genetic, molecular, cell biology and biophysical techniques to show that the TNFRSF1A gene variant results in the production of an altered, shortened version of the TNFR1 protein encoded by the gene.

The long version of the TNFR1 protein normally sits at the surface of cells and binds TNF, an important signalling molecule involved in a number of biological pathways in the body. In contrast, the shortened form lacks an anchor to keep it at the cell surface and is instead released outside of the cell.

The researchers showed that the free, shortened protein can mop up TNF, preventing it from triggering signalling. This is essentially the same thing TNF blocking drugs do. Drugs that block TNF are effective treatments in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune disorders. Yet a clinical trial over 10 years ago found the drugs make MS patients significantly worse and exacerbate the disease.

'Now we know that the functional effect of the TNFRSF1A gene variant mirrors that of TNF blocking drugs, and this promotes MS risk,' says Mr Adam Gregory, one of the joint first authors of the paper from the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at Oxford University. 'Had we known this prior to the clinical trial of TNF blockers in MS patients, this could have helped to predict the poor outcome,' notes Dr Calliope Dendrou, the other joint first author from the same department.

Professor Fugger says the results are a 'proof of concept' that understanding the biological details of how gene variants are associated with a disease can direct which patients should or should not receive specific drugs.

'Whilst the TNFRSF1A gene variant is linked to a modest risk of developing MS, the drug that mimics the effect of the variant has a considerably greater impact. The effects of genetic variants influencing disease risk or resistance can be amplified by drugs. This has often been completely overlooked but will be critical for using genetic findings in a medical context.'

Journal reference: Nature

Provided by Oxford University

Related Stories

• Women with MS more likely to have MS-related gene than men Jan 05, 2011 | not rated yet | 0
• Rare gene variant implicates vitamin D in cause of multiple sclerosis Dec 09, 2011 | not rated yet | 0
• Gene variant may increase severity of MS Aug 02, 2010 | not rated yet | 0

 Source:
Gene link to multiple sclerosis
 http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-gene-link-multiple-sclerosis.html

Novel Immune Target Identified in Multiple Sclerosis --Doctors Lounge

This article is far beyond my limited understanding of biochemistry BUT I include it as a memory jogger to see if any further developments follow in this area.




 

.................................................

Novel Immune Target Identified in Multiple Sclerosis Last Updated: July 11, 2012.





    About half of a subgroup of patients with multiple sclerosis have autoantibodies to a potassium channel in the brain, according to a study published in the July 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.



WEDNESDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- About half of a subgroup of patients with multiple sclerosis have autoantibodies to a potassium channel in the brain, according to a study published in the July 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

To identify the target of the immune response in multiple sclerosis, Rajneesh Srivastava, from the Technische Universität in Munich, Germany, and colleagues screened serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) from a subgroup of patients with multiple sclerosis who displayed specific binding of IgG to glial cells. Results were validated in other groups of patients with multiple sclerosis.

The researchers found that the membrane protein ATP-sensitive inward rectifying potassium channel (KIR4.1) was the target of the IgG autoantibodies. In the combined datasets analyzed, antibodies to KIR4.1 were present in 46.9 percent of patients with multiple sclerosis, 0.9 percent of patients with other neurological diseases, and no healthy individuals.

These antibodies bound to KIR4.1 on the first extracellular loop. Following injection of KIR4.1 serum IgG from multiple sclerosis patients into the cisternae magnae of mice there was loss of KIR4.1 expression, expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein was altered in astrocytes, and the complement cascade was activated where KIR4.1 was expressed in the cerebellum.

"In summary, putting aside a priori assumptions in the search for autoantigens in multiple sclerosis, these investigators took an unbiased approach that resulted in the identification of an unexpected but plausible antigenic target," write the authors of an accompanying editorial. 

"The specific role of antibodies to KIR4.1 in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis awaits further definition."

Several authors disclosed financial relationships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.





LINK:
http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/30468
Novel Immune Target Identified in Multiple Sclerosis --Doctors Lounge

New Multiple Sclerosis Drug

Researchers Developing New Multiple Sclerosis Drug That Can Be Taken Orally

By SRI International

Published: Tuesday, Jul. 10, 2012 - 12:29 pm

MENLO PARK, Calif., July 10, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded SRI International a one-year grant to develop a novel therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune nervous system disease that affects about 400,000 people in the United States and more than two million people worldwide. There is currently no cure for this disorder, which can impair vision and movement.

The grant, funded through DoD's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, will support the development of an oral drug that targets miR-326, a molecule recently found to stimulate the production of immune system mediators known as T-helper 17 (Th17) cells. Patients with MS have high levels of miR-326, and Th17 is thought to play a critical role in causing MS and other autoimmune diseases. The new therapy will inhibit miR-326 and block the production of Th17 cells.

The novel, orally administered drug will be more convenient for patients than currently available treatments. MS treatments today often require frequent hospital visits for injections or intravenous infusions. The new drug could also help patients who do not respond to existing medications, or who experience significant side effects as a result of taking them.

"New and more convenient and effective therapeutics for multiple sclerosis are greatly needed," said Jennifer Lam, Ph.D., a research scientist in SRI's Biosciences Division who is spearheading the project. "Our research is directed toward the development of a novel oral therapeutic as well as a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to MS."

The project described was supported by Award Numbers W81XWH-11-1-0736 from the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity. The content of the information does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the Government, and no official endorsement should be inferred

About SRI's Biosciences Division SRI's Biosciences Division carries out basic research, drug discovery, and drug development, and provides contract services. SRI has all of the resources necessary to take R&D from Idea to IND®—from initial discovery to the start of human clinical trials—and specializes in cancer, immunology and inflammation, infectious disease, and neuroscience. SRI's product pipeline has yielded marketed drugs, therapeutics currently in clinical trials, and additional programs in earlier stages. In its CRO business, SRI has helped government and other clients and partners advance well over 100 drugs into patient testing. SRI is also working to create the next generation of technologies in areas such as diagnostics, drug delivery, medical devices, and systems biology.

About SRI International Innovations from SRI International have created new industries, billions of dollars of marketplace value, and lasting benefits to society—touching our lives every day. SRI, a nonprofit research and development institute based in Silicon Valley, brings its innovations to the marketplace through technology licensing, new products, and spin-off ventures. Government and business clients come to SRI for pioneering R&D and solutions in computing and communications, chemistry and materials, education, energy, health and pharmaceuticals, national defense, robotics, sensing, and more.
SOURCE SRI International

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/10/4621898/researchers-developing-new-multiple.html#storylink=cpy




 Source:
 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/10/4621898/researchers-developing-new-multiple.html
Researchers Developing New Multiple Sclerosis Drug That Can Be Taken Orally - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee

Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue: Causes and Treatments

 

Medically speaking, fatigue is not the same thing as tiredness. Tiredness happens to everyone -- it is an expected feeling after certain activities or at the end of the day. Usually you know why you are tired and a good night's sleep solves the problem.

Fatigue is a daily lack of energy; unusual or excessive whole-body tiredness not relieved by sleep. It can be acute (lasting a month or less) or chronic (lasting from one to six months or longer). Fatigue can prevent a person from functioning normally and affects a person's quality of life. 

What Can I Do About MS-Related Fatigue?

The best way to combat fatigue related to your MS is to treat the underlying medical cause. Unfortunately, the exact cause of MS-related fatigue is often unknown, or there may be multiple causes. However, there are steps you can take that may help to control fatigue. Here are some tips:

1. Assess your personal situation.

• Evaluate your level of energy. Think of your personal energy stores as a "bank." Deposits and withdrawals have to be made over the course of the day or the week to balance energy conservation, restoration, and expenditure. Keep a diary for one week to identify the time of day when you are either most fatigued or have the most energy. Note what you think may be contributing factors.
• Be alert to your personal warning signs of fatigue. Fatigue warning signs may include tired eyes, tired legs, whole-body tiredness, stiff shoulders, decreased energy or a lack of energy, inability to concentrate, weakness or malaise, boredom or lack of motivation, sleepiness, increased irritability, nervousness, anxiety, or impatience.

2. Conserve your energy.

• Plan ahead and organize your work. For example, change storage of items to reduce trips or reaching, delegate tasks when needed, and combine activities and simplify details.
• Schedule rest. For example, balance periods of rest and work and rest before you become fatigued. Frequent, short rests are beneficial.
• Pace yourself. A moderate pace is better than rushing through activities. Reduce sudden or prolonged strains. Alternate sitting and standing.
• Practice proper body mechanics. When sitting, use a chair with good back support. Sit up with your back straight and your shoulders back. Adjust the level of your work. Work without bending over. When bending to lift something, bend your knees and use your leg muscles to lift, not your back. Do not bend forward at the waist with your knees straight. Also, try carrying several small loads instead of one large one, or use a cart.
• Limit work that requires reaching over your head. For example, use long-handled tools, store items lower, and delegate activities whenever possible.
• Limit work that increases muscle tension.
• Identify environmental situations that cause fatigue. For example, avoid extremes of temperature, eliminate smoke or harmful fumes, and avoid long hot showers or baths.
• Prioritize your activities. Decide what activities are important to you, and what could be delegated. Use your energy on important tasks.

3. Eat Right

Fatigue is often made worse if you are not eating enough or if you are not eating the right foods. Maintaining good nutrition can help you feel better and have more energy.

4. Exercise

Decreased physical activity, which may be the result of illness or of treatment, can lead to tiredness and lack of energy. Scientists have found that even healthy athletes forced to spend extended periods in bed or sitting in chairs develop feelings of anxiety, depression, weakness, fatigue, and nausea. Regular, moderate exercise can decrease these feelings, help you stay active, and increase your energy.

5. Learn to manage stress

Managing stress can play an important role in combating fatigue. Here are tips to help keep stress in check:

• Adjust your expectations. For example, if you have a list of 10 things you want to accomplish today, pare it down to two and leave the rest for other days. A sense of accomplishment goes a long way to reducing stress.
• Help others understand and support you. Family and friends can be helpful if they can "put themselves in your shoes" and understand what fatigue means to you. Support groups can be a source of comfort as well. Other people with MS understand what you are going through.
• Relaxation techniques. Audiotapes that teach deep breathing or visualization can help reduce stress.
• Participate in activities that divert your attention away from fatigue. For example, activities such as knitting, reading, or listening to music require little physical energy but require attention.

If your stress seems out of control, talk to your doctor. They are there to help.

Although fatigue is a common and often expected symptom of MS, you should feel free to mention your concerns to your doctors. There are times when fatigue may be a clue to some other underlying medical problem. Other times, there may be medical interventions that can prevent fatigue.









 Source:
Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue: Causes and Treatments
 http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/guide/ms-related-fatigue?page=2