22 Jul 08

HLA-DRB1(*)15 allele influences the later course of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis
Genes Immun. 2008 Jul 10. [Epub ahead of print]

The role of genes in the pathogenesis of MS is complex. The authors found an association between this gene and the development of secondary progressive MS, suggesting that it may be somehow involved.
Source abstract

22 Jul 08

Brain responses to verbal stimuli among multiple sclerosis patients with pseudobulbar affect
J Neurol Sci. 2008 Aug 15;271(1-2):137-147. Epub 2008 May 27.

The authors used a neurophysiological technique to study people with MS who had problems with emotional control. They found that people with problems with emotional control were more impulsive and that structures involved in sensory-motor and emotional processing seemed to be involved in this.
Source abstract

22 Jul 08

Peripheral nerve demyelination in multiple sclerosis
Clin Neurophysiol. 2008 Aug;119(8):1829-33. Epub 2008 May 20.

MS characteristically affects the central nervous system. The authors looked for demyelination in the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord in people with MS and found it in 5 percent of them.
Source abstract

22 Jul 08

Mechanisms of action of disease-modifying agents and brain volume changes in multiple sclerosis
Neurology. 2008 Jul 8;71(2):136-44.

This article reviews the effects that different treatments for MS have on brain volume and the mechanisms of these changes.
Source abstract

22 Jul 08

Brain derived neurotrophic factor treatment reduces inflammation and apoptosis in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis
J Neurol Sci. 2008 Jul 15;270(1-2):70-6. Epub 2008 Apr 18.

This study showed that this molecule was effective in reducing symptoms and central nervous system inflammation in the animal model of MS.
Source abstract

15 Jul 08

Cannabinoid-induced effects on the nociceptive system: A neurophysiological study in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
Eur J Pain. 2008 Jul 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Pain can be a complex symptom which is sometimes difficult to treat. There is some evidence that cannabis might be useful when other medications have failed, although it is not licensed in the UK at present. The authors used neurophysiological techniques to assess its role in treating pain in people with secondary progressive MS and found some benefit in nerve thresholds but its effect on symptoms was less clear.
Source abstract

15 Jul 08

Early anisotropy changes in the corpus callosum of patients with optic neuritis
Neuroradiology. 2008 Jul;50(7):549-57. Epub 2008 May 6.

The authors used diffusion tensor imaging, a new MRI technique, to study changes in the brain after an episode of optic neuritis, which can be the presenting symptom of MS. They found changes at baseline in all patients and these progressed more over time in the subgroup which developed MS.
Source abstract

15 Jul 08

Oral prednisone taper following intravenous steroids fails to improve disability or recovery from relapses in multiple sclerosis
Eur J Neurol. 2008 Jul;15(7):677-80. Epub 2008 May 6.

Steroids are often given intravenously to shorten the duration of relapses in people with MS. The authors investigated the effect of adding a course of oral steroids afterwards. They found no additional benefit.
Source abstract

15 Jul 08

A voxel-based morphometry study of grey matter loss in MS patients with different clinical phenotypes
Neuroimage. 2008 Aug 1;42(1):315-22. Epub 2008 Apr 20.

This study showed a different distribution of changes in grey matter depending on the type of MS.
Source abstract

15 Jul 08

Lithium prevents and ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
J Immunol. 2008 Jul 1;181(1):338-45.

The authors investigated the role of lithium in treating the animal model of MS. They found that this medication markedly reduced symptoms of the disease in mice.
Source abstract

15 Jul 08

Evidence of platelet activation in multiple sclerosis
J Neuroinflammation. 2008 Jun 27;5(1):27. [Epub ahead of print]

This study showed an increase in platelet activation in people with MS compared with controls. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underlying this and whether it is significant in MS.
Source abstract

08 Jul 08

Improvement of hand dexterity following motor cortex rTMS in multiple sclerosis patients with cerebellar impairment
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

Cerebellar symptoms like clumsiness and tremor are difficult to treat. In this preliminary study, the authors studied the effect of repetitive magnetic stimulation of the brain, a non-invasive technique, in reducing these symptoms in people with MS. They found that it improved hand dexterity and suggested it might be a potential treatment. Larger studies are needed.
Source abstract

08 Jul 08

Interferon {beta} therapy increases serum ferritin levels in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

Ferritin, a protein involved in iron metabolism which is thought may have a protective role against inflammatory injury, is increased in some types of MS. The authors found that treatment with interferon-beta increases ferritin concentration. Further studies are needed to evaluate its role in MS.
Source abstract

08 Jul 08

Reduction of Disease Activity and Disability With High-Dose Cyclophosphamide in Patients With Aggressive Multiple Sclerosis
Arch Neurol. 2008 Jun 9. [Epub ahead of print]

In this preliminary study from America, the authors investigated the safety and effectiveness of high-dose cyclophosphamide, a treatment which strongly suppresses the immune system, in people with aggressive relapsing-remitting MS. They found that this treatment was generally well tolerated and reduced disability and inflammation on MRI. Further larger studies are needed.
Source abstract

08 Jul 08

Memory decline evolves independently of disease activity in MS
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

The authors studied cognitive functions such as memory in people with MS. They found that memory problems were not associated with other measures of disease activity.
Source abstract

08 Jul 08

Patients with multiple sclerosis resisted to glucocorticoid therapy: abnormal expression of heat-shock protein 90 in glucocorticoid receptor complex
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

The authors investigated why some people with MS do not respond to steroids, a medication given to shorten the duration of relapses. They found some molecular differences which might help explain this.
Source abstract

08 Jul 08

Strong EBV-specific CD8+ T-cell response in patients with early multiple sclerosis
Brain. 2008 Jun 11. [Epub ahead of print]

The cause of MS is not known but many factors are implicated including possibly viruses. The authors investigated the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus and MS. They found an increased immunological response to the virus in people with MS and this was higher in people with a first attack of the disease, suggesting that it might be associated with the onset of the disease in susceptible people.
Source abstract

08 Jul 08

Atorvastatin decreases high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in multiple sclerosis
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

The effect of statins, usually used for reducing cholesterol, is under ongoing investigation in MS. The authors looked at combination treatment with interferon beta 1b and atorvastatin in people with relapsing-remitting MS. They found that people who took both medications had lower levels of a protein involved in inflammation. However, whether this is of any clinical benefit is still unclear.
Source abstract

08 Jul 08

A 3-year diffusion tensor MRI study of grey matter damage progression during the earliest clinical stage of MS
J Neurol. 2008 Jun 13. [Epub ahead of print]

The authors studied grey matter damage with MRI in people with a first attack suggestive of MS. They found some evidence of subtle grey matter damage in the early stages of the disease but it is not associated with future relapses.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

Effect of laquinimod on MRI-monitored disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase IIb study
Lancet. 2008 Jun 21;371(9630):2085-92.

The authors report the findings of the phase II clinical trial of laquinimod, a new oral medication for relapsing-remitting MS. They found that the treatment was safe and that it reduced MRI activity over 36 weeks of treatment. This is encouraging and the next step is a phase III trial looking at clinical effects in larger groups of patients.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

Failure to develop multiple sclerosis in patients with neurologic symptoms without objective evidence.
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

The authors investigated the risk of developing MS in people with neurological symptoms but normal examination and investigations. They were reassured to find that none of the participants developed MS at 4 years follow-up.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

Constraint-Induced Movement therapy can improve hemiparetic progressive multiple sclerosis. Preliminary findings.
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

The authors studied the effect of Constraint-Induced Movement therapy in people with progressive MS with weakness of one arm. This treatment is a kind of physiotherapy program in which the good arm is restricted in order to encourage movement of the weak one. They found some benefit from it but further larger studies are needed to confirm this.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

Alexithymia in multiple sclerosis: relationship with fatigue and depression.
Acta Neurol Scand. 2008 Jul;118(1):18-23. Epub 2007 Dec 27.

The authors studied alexithymia, a personality trait consisting of difficulty in identifying and describing feelings to others, in people with MS. They found that about 14% of people with MS had alexithymia and it was associated with higher levels of fatigue and depression, which may have important implications for treatment.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

Gray matter atrophy is related to long-term disability in multiple sclerosis.
Ann Neurol. 2008 Jun 20. [Epub ahead of print]

The authors compared brain MRI measurements in people with different types of MS after 20 years of follow-up. They found that abnormalities of gray matter were better predictors of disability than white matter abnormalities.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

Efficiency of cognitive control recruitment in the very early stage of multiple sclerosis: a one-year fMRI follow-up study.
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

The authors used functional MRI, a new MRI technique, to investigate the relationship between brain activation and functions such as working memory and processing speed in people with early MS. They found that an increase in brain activation on MRI was associated with better performance of the tests.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

Increasing prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in northern Japan.
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

This study shows that MS is also increasing in frequency in Japan in recent years.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

Very early scans for demonstrating dissemination in time in multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun;14(5):631-5.

In certain clinical situations, the current diagnostic criteria for MS require a new MRI lesion compared with a reference scan performed at least 30 days after the onset of the symptoms. The authors studied whether a reference MRI performed sooner than this made any difference to the accuracy of the criteria. They concluded that new MRI lesions increased relapse risk regardless of the timing of the first scan.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

Retinal nerve fiber layer atrophy is associated with physical and cognitive disability in multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

The authors investigated the use of two techniques to image the nerve fiber layer of the retina at the back of the eye and its relationship with symptoms in MS. They found that thinning of the nerve fiber layer maybe associated with physical symptoms and that one of the techniques is a good way to assess it.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

The effect of functional electrical stimulation on the physiological cost of gait in people with multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

The authors studied the effects of an electrical stimulator for weak ankle muscles in people with MS. They found that it improved walking in this small group.
Source abstract

30 Jun 08

Factors associated with the risk of secondary progression in multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler. 2008 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]

The authors investigated which factors were associated with developing secondary progressive MS. They found that disease modifying treatments for MS might delay the onset but further studies are needed to confirm this finding.
Source abstract