Images Of Torn Scrotum

Study: CCSVI can be

result of the progression

of multiple sclerosis



A recently published study on the relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic cerebral venous insufficiency (CCIVS), a narrowing of the extracranial veins that restricts the normal flow of blood brain found that CCSVI may be the result of MS, not a cause.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo, appears in the latest issue of Neurology , the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Zivadinov Robert, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurology School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences UB and the president of the International Society for neurovascular disease, is first author on the paper.

Zivadinov says of the findings: "Given the great interest in the hypothesis that CCSVI is a possible cause of multiple sclerosis, an independent evaluation of CCSVI was identified as an urgent necessity.

"Our results indicate that only 56.1 percent of patients with MS and 38.1 percent of patients with a condition known as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), an individual first neurological episode Instead, there CCSVI.

"While this may suggest an association between the Member States and CCSVI, the association does not imply causation. In fact, 42.3 percent of participants classified as other neurological diseases (OND) and as 22.7 percent of healthy controls participating in the study, also presented CCSVI.

"These results indicate that CCSVI not have a major role in causing MS," says Zivadinov. "Our findings are consistent with a higher prevalence of CCSVI in MS, but substantially lower rates of sensitivity and specificity reported in MS originally by Italian investigators. "

CCSVI is a complex vascular disease discovered and described by Paolo Zamboni, MD, University of Ferrara, Italy. It is characterized by narrowing of vessels that drain blood from the skull. Zamboni hypothesized that this reduction restricts normal blood flow to the brain, leading to alterations in blood flow patterns within the brain that eventually cause brain tissue damage and degeneration of neurons, leading to MS .

Zamboni original research on a group of 65 patients and 235 controls showed that seemed CCSVI be strongly associated with MS, increasing the risk of MS by 43 times.

The results of the UB is based on 499 participants in the combined and extracranial venous transcranial Doppler Assessment (CTEVD) study, which began at the university in April 2009.

The study group consisted of 289 people with MS and 163 healthy controls, 26 with OND and 21 with the CIS.

MS patients were also defined by type of disease: relapsing-remitting (RR), secondary progressive (SP), primary-progressive (PP), progressive-relapsing (PR) and MS with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) - a type of MS that affects the optic nerves and spinal cord exclusively.

All patients underwent transcranial and extracranial Doppler ultrasound scans of the head and neck. People who were considered "positive CCSVI" meeting two or more of five venous hemodynamics (VH) criteria.

prevalence rates were calculated in three groups: subjects with positive and negative CCSVI diagnoses, and only borderline cases included in the negative group, and subjects who meet any of the five criteria.

CCSVI When only positive and negative cases were considered, the results showed a prevalence of 62.5 percent CCSVI in MS patients, 45.8 percent in those with OND, 42.1 percent in the CIS and 25.5 percent in healthy controls.

When questionable cases were included as negative CCSVI prevalence rates were 56.1 percent in patients with MS, 42.3 percent in those with OND, 38.1 percent with the CIS and 22.7 percent in healthy controls.

When all cases that meet at least one of the five criteria of VH were included in the analysis, prevalence CCIVS of 81.3 percent in MS cases, 76.2 percent in CIS patients, 65.4 percent in the OND cases and 55.2 percent in healthy controls.

The highest prevalence was observed in relapsing-primary progressive MS (89.4 percent), followed by non-relapsing secondary progressive MS (67.2 percent), NMO (66.6 percent) , primary-progressive MS (54.5 percent) and relapsing-remitting MS (49.2 percent). CCSVI Prevalence was significantly higher in progressive MS patients with non-progressive MS. In addition, patients with a subtype of the disease with progressive MS had higher prevalence CCSVI than non-progressive MS.

"CCSVI The higher prevalence in patients with progressive MS CCSVI suggests that there may be a consequence rather than a cause of MS," says Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, MD, co-principal investigator of the study and Professor of Neurology at UB. Therefore, the possibility that CCSVI may be a consequence of the progression of MS can not be excluded and should be investigated further.

"Several studies have reported that patients with progressive MS show decreased blood flow through the brain's neural tissue, CCSVI indicating that it may be secondary to reduced perfusion, "said Weinstock-Guttman." Moreover, recently showed an association between the severity of CCSVI and reduction of cerebral blood flow in the brain parenchyma of MS patients in a pilot study published. "

E. Ann Yeh, MD, assistant professor of neurology at UB and major contributor to the study, said that of the 10 pediatric patients with MS who participated in the study, five had CCSVI (50 percent), giving a prevalence similar to that of adult patients with multiple sclerosis.

"Although the sample size was too small to draw definitive conclusions, these results suggest that CCSVI is also present in children and is not the result of aging," she says.

Zivadinov concludes:. "The differences between our study, the original Italian CCSVI and other recent studies also emphasize the need for a multimodal approach for the evaluation of CCSVI addition of Doppler ultrasound, the use of selective venography, magnetic resonance venography and intraluminal Doppler methods can provide more evidence of the true prevalence of CCSVI in MS. "

Source: University of Buffalo

Kamehasutra Read Online In Colorado

Andalusian researchers

STRESS THE ROLE OF

IMMUNE SYSTEM IN

DEVELOPMENT OF DISEASE

NEURODEGENERATIVE

Traditionally, research on neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson has focused on the study of mechanisms of neuronal degeneration of the central nervous system, without considering the importance of the immune system as a trigger or chronic. Investigations by a group of Andalusian Center Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER) , directed by David Pozo, go one step further deepen the study of mechanisms that disrupt the immune system, many common diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer's or Parkinson

Laboratory and Advanced Therapies in Immune Neuroprotection of Centro Andaluz Biology Molecular and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER) , directed by David Well, consider that the immune system plays an important role as a trigger or chronic, neurodegenerative disease. It is focus on the study of the mechanisms that alter, many common diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

"Our strategy is to try to understand the mechanisms of deregulation of the immune system to modulate, if possible, through the use of endogenous molecules found in our body, as certain neuropeptides. They are small proteins produced by both nerve cells and the immune system, as part of the molecular framework by which these systems talk to each other. In particular we study the axis formed by the neuropeptides VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) capable of modifying the inflammatory response and immune tolerance, and the molecule ADNP (Activity Dependent Neuroprotective Protein ), neuroprotective effect, "says researcher .


Dual function
These therapeutic approaches have implied a dual role: immunomodulatory because it modifies the immune response to halt the neurodegenerative process, and neuroprotective. His works are aimed at the intervention of the processes of balancing the immune system, either through direct use of neuropeptides, or by cell therapy. In the latter, the experimental framework, would infuse the patient immune cells-regulatory T specific antigen, a substance that triggers the formation of antibodies and can cause an autoimmune response.

'own cells are patient could then be used ex vivo manipulation in the laboratory. This act by turning off the immune response specifically, promoting tolerance to a particular antigen, in this case, the trigger of the neurodegenerative process, "says David Pozo, which states:" Although the results have been obtained from tests in animal models, other research groups have worked infusing T-regulatory cells in patients with MS. "

Through these trials, "we are beginning to understand when and where to manipulate an immune response inflammatory central nervous system, encouraging even a positive response to treat neurodegeneration, "says David Pozo.

result of this work are the publications in international refereed journals as Nanomedicine, EMBO Journal, Journal of Immunology or PLOSOne , next to the record of 5 patents, three of them involving the universities of Seville and Pablo de Olavide the Superior Council Scientific Research (CSIC) and Reina Mercedes Foundation for Health Research, and the two most recent in 2011: " Nanoliposomas functionalized with peptides, Sevilla University and Service Andalusian Health.

What Is A Dangeoursly Low Bmi

neuroengineering

BIOMECHANICS DISCIPLINES

EMERGING

ADDRESSING THE DYSFUNCTION

MOBILITY IN

Human movement is encoded by a set of nerve signals from the motor neurons of the spinal cord to a set of muscles. On this view, strategic contributions emerging disciplines such as biomechanics, neuro, nanotecnologíavvy computer science, are shedding light and new perspectives on the functioning of the nervous system. It was discussed at the table coordinated by the head of the Biomechanics Unit of the HNP and Assisted Living, Dr. Angel Gil. The Neuroengineering is a new discipline that combines engineering, including micro and nanotechnology, knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems, computer science, molecular and cognitive neuroscience, with two main objectives: improving basic knowledge of how the nervous system and the development of systems capable of restoring the functions in those affected by different neuronal types of disabilities.

During his speech in Toledo, Biorobotics professor of the Institute of Automation, Swiss Federal Technology Zurich, Silvestro Sir, referred to in recent years there have been several advances of neuro-hand, particularly in developing neural prostheses that can restore sensory and motor function in people with disabilities.

Dr. Mycenae showed the results after implantation of thin film electrodes in intra-fascicular median and ulnar nerves of an individual who suffered an amputation of hand and spoke of the possibility of deciphering the commands involved in the control of a prosthesis of the right hand after an investigation that lasted four weeks.

One of the ambitious objectives proposed neuro is the knowledge that allows the development of neural prostheses to restore locomotion in the spinal cord. For this, the Dr.Micena is conducting experiments in rodents in which the preliminary results in identifying the characterization of the response after epidural stimulation and cortical signal processing.

Since the definition of motion as being encoded by a set of nerve signals from the motor neurons of the spinal cord to a group of muscles, the head of the Engineering Department of Neurorehabilitation, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience University of Göttingen, Dario Farina, spoke of the studies being conducted in his laboratory in vivo on human motor neurons and their connections with high-density systems of electrodes implanted in the muscles themselves or placed on the skin.

Dr. Dario Farina showed how current techniques allow full decoding of signals from nerves to muscles and the identification of common and differential changes in the subpopulations of motor neurons, through a study implications on the man-machine interface.

For his part, responsible for Biomechanics and Grants Unit HNP techniques Dr. Ángel Gil, provided important data on the statistical weight and functional, including impairment of upper limb function, as one of the most common sequelae of spinal cord injury patients, "the upper extremities are affected over 50% of cases and the strength of the upper extremities are affected to some extent in people who have suffered injuries at the cervical level so it is difficult for them to perform many activities of daily living essential for their autonomy as the propulsion in manual wheelchair, eating, drinking and personal hygiene "

For Dr. Gil cinematic equipment and kinetic are ready to record, collect and analyze data from the lower end of the march, but when you consider the movement of the upper limb may be necessary to define and implement a biomechanical model of the upper limb which complicate the analysis. Furthermore, gait analysis is a cyclical movement clearly defined, especially in the sagittal plane, but the upper limb can perform a variety of non-cyclical movements are difficult to classify at all levels.

In contrast to the lower limbs, upper limbs have a functionally large due to the mobility of joints you can run multiple fine movements through the complex neuromuscular control. Lower limb movements have been extensively discussed in particular biomechanical studies on gait analysis have been developed in recent decades as an important technique to help in the clinical evaluation of patients with impaired mobility.

teacher also intervened Dejan B. Popovic Department of Health Sciences and Technology at the University of Aalborg in Denmark, who spoke on the need to optimize the application of electrical stimulation on motor neural prosthesis to restore functionality movement in humans with paralysis.

In his presentation, he mentioned that are still outstanding areas of research for this technology to be used regularly as a means of neurological rehabilitation or brace. Among the issues highlighted selective access to the neural pathways in the central and peripheral nervous system, physiological arousal and inhibition of neural pathways, integration and biological control, appropriate sensor design and improve communication between the decisions takes the user and the prosthesis

Images Of Maxine The Cartoon Character On A Couch

U.S. warns of infection

drug Tysabri brain



Reuters 22/04/2011
Risk brain infection caused by the drug Tysabri, Biogen Idec against MS is highest during the third year of treatment, health officials said the United States in an updated warning issued on Friday.

potentially fatal infection known as leuco encephalopathy leukoencephalopathy (PML, for its acronym in English) occurs in approximately 1.5 per 1,000 patients treated with Tysabri during the months 25 to 36, said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, for its acronym in English .)

The drug is given monthly by oral infusion.

Biogen withdrew the drug in 2005 after the first reports of infection in the brain, but Tysabri returned to the market with restrictions in 2006.

Fears of brain infection have limited the use of the drug, which generates sales of more than 1,000 million dollars per year.

The FDA said Friday that the risk of brain infection was 0.3 per 1,000 patients during the first two years of treatment.

estimates were added to the prescription instructions for Tysabri, which Biogen occurs with the Irish drug maker Elan Corp Plc.

The FDA said it was the first time I had considered the possibilities of progressive multifocal leuko encephalopathy at specified intervals rather than providing a cumulative risk for years.

A new estimate "will allow those who prescribe a better assessment of risk based on the duration of treatment," the agency said.

The FDA said 102 cases of PML had been reported in the world to 28 February. The agency "continues considered the benefits of taking Tysabri outweigh the potential risks," according to a notice posted on its website.

Annual sales of Tysabri, the brand of the drug natalizumab, would reach almost 1,500 billion in 2015, according to consensus forecasts Thomson Reuters.

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THE DOCTOR, THE PATIENT

AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Although multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common disease in industrialized countries and that there are associations, both national and provincial disease., has not paid much attention to the RMP (doctor-patient relationship).

The patient has to know their diagnosis, which involves being informed correctly by doctors from beginning.

Doctors sometimes avoid the communication and transmit only if the patient diagnosis question directly. The patient and his family have to be aware of every aspect of the disease to plan the future if necessary. However, those affected continue to complain and the limited information provided to them regarding the disease and how they are administered.
Regardless of the development and severity of the disease. the patient with MS always benefits with the help of a good RMP. Not only affects and changes the life of sick, but also the family and the couple. There are many situations in different stages of life to be found in MS patients:

1. Young people with MS who still live with their parents or who after independence returned to the parental home.

2. Young working age who develop MS, working with the attendant problems.

3. Young couples in which one of the two was diagnosed with MS.

To accommodate these situations and problems involving the patient and his family must be properly warned by their doctor about all medical and social aspects of the disease.

patient orientation on the new situation is a very difficult and important work, especially psychologically. Must be informed of the progress of the disease, the possibility of a benign but also of a possible progression, being able to see a situation doomed to remain in a wheelchair, or totally dependent on the family. ;

should also be focused on the possibilities of medical treatment, rehabilitation and care, with hospital neurologist and reference points which must be addressed if health problems arise.

is of utmost importance in the RMP that the neurologist knows anticipate possible emotional reactions after receiving the diagnosis of MS. If symptoms and signs of a first outbreak refer almost entirely affected the trend of the disease is considered as a passing episode and do not consider the personal future and work as a danger, do not give the value that should the possible symptoms to avoid altering the relationships in the environment or labor performance.

This attitude is in principle beneficial because it can not be further outbreaks or progression of the disease for months or years. It is essential that the neurologist stably maintain a relationship with the patient so that in case of relapse or progression tub can offer support based on an RMP (doctor-patient relationship) stable or assist in providing medical and psychological treatment .

Sometimes the reaction after the diagnosis knowledge is impressive and affected -Do nothing to think about the possible evolution of the disease, the potential for clustering, the possible occurrence of labor problems and social environment.

The RMP is considered to have an important role in the acceptance phase of the disease and adapt to it, being in phase get used to the disease, as the longer, which establishes a greater bond between the patient and the neurologist, and provides treatment and possible greater reliance on the patient's doctor, since the problems of everyday life will have a major impact on their lives.

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IgM The BOC consolidate

the prognosis of MS

Oligoclonal bands (BOC) of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and of immunoglobulin M (IgM) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are useful markers in multiple sclerosis (MS). A team from the Ramón y Cajal Hospital is leading the research on these biomarkers.

Sonia Moreno - Medical Journal April 2011 -19

Luisa María Villar The immunologist and neurologist Jose Carlos Alvarez-Cermak, coordinator of the MS, both from the Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (Madrid), periodically organize a course on the study of biomarkers in MS. Villar also is responsible within the English Society of Immunology, seeing that these techniques are performed with the required quality. "We succeeded in establishing a very high quality in the determination of oligoclonal bands (BOC) of IgG, and now the goal is to achieve the same level of IgM bands," he says. 97 percent of patients with presence of bands of IgG in the first outbreak will end up developing multiple sclerosis IgM bands are associated with poor prognosis of MS, to the extent that patients have more buds and greater disability.

addition to transfer its experience to other laboratories, Ramón y Cajal team continues to investigate the role of the BOC in the disease. Álvarez-Cermak explained that "once we determine IgM bands are associated with poor prognosis in a group of patients, we are now studying whether treatment can modify this evolution."

are two key issues in these studies: if the treatment is able to decrease the biomarker IgM and whether this decline is associated with an improvement. "We do not have definitive results in this regard. It is a complex task, because the sampling is not always possible: it must be done when strictly necessary from a clinical point of view." Hence the importance of adding cohorts of patients from other groups.

Other cohorts

Amit Bar-Or, a specialist in Neurology and Immunology, Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University (Canada), collaborating on several projects with multiple sclerosis group Villar Álvarez-Cermak. One such project is the BOMARC implementation of the pediatric MS.
According reveals the Canadian cohort, "one in twenty patients had an outbreak during his childhood, which indicates that a significant proportion of disease onset in childhood." By type, there has been a primary progressive MS in childhood, the vast majority of affected children have relapsing-remitting MS and continue with this type of disease until adulthood, when many of them derive a secondary progressive MS. The latter is very rare in childhood but can occur.
"pediatric MS has certain peculiarities; can be said to be similar to adult, but not identical, and that prevents a total extrapolation of the McDonald criteria. We have to adapt and for this we must use them, follow the children diagnosed using the criteria and then check to what extent they worked. However, we know that children differ in multiple sclerosis imaging tests with respect to adult. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is to distinguish it from other conditions that look like MS, but are another neurological disease. "

Based on experience

Regarding treatment, there has been no clinical trials with children, well that the conclusions are based on the experience of specialists. "We apply the same treatments as in adults, and my impression is that they operate to the same extent," said Bar-Or.

Another aspect to be resolved is whether the function biomarkers in the same way as they do in adults. "Measurements in children, to be closer to the onset of the disease, can provide valuable information beyond the pediatric population."

also works to find biomarkers of disease that can be obtained from blood samples. However, remember that the great advantage of the CSF study is that, while in the central nervous system, provides much information about the pathogenesis. "Maybe in future find blood markers of these biomarkers, but we have to work in parallel, as the LCR provides essential data on the mechanisms of multiple sclerosis."

Irycis: present and future projects

Luisa María Villar directs the Multiple Sclerosis Group Irycis (Ramon y Cajal Institute of Health Research), which, like José Carlos Álvarez- Cermak, is principal investigator. The line of work is the study group immunological profiles presented by different forms of MS. Ongoing projects are specified in the identification of predictive markers, the study of CSF immunological profiles in different forms of the disease, and clinical value analysis, forecast and pathophysiological heterogeneity of blood-borne B lymphocytes. In addition, the group plans to start research in the microRNA in MS and the involvement of Epstein-Barr virus and other herpesvirus family in the onset of the disease.

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BY A STUDY IN UNITED KINGDOM

More

sclerosis risk multiple

with low

sunlight and

mononucleosis after

Research published today in Neurology suggests that people exposed to low levels of sunlight and have a history of a common infection known as mononucleosis may be more likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) than those who have not had the Epstein Barr virus (EBV).

DIARIOMEDICO.com - Tuesday, April 19, 2011

"MS is more common in higher latitudes more distant to Ecuador," said George C. Ebers, University of Oxford in the UK, and member of the American Academy of Neurology: "Because the disease has been linked to environmental factors such as low levels of sun exposure and a history of infectious mononucleosis, we wanted to see if the two together help explain the variability of the disease in the United Kingdom ".

For the study, researchers analyzed all hospital admissions in centers of the National Health Service in United Kingdom for more seven years. Specifically, we identified 56,681 cases of multiple sclerosis and 14,621 cases of infectious mononucleosis. The scientists also analyzed data from NASA about the intensity of ultraviolet radiation in the UK.

This work has found that the combined effects of exposure to sunlight and mononucleosis together explained 72 percent of the variation in the incidence of MS around the UK. Sun exposure alone accounted for 61 percent of the variability.

Vitamin D in spring

is possible that the deficiency vitamin D "can lead to an abnormal response to EBV, which leads to infectious mononucleosis. Lower levels of UVB in spring season under the maximum risk of MS by month of birth."

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The development of an agent

synthetic opens the way for new

disease therapies

autoimmune

TESTED ON ANIMALS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

MADRID, 18 Abr. (IRIN) - Scientists
Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter (USA) have developed a new agent that could provide a new mode of therapy for autoimmune disease.

The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Nature, show a lower severity of disease in an animal model of multiple sclerosis treated with a new synthetic component.

The current study focuses on the suppression of T helper cells known as TH17 cells. These cells have pathological roles in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis.

The authors, led by Thomas Burris, report that the development of a synthetic ligand, SR1001, which is aimed at orphan receptors associated with retinoic acid receptor alpha and gamma, involved in TH17 cell development. SR1001 blocks the development of TH17 cells in culture and is also effective in the inhibition of a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

The researchers found no obvious adverse effects in animals treated with SR1001. Therefore, SR1001 could represent a new class of drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases involving TH17 cells and other disorders involving orphan receptors associated with retinoic acid receptor.

A recent study also published in the journal Nature reported the removal of TH17 cells by targeting RORgamma derivative of the drug digoxin heart.

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'Gilenya' (Novartis) reduces

relapses and the risk of progression

in patients with multiple sclerosis

Approved in over 35 countries

MADRID, 13 Abr. (IRIN) -

A new analysis has shown that 'Gilenya' (fingolimod), marketed by Novartis, reduces relapse - compared to placebo - and the risk of disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) regardless of treatment history or the severity of the disease.

The test Freedoms phase III study, presented this week at the LXIII Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), has shown that in patients treated with 0.5 mg ' Gilenya 'who had not received prior treatment with reducing the risk of disability progression, confirmed at 3 months was 37 percent compared with placebo, while in patients previously treated with other therapies, the same dose resulted in a reduction in risk of 30 percent.

in subgroups defined by age, sex and disease severity were observed consistent positive effects on the progression of disability in patients treated with 'Gilenya' compared with placebo. The disease severity index was determined by EDSS, relapse activity prior to the study, the degree of injury by magnetic resonance imaging or lesion activity at baseline.

"These data provide a deeper understanding about the effect of 'Gilenya' in the significant reduction in disability progression, observed in a wide variety of subpopulations of patients evaluated in this analysis, "as stated by the director of the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of the University of British Columbia and trial investigator, Dr. Virginia Devonshire.

'Gilenya' licensed Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, is the first oral treatment of a new class of drugs called receptor modulators of sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1PR). "Gilenya 'is approved in over 35 countries including the U.S., Canada and Germany and has been studied in phase III clinical trials in over 2,500 patients with RRMS.

In MS the immune system damages the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers in the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord. As observed in animal models, 'Gilenya' prevents many white blood cells (lymphocytes) leave the lymph nodes and are believed to cause less input into the CNS cells that attack and injure the myelin sheath. If treatment with 'Gilenya' stops for any reason, the number of lymphocytes circulating in the body increases for a few days and then gradually returns to normal after one or two months.

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successfully completed the Phase III of

laquinimod study ALLEGRO

in Multiple Sclerosis

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) and Active Biotech (NASDAQ OMX Nordic: ACTI) announced today the results of the two-year phase III study of laquinimod ALLEGRO, an oral, once daily, investigational immunomodulatory treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) . These data will be presented as late-breaking research at the Meeting Annual American Academy of Neurology (AAN).

"We are thrilled with the results of ALLEGRO, demonstrating that laquinimod significantly delays the progression of disability, the main goal of treatment of MS. Given the efficacy data, safety and tolerability to date, laquinimod may file a promising treatment option for the MS community "

ALLEGRO In the study, laquinimod showed a statistically significant 23 percent reduction in annualized relapse rate.

"ALLEGRO Study results are exciting because they suggest that oral laquinimod is a novel therapeutic option that decreases the activity of MS security and progression of the disease," said lead researcher Professor Giancarlo Comi, Department Director Neurology and the Institute of Experimental Neurology at the University Greeting Vite, San Raffaele, Italy. "Other pre-clinical data presented at this meeting indicate that oral laquinimod has a new protection mechanism and action in the central nervous system to significantly reduce neurological damage leading to disease."

Laquinimod was safe and well tolerated, with no immunosuppressive effects. The overall frequency of adverse effects, including the incidence of infections, were similar to those observed in the placebo group. The most commonly reported adverse events were headache, nasopharyngitis and back pain. The incidence of elevated liver enzymes was higher in patients treated laquinimod, however, these elevations were transient, asymptomatic and reversible. No deaths were reported in patients treated with laquinimod.

ALLEGRO Positive results are supported by new preclinical data also presented at the AAN meeting, rather than establishing the mechanism of action (MOA) of laquinimod, which led to a reduction in axonal damage, the main determinant of permanent disability in MS clinic. Cuprizone model data, designed to investigate the effect on neurodegeneration independent from inflammation, demyelination and laquinimod shown to reduce axonal damage while preserving more myelin-producing cells. This unique effect suggests a direct reduction in damage to nerves in the central nervous system (CNS).

It was shown laquinimod to modulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pathway, a key factor in maintaining axonal integrity.

"We are thrilled with the results of ALLEGRO, demonstrating that laquinimod significantly delays the progression of disability, the main goal of treatment of MS. Given the efficacy data, safety and tolerability to date, laquinimod may file a promising treatment option to the MS community, "said Professor Yitzhak Petersburg, Teva Group Vice President, Global Brand products.
laquinimod The second phase III study, BRAVO, is currently underway with results expected in the third quarter 2011. regulatory proposals are planned in the U.S. and the EU after the availability of results BRAVO.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. SOURCE

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U.S. researchers fail

a computer to read the mind

The words spoken aloud and in the thought control the cursor on the screen .

07/04/2011 VARIOUS MEDIA

Researchers at the University of Washington in U.S. have first used a technique usually associated with the detection of epilepsy, to show that a computer can listen to human thoughts.

In the study, published in the Journal of Neural Engineering, the scientists show that humans can control a cursor on a computer screen using words spoken aloud and in his mind, which promises important applications for patients who may have lost the ability to talk by brain injury or those with disabilities and limited movement.

The researchers connected the patient's brain directly to a computer and showed that it could be controlled with an accuracy of up to 90% even without prior training.

The study involves a technique called electrocortiografía (ECoG), placing electrodes directly on the patient's brain to record electrical activity, which was used to identify regions of the brain that cause epilepsy. "We want to see if we can not only detect when you are saying 'dog' or some other word, but also learn what they look like in mind the sheer idea of \u200b\u200bit," says director the study.

Anik Tremblay Alberta

Experts seek answers on

treatment of multiple sclerosis

PRNoticias 12/04/2011
Last week was held in Barcelona a meeting of experts related to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 'Inter-hospital Day on relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). " The purpose of this meeting was to update knowledge on the treatment of patients and analyze the risks of therapies.

The treatment of a chronic debilitating disease like multiple sclerosis, patient safety is paramount, experts say. In this regard, Dr. Elvira Munteis, Head of the Consultation Multiple Sclerosis Hospital del Mar and organizer of the meeting says that "the main problem that the disease is extremely heterogeneous and that no patient is the same as another and throughout the course of the disease you'll find surprises. "

One treatment that has raised expectations higher both among patients and neurologists has been Natalizumab therapy . This drug has shown clear benefits in a large percentage of patients, at least 6 of 10 patients treated with the drug have shown improvements, several studies indicate.

'usually is a very well tolerated drug with an acceptable safety profile. However, in a very small percentage of persons may, as an adverse effect, a progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), consisting of a central nervous system infection JC virus. At the moment, to predict it has become a priority for all professionals who work with people with MS, 'said Dr. Xavier Montalban, Director of Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia (CEM-Cat) for the Day scientific meeting at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona and has collaborated Biogen laboratory.

However, the doctor explains that the group Montlabán, small fortunately, patients have the three factors associated with the development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)-prior use of immunosuppressive more than two years of treatment and positive antibodies, is the group of patients who have a risk of a "PML-that would be a small percentage of the population in treatment. At the other extreme are patients who have failed to take immunosuppressants, which are negative and that the risk is quite minimal. We can begin to stratify, to divide the patients about their risk for this disease.

In order to address this issue, we have developed a test that detects antibodies to JC, which can be a means to segment patients into groups of varying risk develop LEMP are treated with TYSABRI. In Spain, the Multiple Sclerosis specialists are waiting to make a first screening in selected centers to demonstrate the effectiveness of this tool.

Before After Depo Provera Pic

Infiltrate botulinum toxin

optimized ultrasound-guided

spasticity benefits

Using Botulinum toxin (BT) for the treatment of spasticity has the highest level of scientific evidence and clinical, but its benefits can be further increased if infiltration is performed using modern resources such as ultrasound guidance. This was one of the main conclusions obtained in the Fourth Day Update on Botulinum Toxin and Rehabilitation (Reabox 2011), held in Seville, organized by Allergan with the support of the English Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SERMEF). About a hundred rehabilitation physicians gathered at this event, which benefited from contributions of Dr. Franco Molteni, an international reference in employment of modern rehabilitation techniques, based on the use of robotics and Web 2.0 resources. In addition, this meeting was also held two workshops, aimed at improving both the muscle with ultrasound localization as infiltration of botulinum toxin guided by this technique. This is the first line of a large group of English in rehabilitative ultrasound. And, as noted by Dr. Lluís Girao, Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital of Mataró (Barcelona), "the proper administration of TB within the target muscles to be treated depends largely achieve the greatest therapeutic effect and minimize side effects. " In fact, the expert said, "lack of response to treatment with this drug in selected patients is mainly related to errors in target muscle location (more errors at greater depths and smaller muscle) and the spread of TB to unselected muscles. " Improve results: a possible target As evidenced in this forum, a concept that persists in daily practice is to assess the use of techniques to guide the infiltration of TB according to the depth of the target muscle. Thus, we distinguish between muscle groups infiltrating surface (visible and accessible), which does not require additional means to locate the muscle and deep muscle infiltration or small thickness, which recommended an additional means to ensure muscle location TB is deposited in the target muscle. In recent years there have been many studies and literature reviews supporting the use of certain techniques to guide the injections. "The choice of technique to use should be based on the characteristics of the patient, the characteristics of the target muscle, the scientific evidence available and the skills of responsible management," said Dr. Guirao. Among the different methods of muscle location for the administration of botulinum toxin can opt for infiltration guide anatomical or palpation, electromyography, electrical stimulation and ultrasound. With this last resort, according to Dr. Lluís Guirao said, there are also significant benefits, since "it is a safe technique, allows control over the depth of injection, facilitates viewing and control of adjacent structures and prevent infiltration of unwanted places. " He added, "allows dynamic scans, reduces complications (such as hematomas) and can be used simultaneously with other techniques location. " also the president of SERMEF, Inmaculada García Montes, highlighted another advantage of ultrasound, "and it is a tool available in most hospitals." In his opinion, "Ultrasound is a painless imaging technique that is useful for guiding interventional procedures such as infiltration of TB, remains a reliable tool to analyze real-time targeted muscle, adjacent structures and to monitor progress of the needle into the tissue. " In his view, "the infiltration TB guided by ultrasound is a technique that allows us to treat more muscle and better, more effective (providing greater functionality to the patient) and profitable. " respect to costs arising from this type of intervention, the president of SERMEF made clear that "the infiltration of TB in patients with a clear indication of direct and indirect costs cheaper, since, among other things, reduces rehabilitation sessions, in most cases will not produce clinical efficacy so obvious that using this drug. " Botulinum toxin and spasticity Spasticity is a medical problem of high incidence and significance both in childhood (associated with cerebral palsy) and adulthood (mainly resulting from stroke). Spain is estimated that 10 of every 1,000 people have spasticity, it is estimated that between 300,000 and 400,000 people suffer from this condition. Among other changes, spasticity can cause developmental disorders in children, decreased functional capacity, abnormal postures, pain, and aesthetic and hygienic conditions. Its natural evolution tends to become chronic, static phenomena accompanied by soft tissue alterations. In addition, significantly affects the quality of life of patients and their families. Spasticity is a symptom that reflects a motor disorder of the nervous system in which certain muscles are permanently contracted. This contraction causes stiffness and shortening of muscles and interferes with its various movements and functions: walking, handling, balance, speech, swallowing, etc. Treatment of spasticity is complex and requires a multidisciplinary intervention. The fundamental basis is combination therapy, which should include treatment with physical therapy. In the last decade, focal spasticity has been treated with botulinum toxin type A. The implementation of this treatment has shown, among other benefits, which can significantly improve the quality of life of spastic patients, reducing severe consequences arising from prolonged abnormal postures, as that the development of joint deformities due to muscle contractions.

Ringworm In People Of Color

identify the first patient

treated with stem cells

embryonic

21 year old who suffered a severe spinal cord injury after a car accident, received a revolutionary treatment.

by La Tercera - 07/04/2011
After the FDA last year approved the first treatment in humans with embryonic stem cells to cure people with paraplegia, the identity of the first patient to receive therapy had saved with total reserves. Until now.

This, as The Washington Post revealed that Timothy J. Atchison, a young American of 21 years, is the first patient to receive this revolutionary treatment, after being stranded product of an auto accident last September.

Atchinson According account, after the crash and to receive all emergency care at a medical center in Alabama (the town where he was studying nursing), was transferred to Shepherd Center in Atlanta, a place that specializes in spinal cord injury.

's where the medical team identified that Atchison was the ideal patient to receive the innovative treatment, therapy should be administered to a person who had been paralyzed from the chest to the bottom of body, and injection of embryonic stem cells in the wound area should be carried out between seven and 14 days after the injury occurs, among other requirements.

With a team of specially trained to treat (the laboratory Geron trained seven U.S. centers to implement the procedure), the patient received about 2 million stem cells into his spine, which, according to previous studies in laboratory mice, " become oligodendritos achieved, cells that produce myelin, a substance that covers the motor neurons and which enables the brain nerve impulses travel to the extremities and causing movement the body.

In research conducted by the University of California-Irvine in 2005, paralyzed mice were able to regain their mobility. The same is expected for this young man, who said in the interview with the U.S., which remains optimistic about the treatment, although so far experienced no major changes. "It's too early to talk about it," says Atchison.

Logitech Mouseman M Cw47

More evidence that pregnancy

is safe with multiple sclerosis

Reuters 08/04/2011
By Amy Norton
A review of studies strengthens the evidence that women with multiple sclerosis (MS) have the same opportunity as other healthy pregnancies and without putting your health at risk.

The findings, published in BJOG, supports the general advice that if the disease is controlled, patients may become pregnant. "A woman with MS may think about getting pregnant as the rest," said Yara D. Fragoso, a neurologist at Universidad Metropolitana Santos, Brazil, and lead author of the study.

MS is a nerve disorder that appear when the immune system mistakenly attacks nerve fibers. Symptoms include muscle weakness, numbness, vision problems and difficulty coordinating movement and balance.

Fragoso team met 22 international studies from the 1980 on a total of over 13,000 women. By combining the results found that crises were not so common symptoms during pregnancy and increased slightly for a time after birth.

But during pregnancy, and in the 12 months before and after, the rate of appearance of symptoms (relapse) never exceeded one per year. Relapses of MS increase for several months after delivery. But that does not increase the future risk of developing disability.

The team found that women with MS had higher risks than their peers to miscarriage, premature delivery, having a baby with low birth weight or having a baby with a congenital malformation.

For example, among countries, rates of preterm birth varied between 9 and 11 of every 100 live births, as in the general population.

Fragoso told Reuters Health in an e-mail that MS would have "a negative effect on pregnancy and / or the baby or the pregnancy would adversely affect the course of the disease in future."

is important that women with MS talk with their doctor when they want to become pregnant because it may need to stop the drug. The disease-modifying drugs are not approved for use in pregnancy and studies suggest that, at least interferon beta, would be associated with spontaneous abortion.
During pregnancy, the neurologist and obstetrician should work together, said Fragoso.

SOURCE: BJOG, online March 15, 2011.

How Long For 500 Mg Levaquin To Work

Seville and Stockholm Experts

demonstrate the role of a

enzyme to stop

brain swelling

Professors at the University of Seville and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, José Luis Venero and Bertrand Joseph, have published a recent study neurodegenerative diseases in the prestigious American journal Nature. The research focuses on the process of brain inflammation, which is closely related to the development of such diseases mainly in adults.

EUROPA PRESS. 04.04.2011

The article, 'Caspase signaling controls microglial activation and neurotoxicity', decodes and provides some of the keys involved in the process of brain inflammation, "a mechanism closely related to neurodegeneration and thus with the emergence of diseases such as senile dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, demonstrating the role of enzymes (caspases) to stop the process of brain inflammation, "according to Andalucía Innova.

" There are sharply contrasting evidence in the literature scientifically demonstrate the importance of brain inflammation in these diseases. These represent a health problem of first magnitude, especially as the population grows older, "says Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Sevilla, José Luis Venero.

Alzheimer's or multiple sclerosis are currently progressive and chronic diseases that require long-term treatment. Brain inflammation, responsible for such diseases is mediated by a central nervous system cells called microglia. They are responsible to remove cell debris when neuronal damage occurs in the brain.

"For example, if a problem occurs in neurons, microglia cells are activated in order to eliminate the remaining vestiges of the process. This is the normal mechanism cell performance, "says the researcher. In people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, where the effects are growing, the problem lies in the excessive activation of microglial cells." The problem arises when these cells are overactive. In this case generate a neurotoxic environment, starting a vicious cycle of neuronal death and activation, "said Venero.

The main contribution of this paper is to demonstrate how enzymes called caspases involved in the activation process microgial, and how the use of inhibitors such enzymes may slow the effects of the diseases caused by neurodegenerative diseases.

"They are important because they play a decisive role in the stimulation of microglia and neurotoxicity associated with this process. If we can reduce the activation of these cells through caspases, could mitigate brain inflammation processes, "he argues.

The study has already been successfully tested in samples of human brain banks, which means one step closer to the first Experiments conducted in cell culture and in laboratory animals like mice. This will open up new avenues for the pharmacological treatment of these diseases, with all that means to advance the field of neurodegeneration.

"In research, sometimes a small step is a major advance in the knowledge that can also generate a large impact on society," concludes the researcher Venero.

Red Bridge Card Driver

Mirabegron, new drug

in development for bladder

overactive

The results of two phase III trials presented at the Congress of the European Association of Urology, showing improving significantly urinary incontinence and urinary frequency.

Mirabegron, the first of a new class of compounds in development for the treatment of overactive bladder, has been shown in two phase III clinical trials to significantly improve key symptoms of disease: urinary incontinence and frequency of urination. For the first time, Astellas Pharma presented these results at the XXVI Annual Congress of the European Association of Urology held in Vienna.

After 12 weeks of treatment with once daily mirabegron, there was a significant improvement compared to baseline in the two co-primary endpoints: incontinence episodes in 24 hours and number voiding in 24 hours, compared with the placebo group. Also seen significant improvements in key secondary endpoints: incontinence episodes in 24 hours and number of voids in 24 hours in the fourth week of treatment and the volume voiding of urine at the final visit. In both studies, mirabegron was well tolerated with low side effects.

"The findings of these studies are very encouraging. Mirabegron could represent the first oral drug treatment for overactive bladder with an entirely new mechanism of action from the marketing of oxybutynin for decades and, if approved, would represent the first agonist beta-3 adrenergic receptors to market " says Dr. Vik Khullar, St. Mary's Hospital at Imperial College London and lead investigator of the European-Australian Phase III.

The researcher added that, "unlike the antimuscarinics, mirabegron works by enhancing the storage capacity of the bladder. As noted in these two studies, the drug may provide an alternative and effective new treatment for OAB patients who continue to experience bothersome symptoms of incontinence and frequent urination. "

Mirabegron is a potent and selective agonist of beta adrenergic receptor-3 (β3-AR) that activates muscle β3-AR detrusor of the bladder for easy filling and urine storage. It was developed by Astellas, whose drug solifenacin (Vesicare) is currently one of the most widely used treatments for overactive bladder.

"Vesicare has provided health benefits for people with OAB around the world since it was first marketed in 2004, while mirabegron, with a different mode of action, Vesicare complements and is an important addition to our portfolio of urology drugs, "says Masafumi Nogimori, president and CEO of Astellas Pharma Inc.

New data from phase III trials confirm and corroborate the findings of dose-finding studies in phase II and smaller, in which significant improvement was observed in a wide range of symptoms of OAB, including incontinence episodes and frequency of micción.6, 7

"By improving the symptoms through its action on beta-3 receptors, mirabegron offers a completely different approach to the existing treatment of OAB and this may be good news for the large number of patients who fail to achieve the right balance of efficacy and tolerability to currently available treatments for OAB, "says Dr. Victor Nitti, the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, USA. UU., And principal investigator in phase III U.S. trial.

Astellas submitted a marketing authorization application for mirabegron in Japan in June 2010 and plans to submit to the FDA and the EMA from July to September 2011.

JANO.es · April 4