Research News
Summaries of all the latest research findings on MS selected by a team based at the Institute of Neurology, London.

Multiple sclerosis - novel insights and new therapeutic strategies

This review focuses on novel aspects of the pathogenesis and advances in the therapy of multiple sclerosis (MS).

authors: Kieseier BC, Hemmer B, Hartung HP.

source: Curr Opin Neurol. 2005 Jun;18(3):211-20.

read more

Distinct roles of protein kinase R and toll-like receptor 3 in the activation of astrocytes by viral stimuli

The authors clarify the mechanism of activation of astrocytes infected in a rat model. This mechanism is important in the pathogenesis of viral encephalitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis.

authors: Carpentier PA, Williams BR, Miller SD

source: Glia. 2007 Feb;55(3):239-52.

read more

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of multiple sclerosis

This study finds a correlation between high circulating levels of vitamin D and a reduced risk of multiple sclerosis.

authors: Munger KL, Levin LI, Hollis BW, Howard NS, Ascherio A.

source: JAMA. 2006 Dec 20;296(23):2832-8

read more

Serum levels of soluble CD95 are not associated with amelioration of multiple sclerosis during pregnancy

The authors studied the role of sex steroid hormones during pregnancy in multiple sclerosis, evaluating their effect on autoimmune response modulation. No links have been found between pregnancy-related immune suppression in multiple sclerosis patients and the CD95/CD95L system, which is involved in auto-destruction of T cells.

authors: Ehrlich S, Haas J, Zipp F, Infante-Duarte C.

source: J Neurol Sci. 2007 Jan;252(1):83-7. Epub 2006 Dec 12.

read more

A population-based study of depressive symptoms in multiple sclerosis in Stockholm county: association with functioning and sense of coherence

The authors explored depressive symptoms in a Swedish sample of multiple sclerosis patients, finding an association between depression, worse self-reported functioning and poorer sense of coherence.

authors: Gottberg K, Einarsson U, Fredrikson S, von Koch L, Holmqvist LW.

source: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007 Jan;78(1):60-5. Epub 2006 Jul 17.

read more

MS News

Summaries of MS news from websites around the world.

Study finds Vitamin D may lower risk for MS

source: US National MS Society

A study supported in part by the US National MS Society compared levels of vitamin D in blood serum stored from military personnel during their service, and found that those with higher levels of vitamin D were at lower risk for later developing multiple sclerosis.

read more

Rare brain disease (PML) developed by people taking Rituxan®

source: US National MS Society

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a Public Health Advisory after receiving reports of the deaths of two individuals who were given the immune-suppressing drug Rituxan® (rituximab, Genentech and Biogen Idec) to treat systemic lupus erythematosus.

read more

Your chance to influence UK MS Society publications

source: UK MS Society

The UK MS Society is seeking the views of people affected by MS about the information they need and want.

read more

back to top