Welcome to BioMS Medical

BioMS Medical is a biotechnology company engaged in the development and commercialization of novel therapeutic technologies with emphasis on the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

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Global Trials

BioMS Medical is currently conducting late-stage clinical trials for its lead drug, dirucotide (MBP8298), for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

• MAESTRO-01 (phase III Canadian and European trial for secondary progressive MS)
• MAESTRO-02 (open-label, follow-on trial for MAESTRO-01)
• MAESTRO-03 (phase III U.S. trial for secondary progressive MS)
• MINDSET-01 (phase II relapsing-remitting MS trial)

http://www.biomsmedical.com/

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Things to Try if You Have MS: Vitamin B12
People with MS are much more likely to be deficient in vitamin B12. The thing about B12 is that, if you are even a little deficient, you can have symptoms like fatigue, depression and memory loss, making these familiar MS symptoms feel even worse.
Read more

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MS Symptoms (Whether Anyone Believes It or Not)

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Neurological Diseases May Be Caused By Fatal Protein Interactions
In a collaborative study at the University of California, San Diego, investigators from neurosciences, chemistry and medicine, as well as the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) have investigated how proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease interact to form unique complexes.

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Specific Brain Regions Show Increased Activity During Hallucinations
Ever seen or heard something that wasn't there? For most of us such experiences - termed hallucinations - are a normal, fleeting, brain glitch; yet for a few they are persistent, distressing and associated with a range of psychiatric, neurological and eye conditions.

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FDA posts list of potential problem drugs

Tysabri testing underway
Boston Globe - United States
By Todd Wallack Biogen Idec Inc. still hopes to find new uses for its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri, even though some patients have contracted a ...

FDA posts list of potential problem drugs
The Associated Press -
One emerging concern that previously got little attention involved Tysabri, a newer, widely used multiple sclerosis drug. The FDA said it is investigating a ...

FDA posts list of drugs that may be unsafe
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA
Today's report includes the antidepressant Cymbalta and links to urinary retention; the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri and reports of melanoma skin cancer, ...

FDA Posts List Of Drugs With Potential Problems
RTT News - Williamsville,NY,USA
... which has the danger of naphylactic-type reactions, and the multiple sclerosis treatment Tysabri, which has the possible issue with skin melanomas. ...

Drugs from Biogen, Eli Lilly on FDA review list
CNNMoney.com - USA
The FDA disclosed it is investigating reports of skin cancer with Biogen Idec Inc.'s multiple sclerosis treatment Tysabri. ...

FDA change worth watching
Investerms.com - Los Angeles,CA,USA
(NYSE: ELN) have their multiple scerosis treatment Tysabri under review. The pharmaceutical sector as a whole is not reacting to this development today, ...

US FDA lists drugs under safety probes
guardian.co.uk - UK
Biogen spokeswoman Shannon Altimari said two cases of melanoma were reported in Tysabri patients in February in the New England Journal of Medicine. ...

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Research

Dr. Kalb

Director of the Professional Resource Center at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in New York City, NY
View BIO

 

Q :

Are there any studies that show stress or traumatic events can cause MS or make it worse?

A :

In spite of numerous studies in this area, the relationship between stress and the onset or worsening of MS remains unclear. The challenge lies in the fact that stress is a complex phenomenon that includes a variety of factors, each of which may be experienced differently by different people. This challenge has been further complicated by the fact that the studies have defined and measured stress in different ways.

Most of the early studies found no relationship between stressful life events and the onset or progression of MS. Recent studies, however, have suggested that a relationship might exist. People with MS are more likely to report a stressful event of some kind prior to their first MS symptom than are people with other disorders. A study in Denmark found that parents who had lost a child were at greater risk of developing MS than parents who had not.

There have also been studies showing that stress increases the risk of exacerbations.The relationship isn’t at all clear, however, since studies have also demonstrated that not all stresses are alike in their impact. It appears, for example, that more moderate but chronic stresses, including ongoing marital distress or problems on the job, may increase a person’s risk of exacerbation more than a severe, negative life event such as the death of a family member. In one study in Israel, for example, clinical trial participants with MS had fewer exacerbations during the Persian Gulf War (while under actual or threatened missile attacks) and for the two-month period thereafter then they had at other times. David Mohr and his colleagues studied people with MS who received MRI scans every four weeks for 28–100 weeks, and found that increased stress due to ongoing conflict and disruption in daily routine increased the risk of developing a new brain lesion eight weeks later, while major life events did not.

Although it appears that stress may have some effect on MS disease processes, we still do not understand what the relationship might be, or why the impact of stress differs from one person to another. People living with MS need to find comfortable ways to manage the inevitable stresses of daily life; efforts to rid one’s life of stress can only lead to further stress!
9/6/2008 6:26:03 PM
More answers from Dr. Rosalind Kalb
More answers in the category: Research
For more information related to this topic, please click Research Page

DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that this information does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MS Society of Canada, and is not intended as medical advice. For specific advice and opinion, always consult a physician.
© 2008 Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada | www.mssociety.ca

http://www.msanswers.ca/QuestionView.aspx?L=2&QID=21

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A Tale of Twin Cities
Galen Institute - Alexandria,VA,USA
... Emmy Award-winning talk show host Montel Williams, who spoke about the pain and daily challenges of his 20-year struggle with multiple sclerosis. ...

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Third Clinical Trial Shows Pine Bark Naturally Reduces Knee Osteoarthritis
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is on the rise. A new study published in the August journal of Phytotherapy Research, reveals Pycnogenol, bark extract from the French maritime pine tree, reduced overall knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms by 20.9 percent and lowered pain by 40.3 percent. To date, this is the third clinical trial on osteoarthritis treatment with Pycnogenol. This study investigated what happens to joint symptoms after treatment with Pycnogenol is terminated and the results show that no relapse occurred after two weeks. Pycnogenol acts as potent anti-inflammatory and the lasting effects found in this study suggest that Pycnogenol may help the joints to recover.

"The anti-inflammatory potency of Pycnogenol explains the success in lowering joint pain and stiffness for arthritic joints," said Rohdewald. "After three recent clinical studies on osteoarthritis, Pycnogenol continues to demonstrate its effectiveness for osteoarthritis symptoms making it a viable, natural and safe alternative for individuals. This is the first study that investigated whether a relapse of symptoms occurs after taking Pycnogenol is stopped. The results show a lasting effect after discontinuation which suggest the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Pycnogenol has allowed the joints to recover."

In another study this year (also published in the journal of Phytotherapy Research), Pycnogenol was shown to reduce osteoarthritis symptoms by 56 percent. Moreover, patients required 58 percent less standard pain medication, which greatly improved the gastrointestinal complications resulting from the pain medication by 63 percent. Last year, a study on osteoarthritis carried out at the University of Arizona Tucson (published in Nutrition Research) discovered that Pycnogenol was effective for improving pain and joint function. After three months in the Pycnogenol group, there was a reduction of 43 percent in pain, 35 percent in stiffness and 52 percent in physical function subscales, respectively. The placebo group showed no significant scores throughout the entire study.

About Pycnogenol®
Pycnogenol® is a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the maritime pine that grows along the coast of southwest France and is found to contain a unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids, which offer extensive natural health benefits. The extract has been widely studied for the past 35 years and has more than 220 published studies and review articles ensuring safety and efficacy as an ingredient. Today, Pycnogenol® is available in more than 600 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.pycnogenol.com/.

Natural Health Science Inc. (NHS), based in Hoboken, New Jersey, is the North American distributor for Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all) brand French maritime pine bark extract on behalf of Horphag Research. Pycnogenol® is a registered trademark of Horphag Research Ltd., Guernsey, and its applications are protected by U.S. patents #5,720,956 / #6,372,266 and other international patents. NHS has the exclusive rights to market and sell Pycnogenol® in North America and benefits from more than 35 years of scientific research assuring the safety and efficacy of Pycnogenol® as a dietary supplement. For more information about Pycnogenol® visit our Web site at http://www.pycnogenol.com/.

Source: Melanie Nimrodi
MWW Group
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/120343.php