Standard Podcast [25:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (235)

Solutions for patients suffering from demyelination disorders

Hear these reports:

• Federal lawmakers recently formed first-ever Congressional Multiple Sclerosis caucus.
• Scientists find that the newly discovered cellular markers for multiple sclerosis – the CD39 regulatory T cells – are deficient in MS patients.
• Gene mutations/variations for the interleukin 2 and 7 receptors raise MS risk by 30%: This represents the first genetic risk factor to be discovered in almost 30 years. Key questions are: Might the ‘downstream’ effects of such gene mutations (on the IL receptors) be linked to the newly discovered decrease in CD39 regulatory T cells? What’s causing the gene mutations? Could the mutations be arising from viral or bacterial infections, and/or other environmental toxins?
• Brain lesions on MRI scans may predict MS in optic neuritis: this data may help us stratify optic neuritis patients’ risk of developing MS.

Weblinks:

• IL-2 Receptor Gene Mutation Impairs Regulatory T Cell Function and Causes Autoimmunity
• MS Link to Epstein-Barr Virus, Spirochetal Infections and Chlaymdia pneumonia infections.
• Seventy-five percent (75%) of female patients - initially presenting with optic neuritis – will eventually develop MS.
• Optic neuritis can occur during systemic viral infections, and can be caused by infections in the paranasal sinuses, and in the orbits.

Next week’s show: Seventh installment of Infection-Inflammation: Calor, Dolor, Rubor, Tumor for the 21st century Neurologist. Well report important news on influenza, and we’ll discuss news about how modeling sepsis (and other infections) is helping in our understanding of infectious disease. We’ll also present compelling information on fighting the ‘super bugs’ in hospitals, and much more.

 

 #56: Destination Demyelination, Installment #2 [23:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (440)

Publication Date: Feb 9, 2007.

Show Notes: A laboratory model for Multiple Sclerosis is being used in mice to demonstrate potential therapeutic efficacy of nicotinamide (niacin, vitamin B-3) for multiple sclerosis.

And in our other report, a vaccination against a cytokine may be efficacious against MS. The chemical messenger secreted by a newly discovered type of T-helper cell has been exposed as the ‘root of all inflammatory and autoimmune evils.’ Vaccination against this cytokine presents a potential therapeutic strategy against MS, and a host of other autoimmune - ‘auto-inflammatory’ - disorders.

 

 #32 - Destination Demyelination [25:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (675)

Solutions for patients suffering from demyelination disorders.

Publication date: August 25, 2006