RE: AUTO-IMMUNE Digest - 27 Sep 2003 to 30 Sep 2003 (#2003-99)

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Subject: AUTO-IMMUNE Digest - 27 Sep 2003 to 30 Sep 2003 (#2003-99)

There are 3 messages totalling 261 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

1. Long-Term Cost Effectiveness of Interferon-Beta-1a in the Treatment of

Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

2. High-Dose MS Drug Safe in Phase III Trial

3. Research News - The World of Multiple Sclerosis

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Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 16:30:04 -0400

From: Irwin Mortman <irwin@...>

Subject: Long-Term Cost Effectiveness of Interferon-Beta-1a in the Treatment

of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Long-Term Cost Effectiveness of Interferon-Beta-1a in the Treatment

of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

This analysis indicated that IFN beta-1a 44?g subcutaneously 3 times

weekly is cost effective in RRMS and that treatment becomes

increasingly cost effective over time.

Clin Drug Invest 23(9) 2003

<http://mp.medscape.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/hdkI0ECm7C0D2G0Fhsc0Ap>

Registration required, but registration is at no cost.

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Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 22:08:57 -0400

From: Irwin Mortman <irwin@...>

Subject: Research News - The World of Multiple Sclerosis

Posting of the following article has been approved by The World of

Multiple Sclerosis http://www.ifmss.org.uk/default.htm

WORLD OF MS UPDATE SERVICE, 30 September 2003

Research News

====================

Directional diffusion in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A possible

in vivo signature of Wallerian degeneration.

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Direction specific changes in diffusion may be a marker of Wallerian

degeneration in MS according to the authors of this study.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10665

ApoE genotype and an apoE-mimetic peptide modify the systemic and CNS

inflammatory response.

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This study looks at the role of isoforms of apolipoprotein E in mediating

inflammatory response in mice expressing human apoE3 and apoE4 genes.

Animals with the E4 allelle were found to produce greater elevations of

inflammatory cytokines and administration of an apoE mimetic peptide was

found to suppress inflammation.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10666

Genetic Analysis of the Influence of Neuroantigen-Complete Freund's

Adjuvant Emulsion Structures on the Sexual Dimorphism and Susceptibility to

Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis.

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Physical properties of the antigen emulsion used to induce the animal model

of MS are found to alter susceptibility. This variation in susceptibility

to the different preparations appears to have a genetic base.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10667

The Protective Effect of 17beta-Estradiol on Experimental Autoimmune

Encephalomyelitis Is Mediated through Estrogen Receptor-alpha.

--------------------

The ability of estrogen to inhibit the animal model of MS appears to depend

on estrogen alpha rather than estrogen beta receptors according to the

authors of this study using mice with disrupted alpha and beta receptor

genes.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10668

CD8(+) phagocyte recruitment in rat experimental autoimmune

encephalomyelitis: association with inflammatory tissue destruction.

--------------------

A study looking at the expression of CD8 positive cells, by location, in

demyelinating and non-demyelinating animal models of MS.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10669

Astrocyte characterization in the multiple sclerosis glial scar.

--------------------

This study finds a distinctive antigen profile of astrocytes in chronic MS

lesions.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10670

Spectroscopic axonal damage of the right locus coeruleus relates to

selective attention impairment in early stage relapsing-remitting multiple

sclerosis.

--------------------

A study using magenetic resonance spectroscopy finds that attentional

deficit in early relapsing remitting MS appears to relate to damage in the

right locus coeruleus.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10671

Analyses of all matrix metalloproteinase members in leukocytes emphasize

monocytes as major inflammatory mediators in multiple sclerosis.

--------------------

A study looking at all 23 matrix metalloproteinase family members finds

MMP-2 and MMP-14 (two of the monocyte expressed MMPs) specifically raised

in MS.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10672

Compensatory cortical activation observed by fMRI during a cognitive task

at the earliest stage of multiple sclerosis.

--------------------

The performance of patients affected by clinically isolated syndromes and

control subjects on a cognitive test was compared. Performance on the test

itself did not differ but increased brain activation in several brain

regions was seen in patients. These changes might be part of a compensatory

mechanism.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10673

HLA genotypes and disease severity assessed by magnetic resonance imaging

findings in patients with multiple sclerosis.

--------------------

A study looking at the effects of HLA status on disease severity in MS as

assessed clinically and in terms of degree of MRI abnormlity. T1 and T2

lesion loads were found to have different HLA associations.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10674

Apolipoprotein E genotype does not influence the progression of multiple

sclerosis.

--------------------

This study, of 498 individuals affected by MS, does not find an association

between apolipoprotein polymorphisms and rate of clinical progression.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10675

Serum gelatinase B/MMP-9 in primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients

treated with interferon-beta-1a.

--------------------

This study, looking at matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels in patients

affected by primary progressive MS taking part in a trial of interferon

beta 1a, finds that mean absolute levels of MMP-9 correlated with an

increase in T2 lesion load. Associations with atrophy measures were also

found but only the association with T2 load was sustained throughout the

study period.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10676

Fatigue in MS is related to sympathetic vasomotor dysfunction.

--------------------

Aspects of the autonomic response (specifically a pattern resembling a

hypoadrenergic orthostatic response) are found to be associated with

fatigue in patients affected by MS by the authors of this study.

http://www.msif.org/go.rm?id=10677

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End of AUTO-IMMUNE Digest - 27 Sep 2003 to 30 Sep 2003 (#2003-99)

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