Study Details:

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Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2004 16:26:16 -0000 From: "yashagrawal" <yashagrawal@...>Subject: InosineInosine is a uric acid precursor, and OTC drug. It is undergoing Phase II trials for MS. For those who like to experiment, this may be something worth trying..Further Study Details: Uric acid is a natural inhibitor of certain chemistries associated with peroxynitrite, a product of inflammation. In animal models of multiple sclerosis (MS), these chemical reactions have been associated with breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and CNS tissue damage. In addition, MS patients have serum uric acid levels that are lower than age- and sex- matched healthy individuals. The primary purpose of this study to determine whether raising low serum uric acid levels by daily oral administration of its precursor inosine has an effect on the cumulative number of newly active lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to evaluate the safety and tolerability of inosine in patients diagnosed with relapsing remitting and secondary progressive MS. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Message: 2 Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2004 16:35:26 -0000 From: "yashagrawal" <yashagrawal@...>Subject: Anti-oxidantsI suppose many MS'ers already take anti-oxidants, if not you should be taking them. The NIH will be recruiting for this study, incase any one is interested..some background below..Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune mediated disease of the central nervous system that affects over 350,000 Americans. T lymphocytes, macrophages and soluble mediators of inflammation cause demyelination and axonal injury in MS. Chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in SJL mice models MS clinically and pathologically and is useful for testing potential therapies for MS. Activated macrophages release nitric oxide and oxygen free radicals that cause demyelination and axonal injury in MS and EAE. Natural anti-oxidants potentially could favorably influence the course of MS by decreasing oxidative injury. This project will assess three natural anti-oxidant regimens, ginkgo biloba, alpha-lipoic acid/essential fatty acids and vitamin E/selenium, for their potential as treatments for MS. For Aim 1, we will test each of the three anti-oxidant regimens for their ability to suppress EAE. For Aim 2, we will evaluate the anti-oxidant regimens that suppress EAE for their ability to decrease markers of lipid, protein and DNA oxidative injury in blood and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with MS. Based on the results from Aims 1 and 2, we will select the anti-oxidant regimen that appears most effective at suppressing EAE and decreasing markers of oxidative injury in patients with MS. For Aim 3, we will perform a Phase I/II trial in patients with MS to determine if the selected anti-oxidant regimen can decrease disease activity as detected with gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. The results of this study will serve as the basis for a Phase III trial to assess the long term effectiveness of natural anti-oxidant therapy in MS. Condition Treatment or Intervention Phase Multiple Sclerosis Drug: Ginkgo BilobaDrug: alpha-lipoic acid/essential fatty acidsDrug: Vitamin E/Selenium