Brain Research: How multiple sclerosis can be triggered by brain cell death ♦ LSD changes consciousness by reorganizing human brain networks

Treatment associated with changes in brain activity in borderline personality disorder A specialized psychotherapy has been linked to changes in activation patterns in certain areas of the brain in patients with borderline personality disorder, suggesting its impact may go deeper than symptom change.

LSD changes consciousness by reorganizing human brain networks LSD alters consciousness, but the mechanism of how this happens has been elusive. Now researchers report that LSD interferes with the patterns of activation in brain networks that underlie human thought and behavior. The investigators used functional MRI scans and magnetoencephalography, and showed that LSD reduces connectivity within brain networks and reduces the extent to which separate networks remain distinct in their patterns of firing

Swiss students are not fond of brain-doping Switzerland has honest students: The vast majority of the students that were questioned were against pharmacological cognitive enhancement. Yet the topic should be addressed more actively by the universities,.

How multiple sclerosis can be triggered by brain cell death Multiple sclerosis may be triggered by the death of brain cells that make the insulation around nerve fibers, a surprising new view of the disease reported in a study. A specially developed nanoparticle prevented MS even after the death of those brain cells.The nanoparticles are being developed for clinical trials that could lead to new treatments -- without the side effects of current therapies

Health News:Functional human liver cells grown in the lab ♦ Cataract surgery lessens patients' dizziness ♦ Scientists 'see' detailed makeup of deadly toxin for the first time

Functional human liver cells grown in the lab A new technique for growing human hepatocytes in the laboratory has now been described by a team of researchers. This groundbreaking development could help advance a variety of liver-related research and applications, from studying drug toxicity to creating bio-artificial liver support for patients awaiting transplantations.

Immune-disorder treatment in mice holds potential for multiple sclerosis patients A simple, rapid way to treat an immune-related disorder in mice has been identified by researchers, an approach that could eventually help multiple sclerosis patients after further research.

Cataract surgery lessens patients' dizziness Older people with visual impairment can report feeling dizzy and falling. A new study found that after routine cataract surgery, the improved vision led to patients experiencing significantly less dizziness, although they did not experience fewer falls.

Scientists 'see' detailed makeup of deadly toxin for the first time An exciting advance provides hope for developing novel potential method of treating pneumococcal diseases such as bacterial pneumonia, meningitis and septicaemia. A team of researchers uses a technique called X-ray crystallography to see the individual atoms of the toxin. World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that more than 1.6 million people every year die from pneumococcal infections, including more than 800,000 children under 5 years old.

Health Research: Often decried, polygyny may sometimes have advantages ♦ Increasing cigarette taxes shifts consumers to more dangerous products

New finding will help target multiple sclerosis immune response Researchers have made another important step in the progress towards being able to block the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases.

Often decried, polygyny may sometimes have advantages The practice of sharing a husband may, in some circumstances, lead to greater health and wealth for women and their children, new research suggests. And polygyny--where one husband has more than one wife--is decried by the United Nations Human Rights Committee and women's rights organizations as discriminatory to women.

Increasing cigarette taxes shifts consumers to more dangerous products Increasing cigarette excise taxes may have the unintended consequence of encouraging consumers to seek higher nicotine content and more dangerous cigarette products.

Greater support needed for pregnant transgender men Many transgender men who have the capacity to bear children are faced with barriers in the health-care system as a result of a lack of training.

Health News:Diet guidelines take account of cancer risk ♦ Another scandal rocks confidence in Chinese dairy products ♦ Bacterial infection suspected in deaths of four at Pennsylvania hospital

Diet guidelines take account of cancer risk The Chief Specialist in Public Health Nutrition with the Food Safety Authority has said a report from the World Health Organisation, which found links between processed and red meats and cancer, is about risk assessment rather than risk management. Dr Mary Flynn said the risk would come from consuming high quantities of red meat and processed meat. She said dietary guidelines in

Another scandal rocks confidence in Chinese dairy products Yet another scandal, this one involving elevated levels of sodium sulfocyanate in dairy products, has further eroded Chinese consumer confidence in their government’s ability to ensure a safe food supply. Food safety officials ordered the recall of dairy products from Huishan Dairy in September after the elevated levels were...

Bacterial infection suspected in deaths of  four at  Pennsylvania hospital WellSpan York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, announced October 27 that it is informing about 1,300 patients who underwent open-heart surgery from October 2011 to July 2015 that they may have been exposed to nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) after the hospital identified 8 patients who contracted the bacterial infection, 4 of which died. The hospital replaced its heater-cooler devices in July and implemented new safety procedures when the devices are in use

New hope for the treatment of multiple sclerosis A new study gets closer to identifying the mechanisms responsible for multiple sclerosis and makes headway in the search for better treatments.

Study of inner ear development hints at way to restore hearing and balance These genes, or others in the same pathway, could be promising targets for efforts to treat hearing loss or balance problems by regenerating hair cells.

Health Research: First human trials of drug to prevent death due to severe blood loss ♦ Cancer-causing parasite may accelerate wound healing ♦ Researchers measure gait to reduce falls from glaucoma

First human trials of drug to prevent death due to severe blood loss Researchers will launch the first Phase 1 human trials of a drug — derived from the female hormone estrogen — that may help patients with severe bleeding survive long enough to get to appropriate medical care. The drug may have a profound effect on an individual’s ability to survive major blood loss.

Marijuana use more than doubles from 2001 to 2013; increase in use disorders too The estimated prevalence of adults who used marijuana in the past year more than doubled in the United States between 2001 and 2013 to 9.5 percent, according to a new article. As is the case with alcohol, many individuals can use marijuana without becoming addicted. However, the clear risk for marijuana use disorders among users (approximately 30 percent) suggests that as the number of U.S. users grows, so will the numbers of those experiencing problems related to such use.

Cancer-causing parasite may accelerate wound healing A cancer-causing, parasitic worm could help patients recover from their wounds, say researchers. They report that the parasite could live for decades in the human body, and would have an incentive to keep its host healthy while chewing away at its cells.

How diet may affect the progression of multiple sclerosis Dietary fatty acids affect the development and progression of autoimmune chronic-inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis. In a collaborative study, researchers now found that long-chain fatty acids promote the development and propagation of CNS reactive immune cells in the intestinal wall. On the contrary, short-chain fatty acids promote the development and propagation of regulatory cells in the immune system.

Researchers measure gait to reduce falls from glaucoma Researchers have developed a way to carefully analyze a person's gait with sensors, an innovation that could lead to reduced falls and injuries in people with glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness in the United States

Health News: Salmonella outbreak linked to fig & olive ♦ Exercise in a bottle could become a reality ♦ Psoriasis, risk of depression in the US population

CDC, Salmonella outbreak linked to fig & olive Multiple cities are investigating Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to eating at Fig & Olive restaurants, the U.S. CDC says. Illnesses have so far been reported Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and the investigation is ongoing to determine whether there are illnesses in other states

Exercise in a bottle could become a reality Research finds around 1000 molecular reactions to exercise, opening the door for drug treatments to mirror the health benefits of exercise.

Experimental cancer drug shows therapeutic promise in mouse models of multiple sclerosis An experimental drug originally identified in a National Cancer Institute library of chemical compounds as a potential therapy for brain and basal cell cancers improves the symptoms of mice with a form of the debilitating neurological disorder multiple sclerosis.

Psoriasis, risk of depression in the US population The chronic inflammatory skin condition psoriasis was associated with the risk of major depression, although the risk was unrelated to the severity of the disorder, according to a new article

Training for patients with melanoma and their partners on skin examinations Training on skin self-examination to aid early detection could be extra beneficial for patients with melanoma and their partners who report having low relationship quality because it gives them activities to do together, according to a new article.

Health News: More children getting drunk on and sanitizer ♦ Teach neurons damaged by Parkinson's to heal themselves ♦ Why MS symptoms may improve as the days get shorter

More children getting drunk on and sanitizer Six-year-old Nhaijah Russell swallowed three or four squirts of seemingly innocuous liquid hand sanitizer at school. It tasted good, she said, like strawberry. It also contained enough alcohol to make her dangerously drunk. She arrived at the emergency room slurring her words and unable to walk.

Melatonin and multiple sclerosis: Why MS symptoms may improve as the days get shorter Researchers have found an explanation that could lead to a deeper understanding of multiple sclerosis and more targeted treatment options for patients. By first looking broadly at possible environmental factors and then deeply at preclinical models of MS, the research team found that melatonin -- a hormone involved in regulating a person's sleep-wake cycle -- may influence MS disease activity.

Changing patient's position helps effectiveness of colonoscopy, especially on one side Having patients lie on their left side while the right side of their colon is being examined can result in more polyps being found, thus increasing the effectiveness of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening.

Smart cells teach neurons damaged by Parkinson's to heal themselves As a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease, scientists have created smarter immune cells that produce and deliver a healing protein to the brain while also teaching neurons to begin making the protein for themselves.

Connection found between fitness level, brain activity, and executive functionBrain function associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness plays a role in increased cognitive performance in older adults.. Specifically, the scientists found that dual-task processing in a core executive function brain region is associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness and dual-task performance

Health Research::Computer algorithm can forecast patients' deadly sepsis ♦ People with type 2 diabetes benefit from blood glucose self-monitoring

Computer algorithm can forecast patients' deadly sepsis A new computer-based method correctly predicts septic shock in 85 percent of cases, without increasing the false positive rate from screening methods that are common now.

New medical research reporting requirements may lead to fewer positive outcomes The adoption of new transparent reporting standards may have contributed to a significant reduction in the percentage of studies reporting positive research findings among large-budget clinical trials.

How makerspaces can be accessible to people with disabilities Researchers have released new guidelines to make Maker Spaces more accessible to people with disabilities, as these communal spaces with soldering irons, 3-D printers, sewing machines and other "making" tools continue to pop up nationwide.

Role of intra-abdominal fat in IBD uncovered Intra-abdominal fat cells may contribute to the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD’)

High salt intake could be a risk factor for multiple sclerosis Here's another reason to put the salt shaker down: New research involving mice shows that diets high in sodium may be a novel risk factor in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) by influencing immune cells that cause the disease.

People with type 2 diabetes benefit from blood glucose self-monitoring People with type 2 diabetes can lower their blood sugar if they follow a personalized blood glucose monitoring schedule, even if they don’t use insulin,

Health News:Nexium Recalled ♦ More than 180 children sickened by foodborne illness in Pakistan ♦ Drug inhibits infection that causes watery

.Nexium Recalled - Seroquel XR Nexium bottles Recall: Antipsychotic found in bottle labeled for GERD medication. AstraZeneca announced a voluntary recall of 34,524 mislabeled Nexium bottles following the discovery of Seroquel XR, an antipsychotic agent, in an unopened Nexium container.

More than 180 children sickened by foodborne illness in Pakistan More than 180 children at a home for orphans in Islamabad, Pakistan, were sickened Sunday, July 5, 2015, reportedly after consuming “substandard” food. The children were taken to three different hospitals after complaining of stomach pain and other symptoms of foodborne illness soon after eating breakfast. According to a newspaper report, some of the children became...

Drug inhibits infection that causes watery diarrhea Researchers have demonstrated that heparin, a type of inhibits infection with Cryptosporidium parvum, a protozoan that causes diarrhea in humans and other mammals. This will facilitate the development of anti-cryptosporidial agents.

Study reveals brain network responsible for cognitive changes in multiple sclerosis Decreased connectivity between network-specific brain regions are to blame for the central deficit common to the various cognitive changes associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study found that, compared to healthy controls, individuals with MS exhibit weaker brain connections between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior brain regions.

Molecule linked to muscle fatigue in humans; enhances exercise tolerance when fed to mice Everyone's muscles have different limits. While professional athletes can train for hours before feeling fatigued, others struggle to mow the lawn or climb stairs. No panacea exists to create an equal playing field, nor will one likely be discovered, but a new study questions whether this limit can be nutritionally extended.

Woman's Health: Protecting women from multiple sclerosis ♦ Misconception about impact of double mastectomy ♦ Moderate exercise helps prevent gestational diabetes,

Protecting women from multiple sclerosis An innocent mistake made by a graduate student in a lab who accidentally used male mice instead of female mice during an experiment, has led scientists to a novel discovery that offers new insight into why women are more likely than men to develop autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

No improvement in cognition with postmenopausal hormones Menopausal hormone therapy given to recently postmenopausal women in the US for up to four years does not improve cognition, but may have some positive benefits for some mood symptoms.

Misconceptions about impact of double mastectomy A survey of women with breast cancer found that nearly half considered having a double mastectomy. But of those who considered it, only 37 percent knew that the more aggressive procedure does not improve survival for women with breast cancer.

Women's contribution to healthcare constitutes nearly 5% of global GDP, but nearly half is unpaid and unrecognized A major new Commission on women and health has found that women are contributing around $3 trillion to global health care, but nearly half of this (2.35% of global GDP) is unpaid and unrecognized

Moderate exercise helps prevent gestational diabetes, reduce weight gain during pregnancy Women who exercise during pregnancy are less likely to have gestational diabetes, and the exercise also helps to reduce maternal weight gain, finds a study. Gestational diabetes is one of the most frequent complications of pregnancy. It is associated with an increased risk of serious disorders such as preeclampsia, hypertension, preterm birth, and with induced or caesarean birth.

Health Research: Include men in osteoporosis screening ♦ Kidney failure impacts survival of sepsis patients ♦ Natural plant chemicals could help fight tooth decay

Include men in osteoporosis screening guidelines,Osteoporosis affects more men than prostate cancer. In a large study of smokers, men were more likely than women to have osteoporosis and fractures of their vertebrae. Smoking history and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were independent risk factors for low bone density among both men and women. Researchers say screening for low vBMD by using QCT in men and women who are smokers will identify and treat osteoporosis.

Kidney failure impacts survival of sepsis patients Kidney function plays a critical role in the fate of patients being treated for sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection. Acute kidney injury is a serious and common health complication, occurring in up to 20 percent of all hospitalized patients and more than 45 percent of patients in a critical-care setting. Sepsis, which is defined as systemic inflammation resulting from an infection, results in an abrupt decrease in the kidney's ability to filter the blood.

Natural plant chemicals could help fight tooth decay Oral-care products containing a natural chemical that stops bacteria harming teeth could help prevent decay. The plant natural product acts against harmful mouth bacteria and to prevent the build-up of plaque.

Discovery of a treatment to block the progression of multiple sclerosis A drug that could halt the progression of multiple sclerosis may soon be developed thanks to a new discovery.

Epstein-Barr virus co-infection may boost malaria mortality in childhood Malaria researchers are calling attention to a trouble-maker whose effects may be underappreciated: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Their experiments with mice show that co-infection with a virus closely related to EBV can make a survivable malaria parasite infection lethal.

Health News: $200 million settlement in 2012 meningitis outbreak ♦ MS Scientists identify cause of movement, balance problems ♦ Redesigned' antibodies may control HIV

Judge approves $200 million settlement in 2012 meningitis outbreak A Federal bankruptcy judge approved a $200 million settlement with the now-closed New England Compounding Center pharmacy following a 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak that killed 64 people and sickened more than 750 others across 20 states as a result of tainted drugs produced by the pharmacy. The settlement will be distributed among the victims and 14 former employees of the compounding center

Multiple sclerosis: Scientists identify cause of movement, balance problems New research into the causes of the excessive inflammation that drives multiple sclerosis has identified a faulty 'brake' within immune cells, a brake that should be controlling the inflammation. This points to a potential target for developing new therapies to treat multiple sclerosis.

Cancer drugs may hold key to treating Down syndrome and other brain disorders A class of FDA-approved cancer drugs may be able to prevent problems with brain cell development associated with disorders including Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome.

'Redesigned' antibodies may control HIV With the help of a computer program called “Rosetta,” researchers have “redesigned” an antibody that has increased potency and can neutralize more strains of the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than can any known natural antibody.

Potential new drug target for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis A novel drug target for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has been identified, which focuses on the cells that are directly responsible for the cartilage damage in affected joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that leads to stiff, deformed joints and often crippling pain. The immune system's attack on the body's own tissue leads to chronic, painful inflammation in the affected joints.

Health Research: Obesity may exacerbate inactivity,due to poor motor skills ♦ New gene implicated in multiple sclerosis ♦ Sleep apnea linked to depression in men

New gene implicated in multiple sclerosis disease activity A new study reports the discovery of a genetic variant that is associated with a patient's likelihood of responding to interferon-beta. The study also presents evidence that the affected gene, SLC9A9, may have a broader role in regulating the development and activity of certain immune cells that play important roles in inflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis.

Obesity may exacerbate inactivity, due to poor motor skills Obese adults have very poor motor skills which makes fine movements difficult for them. The findings suggest inactivity may not be a cause of obesity, but instead a result of poor motor skills associated with the condition.

Readmissions in severe sepsis are as common as those in heart failure and pneumonia Severe sepsis is a significant cause of rehospitalization along the lines of nationally recognized outcome measures and more commonly discussed conditions such as heart failure (HF) and pneumonia.

Agriculture, declining mobility drove humans' shift to lighter bones

Modern lifestyles have famously made humans heavier, but, in one particular way, noticeably lighter weight than our hunter-gatherer ancestors: in the bones. Now a new study of the bones of hundreds of humans who lived during the past 33,000 years in Europe finds the rise of agriculture and a corresponding fall in mobility drove the change, rather than urbanization, nutrition or other factors

Sleep apnea linked to depression in men Severe obstructive sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness are associated with an increased risk of depression in men.

Health News:Consumer Reports: 60% of frozen shrimp contaminated ♦ McDonald's to serve up deforestation-free food ♦ New drugs to combat multiple sclerosis

Backache: A matter of mechanics The mechanics of the lower vertebrae have been the focus of recent study. Researchers are aiming to reveal how wear and tear comes about on vertebral bodies and spinal disks, hoping to make easier the choice of appropriate therapy.

Researchers show how blood-brain barrier is maintained In a new study, researchers have made insights into how the blood-brain barrier, or BBB, is maintained, identifying a protein key to the process. Delivering this protein to mice with the rodent equivalent of MS improved their symptoms.

Consumer Reports: Find 60% of frozen shrimp contaminated with bacteria  A new Consumer Reports study released Friday found that 60% of 342 samples of frozen shrimp it tested contained Salmonella, Vibrio, Listeria, or E. coli, and 2 percent tested positive for the superbug MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). For its new report,

McDonald's promises to serve up deforestation-free food Burgers, fries, and milkshakes from McDonald’s may still have the same calorie count, but their environmental impact is set to shrink following an announcement by the fast food giant on Tuesday that it plans to eliminate deforestation from its global supply chains by 2030 at the latest. McDonald’s says its commitment is effectively immediately and it will begin work to ensure …

Researchers discover new drugs to combat the root cause of multiple sclerosis Several drugs could lead to new treatment options for multiple sclerosis, including two drugs that effectively treat MS at the source, in vivo, researchers report. At the pathological level, MS is a disease in which the immune system attacks the protective myelin sheath, a type of insulation that covers nerves, ultimately disrupting communication between the brain and the body and leading to nerve deterioration

Drugs that activate brain stem cells may reverse multiple sclerosis

Two drugs already on the market — an antifungal and a steroid — may potentially take on new roles as treatments for multiple sclerosis. According to a study published in Nature today, researchers discovered that these drugs may activate stem cells in the brain to stimulate myelin producing cells and repair white matter, which is damaged in multiple sclerosis.

An artist’s representation of the study. Scientists found that certain drugs were able to promote remyelination in mouse models of multiple sclerosis. Image courtesy of Case Western Reserve University; Illustrator: Megan Kern

Specialized cells called oligodendrocytes lay down multiple layers of a fatty white substance known as myelin around axons, the long “wires” that connect brain cells. Myelin acts as an insulator and enables fast communication between brain cells. In multiple sclerosis there is breakdown of myelin and this deterioration leads to muscle weakness, numbness and problems with vision, coordination and balance.

“To replace damaged cells, the scientific field has focused on direct transplantation of stem cell-derived tissues for regenerative medicine, and that approach is likely to provide enormous benefit down the road. We asked if we could find a faster and less invasive approach by using drugs to activate native nervous system stem cells and direct them to form new myelin. Our ultimate goal was to enhance the body’s ability to repair itself,” said Paul J. Tesar, Ph.D., associate professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, and senior author of the study.

It is unknown how myelin-producing cells are damaged, but research suggests they may be targeted by malfunctioning immune cells and that multiple sclerosis may start as an autoimmune disorder. Current therapies for multiple sclerosis include anti-inflammatory drugs, which help prevent the episodic relapses common in multiple sclerosis, but are less effective at preventing long-term disability. Scientists believe that therapies that promote myelin repair might improve neurologic disability in people with multiple sclerosis.    

Adult brains contain oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), which are stem cells that generate myelin-producing cells. OPCs are found to multiply in the brains of multiple sclerosis patients as if to respond to myelin damage, but for unknown reasons they are not effective in restoring white matter. In the current study, Dr. Tesar wanted to see if drugs already approved for other uses were able to stimulate OPCs to increase myelination.   

OPCs have been difficult to isolate and study, but Dr. Tesar and his colleagues, in collaboration with Robert Miller, Ph.D., professor at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., developed a novel method to investigate these cells in a petri dish. Using this technique, they were able to quickly test the effects of hundreds of drugs on the stem cells.

The compounds screened in this study were obtained from a drug library maintained by NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). All are approved for use in humans. NCATS and Dr. Tesar have an ongoing collaboration and plan to expand the library of drugs screened against OPCs in the near future to identify other promising compounds.

Dr. Tesar’s team found that two compounds in particular, miconazole (an antifungal) and clobetasol (a steroid), stimulated mouse and human OPCs into generating myelin-producing cells.

Next, they examined whether the drugs, when injected into a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, could improve re-myelination. They found that both drugs were effective in activating OPCs to enhance myelination and reverse paralysis. As a result, almost all of the animals regained the use of their hind limbs. They also found that the drugs acted through two very different molecular mechanisms.

“The ability to activate white matter cells in the brain, as shown in this study, opens up an exciting new avenue of therapy development for myelin disorders such as multiple sclerosis,” said Ursula Utz, Ph.D., program director at the NINDS.

Dr. Tesar and his colleagues caution that more research is needed before miconazole and clobetasol can be tested in multiple sclerosis clinical trials. They are currently approved for use as creams or powders on the surfaces of the body but their safety administered in other forms, such as injections, in humans is unknown.

“Off-label use of the current forms of these drugs is more likely to increase other health concerns than alleviate multiple sclerosis symptoms. We are working tirelessly to ready a safe and effective drug for clinical use,” Dr. Tesar

Stem Cell Transplants May Halt Progression of Multiple Sclerosis

Three-year outcomes from an ongoing clinical trial suggest that high-dose immunosuppressive therapy followed by transplantation of a person's own blood-forming stem cells may induce sustained remission in some people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). RRMS is the most common form of MS, a progressive autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord. T

Three years after the treatment, called high-dose immunosuppressive therapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplant or HDIT/HCT, nearly 80 percent of trial participants had survived without experiencing an increase in disability, a relapse of MS symptoms or new brain lesions. Investigators observed few serious early complications or unexpected side effects, although many participants experienced expected side effects of high-dose immunosuppression, including infections and gastrointestinal problems. The three-year findings are published in the Dec. 29, 2014, online issue of JAMA Neurology.

“These promising results support the need for future studies to further evaluate the benefits and risks of HDIT/HCT and directly compare this treatment strategy to current MS therapies,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “If the findings from this study are confirmed, HDIT/HCT may become a potential therapeutic option for people with this often-debilitating disease, particularly those who have not been helped by standard treatments.”

Scientists estimate that MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. Symptoms can vary widely and may include disturbances in speech, vision and movement. Most people with MS are diagnosed with RRMS, which is characterized by periods of relapse or flare up of symptoms followed by periods of recovery or remission. Over years, the disease can worsen and shift to a more progressive form.

In the study, researchers tested the effectiveness of HDIT/HCT in 25 volunteers with RRMS who had relapsed and experienced worsened neurological disability while taking standard medications. Doctors collected blood-forming stem cells from participants and then gave them high-dose chemotherapy to destroy their immune systems. The doctors returned the stem cells to the participants to rebuild and reset their immune systems.

“Notably, participants did not receive any MS drugs after transplant, yet most remained in remission after three years,” said Daniel Rotrosen, M.D., director of NIAID’s Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation. “In contrast, other studies have shown that the best alternative MS treatments induce much shorter remissions and require long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs that can cause serious side effects.”

The study researchers plan to follow participants for a total of five years, recording all side effects associated with the treatment. Final results from this and similar studies promise to help inform the design of larger trials to further evaluate HDIT/HCT in people with MS.

2/14/14 Health News: New Strategy to Fight Bacterial Infections - Virus that Kills Anthrax - Food Bug Triggers Multiple Sclerosis - Giving Ourselves Cancer

Scientists Find New Strategy to Combat Bacterial Infections

Increasing numbers of bacteria are developing antibiotic resistance. This forms a significant challenge in the battle against bacterial infections. Alvin Lo and Han Remaut (VIB/Vrije Universiteit Brussel) have identified a chemical substance with the potential of acting as a new drug to treat bacterial infections, particularly urinary tract infections. In contrast to the most popular antibiotics, this candidate drug does not destroy pathogenic bacteria, but rather disarms them. The benefit of this new strategy is that other (useful) bacteria are unharmed .Continue Reading

Anthrax Agent Killed by New, Unusually Large Virus

From a zebra carcass on the plains of Namibia in Southern Africa, an international team of researchers has discovered a new, unusually large virus (or bacteriophage) that infects the bacterium that causes anthrax. The novel bacteriophage could eventually open up new ways to detect, treat or decontaminate the anthrax bacillus and its relatives that cause food poisoning., Continue Reading

Food Bug Toxin May Trigger Multiple Sclerosis

New research presented at a scientific meeting adds to a growing body of evidence that a toxin produced by a common food bug may trigger multiple sclerosis, an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Dr. Jennifer Linden Said. "We provide evidence that supports epsilon toxin's ability to cause BBB [blood-brain barrier] permeability and show that epsilon toxin kills the brain's myelin producing cells, oligodendrocytes; the same cells that die in MS lesions. Continue Reading

We Are Giving Ourselves Cancer

Despite great strides in prevention and treatment, cancer rates remain stubbornly high and may soon surpass heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States. Increasingly, we and many other experts believe that an important culprit may be our own medical practices: We are silently irradiating ourselves to death. The use of medical imaging with high-dose radiation — CT scans in particular — has soared in the last 20 years. Our resulting exposure to medical radiation has increased more than sixfold between the 1980s and 2006, according to the National Council on Radiation Protection & Measurements. The radiation doses of CT scans (a series of X-ray images from multiple angles) are 100 to 1,000 times higher than conventional X-rays. Continue Reading  

12/31/14 Health News Bacteria Triggers Multiple Sclerosis - DDT Linked To Alzheimer's - Night Work 'Throws Body Into Chaos' - Drug Companies Sell You Stuff with Your Records

COMMON FOODBORNE BACTERIA MIGHT BE ‘TRIGGER’ FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Might it have been something they ate? Actor Michael J. Fox, race car driver Trevor Bayne, television personality Montel Williams, and Ann Romney are but a few of the celebrities among 400,000 Americans who were struck with multiple sclerosis in the prime of life. Most when diagnosed are 20 to 50 years old. Until now,... Continue Reading

DDT: Pesticide linked to Alzheimer's Exposure to a once widely used pesticide, DDT, may increase the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease, suggest US researchers. A study, showed patients with Alzheimer's had four times the levels of DDT lingering in the body than healthy people.Some countries still use the pesticide to control malaria. Continue Reading

Night Work 'Throws Body Into Chaos' Doing the night shift throws the body "into chaos" and could cause long-term damage, warn researchers. Shift work has been linked to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and cancer. Now scientists at the Sleep Research Centre in Surrey have uncovered the disruption shift work causes at the deepest molecular level. Experts said the scale, speed and severity of damage caused by being awake at night was a surprise..Continue Reading

Are Drug Companies Using Your Health Records to Sell You Stuff? New regulations in the Affordable Care Act restrict access to doctors by pharmaceutical companies. As a result, drug companies are finding their way behind the medical industry's closed doors via digital record-keeping systems. The problem is that consumers don't want health information used to sell them medical services. They also don't want their doctors' medical judgment to be compromised by the financial clout of the pharmaceutical industry. When doctors at the Heart of Wellness clinic in Olympia, Washington, log on to their network to update patient data, they see advertising. Sometimes it's just house ads from Practice Fusion, the software company that operates their system, and sometimes it's full-color ads for Continue Reading