REPORT FROM THE 25^th CONGRESS OF THE ECTRIMS – Dusseldorf, Germany, September 9-12, 2009  A majority of patients in the placebo arm of MS treatment trials report nocebo reactions, defined as the development of nonspecific adverse effects following administration of a placebo (Kennedy WP. Med World 1961; 95: 203-205), according to an analysis of 60 trials of disease-modifying drugs (Papadopoulos & Mitsikostas. ECTRIMS 2009).
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REPORT FROM THE 25^th CONGRESS OF THE ECTRIMS – Dusseldorf, Germany, September 9-12, 2009  The results of the MECOMBIN trial of pulsed methylprednisolone plus intramuscular beta-interferon-1a indicate that the combination is not more effective in delaying the onset of disability progression, although improvements in relapse rate and functional scores were observed (Ravnborg et al. ECTRIMS 2009).
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REPORT FROM THE 25^th CONGRESS OF THE ECTRIMS – Dusseldorf, Germany, September 9-12, 2009  Teriflunomide is an immunosuppressant currently being tested in four large phase III trials in clinically isolated syndrome (estimated enrollment 780), MS with relapses (TEMSO trial, estimated n=1080), relapsing-remitting MS (planned n=1110) and versus beta-interferon-1a in RRMS (TENERE trial, estimated n=300).  The drug is the active metabolite of leflunomide that is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
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REPORT FROM THE 25^th CONGRESS OF THE ECTRIMS – Dusseldorf, Germany, September 9-12, 2009  In 2008, the MS Study Group of the Italian Neurological Society reported that one-third of children/adolescents with MS demonstrated cognitive impairments (Amato et al. Neurology 2008; 70: 1891-1897).
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