A new meta-analysis has concluded that combining psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy is more effective than either treatment alone in managing patients with major depression, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (Cuijpers et al. World Psychiatry 2014;13:56-67; free full text at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3918025/pdf/wps0013-0056.pdf). Read More
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New data for daclizumab in MS
September 24, 2014Daclizumab is an IgG1 anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody that blocks IL-2-mediated lymphocyte activation. The drug (Zenapax) was originally used to prevent tissue rejection but was withdrawn by Roche in 2009 due to declining demand. Read More
Environmental factors in MS: Air and vitamin D
September 13, 2014REPORT FROM THE ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS – BOSTON, MA, SEPTEMBER 10-13, 2014 – Few studies have examined the potential impact of ambient air quality and airborne particulates on multiple sclerosis. A decade ago, a study in Finland suggested that the frequency of MS relapses was higher with increasing levels of inhaled particulates (Oikonen et al. Neuroepidemiology 2003;22:95-99). Read More
Gut microbiome and MS pathogenesis
September 13, 2014REPORT FROM THE ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS – BOSTON, MA, SEPTEMBER 10-13, 2014 – Several lines of evidence indicate that the gut microbiome plays a role in the pathogenesis of MS. It has been suggested that environmental risk factors, such as diet, vitamin D insufficiency, obesity and smoking, may contribute to alterations in the GI flora that may predispose to autoimmune dysregulation (Joscelyn & Kasper. Mult Scler 2014; epublished July 28, 2014).
Gut flora, such as Bacteroides fragilis, produce short-chain fatty acids which have been shown in animal models to have anti-inflammatory effects on peripheral immune cells and which are involved in the proliferation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) (Smith et al. Science 2013;341:569-573; Maslowski et al. Nature 2009;461:1282-1286; Furusawa et al. Nature 2013;504:446-450). Read More