…gnitive disability. This metric was used in an analysis of patients in the FREEDOMS and FREEDOMS II trials (Kappos et al. ECTRIMS 2014; abstract FC1.5). Since annual percentage brain volume change (PBVC) in healthy individuals is estimated to be -0.1 to -0.3%/year, a cut-off PBVC value of -0.4%/year was used. At two years, the proportion of patients with NEDA-4 was 19.7% with fingolimod versus 5.3% with placebo. Between-group differences were sign…

…96:518-522; free full text at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746493/pdf/nihms500370.pdf). This effect is specific to Th17, with little or no effect on Th1 or Th2 differentiation or proliferation. Moreover, salt-induced Th17 cells demonstrate increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha and IL-2. A new study reports that higher salt consumption is associated with increased clinical and radiological disease activity i…

…ntinued (39%; 9-fold more common) or interrupted therapy (23%; 4-fold more common) compared to those continuing on treatment (6%). However, the odds of disability progression did not differ significantly for patients temporarily interrupting therapy compared to those continuing on treatment. Fingolimod: Data from the FREEDOMS phase III trial and its extension were analysed to determine if the extent of brain volume loss at 24 months was predictive…