MS news at the American Academy of Neurology meeting.At the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is a professional society for neurologists and neuroscientists. As a medical specialty society it was established in 1949 by A.B. Baker of the University of Minnesota to advance the art and science of neurology, and thereby promote the best in Toronto this April, several presentations on MS research underscored the value of the A, B, or C drugs and added weight to the clinical consensus issued by the Society's Medical Advisory Board in 1998. The consensus statement said, in short, that all 3 drugs slow down the progress of the disease, and that, for most people, therapy with one of them should begin as soon as a diagnosis of MS with a relapsing-remitting pattern has been made. Betaseron and Avonex are interferons, bioactive bi·o·ac·tive adj. Of or relating to a substance that has an effect on living tissue. bioactive having an effect on or eliciting a response from living tissue. molecules produced by the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. . They are interferon interferon (ĭn'tərfēr`ŏn), any of a group of proteins produced by cells in the body in response to an attack by a virus. A cell infected by a virus releases minute amounts of interferons, which attach themselves to neighboring cells, beta-lb and interferon beta-la, respectively Copaxone is a synthetic molecule--glatiramer acetate acetate (ăs`ĭtāt'), one of the most important forms of artificial cellulose-based fibers; the ester of acetic acid. The first patents for the production of fibers from cellulose acetate appeared at the beginning of the 20th cent. . Copaxone benefits shown on MRI 1. (application) MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2. MRI - Measurement Requirements and Interface. Copaxone has been approved by regulatory agencies regulatory agency Independent government commission charged by the legislature with setting and enforcing standards for specific industries in the private sector. The concept was invented by the U.S. around the world for its ability to reduce the frequency of acute attacks of MS. But the effect of the drug on lesions, or damaged areas, within the central nervous system has been unknown, as MRI scans were not part of the original clinical trials. Dr. Giancarlo Comi from Milan presented data from an international study involving 29 MS centers in Europe and Canada and 239 people with relapsingremitting MS. The data show significant reduction in MRI-detected brain lesion LESION, contracts. In the civil law this term is used to signify the injury suffered, in consequence of inequality of situation, by one who does not receive a full equivalent for what he gives in a commutative contract. 2. activity within 9 months of starting treatment with Copaxone. Avonex slows loss in brain volume Researchers at the Mellen MS Center in Cleveland developed new techniques for measuring changes in brain volume, and thus disease activity over time, using MRI data. By revisiting the MRI data of people who were in the original Avonex clinical trial, the researchers found progressive losses in brain volume occurring over the study period of 2 years. People with more severe MS had greater losses. The researchers observed that people who received Avonex were partly protected from loss in their second--but not their first--year of treatment. Those who received Avonex had a 55% reduction in the progression of this loss of brain volume, compared to the people who took a "dummy Sham; make-believe; pretended; imitation. Person who serves in place of another, or who serves until the proper person is named or available to take his place (e.g., dummy corporate directors; dummy owners of real estate). " placebo placebo (pləsē`bō), inert substance given instead of a potent drug. Placebo medications are sometimes prescribed when a drug is not really needed or when one would not be appropriate because they make patients feel well taken care of. drug. Betaseron and Copaxone appear equally effective A team of researchers in Israel compared outcomes of 58 people with relapsing-remitting MS using 2 of the new drugs. This is a very small group and the results are regarded as preliminary. Volunteers were divided into 3 groups. One took Copaxone every day, one took Betaseron every other day, and the third took Copaxone every other day. All 3 groups had equivalent outcomes. The therapies reduced the relapse rate and slowed down the progression of disability. Betaseron and Copaxone, taken both daily and every other day, appeared equally effective in controlling the course of MS. Larger studies are essential to confirm the suggestion that medication schedules might be changed. Betaseron and Copaxone appear equally effective A team of researchers in Israel compared outcomes of 58 people with relapsing-remitting MS using 2 of the new drugs. This is a very small group and the results are regarded as preliminary. Volunteers were divided into 3 groups. One took Copaxone every day, one took Betaseron every other day, and the third took Copaxone every other day. All 3 groups had equivalent outcomes. The therapies reduced the relapse rate and slowed down the progression of disability. Betaseron and Copaxone, taken both daily and every other day, appeared equally effective in controlling the course of MS. Larger studies are essential to confirm the suggestion that medication schedules might be changed. |
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