Society hosts conference on preventing nerve damage in MS. (National MS Society News).Nearly 100 top MS research experts met in New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded in March to discuss how and why nerve cells die in MS and what can be done to protect them. The issue is a growing concern as new findings continue to show that permanent damage to axons can take place early in MS. Moreover, loss of axons, which are the long nerve-cell fibers that conduct nerve signals, may be a major contributor to permanent loss of functions later on. Prevention first The Society-sponsored conference proved to be a stimulating forum for investigators who are working on ways to measure this nerve injury, explain how it occurs, and develop possible therapies. The participants discussed nerve death in related disorders, such as stroke. They reviewed new ways to analyze data from MRI 1. (application) MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2. MRI - Measurement Requirements and Interface. scans, and they shared information about MRS MRS - Modifiable Representation System. An integration of logic programming into Lisp. ["A Modifiable Representation System", M. Genesereth et al, HPP 80-22, CS Dept Stanford U 1980]. , or magnetic resonance magnetic resonance, in physics and chemistry, phenomenon produced by simultaneously applying a steady magnetic field and electromagnetic radiation (usually radio waves) to a sample of atoms and then adjusting the frequency of the radiation and the strength of the spectroscopy. MRS also uses magnetism and radio waves Radio waves Electromagnetic energy of the frequency range corresponding to that used in radio communications, usually 10,000 cycles per second to 300 billion cycles per second. but measures levels of chemicals in the brain rather than creating pictures of the tissues, as MRI does. It is fast becoming an essential research tool for determining if nerve cells are intact and working normally. Because axon damage is more often found in areas of active inflammation, some researchers posit that controlling inflammation protects the nerves. Others suggest blocking some of the sodium channels, which are tiny pores on the axons, to enhance nerve conduction nerve conduction n. The transmission of an impulse along a nerve fiber. Nerve conduction The speed and strength of a signal being transmitted by nerve cells. and protect the axons. Considering the tight-knit biological relationship between myelin myelin /my·elin/ (mi´e-lin) the lipid-rich substance of the cell membrane of Schwann cells that coils to form the myelin sheath surrounding the axon of myelinated nerve fibers. insulation and the axon inside, still other investigators are focusing on preventing permanent damage by stimulating myelin repair. Transplanting myelin-producing cells into the central nervous system might accomplish that. In July, the first attempt to do this took place (see p. 31). And then repair Scientists are also trying to identify the chemical signals that stimulate the brain's dormant immature myelin-producing cells to wake up, grow up, and start working. Planning is under way for a follow-up workshop to focus on ways to repair damaged nerve cells. |
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