According to a new study conducted by researchers from the Ohio State University Medical Center, a substance created by the immune cells play a pivotal role in disease progression in animals, closely mimicking multiple sclerosis. The study found out that blockage of this molecule known as macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) can effectively prevent disease progression.

Though MIF may be considered of less importance for MS initiation, it is imperative for the progression of multiple sclerosis, as per principal investigator Caroline C. Whitacre, Professor of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics.

The findings clearly suggested that MIF levels can be used for predicting the onset of a relapse. Most importantly, the study is believed to create new roadways for halting the course of MS by blocking MIF activities.

Tags: disease progression, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, MIF, multiple sclerosis

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As per a recently concluded study, a combination of steroids and multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs to treat MS can minimize the amount of disease activity more than a MS drug alone. This study was a part of the Late-breaking Science Program at the American Academy of Neurology’s 61st Annual Meeting that was conducted in Seattle, Washington from April 25 – May 2, 2009.

Multiple Sclerosis, also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata, is an autoimmune condition in which the human body’s immune system poses an attack to the central nervous system. Such an attack leads to demyelination (damage of myelin sheath of neurons). Impairments of movement, cognition, and sensation are some of the possible ailments after a demyelinating disease.

This means that the steroid drug methylprednisolone can now be used as an ongoing treatment along with being used to treat acute MS attacks. The above statements also suggest that a combination of steroids and multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs to treat MS offers a more beneficial effect on the disease activity than what can be offered by a MS drug alone.

These findings are expected to offer a sigh of relief to all those patients who were fighting a lone battle against Multiple Sclerosis.

Tags: encephalomyelitis disseminata, methylprednisolone, multiple sclerosis, steroid drug, steroids

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Extensive studies have showed that using steroid is a better treatment for multiple sclerosis rather than just being dependent on the drug named interferon beta-1a. The steroid – methylprednisolone when added to the treatment along with interferon gives a 38% more improvement than the one undergoing just with the drug.

This combination is generally advised if the patient is suffering from acute case of multiple sclerosis. This reduces the activity of disease to spread at a lower rate. They also improved on the MS disability test and placebo scores were also decreased. During the evaluation of studies, the participants were seen every three months for some improvement.

During the process of undergoing treatment it was seen that the lesions in the brain were smaller in size as compared to the patients who were just under the effect of interferon. The combination of steroid and drug was working. After many clinical trials it was proved to be beneficial in many ways. As stated by author Mads Ravnborg, MD, of the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Center at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, “The steroids and the drug work together in a synergistic manner and gave favorable result.”

Also to make a much more effective dose for curing multiple sclerosis, this combination was prepared since interferon does not fully respond to everyone an effectual manner.

Tags: brain disease, interferon, multiple sclerosis, synergic effect

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Findings from a study recently announced that a steroid drug can now be used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) in addition to the usually prescribed MS drugs. This finding was part of the Late-breaking Science Program at the American Academy of Neurology’s 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, held in April 25 – May 2, 2009.

In the study, 341 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) participated. Half of the participants were given both steroid drug methylprednisolone, plus the regular weekly treatment with the drug interferon beta-1a. Meanwhile, the other 50% of the participants were administered with the interferon drug plus a placebo. The participants who were administered with both drugs had 38 percent fewer relapses than those who were only given interferon drug.

These results showed that interfon work only moderate and not everyone responds fully to the treatment, but when combined with steroid drug methylprednisolone, more beneficial effects of controlling multiple sclerosis attacks.

Tags: interfon, methylprednisolone, MS, multiple sclerosis, steroid drug

Posted in Steroid Cycles, steroid nation, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids