Natalizumab induces a rapid improvement of disability status and ambulation after failure of previous therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

peer reviewedBackground: Natalizumab (Tysabri) is a monoclonal antibody that was recently approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Our primary objective was to analyse the efficacy of natalizumab on disability status and ambulation after switching patients with RRMS from other disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). Methods: A retrospective, observational study was carried out. All patients (n = 45) initiated natalizumab after experiencing at least 1 relapse in the previous year under interferon-beta (IFNB) or glatiramer acetate (GA) treatments. The patients also had at least 1 gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) lesion on their baseline brain MRI. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, and performance on the Timed 25-Foot Walk Test and on the Timed 100-Metre Walk Test were prospectively collected every 4 weeks during 44 weeks of natalizumab treatment. Brain MRI scans were performed after 20 and 44 weeks of treatment. Results: Sixty-two per cent of patients showed no clinical and no radiological signs of disease activity, and 29% showed a rapid and confirmed EDSS improvement over 44 weeks of natalizumab therapy. Patients with improvement on the EDSS showed similar levels of baseline EDSS and active T1 lesions, but had a significantly higher number of relapses, and 92% of them had experienced relapse-mediated sustained EDSS worsening in the previous year. A clinically meaningful improvement in ambulation speed was observed in approximately 30% of patients. Conclusions: These results indicate that natalizumab silences disease activity and rapidly improves disability status and walking performance, possibly through delayed relapse recovery in patients with RRMS who had shown a high level of disease activity under other DMTs

Nitroxide-mediated polymerization of styrene initiated from the surface of fumed silica. Comparison of two synthetic routes

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Preparation and Properties of Polyester-Based Nanocomposite Gel Coat System

B-rich nanowires are grown on Ni coated oxidized Si(111) substrate using diborane as the gas precursor in a CVD process at 20 torr and 900C∘. These nanowires have diameters around 20–100 nanometers and lengths up to microns. Icosahedron B12 is shown to be the basic building unit forming the amorphous B-rich nanowires as characterized by EDAX, XRD, XPS, and Raman spectroscopies. The gas chemistry at low [B2H6]/ [N2] ratio is monitored by the in situ mass spectroscopy, which identified N2 as an inert carrier gas leading to formation of the B-rich compounds. A nucleation controlled growth mechanism is proposed to explain the rugged nanowire growth of boron. The role of the Ni catalyst in the synthesis of the B-rich nanostructures is also discussed

Graft polymerisation of styrene from silica nanoparticles using tethered alkoxyamine initiators

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Viscoelastic properties and morphological characterization of silica/polystyrene nanocomposites synthesized by nitroxide-mediated polymerization

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L’immunothérapie anti-tumorale à base de cellules dendritiques

L’utilisation de cellules dendritiques (DC) présentant des antigènes tumoraux s’est imposée en tant que stratégie d’avenir pour l’immunothérapie du cancer. Nous avons réalisé 3 essais cliniques de vaccination anti-tumorale utilisant des DC autologues chargées d’antigènes associés aux tumeurs (TAA). Ces essais ont montré que l’approche était sûre et associée à un accroissement considérable de la fréquence des lymphocytes producteurs d’IFN-γ en réponse au(x) TAA. Ces réponses se sont avérées transitoires malgré l’apport d’une aide sous la forme de la KLH. L’administration d’IL-2 par voie sous- cutanée était associée à l’induction d’une production d’IL-5 se maintenant au long cours. Des réponses cliniques ont été observée chez environ 1/3 des patients. Les améliorations du vaccin tireront parti de l’utilisation d’un nouveau type de DC (IL-3/IFN-β DC) et de cellules hybrides résultant de la fusion entre cellules tumorales et DC

Nanostructured Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method from Self-Assemblies of PS-b-PAPTES-b-PS Triblock Copolymers

International audienceABA-based triblock copolymers of styrene as block ends and gelable 3-acryloxypropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) as the middle block were successfully prepared through nitroxide-medi- ated polymerization (NMP). The copolymers were bulk self- assembled into films and the degree of phase separation between the two blocks was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Their morphology was examined through small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), whereas the mechanical properties of the corresponding cross- linked self-assembled nanostructures were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Acidic treatment of the tri- block copolymers favored the hydrolysis and condensation reactions of the APTES-rich nanophase, and induced a mechanical reinforcement evidenced by the increase of storage modulus val- ues and the shift of the glass transition temperature to higher tem- peratures due to confinement effects. In addition, the lamellar structure of the hybrid films was retained after the removal of the organic part by calcination

Symptomatic therapy in multiple sclerosis: a review for a multimodal approach in clinical practice

As more investigations into factors affecting the quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are undertaken, it is becoming increasingly apparent that certain comorbidities and associated symptoms commonly found in these patients differ in incidence, pathophysiology and other factors compared with the general population. Many of these MS-related symptoms are frequently ignored in assessments of disease status and are often not considered to be associated with the disease. Research into how such comorbidities and symptoms can be diagnosed and treated within the MS population is lacking. This information gap adds further complexity to disease management and represents an unmet need in MS, particularly as early recognition and treatment of these conditions can improve patient outcomes. In this manuscript, we sought to review the literature on the comorbidities and symptoms of MS and to summarize the evidence for treatments that have been or may be used to alleviate them