Vitamin D - a remark on the known and a survey of the lesser-known facts

The influence of vitamin D on the immune system, carcinogenesis, ostheogenesis, management of the depression and other correlations in elders are discussed in this articleyesБелгородский государственный университе

A rare presentation of atypical demyelination: tumefactive multiple sclerosis causing Gerstmann's syndrome

r. KS has been supported by a Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Clinical Senior Lectureshi

BG-12 reduces evolution of new enhancing lesions to T1-hypointense lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis

BG-12, an immunomodulatory agent, reduces frequency of new gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) lesions in relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). This study reports the effect of 240 mg BG-12 orally three times daily (tid) for 24 weeks on the evolution of new Gd+ lesions to T1-hypointense lesions. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from patients in placebo and 240 mg BG-12 tid arms of a phase 2b study were examined retrospectively. Included patients had at least one new Gd+ lesion from weeks 4 to 12. Week 24 scans were analyzed for number and proportion of new Gd+ lesions that evolved to T1-hypointense lesions. Eighteen patients receiving BG-12 and 38 patients receiving placebo were included in the analysis. The analysis tracked 147 new Gd+ lesions in patients from the BG-12 group and 221 Gd+ lesions in patients from the placebo group. The percentage of Gd+ lesions that evolved to T1-hypointense lesions was 34% lower with BG-12 treatment versus placebo (29%, BG-12; 44%, placebo; odds ratio 0.51; 95% confidence interval 0.43, 0.61; p > 0.0001). In addition to reducing frequency of new Gd+ lesions, BG-12 significantly reduced probability of their evolution to T1-hypointense lesions in patients with MS compared with placebo

Vitamin D - a remark on the known and a survey of the lesser-known facts

yesThe influence of vitamin D on the immune system, carcinogenesis, ostheogenesis, management of the depression and other correlations in elders are discussed in this articleБелгородский государственный университе

Vitamin D - a remark on the known and a survey of the lesser-known facts

The influence of vitamin D on the immune system, carcinogenesis, ostheogenesis, management of the depression and other correlations in elders are discussed in this articl

Effect of BG-12 on contrast-enhanced lesions in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: subgroup analyses from the phase 2b study

Background: In a phase 2b study in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), BG-12 240 mg three times daily significantly reduced the number of new gadolinium-enhanced (Gd+) lesions from weeks 12 to 24 (primary end point) by 69% compared with placebo

Efficacy and safety of oral fumarate in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase IIb study

BACKGROUND: Oral fumarate (BG00012) might have dual anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of BG00012 in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. METHODS: 257 patients, aged 18-55 years, with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were randomly assigned to receive 120 mg once daily (n=64), 120 mg three times daily (n=64), or 240 mg three times daily (n=64) BG00012, or placebo (n=65) for 24 weeks. During an extension period of 24 weeks for safety assessment, patients treated with placebo received BG00012 240 mg three times daily. The primary endpoint was total number of new gadolinium enhancing (GdE) lesions on brain MRI scans at weeks 12, 16, 20, and 24. Additional endpoints included cumulative number of new GdE lesions (weeks 4-24), new or enlarging T2-hyperintense lesions, new T1-hypointense lesions at week 24, and annualised relapse rate. Analysis was done on the efficacy-evaluable population. Safety and tolerability were also assessed. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00168701. FINDINGS: Treatment with BG00012 240 mg three times daily reduced by 69% the mean total number of new GdE lesions from week 12 to 24 compared with placebo (1.4 vs 4.5, p>0.0001). It also reduced number of new or enlarging T2-hyperintense (p=0.0006) and new T1-hypointense (p=0.014) lesions compared with placebo. BG00012 reduced annualised relapse rate by 32% (0.44 vs 0.65 for placebo; p=0.272). Adverse events more common in patients given BG00012 than in those given placebo included abdominal pain, flushing, and hot flush. Dose-related adverse events in patients on BG00012 were headache, fatigue, and feeling hot. INTERPRETATION: The anti-inflammatory effects and favourable safety profile of BG00012 warrant further long-term phase III studies in large patient groups

Electrophysiologic correlations with clinical outcomes in CIDP.

Data are lacking on correlations between changes in nerve conduction (NC) studies and treatment response in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). This report examined data from a randomized, double-blind trial of immune globulin intravenous, 10% caprylate/chromatography purified (IGIV-C [Gamunex]; n = 59) versus placebo (n = 58) every 3 weeks for up to 24 weeks in CIDP. Motor NC results and clinical measures were assessed at baseline and endpoint/week 24. Improvement from baseline in adjusted inflammatory neuropathy cause and treatment score correlated with improvement in proximally evoked compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes (r = -0.53; P < 0.001) of all nerves tested and with improvement in CMAP amplitude of the most severely affected motor nerve (r = -0.36; P < 0.001). Correlations were observed between improvement in averaged CMAP amplitudes and dominant-hand grip strength (r = 0.44; P < 0.001) and Medical Research Council sum score (r = 0.38; P < 0.001). Overall, the change in electrophysiologic measures of NC in CIDP correlated with clinical response to treatment