From Richard529@aol.com Thu Jan 1 22:49:40 1998 Received: from sparky.harvard.edu (sparky.harvard.edu [128.103.190.81]) by kantti.Helsinki.FI (8.8.8-spammers-bug-off/8.8.5) with ESMTP id WAA31559 for ; Thu, 1 Jan 1998 22:49:40 +0200 (EET) From: Richard529@aol.com Received: from mrin39.mx.aol.com (mrin39.mx.aol.com [198.81.19.149]) by sparky.harvard.edu (8.8.6/8.7.2) with ESMTP id PAA02244 for ; Thu, 1 Jan 1998 15:49:49 -0500 (EST) Received: (from root@localhost) by mrin39.mx.aol.com (8.8.5/8.7.3/AOL-2.0.0) id PAA06493 for owner-autoimmune_research@sparky.harvard.edu; Thu, 1 Jan 1998 15:49:04 -0500 (EST) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 15:49:04 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <980101154903_1513462466@mrin39.mx> To: owner-autoimmune_research@sparky.harvard.edu Subject: Re: BOUNCE autoimmune_research: Approval required Status: OR 1-1-98 The following items are from the January 1998 issue of Support & Sharing, a bimonthly newsletter of the San Mateo County (CA) Multiple Sclerosis support group. >From Joyce Harnett San Mateo CA e-mail: richard529@aol.com RESEARCH NEWS HHV-6 - This human herpes virus has long been suspected of implication in MS. Recent studies at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke found that 22 or 73% of 36 MS patients tested had a strong response to HHV-6 compared to only 18% of healthy volunteers. HHV-6 is the bug which brings on chicken pox and cold sores. About 90% of Americans are infected at some time in their lives. It is thought HHV-6 is dormant in the body and then is reactivated. Said the lead researcher, "If the HHV-6 virus is really behind MS, then we need to know why infection with such a common virus causes disease in so few people." He said maybe drugs used to treat viruses, some even currently available like acyclovir, might one day be used to treat MS. Additional testing is underway. Rebif - The department of neurology at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX is conducting a pilot trial with this drug in Mexican patients with progressive MS, using high dose weekly subcutaneous injections. Rebif, a betaseron 1-a, is similar to avonex. Synthetic Peptide - The University of Alberta, Canada, will conduct a 32-patient, Phase II clinical trial for a synthetic peptide thought to help those with the progressive form of MS. A Phase I trial showed the peptide is safe. University researchers determined that the immune system focuses on a specific region of myelin. The peptide contains this small segment and, when administered in the first trial, reduced the level of anti-myelin. Briano Bio-Tech of Edmonton is funding the second trial in exchange for world rights to license resulting technologies. Transretrinoic Acid - This drug, already approved for psoriasis, is being tried in combination with betaseron in a pilot clinical trial at the University of Chicago. Transretrinoic acid, when combined with betaseron in a test tube, enhances the ability of betaseron to partially restore suppressor cell function. Valve-pump Catheter - Called the In-Flow by its maker, Influence, Inc., this intraurethral valve-pump catheter will be tested at 10 sites with 150 patients. It is a temporary 29-day catheter designed for women to control incontinence caused by a flaccid bladder. That's one without muscle tone so that it builds no pressure until it is filled to capacity. The patient with the In-Flow uses a remote control device to start a miniature pump which draws urine from the bladder. As a solution to the inability to urinate normally, it lies between intermittent catheterization five or six times a day and an indwelling catheter. Patients with MS, diabetes and spinal cord injuries may benefit from it. Influence, Inc., has offices in this country, Israel, Germany and the UK. Athena Diagnostics, Inc., of Worcester MA has a new testing service to detect neutralizing antibodies in beta interferon therapy. When antibodies develop, a third of users lose the drug's benefit. An assay run takes four days. Doctors and patients interested can call 1-800-394-4493 for information. Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. of Israel has received FDA clearance for the distribution and storage of copazone, its MS drug, from frozen to refrigerated. Seven days' storage at room temperature was okayed if refrigeration is unavailable. Copaxone also has been approved for use in Canada.