Health Canada has issued a public advisory about glatiramer acetate, used to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The agency warned on Aug. 21 that patients taking glatiramer acetate could experience anaphylactic reactions, which “can be fatal and may occur at any point during treatment, from as soon as the first dose to months or even…
Health Canada Issues Anaphylaxis Warning for MS Drug
Study: Cold Sore Virus Could Contribute to Multiple Sclerosis
New research from the University of Illinois Chicago discusses the link between HSV-1 and MS.
A new study from researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago linked the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) — an extremely common virus that causes cold sores — with the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS). The study — MLKL-OPTN axis regulates herpes virus-induced neurological sequelae — was published in June by Clinical and Translational…
Study: MS Patients Showed Increased Need for Health Care Decades Before Being Diagnosed
The research examined data from more than 35,000 people with multiple sclerosis.
Even decades before they were diagnosed, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) had a greater need for medical care compared to people without MS, according to a new study supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and MS Canada. The study — Phenotyping Healthcare Use 2-3 Decades Before the First Multiple Sclerosis Demyelinating Event — was…
UK Study: MRI Results May Diagnose MS Without Need for Lumbar Punctures
New research showed multiple sclerosis can be diagnosed by looking for central vein signs within brain lesions.
New research in Neurology Open Access reported that central vein signs (CVS) on an MRI scan could diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) without putting a patient through an invasive, “often painful” lumbar puncture (LP). The research — “Comparison of the Diagnostic Performance of the Central Vein Sign and CSF Oligoclonal Bands Supporting the Diagnosis of Multiple…
International Briefly: ‘Standing’ Voting Method Ended in French National Assembly; At-Home MS Dosing Offered in England, Wales
Featuring the National Assembly of France, the National Health Service, and the Multiple Sclerosis Trust.
France’s National Assembly Abolishes ‘Sitting and Standing’ Voting Method Thanks to the efforts of French politician and wheelchair rider Sébastien Peytavie, the National Assembly has discontinued its par assis et levé (“sitting and standing”) voting method because it excludes people who are unable to stand. Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly, said afterward on…
Briefly: Moving Day for AAHomecare; Century Health Brings AI Processing to Nira Medical MS Data
Featuring the American Association for Homecare, Nira Medical, and Century Health.
AAHomecare Moving to New Headquarters in February The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) will be moving to a new office and will have a new address starting Feb. 3: 2611 S. Clark St., Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22022. “The move downsizes our already-small office footprint, as the AAHomecare staff embraces the remote work environment —…
Inflammation Associated with Nervous System Damage in MS Study
Inflammation caused by common illnesses such as colds can impact the cervical spinal cords of people with multiple sclerosis.
Inflammation that occurs in parts of the body other than the brain and spinal cord has been associated with atrophy in the cervical spinal cord in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study said. The study — “Systemic inflammation associates with and precedes cord atrophy in progressive multiple sclerosis” — was published this spring…
Briefly: DOT Extends Airplane Comment Period; World MS Day Is Today
Featuring the Department of Transportation and multiple sclerosis advocacy organizations worldwide.
DOT Extends Comment Period for Wheelchair Riders on Airplanes The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is extending the deadline for people to submit comments to the DOT’s proposed rule “Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs.” The new deadline to submit comments is June 12. “The Department received a joint request for…
MS Patients: ChatGPT Responses Are More Empathetic Than Those from Neurologists
A new study examined how patients reacted to information provided by artificial intelligence.
A new study published in the Journal of Neurology said patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) rated responses produced by artificial intelligence (AI) — specifically, ChatGPT — to be more empathetic than responses from neurologists. The April 3 study was titled, “ChatGPT vs. neurologists: a cross-sectional study investigating preference, satisfaction ratings and perceived empathy in responses…
Study: MS Patients at Nearly Double the Risk for Seizures
Researchers used data from more than 53,000 people with multiple sclerosis.
A new study that included data from more than 53,000 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) concluded that people with MS are nearly twice as likely to experience seizures compared to people without MS. The research, led by Valeria Pozzilli, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy, was published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry in…