New Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Promises Unique Benefit

It appears that a new multiple sclerosis treatment has a unique benefit not offered by other approved treatments for the disease. Results of a phase I trial suggest the novel therapy does not have a negative impact on a patient?s immune system, which is a problem with current treatments.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, which means the body?s immune system destroys healthy cells and tissues, which makes individuals highly vulnerable to infections and cancer. In the case of MS, the body attacks the substance called myelin that protects nerve cells.

Currently available treatments for MS suppress the immune system, which can be especially serious for MS patients given they are already in a compromised situation. In addition, some of the drugs also expose patients to other potentially serious and debilitating side effects, including but not limited to liver damage, neuropathy, seizures, birth defects (both men and women), diarrhea, hair loss, severe allergic reactions, and suicide attempts.

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In the phase I trial, the new MS treatment did not appear to have a negative impact on the immune system and the ability of patients to fight off infection. In fact, the drug reduced the immune system?s reactivity to myelin by 50 to 75 percent.

The study?s co-senior author Stephen Miller, the Judy Guggenheim Research Professor of Microbiology-Immunology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, stated that the new treatment ?stops autoimmune responses that are already activated and prevents the activation of new autoimmune cells.?

The new treatment actually uses a patient?s own blood to make the drug. Here?s how the new treatment works.

Researchers first collect blood from patients and filter out the white blood cells. These cells are processed and mixed with myelin antigens, which are components of the myelin protein to which the immune system responds.

Patients than are injected with the newly processed white blood cells, which make their way to the spleen, the organ responsible for cleaning up old and dying blood cells. The immune system recognizes the myelin antigen as ?friendly,? thus stopping the destruction process.

According to the researchers, the patients who were given the highest dose (up to 3 billion cells) of processed white blood cells responded best. Thus far, in the nine patients treated in this manner, no adverse effects were noted.

Here is another bonus from the trial: the treatment did not reactivate the patients? disease, nor did it have a negative impact on the ability of the immune system to fight real pathogens. In other words, ?Our approach leaves the function of the normal immune system intact,? noted Miller.

What about cost?
Since this treatment is not an off-the-shelf type of therapy (because it requires the use of each patient?s own white blood cells to make the treatment), it is both expensive and labor-intensive. Miller and his colleagues are working to determine whether the use of nanoparticles may provide a less costly and more effective way to deliver the myelin antigens.

For now, patients with multiple sclerosis are left to choose from among the available immune-suppressing drugs (e.g., dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, glatiramer,interferon beta-1a and 1b, mitoxantrone, teriflunomide) and a variety of alternative options, such as nutritional supplements, dietary measures, and even marijuana. In the meantime, research into this new multiple sclerosis treatment continues.

SOURCES:
Lutterotti A et al. Antigen-specific tolerance by autologous myelin peptide-coupled cells: a phase I trial in multiple sclerosis. Science Translational Medicine 2013 Jun 5; 5(188): 188ra75
National MS Society

Image: Pixabay

Source: http://www.emaxhealth.com/1275/new-multiple-sclerosis-treatment-promises-unique-benefit

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Triple or not, 5 things to watch for in Belmont

NEW YORK (AP) ? A large field of 3-year-olds is set to run in the $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday. Among the competitors are Kentucky Derby winner Orb, Preakness winner Oxbow and a record five horses trained by Todd Pletcher, including Unlimited Budget with Rosie Napravnik attempting to become the second female jockey to win a Triple Crown race.

A rematch between the Derby and Preakness winners sure didn't scare off the competition. The field of 14 matches the largest since 1996, one shy of the record set in 1983.

There may not be a Triple Crown on the line, but here are five things to watch for while the field is negotiating one, long, mile-and-a-half race known as the "Test of the Champion."

? HELLO, MUDDER: The New York area got a soaking on Friday. There's also a chance of afternoon showers on Saturday, leaving the possibility of a wet track by post time at 6:36 p.m. So who likes the mud? A bunch of 'em, starting with the top three finishers in the Derby. Orb romped past 16 horses in the final half mile and won over slop at Churchill Downs. Golden Soul, who was 2 1/2 lengths back in second, obviously had no issues with the track, and Revolutionary finished strong after a bumpy start to get third. The most intriguing mudder could be Freedom Child, who flourished in the slop at Belmont and led wire-to-wire in a stunning 13 1/4-length romp in the Peter Pan four weeks ago. Vyjack won on the slop at Aqueduct, but did not handle it well in the Derby, finishing 18th. The filly Unlimited Budget opened her career with a win over a good track at Aqueduct back in November.

? HELLO, FATHER: If you're looking for champion bloodlines, here's a bunch: Incognito is a son of 1992 Belmont winner and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy; Preakness winner Oxbow is a son of 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again; Palace Malice is a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin; and, Unlimited Budget is a daughter of 2007 Derby winner Street Sense. And, Derby winner Orb and Peter Pan winner Freedom Child were both sired by Malibu Moon.

? FILLY, FEMALE: Unlimited Budget will attempt to become the fourth filly to win the Belmont, and the first to win a Triple Crown race with a female jockey in Rosie Napravnik. The two got together at the Fair Grounds in February and won the Rachel Alexandra, and the filly is the co-fourth choice at 8-1. Napravnik finished third in the Derby and fifth in the Preakness aboard Mylute, and will attempt to join Julie Krone (winner of the 1993 Belmont aboard Colonial Affair) as the only females to win a Triple Crown race.

? THE O FACTOR: Don't tell us you should have bet the imaginary O-trifecta when one of the three horses in the field whose name begins with the letter O wins. Orb won the Derby, Oxbow won the Preakness, and Overanalyze is back for the Belmont after an 11th place finish in the Derby. The only time O horses ruled the Derby, Preakness and Belmont was 1935, when Omaha became the third of 11 horses to win the Triple Crown.

? ANOTHER TRY 5 FOR TODD: For the third time, trainer Todd Pletcher will send out five horses in a single Triple Crown race. He's done it twice in the Derby and came back a 10-time loser, and he's got a few big chances to get it done in the Belmont because he has five of the 14 horses (35.7 percent of the field) ? Revolutionary, Unlimited Budget, Palace Malice, Overanalyze and Midnight Taboo. His Derby losers in 2007 were Circular Quay (sixth), Any Given Saturday (eighth), Sam P. (ninth), Scat Daddy (18th) and Cowtown Cat (20th). In last month's Derby, it was Revolutionary (third), Charming Kitten (ninth), Overanalyze (11th), Palace Malice (12th) and Verrazano (14th).

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Follow Richard Rosenblatt on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/rosenblattap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/triple-not-5-things-watch-belmont-074755680.html

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Report Israeli Bombed Syrian Chemical Weapons - Business Insider

The Free Syrian Army (FSA) reports that Israeli fighter jets slipped into Damascus over the weekend and bombed a chemical weapons depot outside the city.

Neither Damascus nor Jerusalem have yet confirmed the attack, according to UPI.

According to The Jewish Press?(JP)?"many" reports came in over the weekend confirming the mission. Sources told the JP Israeli jets arrived over Damascus early Saturday morning and circled Assad's presidential compound before moving on to target the weapons site.

The Israeli jets reportedly received fire but returned to base unscathed.

The Lebanese Daily Star confirms heavy FSA fighting occurred near the plant, the Scientific Studies and Research Center, but troops lacked the resources to breach the heavily fortified site.

Back in January, Israel?bombed a Syrian convoy?that?may have departed from this center.

Regardless of the details, it appears to have been another deadly weekend in Syria.

The country's Network for Human Rights reports 88 deaths on Sunday alone including 12 children, eight women, five torture victims and 35 armed rebels.?The organization said 23 of the deaths occurred in Aleppo, 16 in and around Damascus, 13 in Idlib, 12 in Hama, 10 in Homs, and nine in Daraa.

Update: Confirmation of the attack from Israel is yet to be released. El Arabiya reports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his ministers to stay silent on anything relating to Syria.

Fox News posted a video interview with Israeli ambassador to the the U.S. Michael Oren, who offers what may be the reason we never receive any confirmation from Jerusalem at all, even if the strike actually occurred:

"[R]emoving the threat posed by Syria's chemical weapons stockpile by military force "is very, very complex."

"Even under international law, if you strike a chemical weapons base and there is collateral damage to civilians it is as if you, the attacker, used chemical weapons," he said.

What that could mean is that if the strike happened it was likely with tacit U.S. approval, or it never went down at all.

We'll keep looking for any additional information from the FSA and other sources.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/report-israeli-bombed-syrian-chemical-weapons-plant-2013-4

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Bark in the Park: Walk Your Dog to Help All Dogs (Cats too!) | Steve ...

By Steve Dale, today at 7:55 am

Bark in the Park, benefiting the Anti Cruelty Society,?is a Chicago tradition, this 19th annual event kicks off May 4 in Lincoln Park near Montrose Beach. Thousands of dogs will take a leisurely walk the 5K course, though some more serious folks (without a dog) can run the course. The run begins at 9 a.m., and the walk kicks off at 9:15.

Among the many vendors, there will be samples of pheromone products (Adaptil and Feliway) for helping anxious pets, with expert advice. Also, there will be samples of various pet treats. You can "test" your pup in agility....and there are even snacks for people!

By raising funds for Bark in the Park, you are supporting Ant Curelty's open doors for any animal in need 365 days a year. Emcees for the event include myself, Bart Shore of WBBM radio and WLS-TV Roz Varron and Hosea Sanders.

Though the mission is serious, this event puts the fun in fundraising! ?Here are some images from recent Bark in the Park's.

?

Type your email address in the box and click the "create subscription" button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.

Filed under: animal shelters, cats, dogs, pets

Tags: Anti Cruelty Society, Bark in the Park, Bart Shore, chicago animal shelter, Dr Lester Fisher, Dr Robyn Barbiers, homeless pets, Hosea Sanders, Roz Varron, Steve Dale, Steve Dale archives, WGN Radio

Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/steve-dales-pet-world/2013/04/bark-in-the-park-walk-your-dog-to-help-all-dogs-cats-too/

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Musical of 'Rocky' heading to Broadway

NEW YORK (AP) ? It's been a knockout in Germany. Now Sylvester Stallone hopes a musical based on his beloved boxing film "Rocky" will also be a hit on Broadway.

Producers said Sunday they plan to get "Rocky" up and punching at the Winter Garden by February following a successful debut in Hamburg last fall.

Based on the Oscar-winning 1976 film, the musical features a score by "Ragtime" veterans Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and a story by Thomas Meehan, who wrote "The Producers" and "Hairspray."

Originally written in English but translated into German for its world premiere and billed as "Rocky: Das Musical," the show is produced by Stallone and Stage Entertainment USA.

"The reason I think it has worked so well there and why I think it'll work on Broadway is that, yes, it's a story about boxing, but the real story is actually an intimate, powerful and gritty and moving love story between two people who are both lonely and in a difficult place in their worlds," said Bill Taylor, managing director of Stage Entertainment USA. "They rescue each other. It's very uplifting."

The musical stays close to the film, which charted the rise and romance of amateur boxer and debt collector Rocky Balboa, played in Germany by Drew Sarich. No casting has been decided for New York.

In the story, Balboa, nicknamed the Italian Stallion, gets his shot against undefeated heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, played in the film by Carl Weathers. He also woos a love interest, Adrianna "Adrian" Pennino. Stallone wrote the screenplay and it won the best picture Oscar in 1976.

The film made famous the image of Balboa running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the quote "Yo, Adrian!" The German production kept the trumpet-laden funky theme "Gonna Fly Now" and the anthem "Eye of the Tiger," written for "Rocky III." Both will also be in the Broadway version.

The director is Alex Timbers, who directed Broadway's "The Pee-wee Herman Show" and directed and wrote the book for "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." The boxing choreography is being done by Steven Hoggett, who choreographed "American Idiot," ''Peter and the Starcatcher" and "Once."

"This is not boxers doing a kick line," Taylor said. "It's stunning movement representing some of the sparring and the fighting. It's very, very cleverly created."

"Rocky" will be the first new tenant at the Winter Garden Theatre in years. The show that's been there since 2001, "Mamma Mia!," is transferring to another Broadway venue.

The musical will follow two other boxing-related works to appear on Broadway recently: Mike Tyson's one-man show about his life in and out of the ring, and a revival of Clifford Odets' "Golden Boy" about a young man torn between his natural talent as a violinist and the fast money of boxing.

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Online: http://www.ROCKYBROADWAY.com .

___

Follow Mark Kennedy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/musical-rocky-heading-broadway-230232997.html

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Man stabs four choir members in New Mexico church: police

By Brendan O'Brien

(Reuters) - A man visiting a Catholic church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, stabbed four choir members as they were singing the closing hymns of a Mass on Sunday, police said.

Parishioners at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church jumped on the unidentified man after the attack and were restraining him when police officers arrived just before noon local time, Albuquerque Police spokeswoman Tasia Martinez said.

The four injured choir members were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Martinez said the man arrested for the attack was not a member of the church and the reason for the stabbings was not known.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by David Bailey and Paul Simao)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/man-stabs-four-choir-members-mexico-church-police-225218783.html

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Jurors set to get roadmap of Jackson civil trial

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? The most complete account of Michael Jackson's final months is about to unfold in a cramped Los Angeles courtroom nearly four years after the pop superstar's death.

Lawyers for Jackson's mother will attempt to convince a jury that the company promoting the pop superstar's 2009 comeback concerts is responsible for his untimely death. The attorneys will try to prove that AEG Live hired and controlled the doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter over Jackson's demise.

AEG Live denies any wrongdoing and contests that they hired the physician who for months was giving Jackson doses of a powerful anesthetic in the singer's bedroom to help him sleep.

Opening statements on Monday will provide a roadmap for a case that will delve into Jackson's addiction struggles and issues previously unexplored in court. Many of those in the singer's orbit ? family, famous friends, doctors and his teenage children ? may testify during the months-long trial.

Some of the stars listed on the witness list include Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Lou Ferrigno and Spike Lee. Both of Jackson's ex-wives, Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe, are also listed as potential witnesses.

Katherine Jackson sued in September 2010, claiming AEG failed to properly investigate her son's doctor, Conrad Murray. All but one of her claims has been dismissed, but millions and possibly billions of dollars are at stake. The trial pits the family of a global superstar against AEG Live, a private company that as part of the Anschutz Entertainment Group has helped spark the revitalization of downtown Los Angeles with its venue, the Staples Center.

Unlike the 2011 trial that ended with Murray's conviction, the civil trial will explore the troubled finances of both men ? a situation that Katherine Jackson's attorneys say created a conflict of interest for Murray that AEG should have been aware of.

The Houston-based cardiologist was deeply in debt when he agreed to serve as Jackson's personal doctor for a series of 50 concerts in London dubbed "This Is It." The doctor had liens and owed back child support when he began working with Jackson, expecting a $150,000 a month salary. Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication before the contract was fully signed.

The trial is expected to include detailed testimony about other doctors' treatment of Jackson, a subject that was largely off-limits in the criminal case. Unlike Murray's trial, which was broadcast live, the civil case will play out without cameras in a courtroom with only 45 public seats.

AEG denies they hired Murray, and have contended he should be considered an independent contractor, a designation many hospitals deem surgeons and other physicians.

Katherine Jackson's attorneys, Brian Panish and Kevin Boyle, have repeatedly cited emails sent by top AEG executives referencing Murray's pay and his obligations to get Jackson to perform.

Marvin S. Putnam, an attorney for AEG who was not available to comment, has said the company could not have foreseen the circumstances that led to Murray's administration of propofol to Jackson as a sleep aide.

AEG has said in court filings that Jackson's family is seeking $40 billion in damages, but Panish denies that's the figure he's seeking.

"We've never asked for $40 billion," he said. "The jury is going to decide what the loss is."

The high figure, Panish said, is the company's attempt to "prejudice everybody against the Jacksons." He says the case isn't about money.

"It's about getting the truth," he said. "We'd like to get out all the evidence. The evidence is going to speak for itself that AEG had a lot of involvement and they completely deny responsibility."

Jackson's three children, Prince, Paris and Blanket are also listed as plaintiffs on the case.

Asked whether he and the Jacksons are concerned about the image of the "Thriller" singer that will emerge in court, Panish said the trial will show a different side of the superstar. "Mrs. Jackson and her grandchildren suffered a tremendous loss and AEG has never recognized that and continues to deny responsibility," he said. "The other side of the story hasn't been told."

A jury of six men and six women has been selected to decide the case.

Monday's remarks by Panish and Putnam will provide the jurors' their first true insight into the evidence they will likely hear, and once again pull back the veil of Michael Jackson's private life.

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Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jurors-set-roadmap-jackson-civil-trial-160010550.html

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