This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

There was a really interesting presentation from Dr. Zlokovic, regarding the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and a treatment in trials for many such diseases.

Neuron, Volume 57, Issue 2, 178-201, 24 January 2008

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2008.01.003

The Blood-Brain Barrier in Health and Chronic Neurodegenerative Disorders
Berislav V. Zlokovic1, ,

1 Center for Neurodegenerative and Vascular Brain Disorders, Frank P. Smith Laboratory for Neuroscience and Neurosurgical Research, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rochester Medical School, Rochester, NY 14642, USA

Summary
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly specialized brain endothelial structure of the fully differentiated neurovascular system. In concert with pericytes, astrocytes, and microglia, the BBB separates components of the circulating blood from neurons. Moreover, the BBB maintains the chemical composition of the neuronal milieu, which is required for proper functioning of neuronal circuits, synaptic transmission, synaptic remodeling, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis in the adult brain. BBB breakdown, due to disruption of the tight junctions, altered transport of molecules between blood and brain and brain and blood, aberrant angiogenesis, vessel regression, brain hypoperfusion, and inflammatory responses, may initiate and/or contribute to a vicious circle of the disease process, resulting in progressive synaptic and neuronal dysfunction and loss in disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and others. These findings support developments of new therapeutic approaches for chronic neurodegenerative disorders directed at the BBB and other nonneuronal cells of the neurovascular unit.

Is anybody other thisismser in the room (except Dr Sclafani whom I can see a few rows away)?

Dr Hubbard's presentation is coming within the hour.

Press Release


ISNVD Annual Meeting
International Society for Neurovascular Disease,
at present highly committed to the study of CCSVI


Bologna, March 14-15, 2011

Report on the CONSENSUS CONFERENCE of March 13, 2011


90% OF THE ULTRASONOGRAPHY METHOD SUGGESTED BY PROF PAOLO ZAMBONI FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF CCSVI WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

A DOCUMENT SPECIFYING THE MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH REFERENCE PARAMETERS WAS SIGNED BY THE MOST AUTHORATATIVE INTERNATIONAL FACULTY AND WILL BE APPLIED WORLD-WIDE.

A SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS WERE ADDED TO INCREASE THE REPRODUCIBILITY AND THE DISSEMINATION OF THE METHOD.

As a prelude to the ISNVD (International Society for Neurovascular Disease) Annual Meeting, a Consensus Conference was held in Bologna on Sunday March 13th to define the practical guidelines to the screening investigation of CCSVI.

The Consensus Conference focused on the method proposed by Prof Zamboni for the detection of Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) using Doppler. This diagnostic method was developed by Prof Paolo Zamboni and his Staff at the Center for Vascular Diseases of the Ferrara University.

The conference became necessary to standardize the investigation and reporting techniques all over the world. It will thus be possible to use common diagnostic criteria and standards in the scientific reports.

The Consensus Conference was attended by 40 experts from the International Society for Neurovascular Disease (ISNVD) and 7 representatives of the major national and international societies which are concerned with the diagnosis of the venous system by means of sonographic equipment.
The result was the unanimous approval of a document recognizing 90% of the method already proposed by the Ferrara and Bologna research teams.
Furthermore, a series of improvements were added to increase the reproducibility and the dissemination of the method.

Some parts of the method (the remaining 10%) are for the time being regarded as additional criteria requiring further investigation to obtain the necessary evidence.

The document signed in Bologna will be sent to the main journals in the following disciplines:
vascular diagnostics, radiology, neuroradiology, interventional radiology, vascular surgery, angiology, neurology, vascular diagnostics.

The medical community that participated in the conference was particularly satisfied with these results. This shared view will soon lead to new developments also at the level of the scientific publications which will be enriched by the experience gained in the numerous international centers which participated in the Consensus Conference.

The main societies that deal with the diagnostic investigation of the venous system and attended the Consensus Conference are: the European Venous Forum, the International uni0n of Phlebology, the International uni0n of Angiology, the American and Australasian College of Phlebology, the Italian Society of Vascular Pathology, and the Italian Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.

Prof Zamboni’s co-chair was Prof Nicolaides who headed the vascular research team at St. Mary’s Hospital in London and had important roles as President of many vascular societies world-wide.
An important merit of Prof Nicolaides is that in 2000 he chaired the Consensus Conference which defined the way of investigating the venous system using ultrasonographic equipment.

Press Conference to discuss the results of the Meeting:
Tuesday, March 15 at 1:30 pm at CNR, Bologna (Meeting venue)

All press material is available on line on the following Website:
www.isnvdannualmeeting.org

Professor Nicolaides qualified at Guy’s Hospital Medical School, London University in 1962 and subsequently trained at Oxford, Kings College Hospital, London and has been Professor of Vascular Surgery at St Mary’s Hospital and Imperial College, London (1983-2000).

The Royal College of Surgeons (England) awarded him the ‘Jacksonian’ prize in 1972 for his pioneering work on the prevention of venous thromboembolism. His subsequent research has been focused on noninvasive diagnosis and screening using ultrasound, and stroke prevention.

He has received many awards from numerous scientific societies in recognition of his work on ultrasound and the prevention of stroke. A past president of the section of Measurement in Medicine of the Royal Society of Medicine and of the International uni0n of Angiology, he is Editor in Chief of International Angiology and is on the editorial boards of many vascular journals.

Professor Emeritus at Imperial College, an examiner for MS and PhD degrees for London University and Director of the Vascular Noninvasive Screening and Diagnostic Centre in London. He is also a “Special Scientist” at the University of Cyprus.

An important merit of Prof Nicolaides is that in 2000 he chaired the Consensus Conference which defined the way of investigating the venous system using ultrasonographic equipment.