This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Sharon,

Here's some good news on the hormones front. I'm going to cheer people up before my 2 week break.

For those new to the site, Shayk is the hormones guru - and you'd have to be blind to not see that hormones plays a big part in this disease (2-3 times the number of women to men get MS, the third term of pregnancy calms the disease down, and the small trial of testosterone gel showed good eefects in men). But the researchers have dragged their heels and spent too much time looking at combos of double strength copaxone and french fries.

I nominate the next week as good news week - too many posts have been on the dark side recently. We may have MS but as my dad says "you're a long time six foot under".

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Research-2006Nov10.asp

Ian

PS - I hadn't realised when I posted that one of the trials of estriol is with copaxone. Why do they need to involve copaxone as the funds for the trial are being raised by the public? They know what copaxone does - what they need to find out is what estriol does. This reminds me of the minocycline trial that got hijacked by copaxone.

oo

Lyon wrote:

PS...don't try to fake us out with a Mel Gibson or Tom Selleck picture. I might fall for it but there are smarter people here who won't.

Bob is that really You. I love what you've done with your hair

oo

Ian

That is great news. You definitely cheered me up. I thought it would take several years to raise the big bucks for the Phase II estriol trial and was pretty discouraged about it. People in Southern California came through. Wonderful!

But the researchers have dragged their heels and spent too much time looking at combos of double strength copaxone and french fries.

Yeah, when I learned Teva wasn't willing to pony up for the trial my suspicious self thought they probably wanted to be certain the double dose copaxone trial results were available before the Phase II estriol/copaxone results.

And, I wouldn't say guru, I'd say "hormone bull". I'm still very optimistic about the potential of hormones to help manage MS--favorably. Why it takes so long to actually determine if that's the case continues to be a mystery (sort of). That trials are in the offing is only good news IMO--they should help answer the question.

1993 Hormonal Factors in Susceptibility to MS

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, an animal model with similarities to multiple sclerosis, is also influenced by hormonal factors in both occurrence and severity. The multiple levels of interaction between immune, endocrine, neurologic, and genetic systems probably explain the action of sex steroids in multiple sclerosis susceptibility.

2006
Sex Hormones: A Role in the Control of Multiple Sclerosis

This sex dimorphism may be explained by the effect of sex hormones on brain damage and repair mechanisms. Experimental, clinical and MRI evidence confirms a pathogenetic link between sex hormones and multiple sclerosis, also suggesting sex-specific effects of hormones in multiple sclerosis pathology and therapy. A gender-based approach to multiple sclerosis could provide further benefits for its treatment and management.

I think there continues to be some work at the Oregon Health Sciences University on DHEA, a Phase II testosterone trial should be in the planning stage, and I think there's some preliminary work on progesterone. (btw Dignan--thanks so much for that update in another thread on the pre-clinical work on Kv1.3 antagonists).

Melody--I agree, what Bob did with his hair is terrific.

Ian, on a serious note, I wish you all the best with your Campath infusion.

Take care all

Sharon

oo

Sharon,

I forwarded the announcement to one of my neuros who replied:

"I recently attended their National conference in Orlando when they were making a plea to raise the funds ASAP!"

It's good that the NMSS is taking this issue seriously - and I think a bigger trial is underway for testosterone after the promising results of the small testosterone gel trial.

A good week - and the news about the much more powerful MRI scanner, should mean that the researchers will really start to understand what is going on and how effective new treatments are.

Ian


Bob,

I'm in serious mode at the moment. In terms of the 1,000 women who I have made love to, you can knock off the last three zeros. Jimmylegs and Scoobyjude keep e-mailing me with offers, but I'd like to put it on the record that I'm not interested. The only other woman in my life is Shayk.

Ian

oo

Ian

The only other woman in my life is Shayk.

And you know mature indecent women never tell--one way or the other.

Sharon

oo

Guys and Gals

A very interesting topic. Sharon, I have wondered a lot about the effect of hormones since I had my last major relapse within 6 months stopping the contraceptive pill.

Ian, best of luck with the Campath my friend. I hope it works miracles for you.

Best wishes

Jaded