164 research outputs found
Fluoxetine as disease modifying treatment in multiple sclerosis : rationale, evaluation of the use of MRI to monitor treatment, and preliminary findings
No full textPatients with multiple sclerosis (MS) lack astrocytic β2-adrenergic receptors and this may contribute to the focal inflammatory demyelinating lesions and axonal degeneration that characterize this disease. We hypothesized that the antidepressant fluoxetine might be able to compensate for the loss of the β2-adrenergic receptors. In this thesis we evaluated the use of cerebral MRI scans to monitor disease activity and we performed several exploratory studies to evaluate effects of fluoxetine on patients with MS.
A convenient way to find out whether a drug is able to reduce disease activity in MS is by measuring the development of new focal lesions on serial MRI scans of the brain.
MS patients who received fluoxetine during 6 months had a trend towards the development of less new focal lesions compared to patients receiving placebo. To assess whether preventing new lesions formation reduces disability on the long term, we studied the relationship between the focal (T2) lesions and disease progression. The number of focal lesions predicted progression of disability and conversion to a progressive disease course in patients with relapsing remitting MS. However, once patients had entered the progressive phase, T2 lesions were no longer predictive for further progression of disability. In another study, we found that 2 weeks use of fluoxetine resulted in an increase in NAA/Cr (a marker of axonal function) in the white matter of MS patients.
These preliminary studies suggest that fluoxetine reduces new focal lesion formation and may improve axonal metabolism in MS patients.
MSJ876701_supplemental_file – Supplemental material for Clinical outcome measures in SPMS trials: An analysis of the IMPACT and ASCEND original trial data sets
No full textSupplemental material, MSJ876701_supplemental_file for Clinical outcome measures in SPMS trials: An analysis of the IMPACT and ASCEND original trial data sets by Marcus W Koch, Jop Mostert, Bernard Uitdehaag and Gary Cutter in Multiple Sclerosis Journal</p
Inflammation and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Potential Scenario for Novel Drug Targets
No full textNo abstract available.Image: Mechanism of NF-κB action (Author: Boghog2 from Wikimedia Commons
Secnidazole-Induced Acute Pancreatitis: A New Side-Effect for an Old Drug?
No full textNo abstract available.Image: Skeletal formula of secnidazole (Author: Fvasconcellos; Wikimedia Commons
Reply to 'Some More Comments on Folate Deficiency in Chronic Pancreatitis'
No full textNo abstract available.Image: Folic acid crystals (Author: W. Oelen; Wikimedia Commons)
A Case of Down Syndrome Who Developed Pancreatic Cancer: A Case Report and Review of Literature
No full textNo abstract available.Image: Trisomy 21 chromosome - Down syndrome (Author: Alexey Ratnikov; Wikimedia Commons
Mitomycin-Induced Interstitial Pneumonitis in a Patient with BRCA2 Associated Metastatic Pancreatic Carcinoma
No full textNo abstract available.Image: Space-filling model of the mitomycin molecule (Author: Jynto (talk); Wikimedia Commons
First Case Report Associating Gemcitabine with Hypersensitivity Reaction in a Patient with Pancreatic Cancer
No full textNo abstract available.Image: Ball-and-stick model of the protonated gemcitabine cation and the nearest chloride anion (Author: Benn Mils; Wikimedia Commons)
Pancreatic Cancer in 2014
No full textNo abstract available.Image: Purple Crane (Folded by school children for pancreatic cancer patients).From Wikimedia Commons (Author: Erinleary). http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Purple_Crane.jp
Bortezomib-Induced Acute Pancreatitis
No full textNo abstract available.Image: Illustration of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib bound to an assembled yeast proteasome core (PDB ID 2F16). (Author: Opabinia regalis; Wikimedia Commons
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