Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

ALS Briefs: Clinical Trial Updates at the 2012 ALS/MND Symposium

The 23rd International Symposium on ALS/MND (motor neuron disease), held in Chicago Dec. 5-7, 2012, brought together more than 900 researchers, clinicians and other health care professionals from 30 countries to hear presentations on the latest in ALS care and research.

Tirasemtiv Shows Promise in MG

The experimental drug tirasemtiv has shown promise in a phase 2a clinical trial in 32 people with myasthenia gravis (MG). Improvements in general and respiratory muscle function occurred in response to the medication.

Six hours after receiving a single, oral dose of tirasemtiv, study participants showed improvements on a standardized scale of MG severity (the Quantitative MG score) and in forced vital capacity, a measurement of respiratory function.

ALS Research Briefs: Protein Biomarker and Stem Cells

Protein test predicts ALS progression

It’s known that levels of a protein called phosphorylated neurofilament heavy subunit (PNF-H) are increased in the spinal fluid of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Now, a team of researchers has demonstrated that higher levels of PNF-H in both the blood and spinal fluid are associated with a faster rate of ALS disease progression and shorter survival time.

Regulatory Cells Associated with Speed of ALS Progression

Immune system cells known as regulatory T cells— T-regs for short — have been found to play a protective role in mice with a disorder that resembles human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). They don't prevent the disease in genetically susceptible mice, but they do appear to slow it down, probably by putting a brake on inflammation in the central nervous system.

ALS Briefs: Serotonergic Neurons and Counteracting Problematic Proteins

Nerve cells called serotonergic neurons degenerate in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and may influence the ALS disease process, an international research team has reported. In particular, the loss of these specialized cells appears to be linked to increased muscle tone or tightness (spasticity).

Webinar: ALS and the National Football League

A webinar (Web-based seminar) about neurodegenerative causes of death, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in retired National Football League (NFL) football players is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST, Nov. 15, 2012.

ALS: Phase 2 Clinical Trial for NP001 Shows Possible Benefit

Results from a completed phase 2 trial of the experimental therapy NP001 in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) show that in some trial participants, the drug appeared to be effective at slowing or stopping progression of the disease.

ALS: SOD1 Protein Can Cause Trouble Even When It's 'Normal'

It's been known since the early 1990s that mutations in the superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) gene can result in the production of any number of varieties of improperly folded (misfolded) SOD1 protein, and that these misfolded proteins can cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

White Barn

Artist: 
James Johnson

Jim received a bachelor’s degree in art from Greenville College (Ill.).  He was the art director at Regular Baptist Press in Schaumburg, Ill., prior to his retirement.  Although Jim painted for many years, he is no longer able to hold a paintbrush and work on canvases.  This piece was drawn using Photoshop CS3 from a photograph of the original barn. He has illustrated many barns and is now drawing houses using the computer.

James Johnson

2012
Full name: 
James Johnson
Artist: 
James Johnson
Disease: 
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Medium: 
Digital Media

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