This is the testing was talking about, that should be done before a newby goes on Tysabri....Quoted from the above link...

Thanks K.

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/11/11/when-rival-drug-makers-compare-notes-on-safety-problems/tab/comments/

There are several Wall Street Journal articles about Tysabri and Biogen if you go there and search. You can also leave comments.

http://www.projectsinknowledge.com/c...3.05&pretest=y

A comparative study, interesting and informative when it comes to lesions and the differentiation between the two diseases.

(PS: I haven't had a chance to do any investigating on anything that has been posted about the reported new PML cases. I had too much RL to deal with today and I am going to BED! I'll try to find more this weekend if I have time!)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19903823


J Biol Chem. 2009 Nov 10. [Epub ahead of print]

Large T antigen promotes JC virus replication in G2-arrested cells by inducing ATM- and ATR-mediated G2 checkpoint signaling.
Orba Y, Suzuki T, Makino Y, Kubota K, Tanaka S, Kimura T, Sawa H.

Hokkaido University, Japan;

Large T antigen (TAg) of the human polyomavirus JC virus (JCV) possesses DNA binding and helicase activities, which, together with various cellular proteins, are required for replication of the viral genome. We now show that JCV-infected cells expressing TAg accumulate in G2 phase of the cell cycle as a result of the activation of ATM- and ATR-mediated G2 checkpoint pathways. Transient transfection of cells with a TAg expression vector also induced G2 checkpoint signaling and G2 arrest. Analysis of TAg mutants with different subnuclear localizations suggested that the association of TAg with cellular DNA contributes to the induction of G2 arrest. Abrogation of G2 arrest by inhibition of ATM and ATR, Chk1, and Wee1 suppressed JCV genome replication. In addition, abrogation of G2-M transition by Cdc2 depletion disabled Wee1 depletion-induced suppression of JCV genome replication, suggesting that JCV replication is facilitated by G2 arrest resulting from G2 checkpoint signaling. Moreover, inhibition of ATM and ATR by caffeine suppressed JCV production. The observation that oligodendrocytes productively infected with JCV in vivo also undergo G2 arrest suggests that G2 checkpoint inhibitors such as caffeine are potential therapeutic agents for JCV infection.

What does this say in English?

"inhibitors such as caffeine are potential therapeutic agents for JCV infection."

Who knew that all those gallons of coffee that this night worker drinks woud be considered neuroprotective! Here they've been telling me all these years that I need to cut back!

I am currently getting #18 right now! It was nice to have the IV go in easily the first time. I had to delay a week because of a persistent UTI and I was in Mexico. Somehow this time around the delay didn't worry me like it did the time I was delayed a year ago due to a respiratory infection. I wonder what made the docs decide that every 4 weeks is better than say every 5 or 6 weeks? The weird thing is I can't tell a difference in how I feel. If anything I seemed to have a little more extra energy at the end and before the next infusion. I'm starting to figure out that the Tysabri wipes me out for a good 7-10 days. I feel so drowsy all the time during those days and my brain is a little foggy or slower.

Natalie,
Your post makes me wish yet again that my infusion center had wireless internet available! I'd be yapping away the whole time.

Glad to hear that the IV went in smoothly, I've been having the lidocaine pop before the IV for the last few infusions, they didn't ever offer it to me before and I find it really helps to stop the aching from the IV during infusion.

People who are in touch with their bodies amaze me. The only thing I remember about any adverse effects during infusions are the sore throat I had after the first few infusions and that stupid pinpoint itch. I don't remember being any more or less fatigued than usual, or achy, cranky,etc.

I hope the Mexico trip was for fun!

Hi RW -- Mexico was great! It was nice to check out of reality and be away from phones, email, internet, students, and MS! What's the lidocaine pop?? You know, I got a couple of sore throats the first 2 infusions also. Weird, huh? For some reason today I'm feeling pretty good--not many side effects from the Ty. It's so hit or miss sometimes and I have no idea why.