Publications by authors named "Michael D Ludwig"
Article Synopsis
- The opioid growth factor ([Met]-enkephalin) has growth-inhibitory and immune-modulating effects, and its levels are reduced in multiple sclerosis patients and animal models of the disease.
- This study investigates how the OGF-OGFr signaling pathway and low-dose naltrexone treatment affect inflammatory cytokines in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
- Findings indicate that opioid growth factor and naltrexone treatment raise IL-6 levels and lower IL-10 levels, while affecting other cytokines like IFN-γ and TNF-γ differently in mice compared to control groups.
Article Synopsis
- * The study hypothesizes that patients with multiple sclerosis have lower serum enkephalin levels and aims to see if these levels can indicate the onset of the disease and response to treatment.
- * Results show that patients with multiple sclerosis have reduced [Met]-enkephalin compared to non-patients, and that treatment with low-dose naltrexone can replenish these levels.
Article Synopsis
- Methionine enkephalin (OGF) is a small neuropeptide with immunomodulatory and growth-related effects, involved in regulating cell replication in autoimmune diseases.
- In a study with mice engineered to develop autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the effects of OGF therapy on behavior and serum enkephalin levels were analyzed to explore its potential as a biomarker for EAE and multiple sclerosis.
- Results showed that mice treated with OGF had lower clinical scores and altered behavior compared to those given saline, indicating a relationship between enkephalin levels and the severity of EAE symptoms.
Long-term treatment with low dose naltrexone maintains stable health in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin
September 2016
Article Synopsis
- - A study at Penn State Hershey Medical Center reviewed patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis from 2006 to 2015, focusing on two groups based on their initial treatment protocol.
- - One group of 23 patients was treated with low dose naltrexone due to fatigue or therapy refusal, while the other group of 31 patients was treated with glatiramer acetate and used naltrexone as an additional treatment.
- - The analysis showed that there were no significant differences in health outcomes, such as blood tests, walking trials, or MRI results, indicating that low dose naltrexone is a safe option that did not worsen symptoms.