Saturday, March 31, 2007

New Oral Agents for Multiple Sclerosis, Including Novartis ...
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung) - Wien,Austria
... Current Therapies? finds that Novartis/Mitsubishi Pharma's new agent, currently known as fingolimod (also called FTY-720) will outperform other emerging ...
See all stories on this topic


MS patients seek more practical support
UPI Fri, 30 Mar 2007 5:11 PM PDT
A study by researchers at King's College London found patients with multiple sclerosis are lacking practical, everyday help beyond medical treatments.

Colgate hockey players plays through disease
News 10 Now Syracuse Fri, 30 Mar 2007 8:40 PM PDT
Mike Campaner finished his career at Colgate as one of the most talented defensemen in school history. But, he never would've thought he'd be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his senior year.

UAB Whitaker Lecture Set For April 3
UAB Headline News Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:18 PM PDT
Posted on March 30, 2007 at 2:10 p.m. Birmingham, Ala., -- UAB?s (University of Alabama at Birmingham) annual John N. Whitaker Lecture in Multiple Sclerosis will be delivered by Fred D. Lublin, M.D., Saunder?s Family Professor of Neurology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.

BIO-001 - AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE - Immunomodulation Using RNA Interference
Pharmalicencing Sat, 31 Mar 2007 11:05 AM PDT
This invention relates to methods for manipulating the immune system using small interfering RNA (siRNA). Potential applications include the development of organ storage/reperfusion solutions and treatments for a broad range of disease indications.


Cure Paralysis Now :: View topic - Prolactin key to repairing myelin
The mystery of why multiple sclerosis (MS) tends to go into
remission while ... a study conducted on mice found that the
hormone prolactin encourages the ...
Multiple Sclerosis Survey Highlights Need For Assessment Tool To Identify Gaps In Provision
Medical News Today Thu, 29 Mar 2007 5:03 PM PDT
People with multiple sclerosis need much more practical help and better care support, according to a study published in the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing. Researchers from King's College London explored the aspirations of 445 patients with different levels of multiple sclerosis (MS), who were taking part in a wider study to evaluate MS specialist nurses. [click link for full article]

MS patients need better socio-economic support as well as medical care
EurekAlert! Fri, 30 Mar 2007 6:26 AM PDT
What people with multiple sclerosis perceive to be important to meeting their needs. Forbes et al. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 58.1, 11-22. Journal of Advanced Nursing is read by experienced nurses, midwives, health visitors and advanced nursing students in over 80 countries.

Special Gift Marks 50 Years of Helping MS Sufferers
RedNova Fri, 30 Mar 2007 2:03 AM PDT
By Sinead Keller THOUSANDS of pounds worth of equipment has been handed to a hospital to mark 50 years of the Coventry Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Salamanders Re-grow Lost Limbs, Could Human Medicine Benefit From Understanding Regeneration?
Science Daily Fri, 30 Mar 2007 9:06 AM PDT
Humans share many genes and cellular pathways with creatures that have remarkable powers of regeneration. Activating these sleeping systems of renewal in humans to treat disease is the center of a new multidisciplinary research effort.

Stoney Creek family gives back to local MS Society
Stoney Creek News - Stoney Creek,Ontario,Canada
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often
disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord.
The disease attacks the myelin covering of the
central nervous ...
See all stories on this topic

Friday, March 30, 2007

60 Minutes |
Nowhere on earth are prescription drug prices higher than in the United States and our lead story sheds light on the relationship between drug-industry lobbyists and Congress that critics says keeps those prices up.
Correspondent Steve Kroft’s report tells of lawmakers twisting their comrades’ arms for votes to pass a bill favorable to the drug industry, and then how some of those same politicians take lucrative jobs in the industry’s lobbying firms – a lobby that has spent $800 million over the past eight years on political campaign contributions and expenses. The bill at the center of this report, the Medicare prescription drug bill, is one of the most expensive ever put before the House. It extends limited prescription drug coverage to 41 million Americans, but prohibits the government from negotiating the best prices for drugs. According to politicians interviewed, it was written, in part, by drug industry lobbyists. Lobbying has always been a part of Washington politics, but for one House member, the night the bill passed hit a new low. “It was horrible,” Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) tells Kroft. “We had a good friend from Michigan, Nick Smith (formerly R-Mich.) and they threatened to work against his son who wanted to run for his seat when he retired,” recalls Jones. “I saw…a member of the House, a lady, crying when they came around her, trying to get her to change her vote.”



These stories and the rising cost of presidential campaigning from Andy Rooney on this Sunday’s 60 Minutes.

Pipeline Insight: Multiple Sclerosis - The oral revolutionPharmaceutical Business Review - USA... (FTY720) goes some way to meet these needs and represents the most highly anticipated pipeline drug since the initial launch of Tysabri in 2004. ...See all stories on this topic

Acorda Tackles Multiple Sclerosis
BusinessWeek - USA
Acorda's newer product is Fampridine-sr, which alleviates walking disabilities caused by MS. Shares of Acorda have been on a tear since Fampridine's first ...
See all stories on this topic

MediciNova Gets Positive MS Drug Results
Forbes - NY,USA
Biopharmaceutical company MediciNova Inc. said Tuesday a mid-stage trial of its multiple sclerosis treatment, MN-166, showed a significant increase in the ...
See all stories on this topic

MediciNova Gets Positive MS Drug Results
Houston Chronicle - Houston,TX,USA
SAN DIEGO — Biopharmaceutical company MediciNova Inc. said Tuesday a mid-stage trial of its multiple sclerosis treatment, MN-166, showed a significant ...
See all stories on this topic

MediciNova MS drug successful in phase II testing
Pharmaceutical Business Review - USA
"The divergence of clinical benefit and radiological findings suggest that MN-166 may be acting by a different mode of action than current treatments," said ...
See all stories on this topic

Union: Albertsons flouted law
San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA
San Diego-based MediciNova said a Phase 2 trial of its multiple-sclerosis therapy, MN-166, was successful in increasing the number of patients remaining ...
See all stories on this topic

MediciNova Says Phase II Clinical Trial Of MN- 166 Increases ...
Trading Markets - Los Angeles,CA,USA
(RTTNews) - MediciNova, Inc, (MNOV | charts | news | PowerRating) announced that its Phase II clinical trial of MN-166 intended for treating relapsing ...
See all stories on this topic

MediciNova gets positive MS drug results
Hemscott - London,UK
In addition, data showed patients who did relapse did so significantly later if they took MN-166, rather than the placebo. The two-year study of 297 ...
See all stories on this topic

We need your help Carol!

Because of all of your interest in the “Everybody Falls” CD this year that is bringing national attention to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America like never before … we ask that you take another step to help that will take precious little of your time this weekend.

Your help will cost you nothing yet yield priceless national press coverage for MSAA so we can continue to help those with MS.

Please take a moment and write an open email to Oprah and Dr. Phil asking them to have Erik Kjelland on their shows so that we can raise more funds and awareness for people with MS.

All you have to do is this:

1. Write the email and send it along to mfriend@msassociation.org

2. At the bottom of the letter Write “I give my permission for MSAA and La De Da Productions to use my email to send it in the Everybody Falls Press Kit”

It is simple and will do so much for us. We appreciate all of your efforts to make this project a success.

To support this appeal, MSAA are hosting a voluntary toll-free teleconference this Thursday, April 5 at 8pm eastern / 7pm central / 6pm mountain / 5pm pacific. You are more than welcome to also call in for an update on the Everybody Falls project that includes additional information on this specific request. The number to call is 1-800-270-1153 with an access code of 140284#

April also represents National Volunteer Week, as volunteer director for MSAA I thanking you in advance for all that you continue to do for those with Multiple Sclerosis.

Kind regards

Malcolm Friend

Director of National Volunteer Services and Special Events

Multiple Sclerosis Association of America,

National HQ,

706 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

Email: mfriend@msassociation.org

Phone: 1-800-532-7667 ext 117 or option 8,

Fax: 856-661-9797
www.msassociation.org

To support the work of MSAA, please link directly to www.msassociation.org/give.html

The Everybody Falls Charity CD benefits MSAA in 2007.
Link to the official site for more information at www.everybodyfalls.com.
Everybody Falls is now also available at www.amazon.com

MediciNova Announces Positive Clinical Results From MN-166 Phase ...
PipelineReview.com (press release) - Barcelona,Spain
The time to first relapse was also significantly increased in patients treated with 60 mg of MN-166 per day compared to placebo (p=0.04). ...
See all stories on this topic

Equity Futures Dip Ahead of Consumer Confidence Report [delayed]
Insurance News Net - Harrisburg,PA,USA
MNOV: MedicNova reported positive clinical findings from the 12-month core period of a Phase II clinical trial of MN-166 that measures both surrogate ...
See all stories on this topic

A Deluge of Drug News
Schaeffers Research - Cincinnati,OH,USA
Meanwhile, MediciNova (MNOV: sentiment , chart, options) stated that the clinical findings from a Phase II clinical trial of MN-166 in multiple sclerosis ...
See all stories on this topic

Pre-Market Stock News (MAR 27, 2007)
24/7 Wall St. - New York,NY,USA
(MNOV) MediciNova announces positive clinical results from MN-166 Phase II multiple sclerosis trial. (MSFT) Microsoft ended up selling 20 million Vista ...
See all stories on this topic

MediciNova MS Phase II: Missed Endpoint, But Hope Remaining
Therapeutics Daily (subscription) (press release) - Newtown,PA,USA
MediciNova is talking with advisors to figure out the next steps toward Phase III trials after its MN-166 garnered mostly positive results in a Phase II ...
See all stories on this topic

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Promising Pilot Study Moves To Widespread Clinical Trial To Thwart Multiple Sclerosis
Medical News Today Wed, 28 Mar 2007 9:03 AM PDT
It has long been common knowledge that pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience a sharp drop in the disease's symptoms during the course of their pregnancy.Some years back, Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, director of UCLA's Multiple Sclerosis Program, and her colleagues discovered the cause. [click link for full article]

MediciNova MS Drug Successful in Phase II Testing
RedNova Tue, 27 Mar 2007 11:30 AM PDT
MediciNova has said that phase II testing of its drug for relapsing multiple sclerosis was successful in increasing the number of patients remaining relapse free.

Gene Behind Autoimmune Diseases Identified by Researchers
Newswise Tue, 27 Mar 2007 1:18 PM PDT
A report in the March 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that a pinpointed region of chromosome 17, a gene named NALP1, could be a new target of treatment for autoimmune diseases.

Thinks Herbal Supplements Are Safe? Think Again, Suggests Doctor
Newswise Tue, 27 Mar 2007 2:18 PM PDT
A new book by a Saint Louis University doctor tells why people should give more thought to interactions between herbs, drugs and vitamins.

Novartis in MS therapy deal
England's Northwest - UK
The move strengthens Novartis' MS portfolio ahead of submission in 2009 of oral therapy FTY720, which is currently in the third phase of trials. ...
See all stories on this topic

Four months that turned life upside down
Scotsman - Edinburgh,Scotland,UK
Daniel's doctors have successfully applied to NHS Lothian to use Tysabri, at a cost of £15000 a year, in the hope the drug can restore the teenager's life. ...
See all stories on this topic

Bayer buys Novartis plant for 110 mln usd, Novartis to launch MS ...
ABCmoney.co.uk - Birchington,Kent,UK
... Novartis the opportunity to 'build its presence in multiple sclerosis' while preparing for the submission in 2009 of its oral once-daily therapy FTY720. ...
See all stories on this topic

Novartis sells Bayer MS drug production rights
MarketWatch - USA
This will allow Novartis to establish a presence in the MS market, ahead of the planned filing for regulatory approval of its FTY720 tablet in 2009. ...
See all stories on this topic

Novartis to launch version of MS drug in 2009
Reuters - USA
... sclerosis while preparing for the submission of FTY720 as planned for 2009," Novartis Pharma CEO Thomas Eeling was quoted as saying in the statement. ...
See all stories on this topic

Novartis to Launch Version of MS Drug in 2009
Reuters.uk - UK
Novartis said last year after Phase II tests of FTY720 that the drug showed sustained efficacy and good tolerability after 18 months in patients with a ...
See all stories on this topic

The Long Ride: One Woman Cycles Her Way Through MS
Two years ago, Veronica McTiernan lay in a Manhattan hospital bed watching cyclists roll by as part of the 2004 MS Bike Tour. At that point, she figured her biking days were over. But today, almost two years after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she is training for her second year of participation in this annual fundraising event.
--> Read Article

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

New Oral Agents for Multiple Sclerosis, Including Novartis ...
PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USA
For safety concerns, Tysabri was pulled from shelves in 2005 -- following a safety review, the drug was re-approved by the Food and Drug Administration in ...
See all stories on this topic

Inhibiting Blood To Save The Brain
Medical News Today Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:02 PM PDT
A fibrous protein called fibrinogen, found in circulating blood and important in blood clotting, can promote multiple sclerosis (MS) when it leaks from the blood into the brain, triggering inflammation that leads to MS-related nerve damage. [click link for full article]


Medistem Commences Pre-Clinical Research With Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ontario in the Treatment of ...
RedNova Tue, 27 Mar 2007 8:00 AM PDT
Medistem Laboratories, Inc. (OTCBB: MDSM) (FRANKFURT: S2U) announced today that it is collaborating with Dr.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Bayer Settles Novartis MS Drug Row for $200 Mln
Reuters.uk - UK
... before the anticipated submission in 2009 of its oral once-daily therapy FTY720 (fingolimod), which is currently in final-stage Phase III trials. ...
See all stories on this topic

Novartis to Launch Its Own Branded Version of a Leading Multiple ...
PharmaLive.com (press release) - Newtown,PA,USA
"As a truly new treatment approach with once-daily oral dosing, we believe FTY720 can offer significant therapeutic benefits to MS patients." ...
See all stories on this topic



Teenager gets radical MS drug on NHS
Scotsman - Edinburgh,Scotland,UK
The 16-year-old, from Gullane, has successfully applied to NHS Lothian to use Tysabri, at a cost of £15000 a year, despite a ruling by drugs officials that ...
See all stories on this topic


Health a more visible factor for candidates
The Salt Lake Tribune Sun, 25 Mar 2007 0:55 AM PDT
WASHINGTON - When presidential candidate John Edwards said this week that his wife's cancer has returned, it hit close to home for other White House contenders. Mitt Romney's wife, Ann, suffers from multiple sclerosis; John McCain has been treated three times for skin cancer and Rudy Giuliani was diagnosed in 2000 with prostate cancer.



AARP tells Congress to act on bio-generics
UPI Mon, 26 Mar 2007 8:44 AM PDT
U.S. senior advocacy group AARP Monday urged Congress to pass legislation paving the way for cheaper versions of costly biologic drugs.

Health calendar
Gloucester Daily Times Mon, 26 Mar 2007 9:21 AM PDT
Diabetes Clinic, a free diabetes screening is held the first Monday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. in Fisher Lobby, Addison Gilbert Hospital. Appointments not necessary. Call the Diabetes Care Center at 978-283-4000, ext. 601.

Four months that turned life upside down
The Scotsman Sun, 25 Mar 2007 5:16 PM PDT
FOUR months ago, Daniel was a typical teenager, going out with his friends, studying for exams and looking forward to his 16th birthday.

Eachus: Iraq war affects Pa. health care
Times Leader Mon, 26 Mar 2007 0:12 AM PDT
HAZLETON ? The war in Iraq could have a major impact on Pennsylvania health care in the next fiscal year due to federal cuts in health and human services, state Rep. Todd Eachus said Sunday.

Bayer Schering Pharma acquires Novartis' US facility at around US$ 200 mn.
PharmaBiz Mon, 26 Mar 2007 1:49 AM PDT
Bayer Schering Pharma AG, (BSP) Germany, has purchased a biologics manufacturing facility in Emeryville, California from Novartis.

Healthy Steps for March 26, 2007
Evansville Courier & Press Sun, 25 Mar 2007 10:18 PM PDT
The March of Dimes is planning several area WalkAmerica events to raise money to prevent prematurity, birth defects and infant mortality. Call 473-3300. For online registration, visit www.walkamerica.org. A schedule of events follows:

Skunk killed my beloved son
Daily Telegraph Sun, 25 Mar 2007 4:55 PM PDT
As a newspaper apologises for its 10-year campaign to decriminalise cannabis, Kate Summers asks why its about-turn took so long

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Congress Declares Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month

Libraries
Medical News
Keywords
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE, AARDA, SENATOR JOSEPH BIDEN, CONGRESSMAN STEVE ISRAEL,

Contact Information

Available for logged-in reporters only

Description

Legislation has been introduced by Congress to name May National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month (ADAM) in order to call increased attention to a family of diseases that are still not well-known or well-understood by the medical and research communities and the general public at large.



Newswise — Legislation has been introduced by Congress to name May National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month (ADAM) in order to call increased attention to a family of diseases that are still not well-known or well-understood by the medical and research communities and the general public at large.

This is the latest legislative milestone for the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA). AARDA worked with Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), who are sponsors of the resolution in the Senate (S. Res. # 116) and House of Representatives (H. Res. #258), respectively.

There are more than 80 known autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, juvenile diabetes, Crohn’s disease, scleroderma, polymyositis, lupus, Sjögren's disease and Graves' disease. Autoimmunity is the underlying cause of these diseases. It is the process whereby the immune system mistakenly recognizes the body's own proteins as foreign invaders and begins producing antibodies that attack healthy cells and tissues, causing a variety of diseases.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are 24.5 million Americans who suffer from autoimmune diseases and that the prevalence of these diseases is rising. Collectively, autoimmune disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death of children and women under 65 and represents some $100 billion in annual direct health care costs, yet less than six percent of Americans surveyed in a recent Roper poll could identify an autoimmune disease.

“Looking strictly at the numbers, autoimmune disease is a major health issue in this country. Yet, we have the Roper survey and other key measures that clearly indicate that the general public is woefully unaware and uninformed about autoimmune diseases to the detriment of the health and quality of life of the tens of millions of Americans and their families who cope with these illnesses everyday,” said Virginia Ladd, president and executive director, AARDA.

“While many aspects of autoimmune diseases are not well-known, we do know that the family of these diseases is under-recognized, and that they pose a major healthcare problem in the United States, particularly to women” explained Congressman Israel.

“By declaring May National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month, Congress is sending a clear message that autoimmune disease is a national health concern that must be paid attention,” Senator Biden added.

In drafting the resolutions, Senator Biden and Congressman Israel underscore the fact that:

* autoimmune diseases are difficult to diagnose and treatment is often delayed, resulting in irreparable organ damage and unnecessary suffering.

* diagnostic tests for most autoimmune diseases are not standardized, making diagnosis very difficult;

* a study by AARDA revealed that it takes the average patient over four years and $50,000 to get a correct diagnosis;

* researchers have identified the existence of a close genetic relationship and a common pathway of disease among autoimmune diseases, which helps explain the clustering of these diseases in individuals and families.

* the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports that the United States is behind other countries in immune system self-recognition research, the cause of autoimmune diseases.

About AARDA
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is the nation's only non-profit organization dedicated to bringing a national focus to autoimmunity as a category of disease and a major women's health issue, and promoting a collaborative research effort in order to find better treatments and a cure for all autoimmune diseases. For more information, please visit http://www.aarda.org or call 586-776-3900 or 888-856-9433.

To view the resolutions, visit http://www.thomas.gov and search for H. Res # 258 and S. Res # 116.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/528350/?sc=rsmn
A Call For Relief: Talk Show Host Montel Williams Advocates For Medical Marijuana Bill At Conference
RedNova Sat, 24 Mar 2007 9:00 AM PDT
By Colin Poitras, The Hartford Courant, Conn. Mar. 24--Talk show host Montel Williams tried to fight back tears Friday as he described to Connecticut lawmakers how he smokes or eats marijuana every day to hold off the spasms and pain caused by multiple sclerosis.

Primary endpoint met in phase 2 trial of daclizumab in patients with MS
PharmaBiz Sat, 24 Mar 2007 1:49 AM PDT
Saturday, March 24, 2007 14:00 IST Cambridge, Mass.

AT THE ASSEMBLY - Advocates Seek Extension of Medical Marijuana Law
RedNova Fri, 23 Mar 2007 6:00 PM PDT
By Amanda Milkovits; Journal Staff Writer In January 2006, Rhode Island became the 11th state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, but the law is due to be repealed on June 30.

Friday, March 23, 2007

Scots' MRI scanning breakthrough 'has potential to save thousands'

FRANK URQUHART
A MAJOR breakthrough in scanning technology, which could save thousands of lives by allowing doctors to spot developing diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis at a much earlier stage, was announced by Scottish researchers yesterday.

The new scanning device can provide up to 100 different images from inside the body - compared to one from a conventional scanner - and reveal views which are hidden from current equipment.

The scientists behind the technology say it should allow clinicians to make diagnoses and gain important information about diseases at a much earlier stage, developments cancer experts said last night would make a "dramatic" difference to saving lives. It could also be used for detecting other illnesses including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.

The technology has been developed at Aberdeen University where, 25 years ago, scientists were the first in the world to successfully use new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to scan the entire body of patient, heralding the dawn of a new area in medical diagnostics.

MRI technology is based on the use of a large magnet to create a magnetic field inside the human body and a scanner which sends out bursts of radio waves to obtain return signals from various tissues to produce images of internal organs.

Current MRI scanners operate on a set magnetic field, but the new equipment will allow patients to be quickly scanned with a range of magnetic fields, allowing clinicians to obtain new information about what is happening in the body.

Two prototypes of the revolutionary new scanner have already been built and the research team has been awarded £2.5 million in funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to perfect the new "fast field-cycling" technology.

David Lurie, professor of biomedical physics at Aberdeen University,

said he and his team were "tremendously excited" about the new system.

He explained: "It is a bit like having at our disposal 100 or more MRI scanners, each one operating at a different magnetic field - but all in the one scanner. The advantage is the new scanner will produce images of the body that will tell clinicians important information about disease processes at a much earlier stage."

He added: "We are going to develop a new technique called 'fast field-cycling MRI' and the main difference is we will be able to switch the magnetic field in about one-twentieth of a second while the patient is in the scanner. We can obtain information about tissues at a whole range of magnetic fields. That will unlock information hidden to the standard MRI.

"The new method will be particularly sensitive to changes in proteins in the tissues in the body and especially changes that arise from disease.

"It will be of use in research and diagnosis into conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and, potentially, cancer. It will be used in research into what brings about all those conditions and it will, we hope, allow earlier diagnosis of these conditions which will mean better treatment.

"We know it works in principle and we want to perfect the technology to produce a working human-sized scanner."

Prof Lurie said the equipment, the development of which should be completed within four years, had the potential to save "thousands of lives".

Dr Mark Matfield, scientific consultant to the Association for International Cancer Research, said: "This could be an important technological development that could tell us more about how advanced a cancer is, thus helping doctors choose the most appropriate treatments. In general, the earlier a tumour is diagnosed - particularly before it has spread - the easier it is to treat successfully.

"In some cancers, the difference is dramatic. If breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage - before it has spread - six out of seven patients survive for at least five years. However, if the cancer is only diagnosed when it is advanced, only one in seven patients is alive five years later."

Kate Fearnley, policy director of Alzheimer Scotland, said: "

Initiatives like this are vital if researchers are to understand what goes wrong in the brain and how we might be able to stop it."

And Dr Kieran Breen, director of research and development for the Parkinson's Disease Society, added:

"Any research that can shed more light on the causes and progression of Parkinson's, and lead to a more accurate diagnosis, will help to target new treatments and bring us closer to finding an effective cure."

• AN ELDERLY man from the fishing town of Fraserburgh made history on 28 August, 1980, when he became the first patient in the world to receive a whole-body MRI scan.

The scan, which picked up the tumours on his liver that would eventually claim his life, marked a massive breakthrough in magnetic resonance imaging technology. It was developed by a team of researchers at Aberdeen University, led by Professor John Mallard, who was then head of the medical physics department.

The development of the MRI body scan was hailed at the time as the biggest improvement in medical diagnostics since the discovery of X-rays in 1895.

Dr Francis Smith, who carried out the first scan, said: "We are fiercely proud of what was achieved all those years ago."

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=446242007

Could Estriol Be the Elixir for MS?

Libraries
Medical News

Keywords
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, ESTRIOL, CLINICAL TRIAL

Contact Information

Available for logged-in reporters only

Description

This month a UCLA researcher begins a widespread clinical trial of the female sex hormone estriol, produced during pregnancy, which she’s shown sharply reduces the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.



Newswise — It has long been common knowledge that pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience a sharp drop in the disease’s symptoms during the course of their pregnancy.

Some years back, Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, director of UCLA’s Multiple Sclerosis Program, and her colleagues discovered the cause. They found that a female sex hormone called estriol, which is produced during pregnancy, was responsible for the suppression. Four years ago, Voskuhl followed that discovery with a pilot study in which 10 non-pregnant women with MS were given estriol, yielding what she described as “pretty remarkable” results — an 80 percent drop in inflammatory lesions in the brain, a hallmark of the disease.

This month, Voskuhl begins a much larger trial of estriol, one that will involve 150 patients at multiple locations over the next two years. The prospects, she said, are exciting.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that attacks the tissue surrounding the brain’s nerve fibers. This tissue, called myelin, can be thought of as the insulation wrapped around an electrical wire. When the myelin is damaged, the nerve’s ability to send signals to and from the brain is interfered with, resulting in symptoms common to MS, including problems with balance, memory, vision loss and more.

Currently, anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat MS lessen the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. But they must be given by injection daily, weekly or monthly — depending on the drug — and are expensive, costing between $12,000 to $24,000 a year.

Estriol is a hormone produced by the placenta that is virtually undetectable until pregnancy, when it progressively increases. It is thought that its role is to suppress a woman’s immune system when she is pregnant, so that the fetus will not be seen by the body as a foreign “invader.”

“The beauty of estriol is that it can be given as a pill, not a shot, and also that it’s not a new drug; it has decades of safety behind it,” said Voskuhl, who holds the Jack H. Skirball Chair for Multiple Sclerosis in the UCLA Department of Neurology. For years estriol has been in widespread use in Europe and Asia as hormone replacement therapy for women with menopausal symptoms. The fact that the pill already exists, she said, should dramatically reduce the cost of treatment.

Most important of all, though, is that the drug potentially provides a one-two punch against MS, both reducing the ability of immune cells to attack the brain, as well as making the brain more resistant to damage if any immune cells do make it through.

“It’s a two-pronged approach an anti-inflammatory prong to reduce the attacks, but also a neuroprotective prong to make the brain suffer less damage in case of an attack,” said Voskuhl.

In all, seven institutions from around the nation will be involved in the two-year study. The investigators plan to recruit 150 women who have not previously been treated for MS. They will be given either estriol along with Copaxone, an MS drug currently in use, or a placebo along with Copaxone. "That way, no one will receive less than the standard of care," Voskuhl said. The team will measure relapse rates over the course of the trial.

Initial funding of $667,000 for the trial is being provided by the Southern California Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The total cost of the trial is expected to be $4.7 million.

For more information about the trial, please contact the UCLA MS program at (310) 825-7313.


http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/528392/?sc=rsmn

Alcohol, tobacco among riskiest drugs

British study rated the substances more dangerous than marijuana, Ecstasy
The Associated Press
Updated: 8:41 p.m. ET March 23, 2007
LONDON - New "landmark" research finds that alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than some illegal drugs like marijuana or Ecstasy and should be classified as such in legal systems, according to a new British study.
In research published Friday in The Lancet magazine, Professor David Nutt of Britain's Bristol University and colleagues proposed a new framework for the classification of harmful substances, based on the actual risks posed to society. Their ranking listed alcohol and tobacco among the top 10 most dangerous substances.
CONTINUED --
How Specialist Town Lost His Benefits
by JOSHUA KORS - The Nation
[from the April 9, 2007 issue]
Jon Town has spent the last few years fighting two battles, one against his body, the other against the US Army. Both began in October 2004 in Ramadi, Iraq. He was standing in the doorway of his battalion's headquarters when a 107-millimeter rocket struck two feet above his head. The impact punched a piano-sized hole in the concrete facade, sparked a huge fireball and tossed the 25-year-old Army specialist to the floor, where he lay blacked out among the rubble.
"The next thing I remember is waking up on the ground." Men from his unit had gathered around his body and were screaming his name. "They started shaking me. But I was numb all over," he says. "And it's weird because... because for a few minutes you feel like you're not really there. I could see them, but I couldn't hear them. I couldn't hear anything. I started shaking because I thought I was dead."
Eventually the rocket shrapnel was removed from Town's neck and his ears stopped leaking blood. But his hearing never really recovered, and in many ways, neither has his life. A soldier honored twelve times during his seven years in uniform, Town has spent the last three struggling with deafness, memory failure and depression. By September 2006 he and the Army agreed he was no longer combat-ready.
But instead of sending Town to a medical board and discharging him because of his injuries, doctors at Fort Carson, Colorado, did something strange: They claimed Town's wounds were actually caused by a "personality disorder." Town was then booted from the Army and told that under a personality disorder discharge, he would never receive disability or medical benefits.
Town is not alone. A six-month investigation has uncovered multiple cases in which soldiers wounded in Iraq are suspiciously diagnosed as having a personality disorder, then prevented from collecting benefits. The conditions of their discharge have infuriated many in the military community, including the injured soldiers and their families, veterans' rights groups, even military officials required to process these dismissals.
They say the military is purposely misdiagnosing soldiers like Town and that it's doing so for one reason: to cheat them out of a lifetime of disability and medical benefits, thereby saving billions in expenses.

The Fine Print

In the Army's separations manual it's called Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-13: "Separation Because of Personality Disorder." It's an alluring choice for a cash-strapped military because enacting it is quick and cheap. The Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't have to provide medical care to soldiers dismissed with personality disorder. That's because under Chapter 5-13, personality disorder is a pre-existing condition. The VA is only required to treat wounds sustained during service.
Soldiers discharged under 5-13 can't collect disability pay either. To receive those benefits, a soldier must be evaluated by a medical board, which must confirm that he is wounded and that his wounds stem from combat. The process takes several months, in contrast with a 5-13 discharge, which can be wrapped up in a few days.
If a soldier dismissed under 5-13 hasn't served out his contract, he has to give back a slice of his re-enlistment bonus as well. That amount is often larger than the soldier's final paycheck. As a result, on the day of their discharge, many injured vets learn that they owe the Army several thousand dollars.
One military official says doctors at his base are doing more than withholding this information from wounded soldiers; they're actually telling them the opposite: that if they go along with a 5-13, they'll get to keep their bonus and receive disability and medical benefits. The official, who demanded anonymity, handles discharge papers at a prominent Army facility. He says the soldiers he works with know they don't have a personality disorder. "But the doctors are telling them, this will get you out quicker, and the VA will take care of you. To stay out of Iraq, a soldier will take that in a heartbeat. What they don't realize is, those things are lies. The soldiers, they don't read the fine print," he says. "They don't know to ask for a med board. They're taking the word of the doctors. Then they sit down with me and find out what a 5-13 really means--they're shocked."
CONTINUED --

Could Estriol Be the Elixir for MS?
Newswise Thu, 22 Mar 2007 5:17 PM PDT
This month a UCLA researcher begins a widespread clinical trial of the female sex hormone estriol, produced during pregnancy, which she's shown sharply reduces the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Study: Peptide can reduce MS symptoms
New Kerala Thu, 22 Mar 2007 9:10 PM PDT
SAN DIEGO, March 22: U.S. scientists have identified a fibrin-derived peptide that inhibits a specific inflammation process in mouse models of multiple sclerosis.

FDA Would Limit Input of Doctors Paid By Drug Firms
RedNova Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:03 AM PDT
By Diedtra Henderson, The Boston Globe Mar.

For Elizabeth Edwards, a Public Battle for Her Life
RedNova Fri, 23 Mar 2007 6:04 AM PDT
By Jill Lawrence and Rita Rubin Cancer has come to the presidential campaign trail, a cruel repeat visitor in the lives of John and Elizabeth Edwards. The pair exuded tough optimism Thursday as they vowed to continue their lives, and his Democratic presidential bid.

Giving
RedNova Fri, 23 Mar 2007 6:02 AM PDT
By Lee, Jessica C Fund-raisers and charitable donations from companies and people Toshiba Corp.'s Toshiba Classic Golf Tournament generated $8.8 million for local charities.

Congress Declares Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month
Newswise Thu, 22 Mar 2007 2:17 PM PDT
Legislation has been introduced by Congress to name May National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month (ADAM) in order to call increased attention to a family of diseases that are still not well-known or well-understood by the medical and research communities and the general public at large.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Opexa Therapeutics to Be Featured in Live MN1.com Interview
American Digital Networks (press release) - Annapolis,MD,USA
Mr. McWilliams will discuss the Company's ongoing clinical trials for its novel therapeutic, Tovaxin(TM), for multiple sclerosis as well as the innovative ...
See all stories on this topic

'Give chronically sick free prescriptions'
LOUISE GRAY SCOTTISH POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (lgray@scotsman.com)
PRESCRIPTION charges should be scrapped for sufferers of chronic illness, according to a survey commissioned by the Scottish Executive.
http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=436632007
Two out of three people were in favour of the move, echoing The Scotsman's Change the Charges campaign to scrap fees for sufferers of long-term conditions such as cancer or multiple sclerosis.

The consultation of 1,000 people will form part of a review of prescription charges.

However, there is little chance of the review happening this side of the Holyrood elections in May.

Shona Robison, of the SNP, which has promised to abolish prescription charges, forecast it would become a major election issue. She said: "The findings of this consultation are loud and clear. Prescription charges are unfair and are a tax on ill health.

"An SNP government will end the tax on ill health by abolishing prescription charges for those with a chronic condition and for young people in full- time education or training. We will then phase them out for the rest of the population."

The Executive promised to take account of the consultation exercise in the review, and Labour has pledged to address the "inequities" in the prescription-charging system if it gets back into power.

But Colin Fox, leader of the SSP, whose proposal to abolish prescription charges through a member's bill was defeated after the Executive promised changes in the system, said the review simply kicked the issue into the long grass.

He said: "It is a weak and pathetic response which will dash the hopes of thousands of Scots facing the heavy cost of paying more for medicine week in and week out."

While prescription charges are going up next month by 20p to £6.85, they have been abolished in Wales.

Macmillan Cancer and other charities support scrapping prescription charges for the chronically ill and nearly 3,000 people have added their names to the petition backing our Change the Charges campaign.

Related topic

Health of the NHS
http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=57
This article: http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=436632007

FDA would limit input of doctors paid by drug firms
Boston Globe - Boston,MA,USA
For instance, in 2006, a FDA panel unanimously agreed to
allow renewed sales of Tysabri, a multiple sclerosis treatment
comarketed by Biogen Idec Inc. of ...
See all stories on this topic

TYSABRI, 1st New Therapy for MS in More Than 10 Years
CCNMatthews (press release) - Toronto,ON,Canada
Chantal Leslie receives an infusion of TYSABRI at a Burlington, ON,
clinic recently. Chantal, aged 30, of Scarborough, Ontario, was \
among the first ...
See all stories on this topic



Smart Living
Joliet Herald News - Joliet,IL,USA
South Suburban Neurology of Flossmoor is screening patients
for enrollment in a new study to evaluate the efficacy and safety
of FTY720, a new oral ...
See all stories on this topic



'Give chronically sick free prescriptions'
The Scotsman Tue, 20 Mar 2007 5:15 PM PDT
PRESCRIPTION charges should be scrapped for sufferers of
chronic illness, according to a survey commissioned by the
Scottish Executive.

Wheelchair gives dog new lease on life
San Antonio Express-News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 4:03 PM PDT
With the help of a compassionate vet and a caring owner, Bandera,
an 8-year-old German Shepherd, has a new lease on life.

Alternative Medicine: Traditional Chinese medicine for multiple sclerosis
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Wed, 21 Mar 2007 3:43 PM PDT
While there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, acupuncturists can offer
significant help managing symptoms and side effects.

Nutra Pharma Announces Publication of Research on Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis
RedNova Thu, 22 Mar 2007 7:01 AM PDT
Nutra Pharma Corp. (OTCBB: NPHC), a biotechnolo

Inhibiting blood to save the brain
EurekAlert! Thu, 22 Mar 2007 6:23 AM PDT
A fibrous protein called fibrinogen, found in circulating blood and
important in blood clotting, can promote multiple sclerosis (MS)
when it leaks from the blood into the brain, triggering inflammation
that leads to MS-related nerve damage.
.

Heart tissue grown in lab

Fiona Macrae

March 11, 2007 12:00am

Article from: Sunday Herald Sun

Font size: + -

Send this article: Print Email

A TINY beating "heart in a dish" has been grown by scientists in a world first that will offer hope to millions of cardiac patients.

Such laboratory-reared tissue could one day be used to repair heart attack damage.

It could also cut the need for transplants and, if used to test drugs, reduce the risk of dangerous side-effects when new medicines are introduced to patients.

Researcher Lior Gepstein, a cardiologist, said: "This could have a huge impact. Heart failure is a huge problem. It is responsible for more hospitalisation than all forms of cancer combined."

The Israeli research team used human embryonic stem cells, blank cells with the ability to turn into specialised tissue types.

Crucially, they found a way of persuading the different types of cell that form the heart to grow and work together.

The result was a tiny piece of heart muscle less than one centimetre square, but threaded with minute blood vessels to closely resemble the complex tissue of the human heart.

It has a beat, continually contracting and relaxing in the same way as heart muscle.

The researchers hope to refine the technique to create sections big enough to take the place of muscle scarred by heart attack.

The ultimate hope is to reduce the need for transplants, presently the last hope for many.

Fellow researcher Dr Shulamit Levenberg, a biomedical engineer, said: "If we could sew a large enough piece of tissue on to a human heart to maintain a good circulation, there would probably be no need for many transplants."

However, it is unlikely that the tissue would replace the need for transplants altogether because the researchers are decades away from growing an entire heart.

The first human trials using sections of grown tissue could start within 10 years.

Their creation is now being grafted on to rats' hearts to find out how well it fuses with natural tissue.

So far, the scientists have managed only to make a few million cells, a fraction of the billion or so needed to repair the damage done by a severe heart attack.


http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21358289-24331,00.html

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs -
Medicine's Next Big Thing: Healing Brains and Bones

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=15746

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

From: "Annie Hammel"
To:
Subject: News from MS Society
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:28:21 -0400

Hi,

I hope you are doing well. My name is Annie Hammel and I work for the National MS Society. I’m writing because you have a very popular group that discusses life with MS. I wanted to forward on some exciting and useful news that we hope you can help us spread.



The National MS Society has been chosen as one of nine global charities to be part of Microsoft's new "i'm" initiative!



Every time a customer has a conversation using i'm, Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with one of the nine non-profits in the campaign. Microsoft will make a minimum $100,000 guaranteed donation to each of these organizations during the first year of the program, with no cap on how much the organizations can earn!



Customers can participate in and learn more about the i'm Initiative by joining at http://im.live.com and downloading the latest version of Windows Live Messenger.



If you feel it is appropriate, we would really appreciate it if you would please share this with your group members. We would love to get the word out about this generous program Microsoft has included us in. Not only is it raising funds for the MS movement, it is bringing worldwide awareness to this disease.



If you are not interested in this, please excuse the email. Please let me know and I will not write with other such announcements in the future.



Best,

Annie Hammel







Annie Hammel
Specialist, Public Relations

National Multiple Sclerosis Society
733 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10017-3288
Tel 212.476.0420
Fax 212.986.7981
E-mail: Annie.Hammel@nmss.org

JOIN THE MOVEMENT
www.nationalmssociety.org

Market Report -- In Play (WIRES)
MSN Money - USA
Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) announces that Andrew Goodman will present data from Acorda's MS-F203 Phase 3 clinical trial of Fampridine-SR in multiple ...
See all stories on this topic

Pregnancy hormone may lessen MS effects
Indianapolis Star - Indianapolis,IN,USA
Multiple sclerosis affects about 2.5 million people worldwide. It occurs when the body's immune system attacks myelin, which insulates nerve cells and plays ...
See all stories on this topic

Monday, March 19, 2007

Opexa Therapeutics shrinks net loss in 2006
Houston Business Journal - Houston,TX,USA
In November, Opexa (NASDAQ: OPXA) initiated a Phase IIb trial in multiple sclerosis with its lead drug candidate, Tovaxin. ...
See all stories on this topic

Opexa Reports Year End 2006 Financial Results
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
The increase was primarily due to the costs of the clinical trials for Tovaxin and research and development in support of pre-clinical diabetes stem cell ...
See all stories on this topic


Global Image Of Multiple Sclerosis Expresses Through Photographic Exhibit
Medical News Today Mon, 19 Mar 2007 0:12 AM PDT
A new photographic exhibit, called "The Image of MS" has been unveiled at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome to dispel myths about multiple sclerosis (MS), challenge public perceptions about the disease, and encourage those with symptoms to seek treatment as early as possible. [click link for full article]

Accessible Technology Can Offer Customizable Solutions to People with MS
Newswise Mon, 19 Mar 2007 6:15 AM PDT
Berlex, Microsoft, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Embark on Landmark Collaboration to Help People with MS Maintain Their Health and Stay Connected

Creating medicine by mouth for MS patients
BizJournals Sun, 18 Mar 2007 10:24 PM PDT
Today the drugs used to treat multiple sclerosis must be either injected or given as chemotherapy. If Dr. Mariko Kita's work progresses as she hopes, by 2010 several new drugs should be available to let patients take their medicine by mouth.

Champlin, Minn. / Taxed caregivers up for a break
Pioneer Press Mon, 19 Mar 2007 1:13 AM PDT
CHAMPLIN — Joan Molenaar starts every morning by checking on her husband, Larry, who can't move most of his body because of multiple sclerosis.

Teacher is learning how to live a full life despite MS
Pioneer Press Mon, 19 Mar 2007 1:13 AM PDT
In her senior year of high school, Kari Sortum was diagnosed with optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve. After treatment, she resumed an active life filled with basketball, volleyball and softball. At the time, the Woodbury woman, now 35, didn't know the condition is often a precursor for multiple sclerosis. After high school graduation, she attended Concordia College in Moorhead, ...

Opexa Therapeutics to Be Featured in Live MN1.Com Interview
RedNova Mon, 19 Mar 2007 9:05 AM PDT
Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPXA), a company involved in the development and commercialization of cell therapies, announced that its chief executive officer, David McWilliams, will be featured in a live Market News First interview on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 9:30 am Central Time.
Top Stories Canada World Entertainment Health Sports Specials Sci-Tech Business
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty smiles after a pre-budget photo-op at a sporting goods store in Whitby, Ont. on March 18, 2007. (CP / Frank Gunn)

Budget to focus on social programs for provinces

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will unveil a budget today that will give billions to provinces for social programs, but protestors may block the prime minister from attending the speech.