Scientists repair brain using GM embryo cells
Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom
Scientists at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in La Jolla, California, have, for the first time, genetically programmed embryonic stem cells, ...
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Author : Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Earthtimes (press release) - London,UK
The occasion was marked by a visit to Salt Lake City by the program's national spokesman, TV talk-show host Montel Williams . Hall, a 27-year-old college ...
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Potential Safer, More Effective Gene Therapy
The potential of gene therapy has long been hampered by the risks associated with using viruses as vectors to deliver healthy genes, but a new University of Georgia study helps bring scientists closer to a safe and efficient gene delivery method that doesn't involve viruses.

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Caregivers / Homecare News

Stepfamilies Make Caring More Complex In Late-Life Remarriage
"I felt so insulted and so hurt. It was like [their father] had met some gal at a bar and married her the next day, and she wanted all his money. I felt they didn't give me any credit, or any respect, appreciation or anything.

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Trading Ideas: Teva Pharma
istockAnalyst.com - Salem,OR,USA
Teva’s principal products include Copaxone for multiple sclerosis; and Azilect for Parkinson’s disease. The stock has been holding in there these days as it ...
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Elan so high it may soon succumb to profit-taking
Irish Independent - Dublin,Ireland
The stock had already been racing ahead in recent months on evidence that patient take-up of Tysabri, co-developed with Biogen Idec, has been growing ...
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This is livin'
Colorado Springs Independent - Colorado Springs,CO,USA
Anyway, Lane and his wife moved to Trinidad in 1994, where he lived another three years before losing his battle with multiple sclerosis. ...
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In Vivo Detection of Apoptosis
RedOrbit - Dallas,TX,USA
The imaging of inflammation-associated apoptosis, particularly chronic inflammation (such as that seen in Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, ...
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PET Imaging of Cancer Immunotherapy
RedOrbit - Dallas,TX,USA
In experimental autoimmune encephalitis, a murine model of multiple sclerosis. INF-FDG enabled visualization of spinal cord inflammation through activated ...
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Treatment

Treatment

Dr. Freedman

Professor of medicine in the field of neurology at the University of Ottawa, ON
View BIO

Q :
My brother was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago and he is getting worst, he started using a cane a month ago and now he needs a walker, the doctor is suggesting Chemotherapy as a treatment. I am wondering how effective Chemotherapy is for MS.
A :
This is a very complicated issue in the sense that not all progression is the same. In the belief that continued inflammation gone unchecked eventually wears down the nervous system’s ability to either compensate for loss or to fend off further damage, chemotherapy treatment may do something to finally end the inflammatory attack. This will not result in any improvements per se, but more likely a stabilization of the progression. On the other hand, if progression is the result of cumulative inflammatory attacks over many years and the end result is a nervous system that is worn down and no longer can compensate for the total losses, then it’s unlikely chemotherapy will help, since the inflammation is long gone.
6/27/2008 1:08:09 PM
More answers from Dr. Mark Freedman
More answers in the category: Treatment

 

http://www.msanswers.ca/QuestionView.aspx?L=2&QID=1935

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Symptoms and Management

Symptoms and Management

Dr. Myles

Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Alberta
View BIO

Q :
In Jan. 2007, at age 63, I was diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS. I am currently taking 3200 mg of the drug Gabapentin daily. It seems to have helped with regard to the spasticity, but the overall pain is often more than I can bare, especially in the neck and shoulders. I'm OK when horizontal, but really suffer when sitting or standing even after just a few minutes. Is there anything that will help relieve this pain?
A :
The type of pain that you describe, which occurs in a “coat hanger” distribution when sitting/standing, but not when horizontal, can be a sign of something called orthostatic hypotension, which is a fall in blood pressure that occurs when one is in an upright posture (sitting/standing). It can occur in neurological conditions that affect autonomic function (resulting in impaired blood pressure regulation), including some neurodegenerative diseases, spinal cord injury and others. It is very important to get this assessed. If this is what is causing your pain, there are specific treatments that might help, whereas painkillers probably won’t help much at all.
6/27/2008 1:11:03 PM
More answers from Dr. Mary Lou Myles
More answers in the category: Symptoms and Management

 

http://www.msanswers.ca/QuestionView.aspx?L=2&QID=1910

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Score with MS fundraiser
Independent and Free Press - Georgetown,ON,Canada
He is also one of thousands in Ontario living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Diagnosed at age 33, Stewart told doctors he “didn’t have time for MS. ...
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Peter takes to the skies
Eastbourne Today - Eastbourne,England,UK
Seaford resident Peter Dawson, who also suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, decided to do the skydive at Headcorn airfield in Kent last Saturday after being ...
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Media Advisory - Bell Canada employees and retirees present ...
Canada NewsWire (press release) - Toronto,Ontario,Canada
... Kids Help Phone - Kingdom Covenant Community Services - Lupus Ontario - Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation - Multiple Sclerosis Society ...
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MCG hosts Exploring MS
Lincolnton Journal - GA,USA
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the brain, nerves, and spinal cord of approximately 350000 Americans in their twenties and thirties. ...
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Battling ticks and the illness they bring
WRAL.com - Raleigh,NC,USA
Tierney said he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis more than two years ago because his symptoms at the time seemed to match the disease. ...
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Local group working to fight Multiple Sclerosis
Chetek Alert - WI, United States
Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own defense system attacks myelin, which is the protective coating on the nerves. ...
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Big Pharma pulls out of U.K. trials

There's more bad news today for the U.K.'s drug development industry. Pfizer, Roche and Merck Serono have all decided to cut back on clinical research there, according to the Financial Times. The problem, companies say, is that too few U.K. patients are receiving cutting-edge drugs like Avasin and Erbitux, making it difficult for experimental therapies to be tested against patients already on those drugs. Just yesterday the U.K.'s National Institute for Clinical Health and Excellence advised against the use of Avastin and Erbitux.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry recently found that 20 trials at just four companies didn't happen because of difficulty recruiting patients. If drug companies continue cutting back on U.K. clinical trials it could have a negative impact on drug industry. "In the long-term there is a serious risk that if we get to the point where none of the new drugs are being used in the U.K., the trials won't be done here," said Harpal Kumar, head of Cancer Research UK.

- read the Financial Times article